Page 11 - China Destination Guide - Alluring Asia

HEALTH ETIQUETTE A yellow fever vaccination The full title of the country is 'The People's Republic of China', and certificate is required from travelers this should be used in all formal communications. Although coming from infected areas. There handshaking may be sufficient, a visitor will frequently be greeted by is a risk of malaria throughout the applause as a sign of welcome. The customary response is to applaud low-lying areas of the country, and back. Anger, if felt, is expected to be concealed and arguments in it is recommended that travelers to public may attract hostile attention. China seek medical advice before departure. A total of 18 human In China, the family name is always mentioned first. It is customary cases of avian influenza ('bird flu') to arrive a little early if invited out socially. When dining, guests PAGE 3 have been reported from China should wait until their seat is allocated and not begin eating until Population | Time | Visas Insurance | History since November 2005. Twelve of the indicated to do so. If using chopsticks, do not position them upright cases were fatal. Travelers are in your rice bowl as the gesture symbolizes death. Toasting at a meal PAGE 4-6 is very common, as is the custom of taking a treat when visiting History unlikely to be affected by bird flu, but live animal markets and places someone's home, such as fruit, confectionery or a souvenir from a PAGE 7 where contact with live poultry is home country. If it is the home of friends or relatives, money may be Government | Language possible should be avoided. All left for the children. PAGE 8 poultry and egg dishes should also Climate be thoroughly cooked. If visiting a school or a factory, a gift from the visitor's home country, particularly something which would be unavailable in China (a text PAGE 9 Japanese encephalitis has been book if visiting a school, for example), would be much appreciated. The Land | People | Religion responsible for the deaths of a Stamps are also very popular as gifts, as stamp-collecting is a popular PAGE 10 number of people in the Shaanxi hobby in China. A good gift for an official guide is a Western Currency | Credit Cards and Shanxi provinces in northern reference book on China. Changing Money | Tipping China, and rabies infects people PAGE 11 every year, occasionally causing Conservative casual wear is generally acceptable everywhere and Etiquette | Health & Vaccinations death. Outbreaks of dengue fever revealing clothes should be avoided since they may cause offense. occur. Altitude sickness can occur Visitors should avoid expressing political or religious opinions. PAGE 12 in the mountainous regions of Communications | What to Pack Tibet, Qinghai, parts of Xinjiang, PHOTOGRAPHS PAGE 13 and western Sichuan. Outside city It is polite to ask permission before taking photographs, Some people Shopping | Customs centers, visitors should only drink may take offense. bottled water. Western-style PAGE 14-15 Food & Drinks medical centers with international staff are available in the major cities PAGE 16-17 and usually accept credit cards. For Culture & The Arts | Religion all health requirements and recommendations travelers should check with a local Department of Health clinic or U.S Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Further information may be obtained from the CDC Web Site for this Region: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/eastasia. htm