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The best place to exchange currency is often at the hotel where you
are staying. As long as you are in a major city you can usually find
a bank with an ATM labeled in English inside the lobby
but you may not like the fee for the transaction.
At some banks the ATM transaction fee is as high as $8US.
In most hotels and larger restaurants the major credit cards are accepted but in general cash is still the preferred method of payment. In a surprising number of places we found we could pay in US dollars. Most of the service people we dealt with were reluctant to accept tips but this may change as more tourists travel to China. It is said to be inadvisable to drink the tap water there. Some parts of China especially in the south are still considered malaria-risk zones and you may not be qualified to be a blood donor for a full year after travelling there. Here are the latest health advisories regarding travel to China. A visa is required for entering China and it typically takes several weeks to obtain one although this may change as the time for the Olympics approaches. It is typical to be given a visa valid for a first time entry within 90 days of the date of issuance so you can take care of this early. Here is the latest information on obtaining a visa for travel to China. The Chinese people we encountered on our travels were for the most part friendly and inclined to be helpful. English is taught in schools and many people in service jobs will be able to understand and speak some English. Enjoy your trip to China! | 
more pictures from China
(As of July, 2006) China: |