Business trip to Beijing, China
The basic structure of Chinese economy is mainly that of a developing country, and Beijing being the capital city is an important part of this economy. The city is becoming more and more known for its innovative entrepreneurs and high-growth start-ups due to a large community of both Chinese and foreign venture capital firms.
The economy of the city has undergone a rapid and steady growth of around 8-9% annually since the introduction of economic reforms in the 1980s. Although the majority of the population still is employed as a fieldworker, there is a significant industrial base of advanced manufacturing and technological enterprises in the city and this is expanding.
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The country is especially known for being one of the world’s largest producers of rice, cereals and grain and having large deposits of minerals like coal and iron ore, however Beijing also has emerged as an extensive Industrial base especially with its auto industry becoming more important in the world.
In the last ten years, government policy has diverted the accent on development of light industries and also promoted the evolution of the service sector. But the chemicals and high technology industries have grown especially quickly. Beside this, with China being self-sufficient in oil, Beijing also has developing petrochemicals industry.
The development of Beijing continues to proceed at a rapid pace. Known for its frequent "power-saving" programs instituted by the government, the city is also in an effort to alleviate the smog that covers the city due to numerous factories. The measures taken for the Olympic games in 2008 are officially still enforced to try to keep air polution at a low level.
The economy of the People’s Republic of China is the third largest in the world after the United States and Japan with a nominal GDP of € 3 trillion (in 2008) when measured in exchange-rate terms. Probably China will pass Japan, and become the second largest economy int the world after the USA in 2010. China has had the fastest-growing major economy for the past 30 years with an average annual GDP growth rate above 10%. China’s per capita income has likewise grown at an average annual rate of more than 8% over the last three decades drastically reducing poverty, but this rapid growth has been accompanied by rising income inequalities. The country’s per capita income is classified in the lower middle category by world standards, at about € 2.100 (nominal, 104th of 178 countries/economies) in 2008, according to the IMF.
In the modern era, China’s influence in the world economy was minimal until the late 1980s. At that time, economic reforms begun and with that the country began to generate significant and steady growth in investment, consumption and standards of living. China now participates comprehensively in the world market and private sector enterprises play a major role in the economy. Since then also hundreds of millions of the population have been lifted out of poverty: According to the official statistics of China, the poverty rate fell from 53% in 1981 to 2.5% in 2005. Nevertheless, 11% of the people still live on less than € 1 each day. The infant mortality rate fell 40% between 1990 and 2005, and maternal mortality by 41%. Access to telephones during the period rose more than 94 times, to 57%.
China has generally implemented reforms gradually. As its role in world trade has steadily grown, its importance to the international economy has also increased quickly. China’s foreign trade has grown faster than its GDP during the past 25 years. China’s growth comes from enornmous state investment in infrastructure and heavy industry and from private sector expansion in light industry. Not only of just exports, whose role in the economy appears to have been significantly overestimated. The smaller but highly concentrated public sector, dominated by 159 large state owned enterprises, provided key inputs from utilities, heavy industries, and energy resources that facilitated private sector growth and drove investment, the foundation of national growth.
The government’s decision to permit China to be used by multinational corporations as an export platform has made the country a major rival to other Asian export-led economies, such as South Korea,, Malaysia and Singapore. China has emphasized raising the personal income and consumption and introducing new management systems to help increase productivity. The government has also focused on foreign trade as a major way for economic growth. The restructuring of the economy and resulting efficiency improvements have contributed to a more than tenfold increase in GDP since 1978. Some economists believe that Chinese economic growth has been greatly understated during much of the 1990s and early 2000s, failing to fully factor in the growth driven by the private sector and that the extent at which China is dependent on exports is exaggerated.
However, key bottlenecks continue to constrain growth. Available energy is insufficient to run at fully-installed industrial capacity, also due to the obsolete machinery. The transport system is inadequate to move sufficient quantities of such critical items as coal, and the communications system cannot yet fully meet the needs of an economy of China’s size and complexity.
Though China has acquired some highly sophisticated production facilities through trade and also has built some advanced engineering plants capable of manufacturing an increasing array of sophisticated equipment, including nuclear weapons and satellites, most of its industrial output still comes from relatively bad equipped factories. The technological level and quality standards of its industry as a whole are still quit low.
