TIPS ON TRAVELING TO CHINA
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1. Travel Documents
o Passports and Visas
o USCCC Visa Application Processing
o Note on Dual (U.S./China) Nationality
o Luggage, Health and Entry Registration Forms
2. Customs Regulations
o Items Prohibited for Import
o Items Prohibited for Export
o ATA (Temporary Admission) Carnet
3. Making Travel Arrangements in China
o Domestic Flights
o Railway
o Taxi
o Bus, Mini-Bus and Subway
4. Money Matters
o Chinese Currency
o Currency Exchange
o Traveler’s Checks and Credit Cards
o Tipping and Gift Giving
5. Communications
o Telephone
o Telephone Area Codes / Postal Codes
o Cell-phones
o Internet
o Postal Services
6. Electricity Page 10
7. Business Hours / Public Holidays Page 10
8. Health Matters
o Personal Medical Record
o Prescription Drugs
o Health Risks
o Vaccinations/Inoculations
o Medical Facilities
o Medical Insurance
9. China’s Embassy and Consulates General in the United States
10. United States’ Embassy and Consulates General in China
11. Acknowledgements / About the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce
1. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Passports and Visas
Before embarking for China on business, it is essential that your
travel documents are in order. To enter the People’s Republic of
China (PRC), a U.S. citizen must have a valid U.S. passport and
Chinese visa. Americans arriving without valid passports and Chinese
visas are generally not permitted to enter China and may also be
subject to fines. You should not rely on Chinese host organizations
claiming to be able to arrange visa issuance upon arrival.
You may obtain visas from the Chinese Embassy and Consulates General
in the United States before your departure. You may also obtain
visas at the Hong Kong Airport. Americans with valid passports may
stay in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) for up to
three months without a Chinese visa; however, if you plan to travel
outside the Hong Kong SAR to other areas of China, you must have a
valid Chinese visa, even if you are only in transit.
We recommend that you plan ahead and obtain all necessary visas in
the U.S. in order to avoid unforeseen delays. There are nine
different classes of Chinese visas, but the two main classes are
tourist (class ‘L’) and business (class ‘F’). If you are traveling
on business, you should apply for a business visa (class ‘F’). To
obtain a business visa, you will need an invitation letter from your
host in China, a completed application form, two passport-sized
photos (2” x 2”) and a passport valid for at least six months from
the time of travel and containing at least two full blank visa
pages. Applications forms are available from the Chinese Embassy and
Consulates General in the United States, or may be downloaded from
the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce’s website at http://www.usccc.org
(click on the ‘Visa’ icon on the main page).
USCCC Visa Application and US Passport Processing
To streamline the application process and make it more convenient
for the business community, the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce (USCCC)
has initiated a US passport and Chinese visa processing service. For
renewing and adding pages to your passport, you will need to send us
the passport, a completed application form, and an authorization
letter. The basic processing fee is $50 in addition to any
applicable fees charged by the US State Department. For obtaining
the visa, you need only send us your passport, two recent
passport-sized bust photos of yourself and the completed application
form. (You may download the application forms and a sample
authorization letter from our website at
http://usccc.org, and
we will be happy to help you to complete it and answer any questions
you may have. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SEND US AN INVITATION LETTER, AN
ITINERARY, OR A LETTER FROM YOUR EMPLOYER. We will obtain an
invitation letter for you, ensure that your application has been
properly completed, and handle the application logistics so that you
will not have to make a special trip to the Chinese Consulate’s Visa
Office. The basic processing fee is $50 plus postage, in addition to
the applicable Consular Fees. Expediting fee and fee for obtaining
one year multiple entries are additional. (Please visit our webpage
http://usccc.org
or telephone our office for details on current Consular Fees).
