China travel tips

Share |

	Money		Language
	Health & fitness		Transport
	Safety & security		Electricity
	Food & water		Post & communication
	Responsible travel

Money

The currency in China and Tibet is known as the renminbi (RMB) or 'People’s Money'. This basic unit of currency is informally known as the yuan (Y). Hong Kong has its own currency, the Hong Kong dollar (HKD). Exchange rates fluctuate so for current exchange rates please visit www.xe.com.

You are advised to carry a mix of cash as well as debit and credit cards. ATM access for international cards is available at Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in major towns and cities, and at airports. ATMs issue local currency. When the ATM is not working, you can get cash out over the counter at bank branches during business hours. It is a good idea to keep the exchange receipts as you may need these if you want to change the Chinese currency back to your local currency at the end of your trip. Credit cards can be used in many hotels and in some shops and restaurants in major cities; however they are not widely accepted in more rural areas. Visa and MasterCard are the most commonly accepted. Cash advances can be obtained using these cards at most Bank of China branches. Traveller's cheques in USD, AUD, CAD & GBP are accepted throughout major cities of China, but these are now becoming harder to cash.

Health & fitness

Travellers to China should take precautions as they would elsewhere in Asia. International standard medical care facilities are available in major cities, however in rural areas medical care facilities are more basic. Some of the diseases known to exist in China include hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tuberculosis, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, rabies and HIV/AIDS. We recommend you take adequate preventative measures to minimise your risk of exposure to these health risks. We strongly recommend you consult your preferred doctor for the most up-to-date health advice at least one month prior to travel.

Safety & security

China is generally a safe destination, but petty crime is on the rise, particularly in larger cities popular with tourists, such as Xian. Usual common sense precautions should ensure your safety. Taxis are mostly metered and inexpensive, but make sure the driver activates the meter and is clear on your destination. To assist in finding your way back to your hotel, make sure you obtain a hotel address card with details printed in Chinese characters, to show taxi drivers where you want to go. Many drivers cannot read or speak English.

Throughout your stay, always keep a photocopy of your passport, airline tickets and credit card numbers, and a detailed record of your traveller's cheques. You should leave valuables in hotel safety deposit boxes or in-room safes, wherever possible. We recommend you wear as little jewellery as possible and keep your spending money close to your body in a secure place when out on the street. When travelling on trains, you may wish to take extra precautions with your valuables by using a money belt.

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade - www.smarttraveller.gov.au
Canadian Foreign Affairs & International Trade - www.voyage.gc.ca
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs - www.mfat.govt.nz/travel
UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office - www.fco.gov.uk
USA Department of State - www.travel.state.gov
World Health Organisation - www.who.int/en

Food & water

The cuisine is a highlight of any visit to China and the variety of food available is astounding. Chinese food incorporates a number of styles and each region specialises in its own cuisine – from Beijing Duck, to Hong Kong dim sum, spicy Szechuan cuisine and momo (dumplings) in Tibet. In the larger cities like Shanghai and Beijing, you can experience everything from modern fine dining to traditional street stalls. In rural areas, options may be more limited. Meals are generally served banquet style with rice and soup served at the end of the meal. If you are not familiar with chopsticks you should be able to get the hang of it after a few meals. Vegetarian meals are available but can be harder to find outside of the bigger cities. Please ensure your tour leader or local guide are aware of special dietary requirements in advance so they can assist you with ordering suitable food. Drinking local tap water is not recommended. Bottled water is cheap and readily available throughout China.

Language

Standard Mandarin is the official language of China however there are a vast number of dialects and languages spoken throughout the country. Other languages include Wu (Shanghai and surrounds), Cantonese (predominantly in the south) and non-Chinese languages such as Mongolian, Tibetan and Uyghur. Mandarin is a tonal language with four distinct tones and the writing system uses script characters. Pinyin is the romanized form of Chinese writing. English is well-understood and widely spoken by our guides. Hotel staff speak English with varying degrees of proficiency. English is also spoken in many restaurants and shops in larger cities and, to a lesser extent, by taxi drivers. Mandarin is a difficult language to master but you may be able to pick up a few basic words while you are travelling like hello, goodbye and thank you. A phrase book or basic language guide will come in handy.

Transport

For tour groups of 6 or more travellers, air-conditioned Toyota Coaster or Hyundai with 25-40 seats are used on all road journeys. These vehicles are designed with excellent viewing windows and a high roof. For smaller groups, modern sedan cars and minibuses are used. Vehicles in the more remote poorer areas of Sichuan Province and Tibet may not be of the same standard as those in the bigger cities. Vehicles in Tibet generally do not have air-conditioning. In cities and towns we use a combination of boats, bicycles (optional) and we also like to walk the streets and through the villages. All domestic flights within China are on modern Airbus or Boeing aircraft. All Yangtze boat journeys booked through Travel Indochina are on deluxe cruise ships featuring private cabins with en suites and balconies (deluxe cruises only), similar to hotel room style. All rail journeys booked through Travel Indochina are in first class compartments in shared, four-berth, soft sleeper cabins that are air-conditioned. Sheets and blankets are provided and are generally of good standard. Western-style washrooms and toilets are located at one end of each compartment. Meals and drinks can be purchased in the train’s restaurant carriage but you may prefer to bring your own snacks or pot noodles.

Electricity

Voltage is mainly 220V alternating at 50 cycles per second. You will find a range of sockets throughout the country however most will take two-prong round pins. In Hong Kong the three prong flat pin style is most common and runs at 200V. We advise you bring a universal adaptor. Electricity supply is generally reliable, even in more remote areas, though farm and hilltribe stays may rely on generator-run power and be less consistently available.

Post & communication

Email services are inexpensive and available in almost all tourist areas. Hotels often have internet and email services which are convenient but a little more expensive. Reverse charge (collect) calls are available in many cities. International phone and fax facilities are widely available however they are expensive (20-30 RMB per min). International direct dial is available from most hotels for additional charges but the service is not always reliable. The international calling code for China is (+86). Mobile phones do work in China, although you will need to contact your service provider prior to departure to ensure you have roaming. International mail generally takes 10 to 14 days to reach its destination and prices are a little less than western postal rates. Parcels must be inspected by a customs official at the post office before being sealed and boxes are usually available at the post office.

View our full list of China tours.

Return to our China travel overview page.