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Travel Advisories
Travel Advisories
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Time Difference
China has only one time zone, the standard time is BEIJING TIME. China
does follow the daylight saving time system from mid-April to
mid-September. When it is 12 Noon in Beijing (standard time), the
standard time in different cities of the world is as follows:
City Time City Time City Time
Accra 4:00AM Karachi 9:00AM Singapore 11:30AM
Addis Ababa 7:00AM Lima 11:00PM* Tehran 7:30AM
Algiers 5:00AM London 4:00AM Tokyo 1:00PM
Amsterdam 5:00AM Manila 12:00PM Vancouver 8:00PM*
Ankara 6:00AM Moscow 7:00AM Vienna 5:00AM
Baghdad 7:00AM Melbourne 2:00PM Washington,D.C. 11:00PM*
Bangkok 11:00AM Montreal 11:00PM* Zurich 5:00AM
Beijing 12:00PM New York 11:00PM*
Belgrade 5:00AM Nairobi 7:00AM
Bombay 9:00AM Osaka 1:00PM
Bucharest 6:00AM Paris 5:00AM
Buenos Aires 0:00AM* Pyongyang 1:00PM
Cairo 6:00AM Seoul 1:00PM
Delhi 9:30AM Rangoon 10:30AM
Frankfurt 5:00AM Rome 5:00AM
Geneva 5:00AM San Francisco 8:00PM*
* Of the previous day.
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Procedures and Visa
According to the Law of the People's Republic of China Concerning the
Administration of Foreigners Entering and Leaving the Country, foreign
tourists must apply for visas at China's foreign affairs offices,
consulates or other organizations authorized by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. A group of five tourists or more can apply for a group tourist
visa. This is usually handled by a travel agency organizing groups.
People coming to China from countries which have visa agreements with
China (such as agreements which exempt tourist groups from visas) are
treated in accordance with these agreements.
If you want to go to Tibet for a visit you can apply for a visa only with
the consent of the Tourism Administration of the Tibet Autonomous Region
or any one of its foreign representative offices. A passport is required
for visa application, the passport shall be valid for at least 6 months
beyond the duration of the tour.
Visa is required for Canadians, Americans and people of most other
nationalities who travel to China. You can apply it directly at the
Chinese Embassies and Consulate Generals around the world:
For Canadian and US passport holders, visa is not required for Hong Kong
if your stay is less than 90 days as a tourist. For other passport
holders, please consult with your nearest PRC embassy or consulate.
CANADA
Chinese Embassy in Ottawa
515 St. Patrick Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 5H3
Canada Chinese Consulate in Toronto
240 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario, M5R 2P4
Canada
Chinese Consulate, Calgary
100-1011th Ave. SW
Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0W1
Canada
Tel: 403-264-3322 Chinese Consulate in Vancouver
3380 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC, V6H 3K3
Canada
U.S.A.
Washington DC Embassy
2300 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington DC 20008, USA
Tel:202-328-2517
New York Consulate General
520 12th Ave.
New York, NY 10036, USA
Tel:212-330-7409
Chicago Consulate General
100 West Erie St.
Chicago, IL 60610, USA
Tel: 312-573-3070
San Francisco Consulate General
1450 Laguna St.
San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
415-563-9232
Los Angeles Consulate General
443 Shatto Place
Los Angeles, CA 90020, USA
Tel: 213-380-2508
Houston Consulate General
3417 Montrose Blvd
Houston, TX 77006, USA
Tel: 713-524-4311
China Visa Office in Hong Kong
5th Floor, Lower Block, China Resource Building
Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: 2827 1811
Customs Regulations
Entry: Tourists must fill out a baggage declaration form (in two copies)
and hand it in to customs, retaining the carbon to show upon exit.
Personal belongings will be admitted duty free, including food, two
bottles of liquor and two cartons of cigarettes. Wristwatches, radios,
tape recorders, cameras, movie cameras, and similar items may be brought
in for personal use but cannot be sold or transferred to others and must
be brought out of China.
