China Travel Tip

• TIME DIFFERENCE
• CURRENCY & EXCHANGE
• SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
• MOBILE PHONES
• MAJOR HOLIDAYS
• ELECTRICITY
• CHINESE WEIGHTS & MEASURES
• PHONE & COMMUNICATIONS
• TIPS, SERVICE CHARGES & TAX
• ENGLISH AT YOUR SERVICE
• CUSTOMS
• TRAVELERS CHEQUES
• CREDIT CARDS
• ATMS
• DRIVING LICEMSES & RESTRICTIONS
• PHONE CARS & LONG-DISTANCE CALLING
• INTERNET

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- TIME DIFFERENCE

Time in all of China is officially set to Beijing time, which is eight hours ahead of GMT. However, since China takes up a large piece of longitude, people in the wesrern regions of Xinjiang and Tibet adjust their schedules a couplehours earlier according to the sun. The following are some examples of time differences with other major cities in the world.

Noon in Beijing means it's:

2pm in Sydney　1pm in Tokyo　7am in Moscow　6am in Johannesburg　5am in Berlin　4am in London

- CURRENCY & EXCHANGE

Most major currencies can be exchanged into Chinese money which is called renminbi (RMB renminbi) or" people's money ." The basic unit called yuan (yuan)or colloquially known as the kuai (kuai) One yuan is divided into 10jiao(jiao), which is also called a mao(mao) . One jiao is further divided into 10 fen(fen) . Foreign currency can be exchanged at airports, border crossings, tourist hotels, some large shopping centers and major branches of Bank of China(zhongguo yinhang) . Exchange rates are subject to change so it's best to check your local bank or the many websites that offer conversion information.

- SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

China is generally safe for foreigners though there are some things travelers should be aware of. Crimes against travelers are rare. It's best not to leave valuables in your hotel room while you're gone. Take advantage of their security box if they offer one. General safety precautions and common sense should be used.

When taking a metered taxi, the driver pushes down the medallion at the start of the ride-this engages the meter. If your driver should fail to engage it, remind him to use the meter(da biao) . At the end of the ride, pay the amount shown on the meter-the only surcharge may be highway toll fees. Taxi drivers don't expect tips. You can ask for your receipt(fapiao) which will list the driver's identification and company telephone number. These are useful numbers to have if you've left something in the cab or wish to lodge a complaint.

- MOBILE PHONES

Having a mobile phone during your stay in China can be extremely practical , especially of you're traveling on business. China has both GSM and CDMA networks, though the former is fat more popular. You can bring your tri-band phone from home and it'll work with the Chinese networks, though any calls you make will be considered long-distance. A cheaper option, and one that is especially attractive to people who visit frequently, is to acquire a local telephone number. To do so, simply buy a SIM card (SIM), which is a telephone number, at any mobile phone store and insert it with your phone-don't forget to replace it with your original card when you go home. (Incidentally, cell phone numbers which contain lucky digits, like"8" , which sounds like"wealth" in Chinese, are more expensive than those with unlucky ones, like"4" which sounds like"death." )Once you have a local number, purchase a prepaid calling card(chongzhika), they come in denominations of RMB 50, 100,30,and 500-add it to yoour SIM card start dialing.

Prepaid cards are sold in cell phone shops, convenience stores and newsstands. Replace as needed.

- MAJOR HOLIDAYS

Here's a list of major holidays :

• New Year's Day January 1
• Spring Festival(Chinese New Year) late-January or early-February
• Lantern Festival early February
• Tomb Sweeping Day(Qing Ming Festival) early April
• International Labor Day May 1
• Dragon Boat Festival falls in June
• Mid-Autumn Festival falls in September
• National Day October 1

- ELECTRICITY

Voltage is 220v in China . Most outlets fit two-pronged parallel of three-pronged triangular plugs. Converters of 110v to 240v may be hard to find.

