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Customs

Incoming travelers are allowed to bring with them for temporary admission one of each of the items: Camera, portable tape-recorder, portable cinecamera, portable video-camera, and portable computer.

Those personal items over above limit, gold, silver, and ornaments, foreign exchange, Renminbi, Chinese herbs and Chinese patent medicines for example, must be declared accurately to the Customs and fill out customs declaration forms which will be collected upon exit.

Prohibited imports include arms, ammunition and explosives; printed matter, film or tapes detrimental to China; dangerous or narcotic drugs; infected animals, plants or foodstuffs. It is also forbidden to take out any of these items, or endangered species of animals or plants and antiques without export permits.

Dual Nationality

China does not recognize dual nationality. Some U.S. citizens who are also Chinese nationals have experienced difficulty entering and departing China on U.S. passports, and some U.S. passports have been seized by Chinese authorities. Dual nationals may be subject to Chinese laws which impose special obligations. In some cases, such dual nationals are required to use Chinese documentation to enter China. Note that the United States requires that all U.S. citizens enter and depart the U.S. on U.S. passports. Dual nationals who enter and depart China using a U.S. passport and a valid People's Republic of China visa retain the right of U.S. consular access and protection under the U.S.- People's Republic of China Consular Convention. The ability of the U.S. Embassy or Consulates General to provide normal consular services would be extremely limited should a dual national enter China on a Chinese or other non-U.S. passport.

China does not recognize the U.S. citizenship of children born in China, one of whose parents is a People's Republic of China national. Such children are required to enter and depart China on People's Republic of China travel documents. Children born in the United States to People's Republic of China national parents who are neither lawful permanent residents nor U.S. citizens, are not recognized as U.S. citizens under Chinese nationality law. Although Chinese consulates have frequently issued visas to such individuals in error, they are treated solely as People's Republic of China nationals by Chinese authorities when in China. Specific questions on dual nationality may be directed to the Office of Overseas Citizens Services, Department of State, Room 4811A, Washington. D.C. 20520 or to the U.S. Embassy or one of the U.S. consulates general in China.

Entry Regulations

Valid visas are required, and those who arrive in China without a visa may be fined at the port of entry and may not be allowed to enter China. The Chinese government does not permit foreigners to visit some areas of China. Reconfirmation of departure reservations is essential. Travelers have been stranded when outgoing flights are overbooked and reservations have not been reconfirmed. For information about entry requirements and restricted areas, travelers may consult the Embassy of the People's Republic of China. For more information regarding visas, contact the Visa Section of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China at (202) 328-2517 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

On arrival in China, travelers must fill in Entry Registration Cards, and present passports, visas and quarantine certificates for inspection. Luggages, goods and packages should be checked by quarantine inspectors before being allowed to enter China.

Entry of travelers with VD, leprosy or infectious pulmonary tuberculosis is prohibited.

Those who wish to bring into China old and waste materials, food, micro-organisms, biological products, portions of human body, blood or its products, or animals that may spread infectious diseases among humans must declare them in full detail. Travelers from areas with epidemic yellow fever must show valid certificates of inoculation against this disease before being allowed to enter China.

Entry is forbidden to articles prescribed as dangerous, poisonous or harmful by Chinese law. Those who have such articles must declare them to the frontier inspection station. When arriving at hotels, travelers should check in according to the local regulations.

Exit

On departure, travelers must fill in Exit Registration Cards and have their passports and visas checked. Articles registered on the Customs Luggage Declaration Form should all be brought out of China. If any item is missing, a certificate by the relevant department is required (for instance, a certificate from the police is required if something has been stolen); otherwise, the traveler must pay import duty according to the Customs regulations.

Visitors who want to change CNY (Chinese Yuan) back to foreign currency at the airport before leaving China will be required to show the exchange slip provided when they exchanged foreign currency into CNY on arrival or at banks.

Health

The best prevention is to ensure maximum hygiene while travelling, especially in restaurants and roadside snack bars. Never eat raw, uncooked, or partially cooked food, including salads outside of top hotels. Animal or human excrement is still frequently used as fertilizer, so that bacterium on uncooked vegetables can easily be ingested. Also suggested if travelling outside of a tour group: acquire chopsticks and a tin bowl with lid for train journeys and meals in small roadside restaurants. Drink only boiled or bottled water, even though the tap water is drinkable in some places and hotels. The adjustment to a different climate and different food frequently leads to colds or digestive problems that, although rarely serious, can nevertheless impede one's enjoyment.

