mnredfox

欢迎光临 - Welcome!

On behalf of the many visitors to the China forum we would like to extend a very warm welcome.

The China board is meant to help assist you with any questions or needs you may have regarding China. This particular thread is meant to be a starting point to help find useful information about China, particularly it contains links to many of the most useful and popular topics regarding all things China. We have created a FAQ/Guide that contains topics that is supported by links. Between the two we hope you can find the information you are looking for.

In the case the below links and topics do not contain the information you are looking for, we kindly ask that you use the search function (including the Flyertalk Google Search) before creating a new thread.

Please note that there may be several other places on Flyertalk that you can find specific information related to travel, such as specific airlines or alliances, hotels, and so forth. If you have a particular thread or link that is a favorite of yours that you want included in this board, feel free to message any of the China Forum Ambassadors. We will be happy to include it into this thread/guide as our goal is to make the China forum a place where people can find and share information that makes their China experience great.

Should you ever need assistance regarding the workings of this board, an off-topic/misplaced thread, or anything else that may conflict with FlyerTalk's Guidelines and Rules, please feel free to contact any of the Ambassadors or any FT moderator

Thank you for visiting the China board, and we wish all of your China experiences to be great.

祝您到中国的旅途愉快!

moondog----------anacapamalibu----------jiejie----------mnredfox

China Board Ambassadors

* This thread is currently under construction, so please be patient as we build it up. (Thread last updated 09 January 2013)

mnredfox

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) & China Forum Guide

FAQ - to be added soon

China Forum Guide
This guide is meant to be a collection of tips when visiting China. For further information please refer to the linked threads and if you still don't find the answer you're looking for please post in those relevant threads. As well we welcome any additional information you may want to be posted here, so if you feel there is missing useful information please contact any of the China Ambassadors.

This guide is divided into 11 sections:
1. China Visas and Getting Into China
2. All Things Transportation
3. Banks & Exchanging Money
4. Avoiding Scams
5. Mobile Phones, Internet, and Computers
6. Food in China
7. Hotels
8. Language & Culture Primer
9. The Big Three: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou
10. Activities, Tours, and Places to Visit
11. Meeting Up with Other FT-ers in China

mnredfox

China Visas and Getting Into China

Part One
Visa FAQ cannot address every situation for every nationality, therefore one should always check the latest updated information on Chinese policies for your passport. China can, and does, change visa issuance policies on short notice—sometimes targeted at certain nationalities or for everybody around times of high-profile events. We will try to update the FAQ when we hear of major changes that may affect a large segment of foreign visa applicants.

The FAQ is directed to holders of standard foreign passports—excluding documents issued by Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan which have different treatment. Diplomatic and official passports and other specialty documents are outside the scope.

This information applies to the Peoples’ Republic (mainland) only. Hong Kong and Macau are considered separate countries for immigration purposes, and have their own entry requirements which are fortunately much more liberal for nearly all nationalities. Most visitors can usually enter visa-free for a reasonable period of time, but if you have an oddball passport or special situation, research or ask on FT’s Hong Kong subforum.

Do You need a Chinese Visa?
In general, yes, for all visits. The most common exceptions:
• International Transit through Chinese airport(s). Refer to the “Transit Without Visa” section below. For all intents and purposes, consider visa-free transit over land as not possible.
• Favored nationality. Currently nationals of the following countries can enter and stay visa-free for 15 days: Japan, Singapore, Brunei.
• Holder of an APEC Business Card valid for PRC travel. Visa-free stays up to 60 days.
• Special group tours of the Pearl River Delta region or in Hainan, but these require a minimum number of participants (usually 2 or 5 people), are time-limited, and must be set up by an approved agent in the area.

Transit Without Visa (TWOV) See TWOV link at end of post.
This applies only to Chinese airports, not land borders or seaports. The biggest issue is not going to be the Chinese, it is convincing your originating airline that TWOV is legal. It is in the TIMATIC database should your airline want to look it up. In general, the Chinese airlines are up to speed on TWOV; other foreign carriers, just depends on the savviness of the check-in agent. Key features of TWOV:
• You must be in international transit A-B-C with B as the China airport and A and C two DIFFERENT international origin/destinations. A-B-A is a no-no. A1-B-A2 (the A’s different cities but in the same country) should also be considered as ineligible.
• There are some routings that are A-B-C-D with B, C being two different Chinese transit airports and B-C technically a domestic segment. It is actually legal to do this but may present some head scratching, especially if there is a change of airline in the middle somewhere.
• Nearly all nationalities are allowed up to 24 hours to accomplish an international transit without a Chinese visa, as measured by your scheduled arrival time in China to scheduled departure time heading out of China.
• Certain nationalities only are allowed up to 72 hours (as of Jan 2013) and only at Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), and Beijing (PEK) airports. Currently the extra allowance is good for citizens of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, USA. The UK and Ireland are not on the 48-hour list, stick with 24 hours. ETA September 2011: Passport holders of Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland have apparently been added to this list of foreigners permitted 48 hours' transit at PVG/SHA. Please check with the nearest Chinese Embassy to confirm. New TWOV lanes apparently are being put in at PVG, SHA, and PEK.
• Guangzhou (CAN): As of summer 2011, there have been a few anecdotal reports that this particular airport may be experimenting with a new policy for intl-to-intl transits that will send the passenger back to airside, and not permit leaving the airport unless the passenger has a Chinese visa. Until more and consistent information is available, please be aware of this possibility if you are scheduled with an international transit at this airport.

