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Business Hours in China

Most of China's business world slows down considerably during the spring festival in late January and early February. Business visitors would be wise to avoid this two to three week holiday period. 

In most cities in China, businesses and government offices are usually open Monday through Friday and every other Saturday from 8 am to noon and from 1:00 to 2:00 pm to 5:00 or 6:00 pm. China has a five and a half day workweek consisting of 44 hours. Banks are open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Shops are open every day.

Money Matters 

The renminbi (RMB, sign: ¥; code: CNY; also CN¥, 元 and CN元) is the official currency of China (People's Republic of China). Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of China. It literally means "people's currency".

The primary unit of renminbi is the yuan (元). One yuan is subdivided into 10 jiao (角), which in turn is subdivided into 10 fen (分). Renminbi banknotes are available in denominations from 1 jiao to 100 yuan (¥0.1–100) and coins have denominations from 1 fen to 1 yuan (¥0.01–1). Thus, some denominations exist in coins and banknotes. Coins under ¥0.1 are used infrequently.

For RMB (CNY) and GBP exchange rate, please visit The Currency Converter.

Credit Cards

Currently there are seven main foreign credit cards available in China, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, JCB, Federal and Million. Credit cards can be used for withdrawing money, shopping and other transactions in most major cities of the country, but generally not accepted in rural areas.

ATM

In China, most of the local ATMs machines accept Visa and Master. CITIBANK card and HSBC are also very popular in China because Citibank and HSBC have agreement with UnionPay. For other cards, you may check the ATMs you are going to use and see if they have the logos and signs for your credit cards. 

Electricity

Basically there are two main standards for voltage and frequency in the world. One is the standard of 120 volts at a frequency of 60 Hz, and the other is the standard of 220–240 volts at 50 Hz. China uses generally 220V, 50HZ, AC (Hong Kong is 200V; Taiwan is 110V).

Electricity in United Kingdom is 230 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to China, you will need a voltage converter and a plug adapter.

Communications

1.Internet: Most hotel rooms will offer an internet connection for your laptop. Airports, Starbucks, and a number of coffee restaurants provide free Wi-Fi. If you don't have a laptop, inexpensive internet bars are scattered around the city. 

2. Post Offices: Airmail letters to United Kingdom usually take between four days and a week to reach their destinations. Stamps are sold at the post office counters.

3. Telephone

♦ Call a fixed phone

If you are going to call a fixed phone in a particular city in China, please dial the exit number of your home country 0011 + 86 (China's country code) + 10 (i.e.Beijing's city code) + phone number.

♦ Call a cell phone

If you are going to call a mobile phone in a particular city in China, please dial the exit number of your home country 0011 + 86 (China's country code) + Cell phone number.

Conversion

Although a traditional measurement system exists, China now uses the metric system.

1 kilometers = 0.62 mile

1 meter = 1.09 yards

1 centimeter = 0.39 inch

1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds

1 gram = 0.035 ounce

1 liter = 0.76 pint

0℃ = 32 ℉

Meeting Etiquette

·Greetings are formal and the oldest person is always greeted first.

·Handshakes are the most common form of greeting with foreigners.

·Many Chinese will look towards the ground when greeting someone.

·Address the person by an honorific title and their surname. If they want to move to a first-name basis, they will advise you which name to use.

·The Chinese have a terrific sense of humour. They can laugh at themselves most readily if they have a comfortable relationship with the other person. Be ready to laugh at yourself given the proper circumstances.

Dining Etiquette

·The Chinese prefer to entertain in public places rather than in their homes, especially when entertaining foreigners.

·If you are invited to their house, consider it a great honour. If you must turn down such an honour, it is considered polite to explain the conflict in your schedule so that your actions are not taken as a slight.

·Arrive on time.

·Remove your shoes before entering the house.

·Bring a small gift to the hostess.

·Eat well to demonstrate that you are enjoying the food!

Table Manners

·Learn to use chopsticks.

·Wait to be told where to sit. The guest of honour will be given a seat facing the door.

·The host begins eating first.

·You should try everything that is offered to you.

·Never eat the last piece from the serving tray.

·Be observant to other peoples' needs.

·Chopsticks should be returned to the chopstick rest after every few bites and when you drink or stop to speak.

·The host offers the first toast.

·Do not put bones in your bowl. Place them on the table or in a special bowl for that purpose.

·Hold the rice bowl close to your mouth while eating.

·Do not be offended if a Chinese person makes slurping or belching sounds; it merely indicates that they are enjoying their food.

·There are no strict rules about finishing all the food in your bowl.

Tipping in China

Tipping is not widely expected or required in Mainland China. However, at superior hotels and restaurants catering to western tourists, porters, room service and wait staff may have become used to receiving small tips. You can tip in cash, some small gifts brought from your country would also be appreciated, such as music CDs, books, perfumes, candies, etc.  While in Hong Kong and Macau, tipping is very common and important, just like many parts of the world.

What To Do in an Emergency in China

Hopefully, you won't have to deal with an emergency while you're in China. However, if you do find yourself in a bad situation, it is important to know what to do.

In China the organization that is responsible for public safety is the Public Security Bureau (PSB). There are usually several PSB locations within a city district. If you feel you are in danger or need to call for help, you can reach the PSB by dialing 110 on any phone in China.

If you lose your passport, you should report the lost passport as soon as possible to your nearest Public Security Bureau and to your embassy or consulate in China. In order to get a new Chinese visa, a Police report about the loss/theft will be required. 

Below are some emergency phone numbers that you should make note of:

110 for the police

119 in case of fire or

120 for an ambulance

If you lose your credit cards or travelers checks, call the issuers immediately. There is usually an international number on the backside of your credit card that you can dial collect 24 hours a day from anywhere outside your home country.

♦ The PSB Office in Zhangjiajie

Tel: 0744-8225175

No. 32, Nanzhuang Lu, Yongding District

♦ The PSB Office in Beijing

Tel: 010-84020101

Add: No.02, Andingmen Dong Dajie

Subway: next to the subway station of Yonghegong (Lama Temple)

♦ The PSB Office in Shanghai

Tel: 021-62310110

Add: No. 128, South Wuning Lu (Wu Ning Nan Lu) 

♦ The PSB Office in Guangzhou

Tel: 020-83116688

Add: No.200, Qiyi Lu

♦ The PSB Office in Xi'an

Tel: 029-87234500 

Add: No.63, West Street (Xi Da Jie) 

♦ The PSB Office in Guilin

Tel: 0773-2823334 

Add: No.1, Sanduo Lu

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