China travel details
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China has a population of 1B with main currency as Chinese Yuan. The languages spoken are Chinese. China travel safety advice is Exercise a high degree of caution. Automatic teller machines are common in China. Almost no one in China asks for tips. Internet speed in China is on average 4.1 Mbps.In China you drive on the right side.
China travel advice
⬤ Exercise a high degree of caution
We've reviewed our advice for China and continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution. As previously advised, authorities have detained foreigners on the grounds of 'endangering national security'. may be at risk of arbitrary detention or harsh enforcement of local laws, including broadly defined National Security Laws.
We advise:
Exercise a high degree of caution in China overall.
Issue Date : May 2, 2024
China weather
China essential details
Plugs
China uses 220V, 50Hz with sockets and plugs Type A, Type C and Type I.
Languages
The languages that are typically spoken are Chinese
Money in China
Currencies
China uses the Chinese yuan (symbol: ¥), code CNY.Banknotes come in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 yuan and 50, 20 and 10 fens. Yuan is subdivided into 100 fens. Coins come in denominations of 1 yuan and 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1 fens.
Cards
Accepted only within large businesses Credit cards are only accepted within China from large businesses & hotels. Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and UnionPay are the most widely accepted. Discover and American Express are less common. Diners Club is pretty rare. JCB and RuPay are unknown.Note that even if you have appropriate card type, international credit cards (issued outside China) have low acceptance within merchants.
ATM
Automatic teller machines are common in China. You can usually find them in both large & small cities.You do not need a chip & PIN card to use an ATM — your standard magnetic card will work fine.
Tipping
Do not tip Almost no one in China asks for tips. It is not expected nor obligatory to give a tip. Receipts might sometimes include a service charge.
Internet in China
Internet
Internet speed in China is on average 4.1 Mbps. Majority of the websites (including Google, YouTube and Facebook) are blocked in China meaning you will need to use special software called VPN to access those blocked sites.
Read more to get the most popular ones.
Phones
You can buy a SIM card for about ¥54.06, which includes 1 GB of data plan. You can choose from 3 telecoms: China Mobile (????), China Telecom (????) or China Unicom (????). China uses GSM mobile networks GSM 900 and GSM 1800. If you don't want to buy SIM card in China upon arrival, make sure to check the roaming charges with your telecom provider before your departure so there are no surprises when you return home.
Calling
To call China, dial +, then 86 (the country code for China), then the area code (without the initial 0) and the local number. For local calls within China, start with the area code (with the initial 0). In the case above area code is 10 .
China travel details
Driving in China
Road rules
In China you drive on the right side. Most cars have manual transmission (stick). Unless otherwise posted, the speed limits for cars and motorcycles are as follows: 100-120 km/h (62-74 mph) on motorways, 100-120 km/h (62-74 mph) on expressways, 30-60 km/h (18-37 mph) in all built-up areas and 60-80 km/h (37-49 mph) on undivided highways. Right turn on red lights is allowed unless a sign explicitly forbids it. It is illegal to drive with blood alcohol content higher than 0.02%.
Emergecy
Universal
112
Police
102
Ambulance
103
Fire department
101
China map
China visa advice
If you're considering exploring China beyond the usual transit spots, our comprehensive guide on China transit visa offers deeper insights and broader options for travelers of different nationalities. For those transiting through other countries en route to China, understanding China Transit Visa requirements is crucial to ensure a smooth journey.