China Travel Info/Travel Facts
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¡îTourism Directories and Offices |
• To guarantee the hygiene and quality, all the meals arranged for you by us are in the government approved restaurants, sometimes in some cities, meals will be arranged in the hotels above three-star. Please understand that sometimes, meals would be arranged along the way to certain scenic spots which are quite far from the city for your convenience.
• Our goal is to make you satisfied, but do please understand that Chinese food here in China would be different from the Chinese food you have at home, and different places have different cuisines, if you have any special requirements for your food, please tell your local guides who will try their best to fulfill your special requirements.
• If your meals are not included in some areas and you want to eat at McDonald's or KFC or some other restaurants, ask our guides to give you some information about where the restaurants are and how to get there, etc.
• If you do want to try local food at the local restaurants, please tell your guides, she or he will give you some recommendations.
Some basic dinning etiquette & customs in China
Dinning etiquette in China can be quite intricate and daunting at first. The following etiquette and customs may ease your nervousness and make you enjoy China 's cuisine more.
• In Chinese restaurants, knives should not be seen on the table. Chopsticks, bowls and soup spoons are the traditional table ware. Food is always cut into bite sized pieces, whole meats such as pig, fish and poultry are cooked till they are so tender that the meat can be removed right off the bones with chopsticks.
• When using chopsticks, don't point them directly at people and never stick them standing upright in your rice bowl -- this is a reminder of the incense burned at funerals.
• Use a clean spoon solely for taking food from communal plates for yourself or others, if you serve someone with your own chopsticks, use the blunt ends that don't go into your mouth. Though you may see that Chinese people take food directly with their own chopsticks sometimes, especially it will be like that when people have meals with their families, relatives and intimate friends.
• If you're invited to be a guest at a meal, don't be surprised that if your host orders more food than you can have, this is the way for Chinese people to "save face" and show their hospitality. And also, please don't be surprised if your host keeps serving you choice morsels of food even you don't ask for it, this is another way to show hospitality.
• In Chinese custom, unless amongst friends or in an informal setting, it is the inviter who pays for the meal. It is polite to make an effort to pay, but expect strong resistance, that is why in many Chinese restaurants, it is a common sight to see two people arguing loudly after a meal¡ªthey're fighting for the right to pay.
• When you are not so sure what to do, simply ask your guides or do as local people do.
Transportation
• If you book a private package from us, private car/van/bus with air-condition and cushioned seats will be provided for you according to the number of your group. A luggage truck will be provided if you are a big group or if necessary.
If you join in the Sit-In-Couch tour, a private transfer will be provided for you from airport to the hotel, the hotel to the airport, for the sightseeing, you will share a big bus with some others.
• There are quite a few airline companies in China, the ones we often use are: Air China (CA), China Eastern Airlines (MU), China Southern Airlines (CZ), Dragon air (KA), and Hainan Airlines (HU), who use the following airplanes: A300 / A310/ A319/ A320 /A321/ A340 & B737 / B747/ B757 /B767/ B777 / MD90/ MD82 /MD11 & BAE146, etc.
• Airport tax or airport construction fee is of 150 yuan (about US$19 ) for the domestic flights. |
| Baggage |
Tags
To make sure your luggage takes the same vacation as you do, we suggest you put a luggage tag on your suitcase with your name and contact information.
For domestic travel by air and rail within China , all check-in suitcases must be locked. We highly recommend that you use hard cover suitcases with built-in locks.
In addition, it's a good idea to place an identification label inside your baggage, in case your tags are lost in transit.
The luggage regulations when take domestic flights in China are :
1) For the check-in luggage, passengers holding an adult fare or half fare ticket are entitled to a free baggage allowance of 40kg (88 pounds) for first class, and 30kg (66pounds) for business class, while 20kg (44 pounds) for economy class. No free baggage allowance is granted to infants. If your luggage is over the limitation, you will need to pay for the excess weight, and some of the airports in China are quite strict with this.
Tip for this: If you are traveling together in group more than 1 people, you can use your allowance together, for example, if you have 35kg , your friend have only 5kg , it will be fine as long as you two check in together. This method also applies to 3, 4, 5 or even more people within one group, as long as you are checking in at the same time over the airport counter.
