Traveller info
Currency and costs
You will probably have to wait until you arrive in China to exchange money. The renminbi (RMB), literally the 'people's currency', is not generally available outside the People's Republic of China. Once you arrive, you can exchange currency at one of the many outlets in the airport, in the hotel's department stores, and the Bank of China. Some bank branches will actually have an automatic money dispenser, which accepts foreign currency and exchanges it for yuan.
It is not legal to exchange currency privately, and even authorized outlets, such as shops, must do so at the nationally set price. It is not advisable to exchange currency on the black market anywhere, and the same applies for Beijing.
There are 10 jiao in a yuan, and the largest yuan note is a 100. To complicate matters, some people may refer to the jiao as mao and the yuan as kuai. Prices are usually marked with ￥ in front of them and may also have the yuan symbol (元) at the end.
If you need to change unspent yuan back into your own currency, you will need the original receipt. A better idea is probably to withdraw currency as you need it from an ATM that allows you to use foreign cards to get local currency.
Up-to-date information on the current exchange rate is available here
Credit cards
These are increasingly acceptable, and the major hotels, shops, and larger restaurants are most likely willing to accept credit cards. China remains a very cash-focused economy though, so it is advisable to check with the store or restaurant owner if you plan to use a credit card, especially if you plan to travel outside Beijing.
Electricity
The standard voltage for mains power supply in China is 220 volts. While a variety of plugs are used throughout the country, the narrow two-prong type is the most common. Some hotels do not provide facilities such as hair dryers or irons, so you may wish to bring these with you.
Food
Food is inexpensive in Beijing, and some of the nicest food can be bought from the many street vendors, such as savoury pancakes, lamb and other kebabs, and various noodle dishes. The brave among you can visit Wangfujing's 'snack street', where you can sample silkworm, scorpion, and various skewered innards all grilled to order!
August is summer in Beijing, and travellers are advised to exercise caution when purchasing raw or partly-cooked food from street vendors. It may look delicious, but sometimes it's better to be safe than sorry.
Beijing's most famous dish is Peking Duck, and it's served at numerous restaurants. For those of you wanting the best Peking Duck experience, it's best to seek out a restaurant that specializes in roasting the perfect duck. It's said that the 'Quan Ju De' restaurant is a good starting point.
Beijing is also famous for its lamb hotpot. This is a cook-it-yourself affair with a steaming pot in the centre of the table. It's traditionally a non-spicy dish, but you can request a spicy broth, which apparently takes this idea to the extreme.
Drink
China's national drink is tea, and it is emphasized over coffee to the extent that it may be difficult to find a good coffee in Beijing.
Tourists are often warned to beware of tea house scams, where Chinese people posing as students wishing to practice their English lure the unsuspecting into tea houses for a demonstration of a tea ceremony, leaving the foreigner with a bill running into the hundreds of dollars. For this reason, it's essential to ask about prices before agreeing to any tea ceremonies, or to anyone appearing overly eager to foist something upon you.
Tap water
It is unclear whether it is entirely safe for tourists to drink the tap water in Beijing. For this reason, we recommend only drinking bottled water that has been purchased from legitimate establishments, such as supermarkets, as opposed to street vendors, who have been known to refill used bottles with tap water.
General travel hygiene
There is currently a worldwide pandemic of H1N1 influenza (Human Swine Influenza). Human Swine Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Symptoms appear to be similar to regular human influenza and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue.
There is currently no vaccine available to protect against swine flu. To limit the spread of germs, and to protect against getting this illness and others, APNIC encourages the following hygiene practices to be put into place:
- Practice and maintain effective hand hygiene (washing and drying your hands with soap).
- Ensure you cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing. Please dispose of the tissue after it has been used.
- Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose with your hands.
- Try to avoid contact with sick people.
Vaccinations against particular strains of influenza are available. It is recommended that you get vaccinated two weeks prior to travelling.
Languages
There are many different dialects of Chinese spoken throughout China, but in Beijing, Mandarin (or 'pu-tong-hua') dominates. For those of you who do not speak Chinese, you should be aware that the language has very subtle nuances with regard to pronunciation. For this reason, we advise that you print out the names of the destinations (in Chinese characters) you wish to travel to before embarking on site-seeing tours so that you can show the text to taxi drivers and so forth. You may also choose to list nearby intersections or landmarks.
China has increased its level of English education in recent years, so if you do require help on the street you're more likely to meet with success if you try to communicate with younger, educated types.
Religion
The most popular religions in China are Taoism, Buddhism, and the worship of 'Heaven' a disembodied but omnipotent force. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam also have somewhat smaller but not insignificant followings.
Safety
China is generally safe, but a small amount of petty street crime does occur on account of the recent influx of tourists. We recommend you try to minimize your chances of being seen as an easy target by wearing little jewellery and keeping your money and travel documents in a secure place. At night, we recommend travelling by taxi instead of walking.
As usual, please utilize your hotel safe for all your important or valuable belongings. You may also wish to make photocopies of your important documents (visa, credit card, etc.) just in case you lose them.
Weather
August is the hottest and second-wettest month of the year in Beijing. The average maximum and minimum temperatures are 29C (85F) and 20C (29F), respectively. The humidity is also likely to be high, so make sure you pack for warm weather.
Timezone
Beijing, along with the rest of China, is UTC +8 hours
That is:
- 8 hours ahead of GMT
- 2 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time
- 4 hours behind New Zealand
- 13 hours ahead of Canada Eastern Time
- 16 hours ahead of Canada Pacific Time
- 13 hours ahead of US Eastern Time
- 16 hours ahead of US Pacific Time