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Population
1.3 billion
(2001)
Capital
City
Beijing
(Peking)
Population: 13.8 million (2001)
Language
Mandarin
Principal
Religions
Official
policy is to tolerate but not to encourage religion,
although Confucianism remains important to the Chinese
way of life.
International
dialling code from UK
00 86
Local
currency
Renminbi
or RMB. It is denominated in yuan.
Weights
and measures
Metric
Public
holidays 2003
The following is a list
of holidays observed by Chinese Government departments
& businesses:
| New Years Day |
1 January |
| Chinese New Year-Spring
Festival |
12-14 February |
| International Labour
Day |
1-3 May |
| National Day |
1-3 October |
Almost all Government
departments and companies are closed for the entire
week of the Spring Festival & the entire week for
National Day.
Visitors will require
a valid passport and visa. One passport photo and the
original passport must be submitted together with the
visa application form. Ensure that your passport will
be valid at least several days after the date on which
you intend to return to the United Kingdom in case of
delays in your return journey. Before you can obtain
a business visa for China you must have an invitation
from a Chinese organisation such as a ministry, corporation
or other institution. It is not unusual for foreign
firms to request such invitations from a trading corporation.
An invitation in the form of a fax is usually sufficient
for the visa application.
In Hong Kong, business
visas can be obtained from:
China Travel Service (HK) Ltd
78 Connaught Road
Central Hong Kong
Tel: +852 28533533
Fax: +852 25422381
In practice however,
many people choose to obtain tourist visas. China does
not recognise dual nationality.
Travellers should check
with their local health centre to find out what vaccinations
they will need before going to China. If visiting regions
south of the Yangtze river between April and December,
visitors are advised to take anti-malarial drugs. If
regular supplies of prescribed drugs are required, visitors
should bring a complete supply with them, sufficient
to cover their stay plus one or two days extra in case
of delays in their return journey. Prescribed medication
should be carried in hand luggage only. It is sensible
for visitors to bring medicine to counteract possible
stomach upsets caused by changes of food and water.
Those susceptible to insect bites should bring some
form of mosquito repellent, even if travelling only
in northern China. In the dry dusty winter in northern
China, sore throats, cracked lips and dry skin are a
problem, and throat lozenges, lip salve and handcream
are essential. In the severe heat of summer, visitors
should increase their fluid intake and consumption of
salt. When travelling outside major cities, it is still
advisable to exercise precautions in health matters.
AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are becoming
more widespread in China and the usual precautions should
be taken.
It is preferable, where possible, to seek treatment
only after consultation with the British Consular representative.
Health regulations
No vaccination certificates are required by visitors
from the United Kingdom, unless travellers visit any
infected areas en route.
Medical services
Visitors requiring medical treatment for routine ailments
and accidents will find Chinese health services reasonably
efficient and conscientious. In emergencies, a doctor
may be contacted through your host organisation or hotel
staff. At present there are several foreign clinics
in both Beijing and Shanghai able to offer western medical
services, as well as in Guangzhou.
Many airlines serve China.
British Airways (BA) operate three direct services per
week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from London
to Beijing, as does Air China (the national carrier
of the People's Republic of China). The flight time
is approximately ten hours. Virgin flies direct to Shanghai
(Pu Dong airport) 4 times per week on Monday, Tuesday,
Friday and Sunday.
From Hong Kong, Air China
and Dragonair fly to many Chinese cities. There are
now hourly flights to Beijing and Shanghai during the
day.
Other airlines serving
Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou include United, Northwest,
JAL, ANA, Asiana, Singapore Airlines, Thai, Garuda,
Philippines, Malaysian, Pakistan Airlines, El Al, Aeroflot,
Tarom, LOT and Mongolian Airlines.
Some hotels in larger
cities provide courtesy bus services to and from airports.
Taxis are also available and are reasonably priced (eg
Beijing Airport to city centre, about RMBY100).
Air travel is the most
convenient way to travel in such a large country as
China. There are regular services between major cities,
with hourly services between the larger centres during
the day. Most services are now operated with western
aircraft. Return tickets (in effect two single tickets)
can now be issued for all routes, and are double the
price of the single fare. It is not always possible
to purchase or confirm tickets for Chinese domestic
flights from outside China, but tickets may be bought
and/or confirmed in the larger hotels on arrival. Travellers
are advised to book tickets well in advance if intending
to travel at or around the Spring Festival or other
major chinese holidays.
There is a wide selection
of joint venture hotels in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou,
including UK hotel chains such as Hilton International
and Holiday Inn and an increasing number of such hotels
in the other large cities, many of which offer a good
standard of accommodation, business and leisure facilities
and a bureau de change. If you are invited by a Chinese
organisation, it is normal for them to make the reservations,
but they may well book you into a wholly Chinese-owned
hotel. These do not, however, generally offer the same
level of accommodation and facilities as the joint venture
hotels. It has become customary for hotels to quote
room rates in US$. A service charge of 15% is normal.
There are restaurants
on almost every street in China. The quality of food
and service varies greatly. Restaurants in hotels are
generally more expensive than independent restaurants,
but may be a safer choice if you are unsure of the menu.
Joint venture hotels are normally able to offer both
Western and Chinese cuisine. If you need to arrange
a dinner, whether in a hotel or an independent restaurant,
book in advance, specify the number of people, discuss
the menu and the number of dishes with the chef (for
a table of eight, around ten dishes is the norm), and
negotiate the amount you wish to pay (in total or per
head). Make sure that the chef is clear about any special
requirements, such as vegetarian dishes or dishes without
pork (both unusual requests in China). The current cost
of a meal for a table of eight is roughly RMBY200 per
head.
Restaurants often specialise
in a certain Chinese cuisine. For example, in Beijing,
Windows On The World specialises in Cantonese
food. The Quanjude Roast Duck chain specialise
in what is probably Beijing's most famous dish. Sichuan
food is currently much in vogue. In general, northerners
eat a heavy flour-based diet while southerners eat rice
as their staple food. Sichuan cuisine is very spicy,
as is that of central China. Shanghai cuisine contains
a lot of sugar. Certain independent restaurants operate
until late in the evening, but the majority close at
around 21.30.
Tipping
is officially forbidden in China, though small tips
are occasionally "expected" by porters and
bell boys in larger hotels. The custom is uneven, and
tips will still often be refused.
220 volts AC. 50 cycles.
Plugs are either two-pin or three-pin flat (5-amp) or
round two-pin Continental type. Newer hotels tend to
have standard electric razor sockets in bathrooms.