Gifts for relatives or friends in China, or articles carried on behalf of
other, must also be declared.
Visitors can bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currency and Chinese
Renminbi (RMB) traveler's checks, and the unspent portion can be taken
out.
Bringing in the following articles is prohibited:
* Arms, ammunition, and explosives of all kinds
* Radio transmitters-receivers and principal parts
* Renminbi (RMB) in cash
* Manuscripts, printed matter, films, photographs, gramophone records,
cinematographic films, loaded recording tapes and videotapes, etc.
which are detrimental to China's politics, economy, culture, and ethics
* Poisonous drugs, habit-forming drugs, opium, morphine, heroin, etc.
* Animals, plants and products thereof infected with or carrying germs
and insect pests
* Unsanitary foodstuffs and germ-carrying food-stuffs from infected
areas
* Other articles the import of which is prohibited by state regulations
Exit: On leaving China, tourists must again submit the baggage
declaration form for customs inspection (the second copy). Travelers by
ship are exempted.
Items purchased in China with RMB converted from foreign currencies may
be taken out or mailed out of the country after receipts are presented
for customs inspection. In cities where a Customs Office does not exit,
this can be arranged through the local Friendship Store.
Taking out the following articles is prohibited:
* Arms, ammunition, and explosives of all kinds
* Radio transmitters-receivers and principal parts
* Renminbi (Chinese currency) in cash and negotiable securities in RMB
* Unratified foreign currency, foreign notes or drafts
* Manuscripts, printed matter, films, photographs, gramophone records,
cinematographic films, loaded recording tapes and videotapes, etc.
which are detrimental to China's national security
* Rare and precious copies of books about Chinese revolution, history,
culture and art that are not for sale
* Valuable animals, plants, and seeds
* Precious metals, pearls, and jewels (things declared to the customs
are exempted)
* Other articles the export of which is prohibited by state regulations
Quarantine & Immunizations
Those who carry such special articles as microorganisms, human body
tissues, biological products, and blood and its products, should declare
to a quarantine department, and subject these articles to quarantine
inspections. Passengers from yellow fever-infested areas should, when
entering China, display to the quarantine department effective
certificates showing that they have been inoculated against yellow fever.
He who does not have such a valid certificate shall be retained for
observation for six days beginning from the day he left the infested
area, or he shall be inoculated and retained until the certificate comes
into effect. It is the task of the Chinese quarantine authorities to
prevent foreigners suffering AIDS, venereal diseases, leprosy, mental
diseases and open tuberculosis from entering China.
There are no particular immunizations required for entry into China,
unless the traveler is coming from a yellow fever infected area. The
Canadian and US disease control and prevention authorities recommend the
all travelers have current polio and tetanus immunizations. For traveling
into the countryside and remote areas, immune globulin is also
recommended to combat hepatitis A, as is typhoid immunization. It is very
important that you consult your own doctor or local clinic for more
information. We advise you to bring along a supply of antibiotics, an
anti-diarrhea agent, and any other prescription drugs required by your
current medical conditions.
Currency
The Chinese currency is called Renminbi and is issued by the People's
Bank of China. The unit of Renminbi is the yuan and the smaller units are
the jiao and fen (10 fen=1 jiao, 10 jiao=1 yuan). Yuan, jiao and fen are
issued as paper banknotes but there are also yuan, five jiao and fen
coins. Denominations of yuan banknotes are 1 yuan, 2 yuan, 5 yuan, 10
yuan, 20 yuan, 50 yuan and 100 yuan. Jiao banknotes are 1 jiao, 2 jiao
and 5 jiao and fen banknotes are 1 fen, 2 fen and 5 fen. The abbreviation
for Chinese currency is RMB�. Many hotels and stores accept major credit
cards. At present, the following credit cards can be used in China:
Master Card, Visa Card, American Express, JCB, Diners Card. Holders of
these cards can draw cash from the Bank of China, buy goods and pay for
purchases at exchange centers of the Bank of China, appointed shops,
hotels and restaurants.
