Few destinations offer the history and intrigue of China. Understandably, the most populous nation on the planet is also becoming an increasingly popular place to visit.
Here’s what you need to know about visas, tipping, transport, scams to watch out for, air quality and more.
*Please note, information validated at time of publishing – February 2017 – and may be subject to change.
Entry
To enter China, you need to apply for a visa. This process takes time and has a fee attached (as of Feb. 2017, $110 per person). It can take up to two weeks to process and you need to hand over in person, or post, your passport to your closest Chinese Visa Processing Centre.
Application form: Chinese Visa application forms can be downloaded online here. These forms need to be handed in with your passport at the time of application with your payment.
Past two years of travel: You may be requested to provide the past two years of travel on a separate form if your passport is less than 2 years old. The processing centre will advise this at the time of application.
Processing centres: To apply for your visa in person, Chinese Visa Processing Centres are located in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth.
72-hour Transit Free Visa
If you are connecting through China to a different country within 72-hours of arrival, there is a new visa free option to consider. To access this option, passengers need a confirmed onward ticket presented at the time of check-in and arrival.
Passengers from the following 51 countries can access the visa-free option upon landing in China, when connecting onto another outbound flight.
Schengen Agreement Countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Europe: Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania
Americas: United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
Asia: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar
Crowds
With a population of approximately 1.4 billion people, this is one crowded destination. Over 30 million people call the capital city of Beijing home, more than the population of Australia.
But China is built for crowds, you just need to pack a little patience with you.
Trains and subways
Subways and trains are the most popular form of transport in China. Major cities have large, well-planned subway systems, plus high speed trains that dash through the countryside connecting towns and cities at speeds of over 200 kilometres per hour.
Expect the trains to be crowded at all times of the day. It’s not uncommon to have to wait due to the sheer volume of people that need to be moved, especially in the peak working hours.
The good news – the trains are so frequent, that the average wait time is around just three minutes.
Before departing for China, download your destinations subway App. The free subway Apps can be used offline without Wi-Fi service and allow you to plan your journey.
In larger cities, the subway wall maps are usually in both Mandarin and English.
Taxis
The roads are congested at all hours of the day, but taxis are plentiful and cheap when compared to Australian prices.
Ensure that the meter is turned on when you enter the taxi though to avoid any surprises or unwanted negotiations. As taxis are generally inexpensive, shorter rides can be difficult to find a willing driver at times.
Often cabs do not have seatbelts in the back seat but they do in the front. They may not always be the cleanest forms of transport, but they do provide a cheap and convenient way to get around.
TIP: Take your hotel or accommodation business card with you to show the taxi driver. Often the business card has a map, or at the very least, the address in Chinese as the majority of drivers will not speak English.
Uber
While there is Uber in China, you need a Chinese credit card and mobile phone to be able to access the ride-share service. But with taxis being so cheap, you won’t generally require Uber services.
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Tipping
At restaurants, a 10% service charge is generally included, or added to your bill, so tipping is not required. While it’s not expected, if you do receive exceptional service, a small tip is appreciated. I have had a waiter chase me through the street to return my change even though I was leaving an extra tip.
Credit Cards
Most major credit cards are accepted throughout China. Hotels, larger restaurants, shopping malls and tour operators all widely accept credit cards. If you’re not sure when visiting a smaller restaurant, it pays to ask first to avoid any issues. Generally speaking, cash is king and recommended where possible.
Scams to watch out for
While the crime rate is extremely low in China, it does occur of course. Like all countries you travel to, situational awareness is required.
Currency switch: Always watch your money when transacting, and don’t use anything larger than a 100 Yuan note. On occasion, it has been reported that a vendor will hand back the 100 yuan note and say it’s no good, but in fact they have kept your good note, and switched it for a counterfeit.
Coffee or drink invite: There will be times where you will be approached in the street, especially around the main tourist areas, and asked where you come from and ‘do you speak English?’ They will strike up a friendly conversation and ask if you want to go for coffee or a drink. DO NOT accept this invitation. It can lead to back alleys, illegal shops selling fake goods, fake art studios, or at worst, they could be prostitutes that demand money for time speaking to them. When approached, simply say “no drinks thanks” and keep walking. Don’t feel rude in not accepting these ‘invitations’.
