12. While traveling in China
Customs Entry Formalities:
Usually before you arrive to your first point of entry into China, airline crews will
ask you to fill out a health card before you passing through customs. Upon entering China,
travelers must also complete a customs declaration form listing the valuables or amount of
foreign currency being brought into the country. A copy of the form will be collected upon
exit.
What should I bring and show for check-in for domestic flights in China?
You should have your ticket(has the same name as it appears on your passport), valid
passport with China visa, China airport tax coupon(each airport)
What do you do when check-in at the airport?
Besides showing your valid ID. Ticket and tax coupon, you need to check-in your
non-carryon luggage. You may need to pay for the overweight luggage.
What do you get after check-in at the airport?
You will get your boarding pass and luggage receipt. The boarding pass is for board
on the plane. The luggage is for picking up luggage upon arrival the desination.
What do you do after check-in at the airport?
Make sure the time to board and wait for boarding on the boarding at the right
entrance.
How can I arrange my international arrival and departure transfer if I am land only?
You may choose to arrange the international arrival/departure transfer on your own,
taking taxi or use hotel shuttle service.Or you may request this service from us by providing
the international flights schedule. This service costs about $15-$50 pp.
Will language a problem in China since I don’t understand Chinese ?
In big cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, some people can speak English. In 3, 4 and
5 star hotels, everyone is required to speak good English. Mandarin is spoken throughout
China. People in Hong Kong and part of mainland China speak Cantonese. English is the
first foreign language of China and becoming more and more popular. But even though,
without a English-speaking guide, you need to have some important information both in
Chinese and English in case you need help to go back.
Note: In each hotel you stay, you can get hotel information card both in
English and Chineses at the front desk.
The local guide can not enter through the airport terminal security check point for my
boarding, how will we know where the gate is located?
Generally, after you go through the security check point, you will enter the airport
lounge. Both the Screen Banners on the wall and the broadcasting announcement will remind
passengers of the fight number and schedules. For any problem, you can get help from the
airport stuff. Meanwhile you need to pay attention to the announcement, which will be
repeated in Chinese and English.
Upon your arrival at the airport, how can I find my guide without him entering through
the airport terminal security check point?
After you arrive in a city, our guide will meet you at the airport. He/She will await
you at the arrival exit, holding a board with your nameson it. You need to navigate
through the terminal building by yourself before you reach our guide. Try to ask the
airport staff for help if you have any problems. Please pay attention to the board with
your name when you reach the gate.
If due to the overcrowded passengers, you may not see your guide, you should remain
staying at the same exit spot.
If after the crowded is gone, you still can’t find the guide, you should make a
call to contact the local person which is listed on your final document.
Airport transfer for people who made their own flights arrangements:
If you make your own flight arrangements, you will be responsible for making your own
airport arrival/departure transfer. If you miss the tour due to the late flight arriving,
Yangtze Cruises, Inc will not be responsible.
Can taxi drivers at the airport understand English?
If you decide to take taxi to the hotel upon your international arrival, we suggest you
have your hotel's name address and phone number written both in English and China to
show the taxi driver. The tour final documents provided by Yangtze Cruises, Inc will have
this kind of thing sent to you before your trip.
Knowledge about the Chinese money:
China's legal currency is Renminbi (RMB). Foreign currencies can not be used directly
in China, though some shops illegally accept foreign currencies.
Renminbi (RMB) Yuan is the Chinese currency. USD $1= RMB yuan 8 (reference
only). We recommendyou bring your major credit cards, traveler’s check and
small amount of cash. Most hotels and shops in big cities accept major credit cards. You
can change your traveler's check into local money in the hotel exchange counter.
Usually the exchange rate is a little higher than cash exchange. Personal checks
are usually not accepted. In Hong Kong, the local currency is HK dollar. USD $ 1=
7.5 HK dollars(average rate for reference only).
The basic unit of RMB is yuan. 1 yuan (or kuai) =10 jiao (or mao), and 1 jiao = 10 fen.
RMB is available in both paper notes and coins.
Hong Kong uses HK dollars.
