Passport & Visa

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Before traveling to China, some travel documents must be prepared.

• A valid good condition passport with at least six month, which count from the entry date prior to the expiration date.
  
  
• Valid entry visa, which you can find out more detail information from our Visa Section. Summer Travel offers convenient China Visa service to save your headche.
  
  
• Things need to be pay attention
  • Keep your passport safe during your travels, as you will need it to buy air tickets, passing through customs, checking in at hotels and to take almost any movement of your officially-recorded journey. Therefore, nothing will be worse than losing your passport on your travel.
    
    
  • Any traveler who has lost his/her passport is required to report the loss to the Exit & Entry Administration office of the local Public Security Bureau (Police Office) and they will give you a certificate of loss-reporting. You will need to go to the embassy or consulate of your country in China to apply for an exit certificate for leaving China. We hope you would never in such situation.

Health Issues

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Health is one of the most important elements for an enjoyable trip. We strongly suggest all travelers take a physical examination to determine whether your condition is suitable for travel before planning.

• Who should not travel?
  
  For anyone who have severe illnesses with their liver, kidney, vascular, and heart, or anyone who is recovering from major operations, it is not suggested you to take any international or long distance travel.
  
  
• Health Care during traveling
  • Dietetic Care: There are two major sources of bacterial infection, you hands and mouth. Always wash your hands when you get back from the tour and before eating anything. Avoid eating street foods, do not drink any tap water, wash and peel all fruits before eating them, make sure all food you eat are well cooked or heated. Most of the hotels provide drinkable purified bottled water. You can also buy these bottled water from supermarkets.
    
    
  • Avoid Physical Exhaustion: Long hour touring, mountain climbing, frequent transfers, and heavy baggages could easily result in physical exhaustion. If any sight of light-headedness, headaches, abnormal heartbeat appears, it is better to rest or consult medical services.
    
    
  • Mountain Sickness: Generally altitude over 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) is defined as high altitude, which may cause Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), also called Altitude Sickness. Some sightseeing attractions in China's Tibet, Yunnan and Sichuan areas are situated at high altitudes. Make sure you take a physical examination before ascending to high plateau areas. Keep a gradual increase of your steps when walking in highland regions. Oxygen suppliers are available in most sightseeing areas. Make sure to take preventive medicines.
    
    
  • Infectious Diseases: Learn about the infectious deseases in the destination regions before your departure. Consult with your doctor for advises and suggestions, and take the preventive treaments such as vaccines.
    
    
  • Temperature: Learn about the local temperature in the destination regions and get yourself well prepared before departure. Keep yourself warm during the Spring and Winter time by avoiding stay outside for too long. As the same, keep yourself cool during the Summer time for avoiding directly under the sun for long period of time, drink a lot of water, take a rest or consult medical service if feeling any illness. Temperatures for day and night have dramatic difference in some area in China. Please pay attention to the temperature changes.
    
    
  • Comfortable Accommodation: A good night sleep is very important during traveling. It ensures you to have enough energy to enjoy next day activities. Comfortable accommodation is not always mean a high class lexury hotel, but a clean, quiet, and safe place that could let you relax from the daytime fatigue. Make sure you have at least six to eight hours of sleep every day.
    
    
• Medication
  
  Bring all necessary medications, such as antibiotic medicine, cold medicine, digestive medicine, anti-seasickness medicine, anti-allergic medicine, anti-AMS medicine, traumatic healers and all other medicines that suggested by your doctor with you.

Money Matters

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MONEY, one of the most important compounds of daily life. Here's some hints to help you take care of it while traveling in China.

• Chinese Currency
  
  The Chinese currency is called Ren-min-bi, usually abbreviated as RMB. The unit of the currency is Yuan with the symbol of '¥'. The smaller denominations are the Jiao and the Fen. One Yuan equals ten Jiao and one Jiao equals ten Fen. The notes include 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 Yuan, 5, 2 and 1 Jiao and 5, 2 and 1 Fen.
  
  
• Where to Exchange?
  
  All Bank branches and most hotel service counters provide currency exchange service. You also find bank branches located in almost every airport in China; there, you could make the exchange when you arrive. Since the currency exchange rates are set by the Chinese government, the rates are the same no matter you do it at the bank or hotel service counter. However, some hotels might charge a small service fee for the exchange service. One thing you should bear in mind is that, DO NOT do currency exchange with strangers. First, private money trading is prohibited by the Chinese Laws. Second, it has high risk of fraud.
  
  
• Credit Card Acceptance in China
  
  Credit cards are being widely accepted in China are Master Card, Visa Card, American Express Card, JCB, and Diners Card. You may use them at restaurants, shopping centers, hotels, and supermarkets in all major cities in China. You may also use them to withdraw RMB from the ATMs that with the card logo on it. However, you should not always count on your credit card since many remote area in China still has not yet up to such modern technology. Make sure you have enough RMB in your pocket before departing to the urban areas.