Things You Should Know before Travel

Answer: Yes, people of non-Chinese nationality need a Chinese Visa to enter China.

Answer: To successfully apply for a Chinese Visa, you need to provide a valid passport, filled application form, and photos in person or through a third person. The process usually takes 5-7 working days. We have all the details at the following page for your reference:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/visa/introduction1.htm

For our visas, do we need something from you stating we are traveling with your tour company?

Answer: In some cases, our statement is not a necessity but if required, TravelChinaGuide.com will be delightful to provide you an official invitation letter, which shows we are the agent arranging your Chinese tours for you.

My China trip starts in 6 months. Could you tell me when I should apply for my Visa?

Answer: Our suggestion is not to apply for your tourist visa too early. The earliest time you should consider is 3 months before your trip starts, as 3 month is the duration of a tourist visa. If you apply too early, your visa will be invalid before you enter China. For example, if your trip starts on Oct 10 and your visa is granted on Jun 2, then by Sep 02 your visa will have expired.

Answer: Passport holders of certain countries or holding certain passports DO NOT need a visa during the specified visa-free period. Travelers who are not from those countries or those who want to stay longer need to apply for the appropriate visa or entry permit from the nearest Chinese Embassy. As an alternative, you may submit your visa or entry permit application to the HKSAR Immigration Department either directly by post or through a local sponsor.

Nationality of foreign country (Territory)/ Type of Travel Document	Visa free period for visit not exceeding
ALGERIA	14 Days
ANDORRA	90 Days
ANGOLA Diplomatic/official Passport	14 Days
ANGUILLA	90 Days
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA	90 Days
ARGENTINA	90 Days
AUSTRALIA	90 Days
AUSTRIA	90 Days
BAHAMAS	90 Days
BAHRAIN	14 Days
BANGLADESH	14 Days
BARBADOS	90 Days
BELGIUM	90 Days
BELIZE	90 Days
BENIN	14 Days
BERMUDA	90 Days
BHUTAN	14 Days
BOLIVIA	30 Days
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA	14 Days
BOTSWANA	90 Days
BRAZIL	90 Days
BRITAIN (British citizens)	180 Days
BRITAIN (British Dependent Territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British subjects and British Protected persons)	90 Days
BRITISH ANTARCTIC TERRITORY	90 Days
BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY	90 Days
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS	90 Days
BRUNEI	90 Days
BULGARIA	90 Days
BURKINA FASO	14 Days
BURUNDI Diplomatic/Official Passport	14 Days
CAMEROON Diplomatic/Official Passport	14 Days
CANADA	90 Days
CAPE VERDE (REPUBLIC OF)	30 Days
CAYMAN ISLANDS	90 Days
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC	14 Days
CHAD	14 Days
CHILE	90 Days
COLOMBIA	90 Days
COMOROS	14 Days
CONGO ( REPUBLIC OF)	14 Days
COSTARICA	30 Days
CROATIA	14 Days
CYPRUS (REPUBLIC OF)	90 Days
CZECH REPUBLIC	90 Days
DENMARK	90 Days
DJIBOUTI	14 Days
DOMINICA (COMMONWEALTH OF)	90 Days
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC	30 Days
ECUADOR	90 Days
EGYPT	90 Days
EL SALVADOR	30 Days
EQUATORIAL GUINEA	14 Days
ESTONIA	90 Days
ETHIOPIA Diplomatic/Official Passport	14 Days
FALKLAND ISLANDS & DEPENDENCIES	90 Days
FAROE ISLANDS	90 Days
FIJI	90 Days
FINLAND	90 Days
FRANCE	90 Days
GABON	14 Days
GAMBIA	90 Days
GERMANY	90 Days
GHANA	14 Days
GIBRALTAR	90 Days
GREECE	90 Days
GREENLAND	90 Days
GUATEMALA	30 Days
GUINEA	14 Days
GUINEA-BISSAU	14 Days
GUYANA	90 Days
HAITI	14 Days
HONDURAS	30 Days
HUNGARY	90 Days
ICELAND	90 Days
INDIA	14 Days
INDONESIA	30 Days
IRELAND (REPUBLIC OF)	90 Days
ISRAEL	90 Days
ITALY	90 Days
JAMAICA	90 Days
JAPAN	90 Days
JORDAN	14 Days
KENYA	90 Days
KIRIBATI	90 Days
KOREA (REPUBLIC OF)	90 Days

