Smooth Travel Book

Airport

Beijing: The airport is located 28 kms northeast of the city. A metered taxi from the airport into town should cost around US$15-$20 depending on your arrival time. Airport buses going to Beijing Railway station in town run every half hour. Please note that during rush traffic it could take as long as 3 hours to get from the airport to your Hotel.

Hong Kong: Hong Kong International Airport, located on the island of Lantau, is serviced by number of rail and bus links. The quickest option is to catch the Airport Express train for HK$90 (about US$12) for a one-way fare into Kowloon Station. Airport buses will take you direct to Nathan Road for HK$39 (about $6, small change required.)

Shanghai: The main international airport in Shanghai is in Pudong. Taxis in Shanghai come with meters and you can expect to pay between US$20 and US$25 for the ride into town, depending on the time of day. Depending on traffic the taxi ride can take anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour. A much better alternative might be to take the Maglev train (431Km/Hr) and then take a taxi from there to your Hotel.

Arrival Information

Transfers to the hotel are included in the price.

Cultural considerations

Please remember that you are travelling in a part of the world where standards and cultural values may be different to what you are use to. Please bear this in mind at all times and be sensitive to it in the way you dress and the way you behave. In many ways, we are all ambassadors to our own country when we go travelling.

Tipping

Tipping is commonplace in most parts of the world. Your leader will advise how much and where and when tipping is appropriate.

Telephone

The international dialing code for China is +86

There are many places in China where you can make calls as well as numerous types of calling cards available.

You should also check with your service provider to see if your mobile/cell phone is compatible with the networks used in China.

Most International mobile/cell phones will work in China but be prepared to pay extremely high roaming charges. We are happy to help you rent a mobile/cell phone while you are on our trip so you can keep in touch with family and business 24/7.

Electricity

The electricity supply in China is rated at 220 volts, and appliances requiring 240 volts will work normally. If you bring electrical appliances you should also bring an international adaptor. Plug design varies, depending where you are; however, two flat pins (USA style) or three-pronged angled pins (Australia style) are fairly common.

Internet

You can use the Internet service in the business center of most hotels.

Internet cafes are a booming business in China and you should have no difficulty in finding one in cities, big or small, the charges in those internet cafes may be cheaper.

Medical Issues

We strongly recommend you carry personal medical items for managing your common minor ailments such as colds, diarrhea, blisters and sore throats etc.

Travelers who take regular medication should take an appropriate supply. Asthma sufferers should ensure that they have an adequate supply of their routine medicine, as some major cities have high levels of air-borne smog.

Money

The local currency in China is the RMB or Chinese Yuan (CNY) and is the only currency that can be used within the country. It is advisable to take most of your money in Chinese Yuan or US dollars (which can be easily exchanged to local currency).

Other currencies such as Australian Dollars, Euros, and Yen can also be exchanged easily, and we recommend that you don't use money changers on the street. In the major cities it is possible to change travelers cheques, although there can be long delays when doing so.

ATM's are widely available throughout China and work with most Visa and MasterCard’s, although credit cards are only accepted in major cities.

Notes: We suggest you alert your credit card company of your upcoming travel to China so as not to raise any 'red flags' concerning your spending profile.

Safety and Security

Overall China is a reasonably safe country, and most people you meet will be friendly, honest and trustworthy, however, travel and living conditions are different from your home country, so be alert.

Penalties for drug offences are severe, and include the death penalty, as do certain other serious crimes. Be aware that local laws and penalties, even those which may seem harsh by your home country standards, do apply to you.

Rules

Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on our trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for Smooth China Travel Clients.
Smooth China Travel’s philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make our destinations such special places.

Travel Safety Advice

The police in China are generally very friendly, though they speak very little English except in Beijing, Shanghai or Shenzhen, where some police can generally speak simple fluent English. If you are lost then ask for directions as they will usually be happy to help.

For better communications, simple notes with common expressions both in Chinese and English are recommended, and also carry a card with your hotel’s name and address in Chinese as well as English writing.

Make sure that you protect your passport, tickets, visa documents etc by carrying them on your person, preferably underneath clothing in a pouch or money belt.

Make sure that you take notice of advice from our local guides. If they tell you an area is unsafe, do not go there.

As elsewhere in the world, in China you may come across people who try to exploit the unsuspecting. When on holiday, tourists often let down their guard and that makes them especially vulnerable to scams. So again, caution and common sense are vital. When you are shopping check your change carefully – if you are using large denomination bills, make sure that you get good, clean and genuine notes in your change.

Laundry

Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. In addition, laundry services can be found outside our hotel in all major cities.

Health

All Smooth China Travel clients need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully in the group travel experience.

If, in the opinion of our group leader, any traveler is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, Smooth China Travel reserves the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund. We therefore ask that you read the itinerary in these trip notes thoroughly and then realistically self-assess your physical ability to complete the trip as described. Please consult with your doctor if you have any doubts.

