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Capital Beijing (Peking)

Area 9,596,960 sq km (3,705,406 sq miles)

Population 1.3 billion (CIA 2008)

Language The official language is Mandarin Chinese. Translation and interpreter services are good. Many guides speak English.

Time GMT + 8. Despite the vast size of the country, Beijing time is standard in all of China.

Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two‑pin sockets and three‑pin sockets are generally in use. Most 4 to 5 star hotels are wired for the use of 110 volt appliances.

Description

China’s cultural riches and 5,000 years of tumultuous history place it, without doubt, among the world’s greatest travel destinations. The Great Wall, X’ian’s Terracotta Army, the Forbidden Palace and Tiananmen Square: the very names reverberate with history and legend. China’s paradoxes are many: Shanghai’s skyscrapers contrast with Beijing’s historical treasures, while in rural provinces, mechanization has not yet reached many traditional farming villages. Celebrated places and sights abound – this is the land of the Yangxi River, the Silk Route and the bamboo forests of the panda. Spectacular Guilin brings the vistas of rivers and misty peaks in traditional ink paintings to life, while far to the west, the fabled Tibetan city of Lhasa beckons pilgrims to ‘the roof of the world’. Chinese food – from noodles to Imperial banquets – ranks among the world’s great cuisine. From acrobatics to martial arts, calligraphy to Chinese opera, the vibrant, distinctive culture of this great land is everywhere to be seen. Beijing ‑ the site of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games faced enormous investment, which refurbished and protected its historic areas and improved transport and accommodation. China’s tourism infrastructure is rapidly improving, but flexibility and patience are still required.

Climate

China has a great diversity of climates. The northeast experiences hot and dry summers and bitterly cold winters. The north and central region has almost continual rainfall, hot summers and cold winters. The southeast region has substantial rainfall, with semi‑tropical summers and cool winters.

Geography

China is bounded to the north by Russia and Mongolia; to the east by North Korea, the Yellow Sea and the South China Sea; to the south by Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan and Nepal; and to the west by India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Hong Kong and Macau form enclaves on the southeast coast. It has a varied terrain ranging from high plateau in the west to flatlands in the east; mountains take up almost one‑third of the land. China has many great river systems, notably the Yellow (Huang He) and Yangtse Kiang (Chang Jiang).

Money

Currency

Renminbi Yuan (CNY)

Currency Exchange

RMBY (People's money) is not traded outside China. There is only one national bank, the People's Bank, which has over 30,000 branches. In hotels and Friendship Stores, imported luxury items such as spirits may be bought with Western currency.

Credit Cards

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and VISA are widely accepted in major provincial cities in designated establishments.

Travelers Checks

Travelers are advised to take travelers checks in US Dollars.

Banking Hours

Mon‑Fri 9:00AM‑4:00/5:00PM. Some banks close for lunch from 12N‑1:00PM