YARARLI BİLGİLER

USEFUL TRAVEL INFORMATION & TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP TO CHINA
(TURKISH & ENGLISH GUIDE)

Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo - People's Republic of China

中華人民共和國, simplified 中华人民共和国

ÜLKE KODU - COUNTRY CODE:  86

INTERNET:  .cn  
(Internet users: over 250 million)

SAAT FARKI - TIME ZONE: Istanbul: 10:00  =  Pekin: 16:00

GMT + 8 (All of China is set at GMT/UTC plus eight hours).
Each Chinese city has its own area code and different zip code. 
Below are the different ways for dialing Chinese numbers: Travelchinaguide.com 

MOBILE PHONE: GSM network is commonly used in China. CDMA systems are available.
International phone cards are available in post offices, hotels and newsstands.
(Many mobile phones bought in foreign countries can not be normally used in China as different countries in the world have different network service systems).

VOLTAGE: The standard electrical voltage in China is 220, so adaptors may be needed for your appliances and electrical equipment.

METRİK SİSTEMİ - WEIGHTS & MEASURES: Metric system.

RESMİ DİL - LANGUAGE: Mandarin (Putonghua).
Anlaşılabilmek için yavaş, açık ve basit bir İngilizce ile konuşmaya özen gösterin.

Standard Mandarin is the official language of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Different provinces, cities and even villages may speak their own dialect. Fortunately, most Chinese people understand Mandarin (Putonghua). While most tourist hotels employ staff who are fluent in foreign languages, visitors may find it difficult to make themselves understood by local people on the street. It is advisable to have addresses or instructions written down in Chinese. All major streets have signposts in Pinyin ( the Chinese system of phonetics) which makes it easier to get around with the help of a map. Many Chinese, especially young people, are now studying English and welcome the opportunity to practise their English with foreigners. 

Chinese is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and is the most widely spoken language in the world (about 1 out of five people speak a form of Chinese). Chinese is also spoken throughout the world and in many countries of Asia and Southeast Asia (such as Singapore, Malaysia,  Brunei, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Mongolia). In the United States, nearly one in five Americans speak a language other than English--most speak Spanish, followed by Chinese.

GEOGRAPHY: China is the world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and the United States). China has 15,000 kilometers of coastline, and shares 22,000 kilometers with the following border countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burma, India, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Vietnam.

CULTURE & CUSTOMS: As when visiting any country, a traveller should have basic knowledge about the culture of the country they are visiting. Before your visit to China, it would be a good idea to study aspects of Chinese culture, customs and geography. Make an effort to learn and use at least a few words in Chinese, which no doubt will be appreciated by your hosts. The correct way of greeting a person is very important in Chinese culture. Acknowledge the most senior person in a group first. Business cards should be exchanged at the beginning of a business meeting.

ACİL DURUMLAR - EMERGENCY NUMBERS:
POLİS İMDAT NUMARASI:  110 (POLICE)
AMBULANS:  120 (AMBULANCE)
YANGIN:  119 (FIRE)

BÜYÜKELÇİLİKLER - EMBASSIES:
- Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Büyükelçiliği - Pekin
Turkey.org.cn/turkey 
- Foreign Embassies -Beijing
Beijing.gov.cn
TravelChinaGuide.embassy/foreign
Chinahighlights.com/embassy
Embassies/embassies 
Foreign-Embassies-in-Beijing

TR-NOT: Çin'de yerli halktan birinin yakından fotoğrafını çekerken mutlaka izin alın. Dikkat etmeniz gerekenler; ülke savunması açısından stratejik önem taşıyan askeri bölgelerin, köprülerin, tünellerin, havaalanların ve askerlerin fotoğraflarının çekilmesinin yasak olduğudur.

ENG-NOTE: As in all countries, photography of specific areas is prohibited. When in doubt, ask first. In some areas, such as temples, monasteries, and museums, photography is also prohibited. When taking pictures of people it is best to ask permission first.

HAVAYOLUYLA CİN'E ULAŞIM - AIRLINES

Turkish Airlines Thy.com
Air China AirChina.com 
* Check for baggage weight limits per person for economy, business class, etc.

Hotel Information

China has nearly 15,000 star-ranked tourist hotels, and nearly 300 five-star hotels.

