Try to get a English speaking tour guide at every opportunity you can. China has a rich and wonderful history and culture and without a guide, somehow, the flavour and significance of most tour sites can be lost.

*Sneaky tip: Hang around a group that has a English speaking guide if you cannot afford one! Always ask for a receipt from a taxi driver so that you can complain if you have been cheated or for tracing purposes if you happen to leave your camera behind in the taxi.

Try to take the "namecard" for each hotel that you are staying at as these cards will have a Chinese address and the map of your hotel location. This is useful if you need to seek assistance to find your way back as the English version or pronunciation of a hotel or a street name may be quite different from the Chinese version.

After a tiring day, check out Chinese foot reflexology or Chinese TuiNa (Chinese massage). Wonderful for the body after a hard day and very cheap to boot. Simply look out for shop signs that shows two feet! They are everywhere.

Make friends with the Chinese whenever you can. They love to meet foreigners and will make good tour guides. Just buy a small present as a small token of appreciation.

Books, Newspapers, and Periodicals:
Newspaper and magazines in English, such as China Daily and Beijing Review are free in many hotels. Foreigners can also buy books and maps in foreign-language bookstores or Xinhua Book Stores.

Chinese Currency:
Chinese currency is issued by the People's Bank of China. The standard unit of Chinese currency is the Renminbi (RMB), also known as the yuan (dollar). The subsidiary units are the jiao (ten cents) and the fen (penny). One yuan equals ten jiaos and one jiao equals to ten fens. Yuan, jiao and fen are issued in both bills and coins. Chinese currency is issued in the following denominations: one, two, five, ten, fifty, and a hundred yuans; one two and five jiaos; and one, two and five fens.

Credit Cards:
The following foreign credit cards are accepted in China: Master Card, Visa, American Express, JCB, and Diners. These card holders can draw cash at the Bank of China or use the cards for payment directly in stores, restaurants, and hotels designated by the Bank of China.

Drinking Water:
Only a few luxury hotels in China provide drinkable tap water, so please don't forget to ask the hotel personnell whether the tap water is drinkable. Boiled water is available in all guestrooms, and bottled mineral water is readily available for purchase.

Electricity:
The voltage for electricity in China is 220 V. However, the bathrooms of major hotels also provide 110 volt sockets.

Medical Services:
Most hotels provide simple medical, health and massage services. One can call the emergency centers in nearby hospitals for more serious conditions, or ask the tour guide to arrange for medical services

National Holidays:
New Year's Day- January 1, one day off
Spring Festival (or Chinese New Year)- First day of the Chinese lunar calendar, three days off
International Labor Day- May 1, one day off
National Day- October 1, two days off

Postal Services:
Postal services are available at the service desks of hotels and post offices. Use standard envelopes write down the postal code, and be sure to use sufficient postage or stamps. EMS is also available in most post offices and express mail agencies. Many stores and shops provide the service to ship the purchased item to almost amywhere in the world.

Shopping:
Business Hours- the starting hours for most stores in China are 8:00 or 8:30 a.m., and the closing hours are 8:00 or 8:30 p.m., In the Winter, the business hours for most stores are 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Many shop assistants can speak English
Foreign currency exchange is available in most shopping centers and tourist areas

Television:
English and Japanese television programs are available in many hotels via satellite relaies. The China Central Television Station and some local TV stations also provide English news and English programs.

Traveller's Checks:
The Bank of China can cash travelers's checks sold by international commercial banks and traveler's check companies in the United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Britain, France, Switzerland, and Germany. The Bank of China also serves as an agent for traveller's checks for the American Express, the First National City Bank, Thomas Cook Traveler's Check Co., Sumitomo Bank, and the Swiss Bank Corp.

Useful Telephone Numbers while Traveling in China:
0086 - IDD code of China
110 - Police Department (equivalent to 911 in the USA)
119 - Fire Department
120 - Emergency (Ambulances)
112 - Telephone repair desk
113 - Long distance operator
114 - Directory inquiries and information
115 - International operator
116 - Long distance directory inquiries
117 - Time inquiry
121 - Weather inquiry