Regular members receive this service free twice a year. This service
has been exceptionally well received in the business community, and
we have had a perfect success rate at delivering visas reliably, on
time and with no hassle. To illustrate the ease and convenience of
the process, here is a testimonial from one of our new members:
“At 9:00 o’clock in the morning, when I was packing my luggage to
get ready to go to China to visit my supplier the next day, I
realized that my visa has expired. I called the Chamber. They told
me to come down immediately. I went down to their office around 11
o’clock and dropped off my passport. I then went out for lunch. When
I returned to their office about 2:30 pm, my visa was ready.” -New
USCCC Member
Note on Dual (U.S./China) Nationality
China does not recognize dual nationality. If you are a citizen of
both China and the U.S., you may experience difficulty entering and
departing China on your U.S. passport. In some cases, U.S. passports
have been seized by Chinese authorities. Dual nationals may be
subject to Chinese laws which impose special obligations. Such
persons are often required to use Chinese documentation to enter
China.
The United States requires that all U.S. citizens enter and depart
the United States on U.S. passports. Dual nationals who enter and
depart China using a U.S. passport and a valid PRC visa retain the
right of U.S. consular access and protection under the U.S.-PRC
Consular Convention. The ability of the U.S. Embassy or Consulates
General in China to provide normal consular services would be
extremely limited should a dual national enter China on a Chinese or
other passport.
Before traveling to China, dual nationals should contact the
U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce at (312) 368-9911, or the Office of
Overseas Citizens Services at (202) 647-6769, or the U.S. Embassy in
Beijing for additional information.
Luggage, Health and Entry Registration Forms to be Completed upon
Entry into China
Once you arrive in China, you will have to fill out the following
documents: Traveler’s Luggage Declaration Form, Traveler’s Health
Declaration Card, and an Entry/Exit Registration Card. Inoculations
are not required unless you travel from an area of infectious
diseases such as Cholera or Yellow Fever. If you are planning to
stay in China longer than 6 months, you will be required to provide
documentary evidence that you are HIV negative.
2. CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
When traveling to China on business, you should be aware of China’s
customs regulations. Items such as watches, radios, cameras, and
calculators imported duty free for personal use may not be
transferred or sold to others. Gifts and articles carried on behalf
of others must be declared to the customs inspector and are subject
to duty.
Items Prohibited for Import or Export
Chinese customs regulations prohibit the import or export of the
following items:
(a) arms, ammunition, and explosives;
(b) radio transmitter-receivers and principal parts;
(c) Chinese currency (renminbi/RMB);
(d) books, films, records, tapes, etc. which are “detrimental to
China’s politics, economy, culture, and ethics” (e.g. pornographic
or religious content)
(e) poisonous drugs and narcotics;
(f) infected animal or plant products; and
(g) infected foodstuffs.
Note: Videotapes may be confiscated by Chinese customs to determine
that they do not violate prohibitions noted in item (d), above.
Tapes are sometimes held for several months before being returned.
(There is no guarantee that they will ever be returned.)
Items Prohibited for Export
Export of the following items is also prohibited:
(a) valuable cultural relics and rare books relating to Chinese
history, culture, and art;
(b) rare animals, rare plants and their seeds; and
(c) precious metals and diamonds and articles made from them.
Antiques and imitations approved for export are marked with a red
wax seal. Movie cameras and videotaping equipment should be declared
upon entry into China.
ATA (Temporary Admission) Carnet
Chinese customs officials encourage the use of an ATA (Admission
Temporaire/Temporary Admission) Carnet for the temporary admission
of professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for
exhibitions and fair purposes. ATA Carnet Headquarters, located at
the U.S. Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA Carnet
in the United States. For additional information, please telephone
(212) 354-4480, or send e-mail to atacarnet@uscib.org or visit
http://www.uscib.org for details.
3. MAKING YOUR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS IN CHINA
While you are in China, you should ask the hotel staff to assist you
in making all your travel arrangements. They are always cheerful and
helpful. They will usually go out of their way to purchase train or
air tickets on your behalf for a nominal service fee (typically, RMB
10-30).
