Frequently asked questions - travelling in China
VISAS
Do I need a visa for China and is it included in the price?
I require a visa to China but I am not based in the UK, how do I apply for the visa?
MONEY
What money can I use in China? Are credit cards accepted?
How much money should I take with me?
Do I have to leave tips?
FOOD
What is the food like in China?
Can I easily find vegetarian food?
Can I drink the water from the tap?
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Is China safe?
Are vaccinations required to visit China?
Don’t be a pickpocket victim.
VISAS
Do I need a visa for China and is it included in the price?
Most nationalities require a visa to enter China as tourists. Since 2013 the Chinese government introduced a visa – free regime for transiting passengers staying in China less then 72 hours. A special permit is required for all travellers to Tibet. When planning your trip, please make sure you have a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival into the country and there is a blank page for your visa.
Chinese visas are included in the cost of our standard packages and we can advise on all aspects of obtaining Chinese tourist visas.
Please read more in our dedicated Chinese tourist visa guide.
If you are not resident in the UK, we will issue official visa support documents and email them to you. You will need to apply for your visa at the local Chinese consulate. The process is very straightforward and we can assist you with completing the visa forms.
Please read more about required documents in our Chinese tourist visa guide.
What money can I use in China? Are credit cards accepted?
The currency of China is yuan. Read more about money in China in our travel guide.
All our tours in China are all-inclusive, i.e. accommodation, guide services, transportation, entrance tickets and full–board meals are included in the price of your trip unless specified otherwise in the tour description. Personal spending is mainly made up of buying souvenirs, paying for alcoholic drinks during your meals and leaving tips for your guides and drivers. Budgeting equivalent of $20 - $25 per day per person can be considered a reasonable amount.
In China tipping is not a common practice, although it is becoming the norm to tip the tour guides and drivers. It is not customary to leave tips at restaurants.
The amount of tips you give to your guide and the driver is completely a matter of personal preference and goodwill, just for your guidance an equivalent of $5 - $10 per person per day is a suitable amount.
What is the food like in China?
Please read the relevant section in our China travel guide - Food in China.
If you are vegetarian or have special dietary requirements please advise your travel consultant before departure on a tour so that alternative arrangements can be made. All our tours to China are based on full-board (i.e pre-planned meals) so it can be difficult to adapt your meals on the spot.
Not recommended, please use bottled or boiled water instead.
Is China safe?
Please read the relevant section in our Chinese travel guide - Safety in China.
The only vaccine required is yellow fever. Proof of vaccination will only be required if you have visited a country in the yellow fever zone within the six days prior to entering China.
No other vaccinations are compulsory for China, but please make sure that your polio, diphtheria and tetanus are up to date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention please contact your doctor.
Unfortunately pick pocketing is an ongoing concern in many tourist places. Pick-pocketing in China may happen in major tourist places. Our guides always warn our customers before excursions but still please do make sure all your valuables are safely kept. Please follow the link for some useful advice on how to keep your valuables out of the reach of pickpockets: https://wikitravel.org/en/Pickpockets
About China Reasons to Visit China Destinations in China Travel Practicalities Tours to China
Do I need a visa for China and is it included in the price?
I require a visa to China but I am not based in the UK, how do I apply for the visa?
MONEY
What money can I use in China? Are credit cards accepted?
How much money should I take with me?
Do I have to leave tips?
FOOD
What is the food like in China?
Can I easily find vegetarian food?
Can I drink the water from the tap?
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Is China safe?
Are vaccinations required to visit China?
Don’t be a pickpocket victim.
VISAS
Do I need a visa for China and is it included in the price?
Most nationalities require a visa to enter China as tourists. Since 2013 the Chinese government introduced a visa – free regime for transiting passengers staying in China less then 72 hours. A special permit is required for all travellers to Tibet. When planning your trip, please make sure you have a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival into the country and there is a blank page for your visa.
Chinese visas are included in the cost of our standard packages and we can advise on all aspects of obtaining Chinese tourist visas.
Please read more in our dedicated Chinese tourist visa guide.
If you are not resident in the UK, we will issue official visa support documents and email them to you. You will need to apply for your visa at the local Chinese consulate. The process is very straightforward and we can assist you with completing the visa forms.
Please read more about required documents in our Chinese tourist visa guide.
What money can I use in China? Are credit cards accepted?
The currency of China is yuan. Read more about money in China in our travel guide.
All our tours in China are all-inclusive, i.e. accommodation, guide services, transportation, entrance tickets and full–board meals are included in the price of your trip unless specified otherwise in the tour description. Personal spending is mainly made up of buying souvenirs, paying for alcoholic drinks during your meals and leaving tips for your guides and drivers. Budgeting equivalent of $20 - $25 per day per person can be considered a reasonable amount.
In China tipping is not a common practice, although it is becoming the norm to tip the tour guides and drivers. It is not customary to leave tips at restaurants.
The amount of tips you give to your guide and the driver is completely a matter of personal preference and goodwill, just for your guidance an equivalent of $5 - $10 per person per day is a suitable amount.
What is the food like in China?
Please read the relevant section in our China travel guide - Food in China.
If you are vegetarian or have special dietary requirements please advise your travel consultant before departure on a tour so that alternative arrangements can be made. All our tours to China are based on full-board (i.e pre-planned meals) so it can be difficult to adapt your meals on the spot.
Not recommended, please use bottled or boiled water instead.
Is China safe?
Please read the relevant section in our Chinese travel guide - Safety in China.
The only vaccine required is yellow fever. Proof of vaccination will only be required if you have visited a country in the yellow fever zone within the six days prior to entering China.
No other vaccinations are compulsory for China, but please make sure that your polio, diphtheria and tetanus are up to date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention please contact your doctor.
Unfortunately pick pocketing is an ongoing concern in many tourist places. Pick-pocketing in China may happen in major tourist places. Our guides always warn our customers before excursions but still please do make sure all your valuables are safely kept. Please follow the link for some useful advice on how to keep your valuables out of the reach of pickpockets: https://wikitravel.org/en/Pickpockets
About China Reasons to Visit China Destinations in China Travel Practicalities Tours to China