Q: When is the best time to travel to China?
A: April to November are the best months for travelling through China. Outside of those months temperatures can fall well below 0 degrees Celsius, especially in the north. The ideal months are those of spring and autumn: April-May and September-October. Many of Travel Indochina’s tours are focused around the south where climatic variations are less severe. Beijing experiences very cold conditions in December, January and February. On the far north western reaches of the Silk Road, it can be extremely cold from October through to March. July and August are very hot and dry in these regions. Tibet experiences cool weather year-round and travellers should prepare for four seasons in one day.


Q: How much English is spoken in China?
A: As China continues to open up to the outside world more and more people are learning English. In our hotels, most staff members can speak moderate levels of English. However, on the streets and in local restaurants very few people can speak English and street signs and menus are mostly written in Chinese characters. With the help of our local guides and tour leaders these communication problems are easily overcome.


Q: What kinds of transport are used on tour?
A: For road journeys and inner city touring, air-conditioned coaches, coasters or mini-buses are generally used. These are modern, spacious, comfortable, well maintained, safe vehicles - good for small group travel. In cities and towns we use a combination of boats, bicycles (optional) and we also like to walk the streets and through the villages. All China tours involve at least one domestic flight. Flights are on modern Airbus or Boeing aircraft. Some China tours also involve at least one first class rail journey.


Q: What is train travel like in China?
A: Train travel is a fun, interesting and a comfortable way of moving around China. All rail journeys are in first class compartments. Accommodation is in shared, four-berth, soft sleeper cabins that are air-conditioned. Sheets and blankets are provided and are generally of good standard. Western-style washrooms and toilets are located at one end of each compartment. Meals and drinks can be purchased in the train’s restaurant carriage but you may prefer to bring your own snacks or pot noodles. Please note: porters are not always available at railway stations, so travellers must be prepared to carry their own luggage.


Q: What type of restaurants and food will be available on tour?
A: Chinese cuisine incorporates a number of styles with each region having its own distinctive flavors. We endeavor to select restaurants that have a good balance of great food and atmosphere, good hygiene levels, and practical locations. Choose from a selection of seafood, chicken, beef, pork, duck and vegetable dishes. Some travelers prefer a mixture of international (Western) and Chinese food while touring. There is now some Western cuisine available in most places we visit, including the hotels we use. However, international options are limited in more isolated areas, especially on the Silk Road tour and throughout Tibet. Breakfast is included each day on our tours and is usually a mix of western buffet, continental and Chinese styles, though again, remote areas tend to provide more local dishes. Vegetarians will find a reasonable selection of fresh foods available, with options more limited on the Silk Road and in Tibet. Vegetarians should specify this in their booking so that tour leaders and local guides can factor this into restaurant and meal suggestions.


Q: How much money will I spend per day touring?
A: Approximately US$15 per person for day to day living. China is a country that offers great value for your money. For around US$15 you will be able to buy lunch and dinner at good restaurants, as well as refreshments (non-alcoholic) during the day. You will notice a major price difference for food between the major cities and provincial towns. Eating Western food will add to your food bill – as will some of the flash Western and Chinese restaurants in major cities.


Q: Do I need visa for China?
A: All visitors traveling to mainland China, whether for business or pleasure, require a visa. No Visa is required prior to enter Hong Kong, a Visa will be issued upon arrival. If you travel beyond Hong Kong, even for a few hours, you will need a China visa to enter China.

