Time Difference
China is eight hours ahead of Greenwich (GMT + 8). New Zealand Standard Time zone is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+12). New Zealand does operate Daylight-Saving Time. Note that New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere and that "Summer Time" runs from September - April.
New Zealand Standard Time GMT+12 starts: First Sunday in April.
New Zealand Summer Time GMT+13 starts: Last Sunday in September.
China is 4 hours behind Auckland (Standard Time) and 5 hours (Daylight-Saving time).
When NOT to travel in China
Weather aside, avoid traveling during any of the China's national holidays if at all possible. In the 1990's the Chinese government introduced the "Golden Weeks" to develop domestic tourism industry. The three Chinese national "Golden Weeks" to avoid are:
1.Chinese New Year (Spring Festival): This is the worst time to travel. The exact dates each year varies since it’s based on the Lunar Calendar, but it’s usually around late January to mid-Feb.Technically about 2 weeks but many Chinese will just get the first week off. Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional holidays, kind of the equivalent of Christmas in the West. A huge chunk of the population — from white collar to migrant worker — takes off work to travel back to their hometowns to spend time with their families. Most businesses shut down completely, so your options for eating and shopping also become severely limited in smaller towns. Of course, if you don't mind the crowds, it can be lots of fun (festivals, street activity, etc).
2. National Day (starts Oct 1): A week-long holiday that celebrates founding of the People’s Republic of China. In particular, avoid some hot sites, such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Yellow Mountain, Jiuzhaigou Valley, etc.
3. Labor Day (May 1): Until 2007, this was a week-long holiday but has since been scaled back to a long 3-day weekend. So not as crazy as before but still definitely want to avoid being in transit during this time.
Business Hours
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 humor. 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 honor. If you must turn down such an honor, 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
Consular AssistanceIn China, the tourists from New Zealand can obtain consular assistance from the:
♦ Embassy of New Zealand in Beijing
Address: No.1, Ri Tan Dong Er Street, Chaoyang District
Postal Code: 100600
Tel: (+86)10 6532 7000
Fax: (+86)10 6532 4317
Office Hours: 08:30-17:00 (Mon. - Fri. except public holidays)
E-mail: enquiries@nzembassy.cn
Website: http://www.nzembassy.com/china
Embassy of New Zealand can offer necessary assistance to them in troubles, such as accident, death, crime, arrest, be in hospital, lost of passport or money. The Mobile Phone after work is 137 0128 2348. The embassy in Beijing or consulate in Shanghai can issue an Emergency Travel Document with a limited validity. It takes about three working days plus the time for mailing.
♦ Consulate General of New Zealand in Shanghai
Address: Room 1605-1607A, the Centre, No. 989 Chang Le Lu (Changle Road)
Tel: (+86)21 5407 5858
Fax: (+86)21 5407 5068
E-mail: nzcg@nzcgsha.com.cn
♦ Consulate General of New Zealand in Guangzhou
Consular Regions: Guangdong Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hainan Province, Fujian Province
Address: Room 1160, Commercial Mansion, China Hotel
Postal Code: 510015
Tel: (+86)20 8667 0253
Fax: (+86)20 8666 6420
Email: Guangzhou@nzte.govt.nz
Office Hours: 08:30 – 17:00 (Mon. - Fri.)