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COT China Travel Guide Book

Welcome to China! Welcome to join China Odyssey Tours to explore China! We are very happy to
have this opportunity to provide you with this practical information for you to get some general ideas of
China before you come to visit us. The following are some tips for your China visit, we hope they will be
helpful and you will enjoy your stay in China.

This is a long document of 18 pages. If you do not want to read it word by word, you may click on
ctrl + F to search a keyword and locate the content you are eager to know quickly.

Proper Protocol & Etiquette

China is a large country with long history and diverse culture, which is quite different from yours.
Though great changes have taken place for the last two decades and China has been modernized
dramatically, traditions in most areas are still remained as before. It is highly appreciated that you
respect the traditions, culture, local customs and taboos in China, especially if your tour involves
areas inhabited by minorities such as Tibet, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, etc. In short, do
as Roma does.

Be flexible with good will and a readiness to understand. Now, China warmly welcomes overseas
visitors, the government and the departments concerned are earnestly working hard to improve and
increase facilities, enhance the quality of service in all fields, meanwhile, please understand that
China is still a developing country, youll enjoy your experience most fully if you take a flexible
approach, and tolerance and mutual understanding sometimes are quite significant.

Be friendly and sincere, polite and patient.

Since Chinas opening to the outside world two decades ago, though having become happier, more
open-minded, and friendly, Chinese people are inherently shy and modest, do not display emotion
and feeling in public and find plain-speaking unnerving. Therefore, generally speaking, 1) when
greeting or saying goodbye to each other, the Chinese are other than shaking hands, most of them
do not get used to hugging or kissing each other. 2) Decisions that would be made easily and
instantly elsewhere would be made in China after long preambles and detailed consultations, which
demands your patience and politeness, for anger is seen as weakness. 3) The concept of the 'face'
in China: face can be loosely defined as the 'status' or 'self-respect' in Chinese and by no means
alien to you. It is the worst thing for a Chinese to lose face, so it is advisable that never insult,
embarrass, shame, yell at, demean a Chinese person or try to prove someone wrong in public,
which would risk putting a Chinese in a situation that he lose his face. In order to get a successful
effect without letting a Chinese lose face, it is better that any criticism be delivered privately,
discreetly and tactfully, otherwise, the effect would be just opposite to what you wish. 4) many
Chinese have an excellent sense of humor, but it usually avoids sexual or political subjects. 5)

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Whenever you go, especially in the countryside, you may attract attention, some of Chinese may
stare at you, some of the domestic tourists you encounter may ask you to take pictures with them,
which can be upset but is nothing more than harmless curiosity. Privacy, it must be remembered, is
an alien notion to the Chinese. 6) Whenever you want to take pictures of some Chinese people, it is
always better to ask for the permission from the very person beforehand.

Be punctual. For some of your sightseeing and activities in China, punctuality is required, being late
may incur the bad consequence of missing boat, train and even airplane, so your personal attention
and cooperation will benefit yourself. Especially if you travel with a group, it is wise to be on time so
as not to hold up the entire group.

Social behavior in China is highly ethical, so it is not acceptable that any people take towels,
ashtrays and so on from hotels, trains or other places as souvenirs.

Necessary Travel Documents

A passport, valid for at least 3 month after your visit to China and the necessary visa or permits if
you are traveling with our program. The visa should be approved prior to entering China and a
permit for Tibet must be obtained 15 days before entering Tibet. If you only plan to travel and stay in
Hong Kong you are exempt from applying for a China visa.

Most people only need to apply for a single entry visa, which is usually valid for 3 months after the
issuing date and will permit you to stay in China for a maximum of 30 days.

You need permits to go to Tibet. If you only go to Lhasa, a Tibet permit will be sufficient but, if you
want to go further to the "unopened" areas, you also need an Alien's travel permit issued by the
PSB of Tibet.

If you are to travel to Tibet, you are required to provide a doctor's certificate stating that you are fit to
travel and your blood pressure and heart condition are normal in case that the very high altitude
have the possible effects on you.

We suggest you take your medical record with you in case that you need it in the event of an
emergency, and please also take with you your doctor's name, address and phone number,
emergency contact name and phone number, and your insurance company's name, address and
phone number.

Insurance

If you book a package tour from us, China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty insurance of US$24,000 for you
will be included as part of our package.

Please note that if you only book hotels or flights from us, such insurance will not be applicable.

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Although the above insurance is provided by China Odyssey Tours for free, we still suggest you buy
necessary travel insurance from insurance company in your country.

Health Requirements

Immunization against smallpox and cholera is no longer required for entry into the Peoples Republic of
China. While you travel to China with China Odyssey Tours, we always carefully select restaurants and
hotels that are clean and safe in order to provide you with a safe and healthy environment. However, we
do suggest you have sorts of vaccinations 4 to 6 weeks before your trip as the following, especially if you
choose to go and visit those remote and /or rural areas.

- Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)

- Hepatitis B
(We suggest 11 to 12year-old children who did not receive it as infants have vaccination of Hepatitis B.)
- Rabies, if you might have possibility to be exposed to wild or domestic animals.
- Typhoid, for visiting developing countries.

Climate

China is a vast country with different climates, but generally speaking, spring is from April to June,
summer from June to September, fall from September to October, while winter is from October to March,
and usually it is colder and drier in the north in winter, and hotter and more humid in the south in summer.

Packing

Here is some advices for your packing list:

1) Print out the confirmation letter and itinerary you get from us and bring one copy with you.
2) The passport with all necessary visas
3) International Airline tickets
4) Wallet & Credit cards & Travelers checks
5) Your medical record & First-aid kit & Medicines & Vitamins
6) Clothes suitable for the season (please check the weather of your destination before you come) &
Comfortable shoes
7) The Dress standard for most places in China would best be described as smart casual, if your tour
involves some formal occasions, then a set of formal suits would be recommended.
8) Raincoat and/or umbrella
9) Hat, Sunglasses & Sunscreen, depending on the season and your destination
10) Insect repellent. Especially for summer months and for travelers who is going to visit rural areas.
11) If you wear glasses, we suggest you bring two pairs with you in case that you lose one pair.
12) Bottled water: if you dont think you can agree with the drinks in China so fast, especially when you

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bring your children with you, we suggest you bring some homemade bottles of water for the previous
several-day consumption.
13) Address and telephone number list on a sheet.
14) Converter (power adaptor) if you have one or it is necessary for you to have one.

Note:
1) Try to make your check-in luggage light, because according to the regulation in China, the luggage
allowance for the first class ticket holders is 40 kilos (88 pounds) per person, 30kg (66pounds) per
person for business class ticket holders, 20 kilos (44 pounds) per person for economy class ticket
holders (adults), and some of the airports are very strict.
2) Carry On luggage for air travel in China is limited to 2 pieces for first class travelers and one piece
for business and economy class travelers. The dimensions of each shall not exceed 20X40 X55cm and
the total weight shall not exceed 5 kg. The carry on items in excess of the above mentioned piece,
weight or dimension shall be checked-in as checked baggage according to regulations.

Dress Code:
The Dress Code is casual during your whole tour. Shorts and t-shirts in summer are fine, even in the
dining room. Remember, it's YOUR tour and you should wear what's comfortable for you. But do prepare
one or two sets of formal dress if you feel like and / or you would attend any formal meetings and
banquets during your tour.

Arrival and Departure

Arrival in China:
Upon your arrival in China from abroad, you have to go through the following procedures, just as in other
countries. To save time, you will be given some forms to fill in on board before landing. They include the
Entry Registration Card, Health Card and Custom Luggage Declaration Form.

Health check
On arrival, the first check you have to pass is the Quarantine Check. At the check point, you show your
passport and the form you filled in on board. Anyone with listed diseases such as yellow fever, cholera,
VD, leprosy, infectious pulmonary tuberculosis or AIDS will be forbidden to enter or be sent to the airport
clinic for further checking. Those who are from areas with epidemics must show their valid certificates of
inoculation against this disease. Those with symptoms of fever, diarrhea, vomiting or rashes must
declare this information accurately.

For those who are going to stay longer in China, they have to show their quarantine certificate issued by
an authorized health department abroad.

Border entry
After passing through the Health Check, you come to the border control area (equivalent to the
immigration control in the West) where you show the officer your passport and the Entry Registration
Card. Your passport should be valid with a visa to China. Without a valid visa, you will find it difficult to
enter the country. China does not issue visas at the border upon your arrival from abroad.

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Customs
After collecting your luggage, you will pass through the Customs. There are two channels, red and
green. If you have nothing to declare, go through the green channel, otherwise take the red channel. If
you take things listed on the Customs Luggage Declaration Form in the red box such as computers,
cameras, video cameras, gold and silver, printed or recorded materials, or anything more than you need
during your travel in China, or something that you will not take out of China when you leave, you have to
fill in the Customs Luggage Declaration Form which you are given, and then take the red channel where
the Customs officer will check it to see whether you have to pay duty or you have to deposit the things at
the Customs, or whether you can take them into China but have to take them out on your departure.
Please keep the stamped form with you and do not lose it, because you will be asked to give it back to
the Customs officer for checking on your departure. If you do not take out all the things that you have
brought in but you filled in the form, you will probably be asked to pay duty.

Departure from China

Departure is relatively much simpler. As mentioned above, you have to take out the things that you had
declared in your Customs Luggage Declaration Form which you filled in on your arrival. If any item is
missing, a certificate by the relevant department is required (for instance, a certificate from the police is
required if something is stolen); otherwise, you have to pay import duty according to the Custom
regulations. And you will fill out the Departure Card and pass the security check.

