1. What is the best time of year to visit China?
2. What standard of accommodation can I expect?
3. Are meals included and what can I expect?
4. What about drinks?
5. Are transfers included at the start and end of my tour in China?
6. How big will the group be?
7. What is the average age on a group tour?
8. Are the tours suitable for elderly or disabled people?
9. Do you take children on the tours? And can 2 adults and 2 children share a room?
10. If I am travelling by myself, do I need to pay a single supplement?
11. Who do I fly with to China?
12. How do I travel between cities in China during my tour?
13. What about transport while I'm in each city?
14. Do I need a visa for China?
15. Do I need vaccinations for China?
16. Do I need to take out travel insurance?
17. What should I pack?
18. Do I need to dress up for dinner, to go to the Beijing Opera or on the Yangtze River cruise?
19. What about electricity and plugs?
20. What about money matters in China?
21. How much money do I need to I take?
22. Do I need to tip?
23. What about the shopping?
24. Will people speak English in China?
25. What are the toilet facilities like in China?
26. Can I use my mobile phone in China?

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What is the best time of year to visit China?

The climate in China ranges from cold, dry winters to hot, humid summers. Northern China is generally warm to hot from late May to September with the southern regions experiencing hotter conditions. It can be very cold during winter with temperatures often dropping below zero. So if you prefer to travel when it's not too hot and not too cold, spring or autumn months are the ideal time. China's spring is from late March to May while autumn is from mid-September to early November. At these times, average temperatures in the main cities might range between 12-25C, although they will vary depending on how early or late in the season it is and whether you are in the north or south in the country. China is 1.25 times the size of Australia and extends more the 5000km from east to west, and more than 550km north to south, so it's a big place!

June to early September are the summer months (averaging 25-30C) while winter is December to mid-March, with average temperatures from -4C to 8C in the north and 7-13C in the southern provinces.

But, remember, each season has its advantages. By travelling a little 'off peak', you may avoid airline surcharges that apply in school holiday periods, and the greater numbers of visitors that arrive in peak seasons. If you travel to China in the winter, sites are gloriously uncrowded, and cold, crisp skies and overnight snow at the Great Wall or the Forbidden City can make for spectacular photos!

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What standard of accommodation can I expect?

We have selected superior quality hotels in China. All rooms have modern facilities, private bathrooms and normally have two twin beds rather than one double bed (please note that, as the majority of hotels are built with twin-bedded rooms, we can request a double bed for you but we cannot guarantee its provision). Triple share accommodation consists of two single beds plus a rollaway/fold-up bed and consequently is not normally recommended for adult travellers.

Some of the hotels used are only recently opened and offer superior standards of service and facilities. In remoter areas, such as along the Silk Road, hotels can be of a lower standard as international class hotels may not have been built at this stage but we do use the best available accommodation.

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Are meals included and what can I expect?

All of our group tours include daily breakfast and lunch. Your evening meals will be more flexible as we have included only one dinner in each city to allow you the chance to discover local gastronomic delights and to suit your own taste and budget. Most of our hotels serve a buffet-style breakfast while others may provide a choice of a set western or Chinese breakfast. Other arranged meals are taken in outside restaurants and we have planned them to provide some balance between Chinese and Western-style lunches and dinners. Chinese lunches usually comprise 6-8 dishes while, among included dinners, we enjoy a Peking Duck banquet in a renowned restaurant in Beijing, in Xian we enjoy one of the world's best theatre restaurants and cultural shows, and in Shanghai we dine in one of the city's restaurants offering wonderful views of the Bund at night.

Our tours leave some evenings free for you to arrange your own dinners and you can choose from prestigious restaurants in the more upmarket hotels (where prices are comparable to similar standard hotels in Australia) or try the coffee shops and restaurants at other hotels. Or, better still, why not mingle with the diners in the many local restaurants found along the streets - it's an experience of fun and discovery. The food is safe (freshness and food preparation are so important in daily Chinese life) and even if there's no English menu, you can always just point to any of the delectable dishes you may see other diners enjoying - or you can create much laughter and goodwill by miming a chicken, cow or fish (impersonating a vegetable may be a little harder!). And you certainly should have become expert in the use of chopsticks by the end of your tour!

