Country Dossier for China The Facts Visas All other nationalities require individual tourist visas to visit China. Usually the validity of a Single Entry or Double Entry "L" visa is 90 days or 180 days from the date of issue. Please check with your nearest embassy for processing times and conditions. We recommend you apply before you leave your home country. Important: On entering China you must be able to prove that you are leaving by plane or have a confirmed and presentable alternative travel ticket as evidence. Single Entry Visas cost approx US$30 (US$50 for American citizens). Double Entry Visas cost approx US$45 (US$75 for American citizens) and Multiple Entry for 6 Months costs approx US$60 (US$100 for American citizens). Please note these prices are subject to change. Please check with your local embassy about the latest visa requirements for your nationality before you leave your home country. You can also visit http://www.travcour.com for current visa information. Joining Your Tour Money For up to date exchange rates with your own currency visit www.oanda.com or www.xe.com. Changing Money, Credit Cards & ATMs Working Out Your Budget Entrance Fees Forbidden City entrance - US$8 Optional Excursions Local Transport Tipping Food and drink Weather Visit www.worldclimate.com to get an idea of what the weather will be like on your trip. Security National Holidays Emergency Contact Alternatively contact our Operations department at the Tucan Travel office in London (office hours - 9am to 5.30pm local time): Please note that this number is a service for emergency calls only. We respectfully request that you consider the urgency of your enquiry. Non-urgent enquiries should be made during office hours. Please be considerate of time zones. Last Updated 13/08/10
Official Language: Cantonese (official) Mandarin (official). While about 70% of the population speak Mandarin, China is an amalgam of various forms of dialects.
No visa is required for ordinary passport holders from Singapore, Brunei and Japan to visit China for up to 15 days only.
Important: If you are travelling to Tibet it is important you do not mark this on your visa application as Visa Officials are less likely to issue your visa as a way of limiting tourism.
Although this is part of your itinerary it is safer not to mark this on the visa application. Make sure you get your Chinese visa at least 1 month in advance of departure. Once you receive your Chinese visa please forward on a scan or fax along with your passport to assist us in obtaining the group Tibetan Visa. Please ensure that you do this as quickly as possible as failure to do this will result in you not being able to enter Tibet with the group.
Please refer to your specific joining letter for details about joining your tour
Prices quoted in this country dossier are in US dollars (US$), unless otherwise specified.
Local Currency
The monetary unit in China is the Renminbi (Rmb), also known as the Yuan (¥).
If you choose to visit Hong Kong, not that it operates a separate currency, the Hong Kong dollar (HK$).
Cash and travellers cheques can be changed fairly easily throughout China. You will find ATMs in most major cities although they are not always reliable. Credit cards are accepted at few locations. We recommend you bring a combination of cash and travellers cheques.
Our Asia & Russia pre departure information includes a general list of all the things you should take into consideration when budgeting and an estimate of what you should allow per day for spending money. Below are some specific notes relevant to our trips in China.
Generally speaking most entrance fees will be covered by the recommended spending money. There are, however, other sites and museums that are not part of the tour programme which you may wish to visit in your free time. If you have an International Student Card you will often be entitled to reduced entrance fees. The following will give you an idea of some entrance fees (all prices are approximate and are likely to change due to local inflation or exchange rates):
Summer Palace entrance - US$6.
Most excursions and entrance fees are NOT included in the local payment and you can therefore choose as many or as few optional excursions as you like! A full list of the main excursions available on each tour can be found on the optional excursions guide, available to download from our website. All prices given are approximate and are likely to change due to local inflation or exchange rates.
One of the most popular and reliable ways of getting around on your own in large cities in China is by taxi. Try to find out what the going rate for journeys is before you hop into a taxi to ensure you are not being overcharged. Your tour leader will be able to provide advice on this when you stop in major cities.
Although tipping may not be a custom to you at home, locals here depend on your tips as many of them earn low wages and have families and children to support. Tucan Travel aim to support the local on every tour by staying in locally operated hotels and employing local guides for many excursions. However tips are one of the most important aspects of our contribution to local communities. We encourage you to tip after most optional excursions and your tour leader will be able to advise you on a reasonable amount. Please make sure to allow enough local currency to tip after meals and excursions. We operate a tipping kitty which is to be paid locally to the tour leader in USD on day one of the tour, this is 10-15 USD, this ensures that all services and local people who offer us a service whilst on the tour, are tipped in the usual way.
In China, you will find an abundance of tasty fresh food, lots of rice dishes with obscure vegetables such as bamboo roots, washed down with a glass of the local paint stripper Baijiu. You can also try a wide array of insects fried such as deep fried bees, locasts on sticks, snake juice, and other assorted creepy crawlies. You can buy a wide range of seafood and meats in most restaurants, and for vegetarians, there is a wide range of foods that will keep you full on your journey. The market stalls are a great way of eating cheaply and trying new things, and the age old saying of ‘it there’s a queue, than the food must be good’ comes into play…enjoy!
As one would probably imagine, China’s climate is incredibly varied at all times of the year. Summer is generally hot and humid in the south, and can be dry in the north, with temperatures hovering in the low thirties (high eighties). In winter temperatures can be as low as -8°C (17°F). In southeast China, typhoons can occur between July and September.
In any foreign place you should exercise a reasonable degree of caution. Be sensible (NOT paranoid). Don’t walk around lonely back streets, especially on your own or at night, don’t wear expensive looking jewellery or a classy watch and don’t carry a wallet in your back pocket. Don’t carry your camera openly; always have it in a small day pack which is firmly attached to your body, preferably in the front in crowded places. Take particular care not to become too relaxed if you have had a few drinks and are returning to your hotel at night – it is best to always take a taxi. Always wear a money belt or leave your valuables, including your passport, in the hotel security box.
New Year’s Day* - 1 Jan
Women’s Day - 8 Mar
Labour Day - 1 May
Children’s Day - 1 Jun
Communist Party Day - 1 Jul
Army Day - 1 Aug
National Day* 1 - Oct
(*Banks closed)
In the case of an emergency please contact our Asia Destination Manager; on (+00) 668904 13304
Tel: +44 (0) 208 896 6700
Fax: +44 (0) 208 896 6701
Mobile: +44 (0) 78 9984 3645
china adventure BXCA