Health and Safety Precautions for Travel to China
When planning your trip to China, it is advisable to prepare yourself with information on health and safety precautions. You don’t need vaccinations for mainland China, except for yellow fever, which is only required for travellers from certain endemic areas. However, it is advisable to pack a first aid kit, which should include bandages, painkillers, and diarrhoea medication. Additionally, you should carry some vitamins and antiseptic cream. For emergencies, it is also useful to carry sterile hypodermic needles. This is important because needle re-use is common, and you may encounter STDs.
Travelers should be aware of the risks of catching sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), which includes syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. STIs are widespread in China, and travel is often associated with lowered inhibitions and more casual sexual liaisons. While travelers are generally safe, it is important to be aware of the risk and use condoms whenever having sex with a local who is not familiar with your health. Additionally, consider hepatitis B vaccination before traveling to China.
It is also advisable to hire a reliable China travel specialist, which will tailor your itinerary around your interests. This way, you can focus on the areas you’d like to explore and not worry about crowded areas. Moreover, if you’re traveling in remote regions, it’s also advisable to hire a private driver. In the cities, taxis are widely available and taxi stands are the easiest way to get a ride. Alternatively, you can use ride-sharing services.
Travel to China is not advisable for anyone with a medical condition, and there are several travel restrictions in place. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has warned against all but essential travel to the province of Hubei. British Airways has also cancelled all flights to the area. In addition, the US Center for Disease Control has issued a Level 3 warning for travelers to mainland China.
For Australians, it is advisable to check with the Chinese embassy or consulate for details on entry requirements. It is also important to note that some direct flights to China are restricted and if your travel itinerary includes a transit city, it’s important to check if your destination has any airport facilities to facilitate such travel.
China has 52 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, and the terracotta warriors of Xi’an. You may also encounter some air pollution issues in many cities throughout China. Some cities even keep air pollution alert systems in place, which could result in school closures, car usage restrictions, and transportation disruptions.
If you are arrested in China, it is important to consult with a lawyer immediately. You should also contact the nearest Canadian Embassy. These offices will be able to provide you with a list of qualified lawyers. If you are involved in political activities, be aware that you could be detained by Chinese authorities. For this reason, it is important to take legal advice and get all documents translated. However, this can prove to be costly and time-consuming.
After receiving your visa, you should quarantine your body to avoid contracting diseases. In addition, you should be aware of the laws and practices regarding foreign nationals. It is vital to check with your local government to ensure that you are not carrying any infectious diseases. The quarantine period can last up to seven days, and you should take the necessary vaccines before you leave. You should always carry some form of identification to show the authorities that you are a foreigner.
For travellers with certain health concerns, it is advisable to get vaccinated against diseases such as Japanese encephalitis (JE). China has successfully reduced the number of cases of this disease by expanding its national immunization program. The disease’s transmission season varies from region to region, and most cases occur from June to October. The risk of contracting JE varies with the destination, but it is generally high in rural areas during transmission season.
Several countries in the region have recently imposed travel bans on mainland China. On January 28, Saudia suspended its flights from mainland China, and SRI LANKA suspended entry visas for Chinese nationals.