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Asterism Travels & Tours - Myanmar | Myanmar has border with China (Yunnan and Tibet) |
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Yunnan (China) Yunnan at a glance
Travel tips to China Visas Visas are required for all foreigners entering mainland China. Visas are not required, however, for most of the western nationals visiting Hong Kong and Macau. Health risks Rabies, biharzia, dengue fever, malaria and cholera are all present, especially in rural areas. Immunization against cholera, Diptheria and Tetanus, hepatitis A and B, Japanese B Encephalitis, polio, rabies and typhoid is considered essential. When to go to China Spring (March - April) and Autumn (September - October) are the best times to visit China. However since Chna is a large country the situations are very much different from place to place. Major public holidays especially Lunar new year (usually in February) should be avoided due to extremely heavy domestic traffic. Money matters Mainland China uses the Renminbi Yuan (RMBY or CNY). Hong Kong uses the Hong Kong Dollar (HK$). Exchange money only at authorized facilities (such as banks, hotel desks, and "Friendship Stores"). Most large shops, restaurants, and hotels in big cities accept VISA, MasterCard, and American Express, but it is important to check first, especially in smaller towns and more remote areas. Many businesses who accept credit cards add a surcharge to pay bank processing fees. Languages Mandarin is the official language of China. Cantonese and English are widely spoken in Hong Kong. All Chinese languages and dialects are "tonal." Each syllable takes on a different meaning, depending on the pitch and inflection. For example, in Mandarin the syllable "ma" can mean "mother" or "horse," or a number of other meanings. Try and speak the language and it will be appreciated. A friendly "Ni Hao", (hello, how are you) can produce a friendly encounter with your Chinese hosts. Communications China use GMT + 8 hours. Making it easy on the traveler, China has dispensed with time zones entirely, despite her size. In large cities fax machines and computers with Internet access are available at hotels and from vendors in postal shops. Most hotels have such basic facilities. In remote areas, even telephones can be difficult to locate. However, access to Internet is available at many places including small towns. Food and drink Avoid potentially contaminated food such as unwashed vegetables. In the remote areas, do not drink (or brush your teeth with) the tap water or accept ice drinks unless you are certain that it has been boiled or filtered. When possible, drink water or other beverages directly from bottled containers. Major places of interest
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