China Travel Forum

[Fany]

something about china
Hola!

I think to go to China this winter for to meet my girl...
I go alone without any tourist group... so i would like just to get some infos:)
1)When i arrive in the airport... have i to fill some "immigration card" or some other doc?
(I ask coz in Ukraine i passed an hour filling modules... so this time i want to be ready in advance)
2)What about customs? Do i have to fill some declaration? (in some countries they ask even to declare the mobile phone...)
3)A time there... do i need to do some registration??? If yes, the hotel can do it for me or i have to go to the police?
4)Do u think that it is a bad idea to go there in winter??? (i thought the end of Jan)
5)A time there... for to go to a city to another do i need some special visa?
6)More in general is there smth that i should know before to go???
Thanks:)

[jonsin]

Hi, I've lived in China for nearly a year. Based on my experience:

1. Yes, you fill it in on the plane (it's in English & Chinese)

2. I don't think so. I just went right through with my mobile phone, laptop etc. I did get stopped at the baggage x-ray check because I had so many wires! Think they thought it might be a bomb, but it was just my computer wires!

3. Registration ? What do you mean ? You should have your passport and a valid tourist visa for China and that's all you need.

4. Winter, esp in North East is cold (its -10 to -20 here). Still, a great time to visit, few tourists. Beijing is currently below zero too! Problem you might have, Chinese New Year is 28th January 2006. This is NIGHTMARE travel time because the whole country shuts down for about 3 weeks. True!

5. You need visas possibly for Macao, definitely for Tibet. You didn't use to need a visa for Honk Kong, but that might have changed now. I don't know. I don't think you'll have any problems in any other mainland cities. Just always have your passport.

6. Just have fun. China is huge and crazy and amazing and shocking at times.

Good Luck