Procedure:
• At present, you are required to go through Chinese immigration when arriving. Assume there is no option to get off the arriving flight and “stay airside.” At immigration, look for desks signed “international transit” which may be separately located or at one end of a bank of counters. If there is nothing specially signed, use any desk for foreigners.
• Have your confirmed (e-)ticket and onward itinerary available for inspection along with your passport, boarding pass if you already have. Your Arrival Card handed out to you on the arrival flight should be marked “transit” as your visit purpose. There should be no problems, and you will receive a hexagon-shaped stamp in your passport for TWOV (this is not a regular entry stamp for those with visas and it is not a transit visa).
• After you leave the counter, you may return back through exit immigration, security then airside for your onward flight. Your airline should already have told you at origin whether you need to pick up baggage and then recheck (different Chinese airports have different policies on international transit bags, it’s not solely under airline control). With a long layover or an overnight, you may wish to leave the airport and go to a hotel, or into town for sightseeing. Leaving the airport is explicitly allowed in the Chinese regulation, regardless of the incorrect interpretations that you might see in other posts or forums.
• Make sure you leave enough time to get to your outbound boarding gate: including check-in (if needed), exit immigration (you’ll be stamped out), and security.

Part Two
Can You get a Chinese Visa upon Arrival?
In general, no. The most common exceptions when there is no time for normal visa processing at a Chinese mission abroad:
• Emergency personal situation—such as a dying relative or funeral in China or an urgent business or official Chinese invitation demanding one’s presence. For either of these, a VOA is possible for an airport entry, but the paperwork requires some serious official Chinese effort.
• Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Tourist Visa. Might be useful for a quick, unplanned look-see or shopping trip from Hong Kong or Macau, and a time-and-cost saver over a standard Chinese visa for most nationalities. Limited to 5 days for this area only, available at the LoWu land border crossing with Hong Kong. Not available to passport holders from France, India, Philippines, USA (and from time to time, others). Note that China sometimes without warning, temporarily shuts off these special limited VOA’s. Normal practice is to check in Hong Kong on status before heading to the border. There is also a similar VOA for Zhuhai, good for 3 days, similar limitations/policies. .

Where to get your Chinese Visa?
• Best place with fewest hassles is probably your home country. This is especially true for USA and Australia citizens, who can for the same official cost, get vastly better visa terms applying at home than elsewhere.
• If you have legal residence in a country not matching your passport, you can almost always apply to the Chinese mission in that country instead of your home country. Be prepared to show the correct visa status in your passport, or alternate paperwork showing residency.
• If you are a traveler, you can sometimes get a Chinese visa when passing through a third country. Note that in the last year or two, China has increasingly clamped down on allowing travelers to do this, so now it is very much a location-by-location basis. It is especially important for the long-term perpetual traveler who will need to get that Chinese visa on the road, to suss out in advance what locations are viable along the route.
• Passport holders of certain countries may be required to get Chinese visas in their home country or where they are legally residing. Hong Kong or a third country may not be possible at all. Double check with a Chinese mission if your passport is from: anywhere on the African continent, anywhere in the middle East up to and including Turkey and east to Iran, anywhere on the Indian Subcontinent, any country with a majority or significant minority Muslim population, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Important: travelers with Tibet in their plans, see section on “Tibet Complications” below. If you are planning to enter Tibet from Nepal, standard Chinese visa procedures do not apply!

Getting a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is always a 99.9% reliable place for most nationalities to obtain a Chinese visa (with possible exceptions above). However, if there is a major special event occurring on the mainland—Olympics, Expo, Asian Games, etc. only a plain vanilla standard single-entry 30-day tourist visa may be available.

You may choose to apply directly at the Commissioner’s Office in Wanchai, Hong Kong island. http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/ There is usually a long line so get there and queue up before the office opens. Don’t bring luggage and plan to spend awhile. Many people opt for an agent to do the legwork, for an extra fee that usually is worth it so you can do other things. One of the more long-running and reliable agents is in Kowloon near Hung Hom station: Forever Bright Agency. http://www.fbt-chinavisa.com.hk/ CTS also does visas but charges higher prices: http://www.ctshk.com/english/useful/chinesevisa.htm
Contact these agencies by phone to see what the current best visa is they can get for your passport. .

Note that getting a Chinese visa in Macau is possible, but has a reputation of being more of a hassle and taking longer than Hong Kong.

