Drinking Water

Tap water in China is not suitable for drinking.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 available in most cities.Bottled mineral water is sold for around 3 yuan, and is widely available in stores, restaurants and street kiosks. Sometimes a bottle or two is provided free in your room by the hotel.

Emergency Contact Numbers

Electricity

Different from many other countries, the electricity voltage used in mainland China is generally 220V, 50HZ and AC. The electricity voltage used in Hong Kong and Taiwan are 200V and 110V respectively.

If you plan to bring your electric devices during your stay in China, you will have to use a converter. As the shape of a socket varies between countries, a portable plug adaptor may also be necessary. You may bring them from your local countries as well as purchase them in China.

Money Matters

Currency

Mainland China uses Renminbi, which translates to “the People’s Money”. Other, common, terms for the Renminbi, RMB in shortened form, are yuan, pronounced “you-on”, or kuai, pronounced “kwhy”. It is common to see the Chinese currency noted as “CNY” in foreign exchange bureaus and banks. The abbreviation stands for Chinese Yuan. The symbol is ¥.

Despite officially being part of China, Hong Kong still uses the Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) and Macau uses the pataca (M$ or ptca). Both the HK$ and the M$ have exchange rates that are more or less equivalent to the RMB. Note that RMB can’t be used in some places of Hong Kong and Macau so you’ll need to exchange money once you’re in these areas.

You may exchange traveler’s checks or cash at most banks or the exchange counters in hotels.

Credit Cards

Major credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, JCB and American Express are widely accepted in China but you can’t depend on them all the time. Certainly at international-standard hotels, upscale restaurants and shops and tourist offices you will be able to use them. However, sometimes you have to pay cash. So please check on the acceptance of your credit card before you purchase.

Money Wire Transfer

Wire Transfer using a service called Money Transfer is available and is a joint venture between the China Courier Service Corporation and Western Union. This service allows instant money wiring to and from 100 countries.

Entry & Exit Requirements

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of China for the most up to date information.

If travelling to China, your passport must be valid for at least six months after the duration of your intended stay and you must also be able to provide evidence of a return or onward ticket. A visa is required for all travellers to China whether for tourism, business, employment or study purposes. You should ensure that you obtain the appropriate visa for the purpose of your visit. It is very difficult to obtain a visa at Chinese border entry points.

Chinese Visa Policy Tightens – Police authorities (Public Security Bureau) have tightened regulations and are stringently enforcing regulations for the issue and renewal of visas.

Major changes include:

• It is no longer possible to change tourist (L) and business (F) visas to other types.
• Many visa applications now must be conducted in person by the applicant.
• Express visa service is no longer available.

Travellers who have lost or had their passport stolen in China should not expect the Chinese visa renewal or replacement process to be expedited for them to meet travel or flight schedules. We encourage you to keep a copy of your passport in a safe place when travelling in China.

The Chinese authorities have tightened enforcement of documentation requirements for tourist (L) and business (F) visa applications. Visa applicants may be required to provide letters of invitation, certificates of family relationships, evidence confirming Chinese hotel room reservations and return or onward air tickets. You should seek detailed information from the nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate well in advance of your intended travel date.

Authorities have also tightened enforcement of penalties for entry and exit violations. Current regulations include a 500RMB fine (not to exceed 5,000RMB) for each day overstayed, and/or detention. The period of detention can range from 5 to 30 days depending on the severity of the violation. Recently we have received reports that authorities have fined, detained or deported Australians who have overstayed or breached the conditions of their visa.

We recommend that travellers ensure they depart China before their visa expiry date.

Hong Kong and Macau are Special Administrative Regions (SAR) and have separate visa and entry administration. Travellers who exit mainland China to visit Hong Kong or Macau may require a new Chinese visa to re-enter mainland China. Travellers with a single entry visa for China should be particularly diligent to this requirement. Some travel permits, issued in Hong Kong or at Hong Kong-Macau-Chinese mainland border crossings, are valid for limited travel to designated areas only such as Shenzhen, Zhuhai or other areas in Guangdong Province. It is illegal to use these permits to travel to other parts of China. Travellers should carefully check the details on their visa.

You may need a visa to transit China if your stopover requires you to leave the airport. However, if you are staying within the confines of the airport for less than 24 hours while transiting China enroute to a third country, you do not need a transit visa. You should check these requirements with the Embassy or Consulate of China for the most up to date information.

If you are entering China for a stay of over six months, you are required to present a health certificate, which includes a blood test for HIV.

As a preventative measure against SARS and Avian Influenza, local quarantine measures on entry into China include completion of a health and quarantine declaration form and may include a body temperature check. In some cases, an additional medical examination may be required.

Make sure your passport has at least six months’ validity and carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

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