Nationality of foreign country (Territory)/ Type of Travel Document	Visa free period for visit not exceeding
KUWAIT	14 Days
LATVIA	90 Days
LESOTHO	14 Days
LIECHTENSTEIN	90 Days
LITHUANIA	14 Days
LUXEMBOURG	90 Days
MACEDONIA	14 Days
MADAGASCAR	14 Days
MALAWI	90 Days
MALAYSIA	90 Days
MALDIVES	90 Days
MALI	14 Days
MALTA	90 Days
MARSHALL ISLANDS (REPUBLIC OF)	14 Days
MAURITANIA	14 Days
MAURITIUS	90 Days
MEXICO	90 Days
MICRONESIA (FEDERATED STATES OF)	14 Days
MONACO	90 Days
MONGOLIA	14 Days
MONTSERRAT	90 Days
MOROCCO	30 Days
MOZAMBIQUE	14 Days
NAMIBIA	90 Days
NAURU	90 Days
NETHERLANDS	90 Days
NEW ZEALAND	90 Days
NIGER	14 Days
NORWAY	90 Days
OMAN	14 Days
PAKISTAN Diplomatic/Official Passport	14 Days
PALAU	14 Days
PAPUA NEW GUINEA	90 Days
PARAGUAY	30 Days
PERU	30 Days
PHILIPPINES	14 Days
PITCAIRN, HENDERSON, DUCIE & OENO ISLANDS	90 Days
POLAND	90 Days
PORTUGAL	90 Days
QATAR	14 Days
ROMANIA	90 Days
RWANDA	14 Days
SAMOA (WESTERN)	30 Days
SAN MARINO	90 Days
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE	14 Days
SAUDI ARABIA	14 Days
SEYCHELLES	90 Days
SINGAPORE	90 Days
SLOVAK REPUBLIC	90 Days
SLOVENIA	90 Days
SOUTH AFRICA	90 Days
SPAIN	90 Days
SRI LANKA Diplomatic/Official Passport	14 Days
ST. HELENA	90 Days
ST. HELENA DEPENDENCIES (ASCENSION, TRISTAN DA CUNHA)	90 Days
ST. KITTS - NEVIS ANGUILLA	90 Days
ST. LUCIA	90 Days
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES	90 Days
SURINAME	14 Days
SWAZILAND	90 Days
SWEDEN	90 Days
SWITZERLAND	90 Days
TANZANIA	90 Days
THAILAND	30 Days
THE SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS	90 Days
THE SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS OF AKROTIRI AND DHEKELIA	90 Days
TOGO	14 Days
TONGA	90 Days
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO	90 Days
TUNISIA	30 Days
TURKEY	90 Days
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS	90 Days
TUVALU	90 Days
URUGUAY	90 Days
UGANDA	30 Days
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES	90 Days
U.S.A.	90 Days
US TRUST TERRITORY OF PACIFIC ISLANDS (holders of US Trust Territory passports only)	14 Days
VANUATU	90 Days
VATICAN CITY	14 Days
VENEZUELA	90 Days
YEMEN (REPUBLIC OF)	30 Days
ZAMBIA	90 Days
ZIMBABWE	90 Days

More detailed information can be accessed at the website of the Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at the following page: http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm

Answer: There are more than 50 countries and territories, whose passport holders can enter Macau without a Visa within the 'visa-free period'. For those who need visas, they can get visa approved upon arrival at the airport. For details, please visit the website of the Government of Macao Special Administrative Region at the page:http://www.dsi.gov.mo/index_e1.html

Question: I notice you also organize tours to regional countries around China, so can you handle the Visas for us?

Answer: We suggest our clients handle their own visa applications both for China and other countries, as requirements may vary across the different countries of our visitors. For visas to any other countries you may wish to visit, please contact each country's local Embassy or Consultants for detailed information just as you would for your Chinese Visa.

Answer: Yes. China is still one of the safer travel destinations in the world. Although petty crime, such as pick pocketing and purse snatching is on the increase, especially in major cities, serious crime against foreigners is rare. Also, the Chinese government guarantees the safety of the foreign travelers, even if relations between the visitor's home country and China are poor.

Considering all this, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't be as cautious in China as you would be anywhere else. You may click here to learn some common sense advice on how to avoid any potential problems.

Question: What is the best way to visit China - join a pre-packaged tour or travel independently?

Answer: Most visitors to China prefer to take a tour arranged by travel agents, since it is the simplest, most efficient and the most comfortable way of traveling. Independent traveling, though more flexible and easier to customize, is difficult. Problems may arise due to cultural and language barriers for travelers who attempt to arrange accommodations, meals, sightseeing, and transportations for themselves.

Answer: In general, April, May, early June, September, October and early November are the best time to visit China. For detailed information, please click here.

Answer: Only yellow fever vaccination certificates are required from travelers from infected area. We do suggest travelers follow the suggestions of the World Health Organization and their doctors. We also suggest travelers bring along the international certificate of vaccination, which is often required at the customs.

Question: What health condition do I need to travel to China? Do I need to bring my medical record?

Answer: Generally speaking, there are no special health requirements for travel to China. But for those pregnant, elderly, disabled and child travelers as well as travelers with poor health, special care should be taken. Elderly travelers, or those with medical problems, are advised to make a thorough physical examination before visiting China. Travel to high-altitude areas such as Tibet is not suitable for those with pulmonary or heart problems and hypertension.

All travelers are encouraged to bring along their medical records, which will be of great help should an emergency occur. A complete medical record should include your blood type, vaccination record, allergies, medications you are currently taking (both prescription and non-prescription), your doctor's name, address, phone number, emergency contact name and phone number, and your insurance company's name, address and phone number.

For more information related to your health during the travel, please click here.

Answer: We suggest you pack lightly, as most of the daily articles are available in China. Please click here to see a detailed luggage checklist.

Answer: Yes, you can take CNY to China, but you are limited in the value you can bring in accordance with the regulations of the General Administration of China Customs published on Jul 1st, 2005. According to the regulation, passengers who carry over CNY20, 000 in cash or foreign currencies in cash with a value exceeding US$ 5,000 shall be dealt with by the Customs according to relevant regulations currently in force. In the case that passengers carry foreign currencies exceeding US$ 5,000 in cash, and the intension is to take this money out of the country at the end of their stay, the passengers must complete Customs Declaration Forms in duplicate, one copy of which shall, after being endorsed by the Customs, be returned to the passengers for relevant procedures at the time of their exit.

It is quite easy to exchange your currency into CNY at your arrival airports, as well as hotels and banks in China, so it is not really necessary to bring Chinese currency to China.