Types of Visas:
• L is also known as the “Tourist visa” and is the most common type issued. L’s are also used for family visits, and for that purpose can sometimes get better terms, particularly if one is ethnic Chinese. Relative to the other types, L visas normally require the least amount of documentation for application. As of late 2012 you are required to either have photocopy of roundtrip airfare ticket AND hotel reservation, OR an official invitation letter.
• F is known as the “Business visa” and is used for business trips, conferences and lectures, internships, and for short-term study generally under 6 months. It requires a little more documentation for the application, almost always a business/organizational letter of invitation and in some application locations or for some passports--an additional invitation from a Chinese central-government related department or ministry. Most first-world passport holders applying in their own countries for business visas manage to apply successfully without the additional government invitation letter.
• Z visas are Working visas. Actually, they are issued for 30 day duration only, during which time there is a process which converts them to Residence Permits which then serve as a multiple entry visa, no stay limits, usually 12 months, renewable. These are not do-it-yourself visas but require an employment offer and paperwork from the prospective employer. Further discussion is beyond the scope of this FAQ.
• X visas are Student visas, for study >6 months. These are not handed out for people doing summer language or one-term studies in China. Similar to the Z visa, they are also issued for 30 day duration and have the same process of conversion to Residence Permit. Also not a DIY project, but require acceptance from an authorized institution (normally a university) and paperwork. Also beyond the scope of this FAQ.
• G visas are actual Transit visas, usually good for 7 days. Years ago, these were more widely used when pricing between transit and standard tourist visas was of meaningful difference, and also for some nationalities whom the Chinese did not wish to allow longer stays. More recently, they are an anachronism and since for most passports they are priced the same as a standard visa and are equally a hassle to get, there is no longer any real benefit to getting one of these. Important Note: the G transit visa is not the same as the “transit without visa” entry stamp, do not confuse the two.
• Other types of visa (crew, journalist, etc) are beyond the scope of this FAQ.

Parameters of a Chinese Visa:
Different Chinese Embassy/Consulate locations around the world vary in their ability or willingness on visa issuance terms. Sometimes there is a difference even between missions in the same country. However, all visas will have the following information:
1) Total visa validity (6 months, 12 months, etc.)
2) Number of entries (single, double, or multiple)
3) Duration of stay per entry (30 days, 60 days, 90 days, etc.)

Validity: For single-entry visas, generally one has 90 days from issue date to get to an entry point and “activate” the visa, at which time the clock will start ticking on the assigned duration of stay. When you exit China, that visa becomes void. For double-entry visas, generally you are given 90 to 180 days in which to make up to two entries. If the visa expires before you make that second entry, you lose it. Once you make the second exit, the visa become void. For 6- and 12-month visas, the clock starts ticking when the visa is issued. For these longer visas, the terminology should be carefully checked. If your visa says “Valid Until” then on or before that date, you must exit China. If your visa says “Enter Before” then on or before that date, you must make your last entry, but you will get your full duration of stay even if it goes beyond the Enter Before date.

Number of entries: self-explanatory. Multiple entry visas are not handed out regularly to most travelers; the exception are US citizens applying in the USA where they have become standard issue due to US-China special visa treaty. Also to Australian citizens applying there, though at present, they require evidence of previous Chinese visas. Other nationalities will find it difficult or impossible to get multiple entry visas on their own, though with appropriate corporate or institutional support, may be possible. Non-resident travelers applying in third countries often will not be allowed anything more than a single entry.

Duration of stay: Also self-explanatory. The default Chinese visa duration is 30 days per entry. Many locations will give applicants 60 days for the asking; some places want to see an itinerary that plausibly justifies the longer duration. Some locations will even give 90 days. Ethnic Chinese applying for L visas on the basis of family visit/reunification have been known to get 120-180 days or even no duration limits, but policy changes back and forth.

What’s NOT on a Chinese visa: Restrictions on entry/exit such as air vs overland, specific entry date, or entry/exit locations. (Exception: see “Tibet Complications” below)

Part Three
The Visa Application:
China has issued in 2011 a new 4-page application form that replaces the 2-page form. Some Chinese missions have not yet adopted the new form, but may do so later this year. So if you get the 2-page form, consider yourself lucky. The form is mostly self-explanatory, but a few tips that sometimes trip people up:

Important: There is a place in the form for your Chinese itinerary. You should view getting the visa as a completely separate issue from your actual itinerary. There are some itineraries that just don’t go down well with Chinese officialdom. It is far better to not rock the boat, put something phony yet non-controversial down, then once you get the visa back, do what you want. Trust us on this. Nobody checks your actual travels with the visa application.
• If your true itinerary contains any of the following, do NOT mention them and do not imply a routing that heads to those places: “xinjiang” “urumqi” “tibet” “lhasa” “nepal.” (See “Tibet Complications” below if you are entering from Nepal.)
• If you need to justify a longer duration of stay such as a request for 60 days, then come up with a longer itinerary, all on the tourist trail. Write small in the box.
• If you need to justify a double-entry (or multiple-entry in a place that has a reputation for stingy issuance), then your itinerary should show exits from and entries back to China. Intersperse Hong Kong, Korea, Mongolia, and/or Vietnam works well for this.