Q: What is a package tour?
A: A Tour Package is a China trip which has been constructed by China Travel Depot and will include all the components to make your China visit an unforgettable experience as follows:
*Domestic fares including airfares, rail or road as specified in the tour
*Accommodation as specified
*Meals as specified
*Guide and driver
*Taxes and fees as specified

Q: What should I do if I can not find my guide?
A: Upon your arrival:
Our guides will surely be waiting for you at the airport upon your arrival. However, if for some extraneous reason you cannot find our tour guide upon arriving at the airport, then please call our emergency number for help. It would be wise to keep a contact list with our office number on it in an accessible place in the unlikely event that you have a problem.
At scenic areas:
Some of the popular tourist spots in China can be crowded during the peak seasons and China's public holidays. Some guests may lose their guide in a crowd. When you find the guide is not with you and can not find him or her in the immediate area, please follow the following steps:
1. First of all, Don't Panic. Relax and breathe. Realize that your guide is not far away and he or she is actively looking for you. You will be found soon.
2. Secondly, stay where you are and let the guide find you. Do not move far away. This will ensure that you are found in a timely manner.
3. Lastly, if there seems to be a problem with your guide finding you, find the nearest phone and call our emergency number and your travel advisor will help you to find the guide.

Q: What should I do if I lose my passport during my stay in china?
A: Always take best care of your passport ! It will take at least 3-5 working days to get new passport and that you will delay or ruin your holiday when you are traveling among different cities in China. Always take a photocopy of your passport when you go out and leave your original passport in the hotel safety box.
If you do lose your passport, call your guide or travel advisor for help and notify the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) immediately. The PSB will then issue you a proof of lost passport, with which, you need to go to the nearest embassy or consulate of your own country to apply for a new passport. To have the replacement, you will need to know all the information previously recorded and show identification and proof of citizenship. With the new passport issued, you can get a new Visa in the PSB, so you can go on your trip or re-enter your country. Please note that in some cases, a replacement may take weeks to process, and it may be valid only for a limited time. So please take especial care of your passport in your journey.


Q: From which cities can I enter China?
A: The most convenient entry and exit points for China are Beijing, Shanghai, Gunagzhou, Guilin and Hong Kong, however, other places are available. There are frequent flights to and from cities in all parts of the world. You can find more specific information by consulting your preferred airline or travel advisor.


Q: What kind of shopping can I expect in China?
A: Besides all the sightseeing and activities, you may feel like doing some shopping. The following are some suggestions about shopping in China: 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. 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, Beijing is famous for cloisonné & Jade, Xian is famous for replica of Terra Cotta soldiers and antiques, and Shanghai is famous for rugs, Hangzhou for tea, Suzhou for silk, Guilin for scroll Chinese paintings and China South Sea Pearls. 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. 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. 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.


Q: Can you offer us some safety tips for traveling in China?
A: Get as much information as possible from us about the places you are to travel.
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.

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.

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.

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.

Do not answer the hotel room door before you verify who it is. Never let a stranger come into your room.

The water from the tap in the most hotels is not drinkable, so always drink the boiled water or bottled water.

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.

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.

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.

Dress down, leave expensive jewelry and watches at home and don’t show large amounts of cash or traveler’s check in public.

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.

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.>

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.

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.

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

Q: How to use phone Cards to make long-Distance Calling?

A: 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

The country code for USA and Canada is 1, 44 for UK, 61 for Australia, 43 for Austria, 41 for Switzerland, 852 for Hong Kong, 39 for Italy, 31 for Holland, 64 for New Zealand, etc. For the other countries, please check the instruction book in the hotel room.

Q: How to use your mobile phones in China?
A: 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.

Q: Can we take photos as we like in China?
A: You may photograph in most locations, except in most museums and archeological sites (notably the main pit of the Terracotta Warriors), 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.


Q: How to get the internet access in China?
A: You 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.

Q: Is the Public Facilities in China OK?
A: 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 Ce Suo(厕所), 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 or decent hotels, where there is a clean washroom available.


Q: what is the basic dining etiquette & customs like 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. 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-they'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.

Q: What is the Luggage regulations when take domestic flights in China?
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, while20kg (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 20x40x55cm. Carry- on baggage in excess of the limit is subject to an excess baggage fee and must be carried as checked baggage.

Note:

Articles which cannot be taken as baggage: flammable, explosive, corrosive, poisonous, radioactive, polymerizable and magnetized materials, and arms, sharp or lethal weapons as well.
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.

Articles which should be put in check-in baggage: knife, scissors and bottled or tinned alcohol/ wine.

