China Country Guide
Index:
- Basic Information
- Economy
- Transport System
- Famous Places
- Costs
Guide:
- Basic Information:
Name: China
Official Name: People’s Republic of China
Capital: Beijing
Climate: Extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north.
Race: 91.9% Han Chinese; 8.1% Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities.
Language: Putongua (Mandarin), Cantonese, Shanghaiese, Fuzhou, Hokkien-Taiwanese, Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages.
Official Language: Putongua (Mandarin)
Religion: Officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and eclectic. Taoism, Buddhism, 2%-3% Muslim, 1% Christian.
Government: Communist state
Population (in mil): 1,254.4
Literacy Rate: 81.5%
Visas: Visas are required by all foreigners entering mainland China * standard tourist visas are valid for 30-day visits.
Immunisations: Is essential against cholera, hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis, polio, rabies and typhoid.
Time: GMT/UTC plus eight hours
The whole of China is set to Beijing time
Electricity: 220V, 50 AC * plugs can be three-pronged angled, three-pronged round, two flat pins or two narrow round pins.
Currency: Renminbi (RMB). The basic unit is the yuan.
Travellers Cheque: Can be changed at the main branches of the Bank of China, the tourist hotels, Friendship Stores and some department stores.
Travellers' cheques are useful because the exchange rate is more favourable than cash.
Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express (branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen), JCB and Diners Club.
Can be used in most mid to top-range hotels, Friendship and department stores.
Cash advances can be made at head branches of the Bank of China (4% commission).
Tipping: Not really expected in mainland China
Bargaining: You can bargain in shops, street stalls, and hotels - but not in large stores.
- Economy:
Economic: The Chinese leadership has been trying to move the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented economy, but still within a rigid political framework of Communist Party control. Economic growth likely will continue, but at a declining rate.
Industries: Agriculture is the leading occupation in China, involving about 60% of the population. World’s major mineral-producing countries. Iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles and apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilisers, footwear, toys, food processing, autos, consumer electronics, telecommunications.
Infrastructure: Infrastructure bottlenecks pose a threat to future growth. Investment in transport, telecommunications, and energy has lagged behind that in industry, resulting in chronic shortages of transport services and increased urban congestion.
Chinese Virtue: Chinese are noted for good manners and hospitality as they regard harmony as superior to competition, value righteousness, despises profit, stresses equality and under emphasises beneficial results from individual action.
Chinese pay greater attention to human feelings, render favours to others and are loyal to their friends. They are generally reserve and do not advocate competition.
Harmonious Relationship: When doing business, Chinese always consider the interests of both parties to achieve a win-win goal, so as to maintain a harmonious relationship with their business associates.
An oral promise can be more important than a contract even though a written contract has a more legality effect than an oral one. Hence, a harmonious relationship will carry invisible weight than the terms of a contract.
Important decision making is often made over a banquet feast as Chinese prefer an atmosphere of friendliness and ease rather than a formal one.
- Transport System:
By Air: Air China, the national carrier also known as the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
DragonAir, can be booked through Cathay Pacific worldwide.
Departure tax for international flight is Y105, payable only in local currency.
Airport tax of Y30 to Y50 payable on all domestic flights.
By Train: Trans-Siberian railway
Other railway services operates from Vietnam-China, Tibet-Nepal, Pakistan-Xinjiang and Kazakstan-Xinjiang.
Other entry points: Zhuhai-Macau, Kashgar-Islamabad (Pakistan) via the Karakoram Highway, Urumqi-Almaty (Kazakstan), Kashgar-Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Beijing-Pyongyang (North Korea), Pinxiang/Hekou-Dong Dang/Lao Cai (Vietnam).
By Sea: Port of call includes Shanghai, Xiamen (opposite Taiwan), Tanggu (near Tianjin), Macau and Hong Kong.
- Famous Places:
4.1 Imperial Palace
Location: Beijing
Description: Also called the "Forbidden City', it is the palace of the former emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasty. Entrance fee is CNY60.
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4.2 Chang Cheng (Great Wall)
Description: Built as a protection against the Mongols from the north, it is a major tourist attraction and a place of historical significance.
4.3 Army of Terracotta Warriors
Location: Xi'an
Description: More than 7,000 life-sized tomb figures of warriors and horses buried with the First Qin Emperor in 210-209 BC.
4.4 The Silk Road
Location: Starts in Luoyang and Xi'an, reaches the Yellow River at Lanzhou, and beyond the edge of deserts and mountains.
Description: Before the discovery of the sea route to India, the Silk Road was the most important connection between the Orient and the West.
4.5 Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve
Location: Northwest Sichuan
Description: Lush vegetation, grass steppes, glaciers, clear lakes, waterfalls and rivers. Catch a glimpse of a variety of rare animals, including the giant panda.
5 Costs
Moderate Restaurant: $3-6
TopEnd Restaurant: $7-10
Budget Accomodation: $20-40 (eastern state)
$5-10 (western state)
Moderate Hotel: $70-150
TopEnd Hotel: $150-280