Usually L tourist visas do not require an “invitee” and contact info for that. Some consular offices and agents allow you to write “none” or “not applicable”, other places want you to just put the first hotel you’ll be staying at. F and other visa types will obviously have an invitee/contact to fill in.

Certain Chinese missions require applicants to furnish additional documentation. Sometimes they will do this for everyone applying at that mission, sometimes it will limited to passport holders for certain countries. It is not common for most First World applicants to have to deal with any of this...though occasionally at sensitive times (i.e. Olympics 2008), there will be a blanket policy of additional hassles for everybody. “Additional documentation” would include things such as confirmed air tickets, hotel bookings, bank statements, proof of insurance, etc.

Visa Extensions:
The most commonly extended visa type is the L, as it is a do-it-yourself process. (F’s can be theoretically extended but need the inviter’s cooperation, outside the scope of this FAQ). In general, the Public Security Bureau (PSB) is responsible for granting the extension and each city or town will have a designated PSB office where foreigners can do this. This will not be a new visa, but an actual extension.
• The best time to go to the PSB for an extension is in the last 4-5 days of the current visa validity. Watch out for nonworking days such as Sundays and holidays, though. Processing can be anything from next day to 4-5 days.
• Extensions are normally for 30 additional days, and most PSB offices will restart the 30 days on the day they issue the extension, even if it truncates a day or so off your first stay. A few offices just add the 30 days to the previous.
• An extension will typically cost the same as an entirely new visa. This is expensive for Americans at $140 a pop, and for UK citizens it is also relatively pricey.
• Most short-duration L visas can be extended two times, each time for 30 days.

Watch out for:
• On double-entry visas in particular, going for an extension on your first entry will often result in cancellation of the second entry. This is a relatively new phenomenon but anecdotal reports are widespread though not universal. Seems to be under local PSB whim.
• Big city PSB offices. These will often ask for proof of US$100 per day x 30 days = $3000 in a Chinese bank account. Beijing is particularly notorious for this, Xi’an and Shanghai also. Some cities are happy with seeing a credit card as proof of funds but they may want to copy front and back. Smaller towns are less likely to be interested in your funds status, so plan an extension attempt for a smaller place not a big city.
• Tibet. Expect no visa extensions in Lhasa or elsewhere.

Tibet Complications and the Tibet Travel Permit:
As part of the PRC territory, there is no separate “visa” for Tibet. There is a highly-enforced requirement for foreigners to have a Tibet Travel Permit. This permit is obtained through a travel agency that makes the required pre-arranged group tour (even applies if you are a group of one).

• If plans call for entry of Tibet from Nepal, whether by air or overland, most of the advice above goes out the window. For this particular crossing, you need a special group visa even if you are a group of one. This will be issued in Kathmandu, and any other valid Chinese visa you have in your passport will be cancelled. You will receive a limited visa, single-entry, usually for 15, 21, or 28 days, and is non-extendable. You may enter Tibet on it and then proceed into China proper, but the shorter time duration means you need to count days vs itinerary and travel method carefully, so that you exit within the confines of your visa.
• If your plans call for passing through from Kathmandu to Chengdu via Lhasa transit-only connection on the Air China flight, you can use a regular Chinese visa obtained elsewhere. You will be kept in the airport/transit area during the connection period.
• The travel agency working with you on Tibet plans, whether from Nepal, Chengdu, Xining, or other location, will obtain the Tibet Travel Permit, which is a separate slip of paper, not something pasted in your passport. Without this, you will not be able to board flights to Lhasa or purchase/take train or other overland routes...at least not legally. Travel agents outside China can set up Tibet tours, but they are essentially retailers who pass your order on to local Tibet/Chinese agents for fulfillment of logistics.
• Independent travel for foreigners is not currently permitted, though you may see older reports (pre-2008) containing outdated information. You must make all arrangements including guide and driver, as a condition of getting the TTP and being able to access. In Lhasa city, foreigners wandering about without the guide is tolerated, but not elsewhere in Tibet.
• Since 2008, foreign tourist access to Tibet in the month of March has been disallowed, by the Chinese government ordering a temporary ban on issuing TTP’s. In some years, there may be other times when access is disrupted. Proper research is crucial to not being disappointed or having plans disrupted. Always have a Plan B.

Links
Main Visa Thread - all you need to know about Visa's and getting into China
Getting into China Visa Free - specific thread discussing being able to enter China without a visa
2010 Visa Changes for US Citizens
New 10 Year Visa's for China Effective Nov 2014

mnredfox

All Things Transportation

InterCity Travel
Choices for travelers comes down to four modes of transportation (three public and a fourth privately-hired): airplane, train, bus, and a private vehicle with driver. For all intents and purposes, long distance car rental and self-drive by non-resident foreigners is not practical nor recommended, hence we will not deal with it further in this FAQ. The optimal travel mode between any two points will be a function of availability, budget, comfort desired, and ticket availability for your dates of travel. For most A to B travel, there are always multiple possibilities, which the traveler should be aware of since there are times when China domestic travel requires a Plan B or even Plan C.

