Money

The Chinese currency is the Renminbi which is not readily convertible in many countries outside China, so you will probably have to wait until you reach China to exchange money. Foreign currency and travellers cheques can be changed at border crossings, international airports, branches of the Bank of China, tourist hotels and some large department stores; hours of operation for foreign-exchange counters are 8am to 7pm (later at hotels). Top-end hotels will generally change money for hotel guests only. The official rate is given almost everywhere and the exchange charge is standardised.

 

Cash Machines

ATMs are common in Hong Kong and Macau. On the mainland, ATMs that take international cards include branches of the Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, where you can use Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus, Maestro, Plus and American Express (AmEx) to withdraw cash. The network largely applies to sizable towns and cities. Large airports such as Beijing Capital Airport, five-star hotels and some department stores have ATMs.

 

Tipping

In China (including Hong Kong and Macau) almost no-one asks for tips. Tipping used to be refused in restaurants, but nowadays many midrange and top-end eateries include their own (often massive) service charge; cheap restaurants do not expect a tip. Taxi drivers throughout China do not ask for or expect tips.

Visas

Apart from for citizens of Japan, Singapore and Brunei, all visitors to China require a visa. A Chinese visa covers virtually the whole of China, although there are still some restricted areas that require an additional permit. Permits are also required for travel to Tibet. A standard 30-day single-entry visa can be issued from most Chinese embassies abroad in three to five working days. Express visas cost twice the usual fee. A 30-day visa is activated on the date you enter China, and must be used within three months of the date of issue. In the UK, the visa service has been outsourced from the Chinese embassy to a visa-issuing centre, which levies an extra administration fee.

Working Hours

A five-day workweek that spans Monday and Friday is applied throughout China. The normal working hours are from 08:00 to 18:00 each day. There are a number of national holidays in China celebrating cultural events, Chinese New Year plus a number of government holidays.

Kiosks, small shops, supermarkets and department stores open from 8:30-9:30 to 21:30-22:30 everyday. Most big restaurants open from 10:30-11:00 to 21:30 -22:00 everyday, with an afternoon break from 14:30 to 17:00. Small restaurants supplying breakfast opens much earlier at 7:00.
 

Drinking Water

The tap water in China is undrinkable but good mineral water is available in hotels, restaurants and supermarkets.

Chinese Language

The Chinese language and its dialects originate from the Han people, the major ethnic group of China. Approximately 95 percent of the Chinese population speaks Chinese. Tibetan, Mongolian, Lolo, Miao, and Tai are spoken by minorities. English is fairly widely spoken in the main cities, less so in smaller towns.

 

Food