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China

General Information

Capital City:
Beijing (Peking)
Population:
1.33 billion
Area:
3,705,405 square miles
Language:
Chinese, many dialects including Cantonese and Fujianese
Electricity:
220V AC 50Hz
Direct Dial:
86
Currency:
Yuan Renminbi (CNY 1 = 100 Fen or 10 Jiao)

Business Hours

Bank:
0900-1200 & 1400-1700 Mon-Fri
Office:
0800-1130 & 1300-1700 Mon-Fri
Shops:
0900-1900 Mon-Sun
Public Holidays:
<b>2012</b> 01 Jan : New Year 23 Jan : Spring Festival, Chinese New Year 8 Mar : International Women's Day 05 Apr : Qing Ming (Tomb Sweeping) Festival* 01 May : Labour Day 4 May : National Youth Day 23 May : Tibet Liberation Day 1 Jun : International Children's Day 23 Jun : Dragon Boat Festival 1 Aug : Army Day 30 Sep : Mid-Autumn Festival 01 Oct : National Day Note: When a holiday falls on a Sunday, he next day (Monday) is usually taken in lieu. Holidays marked ** may be observed locally for certain groups.

Business and social hints

General:
Business cards to have Chinese translation on reverse side. Essential to use interpreters. Misunderstandings can arise as there is no direct Chinese equivalent of yes, no and please, while laughter also may disguise embarrassment. There are some restrictions on photography. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, be punctual. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. It is not customary to remain at table once the meal is over. Before visiting China, appropriate travel guides should be read
Tipping:
Not encouraged, but accepted from tourists
Clothing:
Northern China; light clothes with warmer wear for chilly evenings and rainwear for summer months. Extra warm clothing for winter months Northwest China; warm clothes for summer and substantial winter wear during winter months Central China; light clothes for summer, warmer wear for winter and be prepared for rain at any time Southern China; light cotton clothes and rainwear for wet, humid summer months. Light clothes with a warmer cover-up for winter. In the mountainous inland region take medium clothing throughout the year with additional wraps for trips at higher altitudes Southwest China; light to medium clothes for summer with much warmer attire for cold mountain evenings. Heavy clothes are essential during winter
Emergency Services:
Police: 110. Fire: 119. Ambulance: 120 (Beijing)

Climate

China's enormous size means that it has a great range of climatic conditions Northern China; in the far north, summers are cooler than the rest of Northern China, which are generally humid and wet. Winters are very cold, temperatures are low enough to freeze waterways for several months. In the northeast, which includes Beijing, summers are warm to hot, winters cold with frost and occasional snow Northwest China; this area is mostly desert with little rain. Summers are very hot and winters extremely cold, made worse by bitter icy winds Central China; is generally warmer than the north with rain spread throughout the year. Summer months are wettest which can make conditions humid and unpleasant, during this time (Jul-Oct), along the coast, typhoons can occur. Winters are changeable with periods of cloud and rain or cold and frosty with occasional snow Southern China; is the warmest and wettest region during summer, especially between Jun-Sep and in coastal areas where typhoons can occur. Inland regions of Southern China are mountainous with cooler summers and rain in higher areas, winters are sunny and warm with little rain Southwest China; this area, Tibet, is a region of high mountains and plateaus, where night temperatures generally the weather is sunny and crisp, although summer months are wetter and winter months very cold and frosty

Beijing

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum Temperature °C 1 4 11 21 27 31 31 30 26 20 9 3
Minimum Temperature °C -10 -8 -1 7 13 18 21 20 14 6 -2 -8
Average Humidity (mornings) % 48 50 48 48 49 55 72 74 67 58 56 51
Average Humidity (afternoons) % 50 50 48 46 49 56 72 74 67 58 56 51
Average Rainfall 4 5 8 17 35 78 243 141 58 16 11 3

Customs

Import Allowances:
For persons of 18 years of age or older: a) 400 cigarettes (for a stay of up to 6 months), 600 cigarettes (for a stay of over 6 months) or equivalent in tobacco products b) 2 lit of alcoholic beverage (stays less than 6 months) or 4 lit (stays of over 6 months) (Not exceeding75cl) c) A reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use
Contraband:
Arms, ammunition, radio transmitters/receivers

Health

None.

