Reminder for preparing for the tour to China

Packing. What to bring. Suitcases and backpacks. The most convenient combination is one large suitcase (not exceeding the sum of the measurements of three sides 158 cm) and a small city backpack for walking. Remember that it is essential to remain mobile. Without problems to move your things from the bus to the hotel, and if traveling through villages, there are hotels without elevator (porters are not everywhere). 

Clothes and accessories (we dress according to the “cabbage” rule - in layers). 

It is very important to stay mobile and not to take too much. Use the list below for optimal preparation:

• Rain protection: umbrella/coat/raincoat or a rain jacket (raincoats can be bought almost everywhere).
• Footwear: sturdy sneakers, with non-slip soles, suitable for both city walks and hard-surfaced mountain trails. Wearable on the foot. You can additionally take sandals/barefoot shoes for hot weather.
• Warm thermal underwear for cooler weather and mountain walking.
• Hat, gloves, scarf. For cool weather walks in mountainous areas.
• Sunglasses and a hat with brim.
• A thin down light jacket or an equally thin vest.
• T-shirts (several), pants.
• Underwear.

Note that China has had several consecutive years of abnormally hot summers. In the mountains, you need insulation, the higher it gets, the colder it gets.

Toiletries. Toiletries will be available at the hotels. However, if the program includes overnight train travel, be aware that towels, soap, toilet paper and disposable slippers are not provided. Also, in the Tibetan region, guesthouses do not always have towels, toilet paper.

First aid kit. Before your trip, form and take with you a first aid kit, which should necessarily include medicines for your chronic diseases, as well as unforeseen ailments, will save you time looking for medicines and save you the trouble of communicating in a foreign language, in addition, many medicines may have different names in different countries.

We recommend bringing with you:

• painkillers and cardiovascular medications;
• indigestion remedies;
• choleretic;
• drugs against motion sickness in transportation;
• plasters
• waterproof band-aids;
• sunscreens;
• mosquito repellent

Chargers and Powerbanks. Pay attention to the capacity of the batteries. If they exceed 10000 amps (there should be a marking), there is a risk to say goodbye to them at Chinese customs when leaving. 

Other. A small thermos, food container for long excursions in mountainous areas will be useful. A portable shoe dryer. 

Before leaving for the airport. Check if you are not subject to exit restrictions (via state services) due to debts, court bans, restrictions related to your place of work, etc. And settle these issues in a timely manner. And settle these issues in a timely manner.

Check the availability of the following documents:

1. passport with visa;
2. insurance policy (in printed or electronic form);
3. air ticket (printed or electronic);
4. if necessary, a notarized co

   Look at your airline ticket and check the airport, terminal and departure time.

   Check your hand luggage and baggage for prohibited items. Pay special attention to aerosols, stabbing and cutting objects, liquids (in hand luggage it is allowed to carry liquids in containers not exceeding 100 ml, in total not more than 1 liter in a single sealed bag), alcohol in hand luggage is allowed with a strength not exceeding 24%. Powerbanks, laptops, tablets, cell phones can only be in hand luggage. All mousses, foams, hairsprays any other liquid atomizers must not exceed 150 ml (label is mandatory!).   It is forbidden to import perishable foodstuffs into the PRC! 

Upon arrival at the airport. 

• Migration card. Back in the airplane you will be given a migration card, which you need to fill out. The address of the hotel (you can write only the name of the first hotel on the route) and contacts of the host party should be specified from the invitation (any Chinese phone number should be entered). 
• Passport control: you should present your passport with a visa, if you are in China for the first time, you will have to pass fingerprint scanning (this stage will be on the way to the passport control, you can't pass by, there are machines with employees, they will help you). 
• Border control. Very rarely, but possible random checks of mobile devices for prohibited materials (religious literature with extremist content, political materials (especially sensitive to materials where there are flags of Tibet, Taiwan or Uighur movements), materials related to racial discrimination, terrorism, military themes, materials that can harm the politics, economy and culture of China). If you refuse to undergo this procedure, you may be deported back.

