CHINA

China officially known as the People's Republic of China is a vast a beautiful country located in eastern Europe. China has much natural beauty and ranges from mostly plateaus and mountains in the west to lower lands in the east. With nearly 4,000 years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest civilizations. Prior to the 19th century, it possessed one of the most advanced societies and economies in the world. China is a very diverse place with large variations in culture, language and custom. The major cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai are modern and comparatively wealthy. China is a huge country with endless and affordable travel opportunities. Due to overcrowding it is necessary to book travel well in advance.

Location:
Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam.

Area:
9,596,961 sq km

Capital:
Beijing

Neighbouring countries:
Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea 1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Mongolia 4,677 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605 km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km

Coastline:
14,500 km

Climate:
extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m

Population:
1,336,718,015 (July 2011 est.)

Ethnic groups:
Han Chinese 91.5%, Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uighur, Tujia, Yi, Mongol, Tibetan, Buyi, Dong, Yao, Korean, and other nationalities 8.5% (2000 census)

Religions:
Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2%

Languages:
Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, and Basque 2% (official regionally)

Getting to China
Most travelers will need a visa to visit mainland China. In most cases, this should be obtained from a Chinese embassy or consulate before departure. Visas for Hong Kong and Macau can be obtained through a Chinese embassy or consulate, but must be applied for separately from the mainland Chinese visa. However, citizens from most Western countries do not need visas to visit Hong Kong and Macau. Getting a tourist visa is fairly easy for most passports as you don't need an invitation, which is required for business or working visas.

The usual tourist single-entry visa is valid for a visit of 30 days and must be used within three months of the date of issue. A double-entry tourist visa must be used within six months of the date of issue. It is possible to secure a tourist visa for up to 90 days for citizens of some countries. Some travellers will need a dual entry or multiple entry visa. For example, if you enter China on a single entry visa, then go to Hong Kong or Macau, you need a new visa to re-enter mainland China.

While many major airlines now fly to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, budget seats are often scarce. For good offers, book as early as possible. Chineese airlines include China Southern, China Eastern, Air China, and Hainan Airlines. Fliers may prefer Asian airlines as they generally have more cabin staff and quality service.

China can be reached by train from many of its neighboring countries and even all the way from Europe. The two lines within Europe and Russia - Trans-Siberian Railway (Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian) run between Moscow and Beijing, stopping in various other Russian cities, and for the Trans-Mongolian, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. There is regular services link mainland China with Hong Kong.

Customs regulations:
Entry : Tourists must fill out a baggage declaration form (in two copies) and hand it in to customs, retaining the carbon to show upon exit. Personal belongings will be admitted duty free, including food, two bottles of liquor and two cartons of cigarettes. Wristwatches, radios, tape recorders, cameras, movie cameras, and similar items may be brought in for personal use but cannot be sold or transferred to others and must be brought out of China. Gifts for relatives or friends in China, or articles carried on behalf of other, must also be declared. Visitors can bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currency and Chinese renminbi traveler's checks, and the unspent portion can be taken out. Bringing in the following articles is prohibited :
1. Arms, ammunition, and explosives of all kinds
2. Radio transmitters-receivers and principal parts
3. Renminbi (Chinese currency) in cash
4. Manuscripts, printed matter, films, photographs, gramophone records, cinematographic films, loaded recording tapes and videotapes, etc. which are detrimental to China's politics, economy, culture, and ethics
5. Poisonous drugs, habit-forming drugs, opium, morphine, heroin, etc.
6. Animals, plants and products thereof infected with or carrying germs and insect pests
7. Unsanitary foodstuffs and germ-carrying food-stuffs from infected areas
8. Other articles the import of which is prohibited by state regulations

Exit: On leaving China, tourists must again submit the baggage declaration form for customs inspection (the second copy). Travelers by ship are exempted. Items purchased in China with RMB converted from foreign currencies may be taken out or mailed out of the country after receipts are presented for customs inspection. In cities where a Customs Office does not exit, this can be arranged through the local Friendship Store. Taking out the following articles is prohibited :
1. Arms, ammunition, and explosives of all kinds
2. Radio transmitters-receivers and principal parts
3. Renminbi (Chinese currency) in cash and negotiable securities in RMB
4. Unratified foreign currency, foreign notes or drafts
5. Manuscripts, printed matter, films, photographs, gramophone records, cinematographic films, loaded recording tapes and videotapes, etc. which are detrimental to China's national security
6. Rare and precious copies of books about Chinese revolution, history, culture and art that are not for sale
7. Valuable animals, plants, and seeds
8. Precious metals, pearls, and jewels (things declared to the customs are exempted)
9. Other articles the export of which is prohibited by state regulations

Health and safety:
Tourists requiring urgent medical care should go to the nearest hospital emergency room (airports and many train stations also have medical teams and first aid facilities). Those with serious illnesses or allergies should always carry a special note from their physicians certifying in detail the treatments in progress or that may be necessary.

