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