China Travel Guide:

Tourism Information

China: One of the Best Travel Destinations (three of four globes)

China is a desirable travel destination: it offers both historic and modern cities, an interesting cultural heritage, great historical monuments, and inviting landscapes.  China is packed with highly rated tourist attractions.  Travel by train, boat, or bus is equally rewarding.  Driving in China is not recommended.

Hong Kong is an area of China that is a Special Administrative Region.  Due to unique differences between Hong Kong and China in respect to travel, entry requirement, driving and other aspects of travel, we provide a separate Travel Information Page for Hong Kong

1. China was inwardly focused until recently, when it embraced an international, market-oriented economy.  Its tourist facilities are growing and maturing but reflect the "emerging" nature of the country's economy.   China provides the traveler with a number of challenges, including, culture, customs, language, and size.
   • Modern tourist facilities are available in major cities, but many facilities in smaller provincial cities and rural areas are frequently below international standards.
   
   
   
2. The best way to see China is as part of a tour organized by a reputable company that has experience with conducting tours in the country.  (Read our article on How to evaluate tour operators.)




3. ThereArePlaces recommended travel destinations for China are located at  China: Places To Visit.



4. Additional information on travel to China can be found at the country's official tourism site  http://www.cnto.org/ . 
   
   
5. When planning your travel, be sure to review the ThereArePlaces Travel Planning Guides for insights on how  to "travel well" and "travel safe".

Overall, China is a safe travel destination for tourists. 

1. No official health advisories, travel advisories, or specific terrorism warnings for China have been posted by the U.S. Government at this time.  Before you depart, always check with the Department of State  and CDC to insure that these conditions have not changed.  In addition, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office  of the British Government provides excellent travel advisories.
   • During 2003, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreaks were of concern in Hong Kong and other areas of China.  Make sure you check with the CDC  on current health issues before you depart.
   
   
   
2. The State Department's Overseas Citizens Services call center at 1-888-407-4747 can answer general inquiries on safety and security overseas. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-202-501-4444 .



3. When visiting a foreign country, avoid public demonstrations (whatever the cause) and do not broadcast either your public opinions or your nationality.



4. Security personnel may at times place foreign visitors under surveillance. Hotel rooms, telephones and fax machines may be monitored, and personal possessions in hotel rooms may be searched. Taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest may result in problems with authorities.



5. American visitors to China should carry their passports with them out of reach of pickpockets.



6. If you have an emergency in China, call: 120 for emergency, 110 for fire, 110 for police, and 122 for traffic accident.  It is unlikely that you will find an operator who speaks or understands English.  Emergency numbers in China are being standardized on 110 but the process will take until 2007. 



7. Americans living in or visiting China are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in China and obtain updated information on travel and security within China.
   
   The U.S. Embassy is located at No. 2 Xiu Shui Dong Jie, Chaoyang District, Beijing, the American Citizen Services section can be reached at (86) (10) 6532-3431(8:30-12:00 a.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m., Mon-Fri), after hours (86) (10) 6532-1910. The U.S. Embassy web site address is http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/  and the e-mail address is AmCitBeijing@state.gov.  

   See our article on how U.S. Counsels can help Americans abroad.

   • See the bottom of the page for a comprehensive list of US Consular Offices in China
   
   
   
8. When planning your travel, be sure to review the ThereArePlaces Travel Planning Guides for insights on how  to "travel well" and "travel safe".

Passport required.  A  visa is required to enter China and must be obtained from Chinese Embassies and Consulates before traveling to China.

• Americans arriving without valid passports and the appropriate Chinese visa are not permitted to enter and will be subject to a fine and immediate deportation at the traveler's expense.



• Chinese authorities have recently tightened their visa issuance policy, in some cases requiring personal interviews of American citizens and regularly issuing one or two entry visas valid for short periods only.

If you do not have a passport, see our article on the Ins and Outs of Passports.  Other important travel documents, including visas are covered in our Information Guide on Passport, Visas, Customs.

Travelers should not rely on Chinese host organizations claiming to be able to arrange a visa upon arrival. Chinese Authorities have recently tightened their visa issuance policy, in some cases requiring personal interviews of American citizens and regularly issuing one or two entry visas valid for short periods only.