Fake goods: If it’s a name brand or label, then China will stock it. In main shopping malls and stores, you will pay a similar price to what you would in Australia. But expect in markets and hutongs (traditional shopping alleyways scattered throughout cities) that you are not buying the real deal. So, in these cases, haggle your heart out.
TIP: When bargaining, start by offering 10% of what they ask. If you don’t get the price you want, simply walk away and they will chase you if they want the sale. If they don’t come after you, then you know you went too low. But never fear, there is always another vendor close by selling the same items. It always pays to shop around.
Wi-Fi and internet
China has banned Google, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Other sites may also be blocked in effort to restrict Western influences on the population. While major hotels will have TV stations such as CNN and BBC on occasion, the content may be blacked out or censored.
To access these and other applications, download a free VPN network, such as Hexatech, from the App Store before departing to bypass these restrictions. When Wi-Fi is available, connect to the VPN App first, before visiting your website of choice.
Air quality and pollution
It’s a fact of life in China that some days are going to be polluted and you will need to wear a face mask to walk outside. It may be fine and clear skies in the morning but a health hazard by the afternoon.
Download a free air quality App before you leave (we used Beijing Air Quality which has several cities listed) so you can monitor pollution levels daily. Anything under pollution level of 80-90 AQI (Air Quality index) is generally acceptable but may cause irritation to the eyes and throat. Having eye drops can help flush the eyes if required.
By comparison, the air quality in Brisbane, Queensland, averages 25-30 each day, which is well below the safe standards.
It’s highly recommended you travel with personal masks and if you suffer from asthma, always have medication on your person.
TIP: Not all masks are created equal. While they are widely adopted by locals, there are many varieties to choose from. Choose one with a charcoal filter on the side as this will help filter the air. They are reasonably cheap and handy to have on you always.
Security
China is generally a very safe destination to travel around.
Airports: As with most airports around the world, security is always tight. China may be a little tighter with additional checkpoints for tickets and passports. Even for domestic flights, only ticketed passengers can go through to the gate area.
Subways: It’s not unusual to have an x-ray machine in subways that scan bags and backpacks. Attendants with metal detector wands often scan you too. This is a very quick process though and not as stringent a check as you would find at an airport.
Main tourist attractions: As with subways, x-ray machines for bags, security officials, armed guards, military or general uniformed or undercover police presence will be visible. They do blend in after a while, and although it’s very rare that a Western tourist would be stopped, it can happen.
TIP: Always carry your passport with you (concealed). Some larger sites and attractions, such as the Forbidden City and parts of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, will require a passport to enter and purchase tickets.
Disabled access
While China is built for crowds, disabled access can be a challenge. Footpaths are often uneven making it difficult for wheelchairs or walkers. As some tourist attractions are centuries old, lifts or accessible walkways are often limited, if available at all.
Major hotels have disabled rooms but it’s wise to confirm before booking.
Spitting
It’s just one of those things in China. Western travellers can be challenged by the sound and sight of this practice but right across China, this is the norm. Don’t be offended and do your best to block it from your view and always watch your step along footpaths! It does seem to be a slowing practice among generally the older generation.
Seasonal considerations
All four seasons in China are distinct. The summers can be extremely hot with the mercury tipping the 40’s across the country with winter producing average sub-zero temperatures and snow reasonably common.
This weather extremes depend on which part of the country you are visiting of course with the further north you travel away from the equator, the cooler it becomes.
The most comfortable times of year to travel include April and May (Spring) and October and November (Autumn).
Tours
Due to language barriers, organised tours are the most popular and recommended way to tour China. There are many tour operators who operate there including:
Airlines that fly from Australia to China
- Qantas (Beijing, Shanghai)
- Air China (Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai)
- China Eastern (Shanghai)
- China Southern (Guangzhou)
- Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong)
- Hong Kong Airlines (Hong Kong)
- Hainan Airlines (Changsha, Xian)
- Sichuan Airlines (Chongqing)
- Xiamen Air (Fuzhou, Xiamen)
