Key facts
China is a country located in Eastern Asia. There are 16 countries (Afghanistan, Bhutan, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Viet Nam) that China shares its borders with. The official language of China is Chinese. Unfortunately, if you speak English, it might be problematic to communicate fluently unless you know Chinese.
In the EF English Competency Index (EF EPI), which assesses the language proficiency of non-native speaking countries, China was ranked 57th out of 100 countries in 2021.
The national currency in China is Chinese yuan (CNY). The yuan (¥) is subdivided into 100 fēn (分).
Chinese
Banknotes
¥1¥5¥10¥20¥50¥100分1分2分5角1角2角5¥2
Chinese
Coins
分1分2分5角1角5¥1
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest The average fixed internet speed in China is 314.08 Mbps and mobile is 200.83 Mbs.The global average is 187.01 Mbps and 128.37 Mbps respectively.
ATM Density China has more ATMs than most other countries.81.44 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration In order to purchase a SIM card in China, a passport or ID is required as identification.
Socket types
There are 3 socket types used in China. Type A & Type B are widespread in North America (incl. the U.S.), Central America, Japan, and the Philippines. Type C is a popular socket type throughout Europe (except the United Kingdom), Russia, and certain Asian countries. Type I is not very common around the world, so it might be a good idea to check if your electronics need an adapter.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Public holidays
In the year 2024, China will celebrate 7 national public holidays. The next one Labour Day will take place on May 1.
| Date | Holiday name | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024 | New Year’s Day元旦 | |
| February 10, 2024Moving holiday | Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)春节 | |
| April 5, 2024 | Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day)清明节 | |
| May 1, 2024 | Labour Day劳动节 | |
| June 10, 2024Moving holiday | Dragon Boat Festival端午节 | |
| September 17, 2024Moving holiday | Mid-Autumn Festival中秋节 | |
| October 1, 2024 | National Day国庆节 |
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in China?
There are Mariott hotels in 41 cities.
The Hilton hotel chain operates in China.
The IHG hotel chain operates in China.
The Best Western hotel chain operates in China.
There are Radisson hotels in 12 cities.
The Accor hotel chain operates in China.
What fast food chains are present in China?
The McDonald’s chain operates in China.
The KFC chain operates in China.
The Burger King chain operates in China.
The Subway chain operates in China.
The Domino’s Pizza chain operates in China.
The Starbucks chain operates in China.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Beijing?
Weather data for Beijing (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are passenger trains , and some of them are high-speed trains.
Subway Systems The subway system is available in 47 cities.
Taxi Apps Unfortunately neither Uber nor Bolt are available in China.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in China
Sources
- China Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for China (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban There is no national smoke-free law, but some areas may have their own rules.
Cananbis legality Both recreational and medicinal use of cannabis is prohibited.
The products are only for your own use or consumption, or as a present for members of your household. They may not be imported for commercial purposes under any circumstances.
Alcohol allowance
- 1,5L of alcoholic drinks (with alcohol content of 12% or above)
Tobacco allowance
- 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco
Sources
- Customs Clearance Guide for International Passengers (General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China )
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)