1. WHAT TO EXPECT
The first thing that strikes visitors to China is its vastness in terms of both geography and population. It is a country with an incredible history of dynastic rule, which was eventually replaced by communist domination and closed to the outside world for many years.  However, modern day China has advanced far from the image of uniformly clothed peasant workers on bicycles. The country now has a growing middle class determined to practise their capitalist principles in what is still a communist political system.  In larger cities you may experience the shove of railway station crowds, the noise of construction work and the sight of young entrepreneurs holding mobile phones and eating 'fast food'.  But venture away from the large cities and you will be rewarded with an experience that stays with you for years after you leave.  From the deserts of Xinjiang, to the Terracotta Warriors in Xian, from the beauty of the Li River near Guilin to the mystery of the 'Silk Road', from the relaxing getaway towns of Yangshuo, Lijiang and Dali to Tibet's magnificent mountains and monasteries - China's diversity is more evident than perhaps in any other country in the world.

The travel industry in China has for quite some time now been growing at a rapid pace. However, there are still a number of areas in China where the freshness and novelty of tourism is still evident.  Major cities now offer facilities and services at western standards; however travelling in the more remote areas of China may involve road travel on bumpy roads, noisy trains, and the use of clean but basic accommodation. You may also find that attitudes towards customer service may not always be at the standard you would expect in a western country.

Whilst travelling through China please also be prepared for possible changes to tour travel plans. Flight, train and boat schedule changes throughout China are common and are a reality of travelling through this part of the world. Absolutely China and your local guide will endeavour to keep you fully informed of any changes and amendments to the order of sight-seeing. Be aware that if you plan to travel around Chinese national holidays (listed in this guide), you may experience more disruptions than usual to your normal itinerary.

2. RESPONSIBILITY(Back to top)
Information herein was correct at the time of preparation, however the rapid development of tourism in China has the potential to make some of the information in this guide irrelevant. This information is intended as a guide only and Absolutely China is not responsible for any inaccuracies.  Please contact us with your comments if you find during the course of your travels that the information in this guide is incorrect or out of date.

3. VISA REQUIREMENTS & DEPARTURE TAXES(Back to top)
To enter China you will require a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry with at least 2 blank pages. A visa will need to be organized prior to your arrival.  For this you will require a completed application form with one passport photo (two for US citizens) and your passport. Allow 5-10 working days for processing. It is your responsibility to ensure all visa and entry requirements are met prior to arrival in China.

Tibet is a part of China and as such the normal China tourist visa applies for Tibet. In addition to the China tourist visa, permits are required for visits to each region of Tibet. Note that permits are arranged by Absolutely China for client travel to Tibet and thus do not need to be arranged by the client or the agent.

Visitors from most countries, including citizens of the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada and Japan, can enter Hong Kong (a Special Administrative Region of China) without a visa for periods of 90 days to six months, depending on nationality. Check with any Chinese embassy or consulate for the latest status.

4. ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS(Back to top)
If you have pre-arranged an airport arrival transfer in China you will find a representative from Absolutely China waiting to meet you. Please look for a sign with your name on it (not a hotel sign). The airport arrival area tends to get crowded with lots of people holding signs, so we have designated particular meeting points in some airports.  

Beijing: Exit from the luggage claim area into the arrivals hall. Many people will be waiting there, but please proceed past them and make your way to Exit 5. It is directly facing international arrivals and two minutes walk left out of domestic arrivals.  At Exit 5 you will see Starbucks Cafe.  Look for your Absolutely China representative holding a sign with your name on it, outside the cafe.

All other airports: Immediately on exiting the customs hall you will see an Absolutely China representative holding a sign with your name on it.

Please look carefully for your transfer. If you cannot find a sign with your name please call the relevant emergency contact number which is listed on your pre-departure document.

If you have no airport arrival transfer pre-arranged in China, metered taxis are available at the airport.  To catch a metered taxi, make your way out to the 'Taxi Stand' (labeled in English) directly outside the airport terminal building. Taxis will be queued at the taxi stand. Board the taxi as directed by staff and make sure that the taxi meter is turned on once your journey begins. You should not pay more than RMB120 (USD$15) to reach your hotel in Beijing, Shanghai or Chengdu, and even less in Kunming. Any road tolls are to be paid by the passenger (usually at the end of the journey).

If you are making your own way to the hotel in Hong Kong, it is advisable to take the Airport Express train service to Central or Kowloon Stations (HK$100/HK$90). Free shuttle bus services connect these stations with major hotels. Alternatively a taxi direct from the airport should cost approximately HK$260 to Kowloon or HK$310 to Hong Kong Island (USD33/40).