- CHINESE WEIGHTS & MEASURES

The metric system is used in China, though Chinese weights are still common.The Chinese jin (jin),which is equal to half a kilogram (gongjin) , is used by street venders-but not in supermarkets. The Chinese word for kilometer is gongli (gongli) , this is used by taxi meters and road signs Another useful word is mi (mi) , which is Chinese for meter.

- PHONE & COMMUNICATIONS

Police: 110　Fire: 119　Ambulance: 120

- TIPS, SERVICE CHARGES & TAX

Tips are not expected for most services. Many mid-range and high-end restaurants and hotels include a service fee in the bill-so tipping is not expected and may even be refused of you try, exceptions to this rule include hotel porters and tour guides who gladly appreciate them. Taxes are included in the stated prices.

- ENGLISH AT YOUR SERVICE

Higher-end hotels have staff with English abilities and Western food establishments.Large shopping centers and a few small.vendors will be able to execute transactions in English. Most bars and high-end Chinese restaurants near hotels have English-language menus and a staff with basic English knowledge. Taxi drivers are beginning to learn English though most know very little beyond "hello" and "goodbye." Try to exercise patience when encountering someone who does not speak English and hope they'll do the same if you don't speak Chinese.

- CUSTOMS

There are restrictions on the type of things you can bring into and take From China.These limits include the amount of cigarettes (400) and wine or spirits (4 bottles) that can be imported. Cash amounts that exceed USD 35,00 must be declared at customs upon entering China. Perishable goods are prohibited to import. Jewelry,cultural relics, gold and silver items and handicrafts bought in China are required to be shown to customs when departing.Customs reserves the right to confiscate articles deemed "cultural treasures,"which are items dated earlier than 1795.

- TRAVELERS CHEQUES

Hotels in China accept travelers cheques from their guests and the exchange rate is slightly higher than cash. Large Bank of China branches also accept them,though it's Convenient to do so at the airport upon arrival. You'll need to keep exchange receipts if you plan on exchanging back into the original currency. If your cheques are issued from a major company, there shouldn't be a problem in cashing them. If you are uncertain,check with the hotel beforehand.

- CREDIT CARDS

Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted in China but are still the domain of upscale venues. Some places advertise with the Visa logo but only accept Chinese cards;ask if they accept international cards. Cash advances are also possible but only at major Bank of China locations where a commission and a minirnurn amount is usually stipulated.

- ATMS

Automated Teller Machines(ATMs) are found throughout large cities like Beijing,Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen though more are appearing elsewhere Airports, large banks and some hotels have ATMs that spit out RMB directly. There is a maximum daily withdrawal limit. Cirrus,Mastercard. Visa and American Express are among the accepted credit cards and Hong Kong and Macau have a number of others. It's not a good idea to completely rely on ATMs,as they are prone to disrepair.

- DRIVING LICEMSES & RESTRICTIONS

Foreigners who want ro drive in China require an International Driving Permit, this can be arranged at the local PSB. However,there are extensive restrictions on inter-city driving. Cars can be rented in HongKong and Macau relatively hassle free. if you're renting a car in Beijing or Shanghai, you'll be restricted within the city limits. Information on drivers-for-hire can he found in ex-pat entertainment magazines.

- PHONE CARS & LONG-DISTANCE CALLING

Internet Phone cards (IP) are very common in China. They can be found in hotels, news kiosks, airports and many stores. These cards can be used for domestic long distance and international calls. international rates run from RMB 2.5 to 3.5 per minute. Conventional phone cards are twice the price and are found only in hotels and telecommunication shops Dialing direct and calling collect are more expensive options.

For local calls, a mobile phone isn't a necessity since there are many card-operated phone booths in the city-one can purchase the necessary"IC" phone cards (IC) in mom-and-pop shops, newsstands sad phone stores. Furthermore, many small shops prominently display(usually red) phones that customers can use for a fee.

- INTERNET

Internet cafes are a booming business in China and you should have no trouble finding one in cities, big or small. Besides internet bars,tourist hotels universities and libraries should be connected, connections speed may be slow.