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Pre-Trip Preparation for Your China Homeland Tours
1. Passport and Visa
Prior to departing for China , all travelers will need to obtain a China visa in their passport. All passports must have 6 months validity remaining at the time you apply for your China visa. If any passport will expire please apply now for a new passport. When you apply for your Chinese visa you must have at least 4 blank VISA pages (separate and distinct pages) in your passport. This does not include the pages reserved for amendments or endorsements. You will obtain your own visa by using a courier service or by personally walking your application(s) into a Consulate or Embassy. LEADTOCHINA cannot provide visa services for your family. But we may send the invitation letter for you to obtain the visa.
Please see below Consulate/Embassy websites:
Chicago: http://www.chinaconsulatechicago.org/eng/
San Francisco: http://www.chinaconsulatesf.org/eng/
Canada: http://toronto.china-consulate.org/eng/
Denmark: http://dk.china-embassy.org/eng/
2. Health Issues
Check out the website of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for current advisories and complete, up-to-date information on health issues related to travel, including vaccinations, avian influenza, etc. Make an appointment with your physician as soon as possible to discuss about your trip. Your physician should be able to help you with health preparation, including vaccination. Be sure you and your children are up to date on all routine immunizations according to schedules approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP).
Vaccinations are not required for entering China unless you are traveling from or via an infection area. However, the following inoculations are normally recommended for traveling to East Asia: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, Malaria, Rabies, Typhoid, and, as needed, booster doses for Tetanus-diphtheria and measles. Also be sure to pack any prescription medicine you are currently taking and keep them in the original container. And, do not forget any supplements, allergy bills, motion sickness bills, etc. that may be pertaining your specific situation.
Check your health insurance policy. If it does not provide for overseas visits, consider requesting your insurer to extend the policy. It is also advisable to take out travel insurance to cover you in the event of accidental injury and illness. Travel policies also cover you for a variety of other risks, such as cancellation charges, loss of money, loss of baggage, and liability to third parties to name but a few. Take your doctor's name, address, and phone number and a copy of your medical record in case it is needed.
Western-style medical facilities with international staffs are available in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and a few other large cities. Please visit the website of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing for more information and advice on health and medical issues related to traveling in China , including a complete list of clinics that the Embassy recommends.
3. Weather
China has a continental monsoonal climate that various greatly from region to region. Most parts are in the northern temperate zone with clear division of four seasons while the southern areas are in the tropical or subtropical zone and northern areas in the frigid zone. In winter, northerly winds from high latitude areas keep the northern part cold and dry, while in summer, monsoons from southern coastal areas bring warm and moisture. In addition, the climate also varies with the extensive territory and various topography from region to region.
Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) in Major Cities
City
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Beijing
28
32
40
60
82
89
89
89
80
69
40
36
Chengdu
45
50
55
64
73
78
84
88
77
65
55
50
Chongqing
45
50
58
67
73
80
85
90
80
70
60
51
Guangzhou
58
60
70
72
80
85
88
85
78
66
57
51
Guilin
50
51
58
64
67
80
85
82
79
70
60
50
Hangzhou
39
41
48
60
69
75
83
83
75
64
54
43
Hong Kong
65
64
68
76
83
86
88
88
86
82
75
69
Kunming
50
52
58
64
67
67
68
68
65
60
54
50
Lhasa
26
35
42
49
55
63
61
60
58
47
39
32
Shanghai
45
46
54
67
78
83
91
91
83
75
64
52
Urumqi
4
10
32
62
66
74
79
75
64
47
28
11
Wuhan
37
41
50
61
70
80
84
83
75
64
52
42
Xian
30
35
47
57
68
79
80
78
66
56
44
33
4. Money
Chinese currency is called Renminbi (meaning “people’s money”), often abbreviated as RMB. The unit of Renminbi is a Yuan and with smaller denominations called Jiao and fen. The conversion among the three is: 1 Yuan = 10 Jiao =100 Fen. RMB is issued both in notes and coins. The denominations of paper notes include 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 Yuan; 5, 2 and 1 Jiao; and 5, 2 and 1 fen.
The denominations of coins are 1 Yuan; 5, 2 and 1 Jiao; and 5, 2 and 1 fen. Note: in spoken Chinese, Yuan is often called as Kuai and the Jiao as Mao. A fairly secure way of carrying your money is to bring traveler’s check. Always remember to keep the record of check numbers separate from the checks for reference in the event of loss. You can exchange money at major banks, money exchange facilities at major airports, hotels and large department stores. Hotels may only exchange money for you if you are their guests.
Be sure to keep your currency exchange receipts. You will need to show them when you leave China and have extra RMB you want to change back to your currency. Major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc. are accepted in tourist hotels and stores in many cities.
Please use the online currency converter for current exchange rate and to estimate your travel costs. Please be advised that the actual exchange rate will vary in China.
5. Electricity
The electric voltage in China is 220V/50Hz. You will find a 110V wall socket in the guest room’s bathroom for razors and hair dryers. However, outside of the bathroom, only 220V sockets are provided. The plugs you will find in the hotel rooms are either two-pin ones or triangle three-pin ones as shown at http://kropla.com/china_power.htm. Most hotels have adaptors and converters for guests to borrow. But it is recommended you bring your own.
6. Camera and Film
If you use a digital camera and/or a camcorder, be sure to bring the chargers, backup batteries, extra memory cards, download cords, etc. If you haven’t gone digital, you should always bring more film than you think that you will need. You will find that there is a lot to photograph. Although most major brands of color film are readily available in China, slide or high/low ASA film may be difficult to find.
One hour film processing is available in larger cities, and the print quality is generally pretty good. All security X-ray machines at the airports are supposed to be film-safe. However, there have been occasional reports of damaged film. So, it doesn’t hurt to put your film in special pouches that will protect it from X-ray machines.