The two most essential sectors of the economy have always been agriculture and industry, which together employ more than 70 percent of the labor force and produce more than 60 percent of GDP. The two sectors have differed in many ways. Technology, labor productivity, and incomes have advanced much faster in industry than in agriculture. Agricultural output has been vulnerable to the effects of weather, while industry has been more directly influenced by the government. The differences between the two sectors have combined to form an economic-cultural-social gap between the rural and urban areas. This is a major segregation in Chinese society. China is the world’s largest producer of rice and is among the principal sources of wheat, corn, tobacco, soybeans, peanuts, and cotton. The country is one of the world’s largest producers of several industrial and mineral products, including cotton cloth, wolfram, and antimony, and is an important producer of cotton yarn, coal, crude oil, and many other products. Its mineral resources are probably among the wealthiest in the world but are only partly developed.
China’s increasing integration with the international economy and its growing efforts to use market forces to control the domestic allocation of goods have aggravated this problem. Over the years, large subsidies were built into the price structure, and these subsidies grew substantially through the years. By the early 1990s these subsidies began to be eliminated, mainly because of China’s admission into the World Trade Organization in 2001, which carried with it requirements for further economic liberalization and deregulation. China’s ongoing economic transformation has had a profound impact not only on China but on the world. The market-oriented reforms China has implemented over the past two decades have opened doors to individual initiative and entrepreneurship, while retaining state dominance of the economy.
For more in-depth information I suggest you buy and read the "Global Business Etiquettes" book.
- Communication:
Use an intermediary to get introduced.
Take your time and be very patient. It can take a very long time to build a relation.
Use formal names and academic titles. Rank is very important and should be respected at all time.
Chinese are not direct, they prefer subtlety to directness. They will not tell you what they think.
Dress formal and conservative. Womens should wear flat shoes. - Meetings and negotiations:
Be very punctual, if you suspect you will late, call and explain the situation.
A translator/intermediary is essential.
Remain standing until invited to sit down.
Agenda’s are strictly followed but a meeting can take much longer then planned because decisions take a long time.
Keep your presentation as short as possible, to the point, accurate and precise, do not exaggerate and use only black and white colors!
Written material should be available in both Chinese and English, using simplified Chinese characters. Make certain that translations are accurate and cannot be misinterpreted.
Follow up a meeting with a letter with all agreements outlined. - Table manners:
If unsure on how to behave, mimic the behavior of others.
Bring a gift for your host.
Wait until you are appointed a seat.
Do not talk business.
Avoid alcohol if possible, otherwise drink little.
Learn to use chopsticks.
Try everything that is offered.
Keep your hands above the table when eating.
Making slurping sounds is allowed of even appreciated.
Thank your host at the end of the meal.
China has not escaped the recent global economic crisis. With an economy heavily dependent on exports to developed markets, the sharp drop in global consumer demand has had a important effect on China’s economy. In 2007 China’s economy grew by 13 percent and had maintained over 10% growth for most of the past decade.
In 2008 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth dropped to 9 percent, dangerously close to the 8 percent growth that many economists believe to be required to feed China’s economic engine. Exploratory Chinese economic figures for the last quarter of 2008 indicate that this decline is continuing and accelerating. Overall economic growth in China is continuing, however and foreign companies are benefiting.
In 2008, inflation, measured by the country’s consumer price index, dropped slightly from the year prior to about 6 percent but continues to be an economic threat. China’s manufacturing base helped the country hit record trade surplus levels of € 189 billion in 2008. Foreign investment is strong with China remaining as one of the main destinations for foreign capital investment, though growth began to slide in 2008. China’s economic miracle is tempered by a number of looming threats, namely a rapidly aging population and a perilously deteriorating environment.
In the end of 2008 the Chinese government, in order to shore up the weakening domestic economy, unveiled a € 371 billion (RMB 4 trillion) economic stimulus plan. € 168 billion, or 45 percent, of the stimulus package will go toward the construction of railways, highways, airports and power grids; another € 93 billion will be used for post-disaster reconstruction, which includes rebuilding after snowstorms that hit Central China in early 2008 and the earthquake that struck Sichuan province in May. € 34 billion will go towards rural development and infrastructure projects; € 32 billion has been earmarked for ecological environment; € 26 billion will be used for low-income housing; and the rest will be spent on health, culture, education and innovation.