Please refer to our detailed Master Transportation Thread for details on each of the following options. In general, consider deploying each method for these scenarios:

Flights
Time-limited itineraries, itineraries with very distant destinations, city pairs where ground transport options are lengthy and convoluted or require transfers, Chinese holiday periods when train tickets are especially difficult to procure, passengers too tall to fit in a train sleeper berth (>1.8 m or 5-10”).

Trains
Short distance trips especially if CDG fast service available, longer distance trips where sleepers can be procured, budget travelers, “scenic” route desired, “meet the natives” experience desired. Note that train travel is a difficult option at holiday times and particularly the Chinese New Year +/- 3 weeks.

InterCity Buses
Itineraries where trains run infrequently or at odd hours, where train is slower and routing more tortuous, where good expressways exist, where there is no other inexpensive option, budget travelers on overnights can use sleeper buses (recommend for those under 1.8 m tall only).

Private Vehicle (Car, Van, etc)
For relatively short-distance travel where public transport options are limited or non-existent, where itinerary is highly customized for uncommon sights or on a specific and inflexible time frame, “loop” itineraries hubbing out of a single city, travelers with significant mobility issues, parties of 3 or more that can split the expense. Probably best limited to geographic distance of 250 km (150 miles).

Local Area Transport
Transportation in and around most Chinese towns and cities is plentiful and cheap, but many travelers are not aware of all the options, or are reluctant to use public transport except for taxis. Options include: Airport shuttle buses, taxis, light rail, subway, bus, special tourist modes, and bicycle. At a minimum, an average Chinese city will have airport shuttles, taxis, and buses, with quite a few also having subway systems.

The best option for a specific situation may depend on:
• Purpose of journey (business or leisure)
• Local destination
• Time of day and availability of options
• Weather
• Group size
• Fitness, stamina, mobility or fatigue issues

For most foreign short-term visitors, all options are inexpensive so relative pricing or budget impact is a lesser issue. Please again refer to our Master Transportation Thread for a detailed discussion of the ins and outs of these various options.

mnredfox

Banks & Exchanging Money

While options for credit, debit, and checks are all options, China is primarily still a cash-based country. What form of exchange you choose to use is ultimately up to your travel style and travel needs, but one tip particularly useful in China is that redundancies are a good idea—always have a backup method of obtaining funds or making payment.

Cash vs Credit(including Debit/POS):
In this section “credit” is defined as a foreign bank-issued card. Even if you are used to credit transactions at home or traveling, China is a place where often credit is not accepted (or is but expensive to do so). Proir to any purchases, confirm the acceptable payment types as it is not wise to assume foreign credit is usable.
• Taxis, trains, buses, and private transfers all require cash (exception is transportation cards, see transportation section for more info).
• Airlines and major travel agents will accept credit
• Western establishments (restaurants & larger stores) in large cities often accept credit. Most hotels (especially international brands) take major credit cards.
• Be aware that using credit in China may be more costly as you may incur the following fees:
-----A. 3-4% “pass-on” fee merchants pay (and thus charge you) to cover the fees paid to Visa/MC. Very typical at stores/shops/airlines/travel agents (rarely at hotels).
-----B. Foreign transaction fee charged by your bank – check your card for more details.
-----C. Hidden DCC (dynamic currency conversion) “fee” charged by the Chinese bank processing your transaction. DCC converts transaction to your home currency at worse-than-market rates resulting in transaction posting in your home currency. See DCC thread for more details.
• The UnionPay system is used for 99% of POS/debit transactions. Often vendors who accept “credit cards” only accept cards with the UnionPay logo (all Chinese banked issued cards). Discover Bank also has an agreement with UnionPay that allows for Discover card to be used on the UnionPay network, making Discover cards just as good as UnionPay cards in China (watch out for foreign transaction fees though). It may take some insistence to get vendors to try it though.
• It is safest to assume that your home country debit card is not an option to use in China at the present time.

Obtaining/Exchanging RMB Cash:
Never travel in China without some RMB currency in your pocket. It is wise to keep a good supply of smaller notes (5/10/20) at hand. There are three general mediums of exchange to get RMB:

1. Foreign currency exchange. Old-fashioned, but tried-and-true, most of the major currencies (USD, Yen, Euro, HKD) will be accepted at Chinese banks that deal in forex (including airports). Larger banks in large cities will deal with other common currencies as well, but if coming from a country with a less common currency, it is advisable to first trade into a major currency. Exception: For travelers entering China at land border areas, ferry, and some back-door airports, usually there are moneychangers that can help you change though often at submarket rates. Other tips:
• Make sure currency are as recent and in good condition as possible. Larger denominations are easiest to exchange and get slightly better rates.
• The most useful places to exchange is at banks. With little variation in rates across town (including the airport), it is recommended to simply go to whatever bank is convenient vs shopping around which will waste time. Airport non-bank exchanges such as Travelex and hotels are both safe options, but give markedly unfavorable rates. Passport is usually required. We do not recommend exchanging on the street due to risk of counterfeit bills.

