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Cars 4 Rental Information on China

General

Area: 9,572,900 sq km (3,696,100 sq miles).

Population: 1,284,530,000 (official estimate 2002). Roughly a quarter of the world’s population lives in China.

Population Density: 134.2 per sq km.

Capital: Beijing (Peking). Population: 10,839,000 (2000). The largest city in the country, Shanghai, has a population of over 12 million and, as of 2000, 22 other cities had a population of over 2 million and 42 cities had a population of 1 to 2 million.

GEOGRAPHY: China is bordered to the north by Russia and Mongolia; to the east by Korea (Dem Rep), the Yellow Sea and the South China Sea; to the south by Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan and Nepal; and to the west by India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. China has a varied terrain ranging from high plateaux in the west to flatlands in the east; mountains take up almost one-third of the land. The most notable high mountain ranges are the Himalayas, the Altai Mountains, the Tian Shan Mountains and the Kunlun Mountains. On the border with Nepal is the 8848m-(29,198ft-) high Mount Qomolangma (Mount Everest). In the west is the Qinghai/Tibet Plateau, with an average elevation of 4000m (13,200ft), known as ‘the Roof of the World’. At the base of the Tian Shan Mountains is the Turpan Depression or Basin, China’s lowest area, 154m (508ft) below sea level at the lowest point. China has many great river systems, notably the Yellow (Huang He) and Yangtze Kiang (Chang Jiang). Only 10 per cent of all China is suitable for agriculture.

Government: People’s Republic. China comprises 22 Provinces, five Autonomous Regions, two Special Administrative Regions and four Municipalities directly under Central Government. Head of State: President Hu Jintao since 2003. Head of Government: Premier Wen Jiabao since 2003. Jiang Zemin, however, retains much actual power in China.

Language: The official language is Mandarin Chinese. Among the enormous number of local dialects, large groups speak Cantonese, Fukienese, Xiamenhua and Hakka in the south. Mongolia, Tibet and Xinjiang, which are autonomous regions, have their own languages. Translation and interpreter services are good. English is spoken by many guides.

Religion: The principal religions and philosophies are Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism. There are 100 million Buddhists and approximately 60 million Muslims, 5 million Protestants (including large numbers of Evangelicals) and 4 million Roman Catholics, largely independent of Vatican control.

Time: GMT + 8. Despite the vast size of the country, Beijing time is standard throughout China.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin sockets and some three-pin sockets are in use.

Communications:

Telephone

IDD is available. Country code: 86. Outgoing international code: 00. Antiquated internal service with public telephones in hotels and shops displaying a telephone unit sign. It is often easier to make international phone calls from China than it is to make calls internally.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900 and 1800 networks provide coverage in Beijing, Guangzhou (Canton) and Shanghai; GSM 900 networks also exist in most other major urban areas in the southeastern and eastern regions including Chengdu and Chongqing. Networks are operated by China Mobile and China Unicom (website: www.chinaunicom.com.cn).

Fax

A growing number of hotels offer fax facilities but are often incoming only. Rates are generally high. Faxes can also be sent from Internet cafes.

Internet

ISPs include Eastnet China Ltd (website: www.eastnet.com.cn). There are Internet cafes in main towns.

Post

Service to Europe takes from between 2 days and 1 week. Tourist hotels usually have their own post offices. All postal communications to China should be addressed ‘People’s Republic of China’.

Press

The main English-language daily is the China Daily. There is also the weekly news magazine Beijing Review, with editions in English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. National newspapers include The Guangming Daily and The Worker’s Daily, with many provinces having their own local dailies as well.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Currency: 1 Renminbi Yuan (RMBY) = 10 chiao/jiao or 100 fen. Notes are in denominations of RMBY100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1, and 5, 2 and 1 chiao/jiao. Coins are in denominations of RMBY1, 1.5 chiao/jiao and 5, 2 and 1 fen.

Currency exchange: RMBY is not traded outside China. Foreign banknotes and travellers cheques can be exchanged at branches of The Bank of China. In hotels and Friendship Stores for tourists, imported luxury items such as spirits may be bought with Western currency. Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes cannot be exchanged.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, East-American Visa, Federal Card, JCB Card, MasterCard, Million Card and Visa are valid in major provincial cities in designated establishments. However, the availability of ATMs is often limited, and the acceptance of credit cards is often unlikely.

Travellers cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars.

Currency restrictions: Import and export of local currency is limited to RMBY6000. Import of foreign currency is up to US$1000 (US$5000 for non-residents). Higher amounts should be declared upon arrival. Export of foreign currency is limited to the amount imported and declared.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Renminbi against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04 Aug ’04
£1.00= 13.76 15.07 14.78 15.24
$1.00= 8.24 8.28 8.28 8.27

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0800-1130.

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever Yes 1
Cholera Yes 2
Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A
Malaria 4 N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers arriving within 6 days of leaving an infected area.

2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to China. However, cholera is a slight risk in this country and precautions could be considered. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. For more information, see the Health appendix. A strain of Bengal cholera has been reported in western areas.

3: Poliovirus transmission has been shown by reliable data to have been completely interrupted since 1994 through eradication programmes.

4: Malaria risk exists throughout the country below 1500m except in Beijing, Gansu, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shanxi, Tibet (Xizang, except in the Zangbo River Valley in the extreme southeast) and Xinjiang (except in the Yili River Valley). North of 33N, the risk lasts from July to November, between 33N and 25N from May to December, and south of 25N throughout the year. The disease occurs primarily in the benign vivax form but the malignant falciparum form is also present and has been reported to be multidrug-resistant. The recommended prophylaxis in risk areas is chloroquine, or mefloquine in Hainan and Yunnan.