Please keep in mind that, if you require special meals due to religious, dietary or medical limitations, this can be difficult as restaurants within China are often inflexible in this regard - except, perhaps, in the larger hotels in main cities.

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What about drinks?

Chinese tea is commonly served with meals and there is a variety of soft drinks, local and imported beers and wines available for purchase. The cost of drinks is not included in your tour price (although, at the sole discretion of the restaurant, you may sometimes be given a complimentary glass of beer or soft drink with your meal). You should not drink the tap water - inexpensive bottled water is on sale in and around your hotels and at most tourist sites and it is recommended that you always carry some with you.

If you really need your 'cuppa' in the early morning or the evening, you may like to bring along a small supply of tea bags, coffee, milk powder or coffee whitener (electric jugs or thermos flasks of boiling water are provided in your hotel room to make hot drinks). And maybe a supply of your favourite little snacks to go with it? And for a nightcap, you might bring your preferred tipple into China, subject to the duty-free allowance (currently two 750 ml bottles per person).

Please note: For security reasons on domestic flights throughout China, you are no longer permitted to carry bottles of any liquid (including water) in your hand luggage, so make sure you carefully pack them inside your check-in luggage before flying. The same regulation also applies if you are carrying bottles at the time you check in for your international flight home. However, any purchases made after you have checked in for your flight and have passed through Security will be permitted on board.

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Are transfers included at the start and end of my tour in China?

If you are joining one of our group tour packages, an English-speaking guide will meet you at the airport when you arrive in the first city in the itinerary and will transfer you to the hotel. The guide will be holding a sign either with a Helen Wong's Tours logo or with your name indicated. At the end of the tour you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.

If you are arriving a day or two before the start of the group tour or are remaining at the end for additional nights and we have arranged the extra accommodation at our hotels, you will still be transferred on arrival and departure. If we have not booked your international flights, remember that we will need to be advised of your flight details so we can arrange the appropriate transfers.

If you are joining one of our 'Red Hot Specials' to China, all transfer arrangements are made on a group basis using coaches, so if you are not arriving or departing as per our group arrangements, you will need to book and pay for individual transfers.

For all arrangements, your tour documents will include a contact telephone number for the local ground operator, or for our China manager in Beijing, just in case something has gone awry and you are unable to locate your transfer guide on arrival at the airport.

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How big will the group be?

It will depend on the tour you are joining. On tours in our 'Affordable China' programme, participation is limited to 25 people although you can more usually expect to travel with just 20 tour members.

Because of their extra-special value, our seasonal 'Red Hot Specials' will often attract a greater number of travellers and if there is a particularly big group on any specific departure, the tour would be subdivided into groups of around 30 persons.

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What is the average age on a group tour?

There are no age restrictions on our tours and you could find quite a mix of differing ages and backgrounds in your group - from 20s to 70s, and from students to tradesmen, professionals to retirees - but all with a shared fascination in the culture, history and wonders of China. However, across an entire season and a whole range of tours, the average age of our group members is more likely to be between 40-60 years, rather than predominantly young.

General fitness is more important than age as full days of sightseeing can include quite a lot of (leisurely) walking, often just because of the sheer expanse of some of the sites visited. And an open-minded approach to travelling in a country whose culture differs from our own is an essential attribute, together with a sense of adventure, tolerance and an awareness that just occasionally things may not run as smoothly as we would like and could require your patience and understanding. By choosing to travel to a destination such as China, you are clearly seeking an experience of people and places quite different to those you find at home and you will find the rewards are great for those with a genuine spirit of enquiry.

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Are the tours suitable for elderly or disabled people?