2. ATM. Many travelers feel that using ATM’s is the safest and best option to obtain cash. Presently, Chinese banks do not charge ATM fees though your home bank might. Obtaining cash via ATM’s offer some of the best exchange rates, and convenience is undeniable. Few other tips:
• ATMs are abundant in China although some smaller branches (even of major banks) may not work despite logo’s indicating otherwise. Smaller cities may not have ATM’s or may not work with your card, so plan ahead and stock up on cash in a larger city.
• Make sure your card is in good shape. It is often wise to bring two cards, with one being a backup. ATM’s accept both four and six digit PINs.
• Your home country bank may have an agreement with a local bank, so it may be worth a phone call to avoid additional fees.
• Using an ATM inside/adjacent a bank branch is advisable in case you have issues using the ATM. It is easier to work with someone live rather than dealing with an after-hours service in Chinese.
• Cash withdrawal limits are typically 2000 or 2500 RMB per transaction. This is a limit imposed by Chinese banks for ATM withdrawals. However, you can simply perform numerous consecutive transactions at a time up to your bank’s limit (no need to retrieve and then re-inset your card.

3. Travelers Checks (TC)
It is still possible to exchange traveler’s checks in China for some travelers who prefer to use them. Though viable, it is somewhat more of a hassle thus we do not recommend folks to go out and buy TC’s specifically for purposes of traveling in China. In general, many tips presented above are applicable, however also consider:
• TC’s can be exchanged primarily in banks and hotels in larger cities. Hotels may only accept TC’s as payment rather than for cash exchange. Occasionally higher-end department stores or specialty shops with a lot of foreign customers that will also accept TC’s.
• TC’s exchange rates are normally slightly less favorable than currency, and may include a flat or percentage fee to use.
• It has been reported that TC’s can only be exchanged at banks Monday-Friday, though this is not verified
• Keep the receipt/invoice when TC’s are obtained Often you need to present it as proof you bought the checks along with your passport to use.

Exchanging RMB Back to Other Currencies:
Although far from a freely convertible currency, the RMB can today be more easily converted back to other currencies (In HKG, the RMB is easy to exchange). A few tips:
• Reconversion can be done at banks (recommended) or currency exchanges. Bring your passport. With your original receipt, you can convert up to the amount you converted to RMB. Without a receipt, there is a daily limit of $500 USD (limit is in USD, or equivalent value) or $1000 if done at the airport. This applies to all non-Chinese citizens, not just US citizens.
• Import/export limits on RMB is limited to 20K RMB. Something you may want to keep in mind for those stocking up on RMB.

Banking:
For most travelers, it is not necessary to open a local account. However, for others with unique requirements a local account may be a convenience. For the widest coverage, it may be a good option to choose from one of the big four state owned banks. They have the largest national presence and the most branches so may offer convenience of location. Downsides are they are the big four state owned banks.

-----1. Bank of China (BOC)
-----2. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)
-----3. Agricultural Bank
-----4. China Construction Bank

Alternatively, you can select from your preference of local banks (e.g. Bank or Communications, Merchants Bank, Bank of Shanghai to name a few) where while the presence isn’t as good nationally, it may offer viable alternatives for your needs.

Other tips:
• Keep in mind that Chinese banks are locally based. Thus while they are still part of the same “family”, using a branch outside your home city may incur fees. (e.g. BOC Kunming may charge fees even though you have a BOC Beijing account)
• Some of these banks have partnerships with US banks, so for more complex transactions such as wire transfers check with your local bank.
• Opening a bank account in China is actually quite simple, but it’s recommended that you speak Chinese or bring someone who is fluent. Simply bring your passport, some cash to deposit, a China address/phone number, and in about 20 minutes you can have your own account (comes with a UnionPay card). Annual account fees typically are around 15 RMB/year for a simple deposit account. Interest is paid but is minimal.
• Having your own UnionPay card makes purchases in China (especially online, eg. airline tickets). Using your bank card is very convenient in China as you can use ATM’s to deposit and withdraw money (subject to daily limits). Keep in mind your bank may charge ATM fees to withdraw/deposit cash in non-home base cities.
• UnionPay transactions though do not have a fraud protection like credit cards, but are more secure as all transactions require a PIN.

Links
Buying Fake Products in China
Changing Money at PVG
Getting USD from ATM's in China
Banking in China

mnredfox

Avoiding Scams

We here in the China forum hope and do believe you have a wonderful experience in China. Writing about scams in reality is a difficult thing to do, as by no means do we wish to convey that someone will try to scam you. In fact, China is far from that and all of the Ambassadors will tell you China is full of decent and friendly people. However, running into such situations does occasionally occur, so we hope that by offering some “street smart” tips, you can avoid such occurrence. Also, our intent isn’t for you to avoid riding rickshaws, buying things, or tasting tea in China; we just hope you take proper precautions. Finally, keep in mind that using every opportunity to earn money is a way of life here. It may be foreign to most Westerners but that’s China. So enjoy this aspect of the culture!

