What You Need to Know Before You Travel to China
If you haven’t been to China before, you might be wondering what the requirements are. While there are no mandatory vaccinations, some countries require yellow fever vaccination. Regardless, you can’t miss out on these health precautions, especially if you’re planning to travel outside of urban areas. Your first-aid kit should contain bandages, painkillers, and diarrhoea medication. In addition, it should include antiseptic cream. You should also bring sterile hypodermic needles, as many Chinese reuse needles. You’ll also want to keep in mind that there’s a widespread ignorance of sexual health issues in China.
While it’s largely safe to travel in China, it is important to remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Although it’s not dangerous to tourists or locals, pollution and air quality can be troublesome. Avoid crowds in public areas and don’t forget to have your passport on you. It’s also important to know your rights as a foreigner. Remember that it’s against the law to photograph rioters, so be cautious!
To avoid infection, take a COVID vaccination. It isn’t necessary to have proof of vaccination, but it is a good idea to be safe. In addition, your appointment card from your vaccination centre is not always valid. China will often check overseas passengers upon arrival. If you fail to get the required vaccinations, you might be sent to a special hospital. Remember, health regulations in China change frequently. As a result, you’ll want to make sure you’ve been vaccinated before you travel.
If you’re planning to travel to the provinces, you’ll probably want to check the quarantine requirements in advance. Depending on your travel risk, the quarantine requirements vary. If you’re traveling to an area where you may have a high risk of contracting disease, you may have to spend 14 days in centralized quarantine. Medium-risk zones have slightly different requirements. If you’re planning on visiting a rural area, you may be quarantined for seven days or more.
Canadian passport holders should remember that Chinese immigration officials will take fingerprints upon arrival. You might be exempt from this process if you’re between the ages of 14 and 70. However, it’s best to check with your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate to confirm if you can get a visa on arrival. Alternatively, you can contact the Foreigners Entry and Exit Administration Section for more information. This may be the most convenient way to apply for a Chinese visa.
Although you can get a Chinese ID card upon arrival, you should be aware that the Chinese government employs extraordinary security measures. You should avoid demonstrations and gatherings and carry your ID with you at all times. Likewise, all large hotels will have a business center, but they’re expensive and difficult to access. It might be cheaper to use a backpacker hostel instead. If you’re traveling by yourself, you should consider applying for a residence permit in advance.
While you’re in China, make sure you have access to a laundry service. Large city hotels and youth hostels have laundry services, but it’s often necessary to pay Y10 to Y100 for this service. In addition, some hotels will provide washing machines for you. If you’re uncomfortable with paying Y100 for a wash, you should contact your embassy and request a Western-trained doctor. Despite the fact that hospitals are not free, the average fee for a consultation will be about Y500.
Uzbekistan suspended its state-owned airline flights to China and imposed an entry ban on foreigners visiting China. TURKMENISTAN suspended all flights from its border with China. TUVALU imposed a ban on Chinese travelers, effective February 3. Likewise, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES suspended its visa-on-arrival program for China and required a medical exam before entry. The suspensions have now been lifted for travel to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.