• Introduction
• Reports (9)
• Useful information

  Know before you go

  Practical A to Z

  Sport and leisure activities

• Eating out
• Electricity
• Embassies and consulates
• Getting around
• Health
• Money
• Post
• Public holidays
• Shopping
• Sightseeing
• Social etiquette
• Telephone

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Eating out

Opening Times

Breakfast: before 8am; lunch: 11am-1pm; dinner: around 6.30pm. Restaurants are open 10am-8pm, sometimes closing earlier in the countryside and later in large towns.

Tips

Tipping is not commonplace.

Meals

Meals are a sociable occasion and everyone dips their chopsticks into the various dishes placed in the centre of the table.

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Electricity

The voltage in China is 220V (50Hz) and a plug adaptor will probably be necessary.

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Embassies and consulates

British Embassy – 11 Guang Hua Lu - Jian Guo Men Wai - Beijing 100600 - t 010 5192 4000 - http://ukinchina.fco.gov.uk/en/

Embassy of Ireland – 3 Ritan Dong Lu - Chaoyang District - Beijing 100600 - t 010 6532 2691/2914 - http://www.embassyofireland.cn/

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Getting around

By train

Trains, one of the most popular forms of public transport, are cheap, frequent and punctual.

By bus

Buses are more suited to short and medium distances, particularly as most of the tourist sites are accessible by bus.

By car

Only those with a Chinese driving license can drive in China, so rent a car with a chauffeur.

By taxi

For inner city trips, taxis are generally individual and shared for longer outer city trips.

By bicycle

In towns, there are special bicycle paths with their own traffic lights.

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Health

Illnesses

Diarrhoea remains the main problem for many tourists.

Avian influenza: avoid live cattle and poultry markets, wash your hands frequently and don’t eat raw or undercooked food, particularly meat or eggs.

Health care

First aid medical centres are available pretty much all over the country. If you have a serious medical problem, go to Beijing, Shanghai or Canton, or arrange to be flown home.

Food and water

The tap water is not drinkable; buy bottled mineral water. Check that the bottles are properly sealed. Wash fruit and vegetables carefully.

Emergencies

T 120.

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Money

Currency

The Renminbi (RMB) or Yuan (CNY), subdivided into 10 jiao.

Exchange

Renminbis can only be bought in China, but small amounts of Yuans can be purchased abroad. Money can be changed in most banks and in all branches of the Bank of China.

Banks

Banks are generally open Monday-Friday from 8.30am-5.30pm, Saturday 8am-1pm.

Credit cards

Automatic Telling Machines can be found in major towns and county towns (compatible with most foreign cards). Commissions are often lower in ATMs than in banks. Many hotels and restaurants accept credit card payments.

Traveller’s Cheques

Accepted in all exchange offices and outlets.

Budget

Allow between Yuans200-400 for a double room in a comfortable hotel, Yuans20-50 for a meal in a simple restaurant, Yuans15 to rent a bicycle for a day and between Yuans2-8 for a litre bottle of mineral water.

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Post

Post offices are generally open from 8.30am-6pm (sometimes until 8pm in towns). Allow around 1 week for mail to reach home when posted from a large town.

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Public holidays

1 January – New Year

Chinese New Year (Spring festival) – Chinese New Year (between January 20 and February 20)

8 March – International Women’s Day

1 May – Labour Day

1 October – National holiday

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Shopping

Opening times

Shops – Generally open from 9am-7pm (shopping malls until 10pm), including public holidays.

Markets – 7am-6pm.

Bartering

Bartering is commonplace, except in supermarkets and state-owned shops. It is not however seemly to haggle over a few Yuans with peasants.

Antiques

Anything over 100 years old cannot be exported from China.

Souvenirs

China has a wealth of arts and crafts that make superb holiday souvenirs: calligraphy utensils, ceramics, silk, jade and ivory objects and jewellery, lacquered objects and furniture, etc.

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Sightseeing

Opening times

Museums and monuments are generally open from 9am-4pm.

Temples and gardens generally open at 6-8.30am.

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Social etiquette

Do’s

Shake hands when you meet someone, offer a gift of fruit if invited to someone’s house for dinner, show your enthusiastic appreciation of the food during the meal, take your shoes off before entering someone’s home.

Don’ts

Criticise the Chinese regime, point a teapot spout at someone, make a toast with tea, touch the rice at the end of a banquet, turn up late to an appointment, express your feelings in public, offer to share a restaurant bill.

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Telephone

To call China from abroad

Dial 00 + 86 + area code (without the 0) + number of the person.

To call home from China

Dial 00 + country code (UK 44, Ireland 353) + number of the person without the first 0.

Local calls

In the same province – Dial the number of the person direct.

From province to province – Dial the area code with a 0 + number of the person.

Mobile phones

Chinese mobile phone numbers generally start with 13 and have 11 digits.