Domestic Flights
Domestic air travel within China is well serviced by dozens of
airline companies. You will need your passport to reserve flights
and will have to complete a Passenger Reservation Record. Always
reconfirm your flights in advance of the departure date. In china
you may alter your flight arrangements free of charge, space
permitted, by giving 72 hours notice to the airline company in the
first instance. If you make a second change to your travel plans,
you may be subject to a fee equal to 5 per cent of the cost of your
air ticket. Always arrive at the airport well in advance of your
departure time. The check-in counter will close 30 minutes before
the time of your flight’s departure.
You may cancel your flight and obtain a partial refund of your
ticket price under certain circumstances. Cancellation fees are
typically 5 per cent of the ticket price if you give 24 hours
notice, increasing incrementally to 10 per cent if you give up to 2
hours notice. With only 2 hours cancellation notice or less, a 20
per cent fee usually applies. If you miss your flight altogether and
request a refund after its departure, a 50 per cent fee applies.
Be aware of carry-on luggage limits. Typically, fist-class
passengers may carry 2 pieces of luggage, and business or economy
class passengers may carry 1 piece. In both cases, the total volume
of carry-on luggage may not exceed 20 x 40 x 55 centimeters and
weigh no more than 5 kilograms. Additional luggage may be checked in
for consignment. The free luggage allowance for consignment is 40
kilograms for first class, 30 kilograms for business class, and 20
kilograms for economy class. Each piece of luggage for consignment
may not be larger than 40 x 60 x 100 centimeters in size and not
weight more than 50 kilograms. Oversized or overweight luggage is
charged at 1.5 per cent of the normal economy class fare per
kilogram.
Here are a few additional points to keep in mind when arranging
longer domestic flights within China:
(a) When traveling from Beijing or Shanghai to Hong Kong, you can
save quite a bit by flying to Shenzhen (domestic versus
international) and then making the short trip from Shenzhen to Hong
Kong by train if you do not mind the inconvenience.
(b) Economy class seats on most China-based airlines are very tight.
This may be alright for short flights, but if you are making the
longer trip, say, from Beijing to Guangzhou, you may wish to
consider flying business class.
(c) Book your flights in advance and arrive early. The counters are
always busy, and waiting in line increases the chance that you will
miss your flight.
Most travel schedules and fares are available on the Internet. You
may wish to check them yourself. For air travel, go to http://www.ctrip.com,
though this site is offered in Chinese only. This website will list
discount fares when they become available.
Railway
China has a well developed railway system that continues to improve.
Train travel, however, can be difficult to reserve in China, even
for the experienced traveler. Round trip rail tickets are generally
not available without the services of a travel agency or experienced
hotel staff. There are slow and fast trains, and several classes
including hard-seat, soft-seat, hard-berth and soft-berth. Tickets
may be purchased at the station upon departure but we recommend that
you book in advance. Internet bookings may be possible in some
areas, but we strongly recommend that you make your bookings with
the help of experienced hotel staff or travel agents. Beware of
counterfeit train tickets which are sometimes sold illegally around
railway stations. Adult passengers are allowed 20 kilograms of
luggage free of charge. Some large railway stations in major cities
have installed X-ray machines to scan luggage and help ensure public
safety. You should avoid train travel during the major holidays such
as the Spring Festival when trains are overcrowded.
Taxi
Hiring a taxi in China is relatively inexpensive and convenient.
Taxis are readily available in major cities at most times,
especially around business districts, hotels, train stations and
airports. Taxi services are charged on the mileage traveled and time
used as measured by a meter. A base charge applies when you embark,
and the fee per kilometer may increase progressively after the first
4 to 6 kilometers. A higher fee may apply if you hire a taxi between
11 p.m. and 5 a.m. the next morning. There is only a very small risk
that a taxi driver in China will cheat you as the penalties for
doing so are relatively severe in China. Taxi drivers may speak some
English, but you should show a map or the name of your destination
in Chinese to the driver in order to avoid delays.
Bus, Mini-Bus and Subway
Buses in Chinese cities are abundant and fares inexpensive. Bus
routes, however, can be quite complicated and the buses themselves
crowded and noisy. Buses typically operate between the hours of 5
a.m. and 11 p.m. Tickets are purchased directly from the conductors
onboard, who will likely speak very little English, if any. Fares
are usually based on the number of stops or distance you are
traveling. Subways exist in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou
and Hong Kong. Subways usually operate between 5 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.
and transit points are usually marked in both Chinese and English.
