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Here's some travel advice to keep you informed and safe when it comes
to travel to China...
Crime
Petty crime directed at foreigners, particularly pick pocketing, purse snatching and theft of laptops and mobile phones continues to increase. Resisting can lead to violence or injury. Travellers have been targeted on overnight long distance trains and buses and on public transport. Foreigners have been assaulted and robbed, particularly in popular expatriate gathering areas including the bar and shopping precincts of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other major cities.
Foreigners have also been targets of a number of scams when travelling in China. An increasing number of tourists are being approached and invited for a drink at a teahouse, cafe or bar nearby to "practice English". Afterwards the tourist is presented with a vastly inflated bill and is not permitted to leave until they pay the bill by credit card. In some cases, accompanying threats of violence and credit card skimming or duplication have also been reported.
There have been reports of various ATM scams including the use of fake ATMs that take the user's card. ATM robberies are also common. It is recommended you use ATMs when accompanied and during daylight hours to reduce risks.
We are seeing more reports of taxi drivers charging inflated prices and exchanging counterfeit money for change from large bills. It is recommended you carry small bills (RMB 10, 20 and 50) and hail taxis from official queues to reduce your risk of getting into trouble. You may also receive counterfeit money as change from hawkers, particularly in Beijing. For further information on how to reduce your risk on various types of scams visit the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's SCAMwatch website at www.scamwatch.gov.au.
Local Travel
Travellers are permitted to travel only in areas open to foreigners. Travel near military installations and near some border areas within China is restricted.
Visits to Tibet, and many remote areas not normally open to foreigners, require a permit. Generally only travellers in organised tour groups are permitted to travel to Tibet.
Tibet, Qinghai, parts of Xinjiang, and western Sichuan are situated at altitudes over 3000 metres. Travellers in these areas may suffer from altitude sickness.
Travel and living conditions vary greatly between city areas and less developed rural areas. You may have trouble finding services such as banking and telephones in rural areas.
Poorly maintained roads and aggressive driving can make travel by road in China dangerous.
Tour operators, public buses and ferries might not meet the safety standards you would expect in Australia, particularly in rural areas of the country.
Airline Safety
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate
China is in an active seismic zone and is subject to earthquakes. The rainy season occurs between April and October. Severe rainstorms can cause flooding and mudslides which may interrupt essential services. Typhoons can occur along the southern and eastern coasts between May and November. You should monitor weather reports if travelling in affected areas.
In the case of a typhoon, monitor local media reports and follow the instructions of local emergency officials.
The direction and strength of typhoons can change with little warning. You can check the latest typhoon information from the World Meteorological Organisation Severe Weather Information Centre and Asia Pacific Disaster Alerts.
In the event of an approaching typhoon, you should identify your local shelter. Flights in and out of affected areas could be delayed or suspended Available flights may fill quickly. You should contact your airline for the latest flight information. The typhoon could also affect access to sea ports in the region. In some areas, adequate shelter from a severe typhoon may not be available to all who may choose to stay. You should review and follow hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans. You should carry your travel documents at all times (i.e. Passport, picture ID's, etc.) or secure them in a safe, waterproof location. We also suggest that you contact friends and family in Australia with updates about your welfare and whereabouts. For further information, see our Travel Bulletin: Severe Weather – Cyclones, Hurricanes and Typhoons.
All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure.
Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Wildlife Watching
Travellers are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Money and Valuables
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas.
The Chinese Customs Administration requires that travellers carrying over US$6,000 (or equivalent in foreign currencies) in cash must declare it upon arrival in China. The declaration should be kept safely and shown to customs officials upon departure. Travellers who wish to depart China carrying between US$6,000 and US$10,000 (or equivalent in foreign currencies) should obtain permission from a Chinese bank to do so.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
For Parents
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Local Laws
When you are in China, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Business people should be aware of the risks and possible consequences deriving from commercial disputes. These include being prevented from departing China during the process of investigation, trial and enforcement of a judgement against an Australian defendant. Business people should seek legal advice before entering into contracts or partnerships.
In China, a person aged 14 years and above is considered to be responsible for their actions, and treated as an adult under the law. If detained, a person of this age will be held with adults and be subject to the same conditions and legal processes as adults.