As mentioned above, general good health and fitness are of greater importance than a traveller's age as the tours involve a fair amount of walking and there are frequent occasions when steps and stairways need to be tackled. Aside from the visit to the Great Wall, parts of are quite steep, most walking is relaxed and on relatively flat ground, perhaps with some small flights of steps or stairs. But when sites are particularly large - like, for example, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace or the Temple of Heaven park - a group may enter the site on one side and exit to meet their transport on the other, so there are not opportunities for you to "just rest here and meet the group on the way back".

But don't worry that your sightseeing may be undertaken as some kind of forced march or endurance test - it is leisurely and during the day there is a lunch stop at a restaurant of around 1-1.5 hours with sightseeing usually completed around 4-5 pm. You just need to think very carefully about going to China if you feel you're not able to be on your feet for much of the day or if you know you have trouble with steps.

Regrettably, for the disabled traveller who requires a wheelchair, China is largely unable to accommodate their needs at this stage. Most sites are not wheelchair accessible and traditional Chinese architecture at these sites invariably includes high steps across doorways, raised pavilions and often zigzag or hump-backed bridges. Group transport is not yet equipped to handle wheelchairs, very many restaurants are located on a first or second floor of buildings which are often without elevators, and only recently-built hotels may have made provision for wheelchair accessibility and included rooms with disabled facilities.

On the Yangtze River, access to cruise ships - for embarkation/disembarkation and for shore excursions - is usually via fairly steep steps or across pontoons while, aboard ship, cabins are distributed across three or four decks and common facilities like the dining room (lower deck) and the Yangtze Club (bar, theatre, lecture and observation areas on the upmost deck) are accessible only by stairways.

We can certainly arrange individual tours for disabled travellers, using private vehicles and guides and selecting only those hotels which have appropriate facilities (generally found in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou). But sightseeing options may still be somewhat limited, restricted by their accessibility. Wheelchairs can be hired in major cities at a reasonable cost although we would require a disabled client to travel with a companion or carer who is able to physically assist them throughout their tour.

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Do you take children on the tours? And can 2 adults and 2 children share a room?

While the majority of group members on any tour will be adults, we are often joined by family groups - particularly on the shorter packages or on the 'specials'. However, because of the amount of walking involved, our tours are probably more suitable for older children (say, from 9-10 years up) and, too, they will be better able to appreciate the culture and history of China.

Please note that the maximum number of people permitted in most hotel rooms in China is 3 - usually in a twin room with a rollaway bed - and if a family group comprises 4 persons, it will be necessary to have two twin rooms. Some hotels have interconnecting rooms but more often the rooms will be adjacent but not connecting.

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If I am travelling by myself, do I need to pay a single supplement?

If you are joining a group tour as a single traveller and will be occupying a single room, the indicated single supplement will apply.

If you advise us at the time of making your booking that you would like to share a room with another member of the group, your request will be noted and we will do our very best to match you up. However, if we are unsuccessful (i.e. if there are no other single travellers on your selected tour or another single does not wish to share), you will be required to pay the single supplement. Your invoice will include this charge and if we find a suitable share, you will be re-invoiced. If you have already made your final payment including a single supplement and we are subsequently able to match you up, we will, of course, refund the supplement you have paid.

We can only accept your booking if you agree to these terms. Should you advise that you are prepared to join the group ONLY on the basis that you can share and you will not otherwise travel, we will be happy to register your interest but will not make actual tour or airline bookings, and we will contact you again if we receive a request to share from another traveller.

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Who do I fly with to China?

Aside from the major international Chinese airlines that fly directly between Australia and China - Air China using Boeing 777s and 747s, China Southern using 777s, and China Eastern using Airbus A340 aircraft - there are several major carriers who will get you there. These include Qantas and Cathay Pacific who fly daily to Hong Kong with connecting services on Dragonair into mainland China, and Singapore Airlines (daily via Singapore). There are also regular services with Malaysia Airlines (via Kuala Lumpur) and Thai International (via Bangkok).

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How do I travel between cities in China during my tour?