As with bus travel, subway travel is charged by the number of stops
or distance. We recommend that you avoid bus or subway travel and
instead use taxis or private transportation during your business
trips in China.
4. MONEY MATTERS
Chinese Currency
Chinese currency is called “renminbi” (RMB), which means “people’s
money,” or, more commonly, “yuan.” 1 “yuan” (also called “kuai”)
equals 10 “jiao” (also called “mao”). 1 jiao equals 10 “fen”. RMB is
available in both paper notes and coins. The denominations of paper
notes are 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 yuan; 5, 2 and 1 jiao; and 5,
2 and 1 fen. The denominations of coins are 1 yuan; 5, 2 and 1 jiao;
and 5, 2 and 1 fen.
Currency Exchange
Foreign currency (cash or traveler’s checks) may be exchanged for
Chinese currency at licensed exchange facilities of the Bank of
China and other authorized banks. Money exchange facilities are
available at major airports, Friendship Stores and hotels. Unlike in
other countries, in China you will get the same exchange rate at the
hotel as at the bank. You do not have to make a special trip to the
Bank for a better exchange rate. For your own protection, always
change your money at the hotel to avoid counterfeiters. Never deal
with people in the streets who offer to exchange money.
Upon your departure from China, you may be required to show official
exchange receipts in order to change RMB back into U.S. dollars.
Keep your receipts. You may exchange your RMB for U.S. dollars only
upon your departure. A maximum of RMB 6,000 may be taken into or out
of China.
Traveler’s Checks and Credit Cards
You should carry significant sums of money with you in the form of
traveler’s checks. Traveler’s checks may be changed into RMB at
hotels, banks and Friendship Stores. Major brands of traveler’s
checks are accepted in China and cash advances against a credit card
can be arranged. A service charge is usually added. Consult with
your bank before departing the United States to be sure that your
brand of check or credit card will be accepted. Major credit cards
(American Express, MasterCard, Diner’s Club and Visa) are accepted
by most major hotels and in many larger restaurants. ATMs compatible
with U.S. bankcards are also available throughout Hong Kong and, to
a more limited extent, in major Mainland cities such as Shanghai and
Beijing.
You should pay in RMB (yuan) when shopping in smaller shops or
eating out at restaurants. Always carry sufficient sums with you for
these and other small expenses, as well as for emergencies.
Tipping and Gift Giving
Tipping has not been customary in the People’s Republic of China,
but local attitudes toward tipping are slowly changing. You may wish
to give nominal tips or small, inexpensive gifts as tokens of your
appreciation to translators, guides, drivers or others who have been
helpful. If you give gifts in China, however, be mindful that
certain objects such as clocks—the Chinese word for clock is similar
to the word for death—or colors may carry negative connotations as
gifts in Chinese culture.
Symbolic gift-giving in China within a business context is a complex
matter. To determine what is appropriate for the occasion and within
Chinese protocol, you should consult a good guide book of Chinese
business etiquette or contact the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce for
advice.
5. COMMUNICATIONS
Telephone Calls
China’s telephone system is becoming more and more efficient and
less expensive. Direct long-distance dials (DDD) and International
calls (IDD) can be made from hotel rooms or roadside telephone
kiosks. Telegram, fax and telex facilities are available in hotels,
post offices and telecommunication centers. Local calls are
typically free from your hotel, while long distance calls made
between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. the next morning are often charged at half
the daytime rate.
Most hotels in China do not charge a huge markup on the cost of
telephone calls, as is common practice in many other countries. You
will likely find that your hotel phone bill will be relatively
inexpensive, particularly for local and domestic long distance
calls. Many hotels will offer special rates to business guests. For
instance, if you happen to be a Golden Circle member of the
Shangri-La Hotel chain, you will be charged on your telephone calls
at cost. Nevertheless, make sure that you first check the rates with
your hotel before spending hours on the phone.
