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China kept
itself to itself for thousands of years, and foreigners
still find it difficult to penetrate the
inner depths of this fascinating and enigmatic country.
There is a great deal to discover in this, the world’s
most populated country, with more than 1.3 billion citizens,
and the third largest in the world territorially. What
makes it attractive as a destination for Western tourists
is its fascinating culture and valuable antiquities.
Ruins and relics from Neolithic settlements and the dynastic
reigns of the mighty emperors are there to behold, along
with adventures along the legendary ancient trade routes,
such as the Silk Road. The Forbidden Palace, Great Wall,
and X’ian’s Terracotta Army, are just some
of the incredible attractions to be seen in this ancient
Eastern empire
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The
People’s Republic of China has
been under communist government since 1949, but is currently
undergoing social and economic development. Emphasis
is being placed on tourist facilities and infrastructure.
China is opening the doors to its wealth of historical
and cultural treasures and visitors are flooding in to
be amazed and awed. Organised tours are still the favoured
way to explore China, but independent travel is slowly
becoming easier. The major cities, like Beijing and Shanghai,
are modern metropolises offering fast food and glitzy
stores alongside centuries-old historical buildings and
traditional eating houses. Archaeological wonders vie
with amazing architecture in the interior, while majestic
mountains and remote monasteries crown the northern areas.
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Local
time is GMT +8.
Electrical
current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Plug types vary but the two-
narrow-pin types are most common. Adapters are generally
required.
The
official language is Mandarin Chinese, but there
are hundreds of local dialects.
The
international access code for China is +86. The outgoing code is 00 followed
by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The
city code for Beijing is (0)10. Telephone communication within China
is good and improving all the time. International Direct Dialling is
available in most cities. Phone cards are widely available and calls
can be made from post offices and hotels; phone booths on the streets
are usually for local calls only. In hotels, local calls are generally
free or will be charged only a nominal fee. Mobile phone networks are
very advanced. Operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements
with most non-North American international operators. Internet cafes
are available in most main towns.
China covers extensive territory and has a complex topography,
therefore the weather differs from region to region. The south
east, below the Nanling Mountains, tends to be very wet with
high temperatures all year round. In the central Yangtze and
Huaihe river valleys there are four distinct seasons with very
hot summers and extremely cold winters, and rain all year round.
The dry north experiences a short but sunny summer, with long
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Entry requirements for Americans: US
nationals require a passport and visa for entry to China.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK
nationals require a passport and visa for entry to China.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians
require a passport and visa for entry to China.
Entry requirements for Australians: Australians
require a passport and visa for entry to China.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South
African nationals require a passport and visa for entry to
China.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish
nationals require a passport and visa for entry to China.
Entry requirements for New Zealand nationals: New
Zealand nationals require a passport and visa for entry to
China.
Passport/Visa Note: Visa applications should be made
at least one month prior to departure for China. Passports
must be valid for at least six months for a single or double
entry visa and at least nine months for a multiple entry visa.
Visas are granted only for the points of entry indicated in
the passport. All documents necessary for further travel and
sufficient funds to cover intended period of stay are required.
Period of validity is stated on visas, and care should be taken
when reading dates on visas for China (People's Rep.) as they
are written in year/month/day format.
Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at
short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry
requirements with their embassy or consulate.
The first port of call for most visitors
is the Forbidden City, which lies at the heart of Beijing
with the rest of the city radiating out from it in a grid
pattern. For five centuries this massive palace complex with
9,999 rooms functioned as the administrative centre of the
country and home to a succession of emperors, who lived in
luxurious isolation, surrounded by courtiers and retainers.
The Palace overlooks the famous Tiananmen Square, site of
so much political drama and dissent, the epitome of this
capital city.
ATTRACTIONS
IN BEIJING
Forbidden City
at the centre of Beijing, the Forbidden City, called Gu Gong
in Chinese, was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing
dynasties. It is the biggest and best preserved complex of
ancient buildings in China, and the largest palace complex
in the world. Construction of the palace complex began in
1407 and for 500 years this inner sanctum was off-limits
to most of the world as the emperors lived in luxury, secluded
from the masses, surrounded by their families, court officials,
servants, eunuchs, concubines and other members of court.
The Forbidden City and its centrepiece, the magnificent palace,
have a permanent restoration squad, which continually works
to keep the 800 buildings and 9,999 rooms inside the Forbidden
City complex in top repair. The once Forbidden City is now
open to all visitors.
Website: www.dpm.org.cn/english/default.asp; Opening
time: Daily 8.30am to 4.30pm (16 October to 15 April); 8.30pm
to
5pm (16 April to 15 October); Admission: ¥60 (April to
October); ¥40 (November to March)
Tiananmen Square
The famous square
at the heart of Beijing, recently renovated, is still not much
to look at, but it attracts curious tourists
simply because it was the scene of so many historic events
and is the largest city square in the world. In the ancient
imperial days it was a gathering place and the site of government
offices, but more modern history, particularly the 1989 massacre
of pro-democracy demonstrators, has made it a site of great
political significance. Major rallies took place in the square
during the Cultural Revolution when Mao Tse Tung reviewed military
parades up to a million strong. The square is surrounded by
several monuments, some ancient and some modern, including
the former gates to the Forbidden City, the Gate of Heavenly
Peace and Qianmen (the front gate); the Chinese Revolution
Museum; and the Mao Mausoleum where China’s former leader
lays preserved in state.
Shanghai, home to almost 12-million people,
is China's largest city and is situated in the centre of the
coastline where the Yangtze River flows through its delta into
the East China Sea. The name of the city means 'on the sea',
and most of the city (including Chongming Island) is only a
few metres above sea level, criss-crossed by a maze of natural
waterways of the Taihu drainage basin.