Food & drink: Outside main centres, all water used for drinking, brushing teeth or freezing should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is endemic in the central Yangtze river basin. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools that are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. There is some risk of plague. Hepatitis E is prevalent in northeastern and northwestern China and hepatitis A is common across the country. Hepatitis B is highly endemic. Tuberculosis is common in indigenous populations. Oriental liver fluke (clonorchiasis), oriental lung fluke (paragonimiasis) and giant intestinal fluke (fasciolopsiasis) are reported, and brucellosis also occurs. Bancroftian and brugian filariasis are still reported in southern China, visceral leishmaniasis is increasingly common throughout, and cutaneous leishmaniasis has been reported from Xinjiang. Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is endemic. Precautions should be taken against Japanese encephalitis, particularly in rural areas. Mite-borne or scrub typhus may be found in scrub areas of southern China. Altitude sickness can be a problem in parts of Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Tibet, Xinjiang and Yannan. There are still habitual occurrences of avian influenza (bird flu) and the SARS virus.
Rabies is present, although the Government policy that bans dogs and cats from main cities makes this less of a risk in these areas. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Health care: Medical costs are low. Many medicines common to Western countries are unavailable in China. Medical facilities in international hospitals are excellent. There are many traditional forms of medicine used in China, the most notable being acupuncture. Medical insurance is strongly advised.

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Climate

China has a great diversity of climates. The northeast experiences hot and dry summers and bitterly cold winters. The north and central region has almost continual rainfall, hot summers and cold winters. The southeast region has substantial rainfall, with semi-tropical summers and cool winters. Central, southern and western China are also susceptible to flooding, China is also periodically subject to seismic activity.

Required clothing: North – heavyweight clothing with boots for the harsh northern winters. Lightweight clothing for summer. South – mediumweight clothing for winter and lightweight for summer.

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Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes Yes Yes
Australian Yes Yes Yes
Canadian Yes Yes Yes
USA Yes Yes Yes
OtherEU Yes Yes Yes
Japanese Yes 1 Yes

Note: (a) China does not recognise dual nationality (eg US-Chinese, Canadian-Chinese). (b) Travellers are required to complete a health declaration certificate on arrival in China. HIV-positive travellers are not permitted to enter the country.

PASSPORTS: Required by all. Passport must be valid for at least six months for a single or double entry within three months of the date of visa issue; at least nine months for multiple entries within six months.

VISAS: Required by all except:
(a) 1. nationals of Brunei, Japan and Singapore for stays of up to 15 days;
(b) transit passengers (except nationals of the UK and USA, who always require a visa) continuing their journey by the same or first connecting plane to another country within 24 hours who hold valid onward documentation and do not leave the airport.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist/Business/Transit (UK nationals): £30 (single-entry); £45 (double-entry); £60 (multiple-entry for business visas only; six months); £90 (multiple entry for business visas only; 12 months and two to five years). Group (at least five people): £24 per person. Visa charges for other nationals vary; check with Embassy for further information.

Validity: Tourist, Business and Group visas are normally valid for three months from the date of issue (single and double-entry). Multiple-entry visas are normally valid for six months, 12 months or two to five years. The validity of Business visas varies. Transit visas are generally valid for up to seven days.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Visas should be applied for in person at least one month before departure. Group visas will usually be obtained by the tour operator or travel agent.

Application requirements: Tourist: (a) Completed application form. (b) One recent passport-size photo. (c) Valid passport with at least one blank page. (d) Fee (payable in cash or by postal order only). (e) Sufficient funds for duration of stay. (f) Return airline ticket or travel information about itinerary and confirmation of hotel reservation in China. Business: (a)-(f) and, (g) Official invitation from a Chinese government department or a government-approved company indicating duration of stay and purpose of visit (original copies must be submitted for multiple-entry visas). Work: (a)-(f) and, (g) As for Business visas, and (h) Employment permit from Ministry of Labour or the State Bureau of Foreign Experts of China. Group (five people or more): (a)-(f) and, (g) Confirmation letter or fax from an authorised Chinese travel company. A list of all group members should be presented in triplicate. Photocopies of all group passports with the visa form number for each member. The serial number given to group members should be listed in order on the group visa form. There should be a front page covering information about the group. Student: (a)-(f) and, (g) JW-201 or JW_202 form issued by the Ministry of Education of China, and letter of admission from Chinese university/college. Transit: (a)-(f) and, (g) Visa for the next country of destination or an airline ticket or a letter from a recognised company.

Working days required: Three (72 hours) to four. Two weeks for Group visas. Applications should be made at least one month in advance. A same-day service may be available at an extra cost of £20 per person, or a 48-hour service at £15 per person.

Temporary residence: Enquiries should be addressed to the Chinese Embassy.

Note: (a) The majority of visits to China tend to be organised through the official state travel agency CITS (China International Travel Service). This liaison with CITS is generally handled by the tour operator organising the inclusive holiday chosen by the visitor, though it is possible for individuals to organise their own itinerary. Once the tour itinerary details have been confirmed to the visitor or visiting group, finances to cover accommodation and the cost of the tour must be deposited with CITS through a home bank. Once again, for package trips, all the necessary formalities for a visit to China can be handled by the tour operator concerned. (b) Those wishing to visit Tibet are strongly advised to join a travel group. Individual travellers need a special permit and should obtain permission to visit Tibet or Xinjiang by fax from the following organisation before applying for a visa: Tourist Bureau of Tibet (see Contact Addresses section).

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