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?
Contents
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.