There are also usually a number of taxi touts outside the customs hall more than willing to take you to your hotel, but be aware that they will usually charge an inflated price and their meter may tick over at a faster rate. 

5. INSURANCE(Back to top)
You must be comprehensively insured as a condition of travelling with Absolutely China. Insurance should include unlimited coverage for personal accident and medical expenses, full provision for evacuation and a minimum of $25,000USD cover for repatriation expenses, baggage loss, and cancellation or curtailment of your holiday.  

We will ask you to confirm your insurance details as part of our travel registration process at the start of your journey.  If you do not have appropriate insurance we will insist you obtain insurance.  We reserve the right not to provide the services booked with us until insurance is purchased.

Note that travel insurance may be ‘attached' to your credit card, although usually such cover is effective only if your travel arrangements have been purchased with the card.  Insurance cover from credit cards often does not include payment of medical expenses or emergency repatriation.  Please check your policy carefully.

Please note that government regulations in Asia do not always require or enforce the possession of hotel, transport supplier and other supplier public liability insurance.  Even when this insurance is in place, it can be for very limited cover only. Absolutely China does its best to work with suppliers who possess public liability insurance, however this is not always possible.  Regardless of length of stay and type of service, you must have adequate insurance to cover you in the event you suffer a medical problem while travelling.

6. A RESPONSIBLE ABSOLUTELY CHINA(Back to top)
Absolutely China practices a thorough, realistic Responsible Travel Policy. We believe that travel should entail an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, a sharing of wealth, and a genuine appreciation of China's beautiful natural environments. This philosophy underpins the heart and soul of our style of travel.  It drives all that we strive to deliver to our travelers, and shapes the our partners in each province in China. We recognize that poorly planned itineraries or poorly informed tourists contribute less to cross-cultural understanding and less to the livelihoods of local people. We also recognize that we work in a developing part of the world.  Political and social factors sometimes impede the short term implementation of our responsible travel initiatives, so we do not make blanket, unrealistic statements about the achievability of our goals - doing so would make us 'irresponsible'. We aspire to short or medium term implementation of our policies where this is realistic and to incremental change where there are constraints of a governmental or cultural nature.
We strongly encourage you to refer to our website and read our Responsible Travel Policy.

7. THE POLITICAL SITUATION (Back to top)
China's history is said to stretch back 5000 years, but it is the last 200 years that attracts the most attention for the extent of political, social and economic upheaval that occurred. After a period of civil war post World War II, Mao Zedong and his Communist regime came to power in 1949 and he proclaimed the foundation of the People's Republic of China. Thereafter ensued decades of rigid authoritarian rule characterized by turbulent periods like the Great Leap Forward, a five year plan based on increasing labor intensive industry but which caused mass economic collapse and the starvation of millions. The Cultural Revolution, a ten year political campaign devoted to revolutionary ideals, instead caused mass meltdown of social structures, as well as the destruction of ancient cultures, intellectual achievements and artistic treasures.

Economic reforms gradually started to take place in the 1980s, but with nil progress in political reform dissatisfaction soon mounted and culminated in the social unrest of the Tiananmen Square demonstrations of 1989.

With the passing of the Communist Party leadership to Jiang Zenmin in 1997, moves were made to strengthen China's international standing. This was marked by the achievement in 2001 of China being admitted to the World Trade Organization. The current head of state, Hu Jintao, was elected to power in 2003 and continues the process of China's modernization.

As the China of the 21st century develops rapidly, it faces a myriad of pitfalls and problems.  These include:

The Communist Party continues to exercise its power and control over its people with authorities cracking down on voices of dissent. There is a tight control of the media and access to foreign media is limited to ensure they do not threaten 'national security' or 'political instability'. Hong Kong still maintains its levels of independence, but concern remains of potential tighter controls being applied.

Despite these challenges China continues to surprise its skeptics. With the powerhouse of Shanghai leading the way, China has become one of the world's fastest growing economies, attracting record amounts of foreign investment. This in turn has lead to a generally increasing standard of living which bodes well for the future.

