Before You Go...
Visas are required for entry into China by all foreign nationals. They can be obtained from Chinese embassies or consulates around the world. Many Hong Kong travel agents and hotel concierges can arrange visas on the same or next day. Although it's possible to get a visa on entry at some border posts, it's better to get them in advance an regulations tend to change. Visa-free excursions to Shenzhen are available from some Hong Kong travel agents.

Business or commercial visas are issued on presentation of a letter, fax, telex, etc., from a Chinese official organization or company, and sometimes allow multiple entries within a period of three or six months. Visas can be extended in China for a small fee and usually without delay at the Foreign Affairs section of Public Security Bureaus.

On Arrival...
Customs declarations forms are now usually not required but if you get one be sure to keep the copy to present on departure. Reasonable amounts of currency (including RMB) can be brought in, along with alcohol and cigarettes for personal use, cameras, radios, computers and tape-recorders. Items like office machinery must be declared or import duty will be charged on them. Prohibited imports include arms, ammunition and explosives; printed matter, film or tapes detrimental to China; dangerous or narcotic drugs; infected animals, plants or foodstuffs. It is also forbidden to take out any of these items, or endangered species of animals or plants. Antiques, with red seal certification need export permits. A Health Declaration Form must be filled in by all foreign visitors. These are handed out on the flight.

Getting There...
All major cities in the world now have direct air links with Beijing, with some flying to Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dalian and Kunming. Travelers entering through Hong Kong have a wide choice-by air to 37 destinations; by direct express trains to Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing (with connections to all cities on the network); by highspeed catamaran to the Pearl Delta region; by coastal ferry to Shantou, Xiamen, Hainan and Shanghai; and by bus to Shenzhen and Guangzhou. There is also a high speed Catamaran and bus service from Hong Kong to Shenzhen Airport, which serves all major cities in China at much lower fares than from Hong Kong.

Getting Around China
There is a good aerial network by national and regional airlines to link and major cities. Cross-country rail service connects provincial capitals and double-deck express trains (with hotess service ) covers areas around Shanghai and Beijing. There are ferry services along the coast, (for instance between Shanghai and Ningbo), and slower boats on the Yangtze River. Local transport in major cities consists primarily of taxis, which are metered and reasonably priced-at or below Hong Kong prices-buese and minibuses that tend to be crowded, unairconditioned and uncomfortable, subways (in Beijing and Shanghai) that are clean, fast and comfortable but with limited networks, and bicycles, which are readily available through the hotel or on the street.

Accommodation Plus
Today China has hotels to rival the best in world, as well as accommodation to suit all budgets. All cities involved in foreign trade and tourism have five and four-star joint-venture hotels managed by international chains or Hong Kong companies. Most can be booked from overseas. In addition to accommodation, hotels are homes from home, with laundry/drycleaning services and an away office with fully-equipped Business Centers. In addition they often have some of the best restaurants and nightspots in town, as well as pools, gyms and spa facilities.

Living To Eat
Nobody enjoys cooking, eating and talking about food more than the Chinese, so you can expect dining to be an experience in China. Today in all the big cities there are plenty of restaurants around town and in the hotels. They range from palatial banquet halls to sidewalk noodle shops. The food is just as varied, with each region having its own cuisine as well as kitchens serving different types of western food (Italian is all the rage ) and the ubiquitous hamburger and fried chicken chain outlets. Cantonese restaurants are found everywhere, with huge menus containing everything edible in plentiful variety. Spicy Sichuan meals, dominated by chilis, pepper and garlic, have become another countrywide favorite. Beijing has its own specials, like the famous roast duck and steamed dumplings, while Shanghai serves Beggar's Chicken, eel, drunken chicken and hairy crab.

Whatever The Weather
Temperatures vary greatly from the Siberian north to tropical south. Latitude is similar to the USA. Tourists should be prepared for lots of walking and generally less formal wear, unless involved in business negotiations, when business suits are expected. Otherwise be comfortable. Wear layers, as the Chinese do, and good walking shoes, Best times to visit weatherwise are spring (April-June) and autumn (September - November).

Average Temperatures And Precipitation In Major Cities

Staying Secure
China is by and large a safe place to visit, but sensible travelers will not take chances. Keep valuables locked up; hotel safe deposit boxes or personal safes are provided in many guests rooms. If in doubt about strolling the streets at night ask the people at the front desk. If you are robbed or attacked contact the nearest Public Security Bureau (Police).

Staying Healthy
Be sensible and don't exhaust yourself walking up steps to every monument. Carry bottled water when touring during the summer, and cover your head. Don't drink water out of the tap. Avoid fruit you can't peel and uncooked vegetables. Carry any prescription medicine you need. In Beijing Shanghai and other large cities there are plenty of pharmacies (often in hotels) selling local and imported aspirin, cold remedies and over-the-counter drugs for diarrhoea and other common complaints. They are usually much cheaper than in Hong Kong. All good hotels can in doctors if needed and for serious problems there are international clinics in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. No vaccinations are required, unless the traveler has been in an infected area.

Making Communication
China's telephone system has been completely modernized in recent times and today you don't have to make all calls from the hotel. There are public phones, in restaurants, shops and on the street, in all major cities. Most take RMB coins, others phonecards and credit cards. Direct domestic long distance calls (DDD) can be made by dialing ' 0 ' plus area code and the number. International calls can be made direct form hotel rooms or public telephones with IDD connections.

There are facilities for fax transmission in virtually all hotels, which usually charge for incoming as well as outgoing faxes. Telex and cable services are also widely available, in hotels and post offices.