For calls to the U.S., you can use AT&T or MCI WorldCom calling
cards, which are inexpensive if you have already registered with the
World Calling Plan. (If not, your calls may prove to be very
costly.) If you use AT&T or MCI WorldCom, you should confirm the
current status of your calling plan before making calls. Sometimes
these providers will drop a customer from their plan for no apparent
reason. For instance, three years ago, AT&T charged one customer
US$3,100 for phone calls made during a trip to China because they
had inadvertently cancelled their subscription to the plan. (The
issue of this excessive bill remains outstanding.) If you would like
to call a country other than the U.S. from China, these plans are
very expensive and you should not use them. This also applies to
calls made from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) to
the Mainland. A telephone call once made from Hong Kong to the
Mainland using AT&T, for instance, unexpectedly cost US$20 per
minute.
Local calling cards are sold everywhere in China and Hong Kong. The
typical rate is about RMB 8 (about US$1) per minute for
international calls. You should always purchase one (about RMB 100
or US$12.5) to have in case of an emergency.
Telephone Area Codes and Postal Codes
When making a domestic call, dial the domestic prefix 0 plus the
area code and the telephone number. When making an international
call, simply dial the international prefix 00, plus the country
code, area code and telephone number.
United States’ Country Code: 1
China’s Country Code: 86
Major Cities’ Area Codes:
City Postal Code Area Code
Beijing 100000 10
Chengdu 610000 28
Chongqing 630000 23
Dali 671000 872
Dunhuang 736200 937
Guilin 541000 773
Guiyang 550000 851
Hangzhou 310000 571
Huangshan 245000 559
Kunming 650000 871
City Postal Code Area Code
Lhasa 850000 891
Lijiang 674100 888
Luoyang 471000 379
Shanghai 200000 21
Shigatse 857000 892
Suzhou 215000 512
Urumqi 830000 991
Wuhan 430000 27
Xi'an 710000 29
Yangshuo 541900 773
Here are some useful telephone numbers in China:
110 Police 120 Ambulance
114 Local Telephone Number Inquiry 121 Weather Forecast
116 Domestic Long Distance Inquiry 122 Traffic Police
117 Time Inquiry 184 Postal Code Inquiry
119 Fire 185 Emergency Mail
Phone Number Service
Cellular Phones
Most business people cannot travel to China without their
cell-phones. Global System for Mobile communications (GMS) phones,
which facilitate easy international roaming, are in use in China.
They use a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) smart card that contains
user account information and becomes immediately programmed when the
SIM card is inserted. You may wish to get a GSM phone and simply
purchase a prepaid SIM card when you arrive in China. As long as you
recharge your card on time (depending on the dollar amount you put
in), you will be able to keep the phone number and contact
information you store on the card. The cost for domestic calls is
approximately RMB 1 to 2 per minute and for international calls
approximately RMB 5 to 8 per minute. Having a GSM phone and SIM card
will save you a lot of money (compared to U.S. cellular phones,
approximately US$2.99 per minute) and still allow you to keep in
touch with your colleagues and family in the U.S. You can buy the
SIM card and the recharge cards almost anywhere in China. Depending
on demand, the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce is contemplating
offering GSM phones and SIM cards to members for their short trips
to China. Please contact our office if you have an interest in this
service.
Internet
Internet services are now widely available in China. There are quite
a lot of internet cafés all over major cities, particularly near
universities and colleges. You can also gain access to the internet
from your hotel through both Broadband and phone lines. Usually,
under certain circumstance, there will be no charge for Broadband
access if you enroll in the hotel’s frequent guest program. If not,
the charge is typically RMB 100 to 200 per day. You can also use the
phone line, which is slow but very inexpensive.
Postal Services
Post Offices can be found all over China, particularly in the major
cities. They are marked by prominent green emblems and are usually
located on main streets, at railway stations, airports and around
major scenic spots. They open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Your
hotel will likely offer postal services as well.