Foreign currencies may be converted into RMB at all local banks (into HK $ in HK), bank
branches or hotels at the exchange rate quoted on the foreign exchange marker on the day.
Special NOTES:
Black market in foreign currency is forbidden in China. People may approach you in front
of hotels, at tourist spots or at banks for a black market exchange. You should be
extremely careful. The exchange rate may be attractive--higher than the bank rate--but it
is illegal and you risk being cheated.
When you exchange money at the banks, you should ask for a certificate, with which you
can change RMB back to foreign currency before you depart the country.
The official exchange rate at this time is 8.2 yuan to 1 U.S dollar. Keep the receipt of
the transaction as you might need when you leave China to change your US dollars back in
Bank of China at the airport.
What credit cards are accepted in China?
Most of the internationally accepted credit cards are usable in China. They include:
Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diner's Club, and the JCB card of Japan.
Credit cards are accepted only in large shopping malls and stores. Credit card symbols are
displayed in the visible place in shops and hotels indicating credit cards are accepted.
Do the major banks have ATM (automatic transaction machine) machines where I may
withdraw money at any time or do I have to go through a clerk during business hours? If
so, are banks open on Saturday?
You can withdraw money (Chinese Yuan) from ATM machines of Bank of China at any time. And
you can also transact through the bank clerk.
Their working hours are 9: 00AM -17: 30PM from Monday to Friday. On Saturday and Sunday,
the working hours normally are 9:00AM - 1:00PM, but it may vary with banks. So you are
recommended to transact it during the working days. The ATM machine of Bank of China can
accept most foreign credit cards, such as VISA, American Express, Master Card etc.
May I take Chinese currency to China for my convenience? Is it illegal to import or
export Chinese currency?
Generally you need not take Chinese currency to China since you can easily exchange you
US$ into Chinese Rmb in hotels and banks. However if you would like to have local currency
upon your arrival in China, it is okay that you may take a volume of Chinese currency less
than 6,000 Rmb without declaration at the customs. You are required to declare your import
of Chinese currency exceeding 6,000 Rmb.
Traveller's check:
The Bank of China has an agreement with foreign financial organizations on selling,
cashing in and compensating for traveller's cheques.
Which traveller's cheques are handled by the Bank of China?
Issued by Currencies
- Thomas Cook USD HKD DEM FRF CAD
AUD JPY CHF GBP
- International Payment Co. USD GBP CAD
- American Express Co. USD DEM FRF
- Citibank USD
- Nanyang Commercial Bank USD HKD
- Swiss Bank CHF
- Bank of Tokyo JPY
- Mitsui Bank JPY
- Sumitomo Bank JPY
- Fuji Bank JPY
If you have any problems, please contact the Bank of China, Beijing Branch (Tel: 63035128)
Where can I find Internet in China?
Most 4 or 5 hotels provide convenient Internet service with reasonable fees. In most
big cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Qingdao, you can easiliy find internet café,
usually no drinks supplied.
How to dress while you travel?
During the day-time tour, shirt, T-shirt, jeans, Shorts and sneaker are all very
practicle. The regular daily 3 meals too.
Unless there is a show or special dinner, it is nice to dress up as you used to do in
your own country. But that doesn’t mean you need to pack several suits or dresses
even if there are several special occasions during your trip.
Do we pay the airport departure tax and construction fees in local currency or US$?
All the fees are payable in local currency and in cash only at a special airport tax
desk at each local airport before check in.
What type of meals we are going to get during our tour in China?
Breakfast will be arranged in the hotels you stay. Sometime American Buffet,
sometime Chinese Buffet.
The day meals listed in your itinerary are usually pre-arranged and fixed for the group
and will consist of Chinese delicacies and a limited choice of western foods. If you like
Chinese - you will enjoy! If you don't-- you always can order other meals on the
menu, please note that extra cost for this extra order may apply. It should be paid by
youself before you leave the restaurant. If you don't feel the local Chinese meal is
better that you have in the US. Please don't blame the restaurant, since most of
overseas Chinese restaurants are westernized.
For the meals you showed in the itinerary, are they pre-arranged or could we make our
own orders when we sit down at the table?