The following items are prohibited imports:

Arms, imitation arms, ammunition and explosives of all kinds
Counterfeit currency and counterfeit negotiable securities
Printed matter, films, photos, gramophone records, cinematographic films, loaded recording
tapes and video-tapes, compact discs (video & audio), storage media for computers and other
articles which are detrimental to the political, economic, cultural and moral interests of China
Deadly poisons of all kinds
Opium, morphine, heroin, marihuana and other addiction inducing or hallucinatory drugs
Animals, plants and products made hereof infected with or carrying diseases, insect pests and
other harmful organisms
Foodstuffs, medicines and other articles coming from epidemic-stricken areas and harmful to
humans and livestock, or those capable of spreading diseases.

The following items are prohibited exports:

All articles enumerated as articles prohibited from import

Manuscripts, printed matter, films, photos, gramophone records, cinematographic films, loaded
recording tapes and video-tapes, compact discs (video & audio), storage media for computers
and other articles which involve state secrets
Valuable cultural relics and other relics prohibited from export.
Endangered and rare animals, plants (including their specimens) and their seeds or
reproducing materials

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Tour Arrangement

Meeting and Transfer at airports or railway stations

If you book a private package from us, our guides in each destination will meet you at arriving gate of
each airport or railway station by holding a board /a piece of paper with your name on it, so it will be very
easy for you to recognize our guides when you arrive. But do be patient if there are lots of people arrive
at the same time.

After our guides meet you, she or he will lead you to the private car/van/bus with air-condition and
cushioned seats provided for you according to the number of your group, for the groups over 8 pax, a
luggage truck will be also provided.

Sightseeing in each destination

We will adhere to your itinerary in the confirmation letter and let you visit all the scenic spots included by
all means, but if one of the following things happens unexpected making it impossible to fulfill all the
sightseeing, we would appreciate your patience and understanding. Also, please believe that your travel
consultant at China Odyssey Tours or our local partner will make every effort to achieve the best
possible alternate arrangements, but they will not provide any refund for the lost services.
1) The scenic spots are not open for public temporarily due to the acts of government or other
authorities.
2) The scenic spots are not open for public due to its temporary restoration or some other reasons of
their own.
3) The scenic spots are not open for public due to the act of God.
4) The delay of the flights making it too short to finish all the scenic spots in certain areas.

Tour Guides
If you book a private package from us, we will then arrange one local guide for you in each destination of
yours. The guides we arrange for you will be English-speaking guides, unless you ask for the guides
speaking the other languages and your Travel Consultant has confirmed the availability.
We assure that the guides we use are qualified and have professional license, but please understand
that English or other languages are not their mother tongue, some of them may have accents. And if
your tour guide happens to be a rookie in tourism, we would appreciate your patience and tolerance, as
everybody grows and becomes experienced from a rookie. For most of the time we will arrange very
experienced tour guides for you, but rookies might be arranged in occasions of very late booking (e.g.
less than 5 days before entry).

Hotels
There are lots of hotels in China, quite a few of them are above three star. Hotel star in China is
assessed by China National Tourism Bureau with very strict criteria. Generally speaking, the
services and facilities offered by the hotels above three-star include:

1) Central control air-conditioner, a color TV, telephone, and a double curtain in the room. Some

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hotels provide a refrigerator in each room (4 and 5 star hotels).

2) A private bathroom with 24-hour hot water, disinfected towels & glasses, tooth brushes &paste,
soap, bath lotion & shampoo and toilet paper.
3) One or two beds, a wardrobe, and a dressing table, with ceiling lamps, bedside lamps.
4) An electrical water boiler, with which you can boil the water to drink. If no boiler, boiled water will
be served by room service.
5) Round-the -clock room service.
6) Concierge service & Bank service of exchanging money & post card delivery service
7) Business center where you can send or receive a fax
8) Chinese and Western restaurants, coffee shops, bars, banqueting halls, conference rooms,
multi-function halls, ballrooms, beauty parlors, massage rooms.
9) Shop(s) selling souvenirs.

Once arrival at the hotels, our guides will help you go through the check-in formality. You will be
required to show your passport since it is our Chinese regulation to show your ID card before
checking into any hotels.

A standard room will be arranged for you, unless you have required for the other type of room and
have special requirement and your Travel Consultant has confirmed the availability.

Water
Tap water is not drinkable except in some of the hotels. In hotel rooms there will be thermos of boiled
water offered by the hotel free of charge or sometimes an electrical water boiler with which you can boil
water by yourself. Bottled mineral water is recommended, especially for the first few days of your tour.
The bottled water can be purchased easily for about $0.25 to $0.75 per bottle everywhere. Sometimes a
bottle or two is provided free in your room by certain hotels. You can buy steamed water or mineral water
easily everywhere.

Laundry in the hotels

Laundry service in the hotels is quick and reliable. You will find a laundry bag in your room, which you
can put your dirty clothes in and leave it to the room attendant. Be sure to point out any items that may
be washed-out. Generally, the laundry handed in the morning is returned the next day. Extra fee is
required if you ask for an express service. Prices for laundry may vary at different hotels.

There are a few public laundries on the streets, even there are, it is advisable to have your laundries
done in the hotels or cruise ships you are staying.

