CHINA MINI GUIDE

China: General information

Location: Asia

Local time: GMT +8

Capital: Beijing (Peking)

Language: Chinese, many dialects including Cantonese and Fujianese

Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

International direct dialling code: 86

Currency: Yuan Renminbi (CNY 1 = 100 Fen or 10 Jiao)
Notes: CNY: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100. Jiao: 1, 2, 520
Coins: CNY: 1. Fen: 1, 2, 5. Jiao: 1, 5

Traditions/Mores: Business cards to have Chinese translation on reverse side. Essential to use interpreters. Misunderstandings can arise as there is no direct Chinese equivalent of yes, no and please, while laughter also may disguise embarrassment. There are some restrictions on photography. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, be punctual. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. It is not customary to remain at table once the meal is over. Before visiting China, appropriate travel guides should be read

Emergency services: Police: 110. Fire: 119. Ambulance: 120 (Beijing)

Air Travel

The national airline is Air China (CA) (website: www.airchina.com.cn). Airlines serving China include: British Airways, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, Northwest Airlines, Singapore Airlines and many others.

Note: Travellers should ensure that they re-confirm their return flight reservations, as overbooking by airlines has led to people being stranded in China.

Approximate flight times:

From Beijing to London is approximately 10 hours, to New York is 22 hours, to Los Angeles is 12 hours, and to Sydney is 12 hours.

International airports:

Beijing/Peking (BJS/PEK) airport (Capital International Central) is 28km (18 miles) northeast of the city (travel time – 40 minutes by bus and taxi).
Guangzhou/Canton airport (Baiyun) is 7km (4 miles) from the city (travel time – 20 minutes).
Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) airport is 13km (8 miles) southwest of the city (travel time – 25 to 40 minutes).
Shanghai Pudong (PVG) airport, in the eastern financial district, is 30km (19 miles) from the city centre (travel time – 50 minutes by bus or taxi). Pudong is a major international airport with a magnetic levitation train and an underground link (due for expansion in 2005, when Pudong will be connected with Hongqiao).
Facilities at the above airports include taxis, public and shuttle buses, duty free shops, banks/bureaux de change, post offices, business facilities, bars and restaurants. There are also airports at other major cities.

CHINA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where to find cheap, possibly non-stop tickets to China? Can I get the best lowest airfare at the last moment? Which airlines fly to China? Which travel documents, passport, visa required, what are health immunization requirements in China.

Recommended immunisations:

diphtheria, hepatitis A, *hepatitis B, *Japanese B encephalitis, *malaria, *polio, *TB, tetanus, typhoid
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month

Health risks in China:

Malaria exists mainly in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Tibet (only the valley of the Zangbo River in the extreme south east) & Yunnan. There is very low risk in Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi & Shandong. Where transmission exists, it occurs only in remote rural communities below 1,500 metres from Jul-Nov north of latitude 330N, from May-Dec between 330N & 250N, and throughout the year south of 250N. There is no malaria risk in urban areas or in the densely populated plain areas. Tourists do not need to take preventative treatment unless they plan to stay in remote rural areas in the above provinces. Rabies

Chinese Passports

Required

Notes:

Passport validity:
1) Passports must be valid for 6 months if a single or double entry visa is required
2) Passports must be valid for 9 months if a multiple entry visa is required

Chinese Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of China

Notes:

Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Nationals of the following countries provided continuing their journey to a third country by the same or first connecting aircraft within 24 hours and they not leaving the airport: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Congo, Congo Dem Rep, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea (North), Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia & Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia & Zimbabwe

Special notes: All visitors must hold documents required for next destination & sufficient funds for length of stay

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