What to wear depends mainly on two things; when and where you are traveling. China’s weather varies tremendously with these factors. Winters in the far north are extremely cold and the summers are hot and dry. In the central regions along the Yangtse valley area winters are short, cold and wet whilst the summers are [...]

Chinese driving habits and style can be quite unnerving for the unsuspecting traveler. Drivers have a habit of honking the horn incessantly and speeding is not uncommon. Our drivers however are very experienced, safety conscious and carefully picked. Seat-belts are available in most cars and we strongly recommend you use them. In the unlikely event [...]

China is in an earthquake zone, and earthquakes of varying sizes do sometimes occur. Though the risk of an earthquake during your visit is minimal, for peace of mind you should familiarize yourself with safety procedures in the event of an earthquake, and take note of earthquake-related instructions, e.g. in hotel rooms. If a strong [...]

Before visiting China you should consult your doctor regarding the recommended vaccinations. The World Health Organization recommends that travelers to China have diphtheria and tetanus, hepatitis A and B, MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella), typhoid, and varicella (if you haven’t already had chicken pox). Malaria is still present in some of the rural areas of [...]

Internet is now widely available in China and can be found in all the major hotels and in the numerous Internet bars that populate the cities. It is advised, however, not to purchase any articles online or use online banking systems while in China due to recent digital theft of credit card numbers and codes. [...]

Laundry service is available in most major hotels. A portable iron can be handy when “pressed” for time. Many tourist areas have independent laundry services in the vicinity. These tend to be considerably cheaper than the hotel services.

There are post offices in all cities and towns throughout the country. Domestic mail is very fast and the cost is low, normally 0.60 yuan for local delivery and 0.80 yuan for inter-city mail. Within some cities, there is often same-day delivery; between large cities, delivery is usually overnight. The international postal service is also [...]

The currency in China is the Renminbi (also known as the Yuan or Kuai), and it is currently valued at about 6.8 RMB/USD. The yuan is divided into 10 jiao (also known as mao), which in turn are divided into 10 fen. Coins are minted in 1 yuan, 5 jiao, 1 jiao and 5 fen [...]

Points to Remember: Do not take photographs at military installations or other politically sensitive areas. Do not take pictures of people or their possessions without first asking permission. Taking photographs is forbidden in some museums, palaces, and temples. These places usually have signs to let you know if taking photographs is not allowed. Some institutions [...]