China: Difference between revisions
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{{Country | |||
|introduction=China is a huge country in [[Asia]]. | |||
|transport=[[Hitchhiking]] in China is pretty easy and some tips can help to make the experience even more successful, see [[:hitch:China|Hitchwiki]]. | |||
|accommodation=Couchsurfing is common in many cities and becoming more and more popular. | |||
Students usually sleep in dormitories in the campus and cannot host or fell that they cannot. Often it is still possible to just come as a visitor and stay over night. Still, most students don't want to risk it. | |||
The hospitality in China is remarkable. Often people can invite you to their houses or pay hotels for you. | |||
Spontaneous hospitality works pretty easy when meeting people in public places. | |||
A common method also for locals is to sleep in hotel lobbies. Ask at the reception if it is possible (maybe give them a reason - too cold to camp...) and in many cases you can sleep on the lobby couches. The better the hotel, the higher the chances usually. It can also happen that the hotels will just give you a room for free or somebody pays the entrance for you. | |||
|bewelcome-link=http://www.bewelcome.org/places/China/CN | |||
|food=Eating while on the road is not too difficult in China. | |||
When hitchhiking, it is very common that the people take you for meals. | |||
It is possible to ask in restaurants for a work/food exchange - 1 hour work for a meal. Nobody will have heard about that concept, but some might appreciate the idea. Many restaurants will serve you food without wanting the work in exchange. | |||
In restaurants, it is also possible to come during times before the restaurant is closing and asking for leftovers. Often you can eat together with the staff for free, which can be an experience with great atmosphere. For that you need to come when shifts are finishing / in the eating times. Just check from the outside. | |||
Eating times in China: People like eating at the same time and in China that is quiet early. Lunch is at 12 and Dinner at 6 o'clock. | |||
Asking for leftovers or food from the day before is quiet hard, but possible in the right places. Many restaurants throw the leftovers directly into a big pot where it won't be edible afterwards. Many food chains will not feel responsible enough and will say no before thinking more further. | |||
In fruit and vegetable shops asking for leftovers at the end of the day works pretty well. When staying longer in a place, it's possible to make a deal of coming every day at a certain time. | |||
In bakeries, the chains often have a system of the old food being picked up in the evening or on the next day to be returned to the factory. | |||
More lucky you will be in smaller shops where you can speak to the owner directly. | |||
A translator app works well enough to communicate all this. | |||
|connectivity=wifi is available pretty much everywhere in china. | |||
People can share their connection from their phones and it is not weird for them to be asked. | |||
|visa=Most visitors still need to apply for a [[visa]] before traveling to '''China'''. The best time to apply for your visa is within 90 days before your departure. Chinese visa is valid immediately once issued, expires in 6 months, 12 months or 24 months respectively, depending on the visa granted. | |||
[[Passport]]s must be valid for at least six months for a single or double entry within three months of the date of visa issue; at least nine months for multiple entries within six months. | |||
=== Visa requirements === | |||
* Ordinary passport holders from [[Singapore]], [[Brunei]] and [[Japan]] can gain access to China without applying for visas for up to 15 days for business, sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends, or [[transit]]. | * Ordinary passport holders from [[Singapore]], [[Brunei]] and [[Japan]] can gain access to China without applying for visas for up to 15 days for business, sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends, or [[transit]]. | ||
* Citizens of all other countries need visas to enter into China. If travel in group, the visa will be kept by the accompanying guide and for individual traveler, visa, which is insert into the passport, should be kept by himself. | * Citizens of all other countries need visas to enter into China. If travel in group, the visa will be kept by the accompanying guide and for individual traveler, visa, which is insert into the passport, should be kept by himself. | ||
* Applicants travelling to Tibet now require a permit issued by the Tibetan toursit bureau before applying for a visa. | |||
==Types of visa and cost== | ===Types of visa and cost=== | ||