There are strictly enforced laws which prohibit demonstrations without prior approval from the government. If arrested, you could be jailed or deported.
Penalties for drug offences are severe and include the death penalty.
Serious crimes may attract the death penalty.
Photography of military or government buildings may result in a penalty. You should seek permission from local authorities before taking photographs.
Homosexual acts are not illegal in China however you should be aware of local sensitivities.
All foreigners are required to register their place of residence with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival. Chinese authorities have recently become more rigorous in enforcing the registration requirement and in conducting spot-checks of foreigners’ identification documents. Foreigners staying with family or friends in a private home must comply with this requirement. Failure to do so could result in fines and detention. If you are staying at a hotel, this is done as part of the normal check-in process.
You should carry evidence of your identity at all times and present it upon demand of police authorities. Your passport or a Chinese residence card is an acceptable form of identity.
Falungong activities are banned in China. Falungong related demonstrations and activities contravene Chinese laws. If you participate, you could be arrested, imprisoned and/or deported.
Employment in China
Disputes over alleged misrepresentation of working and living conditions for Travellers working in China, particularly those teaching English, occur frequently. If you are considering travelling to China for work, you should verify the true nature of the work being offered and make sure you have the correct visa before arrival. You may also wish to seek professional legal advice before signing any contract, whether in Australia or after arrival in China.
Points to check carefully include:
- Employment contracts: Contracts may contain unacceptable conditions. For example, conditions for early termination may state that the employee surrenders the right to a return air ticket, and pay may be withheld.
- Passports: Reputable businesses will not request you to surrender your passport for "safe-keeping".
- Failure to maintain a valid visa could result in a fine of 500 RMB per day and detention. Employment in China usually requires a 'Z-class' visa and a Chinese residence permit.
Our Living and Working Overseas brochure provides further information for Travellers considering working or living overseas.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Travellers overseas. Travellers who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Travellers overseas. Travellers may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Travellers who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Information for Dual Nationals
The Chinese government does not recognise dual nationality and will not allow consular access by the Australian Embassy or Consulate to Travellers detained by Chinese authorities if they have entered China on a Chinese passport, a Hong Kong or Macau identity card or any non-Australian foreign passport. This includes identity cards issued in Taiwan. Consular access is, however, allowed to those who have entered on Australian passports. Therefore, if you are an Australian/Chinese dual national, you should travel on your Australian passport, obtain a visa for China and present yourself as Australian at all times.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.
Entry and Exit Requirements
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of China for the most up to date information.
If travelling to China, your passport must be valid for at least six months after the duration of your intended stay and you must also be able to provide evidence of a return or onward ticket. A visa is required for all travellers to China whether for tourism, business, employment or study purposes. You should ensure that you obtain the appropriate visa for the purpose of your visit. It is very difficult to obtain a visa at Chinese border entry points.
Chinese Visa Policy Tightens
Police authorities (Public Security Bureau) have tightened regulations in relation to the issue and renewal of visas since July 2007.
Major changes include:
- It is no longer possible to change tourist (L) and exchange (F) visas to other types.
- Many visa applications now must be conducted in person by the applicant.
- Express visa service is no longer available.
One implication of the change of visa regulations is that Travellers who have lost or had their passport stolen in China can no longer expect visa renewal to be expedited for them to meet travel or flight schedules. We encourage you to keep a copy of your passport in a safe place when travelling in China.
Authorities have also tightened enforcement of entry and exit violations Current regulations stipulate a 500RMB fine (not to exceed 5,000RMB) for each day overstayed, and/or detention. The period of detention can range from 5 to 30 days depending on the severity of the violation. Recently we have received reports that authorities have fined or detained Travellers who have overstayed their visa.
We recommend that travellers be sure to leave China before their visa expiry date.
Hong Kong and Macau are Special Administrative Regions with separate visa and entry administration. Travellers who exit mainland China to visit Hong Kong or Macau may require a new Chinese visa to re-enter mainland China. Some travel permits, issued in Hong Kong or at Hong Kong-Macau-Chinese mainland border crossings, are valid for limited travel to designated areas only such as Shenzhen, Zhuhai or other areas in Guangdong Province. It is illegal to use these permits to travel to other parts of China. Travellers should carefully check the details on their visa.
