| Tourism is a burgeoning industry in China making it | | | | affordable, safe and well maintained operating |
| not only a prime business destination but a must see | | | | between major cities; services include Beijing to |
| travel stop. To ensure that you enjoy your trip, | | | | Guangzhou, Shanghai, Harbin, Chengdu and Urumqi. |
| Chinese Translation Pro has compiled these handy | | | | There are three types of trains, the Express option |
| travel tips as well as useful bits of information to | | | | being the best of the three. There are four varieties |
| take with you. | | | | of fare: hard seat, soft seat (only on short-distance |
| When to Go: If you looking for the lowest price on | | | | trains such as the Hong Kong to Guangzhou (Canton) |
| travel, plan your trip during the Low Season; | | | | line), hard sleeper and soft sleeper. Children under 3 |
| December, January and February. The Peak Travel | | | | ft tall travel free and those under 4ft pay a quarter |
| Season pertains to May, September and October. | | | | of the fare. Train travel is often a comfortable |
| March, April, June, July, August and November are | | | | experience albeit, a time consuming one, due to the |
| perhaps the best travel months with respect to | | | | distance between destinations. Domestic plane travel |
| price, weather and entertainment. | | | | is a time saving alternative. Flights from Shanghei to |
| Getting There: The national airline is Air China. As is | | | | Beijing, Hong Kong to Shanghei and Guangzhou to |
| true of any flight, travelers should confirm their | | | | Shanghei are approximately 2 hours; however, the |
| return flight reservations; airline overbooking has led | | | | roundtrip travel costs average $350 USD. Though |
| to people being stranded in China. Also, be prepared | | | | express train travel between these cities ranges |
| for a lengthy flight. A nonstop from New York to | | | | from 12 to 18 hours, the prices are decidedly more |
| Beijing lasts 14 hours while a charter to Shanghai lasts | | | | affordable, between $15 to $30 USD. |
| upwards of 18 hours. | | | | Visa- Don't Leave Home Without It: Visas for leisure |
| There are four airport hubs within China; Beijing | | | | travel to China are easy to obtain, granting a one |
| Peking (BJS/PEK), Guangzhou Baiyun International, | | | | month's stay. The Chinese embassy or consulate, |
| Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) and Shanghai Pudong (PVG). | | | | your travel agent or an independent visa service will |
| Each airport includes taxis, public and shuttle buses, | | | | gladly assist you. In the United States, contact the |
| duty free shops, banks/currency conversions, post | | | | Chinese Embassy in Washington DC or the |
| offices, business and internet facilities and bars and | | | | Consulates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, |
| restaurants. Important to note is the departure tax, | | | | Houston or New York. US citizens can stay in Hong |
| which is paid in Chinese currency only. Children under | | | | Kong without a visa for up to 30 days. |
| 12 and transit passengers, proceeding within 24 hours | | | | Tips on Tipping: Tipping is widely accepted and |
| of travel, are exempt. | | | | encouraged by tour guides, hotel staff and car |
| Once There: Once in China, there are several | | | | services. In restaurants, if the tip has not already |
| transportation options via rail, sea and automobile. | | | | been figured into the bill, a 10 to 15 percent tip is |
| Railways provide the principal means of | | | | advisable. |
| transportation throughout China. The trains are | | | | |