There are no specific health requirements for entry into China. However, you should consult your doctor for up-to-date information and prescriptions for vaccinations, anti-malarial requirements and any reasonably foreseeable illnesses whilst travelling in China. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements (including a spare pair of glasses). Please be aware that for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared.

Useful words and phrases

• Hello: Ni Hao ("Knee-how")
• Hello, how are you?: ("Knee-how Mah?)
• Goodbye: Zaijian ("Dzai-jyen")
• Please: Qing ("Cheeng")
• Thank you: Xie-xie ("Shyeh-shyeh")
• Yes: Shi ("Sher")
• No: Bu ("Boo")
• No - I'm not interested: Bu Yao. ("Boo Yow")
• How much? Duoshao ("Dwo-shahw)
• Sorry: Dui bu qi ("Dway boo chee")
• One: Yi ("EE")
• Two: Er ("Ehrr" - similar to "Air")
• Three: San ("Sahn")
• Four: Si ("Sue")
• Five: Wu ("Woo")
• Six: Liu ("Lee-oo")
• Seven: Qi ("Chee")
• Eight: Ba ("Bah")
• Nine: Jiu ("Jioh")
• Ten: Shi ("Shure" -similar to "sure")

Luggage

Suitcases are not recommended for Smooth China Travelers. Most travelers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags with wheels are acceptable, although we recommend your bag has carry straps as well, as you may be required to negotiate bus and railway station steps. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day walks and day trips.

You will be on the move a good deal, so pack as lightly as possible (try to stay under 10kg / 22lb). It is in your own interest as you are expected to carry your own luggage, though distances are never great.

In China it is also important that your bag can be locked as on the buses our luggage is often stored separately from the group. The smaller your bag in China the better, for when it comes to travelling on trains or buses only smaller bags will fit into the storage areas. If your bag does not fit in these areas then often the only place to put it is on your bed or seat. So to get maximum comfort, pack small and light!

Checklist

• Travel documents: passport, visa, travel insurance, air tickets, voucher
• Health requirements arranged
• Money: travelers cheques/cash/credit card
• Money pouch
• First aid kit
• Day pack to carry your personal needs during the day
• Alarm clock and torch/flashlight
• Mosquito repellent
• Refillable water bottle and plastic mug for train journeys
• Ear plugs can be useful if you are a light sleeper
• Tampons are difficult to buy in China
• Mandarin phrase book
• Inner sheet/sleeping sheet for overnight train journeys - sheets are provided on the train but you may want to bring your own
• Warm clothes in the winter months (Oct to April). It is recommended to bring thermal underwear, a fleece jacket, hat and gloves, raincoat or umbrella, especially in summer (June to September)
  
• Walking shoes with a good grip
• Small towel

Participation form

All Smooth China Travelers are required to sign a Participation Form on day 1 of the trip. Please note that signing the form is a prerequisite of travelling with Smooth China Travel. The wording of this form follows:

"I understand that travelling with Smooth China Travel may involve risks (and rewards) above and beyond those encountered on a more conventional holiday, and that I am undertaking an adventure trip with inherent dangers. I understand that I am travelling to geographical areas where, amongst other things, the standard of accommodation, transport, safety, hygiene, cleanliness, medical facilities, telecommunications and infrastructure development may not be of the standard I am used to at home or would find on a conventional holiday. I have read and understood the Smooth China Travel trip notes for the trip I am undertaking and have provided details of any pre-existing medical conditions I have to Smooth China Travel’s representatives.

I accept these risks and obligations and I fully assume the risks of travel. I release Smooth China Travel from any liabilities connected to these risks to the maximum extent permitted by law."

Food and Drink

Food

The Chinese have a reputation for eating just about anything that moves. The Cantonese have been known to claim that ‘if it has four legs, and it’s not a table, we’ll eat it’.

China is also a gourmet's paradise, and the food can be outstanding, if you know what to order. It includes a lot of fresh vegetables, meat, noodles, rice, fish, dumplings and regional specialties, with an amazing number of ways to prepare, spice, serve, pickle or preserve the food.

Western food is available some places, however can be of a standard that is quite different to home and usually takes a long time to get served. It’s best to carry snacks, for unexpected delays on transport, etc, or in case the local food isn’t to your liking.

Drink

Bottled water: Bottled water for drinking is available for purchase everywhere. It is not advisable to drink tap water, as you will not be used to the local water.

Soft drinks and beer: Soft drinks and beer along with tea and rice wine, are the most common drinks in local restaurants. There are many local and imported beers available.

Coffee: Coffee is becoming more popular, and chains such as Starbucks are opening up in major cities.

Tea: Tea is usually green tea, often scented with jasmine. Black teas may also have a stronger flavor than you are used to.

Milk: Milk is more often soymilk than cow's milk, but the latter is served in hotels which cater to westerners, and fresh, dry or long-life milk is available from convenience stores, as is yoghurt, and delicious yoghurt drinks.