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| Visa |
All visitors to China must have a visa, There are generally three types: a group visa, individual tourist visa and individual business visa. Tourist visas may be obtained either through a travel agent or direct from the Chinese Embassy or consulate. Visitors intending to go to China for business purposes should be in possession of an invitation from a host organization and should apply for visas directly to the Chinese Embassy. Passports must be valid for at least six months before your travel to china.
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| Customs Regulation |
Upon entering China, travelers must complete a customs declaration form listing the valuables or amount of foreign currency being brought into the country. A copy of the form will be collected upon exit.
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| Airport tax |
Passengers who take domestic airlines will be charged 50 yuan for airport tax and those on international or regional flights outside China will pay 90 yuan.
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| Currency |
The unit of Chinese currency is yuan, divided into ten jiao ,which arc again divided into ten fen. 1 yuan = 10 jiao = 100 fen. Chinese currency renminbi denominations:1, 2, 5, 10, 50 and 100 yuan; smaller 1, 2 and 5 jiao, and tiny 1, 2 and 5 fen. There are also 1 and 5 jiao coins; and 1, 2 and 5 fen coins.
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| Money & Credit Card |
Tourists can exchange their money in China for renminbi (RMB).Visitors would be wise to take traveler's checks as they command a slightly higher exchange rate than cash. The Bank of China operates exchange desks at all hotels, airports and Friendship Stores. At present, most major credit cards such as American Express, Visa, Million Card, Master card, Diners Club, Federal Card, East Americard-Visa, Pacific card and JCB Card can be used in China.
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| Season |
In China's most popular tourist areas, the peak tourist season is spring and fall (May and September through the first half of November). Shoulder season runs from March to April and June through August. The off-season arrives mid-November and lasts through winter.
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| Communication |
China's communication system has much improved in recent years and is still being rapidly updated. Email is cheap and increasingly available - you'll often find a choice of Internet venues in the vicinity of China's universities. International phone calls are expensive, but on the whole it's easy to phone or fax abroad, even from obscure towns, and the international mail services are reliable to or from any of the cities.
Domestic calls are nearly as good, and within the country post is very rapid. Satellite TV in English is available in the more expensive hotels. You'll find English-language newspapers only in the largest cities, with Beijing having the widest choice.
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| Business hours |
Shops: Open day from 9am to 8pm (some to 9pm).
Banks: Currency can be exchanged at banking counters in hotels and stores. There are no standard hours of business for the exchange counters in hotels.
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| Electricity |
220 volts, 50 cycles AC. Most hotels have built-in convectors in bathrooms for shaving, hair dryers, etc. Otherwise, come equipped, as there is a variety of plug types in use.
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| Tap water |
Do not drink water from the tap in China. Most hotels supply boiled water in a thermos and flask or a glass of tumbler with cold water, and mineral water in plastic bottles is readily available in most cities.
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| Bargaining |
There are many little small vendors in China and it's nice to walk around and look at what they offer. Always bargain when you buy from small vendors, it will get you a better price and the vendors expect it.
The major shopping malls do not bargain. Bargaining is normally acceptable in most of the small shops. Sometimes, bargaining is more enjoyable than the purchase itself.
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| Tipping |
Tipping is not a part of Chinese culture or tradition. The only place where a tip might be expected is at a high-end hotel catering to western tourists. And the only reason tipping is expected there is because western tourists have conditioned the behavior. If you are using a tour guide for your trip to China, a personalized gift would be more appropriate than a tip.
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