For the majority of travel between cities, our groups will fly on one of the several major domestic airlines. Foreign carriers are not permitted to operate on domestic routes. Airlines such as Dragonair or Air Macau are permitted to fly between Hong Kong or Macau and cities in mainland China as these former colonies have been accorded Special Autonomous Region status and are treated as separate entities.

And you should forget those stories you may have heard (usually third-hand and from long ago) warning you against Chinese airlines! China's aviation industry has advanced at a rapid pace and developed greatly over the past 10-15 years. Its airlines are among the biggest customers of Boeing and Airbus, operating a range of their latest aircraft - 767s, 777s and 747s, and A300s, A320s, A340s, A400s, etc. Aircrews have been trained to the highest international standards and the safety record of Chinese airlines is now most definitely considered to be on a level with all the major international carriers. Main city airports have been upgraded and expanded in recent years and they offer the most modern technological, communication and passenger facilities, often superior to those we are accustomed to at home.

Because of long distances, inter-city coaches are rarely a viable travel option in China. The standard of Chinese trains between major cities is still quite basic and, as they tend always to travel overnight between cities such as Beijing and Shanghai or Xian, there are no 'sightseeing' advantages to be had. An exception is between Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai where we travel by comfortable day trains but otherwise we would choose to fly and to maximise our time in each destination.

On a limited number of programmes - such as the Silk Road tours and on our fully-escorted 'Grand Tour' - we may have no alternative but to travel by overnight train in one or two areas and on these occasions we will always use Soft Class (shared 4 berth compartments, with a toilet and hand-basin located at the end of each carriage).

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What about transport while I'm in each city?

If you are joining a tour package, during your sightseeing you will travel by air-conditioned coach or 'Coaster' minibus (depending on the group size), or by an appropriate-sized private vehicle if you have arranged private sightseeing with us.

For independent travel around the cities, public buses are difficult for non-Chinese speaking foreigners to use and are not recommended. Some major cities, like Beijing and Shanghai, have good subway systems with route maps in the carriages and station signs in English, as well as announcements in English when arriving at stations. Fares are very low and it can be fun to take the subway, just for the experience, although most services normally operate only on a circuit of the central city and may not extend to all the destinations you wish to reach. You are advised to carefully plan your travel (check the direction and number of stops you need to go) before launching into the crowds of local commuters.

All the main cities in China have a range of fairly inexpensive metred taxis which charge a basic flag-fall and a varying per kilometre cost, depending on the category and standard of vehicle - that is, a minivan or a small, medium or large-sized car will have differing rates. Generally taxi drivers will not speak or understand English so make sure you ask your hotel's Front Desk staff to write for you the name and/or address of your destination in Chinese, and always carry the hotel's address card with you to show a taxi driver for your return.

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Do I need a visa for China?

All foreign visitors are required to obtain a visa before entering China and passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry to China. Tourist visas are valid for three months from their date of issue and normally allow a maximum stay of 30 days. If you are joining one of our group tours or have requested we assist you with necessary documentation for individual arrangements, we will obtain the visa for you. If your arrangements extend beyond 30 days, we will assist you to obtain the necessary visa extension in China, to suit your particular travel dates (the additional visa cost to be borne by you).

Although Hong Kong and Macau have returned to China's control, they have the status of a Special Autonomous Region with separate and different entry requirements. Australians, New Zealanders and British do not require a visa for Hong Kong for a stay of up to 3 months (6 months for British passport-holders). And for these nationalities, no visa is required for entry to Macau for stays of up to 30 days.

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Do I need vaccinations for China?

There are no compulsory inoculations unless arriving from an infected area. However, it is recommended that you check with your doctor or a specialist Travellers Medical Centre regarding the latest advice and suggested precautions. It is sensible to have a current tetanus vaccination (valid for 10 years) and these days protection against Hepatitis A (or A/B) is recommended for travel everywhere. The most common ailments affecting travellers in China are colds, sore throats, minor stomach upsets and bronchial problems and it is recommended you bring medication to combat these. It is also important that you bring any necessary prescription medicines for pre-existing medical conditions (with a doctor's letter explaining their use in case of queries by Customs).

