Nobody should try and see everything in a single whirlwind tour. Travellers will come home with some impressive pictures but that's about it. For those who are about to make their first visit to China, it would be sensible to see the biggest cities at a comfortable pace, and then come back on later trips and explore individual provinces with their unique ethnic minorities and archaeological wonders. This article will cover the essential aspects of weather, visa requirements and costs of travelling in China.
The Best Time to Visit China
This will be the most important consideration when planning a trip. China stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the foothills bordering the Himalayas, and temperatures vary considerably in between those two points for most of the year. May, September and October are generally the best times to visit, when rainfall is at a minimum and humidity is low.
Winters can be incredibly cold with lots of snow in Beijing and the rest of northern China along the Mongolian/Russian borders. Summers bring extreme humidity and monsoons, especially near Shanghai and Hong Kong. Travellers will experience the hottest weather in any of the four 'furnaces' of China from July through September. These cities are:
- Chongqing
- Wuhan
- Nanjing
- Changsha
Sometimes Turpan, Nanchang and Tianjin are added to this list. Summer temperatures in these cities typically hover between 38°C~41°C.
Entry/Exit Regulations for Visitors to China
All foreign nationals entering the country must have a passport that will be valid for at least six months after departure. Visas are always required for tourists, and can be obtained at a Chinese embassy in the country of residence.
The Chinese government issues single, double and multiple entry visas, the last two of which will let travellers exit the Chinese mainland and re-enter on the same visa. Travellers who intend to visit Hong Kong or Macao even for a few hours should consider applying for double or multiple entry documents.
Getting into Tibet will require a special permit, which can be picked up at a local travel agency. The permits cost one-hundred renminbi, which comes to about fifteen U.S. dollars. Travellers who enter Tibet from China will need a valid Chinese visa as well.
Here are the different classifications for Chinese visas. Fees and processing times will vary depending on the country of origin and the visa being applied for.
- 'L' visas are for tourists.
- 'F' visas are for those who are travelling to China on business.
- 'X' visas are for students wishing to further their education in China.
- 'Z' visas are for those who will take up paid employment.
- 'G' visas are for foreigners who are travelling to another country through China.
- 'D' visas are for those who will reside permanently in China.
- 'J-1' and 'J-2' visas are for journalists. The former is for long term reporters and the latter is for those on short term assignments.
Is China an Expensive Place?
Although prices are going up due to China's growing economy, the costs of food, drinks and sightseeing are considerably lower than in the U.S. and Europe. The eastern half of the country is more expensive than the west, with the highest prices centred in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
The Chinese currency is the yuan, also known as renminbi (people's money). Notes come in denominations of one-hundred, fifty, twenty, ten, five and one. There are one yuan, five jiao and one jiao coins. Ten jiao is equal to one yuan. Similar to other Asian countries, tipping in China has never been customary in the past but this is starting to change. Hotel and restaurant staff would appreciate small gratuities. One U.S. dollar equals seven yuan. Foreign currencies can be changed at airports, hotels and banks but banks would give the best rates.
Western food and amenities can be found easily in China's cosmopolitan centres. KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald's and other Western fast food chains have set up shop in the country and are quite popular with the locals. Rural areas are quite rustic and people are likely to speak nothing except Mandarin Chinese. Cantonese and English are spoken in Hong Kong, while Portuguese is spoken in Macao.
Source:
beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/living_traveling_in_china.html
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