Travel Information

Below is some important information you should know before you tour to China.

Chinese Visa

Chinese Visas Application

All visitors to China must have a passport that is valid for at least six months after your date of departure from your place. All non-Chinese passport holders are required to have a valid Chinese Visa. Visas could be issued through Chinese embassies and consulates overseas in your residence country. If you are intended to visit Tibet or some restricted areas in China, the Tibet travel permits or Permits required that local travel agent will assist you to work out.

The regular processing time for Chinese Visa is 4 working days, and the quick processing is within 1-3 working days. The Embassy will charge extra fees for the express service. If you need more information, please visit The PRC embassy website at: http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/visas/.

72-hour Visa-free Transit Policy

From 1st September 2013, foreigners from designated 45 countries who hold the visa and confirmed air tickets to the third country can enjoy the short stay in China for 72 hours under the China’s visa-free transit policy, which allows transit passengers to stay in the opened cities for up to 72 hours without visa, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Chongqing.

The 45 countries are: Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

Tibet Permits

Except a Chinese Visa, a trip to Tibet for all non-Chinese passport holders is to be required of having Tibet Travel Permits with an organized trip, including Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit, Aliens' Travel Permit (ATP) and Military Permit that are actually several different Tibet local government approved the travel documents.

Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) Permit -

It is approved by Tibet Tourism Bureau and is a basic one for foreign travellers entering Tibet. The Alien Travel Permit and Military Permit could be applied based on issued TTB. If you take the flight from Mainland China to Tibet, then you need the original of the permit to board the flight, if you take the train to Tibet, then a copy of the permit is needed.

PSB (Alien's Travel Permit) -

It is required when you travel to some of the remote parts of Tibet, which is issued by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and can be obtained when you are in Tibet.

Military Permit –

It is required for some sensitive part or some restricted remote areas for an appropriate reason.

Get into China and Away

Air Travel in China

The busiest air traffic cities of China are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, where have the international flights to most cities around the world and within the country. Currently Chinese airports service about 1,279 regular air routes, including 1,035 domestic flights and 244 international flights, while more than 200 Chinese airports (excluding Hong Kong and Macau), connect 127 domestic cities and 80 international cities in 38 countries or regions. Most airports have shuttle buses to the city, and it is very easy to take taxi to downtown too. The four largest Chinese airlines are Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines.

Train Travel in China

Railways in China have developed rapidly, and many new domestic and international routes have been opened. By 2006, the railway line has already covered a total length of some 80,000 kilometers. The domestic railways include high-speed trains, quasi-high-speed trains, express trains, tourist trains, and special expresses. The high-speed trains run mainly in China’s costal line cities, while express trains operate in most cities in China, and the tourist trains connect major travel destinatons that offer the convenient transportation for travellers.

In July 2006, the world’s longest and highest railway run between mainland China to Tibet TAR, which is known as the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, stretches totally 1,956 meters between Xining and Lhasa with almost half of the segment at the altitude over 4,000 meters. Shanghai Maglev Train is the first commercial maglev line in the world, and was listed by Guinness Records in 2003 as the fastest train in the world in commercial use. It can reach 431 km/hr (268 mph) during the journey. Most of travellers take it to Pudong Airport from Shanghai downtown.

International railways serve the routes to Ulan Boator (Mongolia), Moscow (Russia), Pyongyang (North Korea), Alma-ata (Kazakhstan) and Hanoi (Vietnam).

Travel China by Road

By the end of 2006, the total mileage of all highways in China had already reached 3.3 million kilometers; carrying a passenger volume of 16.92 billion people a year. With a total of 35,000 kilometers (21,748 miles), the overall length of the expressways in China is the second longest in the world. Almost all Chinese cities, counties and towns are accessible by highways. Road conditions are usually good, but for the roads in remote areas, such as Guizhou, Tibet and Xinjiang, it could be tough and bumping for driving. Buses are frequently accessible from cities to villages, and the bus tickets are often cheaper and easier to buy comparing the train tickets. Sleeper buses are available for longer trips.

Waterways

China has a vast sea area with the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, and the East China Sea in the east, and the South China Sea in the south part of China. The latter three seas border the Pacific Ocean. China’s long coastline has ports in Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Yantai, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Dalian, Beihai, and Hongkong. In 2006, there were over 150 coastal harbors and 23 major inland waterway ports in China. China now has over 140,000 kilometers (86,992 miles) of navigable inland waterway. Major navigable rivers include the Heilongjiang River, the Yangtze River, the Pearl River, the Huangpu River, as well as the Beijing – Hangzhou Grand Canal, which is the longest artificial canal in the world.

Getting around a City

Urban transportation plays an important role in each city of China. With improvements in road construction, more convenient transport options are available. Public buses, taxies, bicycles are the most common to take. In some modern and developed Chinese cities, subway, light rail and even Maglev trains can all be considered as good ways for you to get around the city.

Best Time to Travel China

Due to the complex topography, the weather in China is diverse that makes the different travel seasons to different areas. China could be visited throughout the year. Generally, the suitable time to visit most of places in China is from March to November, especially in the fall season, it is often the most beautiful time throughout the year. Please check with us with the exactly travel time for your planned areas.

Things to Bring for China

China is a huge country, with very large differences areas and climate, we will provide a list of appropriate travel stuffs depending on your travel types, itineraries and travel areas.