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Do I need to take out travel insurance?

It is highly recommended that clients purchase travel insurance at the time of making their reservation to cover against loss of deposit or full monies paid for a tour and/or an airfare through cancellation. Travel insurance is primarily required to cover against unforeseen medical expenses that may be incurred whilst overseas, for possible repatriation to Australia or for a family member to be flown to China to accompany you home if required. It will also normally offer cover against various other contingencies such as loss of or damage to baggage, loss of money and/or travel documents, curtailment charges, personal accident and personal liability.

It would be wise to check exactly what your chosen insurer will cover (e.g. some do not cover lost cash or travellers cheques, damaged baggage, etc.) and what, if any, excess they will charge, as well as asking how they would handle any medical emergency - for example, do they have representation or an association with international medical services in China itself? Either your travel agent or we can provide details and arrange reliable travel insurance for you.

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What should I pack?

Casual clothing is appropriate at all times although clothes that are too revealing are still frowned upon. In both north and south China, from late March-May (spring) and September-early November (autumn), take medium-weight clothing as well as a warm sweater or jacket; from June-August (summer) when it is hotter, light-weight cotton clothing and a sun-hat; and from December-mid-March (winter) you will need warm woollen clothing in the south, and in the north, heavier woollen attire and a scarf, warm gloves, heavy socks and perhaps thermal underwear. An umbrella and raincoat are worth taking with you at any time of year (an umbrella is very useful for shade when walking around under hot sun).

A word about your packing: your trip may involve an amount of personal baggage handling as porters are often not available except in larger hotels. So please take only what you are able to comfortably carry yourself (a wheeled case would be useful). And it is essential that your baggage can be locked or padlocked as, for security reasons, unlocked baggage will not be loaded onto aircraft in China.

Note that sometimes you may not be able to check into your hotel room immediately upon arrival and be able to access your main bags. Therefore, as you will be travelling from one climate at home to an opposite climate in China i.e. from winter to summer temperatures or vice versa, for your comfort it is a good idea to carry a change of clothes in your hand luggage - for example, a light T-shirt or blouse to replace your woollen sweater or heavy jacket.

Personal toiletries should include such items as toothpaste, shaving cream and razors, tissues (and 'wet' tissues/wipes are also handy), cosmetics and sanitary items. Also take along a small personal medical kit with Band-aids, aspirins/paracetamol, antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, antacid tablets, anti-diarrhoeal tablets, sunblock, lip-salve and any prescription medicines. And, depending on where you're travelling, hair dryers may not be available in every hotel; they are not available aboard the Yangtze River cruises.

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Do I need to dress up for dinner, to go to the Beijing Opera or on the Yangtze River cruise?

It's not necessary to dress formally for dinner or for any of the included evening shows. In China, as dinner is usually taken early at around 6:00-6:30 pm, there may not be time to return to your hotel after your day's sightseeing before going on to dinner. And after dinner, you might then continue on to the Beijing Opera performance (generally a special 1-1.5 hour long 'highlights' performance presenting the most colourful songs, dancing and acrobatics, rather than an entire 3-4 hour traditional show). It is quite acceptable to wear casual clothing to any of the evening entertainments and to all but the most upmarket restaurants. Hotel restaurants may have a dress code of their own.

On the Yangtze River cruises, dress is also casual. However for the Captain's Cocktail Party (on the first night for downstream cruises; on the second night for upstream cruises) and at the Captain's Farewell Banquet on the last night of the voyage, appropriate smarter attire is recommended but not obligatory (for gentlemen, suits and jackets are not necessary but you may wish to take a long-sleeved shirt and perhaps a tie).

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What about electricity and plugs?

China's supply is 220 volts, AC50. Plug sizes and styles vary between cities and even between hotels - they can be 2 or 3 pin, round or flat (although more commonly round), British, American, European or Australian-style! So it is advisable to take a complete set of adaptor plugs for any electrical appliances and these can be readily purchased in most big stores, luggage outlets and at duty-free stores.