The tips here can obviously be utilized in any country, but here are our top tips for China. We have sorted avoiding scams by several categories: taxis, other transportation, shopping, exchanging money, and others.

Taxis:
1. If you are willing to negotiate (higher than the meter), rarely will you have an issue once prices is agreed upon. Keep in mind negotiation is part of China. In all cases, public transport is a good alternative if negotiation isn’t your thing.
2. Many drivers (especially at airports) will not use the meter and prefer to negotiate. You can demand they use the meter (biao3 表), but sometimes if there is a queue you may be refused a ride. Wait for an honest cabby or negotiate. Do what’s safe and comfortable. .
3 Only meter fare, tolls, and gas surcharge (1-2 RMB depending on city, sticker on the dashboard/window) are valid. Refuse to pay return toll fares, parking fares, or any other fee. Demand receipts (fa1 piao1 发票) for all fees (meter, toll, gas). Do not let the driver add fees.
4. Hubs (e.g. airports, train/bus stations) are notorious for long queues. You will find illegal cabbies (hei1che1 黑车) at entrances and at the queue looking for riders. Most Chinese ignore them, and despite the long line so should you. Go straight to the official queue or take public transport.
5. Sharing cabs (pin1che1 拼车) is common in smaller cities. Locals do this to save money, but most foreigners pay more. Negotiate upfront and expect a longer ride. Use the meter only if the driver will only drive you, or you’ll pay for others’ ride.
6. Many solo Chinese will sit up front. Advantages is that you might be able to see the license tag and driver better (be obvious as you write the number down) and you can wear a seatbelt. Determine what is safe and best for you.
7. If sharing a cab with a stranger, make sure you do so prior to being seen by the driver to avoid double charging.
7. You can always threaten to complain (tou2 su4 投诉) or call the police (110). The complaint threat is serious as they can lose their job, or call 110 if needed.

Other Transportation:
1. Pedicabs/Rickshaws. Generally found in tourist areas (e.g.Beijing’s hutongs). Some drivers associate with a tour company, others freelance. Always negotiate. Once a destination/price is agreed upon write down the price to confirm and ensure the driver again agrees. These drivers are notorious for demanding additional money, or claiming the amount was in US dollars. Although this is one one of the more expensive forms of transport, it can be quite charming.

Shopping:
1. Assume what you are buying is fake and of poor quality. Unless you are an expert, chances are it’s not the real deal. Don’t trust warranties unless from a reputable dealer (who may go bankrupt soon).
2. If something gets wrapped or packaged, make sure to watch it being wrapped to avoid swops. Better yet, unwrap before leaving to verify it wasn’t.
3. Anything electrical should be taken out of its box and plugged in and tested.
4. Shopping for investment grade items (gold, jade, high-grade jewelry or decorative items made from (semi)precious materials should only be purchased from extremely reputable stores, otherwise you assume all risk
5. For custom items (i.e. tailoring, furniture) never pay the full price upfront. 50% deposit is typical. A written agreement or receipt with items and full material and labor price should be obtained. Materials in particular should be confirmed or provided to the fabricator—the risk of switching to inferior but cheaper materials does exist with less than savory merchants.

Exchanging Money
1. Use ATM’s or banks. Hotels and the airport exchanges (Travelex) while legit, will rip you off. Branches of banks located at airports) are OK though.
2. Avoid exchanging money on the street. You will end up with counterfeit bills, you don’t want to.
3. Try hard to always carry around small bills, not just RMB 100’s. Sometimes it’s hard for vendors, taxi drivers, etc. to make proper change, and being slipped a bogus RMB 50 note (very popular for counterfeiters) is a possibility. Refuse suspicious notes on the spot and demand a replacement note, or smaller change of equal value.
4. When using 100 RMB notes (esp in cabs), watch carefully how it is handled. Sometimes it will labeled as suspicious and swopped with a true fake before being handed back to you.

Others:
1. Tea scam. Refer to the threads below. Common in Beijing, (Tiananmen Square, Qianmen, Forbidden City areas) and Shangha (YuYuan Garden, People’s Square, Nanjing Road)
2. Art Students. <Thread TBD> Rather prevalent in Beijing in the Wangfujing area, also in Xian. Generally one or two “students” approach foreigners and get you to go with them to a studio or exhibition and then hard-sell to buy second-rate art work. More of an annoyance than a scam when you realize you have wasted valuable time. Becomes a scam when you pay far more than the Chinese version of Velvet Elvis is worth.
3.. DCC or Credit Card Scam. Using credit cards (esp Visa) results in a loss of money in a sneaky conversion (this is above the 3% foreign transaction fee most banks charge) that China banks do. Avoid it by reading the thread below.

