TRAVEL TIPS

 Entry in and exit out of China

 To enter China you will need:                                   

* Your valid passport (or other credentials which can be proof of identity instead of your passport);
* Completed visa application form and recent 2-inch (4 cm X 6cm) full-face, bare-headed, half-length photo;
* Payment for the visa.

 The Chinese visa issuing authorities are located at the Chinese embassies, the general consulates and other organizations authorized by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China stationed abroad. 
The following is a list of available visas:

L Visa (tourist Visa) is the appropriate one for tourism purposes, issued to those who enter China temporarily for touring, family visiting or other personal affairs (multiple-entry is not granted for this category).

C Visa (Crewmember Visa), 
D Visa (Residence Visa), 
F Visa (Business/Visit Visa), 
G Visa (Transit Visa), 
L Visa (Tourist Visa), 
X Visa (Study/Student Visa), 
Z Visa (Work Visa), 
J Visa (Journalist Visa). 

Do not enter restricted areas unless you have first obtained a Foreigners Travel Permit from the local public security bureau.
Lost passports should be reported to the local public security authority as soon as possible. You also need to contact the embassy or consulate of your own country to apply for an exit document with a certificate issued by the local public security bureau. 

Remember to abide by the Chinese laws and respect the Chinese habits and customs. Anyone who disturbs China's national security, public interests and social order is likely to be punished.

Procedures on arrival in China:

• Health Check  - First stop – quarantine. Produce your visa and passport and fill in a Health Declaration Form. People with the following listed diseases such as yellow fever, cholera, VD, leprosy, infectious pulmonary tuberculosis or AIDS will be prohibited. Inoculation certificates will be required from those coming from areas with epidemics of yellow fever.
• Frontier Inspection  - Complete the  Entry Registration Card, and present your passport, visa and quarantine certificates for inspection.
• Luggage Check  - For public safety reasons, your luggage may be checked. During this process a customs declaration will be made and only after passing all procedures will you be allowed to enter China. 

Customs Regulations: 

Entry:
Complete a baggage declaration form (in two copies) and hand it in to customs, retaining the carbon copy to show upon exit.
Personal belongings will be admitted duty free, including food, two bottles of liquor and two cartons of cigarettes. Wristwatches, radios, tape recorders, cameras, movie cameras, and similar items may be brought in for personal use but cannot be sold or transferred to others and must be brought out of China.
Gifts for relatives or friends in China, or articles carried on behalf of others, must also be declared.
Visitors can bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currency and Chinese Renminbi traveller’s checks, and the unspent portion can be taken out.

Prohibited items include:
Arms, ammunition, and explosives of all kinds, radio transmitters-receivers and principal parts
Renminbi (Chinese currency) in cash, Poisonous drugs, habit-forming drugs, opium, morphine, heroin, etc.
Animals, plants and products thereof.

Exit:
Submit the baggage declaration form for customs inspection (the second copy). Travellers by ship are exempted.
Items purchased in China with RMB converted from foreign currencies may be taken out or mailed out of the country after receipts are presented for customs inspection. In cities where a Customs Office does not exist, this can be arranged through the local Friendship Store.

Prohibited items include:
Arms, ammunition, and explosives of all kinds ,Radio transmitters-receivers and principal parts
Renminbi (Chinese currency) in cash and negotiable securities in RMB , Ungratified foreign currency, foreign notes or drafts
Rare and precious copies of books about Chinese revolution, history, culture and art that are not for sale
Valuable animals, plants, and seeds
Precious metals, pearls, and jewels (things declared to the customs are exempted)
Other articles the export of which is prohibited by state regulations

All articles you have declared on the Customs Luggage Declaration Form upon arrival should be brought out of China. If any item is missing, a certificate from the relevant department is required or else a certain amount of import duty will be charged on it. All the articles detained by the customs upon your arrival can be retrieved if wished.

Departure:
Exit Registration Cards must be completed and passports and visas are checked.