Visa Requirements
A visa is needed for all tourists entering China. Visa must be obtained prior to arrival in China.
1. Original valid Passport with enough blank pages - the Passport must be signed and valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of exit from China.
2. 2 recent color Passport photos - must be two-inch half-length, bareheaded and full-faced photo. No laser photos are accepted.
3. 1 Completed, signed, and dated Visa Application Form
Travel Documents
Passport must be valid for at least six months on the return day of your trip.
Resident Aliens need both a passport and an Alien Resident Card for re-entry into the States.
Tibet Permit
For the Tibet tour you'll obtain a Alien's Travel Permit issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau. It'll take us 3 - 7 days. The following details of the travelers are required for the processing of the visa: name, nationality, passport number, sex, date of birth and occupation.
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance Services offers comprehensive travel protection coupled with extensive 24-hour emergency assistance services to meet the challenges of today's travel and help you enjoy a worry-free trip.
You may consider getting more insurance coverage base on your personal situation.
Chinese Customs Procedures
1.Foreign visitors are allowed to import, free of duty, one carton of cigarettes, one 750ml bottle of alcohol.
2.There are no restrictions on importing the following items for personal use: medicine, camera/camcorder, rolls of film, foreign currency, etc. Professional recording equipment is not allowed without an import permit.
3.Pornographic magazines, weapons, inflammable and explosive items, books of a political nature and certain drugs are illegal and are not allowed to be taken into China.
4.Merchandise labeled as “cultural relics” or “antique” may not be taken out of China without an official export license.
5.Save all your currency exchange receipts and purchase receipts for possible Customs inspection.
Airport Taxes
Airport departure tax in China is CNY50.00 (appx. US$7.50) for domestic flights, CNY90.00 (appx. US$13.50) for International flights.
Baggage
For your convenience, we suggest you bring one large suitcase and one carry on small bag.
Please do not over pack, leave space in your suitcase for purchases in China.
Since your suitcase will be transported frequently during trip, please be sure it is strong enough to withstand all the handling. Also be sure it has wheels and a lock.
For China domestic flights, each passenger is allowed one piece of check-in luggage per flight, up to 44 lbs., and one carry-on bag with a combined total dimension not exceeding 45inches. Excess baggage charge and insurance is at the owner’s responsibility.
Health & Medical
Vaccinations are not required unless travel is from or through an infected area.
Due to the length of the trip and local traveling conditions, it is advised that you consult your doctor for existing medical/dental conditions before departure.
If you are taking prescription medicine, please pack (in your carry-on luggage) sufficient quantity for the duration of the trip. Be sure that mediation is clearly marked with a pharmacy label and doctor’s instructions.
It may also be useful to bring aspirin, over-the-counter medicine for flu, indigestion, motion sickness, etc. In case of illness during the trip, please immediately notify your tour conductor and local guide for assistance.
Things to Bring
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, take along a copy of the prescription and an extra pair if you have one.
Contact lenses solution, sunglasses, hat, shavers, hair dryer, electrical converter and adapter.
Books, magazines, snacks, music tapes & a walk-man, CDs & CD player, notebooks, etc.
Camera, video recorder, extra quantities of films, tapes, and battery.
Weather & Clothing
We suggest you bring comfortable, casual clothing and two pairs of good walking shoes for the trip.
A raincoat, an umbrella and a light jacket are useful for traveling in all seasons.
Check websites or newspaper for weather conditions before you go, and pack accordingly.
Currency
Chinese currency is called Ren Min Bi (RMB) , usually called Yuan is issued by the state bank, the People’s Bank of China.
We suggest you bring a combination of cash (in various denominations, some $1’s, $5’s and $20’s) and travelers checks for your trip.
It is not a good idea to bring only travelers checks, because only 50% of exchanged value can be converted back to U.S. dollars.
US dollars in cash form are accepted at many places while travelers’ checks must be converted into RMB first. You need original receipts to convert RMB back to US dollars.
There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency and foreign exchange bills that can be brought into China by tourists, but the amount must be declared to the customs.
Credit cards are not widely accepted in China but are becoming more popular in major cities.
International hotels, department stores and shops frequented by foreign tourists generally accept them.
Cash advance by credit card is not common and is only possible at a few assigned banks.
Telephone
For direct dialing to China, the country code is 86. Major city codes: Beijing-10, Shanghai-21, Guangzhou -20. For other city codes, please contact telephone operator for assistance.
Hotel telephone operators can dial IDD for you, but the cost is high. You may want to bring a calling card (AT&T, MCI etc). Prepaid local phone cards are available at hotel shops or reception. Your tour conductor or local guide will assist you in this matter.
Electricity
Electricity in China runs on 220 volts, 50 cycles AC. Two-pin sockets and some three-pin sockets are in use.
While outside of the bathroom, only 220V socket is provided. Make sure to bring an adapter plug yourself.
Food and Drinks
Meals are included in China as specified in the itinerary.
Breakfasts are western style buffet with fruits, cold and hot cereals, Chinese dim sum etc.
Lunch and dinner are Chinese food and most meals are served as a set menu(usually 8 dishes, plus a soup)with 10 people per table. Unlimited amount of tea is included with all meals. One glass of local beer or soft drinks or mineral water is included with lunch and dinner.
Additional drinks at mealtime are available for purchase. Please verify cost before ordering.
Drinks in your hotel mini bar are extremely expensive. Do not take drinks from the mini bar and try to replace them later. You will be charged accordingly since the mini bar accounting takes place in the morning, before you can replace anything.
Do not eat food from street vendors.
Do not drink tap water in China. If your hotel room is not furnished with suitable drinking water, simply dial the housekeeping department and the chambermaid will be glad to bring you a thermos of hot water or a carafe of cold drinking water free of charge.
Chinese and Western mineral water can be purchased in most hotels and stores.
Hotels
All room of hotels are air-conditioned and equipped with TV on which you can see most popular Chinese Channels, CNN, etc., telephone, and bathroom (with shower, charge-free toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, etc.). In 4-star hotels or above, laundries and safety box are available.
Remember to bring the hotel card with its address on it if you go out of the hotel.
Time Difference
Time zone: China GMT+8hours
All time within China is based on Beijing time. there are no adjustments for seasons or longitude.
Language
China has 32 provinces and 28 major dialects. But the official Chinese language is Mandarin.
To make your trip more interesting and fruitful, you may want to learn some of the more useful phrases in Mandarin.
Tips
Tipping is customary all over the world. It encourages and rewards quality service.
Your tour conductor, local guides, drivers, and other service personnel do their best to make your trip smooth and pleasant.
For your convenience, the national guide may collect the gratuities on behalf of the local guide and driver on the last day in each city.
Shopping
To meet your shopping needs, certain shopping stops during the tour have been arranged by the local handling agency.
Although local guides will be happy to assist you with any shopping requirements, we do not assume responsibility for any items purchased at shops while on tour.
You are never required to purchase any items while on tour and thus must be responsible for your own purchases.
Any after sales correspondence must be between the passenger and the shop in question.
National Holidays and Festivals
Chinese National Holidays:
* January 1 New Year's Day
* May 1 Labor Day
* October 1 National Day
Chinese National Festivals:
* Chinese Lunar New Year and Spring Festival First day of the first lunar month
* Dragon Boat Festival The 5th day of the fifth lunar month
* Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival) The 15th day of the eighth lunar month
