China Travel Forum

[Guest]

I am planning to travel china as a one month tour,I don't know if I need to get any other permission exept visa ,or just visa is enough?
thanks

[kamal]

Most of China is now open to foreign travelers – the exceptions are military sensitive zones and certain remote border areas, especially those inhabited by ethnic minorities.
Most places described in this site are open to foreigners, but one incident (like Xinjiang and Tibet) can cause new permit regulations to be issued overnight, some small towns in China seem to insist on these permits for the sold reason of extracting fines from any foreigners who show up without one.
Travel permits can be demanded from your hotel registration desks, boat or bus ticket office and unusual areas during spot checks by police. If you are off the track, but heading towards, a destination for which you have a permit, the police may stop you and revoke your permit.
The permit also list the modes of transport you are allowed to take: plan, train, ship or car – if a particular mode is crossed out then you can not use it. If a mode is cancelled it can be reinstated at the next police station, but that may be for only a single trip from point A to point B. you could try and carry on regardless – though if caught, you face losing your permit.
If you manage to get a permit for an unusual destination, the best strategy is to get to that destination as fast as you can (by plane if possible). Local police do not have the honor the permit and can cancel it and send you back. Take your time getting back – you are returning to civilization. Transit points usually don’t require a permit, and you can stay the night.