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What about money matters in China?

Chinese currency is known as RENMINBI (RMB) and the basic unit is the YUAN (made up of 100 Fen). Notes are issued in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Yuan, as well as 1, 2, 10 and 50 Fen. There are also small denomination coins.

Most major currencies are accepted for exchange and there is no limit to the amount one can take into China. International travellers cheques can be exchanged for Chinese currency at your point of entry or at banks and hotels within the country - as the exchange rate is common throughout, most travellers find it convenient to change money with their hotel cashier as they need it. Remember, if you wish to change surplus currency back upon departure, you must retain your exchange receipts. It will be returned to you in US currency, not in Australian dollars.

For convenience and security, we recommend that you carry travellers cheques (American Express, Thomas Cook, Visa) and a small amount of cash. Australian dollars are widely accepted for exchange in most major cities and, as there is generally no advantage in purchasing US dollars just for your tour, we would recommend you take your travellers cheques in Australian dollars. US dollars may be more recognisable if you are travelling to remoter areas such as along the Silk Road.

Major foreign credit cards are acceptable in designated shops and in hotels and larger restaurants in many cities throughout the country. However, to avoid additional charges for credit card use and possible fluctuating exchange rates between you're the time of purchase and your account settlement, paying in local currency is still the best option. Foreign cards (Visa, Mastercard) can be used for cash withdrawals (if account-linked) although transactions can be time consuming and amounts are usually limited. Cash advances can be made through ATMs in major cities but will only operate using ATMs at Bank of China branches that are specifically designated for foreign cards, so don't depend totally on this to obtain funds.

If you are being met on arrival at the airport in China and transferred to your hotel, there's no need to try and purchase Chinese currency before you leave home - you can change money once you've checked into your hotel. Obtaining Chinese currency outside China is not always easy and the exchange rate is usually to your considerable disadvantage.

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How much money do I need to I take?

This one is hard to answer. If you are joining a group tour, all sightseeing and entrance fees are included - we visit all the main sites, so there's no need to allow for the cost of extra 'optional tours'. Breakfast and lunch is included on all group tours and we have one dinner in each city, so you will need to pay only for the occasional evening meal (check your itinerary to see how many this will be - on average about 4 dinners). How much you spend will depend on where you choose to eat - with buffet breakfasts and several courses provided for lunch, you might want only a snack in the coffee shop? There are plenty of local restaurants, large and small, within the vicinity of the hotels and, of course, the hotels themselves usually have several restaurants, often with fixed price banquets. If you choose to go upmarket, the cost would be equivalent to a similar hotel restaurant at home but in local eateries, A$10-15 per person should be more than enough.

Aside from occasional meals, you will be required to pay a domestic departure tax each time you fly from local airports, currently 50 Yuan (approx. A$10), and an international departure tax of 90 Yuan (approx. A$18). In some cities in China, the municipal government may levy a city development tax, a bed tax or the like, which must be paid in local currency by a visitor and are usually collected by your hotel when you check out; these could be amounts of between A$3-10 each (specific information will be provided with your documentation).

Tipping of guides and drivers is an accepted practice in China now but it should always be in recognition of good service. We recommend you allow around A$3-5 per day to cover gratuities (refer below).

Other than that, you will need only personal spending money for drinks and the occasional snack, and for the inevitable shopping - don't think you won't be tempted, even if you're not much of a shopper! It's hard to estimate what you might spend in this area as, with souvenirs, gifts and especially Western-style clothing being comparatively inexpensive, you may end up buying more than you'd expect. We would recommend you take a little more spending money than you think you'll need - you can always bring it home if you don't spend it!

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Do I need to tip?

While tipping has now become an accepted practice in China, it should always be considered a gesture of appreciation for good service and not just an automatic additional payment. It is an incentive to guides to maintain a high level of service, helpfulness and friendliness and we strongly believe in allowing our clients a choice in the matter. Therefore we do not include in the tour price a fixed amount to cover all potential gratuities as it removes the element of choice or incentive.