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.

The carrier will be liable to compensate for the loss of or damage to the checked baggage due to the carrier's fault. The exact amount of compensation is decided and managed by the carrier and usually it will not satisfy you, so always have insurance for your luggage before departure for China.

Passengers and their baggage (including checked and carry-on baggage) are subject to the security inspection before boarding the aircraft.

Q: What is the currency used in China and how to exchange it?
A: The official currency in mainland China is the Renminbi (RMB) or "People's currency." The basic unit is the yuan (also known as ‘kuai’), which equals 10 jiao (or ‘mao’), which is then divided into 10 fen. Paper currency comes in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan notes, paper jiao comes in denominations of 1, 2 and 5. There are also 1 and 2 fen notes, but these are rarely used as their purchasing power is almost zero. As for coins, there are 1 yuan, 1 and 5 jiao, and 1, 2 and 5 fen (again, the fen coins are basically useless).

Always try to change cash, traveler’s check at Bank of China, the professional bank dealing with foreign currency in China. To change money in the local bank, you have to have your passport at hand. If you want to change money in a hotel, you usually have to be a guest there. Sometimes if you are not a guest in a hotel but need to change money there, you can just say a random room number, but this doesn’t always work.. Whenever you change the money, please keep the exchange receipts well in case you need to exchange back into the original currency upon your leaving from China.

You can use US dollars / Euros/ English pounds/ in the hotels to pay for the bill, in the friendship stores, to buy things from those vendors outside the scenic spots, to pay for any optional tours and to tip porters of the hotels, tour guides and drivers or whomever you want to tip. While you can not use US dollars or some other foreign currencies in department stores or small convenience stores, local restaurants, or if you try to buy things from street vendors.

Travelers Cheques
Hotels in China, large bank of China accept travelers Cheques and the exchange rate is slightly higher than cash. If your cheques are issued from a major company, there shouldn’t be a problem in cashing them.

Credit Cards
Major credit cards such as Visa, Master Card, Diner's Card, American Express and JCB can be used to purchase goods in large shopping malls and stores in the big and medium cities, to pay for hotel rooms and for meals in some of the fancier restaurants, and to buy plane tickets with them.

Note: If you are to travel to those small cities or even remote rural areas, only cash in RMB can be used.

Only in very few hotels can you withdraw money with your credit cards. Most of the time, if you want to withdraw money with your credit cards, you need to go to the main offices of the Bank of China, where a commission and a minimum amount is usually stipulated.

ATMS
In the main offices of the Bank of China in the cities, especially in those tourist cities, there are ATM services available workings with your credit cards, and some of the five-star hotels may also have ATM available. You need to enter the password of your credit card correctly to withdraw money from ATMS, and in China you can only withdraw RMB from ATMS, there is a maximum daily withdrawal limit. It is not a good idea to completely rely on ATMS, as they are prone to disrepair or may not work with your credit card.

Counterfeit Distinguishing
Like any other kind of money, there is counterfeit money in China. Our government is cracking down on it, but you still need to be aware of this, especially when you try to buy things from those street vendors.

The ways to identify fake money are by the color, the watermark, the paper, and the braille dots:
The color of RMB notes is hard to imitate, and counterfeit bills are usually too fuzzy, that is, the images and colors are not so sharp.

The watermark on counterfeit money is also not clear. On real bills the outline of the model worker or the Great Helmsman (on the 100 bill of the old copy) or Maozedong (on the new copy) is fairly distinct. The way to test the paper is to look at it under a black light. Originally, the way to tell real from fake was to see if the words “YIBAI” or “WUSHI” (depending on the denomination) appeared in fluorescent letters under the light. But the counterfeiters have found a way to imitate this. Now the true test is to see the color of the paper itself under the black light. If the paper appears bright, then it is fake. If it appears to absorb the black light, then it is real.

The final test is the dots. On each denomination of the yuan notes (nobody bothers making fake jiao, not to mention fen), there is a corresponding number in braille in the lower left hand corner of the front side. It is hard to feel, but the dots are slightly raised on the surface of the paper. If they are not, then it is also a fake.