At the exit from the baggage claim area you will be met by a guide with a group sign, indicated in the Itinerary. In case of individual transfer order - a sign with your surname. If you arrive by another flight and decide to get to the hotel by cab - the name of the hotel and its address are indicated in your Itinerary and in the Invitation. The airport cab is in a separate area and is very well organized. All cars are safe and run on meters. You may not have change when paying in cash.

Useful information

• Time. The whole country lives by the same time.

• Money and payments. The Chinese currency is the Yuan (CNY, RMB). It is not a problem to buy Yuan in large cities. If you cannot buy Yuan in advance, it is better to withdraw cash at the airport through terminals. You will not be able to exchange money during the tour at banks! If you take dollars with you, be sure to take the new model! Old dollars are accepted at a bad rate. Due to the lengthy currency exchange procedure, it is recommended to buy cash Yuan before the trip for personal expenses at the rate of 300-500 Yuan per day per person. We accept the following bank cards: Visa, Master Card, Maestro, Union Pay.

• Communication and useful applications. China code before the phone number: + 86. In China, most of the messengers we are used to, social networks, Google mail are blocked. Also, free VPN services do not work, it is advisable to have a paid one. According to the latest data. these VPNs worked: astrill vpn, vpn master, shadowrocket, clash. There are 2 main ways to stay in touch: 

1. Roaming. Check roaming conditions with your operator. Some operators have very favorable roaming options, for example, unlimited Google maps, messengers, etc.
2. Virtual travel e-SIM. Card with built-in VPN. Important: not all smartphone models support the use of virtual SIM cards.

• Before traveling to China, we recommend that you install the following applications on your smartphone:

  VPN. There is no most reliable one, they either work or not. If you take a paid one, it will most likely work with local Wi-fi

  WECHAT. The most popular Chinese messenger, it will require not only installation, but also verification (if you have acquaintances with wichat)

  MAPS ME. Familiar to everyone Google maps work only with VPN and have distortion in navigation, so they are practically unusable for a tourist. Chinese navigators like Baidu - only in Chinese. The convenience of Maps Me is that the maps can be downloaded in advance and have no distortion. Due to the rapid development of infrastructure in the country, some new roads and buildings may not be displayed, but in general it is one of the best mapping services. 

  Translators. Yandex translator offline - it is best to put it. GOOGLE translator or iTranslate. Do not try to learn Chinese phrases from phrase books, it is useless and will only confuse your interlocutor! Install one of the popular applications that allow you to translate voice messages and communicate with the Chinese without knowing the language. 

  ALIPAY. An application that allows you to quickly pay and make transfers from your phone without using a physical card. Advises to install it on your cell phone and register with identification through filling in passport data. You can refill your wallet through Chinese acquaintances.

• Useful phrases in Chinese:

  Please help me set up WeChat 请帮我设置一下微信。
  Please help me set up wi-fi 清帮我设置一下 wi-fi
  Please help me call the number 请帮我打个电话

• Mains and socket voltages. The mains voltage is 220V. The type of sockets is combined Chinese/European. Almost everywhere ordinary standard plugs are enough, no adapters are needed. 
• Medical care, insurance claims. In case of an insured event, it is necessary to call the insurance company and consult. If the tourist will need to visit a doctor, the visit should be coordinated with the insurance company, they will suggest a hospital from the list and help to make an appointment. Usually medical services are paid on the spot and then reimbursed by check. The tourist visits the hospital on their own, without a guide. 
• Mandatory immunizations and certificates are not required to travel to China. Consume guaranteed safe water and beverages (boiled water, drinking water and factory-packaged beverages). Be sure to wash raw fruits and vegetables. Avoid street fast food and meat dishes that have not been heat-treated.
• On sunny days, use protective creams with high UV protection. Do not neglect hats when in the sun for long periods of time. If the program includes a visit to mountainous areas (Tibet), you can take an increased number of headache tablets or special remedies for mountain sickness (Diamax).
• Tips. Tipping is not customary in China. For drivers and guides, you can leave the amount at your discretion if you liked the quality of service. It should be remembered that the initial refusal of a tip from the person serving you is only an integral part of the ritual.