Some facts in a list:
| Currency | Chinese Yuan(RMB) |
| Time zone | GMT +8 |
| Population | 1.338.612.968 |
| Area | 9.640.821 km2 |
| Population density | 140 /sq km |
| GDP | € 5,76 trillion |
| GDP/per capita | € 4.297 |
  | Product tip: Keep an eye on the size of your trolley Many luggage stores sell suitcases described as ’carry-on’, but these suitcases are sometimes larger than the size most airlines will accept. The safe maximum size is 114 cm, in the form of a 55 x 40 x 20 cm bag. Some airlines allow up to as much as 140 cm, but most do not. Not only do luggage stores and manufacturers seldom tell you if their bag is legally sized or not, but they also frequently mis-measure their bag. Their measurements generally are for the inside of the main compartment, and assume that any external pockets are of zero thickness, rather than stuffed full of things (which can easily add another inch or more) and ignore any external framing such as wheels and carry handle (which can also add another couple of inches). |
Do you take your interpreter with you during your business trip? Even better, hire someone local. That way you are sure that he or she speaks the correct Chinese language variant of the region where you are going to.
An interpreter who also speaks the language of your business
An interpreter that has graduated with honors speaks its languages perfectly. But.. you are better of with someone who knows what type of business you’re in and knows the right translations and understands your business. Ask around for the right interpreter and choose the interpreter who feels at home in your core business.
Interpreter etiquette
During the meeting, keep looking at your business contact, not at your interpreter, not even when he or she is talking. Try to avoid the specific terminology of your industry. A wrong translation can lead to misunderstandings. Answers your business contact with a “yes” or a “no”, try determine to what he or she answered exactly so that there can be no misunderstandings about the results.
Never rush
Remember that Chinese negotiations usually go through several stages. First there is an informal prenegotiation. After that follows the official main negotiation. After that there is a possibility of some sort of after-negotiation. Don’t try to force the state of affairs, that could jeopordize the complete negotiations. In advance make proper arrangements with your interpreter, you will need the same interpreter during all those 3 meetings.
Who is the decision maker?
During your meeting try to find as early as possible who will take the final decision in the end. Your Chinese contacts usually speak to you with a group, but only one of them will make the final decision. See who enters the room first and in which order your business contacts present their businesscards. Who takes the floor first? How do the Chinese business contacts react to one another? When you can find out who is the decision maker and you are able to convince that person, you will probably get the approval of the whole group.
Beijing Capital International Airport, under the administrative control of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), officially opened on March 02nd 1958. With the development of civil aviation business and the increasing volume of passenger and cargo transportation, it was expanded in large scale. The airport is located in northeast of Beijing, capital of People’s Republic of China, and 25 km from the Tiananmen Square, center of Beijing city.
Address
Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited
Capital Airport
Beijing, China.
100621
Tel: 010-64541111
en.bcia.com.cn
Airport codes
IATA airport code: PEK
ICAO airport code: ZBAA
Lost property
In case of lost luggage you can phone one of the following phone numbers:
Terminal 1: 010-64540110
Terminal 2: 010-64598333
Terminal 3: 010-64530030
Terminal info
With Terminals 1 and 2 operating at capacity and Beijing’s air traffic growing at 20% a year, the 2008 Olympics demanded an immediate solution. This resulted in the € 2,9 billion Terminal 3. Another spectacular new piece of Beijing architecture, the Feng Shui compliant Terminal 3 is the creation of Britain’s Norman Foster. With Chinese red columns and a muted gold roof it evokes traditional Chinese colors in a modern design.
Connectivity from the airport
Subway
Beijing Capital International Airport is serviced by the Airport Express Line of the Beijing Subway. The line runs from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 and from there to the city with stops at Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen. A one-way trip takes approximately 16–20 minutes.
Taxi
Capital Airport provides taxi stops at the airport, so you can take a taxi to or from the airport.
Airport Taxi Dispatch Management Number: (010)64541100
Getting around in Beijing by taxi is not hard, as long as you are prepared. Assume your driver will not speak English. Keep the name of your hotel written down in Chinese characters. A brochure, business card or receipt may work or have the hotel staff write it down for you. Then you can easily show it to a driver. You can also learn to say the name of your hotel and other destinations in Chinese.
Note that taxis cannot stop anywhere they want - usually if there is a solid white line and its a busy place with police around they are likely to ignore your hailing. Try a side street or look for a taxi stand. If you know which way you want to be going, catch a taxi on the correct side of the road as it will be faster.
Taxis in Beijing are metered, so just get in the taxi and pay the fare when you get out. The machine will also print out receipts automatically for you if you need it.Beijing taxis start at ten renminbi (Chinese dollars) and don’t actually tick up for a good distance. Often if you are not going too far the ride will cost you ten or twelve renminbi which is less than two US dollars. A trip from the airport is about 70 to 100 renminbi.
