China

China (中国 chūgoku) is a huge country with the world's largest population. Getting there is a lot easier from Japan than from generally all of your respective home countries, so why not have a jaunt to China sometime while you're in Japan?

Visas

Pretty much everyone needs a visa and must apply for it in advance, though Hong Kong and Macao have their own rules.

If you have any of the following, you will not be allowed in the country:

• A mental disorder
• Leprosy
• AIDS
• Venereal diseases
• Contagious tuberculosis
• Other infectious diseases

There is a travel agency in Matsusaka that can help you procure a visa. It's called 三交旅行 (Sanco Ryokō) and it's on Route 42. Their telephone number is 0598-21-4135.

You could do the visa run to Osaka or Nagoya yourself, but you'll need to take nenkyu to do this and make at least 2 trips to drop your passport/paperwork off, and another to pick it up. I don't think they accept postal applications, though I could be wrong. It's perhaps easiest to apply through a travel agent, though it's expensive. For a 30 day tourist visa it cost me ¥13000 (Aussie passport) through No. 1 Travel in Nagoya. Visas cost significantly more for Americans, though not sure about other nationalities. There was about a 10 day turnover, which isn't bad. You need to take in your passport and 2 passport sized photos. They have forms available for you to fill out. It's good if you have your employer's address handy as they will ask for that.

You are required to list a rough itinerary for your trip, though they don't ask for any evidence of hotel bookings etc. so you don't need to be too specific.

As always, you should ensure that you have 6 months validity left on your passport.

Getting there

By Air

• China Eastern Airlines

  Totally fine to use. It covers a load of places in China. The food was pretty lame, but the service was good.

• Air China

  I've heard people bitch and moan about Air China but I have no personal experience with them.

• China Airlines

  This is a Taiwan-based carrier that flies via Taipei to HK but not to mainland China. Obviously good for HK flights or parts of Southern China. I've no experience flying them.

• Asiana Airlines

  A budget airline based in Seoul. Excellent airline.

• Korean Air

  Top notch airline

• JAL

  Note that you can only book international flights online in JAPANESE. You have to call the bookings centre otherwise. I've never flown JAL - no comments.

• ANA

  Never flown ANA so no comments.

• Cathay Pacific

  Cathay are a fantastic airline and would be great for flights to HK, though if you wish to fly elsewhere in China you will have to connect THROUGH HK which is rather circuitous if you are going to somewhere like Beijing/Shangers.

Borders

Note that Hong Kong and Macao are both Special Administrative Regions and most people will not need a visa (incl. Aussies, Americans, Canadians, Brits, Irish, Saffas, Kiwis and most Europeans)unless staying for extended periods.

If you are going to leave mainland China to visit HK/Macao or any other country, and then return, you will of course need a MULTI-ENTRY Visa. Much easier to do in advance than when you're already traveling.

Hong Kong

You can travel visa free for stays up to 180 days (UK), or 90 days (EU citizens, Aussies, Americans, Canadians).

Macao

You don't need a visa for stays of up to 30 days (Aussies, Americans, Canadians), 90 days (EU countries except UK), and 6 months (UK).

Tibet

If you wish to travel to Tibet, check LonelyPlanetThornTree for the latest updates on the permit situation. Before travelling to Tibet, you need to get a Chinese visa. On top of that, you need to get a Tibet Travel Permit. Read the link on the lonely planet thorn tree (above) for further info.

Others

• If you are travelling into Vietnam, you need to get a visa in advance.
• Travelling into Laos, you can get one at the border (though this may change anytime).
• You will need a visa in advance if you wish to travel to Russia.
• If you are dead-set (haha no pun intended) on going to North Korea, you also need to get the visa in advance and can ONLY travel there on a guided tour.

If you are entering China from HK or Macao, you need to get your visa in advance. I believe HK is a reasonably good place to get a visa with a turnover of about 5 days - a good amount of time to see HK.

Money

China uses the Yuan RMB. As of 17 July 2009, the exchange rate was ¥100 to 7.28RMB. Check the latest on xe

ATMs are widely available in big and medium sized cities and many accept foreign cards with Cirrus/Plus/Maestro.

If you need to exchange money at a bureau de change/bank, you need to take your passport and ideally the address/phone number of your hotel. They will simply refuse to exchange your money if you don't have your passport and MAY refuse if you don't have your hotel/guesthouse details. Annoying bureaucratic bollocks much.

It seems that there is a lot of counterfeit money circulating in China at the moment, so don't be surprised or offended if your money is checked every time you pay for something.

Be sure to change your RMB before you leave as it's pretty useless elsewhere and can be hard to change in some places.

Major Airports

• Beijing Capital Airport - PEK

  You can take a cab for around 120RMB. Official Beijing taxis use the meter. If you wish to take a taxi, only take one from the official taxi rank. Don't go with any of the dudes who accost you upon disembarkation. It's about a 30min trip into central Beijing, but could be significantly more with traffic. Another option is to take the Airport Express from Terminal 2/3 (I think from 1 you need to take a bus to another terminal) to Dongzhimen subway station(25RMB, takes about 20mins) and jump on the subway from there (2RMB to anywhere on the subway network. This is fine if you don't have too much luggage, though is ofen quite a bit of walking in subway stations, and if you have to make several changes, can be pretty tiresome.

  There are several buses that run into town too. Airport staff should be able to advise which bus is the easiest to take. Though with the airport express up and running, it hardly seems necessary.

• Shanghai Pudong Airport - PVG

  • Maglev - This is a super-fast magnetic train that'll travels at about 500km/h - it'll do the 30km from the airport to Longyang Road Metro Station in 8 minutes!! It costs 50RMB one-way and 80RMB return. It only runs between 06:45 and 21:30 though, which sucks if you have an early/late flight.
  • Buses - There are a tonne of buses running between the city and the airport. It's useful if you have the address of your hotel written down to show to staff at the airport. They should be able to point you in the right direction. Buses cost around 16RMB one way.
  • Taxis - It'll cost you around 200RMB into Shanghai city, but of course it depends on traffic. Again, you should take taxis from the official taxi stand only.

• Shanghai Hongqiao Airport - SHA

  I haven't been to this airport so not sure. It's closer to town though, so prices are cheaper for taxis and buses.

• Xi'an Airport - XIY

  The airport is actually in Xian Yang about 40km from central Xi'an. Airport buses cost about 25RBM and Line 1 operates 24 hours, to and from the Bell Tower (pretty much in the middle of Xi'an). If you want to get a taxi to the airport it'll cost about 100RMB. Make sure the meter is switched on.

  DON'T DRINK COFFEE AT HAMANDE CAFE. Worst coffee in the world.

• Guilin Airport - KWL

  Shuttle buses depart every half-hour (6.30am - 8pm) from the airport to the CAAC building in downtown Guiln. 20RMB one way. Trip takes about 40mins. Taxis between airport and the city cost about 100RMB.

  If you want to go from the airport direct to Yangshuo, it'll cost you around 300RMB. I don't know if that's the metered price, but that's the price airport information staff quoted me. In the reverse direction from Yangshuo direct to the airport it'll cost you around 200RMB or 240RMB if you take the freeways.

Places

• Beijing
• Shanghai

See also

• China - Wikitravel