Transportation in China (Airline, Train, Ferry...Taxi, Metro, Bus) See web sites

In China, undoubtedly Beijing is the top air hub, with 98 international, 21 regional and 757 domestic air routes linking the capital with 54 cities in 39 countries.More than 40 foreign airlines have set up booking offices in Beijing. When you travel in China, taking a Chinese train between major cities can be very easy, and you can see China and experience Chinese life while meeting people from all over the country.

CHINESE VISA INFORMATION: www.ebeijing.gov.cn/visa

A Chinese visa is a permit issued by Chinese visa authorities for overseas passport holders for entry into or exit and transit through the China.
Different types of visas are issued according to the purpose of your visit.

Nearly all foreign visitors to China will need a visa. Visa forms are available for download from this link (Chinese embassy in the US) or other official links that are in English. A direct link to the application form in English is provided here. Visa requirements may change from time to time and without notice. For more information ChinaEmbassy.

Health: While immunizations are not required to enter China, you will be required to fill out a health declaration form before passing through customs. Those suffering from fever may be detained.

PARA - CURRENCY: Renminbi (RMB) yuan.
The Chinese currency is called Renminbi in Chinese, usually abbreviated as RMB, and issued by the People's Bank of China. 

The standard unit of the Renminbi is the yuan (also called Kuai), and the smaller units are the Jiao (also called Mao) and Fen.
Thus one yuan equals ten jiao, and one jiao equals ten fen (1 yuan = 10 jiao, 1 jiao = 10 fen).

Yuan, jiao and fen are issued both in bills of exchange and coins. Renminbi features the following denominations: one, two, five, ten, fifty and a hundred yuan; one, two, and five jiao; and one, two and five fen.

The banknotes available are: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan; one and five jiao. Coins Available are: one yuan, one and five jiao.

BANKALAR VE DÖVİZ BOZDURMA - BANKS & CHANGING CURRENCIES:
Changing currency upon arrival is recommended. Normally, money exchange can be done in international airports, large banks, and hotels. In major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, changing money is convenient practically everywhere. In rural areas it might be more difficult to find a place to change money. ATMs that accept foreign cards are also becoming more common. China is still very much a cash economy, so major credit cards are not widely accepted.

Bahşiş - Tipping

TIPPING: Tipping or gratuities are not common practice in most sectors of Chinese life, although it has become the norm to tip the tour guide and driver, hotel bellboy in recognition of their good service. It is not customary to leave tips at local restaurants. Tipping and gift-giving is not recommended in China. Tipping is not part of the local culture and may cause confusion among restaurant staff. Gift giving might also be misunderstood and cause feelings of embarrassment.

İçme suyu - Drinking water

All water consumed must be boiled or filtered unless it is bottled. Tap water is not safe to drink in China, so bottled water is always recommended when purified water is unavailable. Some popular brands of bottled water are Wa Ha Ha, Nestle and Nongfu Spring.

İKLİM - CLIMATE: China is a big country with many different climates and types of terrain. The weather may vary greatly when travelling between different cities. The climate in China is extremely diverse, from tropical regions in the south to subarctic in the north. Hainan Island is roughly at the same latitude as Jamaica, while Harbin, one of the largest cites in the north, is at roughly the latitude of Montreal. There is also a wide range of terrain to be found in China with many inland mountain ranges, high plateaus, and deserts in center and far west; while plains, deltas, and hills are to be found in the east. On the border between the province of Tibet and the nation of Nepal lies Mount Everest, at 8,850 m, the highest point on earth. The Turpan depression, in northwest China's Xinjiang is the lowest point in the country, at 154 m below sea level. This is also the second lowest point on land in the world after the Dead Sea.

China lies mainly in the temperate and subtropical zones. Generally, its southern part (East China, South China and Southwest china) is warm, humid, and rainy; its northern part (North China, Northeast China, and northwest China) is dry and windy. Late spring and late summer are often rainy especially in the southern part of China, so you would be wise to bring some rainwear with you. And of course good walking shoes are essential at any time of year.

ÇALIŞMA SAATLERİ - BUSINESS HOURS

China has a five-day workweek system, from Monday to Friday. Business and government hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break.
Many Chinese workers take a break between 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m., when practically everything "shuts down" during this period.