To guarantee the hygiene and quality, all the meals during the tour are pre-arranged
in the government approved restaurants, which are all of set-menu. People cannot make
their own orders at this point. If you have special requirements, please inform us before
the tour starts, so we can make arrangements accordingly.
In my itinerary, no meal is arranged (included), how can we choose restauraunt while we
are in China?
You have the following several choices:
- Use restauraunts in the hotel.
- Government approved restaurant for foreigners
- Travel guide book'ss recommendation
What is about Tang Dynasty Dinner Show and dinner in Xi'an?
There are two kinds of The shows in Xi'an, one is the Deluxe Tang Dynasty Dinner
Show, which is what on our web site, the other we believe is the one you have had. These
two shows are held in different places, the Deluxe one is held at No.75, Changan Lu,
Xi'an; the other one, called Tang Dynasty Palace Music and Dances show is held at No.5,
Weiyi Bei Lu, Xi'an.
Do we eat Chinese food throughout the trip?
Most of the meals we offered are Chinese food, but we defer to your preferences and
opinions. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Will any drink be provided in daily meals?
Limited bottle spring water and soft drink will be provided, if you want more, you need
to pay.
Do we have our meals with our guides?
Yes, the guide and the driver will dine in the same restaurant with you. But, they will
not share a table with you without your invitation.
Do we share large tables and pre-ordered meals with other people?
If you are individual traveler, our guide will arrange an individual table for two of
you. If you travel with a pre-arranged group, you will share a large table with other
people. Usually 6-10 people on one table.
If you have some special requirements, please inform us so that arrangements could be
made in advance.
How many famous dish systems in China? What are their characters?
There are mainly eight dish systems in China, namely, Shandong cuisine, Sichuan
cuisine, Guangdong cuisine, Fujian cuisine, Jiangsu cuisine, Zhejiang cuisine, Hunan
cuisine and Anhui cuisine.
For more detailed information about the Chinese cuisine and food culture, please see our
website www.chinaplanner.com.
What kind of restaurants we will be eating in during our tour?
All of the restaurants we use for our tours are all approved by the national tourism
administration, therefore they are dependable in terms of hygiene and quality.
But we respect you choice if you prefer arranging your meals by yourself. We will deduct
the cost of the meals from the quotation.
Can I arrange my own meal rather than the pre-arranged restaurants in the tours?
In a guided tour, having lunch with the group is easier for you to enjoy the tour, and
it's easier for us to operate the tour. You may arrange your own dinner.
You already paid for the tour and all the meals, but you would like to have some special
cuisine in some city?
Let you guide know beforehead, find out if there is extra charge for this change. The
extra cost need to be paid by you after each meal.
What are the suggestions for dinners that are not included in the program?
Generally, cities all have their unique local dishes and snacks. You can consult it
with your local guide and she/he will give you suggestions on what to eat and where to
eat. Also you can follow-up the travel guide book’s recommendation.
You only need remember always to choose a restaurant which is dependable in terms of
hygiene and quality.
How much Chinese Yuan we will need for meals we need to buy during our tour? Do they
accept credit cards?
The meal price depends on the grade of the restaurant you choose and the food you
order. Basically, the meals listed in the tour itineraries are RMB 50-80.00 net per person
for each meal. Local speciality cuisine dinner such as Beijing Roast Duch starts from RMB
80 pp.
Credit card is only accepted in large hotels. For most of the restaurants in China, Cash
in Chinese Yuan is acceptable. So bring some cash in Chinese Yuan before enjoy your meal.
Usually what type of meals we are going to get during our stay in HK.
Usually we don't arrange any meal in HK. Since most of travelers would like to
enjoy leisure on own during the stay in HK, besides HK has too many interesting meals to
be pre-arranged, So while you wondering around, you may decide to try anything you want.
Can I drink tap water? Where can I buy bottle water?
Do not drinking tap water anywhere while traveling, even if you are in 5 star
hotels. It is much safer to bring bottle-water which can be purchased at your hotels and
at many local shops or ask advise from our local guide. Usually it's less expensive
in local shops than in hotels.
