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(a) China does not recognise dual nationality (eg US-Chinese, Canadian-Chinese). (b) Travellers are required to complete a health declaration certificate on arrival in China. HIV-positive travellers are not permitted to enter the country.

Required by all. Passport 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.

Required by all except:
(a) 1. nationals of Brunei, Japan and Singapore for stays of up to 15 days;
(b) transit passengers (except nationals of the USA, who always require a visa) continuing their journey by the same or first connecting plane to another country within 24 hours who hold valid onward documentation and do not leave the airport.

Tourist/Business/Transit (UK nationals): £30 (single-entry); £45 (double-entry); £60 (multiple-entry for business visas only; six months); £90 (multiple entry for business visas only; 12 months and two to five years). Group (at least five people): £24 per person. Visa charges for other nationals vary; check with Embassy for further information.

Tourist, Business and Group visas are normally valid for three months from the date of issue (single and double-entry). Multiple-entry visas are normally valid for six months, 12 months or two to five years. The validity of Business visas varies. Transit visas are generally valid for up to seven days.

Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Passport/Visa Information. Visas should be applied for in person at least one month before departure. Group visas will usually be obtained by the tour operator or travel agent.

(a) Completed application form. (b) One recent passport-size photo. (c) Valid passport with at least one blank page. (d) Fee (payable in cash or by postal order only). Tourist: (a)-(d) and, (e) Return airline ticket or travel information about itinerary and confirmation of hotel reservation in China. Business: (a)-(d) and, (e) Official invitation (letter/fax) from a Chinese Government department or a Government-approved company indicating duration of stay and purpose of visit (original copies must be submitted for multiple-entry visas). Student: (a)-(d) and, (e) JW201 or JW202 form issued by the Ministry of Education of China, and letter of admission from Chinese university/college. Group (six people or more): (a)-(d) and, (e) Confirmation letter or fax from an authorised Chinese travel company. A list of all group members should be presented in triplicate. Photocopies of all group passports with the visa form number for each member. The serial number given to group members should be listed in order on the group visa form. There should be a front page covering information about the group. Transit: (a)-(d) and, (e) Visa for the next country of destination and letter from employer (if applicable).

Three (72 hours). Two weeks for Group visas. Applications should be made at least one month in advance. A same-day service may be available at an extra cost of £20 per person, or a 48-hour service at £15 per person. Visas, however, cannot be issued on the same day unless the same-day airline ticket or itinerary is presented.

(a) The majority of visits to China tend to be organised through the official state travel agency CITS (China International Travel Service). This liaison with CITS is generally handled by the tour operator organising the inclusive holiday chosen by the visitor, though it is possible for individuals to organise their own itinerary. Once the tour itinerary details have been confirmed to the visitor or visiting group, finances to cover accommodation and the cost of the tour must be deposited with CITS through a home bank. Once again, for package trips, all the necessary formalities for a visit to China can be handled by the tour operator concerned. (b) Those wishing to visit Tibet are strongly advised to join a travel group. Individual travellers need a special permit and should obtain permission to visit Tibet or Xinjiang from the following organisation before applying: Tibet Tourism Office (see Passport/Visa Information). Applicants will need to supply their Chinese Visa validity dates.

Enquiries should be addressed to the Chinese Embassy.

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the UK
49-51 Portland Place, London W1B 1JL, UK
Tel: (020) 7299 8426.
Website: www.chinese-embassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1230 and 1330-1700.
Consular and visa section: 31 Portland Place, London W1B 1QD, UK
Tel: (020) 7631 1430 (telephone enquiries: 1400-1600 only) or (09001) 880 808 (recorded visa and general information; calls cost 60p per minute).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200.

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the USA
2300 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 328 2500.
Website: www.china-embassy.org
Visa section: Room 110, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Tel: (202) 338 6688.

Tibet Tourism Office
Room 3423 Poly Plaza, 14 Dongzhimen Nandajie, Beijing 100027, People’s Republic of China
Tel: (10) 6500 1188 (ext 3423) or 6593 6538.
Website: www.tibettour.net.cn/en

18 Yuanlin Road, Lhasa, Tibet 850001, People’s Republic of China
Tel: (891) 633 5472.

Room 4284 Oriental Kenzo Plaza, Dongzhimen, Beijing 100027, People’s Republic of China.
Tel: (10) 8447 7899 or 6703 or 6503.
Website: www.tibettour.net.cn/en/

49-51 Portland Place, London W1B 1JL, UK
Tel: (020) 7299 8426.
Website: www.chinese-embassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1230 and 1330-1700.
Consular and visa section: 31 Portland Place, London W1B 1QD, UK
Tel: (020) 7631 1430 (telephone enquiries: 1400-1600 only) or (09001) 880 808 (recorded visa and general information; calls cost 60p per minute).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200.