Mail service in the hotels

When you want to send postcards or letters to your friends, normally it is very easy for you to buy stamps
at the front desk of the hotels. Stamps for sending one postcard cost RMB 4.50 to 6, while RMB 6 to 7 for
a normal weight letter. And you can leave your postcards or letters to the receptionists, who will hand
them to the postman.

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Telephone service in the hotels

Most joint venture hotels provide IDD (International Direct Dialing) from your room. Instructions for IDD
calls are available in the room. Please check with hotel regarding service charges for placing IDD calls.
Other hotels will require international calls to be placed through the English-speaking long-distance
operator, who will book a call for you at a specific hour. There are no special nights, day or
person-to-person rates.

Electric Current
Throughout China (including Hong Kong), 220 volt/50 cycles is used. If your appliances are designed to
operate at 110 volts, then you will need a Converter. Two-phase and three-phase sockets are commonly
used in hotels. You may also need an adapter plug in order to use your electrical appliances. In case you
forget to bring your own, you can always ask the housekeeper to lend you one.

Most hotels now provide a variety of beverages/snacks in the in-room mini-bar. Consumption of
these items will be at your own cost.

In some of the hotels, in the bathroom, you may see colorful bags of beauty lotion, bags of
sanitarian drawers that are for sale, not for free, consumption of these items will be at your own
cost.

Normally check-in time is: from2:00 p.m. in the afternoon, check-out time: before 12:00 (noon)
Notes: 1) The check-in and check-out time are subject to the management of the specific hotel.
Earlier Check-in or later Check-out sometimes results in an extra charge.
2) If you book a package tour from us, our tour guides in each destination will help
you go through check-in & check-out procedures, and they will also contact the hotel beforehand to
see if it is possible to let you have an early check-in and a late check out free of charge.

Meals
In our package tour, most breakfasts are western style served in the hotels, most of which will be
buffet, in the off season, due to few guests; some hotels just serve breakfast with set menu. Lunch
and dinner are Chinese food served in local restaurants or hotels. The lunches and dinners included
in our package tours for you are set menu, except those otherwise stated.

To guarantee the hygiene and quality, all the meals arranged for you by us are in the government
approved restaurants, sometimes in some cities, meals will be arranged in the hotels above
three-star. Please understand that sometimes, meals would be arranged along the way to certain
scenic spots which are quite far from the city for your convenience.

Our goal is to make you satisfied, but do please understand that Chinese food here in China would
be different from the Chinese food you have at home, and different places have different cuisines, if
you have any special requirements for your food, please tell your local guides who will try their best

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to fulfill your special requirements.

If your meals are not included in some areas and you want to eat at McDonalds or KFC or some
other restaurants, ask our guides to give you some information about where the restaurants are and
how to get there, etc.

If you do want to try local food at the local restaurants, please tell your guides, she or he will give
you some recommendations.

Some basic dinning etiquette & customs in China

Dinning etiquette in China can be quite intricate and daunting at first. The following etiquette and
customs may ease your nervousness and make you enjoy Chinas cuisine more.

In Chinese restaurants, knives should not be seen on the table. Chopsticks, bowls and soup
spoons are the traditional table ware. Food is always cut into bite sized pieces, whole meats such
as pig, fish and poultry are cooked till they are so tender that the meat can be removed right off the
bones with chopsticks.
When using chopsticks, dont point them directly at people and never stick them standing upright in
your rice bowl -- this is a reminder of the incense burned at funerals.
Use a clean spoon solely for taking food from communal plates for yourself or others, if you serve
someone with your own chopsticks, use the blunt ends that dont go into your mouth. Though you
may see that Chinese people take food directly with their own chopsticks sometimes, especially it
will be like that when people have meals with their families, relatives and intimate friends.
If youre invited to be a guest at a meal, dont be surprised that if your host orders more food than
you can have, this is the way for Chinese people to save face and show their hospitality. And also,
please dont be surprised if your host keeps serving you choice morsels of food even you dont ask
for it, this is another way to show hospitality.
In Chinese custom, unless amongst friends or in an informal setting, it is the inviter who pays for the
meal. It is polite to make an effort to pay, but expect strong resistance, that is why in many Chinese
restaurants, it is a common sight to see two people arguing loudly after a mealtheyre fighting for
the right to pay.
When you are not so sure what to do, simply ask your guides or do as local people do.

Transportation
If you book a private package from us, private car/van/bus with air-condition and cushioned seats
will be provided for you according to the number of your group. A luggage truck will be provided if
you are a big group or if necessary.

If you join in the Sit-In-Couch tour, a private transfer will be provided for you from airport to the hotel,
the hotel to the airport, for the sightseeing, you will share a big bus with some others.

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There are quite a few airline companies in China, the ones we often use are: Air China (CA), China
Eastern Airlines (MU), China Southern Airlines (CZ), Dragon air (KA), and Hainan Airlines (HU),
who use the following airplanes: A300 / A310/ A319/ A320 /A321/ A340 & B737 / B747/ B757
/B767/ B777 / MD90/ MD82 /MD11 & BAE146, etc.