Electricity:
Electricity in China is 220 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to China with a device that does not accept 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter. Outlets in China generally accept 2 types of plug: Flat blade plug and V-shaped flat prongs. If your appliances plug has a different shape, you may need a plug adapter. Depending on how much you plan to travel in the future, it may be worthwhile to get a combination voltage converter and plug adapter.

Emergency numbers in China:
The following emergency telephone numbers work in all areas of China; calling them from a cell phone is free.

Patrol Police: 110

Fire Department: 119

(Government-owned) Ambulance/EMS: 120

(some areas private-owned) Ambulance: 999

Traffic Police: 122

Directory inquiries: 114

Consumer Protection: 12315

Buying in China
The official currency of the People's Republic of China is the renminbi ("People's Money"), often abbreviated RMB. The base unit of this currency is the yuan, international currency code CNY. All prices in China are given in yuan, usually either as ¥ or 元. The RMB is not legal tender in the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, both of which issue their own currencies.

Although still restricted, yuan is readily convertible in many countries, especially in Asia. The Hong Kong dollar, U.S. dollar, Canadian dollar, Euro, British pound, Australian dollar, Japanese yen and South Korean won can be easily changed in China. Southeast Asian currencies are generally not accepted, the exception being Singapore dollars, which can be changed at all major banks and licensed money changers.

ATMs are all over the country but most ATMs outside the large cities that accept Cirrus, PLUS, VISA and MasterCard network are owned by Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank. In big cities like Shanghai most ATMs will take Visa/Plus/MC/Maestro/Cirrus, and it's only cash advances from Diner's Club, American Express, or JCB cards that are an issue. For visitors from Hong Kong or Macau, the only ATMs that natively take JETCO cards are Bank of East Asia ATMs. Most ATMs will charge a small and flat fee.

For those who want to shop for souvenirs to take home, they can look around, apart from large department stores and shopping malls, in some of the open markets such as the Xiushui Street and Panjiayuan Antique Market in Beijing. Unlike large department stores where the prices are fixed, these places are where you can and you must bargain. Your local tour guides or hosts are the best help when you go to these places. They will prove essential in finding the real stuff and bringing the prices down.

China has five major annual holidays:

National Day - 1 October

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival - late January/mid-February

Labor Day or May Day - 1 May

Dragon Boat Festival - 5th day of the 5th lunar month, usually May-June (16 June in 2010).

Mid-Autumn Day - 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually October (22 Sep in 2010).

These are not one-day holidays; nearly all workers get at least a week for Chinese New Year, some get two or three, and students get four to six weeks. For Labor Day and National Day, a week is typical.

World Cultural Heritage sites:
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Cultural Heritage List is a short index of some of the world’s most precious sites. It is no small feat to satisfy the stringent criteria of the UNESCO for any site to be included on this list. Monuments, groups of buildings, works of man or combined works of nature and man have to be of “outstanding value from the point of view of history, art or science.” This is a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China. China has 40, ranking third in the world. These sites comprise some of the most essential part of China's valuable and rich tourism resources. Of these 40 there are 28 cultural heritage sites, seven are natural heritage sites, and four are cultural and natural (mixed) sites.

Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, including the Forbidden City and Mukden Palace
- Beijing (the Forbidden City) and Shenyang (Mukden Palace)

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor - Xi'an, Shaanxi province

Mogao Caves - Dunhuang, Gansu province

Mount Taishan - Shandong province

Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian - Beijing municipality

The Great Wall - Northern China

Mount Huangshan - Anhui province

Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area - Sichuan province

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area - Sichuan province

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area - Hunan province

Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains

Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, including the Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka - Lhasa, Tibet

Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples in Chengde - Hebei province

Temple and Cemetery of Confucius, and the Kong Family Mansion - Qufu, Shandong province

Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area - Sichuan province

Lushan National Park - Jiangxi province

Ancient City of Ping Yao - Shanxi province

Classical Gardens of Suzhou - Jiangsu province

Old Town of Lijiang - Yunnan province

Summer Palace - Beijing

Temple of Heaven - Beijing

Dazu Rock Carvings - Chongqing municipality

Mount Wuyi - Fujian province

Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun - Anhui province

Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties,
including the Ming Dynasty Tombs and the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum - Beijing

Longmen Grottoes - Luoyang, Henan province

Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System - Sichuan province

Yungang Grottoes - Datong, Shanxi province

Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas - Yunnan province

Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula

Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom - Jilin province

Historic Centre of Macau - Macau

Yin Xu - Henan province

Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Sichuan province

Kaiping Diaolou and Villages - Guangdong province

South China Karst - Yunnan, Guizhou provinces and Chongqing municipality

Fujian Tulou - Fujian province

Sanqingshan - Jiangxi province

Mount Wutai - Shanxi province

Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth” - Henan province

China Danxia - Hunan, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and Guizhou provinces