We recommend you allow the local currency equivalent of about A$3-5 per traveller per day, to be divided between guides and drivers. For example, if you are in a city for three days, you might allow $12-15 between your guide and your driver (with the guide usually receiving a higher proportion). Hotel porters may also expect a small tip of about 5 Yuan ($1.00) per bag. But, remember, although an accepted practice, tipping is not compulsory and you are under no obligation to tip if you feel the service you have received is no more than adequate. We are pleased to say that most returning travellers tell us their guides have performed above their expectations, becoming more like a friend to them, and as a result they admit to having shown a greater generosity.

On Yangtze River cruises, the cruise company has made its own recommendation of approximately $10.00 per passenger per day which is deposited in a Tip Box at the end of the voyage and is equally divided between all crew members, with the exception of the Cruise Director and River Guide. As shore excursions are not managed by us or by the cruise company, tips to shore excursion guides are at the passenger's discretion.

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What about the shopping?

China offers a wonderful array of arts and crafts, including ceramics, carved jade, silk, cloisonn� (colourful enamelled copperware), paintings, scrolls and paper items like fans and lanterns. As well, they manufacture all kinds of clothing and footwear, with everything from market stall offerings to designer labels, and all at great prices.

There are many opportunities for you to shop during your tour, whether at the souvenir stalls or arts and crafts shops located around all the major tourist sites, or in street markets and department stores during your own time in the evenings, and often on travelling days (to other cities) when the morning or afternoon has been left free. When shopping, do keep in mind your airline baggage allowance as excess baggage charges when you leave China can make that 'bargain' less of a great deal!

You should bring with you a good idea of the sorts of things you wish to buy and how much you're prepared to spend. As prices don't vary greatly throughout the country, if you see something you like and are happy with the price being asked, it is advisable not to wait until the next city to purchase it as you could be disappointed. Be very careful if buying videos, CDs or DVDs and cannot check their quality before purchase - it is a case of "buyer beware" and it is impossible to obtains refunds if they subsequently turn out to be defective. We're sorry but we won't be able to send them back to China for you!

Prices in government and large department stores are usually fixed (but not always, if business is slow) while bargaining is always expected in free markets and at roadside souvenir stalls - start at less than half the asked price and work your way up!

Note: Helen Wong's Tours makes no recommendations for particular stores or markets and will take no responsibility for the quality of any items you may purchase in China.

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Will people speak English in China?

Unlike in southeast Asia, English is not widely spoken or understood in much of sChina and, outside of the big cities of Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, most signs and information will not be written in English. This makes independent travel in China considerably more difficult than that undertaken by Australians and New Zealanders in the other frequently visited countries of our region.

All of our tour guides are English-speaking and are professionals, required by the national tourism authorities to hold a university degree and to undergo annual examinations to renew their necessary licences. So, whether planning an independent itinerary or joining one of our group tours, it's just another reason why so many independently well-travelled people ask us to organise their arrangements when they decide to visit China.

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What are the toilet facilities like in China?

This is a basic but very common enquiry from intending China travellers. All of our hotels have bathrooms with Western-style toilets but you should not be surprised to find Asian-style (porcelain 'squat') toilets in many public facilities at tourist sites, at 'rest-stops' en route to sites and in quite a number of the restaurants - after all, they are the norm in Asia! However, to cater for foreign visitors, facilities are gradually being developed to include both styles of toilet and there is an on-going national campaign to improve and maintain their standards.

At the main tourist sites, there are often two kinds of facilities - public toilets at which there is no charge and amenities at which you need to pay a small entry fee (usually less than 1 Yuan/20 cents). We would recommend you always use the latter as they are generally of a higher standard and are frequently cleaned. For this reason, it's worth hanging on to the handfuls of small denomination notes you often acquire in change from your shopping.

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Can I use my mobile phone in China?

You will need to check with your service provider as to whether you will be able to call from China - with many providers, this will be possible although generally only from major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

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