2) For the carry-on luggage, total weight of carry-on baggage for each passenger may not exceed 5kg (11 pounds). First class passengers may carry up to 2 pieces. All other passengers may carry on only one piece. The size may not exceed 20x40x 55cm . Carry- on baggage in excess of the limit is subject to an excess baggage fee and must be carried as checked baggage.
Note:
1) Articles which cannot be taken as baggage: flammable, explosive, corrosive, poisonous, radioactive, polymerized and magnetized materials, and arms, sharp or lethal weapons as well.
2) Articles which cannot be packed in the checked baggage : important documents, classified materials, diplomatic mail bags, negotiable securities, currencies, money orders, valuables, vulnerable perishables and articles and other articles needed in the special custody of somebody. The carrier will not be liable for the loss of or damage to the aforementioned.
3) Articles which should be put in check-in baggage: knife, scissors and bottled or tinned alcohol/ wine.
4) The checked baggage should be packed perfectly with a lock, toed up solidly and be able to withstand pressure to a reasonable extent. Carriers may refuse to accept for carriage if the baggage packing does not meet to the requirements.
5) The carrier will be liable to compensate for the loss of or damage to the checked baggage due to the carrier's fault. The norm of compensation shall not exceed RMB 50 yuan per kg. If the value of the baggage is less than RMB 50 yuan per kg, the amount of compensation shall be paid according to its actual value of the loss.
6) A passenger may declare the value of his baggage if the value of his checked baggage exceeds RMB 50 yuan per kg. Baggage declared value can not exceed the value of the current baggage. The maximum baggage declared value is RMB 8,000 yuan.
7) Passengers and their baggage (including checked and carry-on baggage) are subject to the security inspection before boarding the aircraft. |
| Travel Safety & Security |
The following are some tips for traveling safely:
a) Get as much information as possible from us about the places you are to travel.
b) Make several copies of your passport, traveler's checks, credit cards, itinerary, airline tickets and other travel documents. Take one copy with you and leave one copy with a relative or friend back home.
c) Be sure the photographs on your passport, driver's license and other ID is accurate, and be sure your passport, driver's license and other ID is valid and not expiring before you return from your trip.
d) When you don't need to transfer from one city to another and don't need to bring your passport, driver's license and other ID with you, it's better to leave them in the safety box in the hotel either in the room or at the reception (some five-star hotels may have safety box in the rooms, while all the hotels above 3 star have safety boxes at the reception). If you need to carry your passport, driver's license and other ID with you, be sure you put them in a safe place that the others can not reach them, like you can put them in the money belt under your clothes. The same with all your tickets, credit cards and important documents and valuable things.
e) Be sure the door of your hotel room and window is closed and locked at all times, especially when you are not in the room.
f) Do not answer the hotel room door before you verify who it is. Never let a stranger come into your room.
g) The water from the tap in the most hotels is not drinkable, so always drink the boiled water or bottled water.
h) Take most of your money in traveler's checks and record the serial numbers, denominations and date and location of the issuing agency, don't sign your name on the traveler's checks before you use them. Remove all unnecessary credit cards from your wallet. Be sure to carry your credit card company's telephone number in case your card is lost or stolen. Always report losses immediately.
i) Always exchange money at the Bank of China or in the hotel counters, don't try to exchange money in the black market, because it is illegal and sometimes you might be ripped off.
j) Always prepare some small changes, which you can use to buy things from the street vendors, especially those at scenic spots, and when you get changes back, check carefully in case they are counterfeit money.
k) Dress down, leave expensive jewelry and watches at home and don't show large amounts of cash or traveler's check in public.
l) During your tour, when you have free time, you may want to go somewhere on your own by taxi, it's better have your hotel arrange taxi service for you, take a hotel card with you or ask your tour guide / receptionist to write down the names of the hotels and places you want to go in both English and Chinese before getting in the car. Remember the number of the taxi in case you leave anything in it.
m) Prepare a matchbook with some useful words and phrases both in Chinese and English . You can show the matchbook to a policeman or a local people if you need to find out and say like: "Where is the restrooms?" or "Where is KFC?" etc.
n) Respect the customs of local people, especially when you go to visit the areas of different minorities, ask your tour guides about the proper etiquettes, behaviors, manners and taboos to avoid offending people.