Tibet, the northwest, and the tropical province of Yunnan make particularly high demands on the body. Heart disease and high blood pressure can lead to serious problems in Tibet because of high altitude. Along the Silk Road, it is hot and dry.

If planning to visit areas outside of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, consider carrying emergency evacuation insurance. If injured in the deserts of western China, for example, medical and transportation costs could leave you indebted into the next decade. Two of the largest emergency evacuation companies are SOS Assistance and Asia Emergency Assistance. They have offices in many major cities throughout the world, or contact them in Hong Kong:

Insurance

Personal accident insurance can be applied for by members of foreign embassies, representative offices of foreign business firms, resident offices of foreign newspapers and news agencies, and other institutions, as well as foreign visitors and tourists, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan coming to visit their relatives on the mainland and overseas Chinese. In addition, travel agencies can take the responsibility of tourist insurance. The People's Insurance Company of China is responsible for the insurance business.
1.The limit of total compensation is CNY300,000.00.
2.The maximum limit of compensation for each individual item is:
1) The compensation for the casualty of traveler is CNY180,000.00/p.p.
2) The compensation for the medical expenses of the traveler is
　　 CNY12,000.00/p.p.
3) The compensation for the cost to send the remains or ashes of the traveler
　　 to his country is CNY15,000.00/p.p.
4) The compensation for the loss or damage of the belongings brought by the
　　 traveler is CNY4,500.00/p.p.
5) The compensation for the responsibility of the third party is
　　 CNY88,500.00/p.p.
3.The time limit of insurance is within 20 days from the time the traveler comes
to China.
4.The rate of one US$ is about 8.30 CNY.

Currency

Renminbi, the Chinese currency, is issued by the state bank, the People's Bank of China, and is often abbreviated RMB. The standard unit of Renminbi is yuan, divided into ten jiao, which arc again divided into ten fens. Namely, Ten jiaos make one yuan; ten fens make one jiao. Thus, 100 fens make one yuan. Notes are currently issued for 1, 2, 5, 10, 50 and 100 yuan. Coins include 1 yuan, 5jiao, and 1, 2 and 5 fen.

Foreign Currency Conversion

Conversion services are available in China for the following foreign currencies: Australian dollar (A$), Austrian schilling (Sch), Canadian dollar (Can$), Danish krone (Dkr), German mark (DM), French franc (Ff), Japanese yen (Y), Malaysian Ringgit (M$), Norwegian krone (Nkr.), Singapore dollar (S$), Swedish krona (Skr.), Swiss franc (SF), British sterling pound, US dollar (US$), Macao Pataca and Hong Kong dollar (HK$), etc.

The Chinese bank handles conversion of the above-mentioned foreign currencies into RMB or vice versa.

China's law governing foreign exchange bans the circulation of foreign currencies and the setting of accounts with foreign currencies in the People's Republic of China. For the convenience of foreigners and compatriots from HK, Macao and Taiwan traveling in the mainland of China, the Bank of China and other designated Chinese banks handles the conversion into Renminbi of foreign travel checks and credit cards as well as the conversion of foreign currencies and the New Taiwan dollar in cash. Also for the convenience of travelers in China, some hotels, restaurants and stores in China also handles the conversion of foreign cash into RMB.

What to Bring

It is best to take your usual toilet articles and medicines. Nowadays, if you are traveling to the major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, or Guangzhou, you will likely be able to find most of your basic items. But in towns and countryside, items such as tampons or sanitary napkins are difficult to get.

Photographic items, such as film and batteries, are available, but may be cheaper and fresher if bought before arriving. If you use professional-speed film, bring it with you. It is worth taking a small flashlight, especially for individual travelers who may stay the night in modest hostels. Chinese-made batteries tend not to last long. An electrical adaptor may be useful too; many of the older hotels have sockets, which require a three-pin plug and hotels often only have a limited number of adaptors available.


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