Brasserie FLO
Beijing’s only authentic French brasserie and winner of five consecutive years for “Best French Restaurant in Beijing from 2004-2008” by That’s Beijing Magazine. The house specialty is still its sauerkraut and goose liver, which our French Chef contrives to infuse with the legendary lightness on which its reputation rests.
Rainbow Plaza
16 Dong San Huan Bei Lu
100026 Beijing
PHONE : 65 95 51 35
FAX : 65 95 51 40
www.flo.cn
Danieli’s
Reputed as “Beijing’s Finest Italian Restaurant”, Danieli’s presents you a superb opportunity to experience the best selection of this world-famous cuisine, coupled with Beijing’s largest Italian wine selection.
21 Jianguomenwai Dajie
Beijing 100020
Phone: (86)(10) 6460 6688
www.starwoodhotels.com
Li Jia Cai Restaurant
If you are on a business trip to Beijing, this is a great restaurant for entertaining your hosts.
Li Jia Cai Restaurant is devoted to Imperial Court food. The initiator of Li Jia Cai is Li Shanlin, a retired professor of mathematics, who also has great interest in cooking genuine Beijing Imperial Court Food. The restaurant has no employees. The Li family are owner and employees of the restaurant; and dinner is by set menu. That is to say, a guest can not order the dishes but must wait for whatever they serve; furthermore, one banquet daily, if you want to have a dinner here, you should make a reservation (at least two weeks ahead of time); finally there are no chemical materials in the dishes, all flavorings are natural.
11 Yangfang Hutong
Deshengmennei Dajie
Phone: 6618-0107
No website available
Tips to save money on hotel costs during your business trip to Beijing.
To get the best price for a good hotel room during your business trip to Beijing it's not only important to compare the prices the hotel charges for a room, but also compare the prices of the different booking agencies.
This can save you, or your company, a lot of money!
- Go to this hotel listing for Beijing.
- Select the "Check-in" and "Check-out" date.
- Select filters like: "Hotel brand", "Ratings", "Location" and "Price ranges".
- Select the hotel you like.
- You will get an overview of the prices from up to 24 booking sites
- Select the best offer in the list and book the room!
We have selected the following established business hotels for your convenience:
Swissotel Hotel Beijing
The Swissotel Hotel Beijing is located at the intersection of the city’s commercial, shopping, and diplomatic districts. Nearby points of interest include Olympic Park and the Forbidden City. Onsite amenities include a Cantonese restaurant, a Swiss café, a lounge, function and meeting rooms, a gymnasium, a full health club, and a swimming pool.
No. 2 Chao Yang Men Bei Da Jie
Beijing, China
More info about Swissotel Hotel Beijing
Marco Polo Parkside Hotel Beijing
The business hotel located in the hottest commercial area of Olympic village with easy access to main traveling places and Exhibition and convention centers. 315 rooms, Suites and Continental Club rooms that are equipped with modern business amenities including complimentary broadband access, separate shower and stand-alone bathtub.
78 Anli Road, Chaoyang District
Beijing, China
More info about Marco Polo Parkside Hotel Beijing
Pullman West Wanda Hotel Beijing
Contemporary and cosmopolitan, Pullman Beijing West Wanda is located in the Wanda Plaza in the new Shijingshan business district. Offering sophisticated Beijing business accommodation, this beautiful hotel features 312 magnificent rooms, as well as twoClub floors, an executive lounge, spa, modern gym, pool and extensive dining and function facilities.
No.18 Shijingshan Road,Shijingshan District
Beijing, China
More info about Pullman West Wanda Hotel Beijing
Wangfujing
As the most famous commercial area of Beijing, Wangfujing is located at the northern side of Chang’an East Street of the center of the city. Wangfujing became a commercial center when the Dong’an market was founded here in 1903. The street is less than one kilometer long, but it is crowded with specialty shoes and long-history shops, which are full of modern atmosphere and high taste. Now it is considered as the sister street of Champs Elysees in France. Besides of its modern feature, the street also preserves the Chinese traditional style, such as the Oriental Plaza, Gongmei Building ,Wangfujing Department Store, Moslem Building, Sun Dong An Plaza and so on.
Qianmen
Qianmen is just in the south of the Tian’anmen square. The Qianmen street already was a commercial center of Beijing more than 500 years ago. If you are interested in the Chinese traditional products, this will be a good place to go.
Silver Street
Silver street is in the Dongdan Beidajie. In the old times, it was the vane of the fashion. All the franchised foreign name-brand were concentrated here. However, after renovation, the street displas another feature. Silver street is the combination of tradition and modern, simplicity and fad.
