Q1: Are tour participants required to buy additional
insurance?
A: HEF has already made arrangements with its exclusive
tour operator, HEF, to include the necessary accident
insurance fees in the tour package price. Each of the
tour participants is fully insured by the standard policy
issued by China Personal Safety Insurance. However,
the participants are advised to purchase optional insurance
for special circumstances such as "Tour Cancellation
Insurance" and "Personal Property Loss Insurance".
Participants are expected to have their own health insurance.
Please click here to see our current insurance policy.
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Q2: Are tour participants
expected to follow certain rules?
A: The professional PTS tour guide in charge is familiar
with the tour dangers, and will take precautions by
setting safety rules for the participants to follow,
i.e., beware of slippery surfaces around certain canyon
and cliffs, stay away from highway, etc. The participants
are advised to stay together with others in the tour
and follow the tour leader's instructions.
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Q3: Does the participant need a visa to visit
Hong Kong?
A: For the U.S. passport holders, visa is not required
for 90-day stay as a tourist. For other passport holders,
please inquire at your nearest Chinese Consulate.
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Q4: How does
a participant get Chinese visa?
A: Visa is required for Americans and most other nationalities.
HEF will help you process your visa after the confirmation
of the booking. Visa Processing Service detailed instructions
along with the visa application forms will be sent to
you upon receipt of your tour deposit. You may also
apply for an individual visa directly at the Chinese
Consulate in your city.
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Q5: What are the Chinese customs regulations?
A: All visitors must fill out customs declaration forms
to present on arrival. The copy should be kept to hand
in on departure. Reasonable amount of currency (including
RMB) can be brought in along with alcohol, cigarettes,
cameras, camcorders, radios, and tape-recorders for
personal use. Certain valuable items, such as digital
cameras, office machines, computers and gold declared
on the form must be brought out of China or else import
duty will be charged on them.
Prohibited imports include arms, ammunition and explosives;
printed matter, film or tapes detrimental to China;
dangerous or narcotic drugs; infected animals, plants
or food. It is also forbidden to take out any of these
items, or endangered species of animals or plants and
antiques without export permits.
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Q6: When is the best time to visit China?
A: Deciding on the time of the year to visit china
depends on your personal preferences such as which places
you wish to visit, what type of weather you enjoy, and
how much of a travel bargain you are looking for. Remember
that China is a huge country with many different climates
and types of terrain. It is similar to the United States
in size and shape. In September and October, the weather
is most comfortable and considered the peak tourist
months at China's most popular destinations. Prices
are lower in the shoulder season, which runs from late
March through April and from June through August. The
prices are at the lowest level during the tourism off-season
months in winter starting in late November.
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Q7: Is there a morning wake-up call service
in the hotels?
A: Yes. This service is available free of charge upon
your request.
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Q8: Can you give us some tips for shopping
in China?
A. China is undergoing a transition from a planned
to a market economy and commodities are priced in one
of the following three ways: 1- the fixed prices are
set by the state; 2- the prices are regulated by the
state; 3- the market prices prevail. Most of the tourist
merchandises fall under the third category of market
prices. Therefore, when you go shopping, it pays to
visit several shops to get the best price.
Like most other countries, China is plagued by counterfeit
products, especially on street stands. Tourists are
advised to make informed choices and preferably shop
accompanied by local guides. Also, big department stores
and tourist stores designated by the government tend
to have better credibility. When shopping, you should
always ask for a receipt.
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Q9. What cautions should foreigners take when
buying Chinese antiques?
A. Chinese antiques consist of the following six categories:
Porcelain; calligraphy and paintings; books; jewelry;
curios; and furniture.
The first thing to consider is whether the antiques
are allowed out of China. According to Chinese laws;
only antiques dated after 1797 (during the reign of
Emperor Jiaqing of the Qing dynasty) can be traded and
taken out of China. Before Antiquities are allowed to
be taken out of China, each piece must bear a certified
wax seal stamped by the National Administration for
the Preservation of Cultural Relics, or as an alternative,
an exit permit for the item must accompany it. The Administration
has officers stationed at various department stores
and antique markets to help shoppers verify their purchases.
If you happened to purchase a defective product, you
may file a complaint with the local consumers' association.
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Q10. Shall participants
bring cash or Travelers' Checks?
A: Participants may bring a small amount of cash. Travelers'
Checks are safer and command a slightly higher exchange
rate than cash.
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Q11. What credit cards are accepted in China?
A. Most of the internationally accepted credit cards
are usable in China. These include: Visa, MasterCard
and American Express.
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Q12. What does the tour
price quotation exclude?
A. The Price does not include: China visa fee, extra
insurance, personal expenses (phone calls, laundry,
gift) (link to Price Does Not Include:)
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Q13. What does the tour price quotation include?
A. The Price for tours Includes: (link to Price Includes)
Transpacific air and domestic air (as mentioned in the
tour description), transportation (bus, boat, train),
hotel accommodations (4 star, based on double occupancy),
meals, admissions, English speaking guide, airport tax,
tips for drivers and guides, insurance in China, a T-shirt
and a belt bag, cultural exchange fees, group photo,
one bottle of water daily, a phone book from Hope Education
Foundation.
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Q14. What is single supplement?
A: The price quoted for hotel, guide and transfers
are all based on double occupancy. If participant wants
to have a single room, he or she must pay an extra charge.
This additional charge is called single supplement.
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Q15. What are the media available for participants?
China Daily, an English-language newspaper, is published
in China six days per week (except on Sundays). This
publication is very informative and may be obtained
from the big hotels free of charge; among other things,
it contains the television schedule and a diary of cultural
events in Beijing. Unfortunately, same-day editions
are available only in large cities; elsewhere, the publication
will be distributed several days late. Two other English-language
publications, the Shanghai Star and Shanghai Talk, are
also available. Other foreign-language newspapers and
journals available in large hotels include the International
Herald Tribune, The Times, Asian Wall Street Journal,
Time (magazine), Newsweek, Far Eastern Economic Review,
and many more.
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LEGEND:
HEF = HOPE EDUCATION FOUNDATION
PTS = PERFECT TRANS & TRAVEL SERVICE INC.
