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China travel guide - China
holidays, flights & hotels.
Top destination guides for China holidays;
Beijing
| Shanghai
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Beijing (Peking)
| Changsha
| Chengdu
| Chongqing
| Dalian
| Fuzhou
| Guangzhou
Guilin
| Haikou
| Hangzhou
| Harbin
| Kunming
| Nanjing
| Nanning
Qingdao
| Sanya
| Shanghai - Pudong
| Shenyang
| Shenzhen
| Tianjin
| Wuhan
Xiamen
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China Holidays, China Holiday Packages Overview
China kept itself to itself for
thousands of years, and foreigners still find it difficult to
penetrate the inner depths of this fascinating and enigmatic
country. There is a great deal to discover in this, the world's
most populated country, with more than 1.3 billion citizens, and
the third largest in the world territorially. What makes it
attractive as a destination for Western tourists is its fascinating
culture and valuable antiquities. Ruins and relics from Neolithic
settlements and the dynastic reigns of the mighty emperors are
there to behold, along with adventures along the legendary ancient
trade routes, such as the Silk Road. The Forbidden Palace, Great
Wall, and X'ian's Terracotta Army, are just some of the incredible
attractions to be seen in this ancient Eastern empire.
The People's Republic of China has been under communist
government since 1949, but is currently undergoing social and
economic development. Emphasis is being placed on tourist
facilities and infrastructure. China is opening the doors to its
wealth of historical and cultural treasures and visitors are
flooding in to be amazed and awed. Organised tours are still the
favoured way to explore China, but independent travel is slowly
becoming easier. The major cities, like Beijing and Shanghai, are
modern metropolises offering fast food and glitzy stores alongside
centuries-old historical buildings and traditional eating houses.
Archaeological wonders vie with amazing architecture in the
interior, while majestic mountains and remote monasteries crown the
northern areas.
Tourist Offices - China National Tourism Administration
(CNTA), Beijing: +86 (0)10 6520 1114 or www.cnta.gov.cn/lyen/index.asp
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Entry Requirements
Visa applications should be made at least
one month prior to departure for China. Passports must be valid for
at least six months for a single or double entry visa and at least
nine months for a multiple entry visa. Visas are granted only for
the points of entry indicated in the passport. All documents
necessary for further travel and sufficient funds to cover intended
period of stay are required. Period of validity is stated on visas,
and care should be taken when reading dates on visas for China
(People's Rep.) as they are written in year/month/day
format.
- For Australians -
Australians require a passport and visa for entry to
China.
- New Zealand nationals require a passport and visa for
entry to China.
- US nationals require a passport and visa for entry to
China.
- US nationals require a passport and visa for entry to
China.
- UK nationals require a passport and visa for entry to
China.
China Holidays - Currency of China
The currency used in China is the Renminbi Yuan
(CNY). The Yuan is divided into 10 chiao/jiao or 100 fen. Make sure
you exchange your leftover Yuan before returning home because this
currency can be exchanged only within China's borders. Travellers
cheques, preferably in US Dollars, and foreign cash can be
exchanged in cities at the Bank of China. Banks are closed
weekends. The larger hotels and the special 'Friendship Stores'
designed for foreigners will accept most western currencies for
purchases. Major credit cards are accepted in the main cities at
various establishments, but outside the major cities acceptance is
limited. ATMs are scarce outside the main cities.
China
Telephone Access Codes and Communications
The international access code for China is
+86. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code
(e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The city code for Beijing is
(0)10. Telephone communication within China is good and improving
all the time. International Direct Dialling is available in most
cities. Phone cards are widely available and calls can be made from
post offices and hotels; phone booths on the streets are usually
for local calls only. In hotels, local calls are generally free or
will be charged only a nominal fee. Mobile phone networks are very
advanced. Operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements
with most non-North American international operators. Internet
cafes are available in most main towns.
China
Duty Free Allowances & Restrictions
Travellers to China do not need to pay customs
duty on 400 cigarettes (600 cigarettes if stay exceeds six months);
two bottles of alcoholic beverages (not more than 0,75 litres per
bottle), or four bottles if staying longer than six months. Perfume
for personal use is allowed. Prohibited goods include arms and
ammunition or printed material that conflicts with the public order
or moral standards of the country. Also prohibited are radio
transmitters and receivers, exposed but undeveloped film and fresh
produce. Strict regulations apply to the import or export of
antiquities, banned publications, and religious literature. All
valuables must be declared on the forms
provided.
China
Holidays & Packages- Tipping Information
Tipping is not officially recognised, although
the practice is becoming more common among travel guides, top-end
restaurants, tour bus drivers and hotel staff. Tipping is not
expected in most restaurants and hotels. Large hotels and
restaurants often include a service charge in their bills, usually
of about 10%.
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