Domestic mail is fast, reliable and relatively inexpensive. Multiple
daily delivery runs and same-day delivery is not uncommon in most
major Chinese cities. Inter-city delivery is often over-night.
International airmail letters, including those sent to the United
States, typically take 5 to 10 days to reach their destinations.
Bear in mind that envelope sizes are standardized in China and you
should buy them from the post office or obtain them at your hotel.
China does not use self-adhesive stamps. Stamps must be glued onto
envelopes. You must write the postal code on all letters. Post
offices are very particular about how you pack a parcel. Ideally,
you should pack your items at the post office. Doing so will make it
easier to obtain customs clearance for your parcel.
Post offices in China handle Express Mail Service (EMS). EMS is
available to most domestic and international destinations. A number
of international courier companies have offices in China, in which
express mail service such as DHL, UPS, TNT and FedEx are now
accessible to more than 10,000 cities in 170 countries and regions.
7. ELECTRICITY
Electricity in China runs on 220V, 50 cycles AC. Two-pin sockets and
some three-pin sockets are in use. Most of the hotels have a socket
in the bathroom for using both 110V and 220V. Outside of the
bathroom, only a 220V socket is typically provided. Adaptors may
usually be borrowed from the hotel, though we advice that you bring
your own.
8. BUSINESS HOURS
The Chinese government stipulates five working days per week, from
Monday to Friday. Working hours are eight hours a day, normally from
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break. Times are approximate
and subject to local variations. In western China such as Xinjiang,
offices often open later due to the time difference with the Beijing
time. Some areas outside of the major business centers in China will
have two-hour lunch breaks, normally between 12 and 2 p.m. Some
factories take breaks during the week and instead operate over the
weekends to avoid peak electricity periods. Almost all government
offices, institutions, schools and other official units do not work
on Saturdays and Sundays. Shops are open every day.
Hospitals, postal offices, banks, and monuments and museums are
usually open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 6:00
p.m. Hospital emergency clinics are open outside normal hours. Shops
usually remain open from 8:30 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday,
including public holidays. Restaurants and bars stay open later at
night, and it is possible to eat as late as 10:00 p.m. Hong Kong
restaurants stay open much later than Mainland restaurants. Some
open-air restaurants stay open into the small hours.
Most of China's business world slows down considerably during the
Spring Festival in late January and early February. Business
visitors would be wise to avoid this two to three week holiday
period. Here are some other public holidays to be aware of:
FESTIVAL DATE LENGTH OF HOLIDAY
New Year's Day January 1st 1 day
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) January or February 4 days
International Women’s Day March 8th ½ day for women only
Qingming Festival April 4th-5th 2 days
Labor Day May 1st 3 days
Chinese Youths' Day May 4th 1 day or ½ day for youth
International Children's Day June 1st 1 day or ½ day for children
Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
July 1st For CCP members, usually celebrated through meetings
Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA)
August 1st Celebrated by the army
Mid-autumn Festival September 12th
China’s National Day October 1st 3 days
9. HEALTH MATTERS
Personal Medical History
As is the case when traveling to any foreign country, you should
carry a personal medial record with you at all times. This medical
record should include your blood type, immunization history and
allergies; the medications you are currently taking (both
prescription and non-prescription); your doctor's name, address,
telephone number; an emergency contact name and telephone number;
and your insurance company's name, address and telephone number.
If you have any existing medical problems, you should carry with you
a letter from your physician in the United States explaining
treatment and, if relevant, copies of your most recent
electrocardiograms, which would be helpful in case of a medical
emergency while in China.
In addition to carrying these documents in English, you may wish to
have the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce translate them into Chinese
for you.
Prescription Drugs
If you bring prescription drugs with you to China, pack them in your
carry-on luggage. Ensure that the pharmacy label, with your
physician’s name and directions for use, are clearly marked. Bring
an adequate supply for the duration of your visit. Also, ask your
physician to provide you with the drugs’ generic names as
brand-names in China are different.
