Hints and Tips

China, inc. Hong Kong and Tibet

• Intro: The most populous country on earth, although it does not seem as crowded as India, encapsulating much of the mystique of the east. China has a huge pull on anyone going to Asia. Despite some great attractions, China, being the third most visited country on the planet is far from remote at must see attractions. Much of its historic sites have been destroyed, it's residents can be less than helpful, you easily run into language problems and whatever the difficulties of Asian travel, in China they are magnified tenfold. Buying a train ticket can be a major achievement. Coupled with the vast distances and over expectations of many visitors, China can be a let down. Plan your trip carefully and make tough decisions about your itinerary - you won't see it all and normally, Hong Kong, Yangshuo and Beijing are enough.

  • Highlights: Guilin area along the Li River, head for Yangshuo, Hong Kong's (HK) skyline, Tibet, Urumqi and Beijing. Less seen are Xishuanbanna in Yunnan province and Sichuan province. Actually Xishuangbanna over-rated, mountains around Dali not. Great Wall - see below.

  • Lowlights: HKs prices, the city of Xi'an tourist circus, unfriendly staring, spitting locals and getting around in a huge country. The Great Wall can be disappointing if you go to a major tourist spot. Take the tour to a less known place (like the one offered by Jinghua hotel). Then later visit the wall at Balding (sp), making your own way and compare the two for yourself.

• Visa strategy: Fly to HK visa free and pick one up in two days max. A visa in Vietnam, Islamabad or Thailand, may be easier than in your home country, especially if you are American. A Tibetan visa is a Chinese visa. You can not enter Tibet from Nepal for independent travel, you must be on a tour.

• Typical tourist trail: Kathmandu to Lhasa or Hong Kong to Guilin (to Shanghai to Xi'an) to Beijing.

• Hot/cold, wet and dry: Will get very cold in the winter, humidity in the south can be unbearable

• Costs: HK is as expensive as it gets, Shanghai is not cheap nor are first class train tickets. $25 a day will cover you.

• Money: Use ATMs (not Tibet or minor cities) and take emergency travellers cheques and USD

• What to take: Cold remedy

• What to buy: Counterfeit clothing in the Beijing silk market

• Getting around: Excellent train system, buses awful, despite okay roads. Huge distances mean internal flights should be considered

• Guide book: Many guides, Lonely Planet considered the best, prices and information changing so fast most guides have become books of lies.

• People vibe:

  • Locals: Can be hostile, takes a while to get used to very limited English, the staring and especially the spitting

  • Other travellers: Can travel a long time with out meeting other travellers (not fun alone)

• Tourist factor: Major attractions 8/10 that most travellers limit themselves to

• Accommodation: Basic, not always easy to find

  • Hot water: Can be a problem

  • Average cost: $10

• Communications: Internet slow, but wide spread. International call centres in HK

• Health: Beware of catching a cold. Pharmacies recommend Tiger Balm for everything

• Media:

  • Books: Limited

  • TV: Limited

• Food: Not as fantastic as you might have expected, but not bad. try and get a home cooked meal

  • Vegetarians: Not a problem, make sure you know what you are ordering. Dog and rat feature on many menus

• Hassle and annoyance factor: Lots of staring and spitting.

  • Women alone: Okay

• Drugs, cigarettes and alcohol: Very cheap cigarettes. Foreign brands always under the counter. Beer amazing value

Local laws and customs
Visitors to China should note that there are severe penalties for drug offences, including in some cases the death penalty.

Visitors should be aware that there are restrictions on their undertaking certain religious activities, including preaching and distributing religious materials.

Entry requirements
British nationals require visas to enter mainland China, but not Hong Kong. Visas cannot be obtained on arrival. Carefully check your visa validity as fines are levied for overstaying. Visitors on a return trip to Hong Kong from the mainland should ensure they have a double or multiple entry visa to gain re-entry to the mainland. Visitors who are transiting China en route to a third country (even if in direct transit, ie not leaving the aircraft during a stopover) should ensure that they have a transit visa valid for each time they transit.

Since the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK, the import of products from cloven-hoofed animals (ie cows, pigs, sheep &c) is banned in China. Travellers from the UK should not attempt to bring them into China.

Weather
The weather in Beijing and Shanghai can sometimes be foggy. The weather in China can be very hot and humid when the sun is out. Be prepared for rainy and stormy weather however. (An umbrella is a good idea.)


General Information for UK travelers:

We strongly advise all visitors to China to take out comprehensive insurance cover.

Visitors who are travelling independently or planning an extended visit are advised to register with the British Embassy or nearest Consulate-General. Telephone callers should note that the country code for China is 0086, and they should omit the first zero of the numbers listed below if calling from outside China.

Please note that there are separate advice notices for Hong Kong and Macao.

British Embassy, Beijing

British Consulate-General, Shanghai

British Consulate-General, Guangzhou

British Consulate-General, Chongqing

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