China

A good source of health information for travelers is the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.

You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Please be advised that high-standard medical care is not available in the more remote areas of China. Sightseeing may require, at minimum, the ability to walk at a moderate pace for a mile or two, and the balance and agility necessary to climb stairs, enter and exit buses and boats, and navigate uneven or cobble-stoned streets. Some sightseeing stops do not have elevators or wheelchair access. Bring medications in their original, clearly labeled containers. A signed and dated letter from your physician describing your med­ical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also a good idea. If carrying syringes or needles be sure to have a physician’s letter documenting their medical necessity. Carry a simple travelers’ first-aid kit containing any basic items that you feel may be needed, including anti-diarrhea tablets. When on vacation, it is always wise to watch what you eat and drink, but please do not drink the tap water while travelling in China. Most hotels will provide complimentary bottled water and additional bottled waters can be purchased throughout your trip.

Currency

China’s unit of currency is the Renminbi (RMB or ¥) available in the following denominations: Banknotes: 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1 ¥; Coins: 1 ¥. Foreign currency and traveler’s checks can be exchanged only at authorized agencies such as banks, exchange offices, and hotels. Most large airports, five-star hotels, and department stores have ATMs where you can withdraw cash in RMB. Major credit cards such as American Express, Master Card, Visa, Cirrus, JCB, etc. are accepted, but don’t expect to be able to use them everywhere, and always carry enough cash. You will usually have to pay in cash at most family owned restaurants and small shops. The exchange rate is constantly changing, but it can be found to be approximately       1 USD = 6 CNY. For the most updated exchange rate, please check http://www.xe.com.

Electrical service in China is supplied at 220 volts, 50 hertz. Bringing an adaptor is a good idea if you are planning on using electronics (i.e. cell phones, laptops, cameras, etc.) during your trip.

Chinese cuisine is extremely wide in variety and is rich in smell, color, and taste. Be aware that there are no widely enforced health regulations in restaurants. Even the smallest of restaurants generally serve hot foods freshly prepared when you order it. Most major cities have fast food chain restaurants where hygiene is usually up to standards. Use common sense when buying food from street vendors. This is especially true for meat or seafood products; they can be very unsafe, particularly during warm weather, as many vendors don’t have refrigeration. Always make sure your street food is cooked thoroughly while you are watching; also, visit stalls frequented by locals, and look for plastic-wrapped disposable chopsticks. Minor stomach discomfort may still be experienced from street food and restaurant food alike, but is said to pass as one becomes accustomed to the local food. Ginger is effective against nausea, though it does not kill bacteria.

Even in the cities, Chinese people do not drink water straight from the tap, and you should not either. All hotels and boats provide either a thermos of boiled water in your room or – more commonly – a kettle you can use to do it yourself. Generally, tap water is safe to drink after boiling. Purified drinking water in bottles is available everywhere, and is generally quite cheap. ¥1 is normal for a small bottle, but it will be more in some places. Check that the seal on the cap is not broken. Beer, wine, and soft drinks are also cheap and safe.

The official language in China is Chinese Mandarin. Mandarin has been the only language used in education on the mainland since the 1950s, so a vast majority of people speak the language. Even within Mandarin, pronunciation varies widely between regions and there is often a liberal dose of local slang or terminology to liven up the mix. In the big cities, outside major tourist attractions and establishments catering specifically to foreigners, it is rare to find locals conversant in English. Airline staff and those at large hotels – particularly international chains – usually speak some basic to conversational English, although in-depth skills are not common.