Tours FAQ

1. Is it safe to travel in China?

Yes. China is still one of the safest travel destinations in the world. Although petty crime, such as pick pocketing and purse snatching is on the increase, while for travel destinations especially in major cities, serious crime against foreigners is rare. Also, the Chinese government guarantees the safety of the foreign traveler. But it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be as cautious in China as you would be anywhere else.

Following are some precautions to avoid potential problems:

1. Do not show off your money in public.
2. Keep enough money for your immediate needs in your pocket, and hide the rest on your body or leave your backup supply in a safety deposit box at your hotel.
3. Always keep valuables in a safety deposit box at your hotel instead of leaving them in your room.
4. Remove any jewelry that may draw a thief’s attention before you go out for strolling.
5. Never wear a bag or purse on your street-side shoulder in order to avoid becoming a target of the "snatch-and-ride".
6. Never carry your passport/visa, credit cards, traveler’s cheques or other travel documents in your shoulder bag or bum bag.
7. Ensure that you aware of the values of different local banknotes to avoid being deceived.
8. Be particularly cautious about your possession in crowded areas such as local festivals, markets, tourist sites, railway, bus stations, on trains and buses.
9. Always let your hotel or guides know where you are on your free days during your tour.
10. Respect the custom of the local ethnic groups.
11. Do not voice publicly any opinions contrary to China’s laws and code of ethics and morals.
12. Avoid traveling in any areas or sites that are not open to foreigners.

2. Do I need a visa to visit China? And how to get a tourist visa?

Yes, Chinese Visa is required to enter China for people of non-Chinese nationality. For touring purpose, you should apply for a tourist visa which is issued to applicants who plan to come to China for sightseeing, visiting family or friends.

China has its embassies and consulates in most western and many other countries. You can go to the Chinese diplomatic missions, consular posts or other resident agencies abroad authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such as Chinese Embassies or Consulates. If you are away from your country of your nationality, you can apply for a visa at the local Chinese Embassy or Consulate. If you are already in China, you can apply for an extension of Duration at a local county level Public Security Bureau. You can either get an application form in person at the embassy or consulate or download one by visiting the website of Chinese embassies in the foreign countries. After fully and accurately completed your application, you submit it to the nearest Chinese consulate and embassies, either in person or by mail. A standard 30-day, single-entry visa from most Chinese embassies abroad can be issued in 2-5 working days. Rush processing of 24 hours issue or same-day is also available (additional Embassy fee applies).

To successfully apply for the visa, you are generally required to submit the following information: a). One completely filled out Visa Application Form of the P. R. China; b) One recently taken photo showing entire face and without a hat on. c) a valid passport d) Other documents in accordance with your application.

3. When leave and re-entering mainland China, what type of visa do I need?

Most people apply single entry visa to China and the permitted duration of stay of Chinese visas are generally up to 30 days. While you need to apply for "double" or "multiple” entry Visa if you need to leave and re-entering mainland China. Please keep in mind that even when you leave for Hong Kong, Macao from Mainland China, you still need to have "double" or "multiple" entry Visa.

4. Do I need a visa to enter Macao as a tourist?

Residents of the following countries would be granted visa-free entry to Macao. Passport holders of other countries not specified hereunder should apply a visa for entry admission. The following counties are visa-free to enter Macao:

Asia: India, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand

Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom

Africa: Egypt, Seychelles, South Africa

America: Brazil, Canada, Mexico, United States, Uruguay

Oceania: Australia, Kiribati, New Zealand, Samoa

5. Do I need visa for a visit to Hong Kong?

Residents of most countries can enter Hong Kong without applying for a visa in advance and are allowed to stay for 90 days. A visa will be issued on arrival.

6. Should I apply for visa now, or should we wait until we are closer to the time of travel?

The Chinese visa is generally valid for 3 months from the issue date to enter China. Please apply for your visa within 3 months of entry into China according to your travel itinerary, and avoid expiry of visa or extra cost of urgent fee due to lack of application process time. Please also decide the duration of stay in China. The permitted duration of stay of Chinese visas are generally up to 30 days. If you need to stay longer, please apply to the local public security bureau in China for visa extension.

7. Do I need invitation letter to apply Chinese visa?

Usually, you can get your Chinese visa in your local embassy or consulate with relative documents. In some special occasions, for example, when Chinese government restrains people to come to China, you may need an invitation letter.  However, we can provide invitation letter for you to ensure the smooth of your visa application.

8. How to get an invitation letter from your company for my visa application?

In order to apply for a visa to our country, you may need an invitation letter from an official travel company. We will supply this letter to our clients after they confirm the tour booking by sending the deposit or full payment.

9. We are planning a round trip tour in China, where should we start and where to end?

In China, there are international airports in almost all big cities. Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong list the biggest port cities in China. So, you can start and finish your China tour with any of them. Besides, you could also check with the airlines where you book your international flight.

10. Do I need to bring my medical record？

Yes, all travelers are recommended to take their medical records along. In the event of an emergency your medical records will be of great assistance. The medical record should include your blood type, immunization record, allergies, and any medications you are currently taking (both prescription and non-prescription), You should also include your doctor’s name, address, phone number, emergency contact name and phone number, and your insurance company’s name, address and phone number.

11. What vaccinations do I need to travel to China?

Generally no vaccinations are required for entering China, unless the traveler is coming from an area infected by a serious plague. You are suggested to follow the suggestions of the World Health Organization and your doctors and bring the international certificate of vaccination.

12. What is the best way to visit China - join a pre-packaged tour or travel independently?

Most visitors to China prefer to take a tour arranged by travel agents, since it is the simplest, most efficient and the most comfortable way of traveling. Independent traveling, though more flexible and easier to customize, is difficult. Problems may arise due to cultural and language barriers for travelers who attempt to arrange accommodations, meals, sightseeing, and transportations for themselves.

13. What are the most popular destinations in China?

Stretching more than 3,000 miles. From the western shore of the Pacific Ocean across the face of Asia, China is a country of immense size and variety. This vastness not only adds to the excitement of planning a trip to the country, but also to the dilemma of which cities and regions to visit first. When planning a trip to China, it is recommended that you dont try to see "everything" in one start-to-finish, whirlwind trip. Sure, you’ll come home with some great pictures, but if you want to fully experience the country, allow enough time to really experience it. China is definitely the kind of place you will want to visit more than once. It is best to visit the major sites and cities on the first trip, at a relaxed pace, then plan to explore the country region by region on subsequent trips when you can experience all the different ethnic minority cultures and archaeological wonders. Keep in mind that China is a land of extreme climatic variations. If this is your first time to come to China, Beijing, Xian, Guilin and Shanghai would be the best cities to visit. You can experience the ancient China in Xian, the present China in Beijing, the future China in Shanghai, additionally, enjoy the picturesque scenery in Guilin. Please always remember that we can tailor a best tour for you according to your specific needs.

14. When is the best time to visit China?

Chinas geographic area is slightly larger than the U.S.A; it covers similar latitudes, with the lions share located in the temperate zone. This provides endless year-round variety for visitors to the country, from ice festivals in the north to tropical beach resorts in the south. Keep in mind the vast distances between destinations when planning your trip. Traveling, along the popular Golden Route (Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guilin) is the rough equivalent of visiting Chicago, Washington DC, Atlanta, and Miami, all in one trip. Weather wise, Shanghai and Guangzhou’s climates resemble those of US southeastern coastal states, while Beijing’s climate is more like Chicago’s. While China is a year-round destination, the months of April, May, September, and October are ideal months for travel anywhere in the country. In the north, the winters are cold, and summers are warm, with moist monsoon air streams making it hot (80% of China’s rainfall occurs between late May and early October, mostly in the Southern regions). June through August is a good time to visit central and northern China. Spring and autumn are the best months for travel in Southern China. March is the lower-priced shoulder season; while the lowest price, off-season travel, is from December through the winter months. This is when adventuresome travelers are rewarded with unbelievably low prices and far fewer fellow tourists.

15. May I take Chinese currency to China for my convenience?

Yes, you can take Chinese Yuan/Renminbi (CNY/RMB) to China, but you are limited in the value you can bring in accordance with the regulations of the General Administration of China Customs. So to avoid inconveniences and as exchanging currency is very convenient in China upon your arrival at airport, hotels or banks, so we may not suggest you to bring big amount Chinese currency to China.

16. What are the items not allowed to be taken into China?

The following items are not allowed to be taken into China:

a. Weapons, ammunition or explosives;   

b. Forged currencies or forged valuable securities;   

c. Printed, audio, video, computerized and other materials, which are harmful to Chinas political, economic, cultural and ethnic life;

d. Various poisons;

e. Opium, heroin, marijuana and other addictive drugs;

f. Plants, animals or other products, which may carry diseases, viruses, parasites, etc.

g. Foodstuffs, medicines or other products which may cause harm to human or animals, which come from areas with epidemics or which may spread diseases or contamination.