Visas are not required of aliens who hold air tickets to the final destination, have booked seats on international airliners flying directly through China, and will stay in a transit city for less than 24 hours without leaving the airport. Persons transiting China on the way to and from Mongolia or North Korea or who plan to re-enter China from the Hong Kong or Macau Special Administrative Regions should be sure to obtain visas allowing more than one entry.

For information about landing visa requirements and other entry requirements and restricted areas, travelers may consult the Embassy of the People's Republic of China (PRC) at 2300 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, or telephone (1-202) 328-2500, 2501 or 2502. For a list of services and frequently asked visa questions and answers, travelers can view the Chinese Embassy's web sites at http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ .

• There are Chinese Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Americans traveling in Asia have been able to obtain visas to enter China from the Chinese visa office in Hong Kong and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Seoul, South Korea.

Americans who overstay or otherwise violate the terms of their Chinese visas will be subject to a maximum fine of 5,000 RMB (Renminbi), departure delays, and may be subject to detention.

Permits are required to visit Tibet as well as many remote areas not normally open to foreigners. A travel permit for Tibet can be obtained through local travel agents. Permits cost approximately renminbi (RMB) 100, are single-entry and valid for at most three months. Most areas in Tibet are not open for foreigners except Lhasa City and part of Shan Nan. Foreigners can be fined up to RMB 500, taken into custody, and deported for visiting restricted areas.

For information about entry requirements and restricted areas, travelers may consult the Visa Office of the Embassy of China (PRC) at Room 110, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20007, or telephone (202) 338-6688 and (202) 588-9760. For a list of services and frequently asked visa questions and answers, travelers can view the Chinese Embassy's web site at http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ . There are Chinese consulates general in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Since the run-up to the Olympics, some Americans have reported having difficulty getting visas in Seoul, South Korea or Hong Kong

Travelers should note that international flights departing China are routinely overbooked, making reconfirmation of departure reservations and early airport check-in essential. Passengers must pay a RMB 90 airport user fee (approximately $11 US) when departing China on international flights and RMB 50 airport fee (approximately US $6.10) for all domestic flights.

In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child’s travel from the parents or legal guardian not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry/departure.

DUAL NATIONALITY:  China does not recognize dual nationality.

Some U.S. citizens who are also Chinese nationals (mostly U.S. born children of Chinese nationals or Legal Permanent Residents) have experienced difficulty entering and departing China on U.S. passports. In some cases, such dual nationals are required to use Chinese travel documents to depart China. Normally this causes inconvenience but no significant problems for affected persons; however, in child custody disputes, the ability of dual national children to depart from China could be affected.

In some instances, dual nationality may hamper U.S. Government efforts to provide protection abroad. For additional information, please see the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet home page at
http://travel.state.gov for an explanation of dual nationality issues. U.S. citizens who are also citizens of  any other nation are reminded that U.S. law requires they enter and depart the United States documented as U.S. citizens.

Overall, China is a safe country, with a low but increasing crime rate.

Before you travel, read our articles on Pickpockets, Con Artists, and ATM safety in the ThereArePlaces Information Guide on Personal Safety for travelers. 

Travelers should respect local police requirements to temporarily avoid travel in some areas.

• Pickpockets target tourists at sightseeing destinations, open-air markets and in stores, often with the complicity of low-paid security guards.



• Violence against foreigners occurs, but it is rare. Over the past year, incidents of violence against foreigners have usually taken place in urban areas where bars and nightclubs are located.



• The number of violent incidents against Americans in China is very low on a worldwide basis (there were nine reported violent attacks on American citizens in 2003), but such incidents do occur.



• Robberies, sometimes at gunpoint, have occurred in western China, and there have been some reports of robberies and assaults along remote mountain highways near China's border with Nepal.



• Travelers are sometimes asked by locals to exchange money at a preferential rate. It is illegal to exchange dollars for RMB except at banks, hotels, and official exchange offices.



• Due to the large volume of counterfeit currency in China, unofficial exchanges usually result in travelers losing their money and possibly left to face charges of breaking foreign exchange laws. If detained by police under suspicion of committing an economic crime involving currency, travelers may be delayed for weeks or months while police investigate the allegations.



• Travelers should have small bills (RMB 10, 20 and 50 notes) for travel by taxi. Reports of taxi drivers using counterfeit RMB 50 and 100 notes to make change for large bills are increasingly common. Be sure to get a receipt from the taxi driver.