7. Baggage Allowances
US airline companies usually allow you to carry on one bag and one personal item. A carry-on bag must fit under your seat or in the overhead bin. Its dimensions should not be more than 9”X14”x22” (length + width + height). For international flights, the maximum free baggage allowance is usually two pieces per ticketed customer and each piece is not to exceed 50 pounds/23kg. Please contact your airlines for specific, up-to-date baggage policies and travel tips.
When traveling in China, any passenger holding an economy class adult ticket is entitled to carry on one bag (no more than 5kg in weight and 20cmX40cmX55cm in size) and to check in up to 20 kg of luggage free of charge. For luggage exceeding the allowed weight, an excess luggage fee may be charged by the airlines. The amount will vary depending on weight and the flying distance.
Given the enhanced security measures at the airports, we ask that you read the travel tips and regulations regarding permitted and prohibited items posted on the website of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.
Why Lead to China
Pre-Trip Preparation for Your China Homeland Tours
1. Passport and Visa
Prior to departing for
Please see below Consulate/Embassy websites:
Chicago: http://www.chinaconsulatechicago.org/eng/
San Francisco: http://www.chinaconsulatesf.org/eng/
Canada: http://toronto.china-consulate.org/eng/
Denmark: http://dk.china-embassy.org/eng/
2. Health Issues
Check out the website of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for current advisories and complete, up-to-date information on health issues related to travel, including vaccinations, avian influenza, etc. Make an appointment with your physician as soon as possible to discuss about your trip. Your physician should be able to help you with health preparation, including vaccination. Be sure you and your children are up to date on all routine immunizations according to schedules approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP).
Vaccinations are not required for entering
Check your health insurance policy. If it does not provide for overseas visits, consider requesting your insurer to extend the policy. It is also advisable to take out travel insurance to cover you in the event of accidental injury and illness. Travel policies also cover you for a variety of other risks, such as cancellation charges, loss of money, loss of baggage, and liability to third parties to name but a few. Take your doctor's name, address, and phone number and a copy of your medical record in case it is needed.
Western-style medical facilities with international staffs are available in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and a few other large cities. Please visit the website of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing for more information and advice on health and medical issues related to traveling in
3. Weather
China has a continental monsoonal climate that various greatly from region to region. Most parts are in the northern temperate zone with clear division of four seasons while the southern areas are in the tropical or subtropical zone and northern areas in the frigid zone. In winter, northerly winds from high latitude areas keep the northern part cold and dry, while in summer, monsoons from southern coastal areas bring warm and moisture. In addition, the climate also varies with the extensive territory and various topography from region to region.
Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) in Major Cities
|
4. Money
Chinese currency is called Renminbi (meaning “people’s money”), often abbreviated as RMB. The unit of Renminbi is a Yuan and with smaller denominations called Jiao and fen. The conversion among the three is: 1 Yuan = 10 Jiao =100 Fen. RMB is issued both in notes and coins. The denominations of paper notes include 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 Yuan; 5, 2 and 1 Jiao; and 5, 2 and 1 fen.
The denominations of coins are 1 Yuan; 5, 2 and 1 Jiao; and 5, 2 and 1 fen. Note: in spoken Chinese, Yuan is often called as Kuai and the Jiao as Mao. A fairly secure way of carrying your money is to bring traveler’s check. Always remember to keep the record of check numbers separate from the checks for reference in the event of loss. You can exchange money at major banks, money exchange facilities at major airports, hotels and large department stores. Hotels may only exchange money for you if you are their guests.
Be sure to keep your currency exchange receipts. You will need to show them when you leave China and have extra RMB you want to change back to your currency. Major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc. are accepted in tourist hotels and stores in many cities.
Please use the online currency converter for current exchange rate and to estimate your travel costs. Please be advised that the actual exchange rate will vary in China.
5. Electricity
The electric voltage in China is 220V/50Hz. You will find a 110V wall socket in the guest room’s bathroom for razors and hair dryers. However, outside of the bathroom, only 220V sockets are provided. The plugs you will find in the hotel rooms are either two-pin ones or triangle three-pin ones as shown at http://kropla.com/china_power.htm. Most hotels have adaptors and converters for guests to borrow. But it is recommended you bring your own.
6. Camera and Film
If you use a digital camera and/or a camcorder, be sure to bring the chargers, backup batteries, extra memory cards, download cords, etc. If you haven’t gone digital, you should always bring more film than you think that you will need. You will find that there is a lot to photograph. Although most major brands of color film are readily available in China, slide or high/low ASA film may be difficult to find.
One hour film processing is available in larger cities, and the print quality is generally pretty good. All security X-ray machines at the airports are supposed to be film-safe. However, there have been occasional reports of damaged film. So, it doesn’t hurt to put your film in special pouches that will protect it from X-ray machines.
7. Baggage Allowances
US airline companies usually allow you to carry on one bag and one personal item. A carry-on bag must fit under your seat or in the overhead bin. Its dimensions should not be more than 9”X14”x22” (length + width + height). For international flights, the maximum free baggage allowance is usually two pieces per ticketed customer and each piece is not to exceed 50 pounds/23kg. Please contact your airlines for specific, up-to-date baggage policies and travel tips.
When traveling in China, any passenger holding an economy class adult ticket is entitled to carry on one bag (no more than 5kg in weight and 20cmX40cmX55cm in size) and to check in up to 20 kg of luggage free of charge. For luggage exceeding the allowed weight, an excess luggage fee may be charged by the airlines. The amount will vary depending on weight and the flying distance.
Given the enhanced security measures at the airports, we ask that you read the travel tips and regulations regarding permitted and prohibited items posted on the website of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.