17. What is the definition for high season and low season of travel?

High season marks the most popular times of the year for travel in China, due to the weather, holiday periods or other reasons. Therefore hotels, airlines and travel agencies are heavily booked, and prices are higher than at other times. The seasons are usually defined as follows:

High season: March 1st to Nov 30th

Low season: Dec 1st to Feb 28th

Travelers should also be aware that the peak holiday periods in China: first week in May, first week in October, Chinese Spring Festival (often takes place in late January or early February) are particularly busy. Prices and bookings will be even higher than usual. China Dragon Tour reserves the right to vary prices as a result of seasonal charges being imposed.

18. What are the public holidays in China?

Jan 1st ---- New Years Day; 1 day holiday

Jan/Feb ---- Spring Festival (Chinese lunar New Year); 3 days holiday

Apr 5^th---- Qing Ming (Tomb Sweeping) Festival; 1 day holiday

May 1st ---- International Workers Day; 1 day holiday

Early June (May 5^th in lunar calendar) ---- Dragon Boat Festival; 1 day holiday

Sep/Oct ---- Mid-Autumn Festival; 1 day holiday

Oct 1st ---- National Day; 3 days holiday

Public holiday note:

In addition to the above, other holidays may be observed locally and certain groups have official Public Holidays on the following dates:

Mar 8th ---- International Women’s Day; 1/2 day holiday for women only

May 4th ---- Chinese Youths Day, is a festival for the youths of the country in memory of the May 4th Movement in 1919 started by university students and other youths to protest against the northern warlord government which wanted to sign an unequal treaty with the foreign powers. Young people normally have 1 day or 1/2 day off.

Jun 1st ---- International Childrens Day, which is a festival for children. School children normally have 1 day or 1/2-day holiday.

Jul 1st ---- Birthday of the Communist Party of China, which is usually celebrated through meetings.

Aug 1st ---- Birthday of the Peoples Liberation Army, which is usually celebrated by the army.

There are also other days such as the Plant-a-Tree Day, No Smoking Day, Environment Protection Day, Customers Rights Day, etc. Some days such as Mothers Day and Fathers Day are also promoted by shops to attract more customers.

Western holidays are becoming more popular in China, especially among young people, such as Christmas Day, which is celebrated in all hotels. It is customary for people to borrow weekends to make a three-day-long holiday into a weeklong holiday; the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding or following the extended holiday are official workdays.

19. What major festivals do the Chinese celebrate?

In addition to the Spring Festival, Chinese people also celebrate the following festivals:

a. Lantern Festival

This falls on the 15th of the first lunar month, an occasion for eating yuanxiao, or sweet dumplings made of glutinous rice flour, hanging lanterns, visiting lantern shows, performing the Dragon Lantern and Drum Dances.

b. Qing Ming (Tomb Sweeping) Festival

This day falls around April 5 of the western calendar, and it is named after the fifth solar term of the Chinese calendar. Activities include excursions and tomb sweeping.

c. Dragon Boat Festival

Falling on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, this festival was set aside in memory of the great poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself over 2,000 years ago after the emperor refused to heed his remonstration. The main activity is Dragon Boat racing. In the countryside, people also carry incense pouches, get roped up, drink realgar wine and eat Zongzi (a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves).

d. Double-Ninth Festival

This festival is named because it falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. The main feature is chrysanthemum-admiring the flower and drinking chrysanthemum wine. A special cake is also served. In addition, many people go on excursions to lose themselves in nature.

20. Can I have some information about Chinese table manners?

The main difference on the Chinese dinner table is chopsticks instead of knife and fork, but that’s only superficial. Besides, in decent restaurants, you can always ask for a pair of knife and fork, if you find the chopsticks not helpful enough. The real difference is that in the West, you have your own plate of food, while in China the dishes are placed on the table and everyone shares. If you are being treated to a formal dinner and particularly if the host thinks you’re in the country for the first time, he will do the best to give you a taste of many different types of dishes. The meal usually begins with a set of at least four cold dishes, to be followed by the main courses of hot meat and vegetable dishes. Soup then will be served (unless in Guangdong style restaurants), to be followed by staple food ranging from rice, noodles to dumplings. If you wish to have your rice to go with other dishes, you should say so in good time, for most of the Chinese choose to have the staple food at last or have none of them at all. Perhaps one of the things that surprise a Western visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their guests. In formal dinners, there are always “public” chopsticks and spoons for this purpose, but some hosts may use their own chopsticks. This is a sign of genuine friendship and politeness. It is always polite to eat the food. If you do not eat it, just leave the food in the plate. People in China tend to over-order food, for they will find it embarrassing if all the food is consumed. When you have had enough, just say so. Or you will always overeat!