|
|
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals, trip reviews, and unique adventure travel ideas monthly.
|
|
Visa applications should be made at least one month prior to departure for China. Visas are granted only for the points of entry indicated in the passport. All documents necessary for further travel and sufficient funds to cover intended period of stay are required. Travel to Tibet will also require a special Tibet Entry Permit. Persons holding an APEC Business Travel Card do not require a visa, provided that it is valid for travel to China. Period of validity is stated on visas, and care should be taken when reading dates on visas for China as they are written in year/month/day format.
Americans: US nationals require
a passport and visa for entry to China.
UK nationals: UK nationals require a passport and visa for entry to China. Passports endorsed British National (Overseas) are not recognized.
Canadians: Canadians require a passport and visa for entry to China.
Australians: Australians require a passport and visa for entry to China.
South Africans: South African nationals require a passport and visa for entry to China.
Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a passport and visa for entry to China.
New Zealanders: New Zealand nationals require a passport and visa for entry to China.
Health
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers coming from infected areas. There is a risk of malaria throughout the low-lying areas of the country, and it is recommended that travelers to China seek medical advice before departure. A total of 18 human cases of avian influenza ('bird flu') have been reported from China since November 2005. Twelve of the cases were fatal. Travelers are unlikely to be affected by bird flu, but live animal markets and places where contact with live poultry is possible should be avoided. All poultry and egg dishes should also be thoroughly cooked. Outbreaks of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) are officially over, but travelers are warned to remain vigilant for this viral disease. The last case occurred in April 2004. Japanese encephalitis has been responsible for the deaths of a number of people in the Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces in northern China, and rabies infects people every year, occasionally causing death. Outbreaks of dengue fever occur. Altitude sickness can occur in the mountainous regions of Tibet, Qinghai, parts of Xinjiang, and western Sichuan. Outside city centers, visitors should only drink bottled water. Western-style medical centers with international staff are available in the major cities and usually accept credit cards. Health insurance is recommended.
Safety
China is generally safe, and there has been no evidence of a threat from global terrorism. Occasional protest-related bombings have occurred but these are not directed at foreigners and tend to be isolated incidents. Serious crime against foreigners is rare but does occur, particularly in isolated or sparsely populated areas. There has been an increase in the number of muggings and robberies at Beijing International Airport and the Jianguomenwai area of Beijing, as well as in Shenzen, bordering Hong Kong. If trekking alone, including following parts of the Great Wall, it is advisable to leave an itinerary and expected time of return with a third party. Travelers should take extra care in street markets and at tourist sites, which attract thieves and pickpockets, and around the popular expat bar areas at night where lone foreigners have recently been attacked. Travelers should be cautious about using pedicabs in Beijing, as tourists have been mugged and demands for money made by pedicab drivers; women in particular have been targeted. Seasonal heavy rains and typhoons cause hundreds of deaths in China each year, particularly those areas bordering the Yangtze River in central, southern and western China.
Next Page »
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related China Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
China City Guides:
|
|
China Community:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