o) Most people in China are friendly, and some of them are eager to practice English, it is delightful to talk with them, but never go to anywhere with a stranger.
p) If you are to take the train during your tour in China, be sure you take your train at the right railway station because some of the big cities in China may have two or more railway stations, and when you get to the railway station, be careful with all your properties since the railway stations in China are always crowded, and never entrust your luggage to someone not in uniform. While you are on the train, be sure your passport, your credit cards and all valuable things are put in a safe place
Getting Around On Your Own
If you have free time, and want to explore cities on your own, get a of the city or area and the card of the hotel and the mobile phone of your guide in case you get lost and need the help.
In most cities in China , there are quite a lot taxis available, which are cars painted either in red or yellow or green. Taxi fares may vary from city to city but they are supposed to be marked on the taxi window, and the taxi drivers are supposed to use taximeter when you get on the taxi.
Most taxi drivers do not understand English, it is better for you to have your destinations written down in Chinese so that you can show the address to the taxi driver, and don't forget to ask for a receipt or remember the number of the taxi in case you leave something in the taxi.
Phone Cards & Long-Distance Calling
Apart from calling IDD from your hotel room, there are various phone cards available in post offices inside hotels or at most newsstands on the street in China . Among them IC card and IP card are the most popular ones.
Most public telephones you see in booths are IC telephones, which allow you to call home directly. IC card is issued by China Telecom; international calls with IC telephone cards are relatively expensive, usually over 10 RMB/M. When you buy an IC card and want to call back home, simply just find a telephone booth either in hotel, restaurant, airport or some other places, insert the card into the phone, follow the vocal instructions to dial the number you want.
IP cards are issued by different issuers such as China Telecom, China Unicom, China Netcom and China Jitong, thus the Rates for international calls are different. China Unicom's rate for calls to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan usually is 1.5 RMB/M, 2.6 RMB/M to America and Canada while 3.6 RMB/M to other countries. The others' rates for international calls are either a little bit higher or lower than that of China Unicom. Currently, the IP phone service has covered the whole country, providing international service between China and over 200 countries and regions. There will be instruction on each IP card to tell you how to make a call, you can use the hotel phone to call with IP card and the hotel usually will charge some fare as that of city call.
Please note: some of the IC cards or IP cards can be used only in certain provinces or regions, so please check it and also the expired date before you purchase them.
P.S.
The following is how to dial international call from China :
00+country code + region code + phone number
Mobile Phones
In China, GSM networks operated by China Mobile provide coverage in every major city, while CDMA network run by China Unicom is improving its coverage, so if you have a dual band or tri band mobile phone or use COSMOTE card, then you can use your mobile phone in China in most big cities, though any calls you make will be considered long-distance.
A cheaper option is to buy GSM SIM card, which is a telephone number. There are mainly two kinds you can choose: Shenzhouxing issued by China Mobile, Ruyitong issued by China Unicom. Usually when you buy SIM card, no document is required but prepaid charge and you need to finish using that amount of prepaid charge before indicated date. You can buy charging card in amount of 50 RMB and 100 RMB to recharge in post offices, stores and newsstands easily.
You Internet Access can use the Internet service in the business center of the hotels; some rooms of certain hotels have the internet access, in which you can use your own computer.
And internet cafes are a booming business in China and you should have no difficulty in finding one in cities, big or small, the charges in those internet cafes may be cheaper, but please don't go and stay there for too late for the sake of safety.
Public Facilities
In China , most public toilets are squatting ones which can be found in commercial areas and are usually well-marked. If you need to answer the nature's call, look for a "WC" sign. A useful word to know is cesuo , which is Chinese for toilet. Some public toilets require a small fee, others are free. Most public toilets don't supply toilet paper, so it is advisable to always carry some tissue paper with you at all times. If you can't seem to find a washroom, try to find a McDonalds or KFC, where there is a clean washroom available.
Medical care in China
Hotels usually have access to a doctor if you need one. If your condition is serious, you will be taken to hospital. In emergency, our guides or staff at the hotels will help you call the ambulance or at 120 in each city.
Excellent medical care is readily available in China at hospitals and clinics in major cities. Doctors generally do not have private offices outside the hospitals. Our tour guides are well trained to handle emergencies and will make all necessary arrangements. Medical care in China is not expensive as in western countries.
