China Travel Information, tips & China Pictures

Things to see & do in China - Sights, shops, climb the wall!

China travel is high on the list of favorite destinations, especially tours to Beijing. There are lots of things to see, like the Beijing sights the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Summer Palace.

The Great Wall of China is a Must See, and shopping is a Must Do, especially in HongKong and Tsim Sha Tsui, about a three and a half hour flight south from Beijing.

Watch artisans in China fashion cloisonne, pearl jewellery and jade. Find what hotels cost in China. Get a good China travel guide book,

Go to China provinces travel story about a road trip from to Wuzhou, and Nanning. Or my story China tours to Haikou Hainan.

Here's a China travel packing list, and travel currency tips on how to carry money safely, and tips on luggage and travel insurance and more. I love my copy of the Global Etiquette Guide to Asia for customs in China -- what to do and what NOT to do! See China travel info below, and links to all the China information and pictures.
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China Travel Information

• China Visa Go to the website for Chinese Embassy for the information for your country for arrivals in mainland China. If arriving in Hong Kong (check here for Hong Kong visa info), most visitors don't need a visa, and should you decide to go shopping in Shenzten or to the casinos in Macau that are not in Hong Kong SAR, you can arrange a visa in Hong Kong. Note: For the 2008 Olympics, visa rules may be amended. 

• Currency Mainland China 1 CNY (yuan) = 13 US cents ($1 USD = $7.50 CNY) China currencies (money) ARE different - if you go from Beijing to Hong Kong, you will use different money. Rates do fluctuate, so check before you travel. Travellers checks are accepted at banks and many hotels will have an exchange desk as well. See travel currency tips page.

• Currency Hong Kong China About 1 HKD (Hong Kong dollar) = 13 US cents ($1 USD = $7.76 HKD). Rates do fluctuate, so check before you travel. Travellers checks are accepted at banks and many hotels will have an exchange desk as well.See travel currency tips page.

• What Languages do they speak? Tour guides speak a wide variety of foreign languages and most foreign visitors can be accommodated; English is commonly spoken by tourism operators and hotel desk staff. Generally, Cantonese is spoken more in Hong Kong (get a Cantonese Phrasebook) and the south, while Mandarin is spoken more in Beijing (get a Mandarin Phrasebook).

• Travel Health As always, check with a travel health clinic before you go. Have your regular vaccinations up to date, and consider flu shots. China covers a large and varied geographical area, each with its own considerations, so it depends on where you will be going. For example, hot and humid areas may have tropical disease advisories that would not apply to travel in Beijing in winter. For more information see my travel tips Passports etc page

• Hotels in China I put specific hotel information, when possible, on the appropriate city page, or you can get an overview of hotels in China by city, like hotels in Hong Kong here.

• What to Wear in China China ia a huge country; the climate varies seasonally and geographically. If you will be in Beijing and the north from October to April, roughly, you will need a warm coat, hat and gloves. Even Hong Kong can be cool at night in winter. Rain gear is always advisable. Summer can be sweltering and rainy in much of the country. I've put a section dealing with travel tips and what to pack. You don't need to pack a lot, but choose wisely. See China Travel Clothing for list.

• Books and More See China on my travel books page

• Things to do in China and Hong Kong and Macau see Hotels, Attractions

• Notebooks, Journals for China travelers Keep track of the details of your trip to China in notebooks, journals.

• Calling Cards Make phone calls To and From China (cellular and land lines), see Cheap phone Cards information page for why and how to order pinless, rechargeable cards now.

• What side of the road do they drive on in China? China traffic keeps to the right;

• What side of the road do they drive on in Macau and Hong Kong? They drive on the left.

• Maps of China Here's a handy map book to take along - the China Pocket Atlas
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More China Travel Pictures and Travel Information

• Beijing City of Beijing pictures, market, traffic

• Beijing sights Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square

• Great Wall of China Badaling access routes, photos

• Artisans China artisans work in metal, jade, pearls - jewellery, statues, vases,

• HongKong China My favorite city in Asia, if not the world (includes Tsim Sha Tsui, Lantau Island, Gian Buddha, Hong Kong markets, etc)

• China provinces travel story From Nanning to Wuzhou via Guiping
  

• Nanning China

• Nanning China Green Park and Ethnic Park

• Nanning Zoo

• China Attractions Guangxi caves at Yiling Scenic area

• More pictures from Wuzhou at Guangxi China

• China Tours Haikou Hainan Travel Story On the southernmost China province

• China Travel Clothing - NEW! what to pack for a China trip!
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