Links
Using Credit Cards and avoiding the DCC Scam in China. Please note the DCC thread has now been closed and rolled into the master FT DCC thread where there is a wiki. Master DCC Thread.
Tea House Scam:-----Thread 1---------Thread 2

mnredfox

Mobile Phones, Internet, and Computers

SIM Cards in China
Calling the US from China
Internet Access in China
VPN In China

mnredfox

Food in China

Regional Authentic Dishes
Top Beijing Restaurants
Shanghai Top Restaurants
Beijing Duck
Dangerous Foods
CityWeekend - top place for many expats to search, classifieds, recommendations, etc
EnjoyShanghai - recommendations of places in Shanghai with discounts
Burger King
Restaurant & Food Reviews (Chinese only)

mnredfox

Hotels

In China you will find all sorts of hotels, from international chains, Chinese chains, to local budget hotels. Depending on your taste’s, you can spend anywhere from $20 USD a night to perhaps over $300 USD per night. Generally you get what you pay for. At international brands (especially luxury) you’ll often pay a premium, but in China you can often get a good quality hotel for a very good price. Here are some basic hotel staying/booking tips we offer:

International Chains vs Chinese hotels
• International brands often bring western standards and are most reliable. However, there still is variation in some of the more economy/budget brands of a chain hotel (eg Holiday Inn of IHG).
• International chains of course allow you to earn points, but are often more expensive than Chinese hotels. In general though, prices at these chains are still cheaper on a per night basis than in the US or Europe.
• International hotels may not be found in major cities, thus limiting your stay options.
• You will find all sorts of Chinese hotels, from 5 stars to 1 star. In general, they are significantly cheaper than international brands. 5 stars often is really 5 stars, and 1 star is really 1 star. Check hotel reviews for more info.
• Don’t be afraid of booking Chinese hotels (esp after reading reviews). You often can have some really great stays at Chinese hotels (at great rates).
• Most Chinese hotels will include breakfast in the rate. Check the rate carefully as this is often a bonus (many Western hotels will include breakfast as well, but at a high premium).
• International hotels will almost always have staff that speak English, and the vast majority of Chinese hotels in large cities do as well.

Booking:
• Many travelers prefer to book in advance. This is most wise with international chains as sometimes in large cities they sell out. Simply use the brand’s website to book.
• Using Chinese travel websites are another great option (esp for Chinese hotels). International chains can also be booked here. Ctrip and elong are great websites for booking hotels and often have really great reviews. While many reviews are in Chinese, you can use the website’s translate functions to get more info.
• It is rare that you’ll not be able to find a hotel room in a city (super exceptions like the Olympics). So for the more adventurous looking for a cultural experience, you can simply walk into a hotel and book a room on the spot. Keep in mind the rate is negotiable (as is breakfast). As well, it is advised that you ask to see the room before accepting the charge. Negotiating hotels is very common for local Chinese and can make a great experience.
• Most international chains will accept all major CC (Discover, Amex, MC, Visa) whereas most Chinese chains accept only MC & Visa. See money thread for more info.

Other hotel facts:
• Remember there is no tipping in China, so no need to tip maids, bellboy, etc (though this is becoming more common in Western hotels)
• Like Western chains, there are a plethora of free amenities like toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, etc. Don’t forget in China shoe shine is also free.
• Watch out for the DCC scam at hotels, where it is most present. See this thread for more info
• Hotels can help book taxi’s, trains (follow discussion on new ID requirement for more info), and even plane tickets (depending on the hotel). This can be a great time saver and the cost is often well worth it. Booking cabs is free however and advised if going to the airport the next day in case calling a cab is difficult.

Links:
Beijing Hotels: 2009 & after thread-------PEK / Beijing Capital Airport Hotels
Shanghai Hotels: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...el-advice.html
Xian Hotels: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...l#post18787111
Budget chains in China:-----Home Inn-------Green Tree Inn

mnredfox

Language & Culture Primer

Learning Chinese Online Links
Google Translate
Iciba Dictionary
China Daily - top English newspaper in China
Traditional Chinese Gifts
Gifts for Chinese Hosts

mnredfox

The Big Three: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou

1 Day in Beijing
1 Day in Shanghai
1 Day in Guangzhou

mnredfox

Activities/Tours/Places to Visit

Ming Tombs
Great Wall
Yunnan
Jiuzhaigou
Tibet Closings
Shanghai Sights
Jinmao vs WFC (Shanghai)
Huangshan
Siguniangshan
Many sites in Yunnan and Sichuan - jiejie's trip review

Tour Sevices
General Tour Operators thread
Bestourchina

Other Websites
Travel China Guide - has many tourist spots in China
Wiki Travel or Wiki
Travelguides:-----Frommer's Forum-----Lonelyplanet (see the thorntree forum)

ucc

欢迎您来这里和你好? Come on you guys should do better than this...

Edit to add: regardless of the Chinese, I do appreciate the great thread^

mnredfox

Ok so I was writing quick as we are just getting this thread going. Changed, but if you have suggestions let us know.

allset2travel

Warm welcome to:
moondog----------anacapamalibu----------jiejie----------mnredfox

China Board Ambassadors ^