Airport tax or airport construction fee is of 50 yuan (about US$6) for the domestic flights.
International Departure Tax (even flying to Hong Kong or Macau) is 90 yuan (about US$11). Since
September 1st, 2004, the airport tax has been pre-charged with the air ticket, so our quotation will
include the airport tax if the domestic flight booking is involved.

Baggage

Tags
To make sure your luggage takes the same vacation as you do, we suggest you put a luggage tag on
your suitcase with your name and contact information.

For domestic travel by air and rail within China, all check-in suitcases must be locked. We highly
recommend that you use hard cover suitcases with built-in locks.

In addition, its a good idea to place an identification label inside your baggage, in case your tags are lost
in transit.

The luggage regulations when take domestic flights in China are:

1) For the check-in luggage, passengers holding an adult fare or half fare ticket are entitled to a free
baggage allowance of 40kg (88 pounds) for first class, and 30kg (66pounds) for business class,
while20kg (44 pounds) for economy class. No free baggage allowance is granted to infants. If your
luggage is over the limitation, you will need to pay for the excess weight, and some of the airports in
China are quite strict with this.

Tip for this: If you are traveling together in group more than 1 people, you can use your allowance
together, for example, if you have 35kg, your friend have only 5kg, it will be fine as long as you two check
in together. This method also applies to 3, 4, 5 or even more people within one group, as long as you are
checking in at the same time over the airport counter.

2) For the carry-on luggage, total weight of carry-on baggage for each passenger may not exceed 5kg
(11 pounds). First class passengers may carry up to 2 pieces. All other passengers may carry on only
one piece. The size may not exceed 20x40x55cm. Carry- on baggage in excess of the limit is subject to
an excess baggage fee and must be carried as checked baggage.

Note:

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1) Articles which cannot be taken as baggage: flammable, explosive, corrosive, poisonous, radioactive,
polymerizable and magnetized materials, and arms, sharp or lethal weapons as well.

2) Articles which cannot be packed in the checked baggage : important documents, classified materials,
diplomatic mail bags, negotiable securities, currencies, money orders, valuables, vulnerable perishables
and articles and other articles needed in the special custody of somebody. The carrier will not be liable
for the loss of or damage to the aforementioned.

3) Articles which should be put in check-in baggage: knife, scissors and bottled or tinned alcohol/ wine.

4) The checked baggage should be packed perfectly with a lock, toed up solidly and be able to withstand
pressure to a reasonable extent. Carriers may refuse to accept for carriage if the baggage packing does
not meet to the requirements.

5) The carrier will be liable to compensate for the loss of or damage to the checked baggage due to the
carrier's fault. The norm of compensation shall not exceed RMB 50 yuan per kg. If the value of the
baggage is less than RMB 50 yuan per kg, the amount of compensation shall be paid according to its
actual value of the loss.

6) A passenger may declare the value of his baggage if the value of his checked baggage exceeds RMB
50 yuan per kg. Baggage declared value can not exceed the value of the current baggage. The
maximum baggage declared value is RMB 8,000 yuan.

7) Passengers and their baggage (including checked and carry-on baggage) are subject to the security
inspection before boarding the aircraft.

Safety & Security

The following are some tips for traveling safely:

a) Get as much information as possible from us about the places you are to travel.
b) Make several copies of your passport, traveler's checks, credit cards, itinerary, airline tickets and
other travel documents. Take one copy with you and leave one copy with a relative or friend back home.
c) Be sure the photographs on your passport, drivers license and other ID is accurate, and be sure your
passport, drivers license and other ID is valid and not expiring before you return from your trip.
d) When you dont need to transfer from one city to another and dont need to bring your passport,
drivers license and other ID with you, its better to leave them in the safety box in the hotel either in the
room or at the reception (some five-star hotels may have safety box in the rooms, while all the hotels
above 3 star have safety boxes at the reception). If you need to carry your passport, drivers license and
other ID with you, be sure you put them in a safe place that the others can not reach them, like you can
put them in the money belt under your clothes. The same with all your tickets, credit cards and important
documents and valuable things.
e) Be sure the door of your hotel room and window is closed and locked at all times, especially when you

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are not in the room.