71 Warwick Road, London SW5 9HB, UK
Tel: (020) 7373 0888 or (09001) 600 188 (brochure request and general information; calls cost 60p per minute).
Website: www.cnta.gov.cn

2300 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 328 2500.
Website: www.china-embassy.org
Visa section: Room 110, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Tel: (202) 338 6688.

Suite 6413, 350 Fifth Avenue, Empire State Building, New York, NY 10118, USA
Tel: (888) 760 8218 (information and trade enquiries).
Website: www.discoverchinaforever.com

Yes	1
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4	N/A

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers arriving within six days of leaving an infected area.

Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to China. However, cholera is a slight risk in this country and precautions could be considered. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. For more information, see the Health appendix. A strain of Bengal cholera has been reported in western areas.

Poliovirus transmission has been shown by reliable data to have been completely interrupted since 1999 through eradication programmes.

Malaria risk exists throughout the country below 1500m except in Beijing, Gansu, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shanxi, Tibet (Xizang, except in the Zangbo River Valley in the extreme southeast) and Xinjiang (except in the Yili River Valley). North of 33°N, the risk lasts from July to November, between 33°N and 25°N from May to December, and south of 25°N throughout the year. The disease occurs primarily in the benign vivax form but the malignant falciparum form is also present and has been reported to be multidrug-resistant. The recommended prophylaxis in risk areas is atovaquone, doxycycline, or mefloquine in Hainan and Yunnan.

Outside main centres, all water used for drinking, brushing teeth or freezing should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is endemic in the central Yangtze river basin. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools that are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. There is some risk of plague. Hepatitis E is prevalent in northeastern and northwestern China and hepatitis A is common across the country. Hepatitis B is highly endemic. Tuberculosis is common in indigenous populations. Oriental liver fluke (clonorchiasis), oriental lung fluke (paragonimiasis) and giant intestinal fluke (fasciolopsiasis) are reported, and brucellosis also occurs. Bancroftian and brugian filariasis are still reported in southern China, visceral leishmaniasis is increasingly common throughout, and cutaneous leishmaniasis has been reported from Xinjiang. Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is endemic; the most recent epidemic was in September 2005 in the Jilin Province. There was a meningitis C epidemic in February 2005. Precautions should be taken against Japanese encephalitis, particularly in rural areas. Mite-borne or scrub typhus may be found in scrub areas of southern China. Altitude sickness can be a problem in parts of Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Tibet, Xinjiang and Yannan.
There have been reported outbreaks of meningitis C in February 2005.
There have been outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) in poultry in China. Since November 2005, this has led to a small number of human fatalities in rural areas of Liaoning, Guangxi, Anhui, Sichuan, Hunan and Guangdong provinces, believed to have arisen through close contact with infected poultry (see Travel Advice).
Rabies is present, although the Government policy that bans dogs and cats from main cities makes this less of a risk in these areas. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. Since January 2006, outbreaks of rabies have been reported in Shandong and Yunnan Provinces due to infected dogs. A small number of human deaths have occurred. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Medical costs are low. Many medicines common to Western countries are unavailable in China. Medical facilities in international hospitals are excellent. There are many traditional forms of medicine used in China, the most notable being acupuncture. Medical insurance is strongly advised.

Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2006-June 2007 period.

Jan 1 2006 New Year. Jan 29-31 Spring Festival, Chinese New Year. May 1 Labour Day. Oct 1-3 National Day.
Jan 1 2007 New Year. Feb 18-20 Spring Festival, Chinese New Year. May 1 Labour Day. Oct 1-3 National Day.

In addition to the above, other holidays may be observed locally and certain groups have official Public Holidays on the following dates:
Mar 8 International Women’s Day. May 4 National Youth Day. May 23 Tibet Liberation Day. Jun 1 International Children’s Day. Aug 1 Army Day.