Travel Advice China | Travel Tips| Pyala-Travel.com
What to wear, money matters and more China travel advice! At Pyala, we have gathered all the information, so you can read about all things practical.
Money Matters
Pegs
In recent years new ATMs appear in the streets of Chinese cities. With these machines you can withdraw money with your regular bank or ATM with Maestro or Visa logo.
In China (including Tibet), the local currency, yuan (kuai), divided into 10 jiao (MAO). One yuan is about € 0.12. In Hong Kong, the local currency is Hong Kong dollar. One HK $ is approximately € 0.09. Look for the latest exchange rate on www.oanda.com. Well check with your bank or you can pin with your debit card abroad.
We recommend you to bring some pocket money in cash euros in addition to using the ATM in case an ATM has failed. In China, the use of credit restricted. In the big cities, you can withdraw money. We recommend that you bring a credit card for emergencies. Remember, if you are in an accident, cost yourself first and pay back can only recover the money from your insurance company..
Gratuities and commissions
Tipping in China is becoming increasingly common.
Taxi drivers and operators in restaurants do not need gratuities. In the case of local guides and drivers from local agents as well as the 'bell boys' in the hotels gratuities are appreciated. In addition, the pocketing commissions in shops and restaurants are now customary in China. Giving a tip at the end of a tour or (multi-day) package is certainly appreciated by your guide and / or driver. As a non-binding guideline, you can keep: in big cities RMB 100 per day to guide and RMB 80 per day driver in smaller towns RMB 75 per day to guide and driver to RMB 50. These amounts appear in ratio relatively high, but they are as a guideline common in the tourist industry in China.
Haggle
In stores usually can not be bargained. On the streets you can still haggle, as with vendors offering their wares at popular attractions. How much to haggle is difficult to say. Many Chinese believe that Westerners without exception are rich and start with a ridiculous asking price, which however rapidly can go down.
In recent years new ATMs appear in the streets of Chinese cities. With these machines you can withdraw money with your regular bank or ATM with Maestro or Visa logo.
In China (including Tibet), the local currency, yuan (kuai), divided into 10 jiao (MAO). One yuan is about € 0.12. In Hong Kong, the local currency is Hong Kong dollar. One HK $ is approximately € 0.09. Look for the latest exchange rate on www.oanda.com. Well check with your bank or you can pin with your debit card abroad.
We recommend you to bring some pocket money in cash euros in addition to using the ATM in case an ATM has failed. In China, the use of credit restricted. In the big cities, you can withdraw money. We recommend that you bring a credit card for emergencies. Remember, if you are in an accident, cost yourself first and pay back can only recover the money from your insurance company..
Gratuities and commissions
Tipping in China is becoming increasingly common.
Taxi drivers and operators in restaurants do not need gratuities. In the case of local guides and drivers from local agents as well as the 'bell boys' in the hotels gratuities are appreciated. In addition, the pocketing commissions in shops and restaurants are now customary in China. Giving a tip at the end of a tour or (multi-day) package is certainly appreciated by your guide and / or driver. As a non-binding guideline, you can keep: in big cities RMB 100 per day to guide and RMB 80 per day driver in smaller towns RMB 75 per day to guide and driver to RMB 50. These amounts appear in ratio relatively high, but they are as a guideline common in the tourist industry in China.
Haggle
In stores usually can not be bargained. On the streets you can still haggle, as with vendors offering their wares at popular attractions. How much to haggle is difficult to say. Many Chinese believe that Westerners without exception are rich and start with a ridiculous asking price, which however rapidly can go down.
Transport
Flight
Domestic flights are all done by Chinese airlines usually fly with newly purchased equipment (esp. Airbus and Boeing). During bad weather may increase flights delayed and sometimes flights are canceled without notice.
Trains
The Chinese trains are divided into four classes: hard and soft seat, hard and soft sleeper. Hard Sleeper Class: open compartments with three sofas above the other. These banks are incidentally not hard, the bank is lined with a foam layer. Soft Sleeper Class: in the lockable cabin has four beds, two beds on either side above the other. In both classes are linen. On some routes have deluxe soft sleeper cabs present, there are two beds in a cabin close down there. The train is usually a dining car, where you can have lunch and dinner. There will also be regular staff along with a trolley full of snacks and drinks. Meals are not included in the price of the train ticket. At the station itself, you can also get in for the purchase all types of refreshments. The train is a boiling water tap available, so it is certainly advisable to bring instant noodles.
Buses
For the public bus on most routes is that there is little bone and / or sitting and that you are dealing with rattling windows. Combined with the fact that the road regularly is still in a bad state, it means that the bus trips are often heavy and time is an elastic concept. While you could have the views along the way and you get the impression from daily life in the villages. The bus frequently stops for toilet stops and a meal. Today we see a lot of the luxury coach routes appear to be used as public transport. If it is possible for our agent to get tickets, we will arrange this for you.
Taxi’s
In the big cities, taxis are abundant. On the outside of the car mentioned what a taxi costs per kilometer, ranging from 1.80 to 2.80 yuan per km. Most taxis have a meter, make sure that is also turned on by the driver. If he does not, agree on a price beforehand this.
Domestic flights are all done by Chinese airlines usually fly with newly purchased equipment (esp. Airbus and Boeing). During bad weather may increase flights delayed and sometimes flights are canceled without notice.