For the convenience of tourists, the Bank of China can cash travelers'
checks sold by international commercial banks and travelers' check
companies in the United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan,
Britain, France, Switzerland, Germany and other countries and regions.
Also the Bank of China sells travelers' checks for such banks as American
Express, Citibank, Tongjilong Travelers' Check Co., the Sumitomo Bank of
Japan, the Swiss Banking Corporation and others.
Foreign Exchange
Foreign currency cannot be circulated within the People's Republic of
China or used to determine the price and settle accounts. At present,
China will accept and convert into Chinese Renminbi such foreign
currencies as the US dollar, British pound, Euro, Japanese yen,
Australian dollar, Austrian schilling, Belgian franc, Canadian dollar, HK
dollar, Swiss franc, Danish Krone, Singapore dollar, Malaysian ringgit,
Italian lira, Macao dollar, Finnish markka, and Taiwan dollar. Exchange
rates are issued every day by the State Administration of Exchange
Control. Before leaving China, unused Chinese Renminbi can be converted
back into foreign currency with a "foreign exchange certificate" which is
valid for six months.
Climate and Clothing
China has a continental and seasonal climate. Most parts are in the
temperate zone but southern areas are in the tropical or subtropical zone
while northern areas are in the frigid zone. Climates in different areas
are complicated. For instance, northern Heilongjiang Province has a
winter climate the year round without summer, while Hainan Island has a
summer climate the year round without winter. The following is a
reference table for tourists to prepare clothing on their trips.
* Spring: 10-22�C, Western suits, jackets, sports coats, woolen
jackets, long sleeve shirts and travel shoes.
* Summer: 22�C and above, T-shirts, short sleeve shirts, skirts,
sandals, caps, rain wear.
* Autumn: 10-22�C, Western suits, jackets, sports coats, light woolen
sweaters, rain wear and travel shoes.
* Winter: 10�C or lower, overcoat, cotton clothes, lined coats. In very
cold areas a cap, gloves and cotton-padded shoes are required.
China can be visited through out the year because of the stretch of its
territories nad sites and activities it can offer. Deciding when to visit
China depends on which places you wish to visit, what type of weather you
enjoy, and how much a bargain you want. China is a huge country with many
different climates and types of landscape. Think of it in terms of the
United States, which China resembles in size and shape. Traveling along
the Golden Route (Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guilin) is like visiting New
York, Chicago, Santa Fe, and Jacksonville, Florida all in one trip.
April, May, September and October are the peak tourist months at China?s
most popular destinations when the weather is the most comfortable.
Prices drop a bit in the shoulder season, which runs from November
through March and from June through August. However, the winter months
are peak season for trips to China?s Hainan Island and to the Northeast
Harbin for its world-famous ice-lantern festival. This months are also
packed with New Year holidays, Chinese Spring Festival and other national
or local happy fairs. Summer months are great time to explore China?s
Far East-Manchuria.
Average Temperatures (Centigrade/Fahrenheit) in Major Cities
CITY JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Beijing -4.1
25 -1.6
29 4.9
41 13.6
57 20.0
68 25.2
77 27.9
82 26.6
80 20.3
69 12.7
55 4.2
40 -2.2
28
Chengde -9.2
15 -5.5
22 2.1
36 11.5
53 18.4
65 22.3
72 24.3
76 22.8
73 17.1
63 10.0
50 0.4
33 -7.2
19
Chengdu 5.5
42 7.4
45 11.7
53 16.7
62 20.9
70 23.6
75 25.3
78 24.9
77 21.2
70 16.7
62 11.4
53 7.1
45
Chongqing 7.5
46 9.1
48 13.8
57 18.4
65 21.8
71 24.7
77 28.3
83 28.3
83 23.4
74 18.4
65 13.6.
