Guide for the UN Fourth World Conference on Women and the NGO Forum on Women

I. Geographical Location of China

Sketch Map of the Terminal Building at Capital Airport

The People's Republic of China is situated in the eastern part of Asia on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is bounded by Mongolia, Russia, Korea, Viet Nam, Laos, Myanmar, Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgystan and Kazakhstan. One of the world's largest countries, China has a total land area of about 9.6 million share kilometers. The capital of China is Beijing.

II. Entry and Exit Formalities

(1) Declaration

Before entering China, travelers should fill in the Luggage Declaration Form (LDF) to declare whatever luggage and valuables they are taking with them. Family members can share one form.

Those with articles listed on the form must declare them to Customs. Articles registered in the LDF should be brought out of China when you leave. Please do not lose this form which will be checked by a Customs official when you leave the country. Travelers with luggage and other articles transported separately should declare their quantity and port of arrival. These articles must be transported into China within six months from the time of entry. Those who bring with them articles subject to tax must pay import tax according to Customs' provisions.

(2) Entering China

On arrival in China, a traveler must fill in the Entry Registration Card and hand in his (or her) passport, visa and quarantine certificate. All luggage, goods and packages must be checked by health officials before he or (she) enters China. Travelers with VD, leprosy or infectious pulmonary tuberculosis are prohibited from entry.

Those who bring old and waste materials, food, micro organisms, biological products, portions of the human body, blood and/or its products, and animals that may spread infectious diseases among humans must declare these goods strictly according to the facts. Those arriving from areas with epidemic yellow fever must show their valid certificates of inoculation against this disease. Those with symptoms of fever, diarrhea, vomiting or rash must declare this information accurately. Those with quarantine certificates must be examined by the quarantine station appointed by Customs before entry.

Passengers are forbidden to bring dangerous, explosive and/or harmful articles to China prescribed by law; those who have such articles must declare them to the frontier inspection station.

When arriving at hotels, travelers should check in according to relevant regulations.

Notes:

1. For entry or exit, a foreign traveler should fill in the card accurately and hand it in, along with his (or her) passport and visa, for checking. The card will be kept by the frontier inspector.

2. Please write clearly in one of these four languages: Chinese, English, French or Spanish. Use the Roman alphabet when writing Japanese names. 3. In "Occupation" column, please check (/) your occupation.

(3) Leaving China

On departure, articles registered in the Luggage Declaration Form should all be brought out of China; if any item is missing, a certificate by the relevant department is required (for instance, a certificate from the public security organ is required if something is stolen); otherwise, the traveler must pay import tax according to Customs' regulations.

Visitors who want to change Renminbi (RMB) back to foreign currency at the airport before leaving China will be required to show the exchange memo provided when they exchanged foreign currency into RMB on entry or at banks.

Articles that are forbidden to be exported according to law should not be taken out of China. Foreign currency, RMB, cultural relics, medicinal materials, god, silver and/or their products should not be taken out, unless they meet China's relevant regulations and have been checked by Customs.

III. The Renminbi and Exchange of Foreign Currencies

China's legal tender is Renminbi(RMB). The basic unit of RMB is yuan
1 yuan = 10 jiao(ormao), and
1 jiao = 10 fen
RMB is available in both paper currency and coins.

The denominations of paper currency are
100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1 yuan;
5, 2 and 1 jiao
; and 5, 2 and 1 fen.

The denominations of coins are
1 yuan;

5 and 1 jiao

; and 5, 2 and 1 fen.

China exercises centralized management over foreign exchange, with this function being performed by the State General Administration of Exchange Control. The telephone number for the Beijing Branch Administration of Exchange Control is 5199466.

Foreign currencies may be converted into RMB at all banks, bank branches, or hotels.

There are 21 quoted exchange currencies:

US dollar (US$), Deutsche mark (DM), Hong Kong dollar (HK$), Swiss franc (SF), Australian dollar ($A), Canadian dollar (Can$), Singapore dollar (S$), French franc (FF), Macao pataca (MOP), guilder (f), Norwegian krone (NKr), Swedish krone (SKr), Denmark krone (DKr), Japanese yen (&yen), British pound (&pound), European Monetary (EMU), Belgian franc (BF), Malaysia ringgit (MYR), Austrian schilling (Sch), Finnish markka (Fmk) and Italian lira (Lit).

Such conversion will be made at the exchange rate quoted at the foreign exchange market on the very day. Private or black market exchanges are illegal.

The Bank of China is the specialized institution which handles credit cards in foreign countries, including Visa, Master Card, Diner's Card, American Express, JCB, Million Card and Federal Card.

These cards can be used at major hotels and shopping centers where the Bank of China has established branches. If you lose your card, please come to one of the Bank of China's branches to apply for a replacement.

The Bank of China and the foreign financial organizations listed below have reached agreements on selling, cashing in and compensating for traveler's checks.

  • The Traveler's Checks Handled by the Bank of China:

    For any problems, please contact the Bank of China, Beijing Branch, Tel.: 3035128.

    A list of major banks for the convenience of conferees follows:

    Major Banks in China

    IV. Accommodations

    The Chinese Organizing Committee has provided all types of hotels for conferees. If you need assistance, please come to the reception desk of the hotel.

    Every hotel has a different style of restaurants, a variety of entertainment and relevant services. Signs of special services at these hotels follow:

    Room Service

    Baby-sitter

    Credit Cards

    Facilities for Handicapped Person

    Foreign Currency Exchange

    Ticket Agency

    Domestic Direct Dial

    International Direct Dial

    Clinic

    List of Hotels Designated by the Conference

    List of Hotels in Huairou

    County Seat Area

    Yanqi Lake Area

    Hongluo Lake Area