Compulsary Vaccinations
Yellow fever certificate required by all (no age exemptions) and entering this country from an infected area.
Recommended Immunisations
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Hepatitis A. <b>In addition:</b> Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies (China And China Macau), Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Cholera & Tick-Borne Encephalitis are also recommended to those travelling to China frequently or intending to spend extended time here.
Risks
- <b>Malaria</b> - Risk of serious malaria occurs in Yunnan Province and the interior regions of Hainan Island throughout the year. There is a limited risk of the less serious form of malaria in Anhui, Ghuizhou, Hubei and Jiangsu Provinces. There is a very low to no risk of malaria on Yellow and Yangtze River cruises. There is no risk in urban areas. <b>GENERAL INFO FOR ALL TRAVELLERS:</b> Details listed can occasionally change at very short notice and it's recommended that all travellers seek advice from their Practice Nurse, GP or Travel Clinic when planning a visit to China. It should be noted that some vaccinations and treatments may require one or more visits and should be planned well in advance of travel. Primary courses and boosters should always be up to date as recommended for life in the UK. This should include vaccines given to special groups due to complications or risk exposure such as Hepatitis B for health care workers, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for the elderly etc.
Notes
Nationals of Peoples Republic of China who have lived outside China for 1 year or longer may be requested by the Beijing quarantine office to present a Health Certificate issued by the country of residence stating that neither AIDS, or sexually transmitted diseases (STD) have been determined by blood testing. If not holding such a certificate, nationals may be requested to consult a doctor for a medical (inc AIDS testing) within a month of arrival.

Immigration and Passport

Passports and passport replacing documents must be valid for on arrival.

The following DO NOT require a visa: 1) Nationals of China. a) Holders of "Permit for Hong Kong and Macao (SAR China) residents entering into or leaving from the mainland" ("Hui Xiang Zheng"). b) Those holding residence permits for China (Peoples Republic). c) Holders of a Travel Permit issued by China (Peoples Republic) to holders of Chinese Taipei passports NOT residing in Chinese Taipei (Taiwan). 2) For stays up to 90 days by a) Nationals of San Marino. 3) For stays up to 15 days by: a) Nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Japan or Singapore. 4) Nationals of Mongolia holding passports prefixed with "E" or endorsed "For Public Affairs". 5) Nationals of Vietnam holding passports endorsed "For Public Affairs" which must have a sheet attached on the visa page showing in red capitals "AB" and an additional validity date. 6) Holders of passports endorsed "For Public Affairs" by: a) Nationals of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cuba, Georgia, Guyana, Korea (South), Laos, Macedonia (FYROM), Moldova, Montenegro, Pakistan, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey & Turkmenistan.

Nationals of certain countries may be able to obtain a tourist visa on arrival at certain airports in China with variable conditions attached. Please refer to the Chinese Embassy, Consulate or representative for precise details. Entry requirements may change from time to time and should be always be checked.

Useful Contacts

Embassy

Embassy of China 49-51 Portland Place London, W1B 1QD tel: +44 20 7299 4049 fax: +44 20 7436 9178 website: www.chinese-embassy.org.uk hours: 0900-1200 & 1400-1700 (Mon-Fri) Visa Section 31 Portland Place London, W1B 1QD tel: +44 20 7631 1430 or 09001 880 808* fax:+44 20-7436 9178 hours: 0900-1200 & 1400-1600 (Mon-Fri) e-mail: visa@chinese-embassy.org.uk * calls cost 60p per minute

Airports

  • Beijing Capital
  • Nanjing Lukou International
  • Shanghai Hongqiao
  • Shanghai Pu Dong

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