Railways
China's railway system is quite developed, with services in the domestic and also some international areas. Different speed trains are available in different domestic areas. Tickets are sold at local railways, travel services, hotels and train ticket agencies.

Water Transport
China has a vast sea area. The Bohai Sea is the country's inner sea, and the rest being the Yellow Sea, South China Sea and the East China Sea. Visitors can arrange for bookings at the sea ports where visitors can travel internationally or to go ashore for sightseeing.

Highways
There are over 70 national highways, of which there are more than 1,600 provincial highways. Great efforts are being made to develop the expressways for the convenience of the people of China.

Airlines
Beijing is the main entry point into China, but there are many other points of entry. Flights to Hong Kong usually cost far less than flights to Beijing, so travelers area advised to check that option before flying direct to Beijing.

China's major airline is CAAC, which is divided into seven subsidiaries, the popular ones being Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines. Dragonair a joint venture between Cathay Pacific Airlines and the Chinese government, is another alternative.

Buses
Buses are a cheap means of traveling. The only pitfall is it is very crowded most of the time. There are minibuses around most cities and they are considered to be more convenient and relatively cheaper than other transportation means.

Bicycles
Some parts in China are just worth traveling by bike to discover the great land of China. Most visitors can rent bicycles in China at a reasonable price. One should remember, though to equipped their bikes with a lock to avoid theft.

Currency
The currency for China is called Renminbi or RMB and is issued by the People's Bank of China. The abbreviation of RMB is yuan (Y). The fractional currency are Jiao and Fen, where 10 Fen=1 Jiao and 10 Jiao=1 Yuan.

Visas
Foreign visitors can obtain individual or group visas from Chinese embassies and consulates, or China Travel Service offices in Hong Kong, usually within a day or two. Most tourists are included in-group visas, not inserted into passports. For individual travelers, single-entry visas are valid for entry within three months. For business people and other regular visitors there are multiple-entry visas good for six months at a time. Each visa is valid for a stay of 30 or 60 days, and can be extended while in China.

Visitors should be sure to carry their passports while in China as they are needed to check into hotels, make plane or trane reservations, exchange money or establish the holder's identity.

Loss of a passport should be reported immediately to the holder's embassy or consulate, and the Beijing Municipality Public Security Bureau, Foreigners Section, 85 Beichizi Jie, tel. 65252503 / 65255021 / 65255980 / 65255186.

Customs
All visitors must fill out customs declaration forms prior to arrival. The copy should be kept, to hand in on departure. Reasonable amounts of currency (including RMB) can be brought in, along with alcohol and cigarettes for personal use, cameras, radios, computers and tape-recorders.

Certain valuable items, such as video cameras, office machines, computers and gold declared on the form must be brought out of China or else import duty will be charged on them.

Prohibited imports include arms, ammunition an explosives; printed matter, film or tapes detrimental to China; dangerous or narcotic drugs; infected animals, plants or foodstuffs. It is also forbidden to take out any these items, or endangered species of animals or plants and antiques without export permits.