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GENERAL INFO.

International Customs and Immigrations

As international travelers, everyone will be required to clear customs before being granted entrance into China. The importation of the following articles is prohibited: arms, ammunition, explosives, pornography, narcotics, animals, plants, and meats. Returning home, we will also pass through U.S. Customs and they prohibit roughly the same. They also prohibit the importation of ivory. $800 worth of goods is permitted duty free.

Money Issues

Expenses, Currency Exchange, Credit Cards, ATMs: As an all inclusive tour, all expenses are paid before you depart except the following: tips for the Tour Director and drivers plus Chinese airport tax tickets which are about $6 per domestic flight and $11 for the international flight home. These must be purchased individually at the time of check-in at all Chinese airports in Chinese currency, which is why we do not include them in the package. Incidentals such as longdistance phone calls, mini-bar beverages, business center services, etc., are the responsibility of the guest, as are meals not mentioned in the itinerary, and additional beverages or premium alcoholic drinks at lunches and dinners. U.S. dollars must be exchanged for local Chinese currency for most purchases. U.S. dollar traveler`s checks are the recommended form of currency. Cash or traveler`s checks can easily be exchanged at all the hotels we use. Major credit cards are becoming more widely accepted and can be used at all the hotels and many of the gift shops, department stores, and specialty shops. Cirrus compatible ATM machines can now be found in Shanghai and Beijing; however, they are not yet easy to find and you should not rely on your ATM cards while in China.

Medical and Health Issues

All tour participants should be in good health. If you have any doubt about your ability to travel internationally, please consult your doctor. We recommend you check with your health insurance company to see if you will be covered in China; if not, we highly recommend travel insurance (see pg. 39). If you suffer from any serious physical or mental conditions that may be of concern, you are obligated to disclose so before booking. We reserve the right to refuse anyone based on physical or mental conditions that would seriously interfere with our ability to run the group tour smoothly. Shots are not normally necessary for travel to China; however, to protect ourselves from a legal standpoint, we recommend you consult your health care professional and make your own decisions.

Hotels

All tour rates are based on double occupancy. Single rooms are available only when paying the additional single room supplement. For those travelers looking for a roommate, we are willing to assist you in your search by introducing other single travelers that are in the same situation. We can not guarantee compatibility and highly recommend you feel comfortable with the person you will share a room with. You will be billed for the single room supplement at time of booking. If you find a roommate prior to departure you will be refunded or credited the amount of the single supplement. Children under 11 may share a room with two adults, no extra bed; however, three adults are not permitted to share a room. Your Tour Director will handle all hotel check-ins and check-outs. You will be responsible for bills you incurred during your stay for incidentals, phone calls, mini-bar beverages, etc. Baggage will be delivered to and from your rooms by hotel staff. All rooms have full western style bath tubs, showers, and toilets. Amenities normally include a full selection of body care products, slippers, robes, tea service, and stationery.

Meals

Almost all meals are included in the price of the tour. Please refer to each itinerary for the exact schedule of meals. All breakfasts are included and are western buffet style in the hotels. You can expect eggs, bacon, potatoes, cereals, juices, coffee, fresh fruit, etc. Lunches are served in fine, clean local restaurants and are Chinese style. Dinners vary according to itinerary. Normally Chinese meals offer a variety of dishes including chicken, pork, beef, fish, soup, rice, many varieties of cooked vegetables, and fresh fruit. Local beer, soda, and tea are also served. Western food outlets such as McDonalds, KFC, and Pizza Hut are common in larger Chinese cities. Our hotels also feature western style restaurants and room service. We do our best to accommodate guests with special dietary needs. Please bring this to our attention prior to your departure.

Smoking

The tour coach is non-smoking, as are all Air China flights. Restaurants permit smoking; however, we are usually given our own section or room in the restaurants and we prefer our guests do not smoke in the immediate vicinity.

Communications

All rooms come with IDD direct dial telephone lines. You can dial the USA easily. AT&T has a direct English speaking operator that can be reached by dialing 10811 from any hotel room. China time is 15 hours ahead of US Pacific Time and 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Fax and Internet capabilities are available in the hotel business centers.

Clothing

Comfort is the key for clothing while traveling in China. Most important is a comfortable pair of shoes that you are used to. Light clothing of a comfortable fabric that you can wear in layers is a good idea. More information about clothing will be included in your Confirmation Package.

Shopping

Our Tour Directors are willing to assist you with translation while shopping. However, Travel Design USA is not responsible for any purchases you make. After sales correspondence must be between you and the vendor. Closely examine all purchases.

Weather

China is a very big country and weather can differ drastically depending on the region in which you are traveling. Beijing seldom sees much rain and normally stays dry and breezy. Shanghai sits on the South China Sea and benefits from the moderate waterfront temperatures; however, rain is a bit more common. Spring and fall are the best times to visit: the temperatures are moderate and rainfall is scarce throughout China.

China Average Temperatures (°F)
City	Jan.	Feb.	Mar.	Apr.	May	Jun.	Jul.	Aug.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Beijing	24	28	40	56	68	76	79	76	67	55	39	27
Chongqing	46	49	57	66	72	77	83	75	65	65	57	49
Yichang	38	42	50	61	71	78	84	83	74	64	52	42
Guilin	46	48	56	65	74	79	82	82	78	69	59	50
Hangzhou	38	41	49	59	69	76	84	83	74	63	54	43
Hong Kong	60	61	65	72	79	82	84	83	82	77	71	64
Kuming	46	50	56	62	67	67	68	67	64	59	53	47
Lhasa	29	37	41	46	54	61	61	57	57	48	39	32
Shanghai	38	40	47	57	66	74	82	82	75	64	55	43
Suzhou	37	40	48	58	67	75	83	83	74	64	54	42
Urumqi	13	14	25	37	47	55	58	56	47	35	22	16
Xiani	30	36	46	57	67	78	80	78	67	56	44	33
Japan Average Temperatures (°F)
Osaka	48	49	55	67	75	81	88	91	83	72	62	53
Tokyo	49	49	54	64	73	77	83	87	80	70	61	53
Thailand Average Temperatures (°F)
Bangkok	89	90	92	94	92	91	90	90	89	89	88	87
Chiang Mai	84	89	94	97	93	90	89	88	88	88	85	82
Phuket	88	90	91	91	88	87	87	86	85	86	86	87

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China Discovery Tours
20407 Hawthorne Blvd.,  Torrance, CA  90503
Toll Free: 1-866-99CHINA (992-4462)
1-888-371-3228 (Nationwide)
Tel: 310-802-7100 (Local)    Fax: 310-370-4987
Office Hours: 9:00am - 6:00pm Pacific Time Monday - Friday
Email: info@chinadiscoverytours.com