57 9.1
48
Dalian -4.5
24 -2.9
27 2.4
36 9.5
49 15.6
60 19.7
67.0 23.0
73 24.0
76 20.0
68 13.7
57 5.8
42 -1.0
30
Datong -11.0
12 -7.4
19 0
32 8.5
47 15.7
60 19.9
68 21.8
71 20.0
68 14.4
58 7.5
45 -1.4
29 -8.8
16
Guangzhou 13.2
56 14.1
58 17.8
64 22.0
72 25.6
78 27.4
81 28.7
84 28.5
83 27.1
81 23.8
75 19.3
67 15.1
59
Guilin 7.8
46 9.0
48 12.9
55 18.5
65 23.0
73 26.2
79 28.1
83 27.8
82 25.5
78 20.5
69 15.2
59 10.2
50
Hangzhou 3.9
39 5.2
42 9.3
48 15.4
59 20.3
69 24.3
76 28.5
83 27.9
82 23.3
74 17.7
64 12.2
54 6.3
43
HongKong 15.8
60 15.9
61 18.5
65 22.2
72 25.9
79 27.8
82 28.8
84 28.4
83 27.6
81 25.2
77 21.4
70 17.6
64
Huangshan -2.8
27 -1.6
29 2.3
36 7.7
46 11.9
53 14.9
59 17.6
64 17.3
63 13.7
57 9.2
48 4.0
39 -0.6
31
Kunming 7.9
46 10.0
50 13.2
56 16.6
62 19.1
67 19.6
67 19.7
67 19.0
66 17.2
63 14.6
58 11.1
52 8.0
46
Lhasa -2.1
28 0.9
34 4.5
40 8.1
46 11.8
53 15.7
60 15.3
59 14.4
58 12.7
55 8.2
46 2.1
36 -1.6
29
Luoyang 0.4
33 2.7
37 8.4
47 15.4
59 21.2
70 26.3
79 27.3
81 26.0
79 21.1
70 15.3
59 8.3
47 2.3
36
Nanjing 2.1
36 3.9
39 8.5
47 15.0
59 20.1
68 24.6
77 27.9
82.0 27.4
81 22.4
72 16.6
62 10.2
50 4.3
40
Qingdao 0.7
31 -0.4
31 4.7
40 10.5
51 15.9
60 20.0
68 23.8
75 25.2
77 21.5
70 16.1
61 8.9
48 2.0
35
Sanya 21.2
70 22.2
72 24.2
76 26.6
79 28.3
83 28.5
83 28.5
83 28.0
82 27.3
81 26.1
79 24.2
76 21.9
71
Shanghai 4.7
40 8.2
46 13.4
56 18.5
65 22.9
73 27.2
81 27.5
82 24.1
76 18.8
66 12.8
55.0 6.9
44 4.0
39
Suzhou 3.2
38 4.3
40 8.6
47 14.5
58 19.6
67 23.8
75 28.0
82 27.7
82 23.1
73 17.7
64 11.9
53 5.6
42
Urumqi -13.9
7 -11.6
11 -1.8
29 9.8
50 16.9
62 21.8
71 24.2
76 22.7
73 16.7
62 7.6
46 -3.1
26 -11
12
Wuhan 3.2
38 5.2
42 9.8
50 16.3
61 21.5
71 25.6
78 28.7
84 28.2
83 23.2
73 17.4
63 11.2
52 5.4
42
Wuxi 2.8
37 4.0
39 8.4
47 14.4
58 19.6
67 23.8
75 28.0
82 27.6
82 22.8
73 17.2
63 11.3
52 5.0
41
Xiamen 13.0
55 13.4
56 15.5
60 19.7
67 23.2
73 25.9
79 27.6
82 27.2
81 25.5
78 22.2
72 18.6
65 14.6
58
Xian -0.5
31 2.5
37 8.4
47 14.6
59 19.6
67 25.0
77 26.4
80 24.8
77 19.0
66 13.3
56 6.3
43 0.7
33
CITY JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
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