Store hours are 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., daily. Most stores in Shanghai, however, remain open until 10:00 p.m.

Being late for an appointment is considered a serious insult in Chinese business culture. If you can not help being late, you should inform those who are expecting you. When scheduling your appointments, be sensitive to holidays such as Chinese New Year. During May Day, or the National Day, many businesses will be closed for up to a week during this period.

FESTİVALLER - FESTIVALS

The Chinese lunar calendar is crowded with traditional festivals. Boasting rich cultural meaning and a long history, traditional Chinese festivals compose an important and brilliant part of Chinese culture. As China is a vast land with many ethnic groups, different ethnic groups have different festivals in different areas. All the traditional festivals in China are based on the Chinese lunar calendar and Chinese Spring festival is celebrated on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month through all of China. The Spring Festival marks the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year. If visiting China, be prepared for extra crowded tourist destinations and city attractions as millions of Chinese families from rural areas also plan to visit family members in major cities during the festivals.

RESMİ TATİLLER - PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
China’s 11 public holidays include: New Year's Day (January 1); Spring Festival – a holiday of several days duration starting from the eve of the Lunar New Year through the second day of the Lunar New Year; Qingming Festival between April 4-6, known in English as Tomb Sweeping Day; International Labor Day on May 1; the Dragon Boat Festival, held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month; the Mid-Autumn Festival, held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month; and the National Day holidays – the first three days of October.

Around the Chinese New Year, many stores and other businesses will close for several days, a week, or even longer.

China has three major annual holidays:

• National Day - October 1
• Chinese New Year or Spring Festival (春节 chūnjié) - Late January / mid-February (depending on lunar calendar)
• Labor Day (May Day) - May 1

(These are not one-day holidays. Workers may have one or two weeks vacation for Chinese New Year, and students receive four to six weeks. Both groups receive about a week for National Day and Labor Day. During early July, millions of university students return home, and in late August they return to school. Spring Festival is especially busy as it is the longest holiday, as well as a traditional time to visit family).

A complete list of Chinese festivals would be very long, since many areas or ethnic groups have their own local ones, and even among the Han Chinese, the festivals celebrated vary from region to region. Below is a list of some of the nationally important ones:

• Lantern Festival - 15th day of the 1st lunar month, just after Chinese New Year, usually in February or March. 
• Qingming Festival - Around April 4-6.
• Dragon Boat Festival - 5th day of the 5th lunar month, usually in June.
• Double Seventh Festival - 7th day of the 7th lunar month, usually August, is a festival of romance.
• Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Cake Festival - 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually in October. 
  People meet outside, enjoy food and admire the sky and landscape.
• Double Ninth Festival or Chongyang Festival - 9th day of the 9th lunar month, usually in October.
• Winter Solstice Festival - December 22 or 23.

Spring Festival

“Spring Festival” is “chunjie” (春节). The Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Chinese people and is when all family members get together, therefore it is one of the busiest times for China's transportation systems. Airports, railway stations and long-distance bus stations are crowded with home returnees. People attach great importance to Spring Festival Eve. 

Lantern Festival

Lantern Festival is “yuan xiao jie.” (元宵节) The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, usually in February or March in the Gregorian calendar. As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), it had become a festival with great significance.

Qingming Festival

Qingming is “qing ming jie. ”(清明节) The Qingming (Pure Brightness) Festival is one of the 24 seasonal division points in China, falling between April 4-6 each year. Traffic on the way to the cemeteries becomes heavy as Chinese families travel great distances to honor their ancestors. Cemeteries are crowded with people who go to tombs and offer sacrifices.

Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon Boat Festival is “duan wu jie.” (端午节) The Dragon Boat Festival, the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, has had a history of more than 2,000 years. It is usually in June in the Gregorian calendar.

Double Seventh Festival

Double Seventh Festival is “qi xi jie.” (七夕节) The Double Seventh Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. It often is held in August in the Gregorian calendar.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival is “zhou qiu jie.”（中秋节）The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually in autumn of the Gregorian calendar. In Chinese custom the 15th day of the 8th lunar month is a day for family reunion as symbolized by the full moon and the moon cake.

Double Ninth Festival

Double Ninth Festival is “chong yang jie.” （重阳节）The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival. It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar