- Official Name: People’s Republic of China
- Location: East Asia
- Time: UTC + 8 (12 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time. China does not observe Daylight Saving Time.)
- Country Phone Code: +86
- Population: 1.35 billion (per 2012 estimate. China is the most populous country on earth.)
- Capital City: Beijing (population: 21.1 million per 2013 census)
- Largest City: Shanghai (population 24.1 million per 2013 census)
- Primary Religions: Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, indigenous religions
- Drives on the: Right
See these important Beijing travel essentials before you go.
1. Money in China
- Official Currency: Renminbi (yuan)
- Currency Abbreviation: CNY
- Symbol: ¥, CN¥, or ?
- ATMs: Available in big cities and tourist areas
- Credit Cards: Only in upscale hotels and restaurants. A commission is often added.
- Tipping: Tipping is not the norm in China. Leaving gratuity may even cause confusion or embarrassment in some instances. Tour guides and drivers are an exception and may expect a tip for their services. Read more about the nuances of tipping in China.
Currency in China goes under many names and symbols. While the official name is renminbi (people’s currency), this is usually shortened to RMB. The basic unit of currency is the yuan, which is then divided into 10 jiao and even further into 10 fen. Travelers won’t have to worry too much about keeping track of fen, as amounts are typically rounded. Yuan are commonly called kuai throughout much of China, the equivalent of saying “buck” in slang for an American dollar. The currency symbol appears as a ‘¥’ but since this is the same symbol that Japan uses for the yen, it is often combined with the official abbreviation to form ‘CN¥.’
Although ATMs are available throughout China, many are not on Western networks. You’ll need to look for the familiar logos on machines (e.g., Cirrus, MasterCard, Maestro, Visa, etc). ATMs dispense Chinese yuan. As with other places in Asia, breaking those large-denomination banknotes (100 RMB) received from the ATM isn’t always easy. Closely guard your small change until it accumulates!
Tip: You’ll need ATM receipts or exchange receipts if you wish to convert your leftover currency back into US dollars on your way out of China. Read about how to exchange money safely and see the current exchange rates for China.
- Read more about how to access and carry money in Asia.
2. China Visa Requirements
A travel visa in your passport is required to enter China and must be arranged before arrival. You’ll need to visit a Chinese consulate either at home or abroad to apply for a visa. If visiting a consulate is not an option, some agencies will rush your visa for a fee; you’ll still need to mail your passport off to them.
The most common type of visa for visiting China is an “L” type (tourist) visa. Tourist visas are good for up to three months before arrival and allow you entry into China for 30 days. If you wish to stay longer than 30 days, a visa extension can be obtained for a fee once you are already in China. Americans pay significantly more for tourist visas than travelers of other nationalities.
- Learn more about getting a visa for China.
3. Electricity in China
- Power: 220 V
- Outlets: Outlets in China are diverse; most will accept many different plug types. While the default Chinese plug type is a three-pronged socket with angled slots, you’ll nearly always encounter either the standard American-style, two-prong outlet along with the round-pronged, European style -- often on the same faceplate.
Most of your electronic devices with chargers (e.g., laptops, mobile phones, etc) will already work on China’s 220-volt system. Beware of hair driers and other devices without power transformers / chargers.
- Read more about the voltage in Asia.
4. Getting Around in China
While Beijing’s extensive subway system is incredibly crowded, particularly at rush hour, it will get you around for cheap. Alternatively, you’ll need to depend on taxis to move around in cities. Taxi drivers notoriously speak very little -- if any -- English and they can’t read the characters on your tourist map or in your guidebook. Go out prepared: grab a Chinese card from your hotel so that you can show the driver on your return. You can also ask the front desk to write down the names of destinations for you in Chinese so that you can show the drivers.
- See more important tips for using taxis in Asia.
- Read more about using the taxis in China.
While walking is certainly the best way to see a city, the sidewalks in Beijing are constantly choked with throngs of pedestrians. Expect to get bumped, squeezed, and jostled as you waddle to your destination. See more about what to expect in China and how to deal with culture shock.
5. Communicating in China
- Official Language: Standard Chinese (Mandarin), however, many other dialects are in common use. Cantonese is spoken in Hong Kong and Macau.
Perhaps the biggest challenge of traveling in China is dealing with the language barrier. While people at Westernized hotels will speak functional -- perhaps even good -- English, walking out of the door is another matter entirely. You’ll have a much more enjoyable and interesting experience if you can learn your numbers and a few basic words in Chinese.
A few scams are the byproducts of deliberate miscommunication because of the language barrier. When negotiating, ensure that the agreed price is what you think it is. Use a calculator, or better yet, learn the Chinese system of counting with the hands. Because so many dialects are spoken throughout China, the hand counting system is used even by locals doing business with each other.
Signs with English continue to multiply throughout China. Subways will have signs and maps with English captions, as will many street signs.
- See how to say hello in Chinese.
- Learn what laowai means and why people call you one!
- Read more about how to beat the language barrier in China.
6. Eating and Drinking in China
Needless to say, the food in China is a surprise to many Americans who expect the familiar Chinese dishes offered by restaurants at home. Authentic Chinese food is completely different; getting what you think you ordered can be a frustrating challenge sometimes, particularly when you see delicious offerings at other tables around you.
Restaurants that cater to tourists will have special menus -- with ‘special’ prices – in English for foreigners. Eateries outside of big cities or tourist zones may not have English menus available at all. In that case, you’ll need to point to what you want or know a few words for basics such as ‘chicken’ or ‘rice.’ Often, an English-speaking local will come to the rescue and offer you help with translating your order.
The default utensils in China are chopsticks, typically the wooden variety. Sometimes a spoon is provided for soups, otherwise you’ll sip directly from the bowl. Tourist-oriented restaurants may offer flatware, but there are no guarantees. It’s a good idea to learn how to use chopsticks and a little about dining etiquette before you travel in China.
- Read more about authentic Chinese food and what to expect.
- Learn about Chinese table manners and dining etiquette.
- Learn how to say cheers in Chinese and some basics for drinking etiquette.