Below you can read more about time difference, tips and customs and usage in connection with your trip to China. Visit cellphoneexplorer for Practical Information About China.
- Language: Chinese and various minority languages
- Capital: Beijing
- Population: 1, 37 billion
- Religion: Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism
- Currency: Yuan (renminbi)
- Surface: 9,596,960 km2
Worth knowing
Arrival airport
After arriving at the airport in China, the group gathers. If the tour guide is not with the group, it is important that all tour participants are aware that the entire group is gathered after arrival. Then the group continues towards the exit.
Passport / Visa control: The people from the group who travel on group visas line up at one of the booths that are signposted with “GROUP VISA”. Gender must be formed in the order indicated on the group visa. Keep the passport ready with the photo page open. If you have an individual visa, go instead to one of the booths for individual travel and show your passport and arrival card (B).
Keep in mind that the authorities require the group visa to be shown in both copies. One copy is kept by the authorities. Remember that the second copy must be returned to the group when everyone traveling with the group has passed the visa check.
Time difference
The time difference between Sweden and China varies depending on whether Sweden has summer or winter time:
Summer time + 6 hours
Winter time + 7 hours
Transport in China
Bus The
buses in China and Tibet do not meet the same standard as we are used to in Europe. Of course, we have chosen the best category, with air conditioning (where needed). All of our buses are non-smoking.
Flights
On our round trips in China, we often fly longer distances with domestic flights. Prior to such flights, the tour guide informs about the time of departure, as well as what applies at check-in at the airport. All flights in China are non-smoking. It is not allowed to carry liquids in hand luggage (alcohol, beer, soft drinks, perfume and the like) on domestic flights in China.
Trains
Trains in China also do not meet the same standards as in Europe. However, we always choose the best possible category and always use train compartments with air conditioning. On night trains, we have compartments that are shared by four people (so-called soft sleepers ). On board the train there is the opportunity to buy snacks and drinks. There are toilets in each train carriage.
Price level
Since most meals are included in the price of the trip, the travel fund does not have to be that large. In Chinese restaurants, you do not order starters and main courses as in Sweden, but various small dishes with rice which are then shared by everyone at the table. An average meal at a local Chinese restaurant usually costs 50-70 Swedish kronor.
When it comes to pocket money, we know from experience that you usually manage with around SEK 120 a day. It covers expenses for extra drinks, postcards, stamps, snacks, etc. If you want to buy souvenirs or anything else, you need to bring extra money in addition to this.
Tip
In China, tips are widely accepted in the tourism industry. It is customary for a traveler to pay tips to bus drivers and local guides. Each traveler should expect to have $ 6-7 per day on standby as a tip to drivers and local guides. The guide (s) who travel on the whole / parts of the tour usually get a little more than local guides and drivers. As a first-time traveler to China, it can be tricky to know how much to give to different people. But with one or two dollars you get far! In practice, it is possible to arrange for the tour guide to collect money for the entire trip and ensure that the right people get what they need. We want to emphasize that it is of course voluntary to tip.
Bars, cafes and nightclubs as well as restaurants in hotels often add 10-15% in service charge (s service charge ) to the bill. This is stated in the bill.
Electricity
Like Sweden, China has 220 volts AC, but there are many different contacts and sockets. You should therefore bring an adapter kit with many options.
Telephone and internet
The international country code for China is +86. It can be expensive to call home from China, so feel free to contact your mobile operator regarding coverage and prices for calls from China.
The Internet is becoming more common in the country. Internet cafes are popping up everywhere. From experience, however, we know that you do not have time to visit such places other than during your own time or after the end of the day program. In most large hotels you can rent a computer with an Internet connection, but at relatively high prices (approx. SEK 50 per hour).
You can send letters and postcards from most hotels we use. It is often also possible to buy stamps in the hotel foyer.