The Silk Market
As the third best known tourist destination of Beijng after the Great Wall and Forbidden City, the Silk Street has been popular with the foreign tourists.The old open market was demolished back in 2005, and in 2006 the new one has been opened with a bang in its new bright and spacious home. This is a seven story building which has everything included. It holds more than 1.700 retail bargainors, well-known among the worldwide tourists for its abundant selection of fake designer brand apparels. On weekdays the Silk Street attracts assumably 20.000 visitors daily(9am to 9pm) and about 50.000 to 60.000 on weekends.
Just as its name, the Silk Street is full of the beautiful silk products as well as the textiles and handcrafts. Besides of these, the Silk Street has much more than just silk. The new Silk Street have introduced traditional Chinese handicrafts, antiques, calligraphy, carpets, table cloths, bed coverings, paintings, hand-knit dresses, toys, electronic gadgets, trinkets, and fine jewelry. Everything here can be had way cheaper than at any of the stores in the city, but remember to make the bargain for it.
Forbidden city
When you have an extra day during your business trip to Beijing the main attraction has to be of course the forbidden city. This enormous complex, about 1 square kilometer, looks more like a city than a palace complex.
The Imperial Palace was built between 1406 and 1420 AD. The local legend says that one million people took part in its construction. The complex has two main parts. The "Outer Court" was where the Emperor’s momentous ceremonies took place. The main buildings in this section are the halls of Supreme Harmony, Central Harmony, and Preserving Harmony. On the sides of this section are the halls of Literary Glory and Military Eminence.
The "Inner Court", was where the Emperor spent his leisure hours with his friends, the Empress and his concubines. The main buildings in this part of the complex are the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, on the central axis. At the sides, are the Six Palaces of the east and west and the Imperial Garden to the north.
Shichahai Lakes
A stroll around the to the Forbidden City’s adjoining lakes, which used to be part of the emperors’ vast pleasure gardens is a great replacement when you only have limited time during your business trip to Beijing.You can rent a rowboat and take a float around Beihai Park, while enjoying the huge white Buddhist stupa built in 1271 by Kublai Khan. The three lakes, Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai, north of Beihai and about a mile north of the Forbidden City are known collectively as Shichahai and are ringed by restaurants and bars. Try the wildly popular cuisine of the Hakka minority group at Han Cang on the Shichahai East Bank.
Coal Hill Park
Another worthwhile morning destination is Jingshan Park, behind the Forbidden City. Not only is it an oasis of flowers and trees, it also boasts a breathtaking view of the Palace from the top of one of Beijing’s very few hills, which was constructed from earth that was dug up to make the moat of the Forbidden City. Each morning the park fills with middle-aged and older Chinese who gather in groups to sing the revolutionary songs of their youth, play the traditional two-stringed erhu or practice the slow, graceful movements of tai chi. Everyone is friendly and will try and get you to join them in the tai chi.
Hutongs once dominated the city, but in recent years many have been leveled in the name of modernization. Trishaw drivers hang around offering tours, but a better and cheaper (not to mention healthier) bet is to rent your own bike and get pleasantly lost in the back lanes around the Drum and Bell towers. It’s not hard to find one of numerous small bicycle shops nearby. Alternatively, look for one of 20 stands dotted around the city, run by the Beijing Bike Rental Company, which rents bikes by the hour, the day or longer.
The Legation Quarter
For a nightcap, head to the Legation Quarter, just off the southeast corner of Tiananmen Square. This elegant quadrangle of two-story buildings served as the U.S. Embassy from 1903 when it was built, until 1949 when the Communists took over. It has now been lovingly restored and houses a range of restaurants and bars and an art gallery. Head straight to the main building, which houses Maison Boulud, the creation of Frenchman turned New Yorker Daniel Boulud. You can eat his wonderful food of course, but there is also a bar where they make the best lychee martini in town, or possibly anywhere.
Emperor Hotel Bar
The boutique Emperor Hotel is perched just opposite the east gate of the massive Forbidden City palace complex. Trendy and airy, the 55-room hotel has many charms. But best of all for the weary traveler is its rooftop bar, Yin. Built on an ascending series of platforms, the bar has the best view in town hands-down. Having a drink here at dusk as you gaze over the swooping tiled roofs of the vast former residence of the Emperor is magical.
Before you go on your business trip to Beijing, China you should always get a travel insurance with a complete coverage. Make sure your health care insurance is sufficiently covered. Maybe this is already covered in your regular health care insurance but often you will need to cover this with the travel insurance. Also a good travel insurance should cover the costs of travel for a relative in case of seriously illness or an accident. The business trip travel insurance should also cover the costs of search, rescue and repatriation.
