Public Holidays

While other Asian countries like India and Thailand have festivals a dime a dozen, China by contrast, has relatively few. The main festival is the Chinese New Year (January-February), when most establishments- offices, banks and so on- close for at least three days, with many working reduced hours for the next eleven days. Other traditional festivals, like the Qing Ming Festival, the Mid-autumn Festival, the Ghost Festival, The Moon Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Double Ninth Festival are not official holidays, but many businesses work reduced hours.

Date 2005 Occasion
January 1-2 New Year's Day Holiday  
February 9 - 11 Chinese New Year  
March 8 International Women's Working Day*
May 1-2 International Labour Day
May 4 Youth Day
June 11 Tuen Ng Festival (Dragon Boat's)
July 1 Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party
August 1 Army Day
September 19 Late Mid Autumn Festival
October 1-2 National Day

*Holiday for women only

Weekend: Saturday, Sunday

Customs & Duties

In case you do land up in trouble of a criminal nature, call the police (110 on the mainland, 999 in Hong Kong or Macao). You’d best also go to the local police station (along with someone who can act as interpreter) and get a report filed- you just might be able to get results

Electricity

220 volts, 50 hertz AC is the standard power supply in China. If required, pack an adaptor along.

Post & Communications

The postal system in China is pretty good, and fairly reliable, with letters taking less than 3 – 4 days to reach most destinations within the country (though several weeks to get abroad). For quicker deliveries, you could try the EMS (Express Mail Service), whereby letters automatically get registered too. Most large post offices work from 8 to 8, seven days a week; smaller post offices, too, work throughout the week, but usually for fewer hours a day. Poste restante services are available at most post offices.

Phone calls- local as well as international- can be made from hotels, `telephone shops’ and telecommunication centres (watch out, though- IDD calls can be pretty expensive). For other communications services like fax, telex and internet connections, you can usually go to larger hotels, which will allow non-residents to also use these facilities. Be prepared, however, to shell out a hefty sum for availing of them.

Weights and measures

 China follows the Metric System.

Tipping

Tipping isn’t the norm in China- anywhere and for any service. Of course, if you’re extremely pleased with the service and do want to leave a tip, you’re most welcome to, but don’t feel obliged to do so. Bargaining is, so feel free to get a good deal for yourself. Apart from the money you save, it’s an enjoyable battle of wits, so let the best man/woman win.

English Language Media

One advantage of being in Beijing is that although it’s not flooded with publications in English, at least you’ll be able to find much more to read than you would in most other Chinese cities. The main English newspaper, China Daily, is available from large hotels, the Friendship Store (the major department store in Beijing) and the Foreign Language Bookstore in Beijing. The newspaper is, more or less, a mouthpiece for the government, but it has listings of events in town. Other publications with similar listings are Beijing This Month, and the weekly Beijing Scene (a highly irreverent rag which is aimed at the foreign community living in Beijing). City Edition and Metro are two other publications- both aimed also at the foreign community-which contain listings and other useful information.