8. MONEY (Back to top)    
The currency in China and Tibet is known as the Renminbi (RMB) or 'people's money'. This basic unit of currency is formally known as the Yuan (Y). Hong Kong has its own currency, the Hong Kong Dollar (HK$). Approximate exchange rates as follows but you are advised to check current rates prior to your travel:

You are advised to carry a mix of cash and travelers cheques (US$, AUD$, CAD$ & GBP£ are accepted throughout China). Traveler cheques can be exchanged at most major hotels. It is a good idea to keep the exchange receipts as you may need these if you want to change the Chinese currency back to your local currency at the end of your trip. Credit cards can be used in many of the hotels and in some shops and restaurants in major cities; however they are not widely accepted in more rural areas. Visa and MasterCard are the most commonly accepted in cards.  Cash advances can be obtained using these cards at most Bank of China branches. ATM access is available through-out the country at Bank of China particularly in the bigger cities. When the ATM is not working, you can get cash out over the counter. This is usually only during business hours and you may need to have your passport with you to do this.  
                 
9. CLIMATE (Back to top)
Because of its size, China has great climatic diversity.

In the north around Beijing, summer is from May to August. During these months it can get very hot and humid with temperatures rising to 30 or 35 degrees Celsius but the average temperature is generally cooler. Winter in the north is from December to March can be extremely harsh and cold with chilly temperatures often below zero degrees celsius. Some snowfall and frost during mid winter is not uncommon. Spring and autumn have warm days and cold nights with average temperatures 20 to 30 degrees celsius.

In the south, summer is from April to September and is generally wet, hot and humid except in mountainous areas in Yunnan. Winter in the south from January to March is short and chilly and can get down to 0 to 5 degrees celsius at night but is generally milder than the north. Spring and autumn has pleasant temperatures around 20 to 25 degrees, but can be wet.

Central China around Shanghai, Nanjing & sections of the Yangtze, experience brief cold winters where temperatures can slip below zero. Summer between April and October is long, hot and humid.

The northwest part of China around Turpan along the Silk Road is characterized by bitter cold winters (November to March) and intense dry hot summers (July to August).

The high altitude areas of Zhongdian (North West Yunnan), Xiahe and Langmusi (Gansu province), and Jiuzhaigou (Sichuan province) have much cooler climates and are more likely to experience sudden changes in weather. It is possible for these mountainous areas to have freezing temperatures even during the spring and summer periods.

As Tibet is at an average altitude of 4000m, year-round temperatures are quite cool. The weather is very changeable and it is not uncommon to experience four seasons in one day. Highs in the summer (June to August) reach 20 or 21 degrees Celsius and the winter months can see the temperatures plummeting below -10c with fierce winds.  

In general the best time to visit China is during spring and autumn, when temperatures are less extreme. Tibet and the mountainous areas of western China are most comfortable in summer and late spring/early autumn. Note however that pleasant climates will usually also be accompanied by more crowds of tourists.

10. BAGGAGE & CLOTHING (Back to top)    
Standard sized bags (preferably soft bags), backpacks or soft cases only are permitted on our journeys. Your baggage should be clearly labeled and kept to a reasonable minimum. Luggage limits on airlines are strictly enforced and space on vehicles and trains is limited. Any flights booked through Absolutely China (domestic and international) have a luggage limit of 20 kilograms per person. You may be required to carry your own luggage at times where porters are not available - you should be capable of carrying your own bags on and off trains, and up and down stairs.  If you are doing lots of shopping during your travels, it may be necessary for you to forward any excess to the city where your tour concludes, or ship purchases directly home.  Keeping the amount of luggage you carry in check will ensure your safety and comfort, and the safety and comfort of your fellow travelers. Porterage is not included in the cost of your journey. Please ensure you pay porters around $1USD per person for carrying your luggage. Should you wish to avoid such payments, please carry and take responsibility for your luggage.

The time of year you travel to China will affect the clothes that you pack for your trip. Extreme temperatures are common in the winter and summer months, as well as in areas of higher altitude so warm jackets or comfortable casual cotton clothes should be packed accordingly. Packing at least one set of smart casual clothes is advisable. Laundry services are available throughout the country, although hotel laundry costs can be expensive.  We suggest you include:

* Flat walking shoes and sandals
* Hat & sunglasses
* Jumper/coat/thermals - if visiting in winter or mountainous high altitude areas
* Bathers
* Money belt
* Raincoat or umbrella
* Basic first aid kit (see below)
* Insect repellent
* Alarm clock
* Small torch
* Swiss Army pocketknife
* Power adapter
* Women's sanitary products
* Ear plugs and eye patches for the train
* Day pack - for carrying items on touring days and to be used as an overnight bag

Please note that airlines insist all sharp items (knives, scissors, nail clippers etc.) are packed in your ‘check-in' luggage.

Alcohol is no longer permitted onboard domestic flights and must also be stored in your check-in luggage. You may be asked to open bottled water at security check-points to take a sip so they can verify the contents.

