Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2. Should something unexpected happen, such as flight cancellation or sudden ill-
ness, you will need to go to the Exit and Entry Administration of the Beijing Muni-
cipal Public Security Bureau immediately to apply for a valid visa.
3. If you have a pet with you, the pet will not be able to leave the airport (guide dogs
with correct documentation excluded).
For more information, visit
www.bjgaj.gov.cn/eng
or speak to a China visa special-
ist.
Miscellaneous
If you're coming to job hunt or network, business cards are essential. Most of the printing
stores around the streets can do cheap and basic cards for you; however, other options
include
Jingjin
Printing
and
Huamei
Printing
(
www.hmprint.cn
)
, which can both deliver to your hotel or office.
You may also want to come with a ready supply of particular personal items. Sunblock,
for instance, is sold as if it were expensive face moisturizer—in tiny bottles—so if you're
used to family packs and are coming in summer, bring your own. If you have a medical
condition that needs ongoing medication, bring a full supply that will see you through your
entire visit. Most major medications are available, but not all. EpiPens, for example, are not
available, and many mental health medications, such as Ritalin, can be difficult to come by.
Nicotine patches are also all but impossible to get your hands on.
You will find that you are forever getting asked for passport photos of yourself, espe-
cially once you really start to settle in and apply or register for things. Be proactive and
get a good supply of ID photos made up and keep these handy. Twenty photos of your-
self might seem excessive, but you'll be surprised how quickly you'll hand these out. In
most cases, these should be 48- by 33-millimeter glossy, full-color photos with a plain white
background.
Money
You'll need to have
rénmínbì
on you from the moment you step out of the airport. There is
no other legal currency. As at any airport there are exchange counters for changing money;
however, also as at any airport, these are not the places to get the best value for your money.
If you have an international credit or debit card, you should be able to withdraw money
directly from the ATMs. It is worth checking with your bank ahead of time which banks in
China it cooperates with, as not all ATMs will accept your card. The banks most likely to
