When NOT to travel in China
Weather aside, avoid traveling during any of the China's national holidays if at all possible. In the 1990's the Chinese government introduced the "Golden Weeks" to develop domestic tourism industry. The three Chinese national "Golden Weeks" to avoid are:
1.Chinese New Year (Spring Festival): This is the worst time to travel. The exact dates each year varies since it’s based on the Lunar Calendar, but it’s usually around late January to mid-Feb.Technically about 2 weeks but many Chinese will just get the first week off. Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional holidays, kind of the equivalent of Christmas in the West. A huge chunk of the population — from white collar to migrant worker — takes off work to travel back to their hometowns to spend time with their families. Most businesses shut down completely, so your options for eating and shopping also become severely limited in smaller towns. Of course, if you don't mind the crowds, it can be lots of fun (festivals, street activity, etc).
2. National Day (starts Oct 1): A week-long holiday that celebrates founding of the People’s Republic of China. In particular, avoid some hot sites, such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Yellow Mountain, Jiuzhaigou Valley, etc.
3. Labor Day (May 1): Until 2007, this was a week-long holiday but has since been scaled back to a long 3-day weekend. So not as crazy as before but still definitely want to avoid being in transit during this time.
Money Matters
The renminbi (RMB, sign: ¥; code: CNY; also CN¥, 元 and CN元) is the official currency of China (People's Republic of China). Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of China. It literally means "people's currency".
The primary unit of renminbi is the yuan (元). One yuan is subdivided into 10 jiao (角), which in turn is subdivided into 10 fen (分). Renminbi banknotes are available in denominations from 1 jiao to 100 yuan (¥0.1–100) and coins have denominations from 1 fen to 1 yuan (¥0.01–1). Thus, some denominations exist in coins and banknotes. Coins under ¥0.1 are used infrequently.
For RMB (CNY) and ZAR exchange rate, please visit The Currency Converter.
Credit Cards
Currently there are seven main foreign credit cards available in China, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, JCB, Federal and Million. Credit cards can be used for withdrawing money, shopping and other transactions in most major cities of the country, but generally not accepted in rural areas.
ATM
In China, most of the local ATMs machines accept Visa and Master. CITIBANK card and HSBC are also very popular in China because Citibank and HSBC have agreement with UnionPay. For other cards, you may check the ATMs you are going to use and see if they have the logos and signs for your credit cards.
ElectricityBasically there are two main standards for voltage and frequency in the world. One is the standard of 120 volts at a frequency of 60 Hz, and the other is the standard of 220–240 volts at 50 Hz. China uses generally 220V, 50HZ, AC (Hong Kong is 200V; Taiwan is 110V).
Electricity in South Africa is 230 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Beijing and other parts of China, you will need a voltage converter and a plug adapter.
Communications
1. Internet
Most hotel rooms will offer an internet connection for your laptop. Airports, Starbucks, and a number of coffee restaurants provide free Wi-Fi. If you don't have a laptop, inexpensive internet bars are scattered around the city.
2. Post Offices
Airmail letters to South Africa usually take between four days and a week to reach their destinations. Stamps are sold at the post office counters.
3. Telephone
♦Call a fixed phone
If you are going to call a fixed phone in a particular city in China, please dial the exit number of your home country 0011 + 86 (China's country code) + 10 (i.e. Beijing's city code) + phone number. 0011-86-10-63827918
♦Call a cell phone
If you are going to call a mobile phone in a particular city in China, please dial the exit number of your home country 0011 + 86 (China's country code) + Cell phone number. 0011-86-15611078753
Conversion
Although a traditional measurement system exists, China now uses the metric system.
1 kilometers = 0.62 mile
1 meter = 1.09 yards
1 centimeter = 0.39 inch
1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
1 gram = 0.035 ounce
1 liter = 0.76 pint
0℃ = 32 ℉
Meeting Etiquette
·Greetings are formal and the oldest person is always greeted first.
·Handshakes are the most common form of greeting with foreigners.
·Many Chinese will look towards the ground when greeting someone.
·Address the person by an honorific title and their surname. If they want to move to a first-name basis, they will advise you which name to use.
·The Chinese have a terrific sense of humour. They can laugh at themselves most readily if they have a comfortable relationship with the other person. Be ready to laugh at yourself given the proper circumstances.
Dining Etiquette
·The Chinese prefer to entertain in public places rather than in their homes, especially when entertaining foreigners.
·If you are invited to their house, consider it a great honour. If you must turn down such an honour, it is considered polite to explain the conflict in your schedule so that your actions are not taken as a slight.
·Arrive on time.
·Remove your shoes before entering the house.
·Bring a small gift to the hostess.
·Eat well to demonstrate that you are enjoying the food!