When you go on business trips on a regular basis, the easiest way to get insured is with an annual multi-trip insurance. Keep in mind that you can also use this insurance for your pleasure trips so don’t forget to include to insure your leisure activities.
| Emergency numbers | Department | Phone |
| Police | Patrol | 110 |
| Traffic | 122 | |
| Medical | Privat | 999 |
| Public | 120 | |
| Fire | 119 |
Beijing International SOS Clinic opened in 1994. It is run by a highly trained and specialized team of professionals to ensure that you receive quality, comprehensive medical care while in Beijing.
Suite 105, Wing 1, Kunsha Building
No 16 Xinyuanli, Chaoyang District
Beijing 100027, P.R China
Tel: 86 10 6462 9112
E-mail: beijing.clinic@internationalsos.com
Chinese or the Sinitic language(s) is a language family consisting of languages mutually intelligible to varying degrees. About one-fifth of the world’s population, or over one billion people, speak some form of Chinese as their native language. The identification of the varieties of Chinese as "dialects" instead of "languages" is considered inappropriate by some linguists and Sinologists.
The standardized form of spoken Chinese is Standard Mandarin, based on the Beijing dialect, which is part of a larger group of North-Eastern and South-Western dialects, often taken as a separate language.
| Hello | 您好 (nín hǎo) / 喂(wéi) (on phone) |
| How are you? | 你好嗎? [你好吗] (nǐ hǎo ma) |
| I’m fine, thanks. And you? | 我很好，你呢？ (wǒ hěn hǎo, nǐ ne) |
| My name is ... | 我姓 ... (wǒ xìng ...) |
| Pleased to meet you | 很高興認識你 [ 很高兴认识你] (hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ) |
| Good morning | 早安 (zǎoān) |
| Good afternoon | 午安 (wǔān) |
| Good evening | 晚安 (wǎnān) |
| Good night | 晚安 (wǎnān) |
| Goodbye | 再見 [再见] (zàijiàn) |
| Bon appetit | 請慢用 [请慢用] (qǐng màn yòng) |
| Cheers/Good health! | 乾杯! [干杯!] (gān bēi) |
| I don’t understand | 我聽不懂 [我听不懂] (wǒ tīngbùdǒng) |
| Please write it down | 麻煩你寫一下,好不好？ [麻烦你写一下，好不好？](Máfan nǐ xiě yīxià, hǎo bù hǎo?) |
| How do you say ... in Mandarin? | ... 中文怎麼說？ (... zhōngwén zěnme shuō) |
| Excuse me | 請問 [请问] qǐngwén - to attract attention |
| How much is this? | 這個多少錢? [这个多少钱?] (Zhège duōshǎo qián?) |
| Thank you | 謝謝 [谢谢] (xièxie) |
| You’re welcome | 感謝你 [感谢你] (gǎnxiè nǐ) |
| Where’s the toilet? | 洗手間哪裡？ [洗手间在哪里？] xǐshǒujiān zài nǎli? |
| Yes / No | 是(shì) / 否(fǒu) |
  |   |
The best time to apply for your Chinese visa is 1-2 months before your travel date. The validity of a Chinese visa can be anywhere from 3-24 months depending on the type of visa you request. Normally a single entry visa is valid for 3 months, a double entry visa for 6 months, a multiple entry visa for 6, 12 or 24 months. You have to enter China before the expiration date of the visa. From that moment you can stay for 30 (or more days, as specified on your visa).
The time you could actually stay in China, or "duration of stay after entry" is usually 30-90 days per entry. You must state the duration of your stay on the application form. Please be reminded that the Chinese Consulate has the final say on the on the number of days you receive for your visa regardless of your request.
When you travel between Hong Kong and the mainland multiple times you do need a multiple entry visa for that purpose. Each time you enter China from Hong Kong or Macao, you need one entry. Citizens of most countries in North America and Europe can visit Hong Kong and Macao without a visa. You can check if you have to apply for a visa on http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from date of application in order to get a visa. You can get a single or double entry visa if your passport expires in less than 12 months, but more than 6 months. You can only get a 12-month multiple entry visa if your passport is valid for at least 12 months.
When you are offered a job in China and want your spouse and children to accompany you they can get work visas as well. Their names need to appear on the supporting documents you receive from the Chinese employer. Or you can provide a copy of marriage license and the children’s birth certificates.