Trains
The Chinese trains are divided into four classes: hard and soft seat, hard and soft sleeper. Hard Sleeper Class: open compartments with three sofas above the other. These banks are incidentally not hard, the bank is lined with a foam layer. Soft Sleeper Class: in the lockable cabin has four beds, two beds on either side above the other. In both classes are linen. On some routes have deluxe soft sleeper cabs present, there are two beds in a cabin close down there. The train is usually a dining car, where you can have lunch and dinner. There will also be regular staff along with a trolley full of snacks and drinks. Meals are not included in the price of the train ticket. At the station itself, you can also get in for the purchase all types of refreshments. The train is a boiling water tap available, so it is certainly advisable to bring instant noodles.
Buses
For the public bus on most routes is that there is little bone and / or sitting and that you are dealing with rattling windows. Combined with the fact that the road regularly is still in a bad state, it means that the bus trips are often heavy and time is an elastic concept. While you could have the views along the way and you get the impression from daily life in the villages. The bus frequently stops for toilet stops and a meal. Today we see a lot of the luxury coach routes appear to be used as public transport. If it is possible for our agent to get tickets, we will arrange this for you.
Taxi’s
In the big cities, taxis are abundant. On the outside of the car mentioned what a taxi costs per kilometer, ranging from 1.80 to 2.80 yuan per km. Most taxis have a meter, make sure that is also turned on by the driver. If he does not, agree on a price beforehand this.
Communications
Internet
IIn most hotels in China today is Wi-Fi or Internet connection available. In major Chinese cities you may use the Internet outside your hotel in cafes and bars. There are also found in many places internet cafes, even in smaller towns. In China, in Tibet, there is Internet censorship. It is not possible to retrieve information such as Tibet, Taiwan and other politically sensitive issues. Also, social media like Facebook and Twitter inaccessible in China.
Phone
In Chinese cities you can call anywhere using your mobile phone. Enquire before departure or at your ISP or your device and subscription calls allow overseas. Want your Dutch phone (number) to call a Chinese number, you must use the country code +86.
If you stay longer in China and regularly call to someone in China, it is convenient to buy a Chinese SIM card in your mobile phone. The purchase of the SIM card is RMB 100 (€ 10) and you can always buy on credit of RMB 100. This is cheaper than calling from your hotel or your Dutch sim card.
Letter Post
China's postal delivery is reliable. Stamps are available at most hotel receptions and kiosks. Airmail from China to the Netherlands and Belgium takes about a week left.
IIn most hotels in China today is Wi-Fi or Internet connection available. In major Chinese cities you may use the Internet outside your hotel in cafes and bars. There are also found in many places internet cafes, even in smaller towns. In China, in Tibet, there is Internet censorship. It is not possible to retrieve information such as Tibet, Taiwan and other politically sensitive issues. Also, social media like Facebook and Twitter inaccessible in China.
Phone
In Chinese cities you can call anywhere using your mobile phone. Enquire before departure or at your ISP or your device and subscription calls allow overseas. Want your Dutch phone (number) to call a Chinese number, you must use the country code +86.
If you stay longer in China and regularly call to someone in China, it is convenient to buy a Chinese SIM card in your mobile phone. The purchase of the SIM card is RMB 100 (€ 10) and you can always buy on credit of RMB 100. This is cheaper than calling from your hotel or your Dutch sim card.
Letter Post
China's postal delivery is reliable. Stamps are available at most hotel receptions and kiosks. Airmail from China to the Netherlands and Belgium takes about a week left.
Chinese Languages
In China, we speak different languages. The official language of China is Mandarin, a language based on the language that is spoken
around the capital Beijing. It is used in schools and in the national media.
The Chinese spoken language has a completely different structure and a
different sound than the western languages. The intonation determines the
meaning of the word. Do you speak a word not in the right tone, you probably
say something different, so it means in most cases Chinese do not understand what you say. Yet they are always
very impressed by foreigners who adhere to a few words of Chinese. It is
certainly worthwhile to learn some useful words in your head.
Pinyin is a system to write Chinese characters in letters. This is not necessarily useful: the statement is different than we would expect, and in China know especially the older Chinese are not even consulted with the pinyin. Do you have an address only in pinyin, ask the youth for the characters to convert, so that you can show the taxi driver the Chinese address.
Pinyin is a system to write Chinese characters in letters. This is not necessarily useful: the statement is different than we would expect, and in China know especially the older Chinese are not even consulted with the pinyin. Do you have an address only in pinyin, ask the youth for the characters to convert, so that you can show the taxi driver the Chinese address.
Climate and clothing
China is a huge country with major climatic
differences. The far north's Siberian cold, while the south is subtropical. If
you draw an imaginary line from Shanghai via Xi'an to Urumqi then the air north
of this line dry and south of it moist.
Generally it is hot to very hot from May to September throughout China. The rainy
season falls in July and August, mainly in the south of the country. The
western part of China, Xinjiang, the whole year by very dry, and it is very
cold in the winter. In the southeast, the winters are short and wet. Remember
that, wherever you are in China, in the higher areas also can be cold in the
summer. Especially after sunset, temperatures can plummet. We recommend that
travelers in spring and autumn also bring warm clothes for cool days and
evenings.
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