f) Do not answer the hotel room door before you verify who it is. Never let a stranger come into your
room.
g) The water from the tap in the most hotels is not drinkable, so always drink the boiled water or bottled
water.
h) Take most of your money in traveler's checks and record the serial numbers, denominations and date
and location of the issuing agency, dont sign your name on the travelers checks before you use them.
Remove all unnecessary credit cards from your wallet. Be sure to carry your credit card company's
telephone number in case your card is lost or stolen. Always report losses immediately.
i) Always exchange money at the Bank of China or in the hotel counters, dont try to exchange money in
the black market, because it is illegal and sometimes you might be ripped off.
j) Always prepare some small changes, which you can use to buy things from the street vendors,
especially those at scenic spots, and when you get changes back, check carefully in case they are
counterfeit money.
k) Dress down, leave expensive jewelry and watches at home and dont show large amounts of cash or
travelers check in public.
l) During your tour, when you have free time, you may want to go somewhere on your own by taxi, its
better have your hotel arrange taxi service for you, take a hotel card with you or ask your tour guide /
receptionist to write down the names of the hotels and places you want to go in both English and
Chinese before getting in the car. Remember the number of the taxi in case you leave anything in it.
m) Prepare a matchbook with some useful words and phrases both in Chinese and English. You can
show the matchbook to a policeman or a local people if you need to find out and say like: Where is the
restrooms? or Where is KFC? etc.
n) Respect the customs of local people, especially when you go to visit the areas of different minorities,
ask your tour guides about the proper etiquettes, behaviors, manners and taboos to avoid offending
people.
o) Most people in China are friendly, and some of them are eager to practice English, it is delightful to
talk with them, but never go to anywhere with a stranger.
p) If you are to take the train during your tour in China, be sure you take your train at the right railway
station because some of the big cities in China may have two or more railway stations, and when you get
to the railway station, be careful with all your properties since the railway stations in China are always
crowded, and never entrust your luggage to someone not in uniform. While you are on the train, be sure
your passport, your credit cards and all valuable things are put in a safe place

Getting Around On Your Own

If you have free time, and want to explore cities on your own, get a map of the city or area and the card
of the hotel and the mobile phone of your guide in case you get lost and need the help.

In most cities in China, there are quite a lot taxis available, which are cars painted either in red or yellow
or green. Taxi fares may vary from city to city but they are supposed to be marked on the taxi window,
and the taxi drivers are supposed to use taximeter when you get on the taxi.

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Most taxi drivers do not understand English, it is better for you to have your destinations written down in
Chinese so that you can show the address to the taxi driver, and dont forget to ask for a receipt or
remember the number of the taxi in case you leave something in the taxi.

Phone Cards & Long-Distance Calling

Apart from calling IDD from your hotel room, there are various phone cards available in post offices
inside hotels or at most newsstands on the street in China. Among them IC card and IP card are the
most popular ones.

Most public telephones you see in booths are IC telephones, which allow you to call home directly. IC
card is issued by China Telecom; international calls with IC telephone cards are relatively expensive,
usually over 10 RMB/M. When you buy an IC card and want to call back home, simply just find a
telephone booth either in hotel, restaurant, airport or some other places, insert the card into the phone,
follow the vocal instructions to dial the number you want.

IP cards are issued by different issuers such as China Telecom, China Unicom, China Netcom and
China Jitong, thus the Rates for international calls are different. China Unicom's rate for calls to Hong
Kong, Macau and Taiwan usually is 1.5 RMB/M, 2.6 RMB/M to America and Canada while 3.6 RMB/M to
other countries. The others rates for international calls are either a little bit higher or lower than that of
China Unicom. Currently, the IP phone service has covered the whole country, providing international
service between China and over 200 countries and regions. There will be instruction on each IP card to
tell you how to make a call, you can use the hotel phone to call with IP card and the hotel usually will
charge some fare as that of city call.

Please note: some of the IC cards or IP cards can be used only in certain provinces or regions, so
please check it and also the expired date before you purchase them.

P.S.
The following is how to dial international call from China:
00+country code + region code + phone number

The country code for USA and Canada is 1, 44 for UK, 61 for Australia, 43 for Austria, 41 for Switzerland,
852 for Hong Kong, 39 for Italy, 31 for Holland, 64 for New Zealand, etc. For the other countries, please
check the instruction book in the hotel room.

Mobile Phones
In China, GSM networks operated by China Mobile provide coverage in every major city, while CDMA
network run by China Unicom is improving its coverage, so if you have a dual band or tri band mobile
phone or use COSMOTE card, then you can use your mobile phone in China in most big cities, though
any calls you make will be considered long-distance.

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 Tel: +86 773 5824466
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Email: info@chinaodysseytours.com
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A cheaper option is to buy GSM SIM card, which is a telephone number. There are mainly two kinds you
can choose: Shenzhouxing issued by China Mobile, Ruyitong issued by China Unicom. Usually when
you buy SIM card, no document is required but prepaid charge and you need to finish using that amount
of prepaid charge before indicated date. You can buy charging card in amount of 50 RMB and 100 RMB
to recharge in post offices, stores and newsstands easily.

Internet Access
You can use the Internet service in the business center of the hotels; some rooms of certain hotels have
the internet access, in which you can use your own computer.

And internet cafes are a booming business in China and you should have no difficulty in finding one in
cities, big or small, the charges in those internet cafes may be cheaper, but please dont go and stay
there for too late for the sake of safety.