• Pick pocketing is on the rise in China.  The railway station in Chengdu is a notorious haven for pickpockets.



• Throughout China, women outside hotels in tourist districts frequently use the prospect of companionship or sex to lure foreign men to isolated locations where accomplices are waiting for the purpose of robbery.



• Travelers should not allow themselves to be driven to bars or an individual's home unless they know the person making the offer.



• Hotel guests should refuse to open their room doors to anyone they do not know personally.
  
  
• Recently, there have been instances in Beijing and elsewhere of mobs in bar districts attacking foreigners. Nationalism is on the rise, and disputes among Chinese citizens or between Chinese and foreigners can quickly escalate.
  
  
• Caution should be exercised when visiting bar districts late at night, especially on weekends. There have been reports of bar fights in which Americans have been specifically targeted due their nationality. Simple arguments can turn into mob scenes and many times have resulted in the American being detained for hours for questioning with no right to an attorney or consular officer at that stage. Bar fights are often punished by administrative detention in a local jail for up to two weeks, usually followed by deportation.
  
  
• Recently, American visitors have encountered scams at the international airports in China whereby individuals appearing to work for the airport offer to take American tourists’ bags to the departure area, but instead they carry the bags to another area and insist that the visitor pay an airport tax. Travelers should be advised that the airport tax is now included in the price of the airline ticket. The airport police or security officers should be contacted if this happens.
  

If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. The embassy/consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members of friends, and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution for the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney

We recommend that you do not drive in China.  

Using public transportation is a safer and much less of a hassle than renting or driving a car.  If  you want to avoid public transportation, have you hotel staff hire a driver and a car for your touring.

Car rental is only available in limited areas of China and you may drive a rented car only within a prescribed region (usually within the major urban areas).

If you are determined to drive, you should expect to encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning China is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance:

Safety of Public Transportation: Good
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Fair
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Fair in or near large cities; unavailable in rural areas.

Driving etiquette in China is developing. As a result, traffic is often chaotic, and right-of-way and other courtesies are often ignored. Travelers should note that cars and buses in the wrong lanes frequently hit pedestrians and bicyclists on sidewalks. Pedestrians should always be careful while walking near traffic.

Road/traffic conditions are generally safe.

• Most traffic accident injuries involve pedestrians or cyclists who are involved in collisions or who encounter unexpected road hazards (e.g., unmarked open manholes). 



• Child safety seats are not widely available in China.



• Americans who wish to ride bicycles in China are urged to wear safety helmets meeting U.S. standards.

All drivers should be aware of the Chinese regulations regarding traffic accidents. These include the requirement that drivers:

• Not move their vehicles or disturb the scene of the accident unless and until ordered to by the Traffic Police.



• Summon the Traffic Police and wait at the scene until the police arrive and complete their investigation.



• If called to an accident, the police may take 30 minutes or longer to arrive. Once the police arrive, they will complete a preliminary investigation and arrange a time for you to report to the police station responsible for the accident scene.



• The police will prepare a written report, in Chinese, describing the circumstances of the accident. They will present the report to you either at the scene, or more likely at the police station, and ask you to sign it verifying the details of the accident.
  • Do not sign the report as is, unless your Chinese is good enough to  understand the meaning of the report and you find it totally accurate. If you either do not understand it or believe it is partly or wholly inaccurate, you may either:
    
    A. Write a disclaimer on the report to the effect that you cannot read and understand the report and cannot attest to the accuracy thereof, but are signing it because of the police requirement that you do so, and then sign, or
    
    B. Write your own version of the accident, in English, on the police form and indicate that your signature only attests to the accuracy of the English version.
  
  
  
• Most incidents (such as an accident) will draw a crowd. Drivers should remain calm. A crowd will usually move in very close to the accident and participants. In many cases, the bystanders consider themselves to be an ad hoc jury. They may call for money, usually from RMB 100 to 1,000, to be paid by the party they consider at fault.



• The amount is not necessarily relevant to the amount of damage. A certain amount of bargaining is normal, even at accidents involving two Chinese parties. Though a crowd may seem threatening, crowd assaults on foreigners at accidents have not been reported.



