The most important information when travelling in China

When to go

One of the best times to discover China is the springtime (from April through May), because temperatures are pleasant and there are fewer tourists. You could also explore the country in autumn, from September through October. Temperatures cool off a little, but the weather stays mild. However, you should be aware of crowds of Chinese tourists beginning in October.

Entry requirements

To enter China, you'll need a visa. To file a visa application, go to the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre or send your application by post. (Details are available at the website: www.visaforchina.org). You can also get in contact with the centre by phone at +44(0)20 7776 7888 or by email at the following address: ukcentre@visaforchina.org

Health advise

No vaccines are required. Travellers should be up to date with routinely recommended vaccinations according to the UK schedule. More specifically, the National Travel Health Network and Centre recommends that the following vaccines be up-to-date: Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Polio, Rabies, Tetanus, Tick-borne encephalitis, Tuberculosis, Typhoid

Airline tickets

The price of a round trip airline ticket varies between £200 and £800. To get an idea of the average price, you can expect to pay about £500 to depart in September with one stop, for a 3-week stay, if you buy 2 months in advance.

Time difference

There are only 8 time zones between you and all this diversity! Therefore, in winter count on 8 hours difference and 7 hours in the summer. Although the country covers 4 different time zones geographically, the time is the same no matter where you are in the country.

Language

During your trip to China, you'll get the chance to discover the country's wealth through its languages. Although the official language is Mandarin or "Standard Chinese" (Putonghua ), the country has 129 other spoken languages, divided into two broad categories: Mandarin dialects and other "Chinese" languages, so many it can make you dizzy!

Relevant contacts

Some local addresses that may be useful to you prior to your departure:

Phone and internet connection

To call the UK from China, you must dial 00 + 44 + City Area Code + Phone Number you wish to call (without the leading 0).

Electricity

You'll need an adapter to charge electronic devices like digital cameras, phones, and laptops, because the current is 220V/50Hz.