Ethics

Mutual respect in the group: do not spread negativity to other participants. Familiar cuisine may not be available. Hotels do not have centralized heating and you have to wait for air conditioning to heat up. You need to be prepared for all this. If you are tired or not ready for something - it is better to rest and skip one or two excursions. Do not delay the group, follow the agreed timings, listen to the recommendations of the guide. In any case, our team will try to warm up hotels in advance, take into account personal preferences, offer good places for lunch and dinner.

Political battles are strictly discouraged! Participants of our tours are from different countries. During tours, do not argue with local interpretations of sensitive topics: Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet, student unrest, etc. 

Observe “no photography”, “turn off your phone” and other signs at monasteries. Do not photograph military, strategic sites or government buildings.  

You should not be aggressive or annoyed with Chinese people, mock or joke about their cultural traits.

In public places, you should refrain from smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and throwing garbage.

Eating with chopsticks. Taking food with chopsticks from the plate should be done silently. It is considered unseemly to stick chopsticks vertically into food (it is associated with death) and use them as a skewer. It is customary to slurp to show that the food is to your liking!

Transport

Trains. High-speed train stations resemble airports. To go through all the procedures, you must arrive there in advance, preferably no later than 40 minutes before departure. Items prohibited for carriage are the same as on an airplane (pay special attention to any aerosols and piercing-cutting items). Waiting for a flight is the same as at an airport - near the gate, not on the platform. There are always toilets and boiling water for tea in the station building. There are often cafes and shops.

High-speed railways are an engineering marvel of China. Trains are mainly Siemens (like in the Sapsan, seated seats). It is possible to upgrade your seat right on the train by paying extra to the conductor.

Attention! It is impossible to select seats in advance when buying tickets! When buying tickets at one time, seats are usually distributed next to each other, but this is not guaranteed. It is possible to agree and change seats with other passengers in order to sit next to each other after the train has departed. When traveling overnight, we recommend taking some food with you on the train in advance, as there is no food service on the trains.

Taxis. The main means of transportation in Chinese cities outside of organized excursions. Show the phrase "I need to call a taxi" (我需要叫一辆出租车), and they will help you. Taxi service from airports and train stations is centralized: follow the TAXI signs, take a place in line, and then ride according to the meter. Taxi drivers may be reluctant to take cash, try to give them cash (they often do not have change). Do not go to touts!

Bicycles. Sometimes it is convenient to use a bicycle to get around the city. Bicycles are rented using a QR code by installing an application. You can ask for help at the reception if you take a bicycle from a hotel.

Car rental and car sharing. International driving licenses are not valid in China, car rental is not possible.

Return flight.

• Check your luggage. It is prohibited to export historical documents, valuable items and works of art, as well as paintings and graphics without a store receipt confirming the legality of the purchase. It is prohibited to export lighters from China, even in luggage. Medicines are allowed to be exported only in luggage, with a receipt with a stamp and permission to export or a prescription.
• When crossing the border at Sheremetyevo, do not go to the automatic border control (where your passport is simply scanned automatically), but to the window where the border guard sits so that he can put a stamp. This is important for future trips: in particular, the Chinese embassy does not issue new visas if there is no stamp on entry into the Russian Federation, and other countries may also ask questions.

Food

Attention! Food in China is a very important and sensitive issue. The European cuisine we are used to is not here. Even the buffet in hotels, chain fast food or Italian restaurants have Chinese specifics. Unusual tastes, an abundance of spices. It will be difficult to start the morning with a good coffee and a croissant - you will have to get used to green tea and a steamed bun made of rice flour.