Public Facilities
In China, most public toilets are squatting ones which can be found in commercial areas and are usually
well-marked. If you need to answer the natures call, look for a WC sign. A useful word to know is
cesuo, which is Chinese for toilet. Some public toilets require a small fee, others are free. Most public
toilets dont supply toilet paper, so it is advisable to always carry some tissue paper with you at all times.
If you cant seem to find a washroom, try to find a McDonalds or KFC, where there is a clean washroom
available.

Medical care in China

Hotels usually have access to a doctor if you need one. If your condition is serious, you will be taken to
hospital. In emergency, our guides or staff at the hotels will help you call the ambulance or at 120 in each
city.

Excellent medical care is readily available in China at hospitals and clinics in major cities. Doctors
generally do not have private offices outside the hospitals. Our tour guides are well trained to handle
emergencies and will make all necessary arrangements. Medical care in China is not that expensive as
in western countries.

Keep Fit
The best way to stay healthy while traveling is to practice preventive medicine. Changes in climate and
time can cause stress to the most seasoned traveler, especially for the first one or two days. Tour
schedules in China sometimes are strenuous, so please learn to pace yourself. Rest and seek treatment
as soon as any sign of illness appears.

Put on proper clothes according to the weather in different city/area.

In summer time, do put on sunglasses, sunhat, and sunscreen. Drink plenty of water and change the
clothes after sweating a lot as soon as possible.

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Email: info@chinaodysseytours.com
http://www.chinaodysseytours.com

Photography
You may photograph in most locations, except in most museums and archeological sites (notably the
main pit of the Terra-cotta Warriors), while some institutions allow you to take photos if you pay a fee in
advance.

Do ask for permission first if you try to take photos of people closely.

Color print film, memory stick for digital camera is widely available, especially in the medium-sized and
big cities, black and white or slide film much less so. Video film can be found but not always readily. All
security X-ray machines on mainland China and at Hong Kong airport are film-safe.

It is advisable to have filters with you as sometimes it might be hazy in the city/area you are to visit.

Money Matters

Currency & Exchange

The official currency in mainland China is the Renminbi (RMB) or "People's currency." The basic unit is
the yuan (also known as kuai), which equals 10 jiao (or mao), which is then divided into 10 fen. Paper
currency comes in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan notes, paper jiao comes in denominations of 1, 2 and
5. There are also 1 and 2 fen notes, but these are rarely used as their purchasing power is almost zero.
As for coins, there are 1 yuan, 1 and 5 jiao, and 1, 2 and 5 fen (again, the fen coins are basically
useless).

You can exchange traveler's checks or cash at most banks, and most hotels in the cities, the exchange
rate in the hotels is the same as that in the banks. To change money, you have to have your passport at
hand. If you want to change money in a hotel, you usually have to be a guest there. Sometimes if you are
not a guest in a hotel but need to change money there, you can just say a random room number, but this
doesnt always work.. Whenever you change the money, please keep the exchange receipts well in
case you need to exchange back into the original currency upon your leaving from China.

You can use US dollars / Euros/ English pounds/ in the hotels to pay for the bill, in the friendship stores,
to buy things from those vendors outside the scenic spots, to pay for any optional tours and to tip porters
of the hotels, tour guides and drivers or whomever you want to tip. While you can not use US dollars or
some other foreign currencies in department stores or small convenience stores, local restaurants, or if
you try to buy things from street vendors.

Travelers Cheques
Hotels in China, large bank of China accept travelers Cheques and the exchange rate is slightly higher
than cash. If your cheques are issued from a major company, there shouldnt be a problem in cashing
them.

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 Tel: +86 773 5824466
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Email: info@chinaodysseytours.com
http://www.chinaodysseytours.com

Credit Cards
Major credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, Diner's Card, American Express and JCB can be used to
purchase goods in large shopping malls and stores in the big and medium cities, to pay for hotel rooms
and for meals in some of the fancier restaurants, and to buy plane tickets with them.

Note: If you are to travel to those small cities or even remote rural areas, only cash in RMB can be used.

Only in very few hotels can you withdraw money with your credit cards. Most of the time, if you want to
withdraw money with your credit cards, you need to go to the main offices of the Bank of China, where a
commission and a minimum amount is usually stipulated.

ATMS
In the main offices of the Bank of China in the cities, especially in those tourist cities, there are ATM
services available workings with your credit cards, and some of the five-star hotels may also have ATM
available. You need to enter the password of your credit card correctly to withdraw money from ATMS,
and in China you can only withdraw RMB from ATMS, there is a maximum daily withdrawal limit. It is not
a good idea to completely rely on ATMS, as they are prone to disrepair or may not work with your credit
card.

Counterfeit Distinguishing
Like any other kind of money, there is counterfeit money in China. Our government is cracking down on
it, but you still need to be aware of this, especially when you try to buy things from those street vendors.

The ways to identify fake money are by the color, the watermark, the paper, and the braille dots:
The color of RMB notes is hard to imitate, and counterfeit bills are usually too fuzzy, that is, the images
and colors are not so sharp.

