Destinations: China

The Great Wall. Royal gardens, ancient calligraphic arts, snowcapped mountains, and renowned museums in Beijing along the hutongs. The Forbidden City. The treasures of ancient Peking and the ever-mighty Yangzi River, one of the world's longest and soon to be partially flooded and lost forever. Terra cotta soldiers and glittering attractions along Shanghai's Bund, now one of Asia's most fascinating promenades.

Sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday that the Mongols were expelled, that Hong Kong was still the innocent "fragrant harbor," and towns like Guilin and Hangzhou were inaccessible to westerners. Nowhere else on earth are the ancient and the modern more fused— here throughout China are breathtaking natural wonders, engineering feats nonpareil, and hospitality unrivaled anywhere.

Today Shanghai is both a cultural and economic hub the whore has blossomed into a beauty queen full of more wholesome bewitchery. Learn Chinese tea ceremonies in luxurious parlors, travel by rickshaw to I.M. Pei buildings, take cuisine lessons from master chefs, enjoy the amenities at the world's leading hotels, stroll imperial gardens, and cruise the rivers of this magnificent land.

No wonder Kipling loved the Far East. No wonder Clark forged ahead out west—had he and Lewis had a steamer, they might have gone a thousand miles farther. Today, Kipling & Clark are your bridge to the east, bringing the wonders and possibilities of China closer and than ever before.

China Travel Tips

People’s Republic of China
– Area: 9,596,960 sq km (mainland)
– Population: 1.25 billion (mainland, largest population in the world)
– Capital city: Beijing (pop 13.8 million)
– People: Han Chinese (93%), plus 55 ethnic minorities
– Languages: Putonghua (Beijing Mandarin dialect), Cantonese
– Religion: Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Muslim, Christian
– Government: Communist Republic
– Head of State: Hu Jintao (since March 2003)
– GDP: US$4.5 trillon
– GDP per head: USD3600
– Growth rate: 7.8%
– Inflation: 2.8%
– Major industries: Iron, steel, coal, machinery, automobiles,
petroleum, chemicals,
– Telecommunications, textiles
– Major trading partners: USA, Japan, Germany, Republic of Korea, Taiwan

Facts for the China Traveler

Visas
Visas are required for all foreigners entering mainland China. Visas are not required, however, for 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

The U.S. Center for Disease Control provides a 24 Hr. recorded Travelers’ Health Line at (877) 394-8747 or www.cdc.gov.

When to Travel to China
Spring (March-April) and Autumn (September-October) are the best times to visit China. Daytime temperatures during these periods range from 20 degrees C to 30 degrees C (68 degrees F – 86 degrees F). Major public holidays, Lunar New Year in particular, are best avoided, due to extremely heavy domestic traffic.

Holidays
Chinese New Year (Lunar or Spring Festival) starts on the first day of the lunar calendar, which usually falls in February. Although officially lasting only three days, many people take a week off. Incredibly, nearly 400 million Chinese travel domestically within the Lunar New Year period, mostly in the direction from the cities to the rural areas to visit family. Similar large domestic travel patterns occur during the May Day Holiday (May 1-7). Ear plugs are handy at this time to dull the firecracker assaults, and prices of hotel rooms tend to go through the roof. The Lantern Festival isn’t a public holiday, but it’s big and it’s colorful. It falls on the 15th day of the 1st moon (around min-Feb to mid-March) and marks the end of the new-year celebrations. The famous lion dances occur throughout this period.

Currency
Mainland China uses the Renminbi Yuan (RMBY or CNY), or "People’s Money." Hong Kong uses the Hong Kong Dollar (HK$). Exchange money only at authorized facilities (such as banks, hotel desks, and "Friendship Stores"), and only exchange the amount of money travelers intend to spend before leaving Hong Kong or your hotel. Most large shops, restaurants, and hotels accept VISA, MasterCard, and American Express, but it is important to check first, especially in smaller locations and more remote areas. Please note that many vendors who do accept credit cards may add a surcharge for doing so.

Language & Environment
Mandarin is the official language of China. Cantonese, as well as English is 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. Or, it could merely denote a question. Try and speak the language – it’ll be appreciated! A friendly "Ni Hao", (hello, how are you) can go a long way in engaging with your Chinese hosts! Please remember that some people take offense to having a camera aimed at them. Many Chinese will decline having the photograph taken, substituting their children as subjects if handy. It is not rare for someone to be offended at being photographed, and it is always wise to ask permission or to photograph discretely.

Communications
China use GMT plus 8 hours, which is equivalent to U.S. Central Time Zone minus 10 hours. Making it easy on the traveler, China has dispensed with time zones entirely, despite her size. Although it can be a little disconcerting not to see the sun directly above you at noon, you won’t have to reset your watch.

Fax machines and computers with Internet capability are often available at hotels and from vendors in postal shops. Most hotels have adequate if not modern facilities. As you leave larger cities, modern communications can be difficult to find. In remote areas, even telephones can be rare. In general, however, access to the Internet is ubiquitous in China, through thousands of small Internet cafes.

Food & Drink
Take care to avoid potentially contaminated food such as unwashed vegetables. Remember, in the more 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.