• If a Traffic Police booth is nearby, you may wish to leave the vehicle and walk there to await the arrival of the police accident team. Alternatively, you may walk to a shop, restaurant, or other location in the immediate vicinity and wait for police.



• You should not leave the scene of an accident: doing so could incite the crowd if they perceive that you are fleeing to evade responsibility for your share of blame or payment of damages. The crowd may attempt to keep your vehicle at the accident scene by standing in the way or blocking the roadway with vehicles, bicycles and other objects.

A U.S. driver’s license alone is not sufficient to drive in China. The U.S. driver's license must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (obtainable in the U.S. from American Automobile Association and the American Automobile Touring Alliance).

Speed Limits in China:

1. Built-up areas - As posted
2. Outside Built up areas (including  dual carriageways) - As posted
3. Motorways - As posted

Always confirm the speed limits with your rental car agent and observe the posted speeds limits whenever and wherever you drive.

Emergency roadside help and information may be reached by dialing 123 or 120 for vehicle assistance and towing services (Chinan Automobile Clubs), 122 for the fire department, 133 for police, and 144 for ambulance.

Use of mobile telephones while driving is against the law in China.  The fine for violating laws against the use of mobile phone while driving is significant.  If you need to use your mobile phone while on the road, stop your car in a designated parking area and place your call.

For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1179.html.

Western-style medical facilities with international staffs are available in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and a few other large cities.

• Many other hospitals in major Chinese cities have so-called VIP wards (gaogan bingfang). These feature reasonably up-to-date medical technology and physicians who are both knowledgeable and skilled. Most VIP wards also provide medical services to foreigners and have English-speaking doctors and nurses.

Most hospitals in China will not accept medical insurance from the United States.  Travelers will be asked to post a deposit prior to admission to cover the expected cost of treatment. Hospitals in major cities may accept credit cards for payment.

• Even in the VIP/Foreigner wards of major hospitals, however, American patients have frequently encountered difficulty due to cultural and regulatory differences. Physicians and hospitals have sometimes refused to supply American patients with complete copies of their Chinese hospital medical records, including laboratory test results, scans, and x-rays. All Americans traveling to China are strongly encouraged to buy foreign medical care and medical evacuation insurance prior to arrival. Travelers who want a list of modern medical facilities in China can access that information at the Embassy’s website: is http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/

Ambulances do not carry sophisticated medical equipment, and ambulance personnel generally have little or no medical training.

• Therefore, injured or seriously ill Americans may be required to take taxis or other immediately available vehicles to the nearest major hospital rather than waiting for ambulances to arrive. In rural areas, only rudimentary medical facilities are generally available. Medical personnel in rural areas are often poorly trained, have little medical equipment or availability to medications. Rural clinics are often reluctant to accept responsibility for treating foreigners, even in emergency situations.



• Foreign-operated medical providers catering to expatriates and visitors are available in China.
  
  
  For medical emergencies anywhere in mainland China, Americans can call the SOS International, Ltd., 24-hour "Alarm Center" in Beijing at telephone (86-10) 6462-9100 or in Shanghai at (86-21) 6295-0099 for advice and referrals to local facilities. SOS International Alarm Centers can also be contacted in Hong Kong at telephone (852) 2428-9900 and in the United States at (215) 245-4707. For a full list of SOS locations and phone numbers, consult the SOS website at http://www.internationalsos.com.

Additional information on medical providers specializing in treating foreigners for general medical, dental and orthodontic problems are available at http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/ .

We strongly urge you to consult your medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.

When making a decision regarding health insurance, you should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing medical service and that a medical evacuation to the U.S. may cost in excess of $50,000. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties. When consulting with your insurer prior to your departure, please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas healthcare provider or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur.

Your existing medical insurance carrier may cover "customary and reasonable" medical care while you are abroad. Usually, if reimbursement is provided, it is paid at a reduced rate (due to the use of an "out of system" provider). Check with your insurance carrier before you depart to determine the type and amount of coverage that may be provided. If coverage is provided, be sure to ask how claims should be filed and ask them to send some claim forms, in case you require any medical treatment while on vacation.

Read our article on  travel insurance to learn the factors that you should consider before you purchase or decline to purchase a travel related insurance policy.

Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure “Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad,” available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page.  ThereArePlaces Information Guide on Health contains valuable health related advice for the traveler considering a trip abroad.