* Visa D: issued to aliens who are to reside permanently in China. A permanent residence confirmation form shall be required for the application of Visa D. The applicant shall apply to obtain this form himself or through his designated relatives in China from the exit-and-entry department of the public security bureau in the city or county where he applies to reside. | * Visa D: issued to aliens who are to reside permanently in China. A permanent residence confirmation form shall be required for the application of Visa D. The applicant shall apply to obtain this form himself or through his designated relatives in China from the exit-and-entry department of the public security bureau in the city or county where he applies to reside. | ||
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{{Newsbox| '''Fees for China visa changed''', it is reported that, as of August. 1, 2007, US citizens applying for the visa to China will pay $100 to the China Embassy or Consulate in the US. No matter applying for a 6 month one entry visa, 6 month multi-entry visa, or 24 month multi-entry one, the fee is the same. There is no change for Non-US citizens.}} | {{Newsbox| '''Fees for China visa changed''', it is reported that, as of August. 1, 2007, US citizens applying for the visa to China will pay $100 to the China Embassy or Consulate in the US. No matter applying for a 6 month one entry visa, 6 month multi-entry visa, or 24 month multi-entry one, the fee is the same. There is no change for Non-US citizens.}} | ||
* | === To [[Kazakhstan]] === | ||
* Multi-border points are Khorgos, Dostyk, Kolzhart, Bakhty, Maykapchagay (2010). | |||
'''Khorgos''' border crosing: the only allowed way to cross border is by bus. Buses are paid, but [[User:z-z-z88|z-z-z88]] ([[User talk:z-z-z88|talk]]) managed to get a free ride without seat from China to Kazakhstan in 2016. In China without bus ticket you are not allowed even approach border, but bus leader can take you through these pre-border checkpoints. Border is very serious: dogs, watchtowers, barbed wire, walls, soldiers, about 4 checkpoints between countries, scanners, walls, walls... Crossing border takes about 2-3 hours. It looks like border between worlds and it really feels like that from the cultural point of view. | |||
=== To [[Kyrgyzstan]] === | |||
* [[Irkeshtam Pass]] | |||
* [[Torugart Pass]] | |||
=== To [[Laos]] === | |||
* [[Mohan]] on the Chinese side, [[Boten]] on the Laotian side | |||
=== To [[Mongolia]] === | |||
* [[Erenhot]] / [[Erlianhaote]] | |||
=== To [[South Korea]] === | |||
* You can hitchhike the ferry. It is very difficult especially when not speaking the language but possible. It has been done. | |||
=== To [[Russia]] === | |||
Note: there is no Chinese/Russian border post where you are allowed to cross by foot, and the Heihe crossing is by [[boat]] from west to east: | |||
* [[Manzhouli]] | |||
* [[Heihe]] | |||
* [[suifenhe]] | |||
* [[Hunchun]] | |||
== China Embassies and/or Consulates == | === China Embassies and/or Consulates === | ||
'''Chinese Embassies in the USA''' | '''Chinese Embassies in the USA''' | ||
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Tel: 09-5265680 Fax: 09-5794288 | Tel: 09-5265680 Fax: 09-5794288 | ||
www.chinaconsulate.org.nz | www.chinaconsulate.org.nz | ||
}} | |||
language: Chinese sounds very difficult, but with some basic words getting around and connecting with people will be much easier. | |||
A must-have app: Baidu translate. With wifi it translates sentences and texts as well as voice (English and Chinese spoken, directly translated). | |||
There it is possible to save sentences and texts (using the little star - you find the saved ones in "me"). Prepare texts of introduction, asking in hotels, restaurants, for hitchhiking... | |||
Offline it has a dictionary. Almost anyone has internet on their phone so you can use their internet to translate. | |||
Remember that Chinese people are very obedient, like to follow rules and being honest about them. Make sure whatever you do, to let them know that this is perfectly fine and right to do by the rules. | |||
[[couch:China]] | |||
Revision as of 16:30, 7 March 2018
Template:Country language: Chinese sounds very difficult, but with some basic words getting around and connecting with people will be much easier.
A must-have app: Baidu translate. With wifi it translates sentences and texts as well as voice (English and Chinese spoken, directly translated). There it is possible to save sentences and texts (using the little star - you find the saved ones in "me"). Prepare texts of introduction, asking in hotels, restaurants, for hitchhiking... Offline it has a dictionary. Almost anyone has internet on their phone so you can use their internet to translate.
Remember that Chinese people are very obedient, like to follow rules and being honest about them. Make sure whatever you do, to let them know that this is perfectly fine and right to do by the rules. couch:China