F.A.Q.s

Questions:

How can I get my passport visa? How about hotels ? What are the temperatures in major cities? etc

How can you let me know your travel agency legal ?

visitchinaguide.org is from NVC (Nice Vacation China) Network Co.Ltd and Shanxi Yuhua Internation Travel Service Co. Ltd . Our products focus on the cultures of Chinese ethnical groups and people’s daily life. Our website is permitted by China Tourist Administration Bureau,where you can find China International Tours Xi’an.

How to have my visa extended?
Foreigners who want to stay in China beyond the duration of their visa need to apply for an extension.
The visa extension application should be a form submitted to the Local Public Security Bureau 7 days before the expiration date of the visa.
Visitors traveling with a group on a group visa and who want to stay longer than the group should apply for an individual visa.
Visitors who want their visa to be extended should provide the following evidential materials:
1. Valid passport and visa
2. A completed application form for visa extension
3. Reason for the extension.
The length of the extension depends on the type of visa and multiple entry visas can not be extended
You are advised not to overstay the duration of your visa or fail to apply for an extension before your visa expires as you risk being heavily fined and have your travel plans disrupted.

Please contact your travel advisor for assistance in visa extensions.

Best time to visit

1. What is high season? What is the definition for high season, shoulder season and low season?
High season marks the most popular times of the year for travel in China, due to the weather, holiday periods or other reasons. Therefore hotels, airlines and travel agencies are heavily booked, and prices are higher than at other times.
The seasons are usually defined as follows:
High season: April 1 to May 31, Sep 1 to Nov 15.
Shoulder season: June 1 to Aug 31.
Low season: Nov 16 to Mar 31.
However, there may be some variation to these dates by different hotels, airlines or travel agencies in different regions. For example, high season in Tibet is from July 1 to Oct 15 and the rest of the year is considered to be low season.
Travelers should also be aware that the peak holiday periods: first week in May, first week in October, Chinese Spring Festival (often takes place in late January or early February) are particularly busy. Prices and bookings will be even higher than usual.
Top China Tours reserves the right to vary prices as a result of seasonal charges being imposed.

2. When is the best time to visit China?
Choosing the best time to visit China depends on which places you wish to visit, what type of weather you enjoy. May, September and October are the peak tourist months at China's most popular destinations when the weather is most comfortable, but prices are higher, and everywhere is more crowded. Prices drop a bit in the shoulder season, which runs from late March through April and from June through August. The low season arrives in late November, and continues through the winter when there are fewer crowds and the prices are lower.

3. What's the weather like in China?
There's a lot of it, from tropical in the far south to sub-arctic in the far north! China's a big landmass, running from the Pacific to the Himalaya, with latitudes similar to the US. A trip through Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and Guilin would be like going from New York to Florida via Texas and Wisconsin. It's about 5,500 kilometers from the tropical south to the cooler north, and there can be as much as 40℃ difference between them.

In winter the monsoon blows in from Siberia, bringing very cold, dry weather in the north, and weakening as it travels south, while in summer the monsoons bring warm wet weather in from the ocean, and summers can be very hot and humid in many areas. Spring and Autumn usually bring the best weather.

Food and dining

1. I am a vegetarian; can I get my preferred food in china?
China is a gastronomically well-endowed country and vegetarian food has commanded great importance of Chinese food culture. Chinese vegetarian food is generally divided into three types - the Monastery Vegetarian Food, the Court Vegetarian Food and the Folk Vegetarian Food.
The variety ingredients include soyabean protein extract, taro powder, mushrooms, fresh vegetables and tofu (bean curd). Some of the famous dishes include Vegetarian
It is easy to find vegetarian restaurants in the bigger cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin, etc.

Please be advised if you will have your tour arranged by a travel agency, please let them know that you are a vegetarian. For those carefree travelers, please inform us before you start your tour.

Health Concern

1. Medical Treatment in China 
Hotels usually have access to a doctor.
In the event of a serious condition which requires hospitalization, your tour guide will do everything possible to ensure that you receive that best treatment possible. Please call your Top China Tours Advisor so that we can help in any way possible.
The major cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou have hospitals that will reach the Standard of foreign hospital however the hospital systems differ considerably. Hospitals in other cities may not offer the same standards of hospitals in foreign countries.
On entering hospital all patients are required to pay a substantial deposit before any treatment will be administered. Nursing care in hospital is strictly limited to medical treatments so patients will require a person who can assist with all other activities. No food is supplied.
We highly recommend that all travelers but comprehensive travel insurance in their home country before departure.