Table manners
·Learn to use chopsticks.
·Wait to be told where to sit. The guest of honour will be given a seat facing the door.
·The host begins eating first.
·You should try everything that is offered to you.
·Never eat the last piece from the serving tray.
·Be observant to other peoples' needs.
·Chopsticks should be returned to the chopstick rest after every few bites and when you drink or stop to speak.
·The host offers the first toast.
·Do not put bones in your bowl. Place them on the table or in a special bowl for that purpose.
·Hold the rice bowl close to your mouth while eating.
·Do not be offended if a Chinese person makes slurping or belching sounds; it merely indicates that they are enjoying their food.
·There are no strict rules about finishing all the food in your bowl.
Tipping in China
Tipping is not widely expected or required in Mainland China. However, at superior hotels and restaurants catering to western tourists, porters, room service and wait staff may have become used to receiving small tips. You can tip in cash, some small gifts brought from your country would also be appreciated, such as music CDs, books, perfumes, candies, etc. While in Hong Kong and Macau, tipping is very common and important, just like many parts of the world.
Business Hours
Most of China's business world slows down considerably during the spring festival in late January and early February. Business visitors would be wise to avoid this two to three week holiday period.
In most cities in China, businesses and government offices are usually open Monday through Friday and every other Saturday from 8 am to noon and from 1:00 to 2:00 pm to 5:00 or 6:00 pm. China has a five and a half day workweek consisting of 44 hours. Banks are open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Shops are open every day.
What To Do in an Emergency in China
Hopefully, you won't have to deal with an emergency while you're in China. However, if you do find yourself in a bad situation, it is important to know what to do.
In China the organization that is responsible for public safety is the Public Security Bureau (PSB). There are usually several PSB locations within a city district. If you feel you are in danger or need to call for help, you can reach the PSB by dialing 110 on any phone in China.
If you lose your passport, you should report the lost passport as soon as possible to your nearest Public Security Bureau and to your embassy or consulate in China. In order to get a new Chinese visa, a Police report about the loss/theft will be required.
Below are some emergency phone numbers that you should make note of:
110 for the police
119 in case of fire or
120 for an ambulance
If you lose your credit cards or travelers checks, call the issuers immediately. There is usually an international number on the backside of your credit card that you can dial collect 24 hours a day from anywhere outside your home country.
♦ The PSB Office in Zhangjiajie
Tel: 0744-8225175
No. 32, Nanzhuang Lu, Yongding District
♦ The PSB Office in Beijing
Tel: 010-84020101
Add: No.02, Andingmen Dong Dajie
Subway: next to the subway station of Yonghegong (Lama Temple)
♦ The PSB Office in Shanghai
Tel: 021-62310110
Add: No. 128, South Wuning Lu (Wu Ning Nan Lu)
♦ The PSB Office in Guangzhou
Tel: 020-83116688
Add: No.200, Qiyi Lu
♦ The PSB Office in Xi'an
Tel: 029-87234500
Add: No.63, West Street (Xi Da Jie)
♦ The PSB Office in Guilin
Tel: 0773-2823334
Add: No.1, Sanduo Lu
Consular Assistance
In China, the Dutch tourists can obtain consular assistance from the:
♦Royal Netherlands Embassy in Beijing
Name Royal Netherlands Embassy
Address: No.4, Liang Ma He Nan Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Tel: (++8610) 65321131
Fax: (++8610) 65324689
Office hours:
Website: http://www.hollandinchina.org/
Email: rnebc@pubbic.netchina.com.cn
♦Consulate of Netherlands in Guangzhou
Address: Teem Tower, 34th Floor 208 Tianhe Road,Guangzhou,510620
Tel: +86 20 3813 2200
Fax: +86 20 3813 2299
Office hours: Every Mon. - Fri. at 9:00-12:00 en 13:00-17:00.:00pm
Website: http://guangzhou.nlconsulate.org/
Email: gnz-visa@minbuza.nl (Visa Section)
♦Consulate of Nertherlands in Shanghai
Address: 4/F East Tower, Sun Plaza 88 Xianxia Road, Shanghai 200336, Volksrepubliek China
Tel: (+86) 21 2208 7288
Fax: (+86) 21 2208 7300
Office hours: From 09:00- 12:00 and from 13:00 - 17:30 on working days
Website: http://shanghai.nlconsulate.org/
Email: sha@minbuza.nl
♦Consulate of Nertherlands in HK
Address: Suite 5702, 57/F., Cheung Kong Center 2 Queen's Road, Central Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2522 5127
Fax: (852) 2868 5388
Office hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00am-13:00pm,14:00pm-16:30pm
Website: http://hongkong.nlconsulate.org/
Email: information@netherlands-cg.org.hk