Health Risks
While most U.S. business travelers experience safe and healthy
visits to China, you should be aware of health risks in the in the
interests of caution:
(a) Air pollution in China’s large cities is severe, particularly in
winter, and respiratory ailments such as sore throats, bronchitis
and colds are common.
(b) American travelers may experience headaches, diarrhea,
constipation or upset stomachs when visiting China, particularly
during the initial days of their visit. You should bring appropriate
non-prescription medications for these ailments, such as aspirin,
cold relief products, anti-diarrhea products, laxatives, etc. (These
are also readily available in China.)
(c) HIV has become a significant concern around the globe, and China
is no exception. You should always ask doctors and dentists to use
sterilized equipment and be prepared to pay for new syringe needles
in hospitals or clinics. You may also wish to purchase a package of
new syringe needles in the U.S. before your departure and take them
with you.
(d) Do not to drink tap water in China. Hotels almost always supply
boiled water that is safe to drink. Buy bottled water and/or
carbonated drinks. Make sure you carry water purification tablets to
use when neither boiled water nor bottled drinks are available.
(e) Chinese people do not have Rh-negative blood and most Chinese
blood banks do not hold it. Type O blood is rare in China. If you
belong to these blood types, you should consult your doctor before
traveling to China.
(f) Dental care in China is generally not up to Western standards.
If you have outstanding dental problems, you should visit your
dentist to have them addressed before your departure.
Vaccinations/Inoculations
Unless you are traveling to China from infected areas of the globe,
you will not need special vaccinations/inoculations. You can obtain
information on vaccinations and other health precautions for
travelers in the United States from local health departments,
private doctors, travel clinics, and the Centers for Disease Control
& Prevention at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX
(1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov.
Medical Facilities in China
Hospitals in major Chinese cities have VIP wards (“gaogan bingfang”).
These wards feature reasonably up-to-date medical technology and
physicians who are both knowledgeable and skilled. Most of these VIP
wards also provide medical services to foreigners, offer
English-speaking doctors and nurses, and may even accept credit
cards for payment.
Even in the VIP/Foreigner wards of major hospitals, however,
American patients have frequently encountered difficulty due to
cultural and regulatory differences. Physicians and hospitals have
sometimes refused to supply American patients with complete copies
of their Chinese hospital medical records, including laboratory test
results, scans, and X-rays. Physicians have also frequently
discouraged Americans from obtaining second opinions from outside
physicians. Hospitals have sometimes been reluctant to release
patients for medical evacuation in cases where they would prefer to
keep the patient for an extended stay.
Ambulances do not carry sophisticated medical equipment, and
ambulance personnel generally have little or no medical training.
Therefore, injured or seriously ill Americans should take taxis or
other immediately available vehicles to the nearest major hospital
rather than waiting for ambulances to arrive.
In rural areas, only rudimentary medical facilities are generally
available. Medical personnel in rural areas are often poorly trained
and are often reluctant to accept responsibility for treating
foreigners, even in emergency situations.
Foreign-operated medical providers catering to expatriates and
visitors are available, though their services are usually
considerably more expensive than hospitals and clinics operated by
local government health authorities.
For additional information on medical providers specializing in
treating foreigners, including dental and orthodontic clinics,
please contact the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce or visit the U.S.
Embassy’s web page at http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn.
Medical Insurance
Americans are advised to travel to China with both health insurance
and medical evacuation insurance. Please check with your insurer to
find out what is covered. Recent medical evacuations by air
ambulance from China to nearby areas have cost over US$50,000. Most
standard U.S. medical insurance policies do not cover the cost of
such medical evacuations. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid
outside the United States. Even when insurance does cover services
received in China, it will usually be necessary to pay first and
then file for reimbursement with the insurance company upon
returning to the United States. Supplemental insurance with specific
overseas coverage, including provision for medical evacuation, is
strongly recommended and can be purchased in the United States prior
to travel. Some insurance policies also include coverage for
psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of
death.