If I have special diets, such as vegetarian, dairy alegic or religious restriction.
Please advise us while you make travel booking from us if you have any specific dietary
considerations. We will accordingly inform the local service in China to take care of this
as well as taking care of your tours. Please double check with your local guide (or
national guide).
What would happen if the flight delay/cancel?
Flight delay/cancel is out of control of Yangtze Cruises, Inc and all our local
services. We don’t take any responsibility for the air delay/cancellation and losing
any tours caused by the delay/cancellation. But please be assured that Yangtze Cruises,
Inc and all our local services will make every effort to achieve the best possible
alternate arrangements. Under such circumstances, we would appreciate your patience and
understanding.
What about the Taxi in China? Taxi rate? Taxi cost from airport to the hotel?
In big cities, there are luxurious sedans at a higher rate. In small cities or towns,
taxi's condition are less luxurious. You can hardly find taxi, especially at night.
Taxi fares vary from city to city but they are required by the government to have the rate
clearly marked on the taxi window.
Most taxi drivers do not understand much English, although those in tourist cities are
encouraged to learn and speak some simple English. Non-Chinese speaking visitors are
advised to have their destinations written down in both Chinese and English and show the
address to the cab driver. Taxi rate is about USD1-2 averagely.
In most of China cities, airport is about 1hour away from downtown driving. The cost is
about $15-35. Except in Guangzhou, the airport is very close to downtown.
What kind of vehicles we will be on during our tour in China?
This depends on how many people in the tour group. All the vehicles are
air-conditioned, clean, comfortable, non-smoking and big enough for the entire group of
people.
How about the driver?
The drivers are all well-trained and experienced. Some of them can understand
simple English. If you have any request for the driver, you may ask the guide to help your
communication.
Mail
Post offices are efficiently run and very reliable. Usually in 3, 4 and 5 star hotels,
there are free post services. If not, ask your local guide for help
First class mail overseas costs RMB YUAN 3.60..
Air mail to overseas averagely takes about 7 - 10 days.
What tour programs are available at night?
Most of the nights are not pre-arranged so that you can have a good rest or walk
around the city to catch something you are interested in. For the rest, we will arrange
programmers such as enjoying an acrobatic show, watching a Beijing Opera, having a
dumpling banquet, or attending a Tang Dynasty Dance and Song Show.
Any suggestions are welcome and we will try our best to fill your need.
What about the tour guides?
All of our guides are certificated by the national tourism administration. They are
friendly, experienced and knowledgeable and are very competent both in terms of organizing
the trip and their ability to communicate. They could deal with all kinds of unexpected
situations and help you avoid many difficulties.
How many hours per day will your guide be with me? How will be the guided tour itinerary
arranged daily.
Usually, the guide will ask you what’s your prefered morning call time and set up
the time to pick you up to start the tour. From then on, The guide will be with until you
finish the visit plan of the whole day, it may be around 5pm.
When having the tour, the guide sometimes will suggest us to see the Chinese doctor or
acupuncture, is this a good idea?
Unless you are interested in knowing that, otherwise you may choose not to go. But even
you go, you do not have to purchase any treatment.
Do I have to tip in China? How much to tip?
Tipping has become a common practice in China. It has become a very popular norm to tip
the tour guide and driver, hotel bellboy in recognition of their good service. It is not
customary to leave tips at local restaurant. Normally, you do not need to tip at hotel
restaurants, as the bill includes 10% to 15% service charge.
No tip is included in the tour cost even if you travel with a group.
We suggest $5 to $10 /per guest per day as tips for tour guide and 3 to 8 USD to the
driver and about 2$ for hotel bellboys as a gratitude for their service.
For active tours like hiking, biking, rafting, we suggest you double the tipping.
If you are traveling in group more than 10, we recommend US$5-6 / per guest per day for
the tour director and US$2-4 for the local guide in each city, $1-2 for our driver.
It's your own decision not to tip if you don't enjoy the service.
Telephone communication:
Most hotels in China today feature direct dial phones in the rooms and business centers
where faxes can be sent back home. In outlying areas where direct dial phones are not yet
available, international phone calls can be arranged through local hotel operators who
will take your number and call you back when the connection is made.