Keep FitThe best way to stay healthy while traveling is to practice preventive medicine. Changes in climate and time can cause stress to the most seasoned traveler, especially for the first one or two days. Tour schedules in China sometimes are strenuous, so please learn to pace yourself. Rest and seek treatment as soon as any sign of illness appears.
vPut on proper clothes according to the weather in different city/area.
In summer time, do put on sunglasses, sunhat, and sunscreen. Drink plenty of water and change the clothes after sweating a lot as soon as possible.
Photography
You may photograph in most locations, except in most museums and archeological sites (notably the main pit of the ), while some institutions allow you to take photos if you pay a fee in advance.
Do ask for permission first if you try to take photos of people closely.
Color print film, memory stick for digital camera is widely available, especially in the medium-sized and big cities, black and white or slide film much less so. Video film can be found but not always readily. All security X-ray machines on mainland China and at Hong Kong airport are film-safe.
It is advisable to have filters with you as sometimes it might be hazy in the city/area you are to visit. |
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As the time flies to 21 century, tipping is no longer illegal in China since 1980s. Tipping for tour guides and drivers in recognition of their good service has become a common practice. Hotel bellboys and house keepers expect your tips as well. It is not customary to leave tips at hotel or local restaurants as the bill usually includes 10-15% service charge.
ChinaKindnessTours does not include tipping in our quotation as tipping is a personal matter. If you don't know what the proper amount for tipping would be, the following standard is for your reference:
1) If you are traveling in a small party like 2 to 5 members, We suggest approximately US $8 to US $10 /per guest per day as tips for tour guide and US $4 to US $6 for the driver and about US $2 to US $3 for hotel bellboys as a gratitude for their service.For example, if 2 of you are traveling together and will stay in Beijing for 3 nights, the tip from both of you may be from US$48 to US$60 for the tour guide, US$24 to US$36 for the driver.
But, for active tours like hiking, biking, rafting, we suggest you double the tipping.
2) If you are traveling in a party like 6 to 9 members, We suggest US $6 to US $8 /per guest per day as tips for the tour guide and US $3 to US $5 for the driver and about US $1 to US $2 for hotel bellboys as a gratitude for their service.
3) If you are traveling in a group with more than 10 people, We suggest US $3 to US $5 /per guest per day as tips for the tour guide and US $2 to US $3 for the driver and about US $3 to US $5 for hotel bellboys as a gratitude for their service.
The above is for your reference only, again tipping is a personal matter, you can always adjust the amount based on your satisfaction with the service you get from your tour guides, drivers, bellboys and so on.
Shopping Guide in China
Besides all the sightseeing and activities, you may feel like doing some shopping. The following are some suggestions about shopping in China :
1) It is better for you to buy goods at department stores and factories, where the quality of the goods can be guaranteed and you don't have to worry about the things such as you may get the fake money back.
2) It is better for you to buy local specialties in different cities rather than buy everything in one city. Because China is a big country; different cities are famous for different items. For example, is famous for cloisonn¨¦ & cashmere sweaters, Xian is famous for replica of Terra Cotta soldiers and rugs and antiques, and is famous for jade, Hangzhou for tea & fresh water pearl, Suzhou for silk, for scroll Chinese paintings and China South Sea Pearls.
3) Please do not feel obligate to shop.
In order to fulfill your needs to buy goods with Chinese characteristics as souvenirs and gifts, our guides may offer you shopping opportunities, but, sometimes, you may think you do not want to go at all, in this case, please do not feel embarrassed to tell our guides directly. And also in the shops, do not feel obligate to buy anything because the shop attendants are very kind to you.
4) Ask your tour guides and shop attendants whether you can get some discounts before you pay for the goods, even over the counters in some department stores.
5) When you buy antiques, make sure they do not date before 1795 AD, as antiques that date before 1795 AD are forbidden for sale or export. And those dated between 1796 and 1949 should bear a small red seal and a Certificate for Relics Export from the regional Cultural Relics Bureau, to allow them to be taken out of China. The seal also proves the genuineness of the items. Please keep the receipts well indicating the name and age of the antiques, since you may have to show them when departing China . |
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