11. ELECTRICITY (Back to top)
The electric current in China operates on 220 volts.  Electric plug types come in at least four sizes and vary throughout the country, however the two narrow-pin type is usable in most parts of the country. You may want to bring a small hair dryer or portable iron. Many but not all of our hotels will have these.

12. HEALTH & FITNESS (Back to top)
Travelers to China should take precautions as they would elsewhere in Asia. Western medical facilities are available in the major cities. In remote areas of China, medical facilities are basic. Some of the diseases known to exist in China include hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, rabies and HIV/AIDS. We recommend you take adequate preventative measures to minimize your risk of exposure to these health risks.  We are a travel company and we are not qualified to provide detailed medical information appropriate to your individual needs. We recommend you consult with your local doctor or a specialist travel medical centre for up to date health information on vaccinations and medicine for your trip at least one month prior to departure.

We suggest you bring a simple medical kit.  Your doctor should advise you what to include, but as a minimum we suggest you bring:

* Aspirin or paracetamol (for pain or fever)
* Antihistamines (for allergies and itches)
* Cold and flu tablets
* Something to stop diarrhoea
* Something appropriate for nausea and vomiting
* Rehydration mixture (to prevent dehydration)
* Insect repellant
* Antiseptic and bandages
* Sunscreen and lip balm
* Antibiotics (discuss with your doctor)

As part of our travel registration process at the start of any journey with Absolutely China, you will be asked to declare any serious pre-existing medical conditions or allergies.

13. FOOD & WATER (Back to top)
Chinese food incorporates a number of styles and each region specializes in its own cuisine. Breakfast is included each day on our tours and is usually a mix of buffet and continental style.  In the major cities lunch should cost around RMB50 and dinner RMB50-200 - depending on the restaurant.  Meals are generally cheaper in small rural towns or more remote regions such as along the Silk Road in Northwest China. Vegetarian meals are available but can be harder to find outside of the bigger cities. Please ensure your local guide is aware of special dietary requirements in advance so they can assist you with ordering suitable food. Drinking local tap water is not recommended. Bottled water is cheap and readily available throughout China.

14. TIPPING POLICY (Back to top)
If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides and drivers, a tip is appropriate.  While it may not be customary to you, tipping inspires great service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across Absolutely China destinations.  As a general guide on private tours, please allow 3USD to 8USD per day per traveler for each of your local guide and driver.  Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip.  Should you be dissatisfied with the services provided by your local guide or driver, please let us know.

15. SAFETY & SECURITY (Back to top)
China is generally a safe country, however petty street crime is on the rise as tourist numbers increase.  In larger cities we recommend you wear as little jewellery as possible and make sure your spending money is kept in a secure place close to your body. We also recommended you take taxis rather than walk at night. Taxis are mostly metered and inexpensive, but make sure the driver activates the meter and is clear on your destination - carry a hotel card so your taxi driver knows where to take you as many drivers cannot read or speak English.  Only take essentials out with you on the streets. Leave valuables (passport, credit cards, excess cash, jewellery) in hotel (or boat) safety deposit boxes where available. It would also be advisable to make photocopies of your passport, credit card numbers, and airline tickets, and keep a record of your travelers cheques.  These documents should be kept in a safe place separate from the originals. When travelling on trains, clients may wish to take extra precautions with their finances by using money belts.

16. POST & COMMUNICATION (Back to top)
International mail generally takes 10 to 14 days to reach its destination and prices are a little less than western postal charges.  Parcels must be inspected by a customs official at the post office before being sealed and boxes are usually available at the post office. Reverse charge (collect) calls are available in many cities.  International phone and fax facilities are widely available however they are expensive (RMB20-30 per min).  International direct dial is available from most hotels for additional charges but the service is not always reliable. Email services are inexpensive and available in some tourist areas. Hotels often have internet and email services which are convenient but more costly.

17. PHOTOGRAPHY (Back to top)    
Print film, such as Kodak, Konika or Fuji is widely available and costs approximately RMB30 per roll. China has good and fast processing facilities. A roll of 24 exposures can be developed for approximately RMB40. Slide films, APS and Hi8/V8 video cassettes are not widely available outside major cities.  The x-ray machines at all airports are film safe. Digital photography is easily catered for in key cities in China and most film developers are able to place digital photos onto a disc for approximately RMB40 (256mb). Take care to ensure that the memory stick is not wiped after the download.