You may need a visa to transit China if your stopover requires you to leave the airport. However, if you are staying within the confines of the airport for less than 24 hours while transiting China on route to a third country you do not need a transit visa. You should check these requirements with the Embassy or Consulate of China for the most up to date information.
As a preventative measure against SARS and Avian Influenza, local quarantine measures on entry into China include completion of a health and quarantine declaration form and may include a body temperature check. In some cases, an additional medical examination may be required.
Health Issues
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for staying healthy while travelling overseas.
The standard of medical care and the range of familiar medications available in China is often limited, particularly outside of major cities. Medical personnel in rural areas of the country may lack adequate training. Some hospitals in major cities have specialised departments for treating foreigners. Hospitals and doctors often require cash payment, prior to providing medical services, including for emergency care. Medical evacuation from China is very expensive.
Avian influenza
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Travellers on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
People have died from avian influenza in China, including three deaths in 2007, according the World Health Organization. The Department of Health and Ageing advises Travellers who reside in China for an extended period to consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral medicine for treatment. Long term residents are at a greater risk of exposure to avian influenza over time. You should seek medical advice before taking antiviral medicines. Travellers intending to travel to China for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks.
If the avian influenza virus mutates to a form where efficient human-to-human transmission occurs, it may spread quickly and local authorities could move quickly to impose restrictions on travel. Australian travellers and long-term residents in China should be prepared to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being, including deciding when to leave an affected area and ensuring they have appropriate contingency plans in place. Travellers in China should monitor the travel advice and bulletin for updated information and advice, and ensure that their travel documents, including passports and visas for any non-Australian family members, are up to date in case they need to depart at short notice.
The Australian Government has decided as a precautionary measure to hold a limited supply of the antiviral medicine oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and protective face masks at most of its overseas missions. The antivirals would primarily be used to protect emergency staff providing consular and other essential services in the event of a widespread outbreak of avian influenza amongst humans. Australian missions will not be in a position to provide influenza antiviral medicines to Travellers in affected areas. It is the responsibility of individual Travellers to secure their own supply of such medicines (such as Tamiflu or Relenza), if required.
Japanese Encephalitis: Japanese Encephalitis (also known as Encephalitis B), a mosquito-borne disease, is endemic in rural areas of Southern China from June to August.
Australia is currently managing a potential shortage of Japanese encephalitis vaccine which may affect the availability of the vaccine to some travellers. For further details see the Department of Health and Ageing's website or consult your doctor.
HIV/AIDS: HIV/AIDS is a significant concern in China. There is a risk of exposure to unsafe blood and blood products in regional China. Travellers may need to specifically request the use of sterilised equipment. Additional charges may be incurred for the use of new syringes in hospitals or clinics. You should exercise appropriate precautions if engaging in activities that expose you to risk of infection.
Rabies: Over 1000 cases of rabies have been reported annually in China during the past five years. There have been recent outbreaks of rabies in Yunnan and Shandong provinces caused by infected dogs.
Malaria: The risk of malaria is heightened in rural areas of the country, particularly in the provinces of Hainan, Yunnan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Tibet (Zanbo Valley areas only), Anhui, Hubai, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Shandong. The risk of malaria increases during warm weather.
The high levels of air pollution in industrialised areas in China may aggravate bronchial, sinus or asthma conditions.
Tap water in China is not safe to drink. Travellers are advised to drink only bottled water.
A health declaration card must be completed upon arrival in China. HIV-positive status is grounds for refusal of entry or deportation. Individuals applying for permanent residence, or intending to stay or study for longer than one year, must produce an HIV/AIDS test certificate on arrival (approved by a Chinese Embassy or Consulate abroad) or undergo a test within 20 days of arrival.
Quarantine requirements vary throughout the provinces and municipalities in China. The nearest Embassy or Consulate of the People's Republic of China can provide detailed information.
Source: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
If you're gonna travel abroad, make sure you are prepared... take it from us, travel insurance is an absolute must!
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