ATTRACTIONS
IN SHANGHAI
The Bund, Shanghai
The picturesque Bund, Shanghai's waterfront promenade stretching
for one mile (2km) along the bank of the Huangpu River, was
once the most famous street in Asia, and is still renowned
for its strip of Art Deco buildings. One of the grandest of
these buildings, formerly the City Communist Party headquarters,
is now the home of the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. The
wide riverfront promenade on the east bank of the river provides
a captivating view of Shanghai, particularly at night. From
the Bund visitors can take a river trip down the Huangpu to
the mouth of the Yangtse. Boats leave regularly from the Shiliupu
Pier south of the Bund and the trip takes about three hours.
Shanghai Museum
The new Shanghai
Museum is situated on the People’s
Square, the political and cultural centre of Shanghai. The
square itself boasts a giant musical fountain and some attractive
green recreational areas where locals dance and fly kites.
It is surrounded by the City Hall, an underground shopping
centre and the Grand Shanghai Theatre. It is the Shanghai Museum,
opened in 1996, however, that draws the most interest. The
building is shaped like a giant bronze urn, and the museum
contains a collection of 123,000 cultural artefacts in 21 categories.
Chief among the museum’s collections are bronzeware,
ceramics, calligraphy and art works.
Address:
2 Ren Min Da Dao; Telephone: (0)21 6372 3500; Website:
www.shanghaimuseum.net/en; Transport:
Bus 46, 71, 123, 574; Opening time: Daily 9am to 5pm, until
7pm on Saturdays; Admission: ¥45
includes admission to the museum and theatre; ¥5 extra
also allows entrance to the art gallery
Lastly and I hope you don't need it, but should
you require consular help - here are the details
China National
Tourism Administration (CNTA), Beijing: +86 (0)10 6520 1114
or www.cnta.gov.cn/lyen/index.asp
Chinese Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 328 2500.
Chinese Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7299 4049.
Chinese Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 3434.
Chinese Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 4780.
Chinese Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 341 6500.
Chinese Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 260 1119.
Chinese Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 1382.
United States Embassy, Beijing: +86 (0)10 6532 3831.
British Embassy, Beijing: +86 (0)10 5192 4000.
Canadian Embassy, Beijing: +86 (0)10 6532 3536.
Australian Embassy, Beijing: +86 (0)10 5140 4111.
South African Embassy, Beijing: +86 (0)10 6532 0171.
Irish Embassy, Beijing: +86 (0)10 6532 2691.
New Zealand Embassy, Beijing: +86 (0)10 6532 2731.
Emergencies: 110 (police); 120 (ambulance - Beijing)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Location: The airport
is situated 17 miles (28km) north of Beijing. Time: Local time
is GMT +8. Contacts: Tel: +86 (0)10
6457 1666. Transfer between terminals: A shuttle bus service
runs between the two terminals. Transfer to the city: Beijing's
transport system is being improved ahead of the 2008 Olympic
Games. Shuttle buses run regularly to the city centre (about
45 minutes), Beijing Railway Station and major hotels. Metered
taxis are also available, but it is recommended that passengers
have their destination written in Chinese to avoid confusion.
Travelling time to the city is about an hour. Car rental: Car
rental is available at the airport. Facilities: There are several
bureaux de change, a bank and ATMs, as well as telephones,
tourist information, numerous shops and duty free, and a business
centre with Internet access. A food corridor provides a range
of eating and drinking options, while an entertainment centre
offers everything from films to Chinese massage. Facilities
for the disabled are good, but passengers should contact their
airlines in advance for more information. Parking: There is
a multi-storey car park with ample capacity. Departure tax: ¥90
(international flights), ¥50 (domestic). Website: www.bcia.com.cn
Shanghai Hong Qiao International Airport (SHA)
Location: The airport
is situated eight miles (13km) southwest of central Shanghai.
Time: Local time is GMT +8. Contacts:
Tel: +86 (0)21 6268 8899. Transfer to the city: Taxis are available
outside the airport but finding the right one can be confusing
without assistance. Taxi drivers usually do not speak English
so it is best to indicate your destination on a map, or have
it written down in Chinese. Public buses serve the airport
linking to People's Square and the main railway stations. The
bigger hotels offer shuttle bus services to and from the airport.
Car rental: Car rental is available. Facilities: There are
ATMs and currency exchange facilities, a post office, and duty-free
shops. There is a shopping mall just outside the entrance to
the airport. There are also a variety of food outlets, bars,
an information counter and business centre. Departure tax: ¥90
(international flights), ¥50 (domestic). Website: www.shairport.com
Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Location:
The airport is situated 19 miles (30km) from central Shanghai.
Time: Local time is GMT +8. Contacts: Tel: +86 (0)21
6834 1000. Transfer to the city: The airport is linked to Shanghai's
metro with a new magnetic levitation train, the Maglev; the
journey takes only eight minutes and costs ¥50. Taxis are
available and usually the most convenient way to the city,
but they are more expensive. Journeys take an hour to most
downtown areas. Public buses are also available, but are only
advised for hardened travellers. Many hotels meet their guests
at the airport. Car rental: There is a self-drive car hire
service available during business hours, and Avis and Hertz
have desks in Arrivals. Facilities: Facilities at the airport
include banks, ATMs and currency exchange, a post office, luggage
storage, Business Centre and an Internet cafe. There are also
several restaurants and shops, including duty free. Departure
tax: ¥90 (international flights), ¥50 (domestic). Website: www.shairport.com