ON CRUISE SHIP: While most ships on the Yangtze are supplied with
telephone/fax capabilities, due to terrain, these can only be used while docked in certain
(not all) ports. In cases of emergency, communication is passed both ways via the
Captain's ship to shore radio.
- Dial 011+86 (COUNTRY CODE) +(CITY CODE) + number to call from the U.S. to China,
- Dial 001 + CITY CODE + NUMBER to call back the States from China.
Is it convenient to make phone calls in China? What kind of phone card is available to
foreign travelers?
IDD service is available at all hotels and post offices. China country code is 86 and
outgoing international code is 00.
It is very convenient to make phone calls in China now. Telephone booths can be seen
everywhere, in hotels, restaurants, airports as well as on the street. Various phone cards
are sold in China, available in post offices and in hotel. IC card and IP card are
recommended for convenience and comparatively low price.
Most public telephones you see in China are IC telephones, which are for local, long
distance call and IDD. Generally IC telephone cards are available in amount of 20 RMB, 30
RMB, 50 RMB and 100 RMB. The rate for local call is 0.20 RMB/3 minutes. Long distance call
rate varies according to the distance. International calls with IC telephone cards are
relatively expensive, usually over 10 RMB/M.
Emergency calls 112 (weather), 119(fire), 120 (hospital), 110 (police) are free and
require no phone cards.
IP cards’ rates for international calls vary. 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. Currently, the IP phone service has covered the whole country,
providing international service between China and over 200 countries and regions.
How to contact my family when I travel in China?
You can always use the hotel telephone. But be aware that it could be as expensive as
US$3 per minute. On the Yangtze cruise ships, it could be $20 per minute as they are using
satellite telephone.
* Suggestions:
- leave the phone numbers at home and ask them to call you;
- send faxes from the business centers at the hotels and ships;
- send emails from those business centers at the hotels and ships (note: you can not
bring your own email account there as China’s ISPs and ICPs are independent).
International Direct Dialing Service Codes & Time Difference of Some Countries and
Regions
- Austrlia 61 +2:00 Austria 43 -7:00 Belgium 32 -7:00
- Myanmar 95 -1:30 Nepal 977 -2:30 Nether-lands 31 -7:00
- Canada 1 -13:00 Chile 56 -12:00 France 33 -8:00
- Germany 49/37 -7:00 Switherland 41 -7:00 HongKong 852 0
- U.K. 44 -8:00 Italy 39 -7:00 U.S.A. 1 -13:00
Can I use my electric appliances in China?
Yes, you can. And keep in mind that bring your electrical multi adaptor along is a
must.
What days are the workdays in China? What about shops and stores hours?
Five days a week, 8 hours a day, normally from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All the government
offices, institutions, schools,hospitals and other units do not work on Saturdays and
Sundays. The emergency clinic is open when the hospital is closed. Shops are open
everyday, normally from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. In big cities, stores close late. In summer
stores close later than in winter.
Some days in my itinerary are Public Holiday in China, I am worried it may be too
crowded to enjoy my trip?
Everything is pre-arranged, double-confirmed therefore you will be able to enjoy a
worry-free trip. In some scenerary spots, there may be crowded people, but the our local
guides are all very experienced to handle this situation and will be able to well organize
your tour.
Emergency happens, such as: luggage loss, theft or damage?
First of all make sure that the missing item was not misplaced. In the unlikely event
of properties loss, ask your guide for help, if serious, report immediately to the police.
Yangtze Cruises, Inc is not responsible for any loss, theft or damage to your baggage.
Insurance is strongly recommended. Airlines have baggage restrictions and you should check
with the air carrier prior to your flight.
What kind of helps are available in the case of injury or other medical emergency while
traveling?
Besides our trained professional guide will give you possible first aid, you will
be sent to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment as quick as possible.
If this happens on the cruise during the sailing, the doctor on the cruise ship will
give you the first aid make contact the nearest local hospital whenever it’s
necessary and send you to the hospital from the close port.
Foreign EMBASSIES in China