18. HOTELS (Back to top)
In the cities, all hotels we use have private western style bathrooms, hot water, air-conditioning, television, IDD telephones, laundry and other facilities. Where possible we will endeavor at passenger's request to accommodate couples in double rooms. Please note however that on occasions during your journey, this may not be possible and in such instances a twin room will be supplied. Extra beds in most Chinese hotels will be foldaway or rollaway beds. All cabins on the Yangtze cruises will be twin rooms. Some group tour itineraries involve overnight stops at basic towns, where the accommodation is clean but basic. If you do encounter any problems with your room, please ensure you let reception or the concierge or your local guide know immediately as they may be able to assist you in fixing the problem.

Check in and check out times can vary by hotel but most hotels in China require guests to check out by 12 noon and do not allow check in until 2pm. Many hotels may allow an earlier check in or later check out subject to availability on the day. However, if you are arriving early in the morning to a destination or leaving late in the evening you should consider pre-booking a guaranteed early check in/late check out. The additional cost varies from hotel to hotel but is usually between 50-100% of the nightly rate.

19. TRANSPORT (Back to top)
On the road we generally use late model air-conditioned buses with either 26 or 30 seats - depending on the size of the group. Modern sedan cars and minibuses are used for transporting smaller numbers. Seat belts are not common, particularly in back seats of vehicles. Vehicles in the more remote poorer areas of Sichuan Province and Tibet may not be of the same standard as those in the bigger cities. Vehicles in Tibet generally do not have air-conditioning. Most tours include domestic flights. China has a number of regional airlines which operate relatively modern fleets, however schedules frequently change, flights can be cancelled and this can sometimes result in alterations to your tour programme. Some tours also involve overnight rail journeys. Accommodation (1st class) is in mixed gender, four berth, shared soft sleeper cabins which are usually air-conditioned. These have 2 lower bunks and 2 upper bunks with limited storage space underneath the lower bunks and above the door to the cabin. Sheets and blankets are provided and are generally of good standard. A western and Asian toilet will be available. Note that many Asian train stations will have crowded areas and lots of stairs. Keep this in mind when packing luggage as it not only needs to fit into the areas designated for storage on overnight or day trains, but you will also need to carry it on and off trains and through train stations.

20. LOCAL GUIDES (Back to top)
All our local guides have an in-depth knowledge of China and a love for their country. They impart local information about history, customs and culture that can only come from living in the area. Your local guide will try to ensure the smooth running of your trip and will also try - wherever practicable - to cater to your individual interests.  Generally you will have a different local guide for each city or region you visit.

21. LOCAL TIME (Back to top)

China is set to Beijing time:

* 8hrs ahead of GMT
* 2hrs behind Australian Eastern Standard Time
* 4hrs behind New Zealand
* 13hrs ahead of Canada Eastern Time
* 16hrs ahead of Canada Pacific Time
* 13hrs ahead of US Eastern Time.
* 16hrs ahead of US Pacific Time.

22. SHOPPING (Back to top)
Clothing, paintings, jade, pearls, scrolls, silk, ceramics, antiques and a huge selection of souvenirs are favorite buys for visitors.  A few guidelines to follow when shopping:

23. MASSAGE SERVICES (Back to top)
China is deservedly renowned for its massage techniques and the quality and value for money of these services. Unfortunately, many massage parlors including some in otherwise 'reputable' hotels are also linked to the paid sex industry. We advise you to check carefully before using massage services in China.

24. LANGUAGE (Back to top)
The official Chinese language is Mandarin (or Putonghua). There are also numerous dialects spoken throughout different parts of China, including Cantonese. The Lonely Planet phrasebook is recommended for those wanting to learn more about Chinese languages.

25. IMPORTANT DATES AFFECTING TOURING (Back to top)

17 Feb - 25 Feb 2007 - Chinese New Year / Spring Festival:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses. Potential cancellations and schedule changes to touring, flights, trains and hotel bookings. More crowds at popular sites due to increase in numbers of domestic tourists travelling.

30 Apr - 8 May 2007 - International Labor Day:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses. Potential cancellations and schedule changes to touring, flights, trains and hotel bookings. More crowds at popular sites due to increase in numbers of domestic tourists travelling.

29 Sep - 2 Oct 2007 - Formula 1 / Grand Prix in Shanghai:
Increased number of visitors to Shanghai for the Grand Prix event. More crowds at tourist sites, and limited hotel availability. Surcharges applied to hotel bookings. Potential cancellations and schedule changes to touring, flights, trains and hotel bookings.

30 Sep - 8 Oct 2006 - Chinese National Day:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses. Potential cancellations and schedule changes to touring, flights, trains and hotel bookings. More crowds at popular sites due to increase in numbers of domestic tourists travelling.

26. MY QUESTION ISN'T HERE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?(Back to top)
Please email your questions to info@Absolutely-China.com or call (+86) 10 8719 6650.