Q: What is the tipping practice in China?
A: 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.

China Travel Depot 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:

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.

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.

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.

Q: What are the necessary travel documents in China?
A: passport, valid for at least 3 month after your visit to China and the necessary visa or permits if you are traveling with our program. The visa should be approved prior to entering China and a permit for Tibet must be obtained 15 days before entering Tibet. If you only plan to travel and stay in Hong Kong you are exempt from applying for a China visa.

Most people only need to apply for a single –entry visa, which is usually valid for 3 months after the issuing date and will permit you to stay in China for a maximum of 30 days.

You need permits to go to Tibet. If you only go to Lhasa, a Tibet permit will be sufficient but, if you want to go further to the "unopened" areas, you also need an Alien's travel permit issued by the PSB of Tibet.

If you are to travel to Tibet, you are required to provide a doctor's certificate stating that you are fit to travel and your blood pressure and heart condition are normal in case that the very high altitude have the possible effects on you.

We suggest you take your medical record with you in case that you need it in the event of an emergency, and please also take with you your doctor's name, address and phone number, emergency contact name and phone number, and your insurance company's name, address and phone number.

Health Requirements
Immunization against smallpox and cholera is no longer required for entry into the People’s Republic of China. While you travel to China with China Odyssey Tours, we always carefully select restaurants and hotels that are clean and safe in order to provide you with a safe and healthy environment. However, we do suggest you have sorts of vaccinations 4 to 6 weeks before your trip as the following, especially if you choose to go and visit those remote and /or rural areas.

Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)
Hepatitis B
(We suggest 11 to 12-year-old children who did not receive it as infants have vaccination of Hepatitis B.)
Rabies, if you might have possibility to be exposed to wild or domestic animals.
Typhoid, for visiting developing countries.

Q: What is the proper Protocol & Etiquette?
A: China is a large country with long history and diverse culture, which is quite different from yours. Though great changes have taken place for the last two decades and China has been modernized dramatically, traditions in most areas are still remained as before. It is highly appreciated that you respect the traditions, culture, local customs and taboos in China, especially if your tour involves areas inhabited by minorities such as Tibet, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, etc. In short, do as Roma does.

Be flexible with good will and a readiness to understand. Now, China warmly welcomes overseas visitors, the government and the departments concerned are earnestly working hard to improve and increase facilities, enhance the quality of service in all fields, meanwhile, please understand that China is still a developing country, you’ll enjoy your experience most fully if you take a flexible approach, and tolerance and mutual understanding sometimes are quite significant.

Be friendly and sincere, polite and patient.

Since China’s opening to the outside world two decades ago, though having become happier, more open-minded, and friendly, Chinese people are inherently shy and modest, do not display emotion and feeling in public and find plain-speaking unnerving. Therefore, generally speaking, 1) when greeting or saying goodbye to each other, the Chinese are other than shaking hands, most of them do not get used to hugging or kissing each other. 2) Decisions that would be made easily and instantly elsewhere would be made in China after long preambles and detailed consultations, which demands your patience and politeness, for anger is seen as weakness. 3) The concept of the 'face' in China: “face” can be loosely defined as the 'status' or 'self-respect' in Chinese and by no means alien to you. It is the worst thing for a Chinese to lose face, so it is advisable that never insult, embarrass, shame, yell at, demean a Chinese person or try to prove someone wrong in public, which would risk putting a Chinese in a situation that he lose his face. In order to get a successful effect without letting a Chinese lose face, it is better that any criticism be delivered privately, discreetly and tactfully, otherwise, the effect would be just opposite to what you wish. 4) many Chinese have an excellent sense of humor, but it usually avoids sexual or political subjects. 5) Whenever you go, especially in the countryside, you may attract attention, some of Chinese may stare at you, some of the domestic tourists you encounter may ask you to take pictures with them, which can be upset but is nothing more than harmless curiosity. Privacy, it must be remembered, is an alien notion to the Chinese. 6) Whenever you want to take pictures of some Chinese people, it is always better to ask for the permission from the very person beforehand.

