Know before you go
China
General Information
China is located East Asia bordering North Korea, Russia, Mongolia, Kasachstan, Kirgisistan, Tadschikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Its capital is Beijing while its largest city is Shanghai. They drive on the right side of the road.
Visa
When you travel to China you might need a visa. Follow this link to see if you are required to apply for a visa or not or contact your ministery of foreign affairs. Hongkong and Macao have their own Visa policies. Thus, a Visa for mainland China is not valid in these special administrative regions. Follow this link (Part II/12) to find out if you need to apply for a Visa for Hongkong, and this link (VII) to find out if you need to apply for a Visa for Macao.
Watch Geography Now!
The video will give you a good first overview of China.
Power
Thailand uses Type A, C and I plug outlets. The voltage is 220 Volt and the frequency is 50 Hz.
Language
Standard Chinese (Mandarin) is the official language of China. Most of the 55 minority nationalities have their own languages though that can be completely different from Mandarin. Not everybody speeks English, so asking for the way can be tricky. Young people in urban areas are most likely to be able to help you. Bear in mind that street sign etc. will be written in Chinese letters. You might want to bring along a printet chinese version of the address you need to go to.
| Mandarin | English |
|---|---|
| Nǐ hǎo! | Hello! |
| Zài jiàn! | Bye! |
| shì | yes |
| bù shì | no |
| Xiè xiè! | Thank you! |
| Bù yòng xiè! | You're welcome! |
| Duì bù qǐ | Excuse me! |
| Gān bēi ! | Cheers! |
Weather Forecast
Climate
China’s climate is mainly dominated by dry seasons and wet monsoons, which lead to pronounced temperature differences between winter and summer. In the winter, northern winds coming from high-latitude areas are cold and dry; in summer, southern winds from coastal areas at lower latitudes are warm and moist. The climate in China differs from region to region because of the country’s highly complex topography.
Average Temperature in Beijing
Average Precipitation in Beijing
Transportation
How to get there?
Many airports in China are well served by airlines from all over the world. Among the top destinations are Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG) and Hongkong (HKG). It should be easy to get a good connection to these cities from wherever you travel from.
How to get around?
Within the city centers public transport is available. Here you will find a list of all cities in China that have a Metro. Just make sure you are not claustrophobic as there will be a lot of people.
How to get from town to town?
Depending on where you want to go and due to the sitze of the country flying might be the best option. Aside from that there are of course busses, ferries and the famous high speed trains that will take you all over the country.
Money, Money, Money
Currency
The currency of China is Yuan (renminbi). Check out the currency converter to find out about current exchange rates. Please note that Hongkong and Macao have their own currencies.
Accommodation
Depending on where you are staying prices will vary of course. Expect to be paying around 25€ per person per night for a middleclass hotel in a big city such as Beijing or Shanghai.
Cash
Big cities in china are very Credit Card friendly. At markets however or if you are going to more rural areas, you will need cash. How much you will need of course depends on your spending habits. Retrospective I found I needed around 30€ per day. This includes food, transportation, activities and souvenirs.