Transportation for China Tours

The vehicles we provide for our clients are available for varied group size. Generally, a car is provided for a group of 2 persons, a business van for a group of 5 persons, a medium bus for a group of over 10 persons. We provide a larger vehicle with more seats than the number of people on the tour, to make sure you are comfortable and have space for all your baggage. The road condition in China is generally good, but we will offer 4WD jeep for the areas involve tough road driving and off road excursions. Trekking, motor ride, motor biking, cycling and mountain biking are the ways to get around in China.

Hotels, Guest Houses and Lodges in China

Most big cities and popular travel destinations in China have wide choices of the accommodations with the reputed or good hotels ranging from budget to luxury. In lesser cities normally have hotels at least 3 or 4 star categories. In smaller towns, the hotels are more basic. Further in remote or mountainous towns, the accommodation is rudimentary or the guest house with dorm bed and outhouse toilet that may be the squatting pot. Sometimes you have to spend night in local family for an experience or limited conditions in remote areas.

Food & Cuisine

Chinese cuisine has a long history, and is one of the Chinese cultural treasures. It is as famous all over the world as French and Turkic cuisines. Chinese cookery has developed and matured over the centuries, forming a rich cultural content. It is characterized by fine selection of ingredients, precise processing, particular care to the amount of fire, and substantial nourishment. Local flavors and snacks, and special dishes have formed according to regions, local products, climate, historical factors, and eating habits. Cantonese cuisine, Shandong cuisine, Sichuan cuisine and Huaiyang cuisine are four major representative cuisines in China.

Featured Commodities

China has a wonderful variety of raw materials due to its vast territory and various climates. The tumultuous history of Chinese civilization has left behind a rich cultural heritage, which can be found in traditional arts and crafts. The variety of crafts available China is vast, including silk products, embroidery, Chinese calligraphy and paintings, Chinese medicine, cloisonne enamel, ceramics, carvings, woven arts and crafts, lacquer ware, Chinese fans, the four treasures of the study (writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper), tea, liquor and wine, folk arts and crafts, and other local products.

Money & Exchange

Foreign currencies cannot be used directly in China, but you can exchange your money at the many Bank of China outlets throughout the country. Most major hotels in China’s larger cities will accept major credit cards, and most star rating hotels also can change money for you and ATMs are easy to find. But if you are travelling for lessor-visited, smaller, less-developed or mountainous areas, remember to bring sufficient cash incase there is no bank to withdraw money.

Time Difference

All of China is set to Beijing time. China is 16 hours ahead of US Pacific Time, 13 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time and 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Public Holidays

1st January - New Year's Day (1-3 days holiday)
January or February (1st Jan of lunar Chinese calendar) - Spring Festival (7 days holiday)
5th April – Qingming Festival or Tomb Sweeping Day (3 days holiday)
1st May - International Labor Day (3 days holiday)
May or June (5th May of lunar Chinese calendar) – Dragon Boat Festival (3 days holiday)
September or October (15th August of lunar Chinese calendar) – Mid-Autumn Moon Festival (3 days holiday)
1st October - National Day (Golden Week, 7 days holiday)

Festivals & Events

Spring Festival (or Chinese New Year) - starts on the first day of the lunar calendar
The Lantern Festival - around mid-February to mid-March; marks the end of the New Year celebrations
Qingming Festival or Tomb Sweeping Day - in April; Chinese families spend the day tending the graves of departed loved ones
The Dragon Boat Festival - held in June; honors the poet Qu Yuan and features races between teams in long ornate canoes
Water-Splashing Festival - 13-15 April hold by Dai people in Yunnan
The Qi Xi Festival - usually in August; it is the China’s Valentine’s Day
The Shoton Festival - around mid-August to early September
Ghost Month - late August to late September
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival - around late September to early October
The Birthday of Confucius - 28 September

Work & Rest

The working week in China is from Monday to Friday. Most people do not work on Saturday and Sunday. Office hours generally are from 8:00am or 9:00am to 17:00pm or 18:00pm with one hour for lunch.

Electricity

The electricity in China is 220 volts, but the bathrooms of many luxury and medium-grade hotels also have 110-volt sockets.

Drinking Water

Only a few luxury hotels provide drinkable tap water, so don’t forget to ask the hotel whether the tap water is drinkable or not. Boiled water is available in all guest rooms, and bottled purified water is on sale everywhere in China.

Newspapers, Books & Periodicals

Newspapers and magazines in English, such as China Daily and Beijing Review, are free in many hotels. Foreigners can also buy books and maps in foreign-language book stores or Xinhua or Wenxuan Book stores.

Television

English and Japanese television programs are available in many hotels via satellite relay. The China Central Television Station and some local TV stations also provide English news and other programs in English.

Internet Access & WIFI

In bigger cities hotels, the internet access is available in the rooms and public areas. Wifi is available in the room or only public areas. Some café or restaurant offer free WIFI, you have to ask the password with the service man. In some public occasions such as airport, WIFI is available but it will charge costs. In the lessor cities or remote places, internet access by cable or wifi is not widely offered; the hotel’s business center may provide such service.

Medical Service

Hotels that receive foreigners have clinics that provide medical, health, and massage services. You can telephone the emergency centers in nearby hospitals or ask your tourist guide to make arrangements for medical service.

Tipping

Guides and Drivers are generally expected and pleased to receive a tip if you are satisfied with their services and hard works, though it is not compulsory.