Be punctual. For some of your sightseeing and activities in China, punctuality is required, being late may incur the bad consequence of missing boat, train and even airplane, so your personal attention and cooperation will benefit yourself. Especially if you travel with a group, it is wise to be on time so as not to hold up the entire group.

Social behavior in China is highly ethical, so it is not acceptable that any people take towels, ashtrays and so on from hotels, trains or other places as souvenirs.

Q: What is the arrival procedures like in China?
A:Upon your arrival in China from abroad, you have to go through the following procedures, just as in other countries. To save time, you will be given some forms to fill in on board before landing. They include the Entry Registration Card, Health Card and Custom Luggage Declaration Form.

- Health check
On arrival, the first check you have to pass is the Quarantine Check. At the check point, you show your passport and the form you filled in on board. Anyone with listed diseases such as yellow fever, cholera, VD, leprosy, infectious pulmonary tuberculosis or AIDS will be forbidden to enter or be sent to the airport clinic for further checking. Those who are from areas with epidemics must show their valid certificates of inoculation against this disease. Those with symptoms of fever, diarrhea, vomiting or rashes must declare this information accurately.

For those who are going to stay longer in China, they have to show their quarantine certificate issued by an authorized health department abroad.

- Border entry
After passing through the Health Check, you come to the border control area (equivalent to the immigration control in the West) where you show the officer your passport and the Entry Registration Card. Your passport should be valid with a visa to China. Without a valid visa, you will find it difficult to enter the country. China does not issue visas at the border upon your arrival from abroad.

- Customs
After collecting your luggage, you will pass through the Customs. There are two channels, red and green. If you have nothing to declare, go through the green channel, otherwise take the red channel.

If you take things listed on the Customs Luggage Declaration Form in the red box such as computers, cameras, video cameras, gold and silver, printed or recorded materials, or anything more than you need during your travel in China, or something that you will not take out of China when you leave, you have to fill in the Customs Luggage Declaration Form which you are given, and then take the red channel where the Customs officer will check it to see whether you have to pay duty or you have to deposit the things at the Customs, or whether you can take them into China but have to take them out on your departure.

Please keep the stamped form with you and do not lose it, because you will be asked to give it back to the Customs officer for checking on your departure. If you do not take out all the things that you have brought in but you filled in the form, you will probably be asked to pay duty.

Q: What is the departure procedures like from China?
A: Departure is relatively much simpler. As mentioned above, you have to take out the things that you had declared in your Customs Luggage Declaration Form which you filled in on your arrival. If any item is missing, a certificate by the relevant department is required (for instance, a certificate from the police is required if something is stolen); otherwise, you have to pay import duty according to the Custom regulations. And you will fill out the Departure Card and pass the security check.

The following items are prohibited imports:

Arms, imitation arms, ammunition and explosives of all kinds
Counterfeit currency and counterfeit negotiable securities
Printed matter, films, photos, gramophone records, cinematographic films, loaded recording tapes and video-tapes, compact discs (video & audio), storage media for computers and other articles which are detrimental to the political, economic, cultural and moral interests of China
Deadly poisons of all kinds
Opium, morphine, heroin, marihuana and other addiction inducing or hallucinatory drugs
Animals, plants and products made hereof infected with or carrying diseases, insect pests and other harmful organisms
Foodstuffs, medicines and other articles coming from epidemic-stricken areas and harmful to humans and livestock, or those capable of spreading diseases.
The following items are prohibited exports:

All articles enumerated as articles prohibited from import
Manuscripts, printed matter, films, photos, gramophone records, cinematographic films, loaded recording tapes and video-tapes, compact discs (video & audio), storage media for computers and other articles which involve state secrets
Valuable cultural relics and other relics prohibited from export.
Endangered and rare animals, plants (including their specimens) and their seeds or reproducing materials