At first glance, Chinese cuisine may seem very strange and completely inedible. However, everything is not so bad.

Below you will find a list of dishes that most tourists liked on previous trips. Keep this memo with you and use this collective experience to save time and money:

Cold appetizers

拍黄瓜 (Pāi huángguā) pai huanggua - cold "beaten" cucumbers with garlic and vinegar.

果仁菠菜 (Guǒ rén bōcài) guo zhen bocai - scalded spinach with garlic, vinegar and peanuts.

春卷 (Chūnjuǎn) chongtuan - rolls with vegetables, meat can be added. The taste is sweetish-spicy. Cantonese cuisine.

糖醋莲花白 (tángcù liánhuābái) lianhuabai dance - Sweet and sour cabbage

Hot snacks

西红柿炒鸡蛋 (Xīhóngshì chǎo jīdàn) sihongshi chhao tidan - fried eggs with tomatoes.

饺子 (Jiǎozi) tiaozi - dumplings

鱼香茄子 (Yú xiāng qiézi) yushiang chezi - fried eggplant in fish sauce (fatty)

干煸四季豆 (gānbiān sìjìdòu) ganbian shitidou - deep-fried green beans.

炒菜花 (chǎo càihuā) chao tsatshua - fried cauliflower.

Side dishes

米饭(Mǐfàn) mifan - rice

炒面 (Chǎo miàn) zhaomien - fried noodles. Maybe with the addition of vegetables and meat.

蚂蚁上树素版 (Mǎyǐ shàng shù sù bǎn) mayi shang shushuban - fried sesame noodles.

Meat dishes

宫爆鸡丁 (Gōng bào jī dīng) gong bao ti ding - pieces of chicken with peanuts.

白切鸡 (Bái qiē jī) bai tie tsi. - half a boiled chicken

香菇肉丝 (Xiānggū ròu sī) xiangu roushi - strips of meat in sauce with mushrooms.

土豆烧牛肉 (Tǔdòu shāo niúròu) tudou shao niúzhou - stewed potatoes with beef.

糖醋里脊 (Táng cù lǐjí) tang qi liti - pork in sweet and sour sauce.

馄饨 (Húntún) huntun - meat dumplings with broth.

小笼包 (Xiǎo lóng bāo) xiao long bao - similar to xiaozi, but with broth inside.

北京烤鸭 (běi jīng kǎo yā) Bei jing kaoya - Peking duck

Bread products

馒头 (Mántou) mantou - steamed bun. Has almost no taste.

包子 (Bāozi) baozi - the same steamed bun with a filling of meat, mushrooms, beans, herbs. The most popular fillings are minced pork (鲜肉包), chopped greens (韭菜包), doufu (豆腐包子) and bean paste (豆沙包)

煎饼 (Jiānbing) tianbing - pancake

Soups

鱼头堂 (Yú tóu táng) yutou tang - a very tasty fish (fish head) soup

酸菜鱼 (Suāncài yú) suancai yu - fish soup with pickled cabbage. Like our cabbage soup.

Desserts

All desserts in China are strange.

拔丝地瓜 (Básī dìguā) basi digua - candied sweet potato in caramel. In different regions of the country the dish has different names, for example, in Beijing it is known as 白薯 (Báishǔ) bai sh

Street food

烘山芋 (Hōng shānyù) hong shanyù - baked sweet potato.

粽子 (Zòngzi) tsong ci - pyramids of glutinous rice with filling, wrapped in bamboo leaf. They are steamed. The most popular fillings are pork, yolk and bean paste. An acquired taste.

串儿 (Chuàn er) chuan - skewers

豆浆 (Dòujiāng) dou tian - soy milk

The only phrase that makes sense to learn in advance for communication in a restaurant is BU LA! (Not spicy - 不加辣椒。 我们一点都不能吃辣的!). The rest is better to show in hieroglyphs