10. CHINA’S EMBASSY AND CONSULATES GENERAL IN THE UNITED STATES
The general website of the Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in
the United States is: http://ww.china-embassy.org
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 328-2517
Visa Section of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 338-6688)
Chinese Consulate General
100 West Erie Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
(312) 803-0095
Chinese Consulate General
3400 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77006
(713) 524-4311
Chinese Consulate General
443 Shatto Place, Suite 300
Los Angeles, California 90020
(213) 807-8006
Chinese Consulate General
520 12th Avenue
New York, New York 10036
(212) 868-2078
Chinese Consulate General
1450 Laguna Street
San Francisco, California 94115
(415) 674-2940
11. UNITED STATES’ EMBASSY AND CONSULATES GENERAL IN CHINA
The general website of the United States Embassy and Consulates
General in China is: http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn
U.S. Embassy in China
2 Xiu Shui Dong Jie
Beijing 100600
Tel: (86-10) 6532-3431, 6532-3831
After-hours: (86-10) 6532-1910
Fax (86-10) 6532-4153, 6532-3178
The Embassy consular district includes the following
provinces/regions of China: Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Shanxi,
Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Hebei, Henan,
Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi.
U.S. Consulate General
Number 4 Lingshiguan Road
Section 4, Renmin Nanlu,
Chengdu 610041
Tel: (86-28) 558-3992, 555-3119
After-hours (86-0) 13708001422.
Fax (86-28) 558-3520
This consular district includes the following provinces/regions of
China: Guizhou, Sichuan, Xizang (Tibet), and Yunnan, as well as the
municipality of Chongqing.
U.S. Consulate General
Number 1 South Shamian Street
Shamian Island 200S1
Guangzhou 510133
Tel: (86-20) 8121-8000 or (86-20) 8121-8418 After-hours: (86-0)
13902203169
Fax: (86-20) 8121-8428
This consular district includes the following provinces/regions of
China: Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Fujian.
U.S. Consulate General
1469 Huaihai Zhonglu
Shanghai 200031
Tel: (86-21) 6433-6880
After-hours: (86-21) 6433-3936
Fax: (86-21) 6433-4122, 6471-1148
This consular district includes the following provinces/regions of
China: Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.
U.S. Consulate General
No. 52, 14th Wei Road
Heping District
Shenyang 110003
Tel: (86-24) 2322-1198, 2322-0368
After-hours: (86-0) 13704019790
Fax (86-24) 2322-2374
This consular district includes the following provinces/regions of
China: Liaoning, Heilongjiang, and Jilin.
U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong (http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov)
U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong
26 Garden Road
Central
Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2523-9011
After-hours: (852) 2523-9011: follow prompts
Fax: (852) 2845-4845
Email: acshnk@netvigator.com
This consular district includes Hong Kong and Macau.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA-CHINA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Chicago • New York • Los Angeles • Shanghai
The information provided herein has been obtained from sources
deemed to be reliable but is not guaranteed to be accurate or
complete. The U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce gratefully acknowledges
information provided by various sources, particularly the U.S.
Department of State, in the preparation of this document.
The United States of America-China Chamber of Commerce (USCCC) is a
not-for-profit, bi-national membership organization dedicated to
developing increased U.S.-China trade and investment activities by
assisting American and Chinese companies, professionals and the
general public to better understand the business environment and
cultural traditions relevant to successfully doing business in both
countries. The US-China Chamber of Commerce conducts a wide range of
activities—such as seminars, conferences, workshops, executive
briefings, trade missions and networking events—to identify the
technological, economic, financial, demographic and cultural trends
that are critical for successful economic development between the
U.S. and China. The USCCC also aids both American and Chinese
companies in locating business partners for trade and investments,
and provides important governmental and business introductions for
companies of all sizes in the U.S. and in China.
Webpage: http://www.usccc.org
For further information, or if you have any comments or suggestions
about this document, please do not hesitate to contact us at:
United States of America - China Chamber of Commerce
55 West Monroe Street, Suite 630, Chicago, IL 60603
Tel: (312) 368-9911 Fax: (312) 368-9922
Email: info@usccc.org
Attention: Siva Yam, CPA, CFA, President,
Or
Paul Nash, Editor pnash@usccc.org