2. Health Precautions while travel in China 
Drink only boiled or bottled water or carbonated drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks and ice cubes. (Also see is the tap water drinkable?)
Don't eat food purchased from street vendors.
Don't drink beverages with ice.
Don't handle animals (especially monkeys, cats, dogs), to avoid the risk of rabies.
Don't swim in fresh water (excluding well-chlorinated pools) in some parts of China to avoid infection with schistosomiasis.
Wash hands often with soap or water (and/or instant antibacterial hand wash).
Don't eat or drink dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurized.
Don't share needles with anyone.
Eat only thoroughly cooked food, or fruits and vegetables that you have peeled yourself.
Never eat uncooked meat, raw eggs, or unpasteurized dairy products. Raw shellfish is dangerous for people who have liver disease or compromised immune systems.

3. Do I need to bring my medical record?
Yes, all travelers are recommended to take their medical records along. In the event of an emergency your medical records will be of great assistance. The medical record should include your blood type, immunization record, allergies, and any medications you are currently taking (both prescription and non-prescription), You should also include your doctor's name, address, phone number, emergency contact name and phone number, and your insurance company's name, address and phone number.

4. What vaccinations do we need to travel to China and do you have any other medical suggestions?
While traveling with Top China Tours, we take every precaution to provide a safe and healthy environment for you. We choose restaurants and hotels that are clean, safe, and we always keep your needs and interests in mind. However, here are some precautions for you to take into consideration for your trip to China. In additional, all travelers are recommended to take their medical records when they travel.
Vaccines/Immunizations (4-6 weeks before your trip):
Vaccination is particularly recommended for those who will be traveling in smaller cities, villages, and rural areas off the usual tourist itineraries. Travelers should be cautioned that typhoid vaccination is not 100% effective and is not a substitute for careful selection of food and drink.
- Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)
- Hepatitis B if you might be exposed to blood, have sexual contact with the local population, be exposed through medical treatment, or stay longer than 6 months. (Hepatitis B is recommended for infants and for children 11-12 years of age who did not receive it as infants.)
- Rabies, if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals.
- Typhoid, for visiting developing countries.

Do I need visa when I go to Hongkong ?

Yes. If you have special passport, you don’t need. You may get visa through Chinese Embassy or HK SAR Immigration Department Bureau. If you don’t have following passport or want to stay longer, you can get passport from Chinese Embassy or HK SAR Immigration Department Bureau.

No need to do visa in following countries during permitted days.

Money and Currency

1. May I take Chinese currency to China for my convenience? Is it illegal to import or export Chinese currency?
General you need not take Chinese currency to China since you can easily exchange your US$ into Chinese RMB in hotels and banks. However if you would like to have local currency upon your arrival in China, it is okay that you may take a volume of Chinese currency less than 20,000 RMB without declaration at the customs. You are required to declare your import of Chinese currency exceeding 20,000 RMB.

2.How about the money stuff?
China's legal tender is Renminbi (RMB). Foreign currencies can not be used directly in China, though some shops illegally accept foreign currencies.
The basic unit of RMB is yuan. 1 yuan (or kuai) =10 jiao (or mao). RMB is available in both paper notes and coins. The denominations of paper notes are 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 yuan; 5, 2 and 1 jiao. The denominations of coins are 1 yuan; 5 and 1 jiao. Hong Kong uses HK dollars.
Foreign currencies may be converted into RMB at all banks, bank branches or hotels at the exchange rate quoted on the foreign exchange market on the day.
Black market in foreign currency is forbidden in China. People may approach you in front of hotels, at tourist spots or at banks for a black market exchange. You should be extremely careful. The exchange rate may be attractive--higher than the bank rate--but it is illegal and you risk being cheated. Sometimes these people don't give you the right amount, since you don't have time to count the money or, even worse, they may give you fake notes or a bundle of plain paper with a few notes on the top.
When you exchange money at the banks, you should ask for a certificate, with which you can change RMB back to foreign currency when you leave the country.
The Bank of China is the bank which specializes in handing credit cards issued in foreign countries. They include Visa, MasterCard, Diner's Card, American Express, JCB, Million Card and Federal Card.
These cards can be used at major hotels and shopping centers where the Bank of China has branches. In the event that you lose your card, you should report to one of the branches of the Bank of China and apply for a replacement.
The Bank of China has an agreement with foreign financial organizations on selling, cashing in and compensating for travelers' cheques.
The official exchange rate at this time is 6.9 yuan to 1 U.S dollar. Keep the receipt of the transaction as you might need when you leave China to change your US dollars back in Bank of China at the airport.