The watermark on counterfeit money is also not clear. On real bills the outline of the model worker or the
Great Helmsman (on the 100 bill of the old copy) or Maozedong (on the new copy) is fairly distinct. The
way to test the paper is to look at it under a black light. Originally, the way to tell real from fake was to see
if the words YIBAI or WUSHI (depending on the denomination) appeared in fluorescent letters under
the light. But the counterfeiters have found a way to imitate this. Now the true test is to see the color of
the paper itself under the black light. If the paper appears bright, then it is fake. If it appears to absorb the
black light, then it is real.

The final test is the dots. On each denomination of the yuan notes (nobody bothers making fake jiao, not
to mention fen), there is a corresponding number in braille in the lower left hand corner of the front side.
It is hard to feel, but the dots are slightly raised on the surface of the paper. If they are not, then it is also
a fake.

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 Tel: +86 773 5824466
Fax: +86 773 5821166
Email: info@chinaodysseytours.com
http://www.chinaodysseytours.com

Tipping
As the time flies to 21 century, tipping is no longer illegal in China since 1980s. Tipping for tour guides
and drivers in recognition of their good service has become a common practice. Hotel bellboys and
house keepers expect your tips as well. It is not customary to leave tips at hotel or local restaurants as
the bill usually includes 10-15% service charge.
.
China Odyssey Tours does not include tipping in our quotation as tipping is a personal matter. If you
dont know what the proper amount for tipping would be, the following standard is for your reference:

1) If you are traveling in a small party like 2 to 5 members, We suggest approximately US $8 to US $10
/per guest per day as tips for tour guide and US $4 to US $6 for the driver and about US $2 to US $3 for
hotel bellboys as a gratitude for their service.

For example, if 2 of you are traveling together and will stay in Beijing for 3 nights, the tip from both of you
may be from US$48 to US$60 for the tour guide, US$24 to US$36 for the driver.
But, for active tours like hiking, biking, rafting, we suggest you double the tipping.

2) If you are traveling in a party like 6 to 9 members, We suggest US $6 to US $8 /per guest per day as
tips for the tour guide and US $3 to US $5 for the driver and about US $1 to US $2 for hotel bellboys as a
gratitude for their service.

3) If you are traveling in a group with more than 10 people, We suggest US $3 to US $5 /per guest per
day as tips for the tour guide and US $2 to US $3 for the driver and about US $3 to US $5 for hotel
bellboys as a gratitude for their service.

The above is for your reference only, again tipping is a personal matter, you can always adjust the
amount based on your satisfaction with the service you get from your tour guides, drivers, bellboys and
so on.

Shopping Guide in China

Besides all the sightseeing and activities, you may feel like doing some shopping. The following are
some suggestions about shopping in China:

1) It is better for you to buy goods at department stores and factories, where the quality of the goods can
be guaranteed and you dont have to worry about the things such as you may get the fake money back.

2) It is better for you to buy local specialties in different cities rather than buy everything in one city.
Because China is a big country; different cities are famous for different items. For example, Beijing is
famous for cloisonn & cashmere sweaters, Xian is famous for replica of Terra Cotta soldiers and rugs
and antiques, and Shanghai is famous for jade, Hangzhou for tea & fresh water pearl, Suzhou for silk,
Guilin for scroll Chinese paintings and China South Sea Pearls.

3) Please do not feel obligate to shop.

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 Tel: +86 773 5824466
Fax: +86 773 5821166
Email: info@chinaodysseytours.com
http://www.chinaodysseytours.com

In order to fulfill your needs to buy goods with Chinese characteristics as souvenirs and gifts, our guides
may offer you shopping opportunities, but, sometimes, you may think you do not want to go at all, in this
case, please do not feel embarrassed to tell our guides directly. And also in the shops, do not feel
obligate to buy anything because the shop attendants are very kind to you.

4) Ask your tour guides and shop attendants whether you can get some discounts before you pay for the
goods, even over the counters in some department stores.

5) When you buy antiques, make sure they do not date before 1795 AD, as antiques that date before
1795 AD are forbidden for sale or export. And those dated between 1796 and 1949 should bear a small
red seal and a Certificate for Relics Export from the regional Cultural Relics Bureau, to allow them to be
taken out of China. The seal also proves the genuineness of the items. Please keep the receipts well
indicating the name and age of the antiques, since you may have to show them when departing China.

Embassies & Consulates

Log on to www.embassyworld.com for a comprehensive listing of Chinese embassies and consulates

around the world and foreign embassies and consulates in China. Beijing, as the capital, is home to
foreign embassies, and a number of countries have consulates in cities such as Shanghai, Chengdu,
Hong Kong, Chongqing, Shenyang, and Guangzhou. (End)

You are welcome to advise anything for us to add to this travel guide by sending us an email
at info@chinaodysseytours.com

Bon Voyage!

Presented by Shanhu International Tours, one of the best tailor-made tour operators in
China, who owns China Odyssey Tours: http://www.chinaodysseytours.com

Copyright, Shanhu International Tours, Guilin.

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