Hotel desks provide the most convenient post office services for visitors. They have mail boxes and sell stamps for letters, postcards and parcels. For insured postage, express mial and other special services it's best to use post offices, which are found on main streets, the airport, railway stations and tourist spots. They are open 9 am - 5 am, offering round-the-clock facilities for telephones, telegraphs and telexes.

All international courier companies, as well as Chinese companies, have offices in all major cities. Most hotels can arrange for pick-up or delivery of packages for guests, at a small service charge. Ask at the Business Center or front desk.

What's Going On?
In all international hotels you'll find shops selling foreign newspapers and magazines such as the Asian Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune and South China Morning Post, as well as the English-language China Daily (published daily except Sunday), Beijing Review, Beijing Weekend, Shanghai Star and China Today. All leading hotels in China have copies of "China Welcomes You " in guest rooms, together with "Welcome to Beijing", "Welcome to Shanghai" and "Guangdong Citylife" in those areas. All international hotels have satellite television channels, usually showing CNN, Star TV, NHK and CNBC as well as the local and national Chinese-language stations. In Guangdong hotels also broadcast Chinese and English channels from Hong Kong. Many hotels offer in-house chinese and foreign movies as well.

Money Matters
The more than 1000 foreign banks now operating in China are limited in the range of services they can perform in China, although this situation is undergoing rapid change. In general all retail banking services are handled by the Bank of China and other local banks, which have offices in every city in the country. Cash and traveler's cheques can be exchanged in banks or at hotels. Credit cards are rapidly gaining acceptance, however there are still many places where you need cash. The local currency the RMB (renminbi, people's money) has been pegged to US dollar. In 2003, the rate was approximately US$1 to RMB8.27.

A word on tipping - the habit is catching on, with hotel staff happy to accept one or two yuan coins. Hotel doormen are most likely to have their hands ready, but most taxi drivers seem surprised to be given small change. In hotel restaurants there's always a service charge so tipping is not required although Westerners tend to add another 10 percent. In most local eating places no one tips.

What's The Time?
All of China observes Beijing Time, which is GMT +8 hours.

Working Hours
Shops open seven days a week, from 8 or 8.30 am to 7.30 or 8 pm. Restaurants in hotels have similar hours to those in Western countries, however traditional Chinese eating places outside the hotels close much earlier, with people taking breakfast between 11.30 am and 2 pm, and dinner around 6 or 7 in the evening.

Offices are generally open from 9 am to 5 pm, Mondays through Fridays, with a lunchtime break which is often extended by a short siesta (xiu xi).

The best time to make appointments is early to mid-morning, and avoid Friday afternoons when those who can begin their weekends.

China observes very few public holidays. The most important is the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), when most people take off work for three days. They also celebrate National Day on October 1 - anniversary of the 1949 Revolution - International Labor Day on May 1, and to a lesser degree, the Ching Ming (honoring ancestors), Dragon Boat and Mid-Autmn Festivals. There are plenty of festivals on the calendars of the minority peoples, such as water-throwing festival observed in parts of Yunnan and the ice lantern festivals of Manchuria.

The Sporting Life
There is an ever-increasing number of opportunities for participant and spectactor sports in the major cities of China. Golf has become the favorite outdoor activity of local business people and executives of foreign investment companies. There are Golf & Country Clubs in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Gangzhou and elsewhere, with the biggest concentration being in the Pearl River Delta region. Visitors are welcome to play, if they are members of affiliated or when tee times are available.

Facilities for some other sports, such as tennis and squash, are provided by major hotels and resorts, while others, like skating and skiing, can be enjoyed along with the locals.

The schedules for spectator sports are best obtained from hotel front desks. All major cities have outdoor stadiums-for soccer and athletics-and indoor stadiums where you might be lucky enough to catch top class gymnasts, table tennis and volleyball matches.

The latest sport to draw crowds of local spectators if horse racing. There are tracks, with all modern facilities, in Guangzhou and Beijing.

Matter Of Faith
Although prohibited, or at least frowned on, in the past, religious practice is once more a part of China's life, and visitors will have no problem finding a place to worship along with resident devotees. Catholics will be very impressed by the large congregations and historic surroundings of cathedrals in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other places.

Words Of Advice
Doing business in China is like nowhere else. Seasoned China traders recommend the following:

• Be careful to give ' face ' (status and respect), to the people you are dealing with.
• Be patient and allow plenty of time for negotiations.
• Never underestimate the importance of guanxi-personal connections for mutual benefit-and try to build up long-term relationships.
• Laugh when others laugh but steer clear of making jokes yourself.
• Keep up-to-date on government and industry policies.
• Be polite, even when others seem rude.
• Be flexible and willing to adapt.
• Under no circumstance lose your temper.
• Hire the best interpreter you can afford, especially when discussing technical or legal matters.
• Take time off, in the gym or at the bar.
• Learn to enjoy 8 to 10-course banquets, smoky rooms, long speeches and toasts of fiery liquor.
• Remember you're in a foreign culture with unfamiliar habits.
• Gift giving is part of the Chinese tradition but beware; No cash! Instead high quality business items, such as wallets or organizers, pens-with your company logo-or the latest book on your industry will be appreciated.
• You'll be expected to host a reciprocal banquet after business is concluded. Unless you're very knowledgeable have the manager of the hotel's prime Chinese restaurant make the arrange-ments and consult with your interpreter about the seating plan (VERY important).

by Diner Club Guide