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Whilst China is one of the oldest civilisations, its future
will undoubtedly shape the 21st century. China has recently
opened its doors for the rest of the world to discover both
the cultural and economic richness of this country. The evidence
of tight political control remains, however, even while the
economic and social controls continue to weaken. China delivers
more than you could ever hope for and the warm-hearted people
will welcome you every step of the way.
Climate
For mild and generally clear weather, the best times to visit
China are either spring (March - May) or autumn (September
- October) when the temperatures during the day usually range
between 77-86F (20-30C). However the temperature at nights
can still be very cold. When to go to China will largely be
dictated by where you are going as it is such a vast territory.
Temperatures in the north can drop to -40F (- 40C) in the
winter but Beijing experiences hot months around 86F (30C)
in June and July.The summers are generally very humid and
the winters are quite cold. However, winter does offer a few
interesting events: the Ice Festival in Harbin
(a few hours north of Beijing) features intricate ice carvings,
and Chinese New Year falls in February.
People
93% of China's population are Han Chinese, and the
rest of the population is made up of 55 different minority
nationalities.The official religion of Communist China is
atheism (no belief), yet in reality, Confucianism,
Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity and other tribal
religions are quite widely practiced.
Of China's 1.2 billion people, over 13 million make
Beijing their home. However, there is also an estimate of
10 million more unofficial migrant workers who live in the
city. More than 90 percent of the population in Beijing are
Han Chinese, and the remainder are Manchus,
Mongols and Turkic people from Western China.
With China opening up to the outside world, the capital has
also acquired a small but fast-growing foreign community.
Language
A phrase book is essential when exploring rural
China as the chances of finding people speaking English is
slim outside of Beijing. Mandarin (Putonghua) is the
country's official spoken language. Apart from Mandarin, Cantonese
as well as a number of regional and tribal languages are
spoken.
Despite all its modernity, travellers will find that a phrase
book and a map with place names in both Mandarin and English
would be helpful when exploring Beijing, especially
when dealing with taxi drivers (pointing is much simpler than
attempting to pronounce Chinese place names!). However, in
most hotels and tourist areas, you will find still be able
to find someone who can speak at least some English. Hotels
in the city also provide cards which have the names of the
main tourist sites printed in both English and Mandarin. These
can be very useful as travellers just have to check the box
next to the attraction they want to visit and hand the card
over to the taxi driver. This would be almost impossible in
the rural areas.
Reading signs in rural areas of China can also be difficult,
but in the cities most have the characters followed by the
name in pinyin (Chinese using the western alphabet)
with accents to give you a hint of the pronunciation.
Cash
The currency in China is the China Yuan Renminbi (CNY)
but it is commonly known as the yuan or kwai (local slang
word). Whilst exchange rates constantly fluctuate, the rates
at the time of printing were approximately as folows:
$1 US = 8 CNY
1 pound = 12 CNY
1 Euro = 10 CNY
Foreigners will inevitably end up paying more for most things
in Beijing. All businesses from the airlines to museums
are told by the government to charge foreigners more. However
recent reports have indicated that this situation is slowly
changing and places are starting to charge a flat rate for
locals and tourists alike.
Prices vary a lot depending on whether you're visiting major
tourist hotspots like those found in Beijing, or backpacking
rurally - but as a rule of thumb you can live comfortably
for about $30 a day rurally and $70 in cities.
Dress
From hot summers (June to August) to freezing winters (December
to March), China has it all, so your attire will largely depend
on the time of your visit. Use common sense when packing,
and if in doubt include plenty of layers instead of
bulky items that will weigh you down. Bring plenty of loose
natural fibres like cotton and silk to counteract
the blaring heat if you are travelling during summer, and
as a general rule the traveller should try to dress conservatively,
especially in more rural areas. The Chinese people are generally
casual dressers so you needn't worry too much about not being
a snappy dresser as you live out of your backpack or suitcase.
Visa Requirements
All visitors to China require a visitor's visa. Standard tourist
visas are issued for 30 days from your arrival date.
It can be possible to get a 60 or 90 day visa but you can
usually only obtain these from the CTS (China Travel Service)
office in Hong Kong. Be careful not to overstay your
visa, you could be fined $50US per day.
Food
Grains form the main staples of the Chinese diet, with
rice being the most popular and widely consumed food.
You will often find soups, consisting of a broth with numerous
vegetables, meat or tofu inside the soup. However,
you should expect the food to be quite different to your local
Chinese takeout, and regionally, the food will vary substantially
within China itself.
In Beijing, you will find a wide selection of cuisine,
testament of just how cosmopolitan the city has become. From
fast food joints to some of the most famous and delicious
food from everywhere in China, you'll be spoilt for choice.
Transport
If you have planned an extensive itinerary of China
you will find plane fares cheap, unfortunately it is
usual for foreigners to pay at least double the fare that
is charged to nationals. However, train travel can prove more
insightful to the Chinese way of life as it is the most popular
way for Chinese people to travel. Another way to get around
that is unique to China is the Sleeper Bus, which,
as the name suggests is a bus with little cabins for sleeping.
Beijing's network of bus, taxi and the
underground makes it easy to get around. Taxis
are recommended as they are fast and inexpensive, with the
average ride costing between $1.20 and $3, though unfortunately
it is usual for foreigners to pay at least double the fare
that is charged to locals. Rented bicycles can also
be a great way to get around town. Rates start from $3.60
an hour or $7.20 a day but if you are planning for a longer
stay in Beijing, you may even want to consider getting yourself
a second hand bicycle.
Health
Besides not drinking the tap water, China is a relatively
healthy place to visit. Malaria is not generally a risk in
main tourist areas, although some Dengue fever occurs
in some areas in South China. However, Hepatitis B and
A are quite prevalent in China, and vaccinations are a
good idea. Medical facilities in China range from sophisticated
in the cities to totally primitive in more remote areas, and
it goes without saying that you should have adequate travel
insurance before you leave home.
Air pollution is a problem in Beijing and the capital
is one of the ten most polluted cities in the world, according
to the World Health Organisation. The city's constant
winds do however, reduce this hazard quite significantly,
but it is at its worst in the hot and humid summers so would
best be avoided then by people with breathing problems.
For more information on international travel and health, check out the World
Health Organization website.
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