3. What credit cards are accepted in China?
Most of the internationally accepted credit cards are usable in China. They include: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diner's club, and the JCB card of Japan.
Credit cards are accepted only in large shopping malls and stores. Credit card symbols are displayed in the visible place in shops and hotels indicating credit cards are accepted

4. Is it easy to find an ATM in china?
You won't have any problems finding an ATM in the bigger cities in China, although you probably won't be able to find one in remote areas or the smaller towns. However, this situation is changing, and ATMs are gradually spreading out across the country.

5. Which traveler's cheques are handled by the Bank of China?
Issued by Currencies
Thomas Cook USD HKD DEM FRF CAD
AUD JPY CHF GBP
International Payment Co. USD GBP CAD
American Express Co. USD DEM FRF
Citibank USD
Nanyang Commercial Bank USD HKD
Swiss Bank CHF
Bank of Tokyo JPY
Mitsui Bank JPY
Sumitomo Bank JPY
Fuji Bank JPY
If you have any problems, please contact the Bank of China, Beijing Branch (Tel: 63035128).

6.What effect does the revaluation of the Chinese currency (Renminbi) have on the cost of my trip?

The Renminbi was revalued against the US Dollar and other currencies by about 2%. This means that these currencies are now worth approximately about 2% less when converted to the Chinese currency. The simple way to explain the effect is that the cost of your trip will be increased by about 2% and you will receive less money when you exchange foreign currencies for the Renminbi.

Sights

1. What are the top tourist’s destinations in china?
For your first visit, we recommend Beijing, Xi'an, shanghai, Guilin, Tibet, all of which are must-see places. Besides, some relatively less visited places and routes are also worth seeing. These include: Zhouzhuang Water Village in Suzhou, Hangzhou city, Ancient Town Lijiang in Yunnan, Pingyao Ancient Town in Shanxi, Yangtze River Cruise, and Silk Road Explore.

2. What can I expect to see when I visit Jiuzhaigou?
This is one of the most beautiful and spectacular parts of China, however Jiuzhaigou is usually very crowded especially in peak seasons. The huge demands also affect the service quality the hotels provide. We recommend visiting the area out of the peak season to make the most of your time.
Guide: Most of the guides in Jiuzhaigou are trained to take domestic travelers and there are very few good English-speaking foreign guides. We do our utmost to arrange an experienced English speaking guide for your tour.

3. Where to find an example of traditional Chinese life?
China is a country steeped in complex and distinctive culture. Some of the visitors here, however, lament the presence of the booming skyscrapers and eight-lane high way in big cities. Yet traditional Chinese life is presented in many places. When traveling in China, Hutong in Beijing or the small water village of Qingpu near Shanghai will show you vivid traditional Chinese lifestyle. If have time and really want to see traditional relatively untouched traditional culture, you can go to the remote western areas. Dali and lijiang in Yunnan province along with Tibet are great places where age-old traditions are well preserved.

What are the Methods of obtaining a China Visa?

Top China Tours recommends that you obtain your visa before leaving the country where you live.

The costs and the length of time to process a visa vary from country to country. Please check the website for the Chinese Embassy in your country to find the information applicable to you. Application forms can usually be downloaded from the web site. Top China Tours Travel Service can also supply a current visa application form.

Others

1. What kind of electrical adaptor should I bring?
Electricity in China is 220V, 50 cycles, AC. Two-pin sockets and some three-pin sockets are in use. Most of the hotels have a socket in the bathroom for both 110V and 220V. Most hotels have built-in convectors in bathrooms for shaving, hair dryers, etc. Outside of the bathroom, only 220V sockets are provided so a converter will be required to change the voltage from 220v to 110V and well as an adopter to allow different pins to be used. Most hotels will have adopters but it is always wise to be prepared if you have some piece of electrical equipment which is essential to operate.

2. Is Train Travel comfortable and convenient in China? 
Traveling by train in China is one of the cheapest ways to travel some of the long distances in China and is used widely by the local population. It is important to know what to expect if you decide to travel by train in China. Top China Tours have included detailed information on China Train Travel.