 |
|
|
|
| Entry Regulations / General Information |
|
|
|
Entry for German Nationals |
|
|
 |
| Peking Opera |
Travellers must hold a visa; for the application a national passport valid for at least a further six months must be submitted (among other documents). The application procedure takes approximately four workdays; application and collection in person required.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Geographical Location |
|
|
The People's Republic of China is situated in Asia; with regard to territorial extension, it is the third largest country in the world. To the north, it is bordered by Kazakhstan, Mongolia and the Russian Federation, to the east by the Yellow Sea and the East Chinese Sea as well as by North Korea, to the south by Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan and Nepal, and to the west by Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Total area: 9,572,395km˛.
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (including Taiwan), 5 autonomous regions, 4 city districts (Peking, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing), and 2 special administrative regions (Hong Kong, Macau).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Population |
|
|
Population: approximately 1.3 billion.
Cities (approximate numbers): Beijing (capital) 11.5 million; Shanghai 13.4 million; Harbin 9.5 million; Tianjin (Tientsin) 9.2 million; Wuhan 7.8 million; Chongquing 7,5 million; Changchun 7.2 million; Guangzhou (Canton) 7.2 million; Xi`an 7.2 million; Hong Kong (special administrative region) 6.8 milllion; Shenyang 6.8 million; Nanjing (Nanking) 2.7 million;
Macau (special administrative region) 449,000; Lhasa (capital of Tibet) 250,000.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Language |
|
|
Chinese (Putonghua and Guoyu). Moreover, there are numerous dialects, as well as languages which are also used as official languages in autonomous regions (for example Tibetan, Uigurian and Mongolian).
English is generally used in business life. Outside the commercial sphere and outside tourist areas, however, travellers must expect that little or no English is spoken.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time Difference |
|
|
Central European Time (CET) +7 hours.
During European summer time, the time difference is +6 hours.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electricity |
|
|
220V alternating current, 50Hz.
Travellers are recommended to carry a multiple adapter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Postal Service |
|
|
Post sent by airmail to Europe takes approximately 10 days to arrive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone |
|
|
The international dialling code for long-distance calls from Western Europe to China is 0086; for international calls from China, the prefix "00" must be dialled before the relevant country code (in the case of calls to Germany, for example, 0049). Automatic dialling service is available virtually exclusively in de luxe and first-class hotels, sometimes also at post offices. Telephone charges in hotels are high; conversely, local calls can frequently be made free of charge.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS: Police 110, traffic police 122, ambulance 120, fire brigade 119.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mobile Phones |
|
|
Mobile network technologies: GSM 900.
Information for users of mobile phones registered with German network providers: Mobile phones connected to T-Mobile, E-Plus, O2 or Vodafone networks can be used in the cities and surrounding areas. Travellers intending to use other mobile phones are advised to contact their network provider for detailed information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Internet |
|
|
Country code suffix: .cn
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Holidays |
|
|
1st January (New Year; as well as one day off nationwide), 1st -3rd May (3 days off), 1st -3rd Octobre (National holidays;3 days off), additionally the annual movable Chinese New Year. It is held on the first day of the first month according to the lunar calendar.
Please note that public holidays which fall on a Saturday or Sunday will be brought forward to the following Monday and/or Tuesday.
It should also be noted that the Chinese public holidays, which officially only last for three days, are usually extended to five days (the preceeding weekend will be transmuted into additional working days to make up for the ensuing loss of time).
Business visits should not be arranged immediately prior to or after public holidays.
The main holiday seasons range from mid-January to mid-February and from mid-July to late August.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Opening Hours |
|
|
Banks: Mon to Fri 9a.m-12p.m., 2p.m.-5p.m., Sat 8a.m.-11:30a.m.;
Offices and public offices: Mon to Fri 8a.m.-12p.m., 2p.m.-5p.m.;
Shops: Mon to Sun 8a.m.-8p.m., in winter 10a.m.-9p.m.;
Post offices: Mon to Fri 8a.m.-6p.m., Sat 8a.m.-2p.m.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clothes |
|
|
Travellers visiting Northern China should invariably carry winter clothes during the winter months. In summer, airy summer clothes are adequate. Particularly when staying in air-conditioned hotels, light jackets and pullovers should be carried as well. In Southern China, summer clothes are adequate almost throughout the year; from December to February, however, some warm clothes should be taken as well. Rainwear is required throughout the year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2001 All rights reserved TIP Gesellschaft für Touristik-Informations-Programme mbH, München Last updated: 14.03.2007 - Proposals, hints and contact - Copyright
|
|
|
|
|