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While You Are in China
All American citizens visiting China for a month or more are
encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Beijing or the
nearest U.S. consulate. Registration will assist our posts in
China in locating you in the event of an emergency back home or
in replacing a lost or stolen passport. You should also photocopy
the data page of your passport and keep it in a separate place
from your passport. In the event that your passport is lost, stolen,
or in the possession of government officials, travel agents or
tourism representatives, you will have the requisite information
available, as well as proof of your identity and citizenship.
Customs Regulations
Foreign visitors to the People's Republic of China are allowed
to import 4 bottles of wine or spirits and 600 cigarettes along
with their personal belongings. Items such as watches, radios,
cameras, and calculators imported duty free for personal use may
not be transferred or sold to others. Gifts and articles carried
on behalf of others must be declared to the customs inspector
and are subject to duty.
Chinese customs regulations prohibit the import or export of
the following items:
(a) arms, ammunition, and explosives;
(b) radio transmitter-receivers and principal parts;
(c) Chinese currency (renminbi);
(d) books, films, records, tapes, etc. which are "detrimental
to China's politics, economy, culture, and ethics" (e.g. pornographic
or religious content)
(e) poisonous drugs and narcotics;
(f) infected animal or plant products; and
(g) infected foodstuffs.
Note: Videotapes may be confiscated by Chinese customs to determine
that they do not violate prohibitions noted in item (d), above.
Tapes are sometimes held for several months before being returned.
(There is no guarantee that they will ever be returned.)
Export of the following items is also prohibited:
(a) valuable cultural relics and rare books relating to Chinese
history, culture, and art;
(b) rare animals, rare plants and their seeds; and
(c) precious metals and diamonds and articles made from them.
Antiques and imitations which are approved for export are marked
with a red wax seal.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, improper
glazing of some dinnerware for sale in China can cause lead contamination
in food. Therefore, unless you have proof of its safety, dinnerware
purchased in China should be used for decorative purposes only.
Chinese commercial shipments of dinnerware to the United States
are tested to conform to U.S. safety standards.
Movie cameras and videotaping equipment should be declared upon
entry into China.
Crime
China has a low crime rate; however crime has increased in the
past few years, principally in the major cities. U.S. citizens
and other foreigners have seldom been victims of violent crime.
Currency Regulations
Chinese currency is called yuan or, more commonly, renminbi
(RMB).
Foreign currency (cash or traveler's checks) may be exchanged
for Chinese currency at licensed exchange facilities of the Bank
of China and other authorized banks.
Money exchange facilities are available at major airports, hotels,
and department stores. Major brands of traveler's checks are accepted
at such exchange facilities and cash advances against a credit
card can be arranged, a service charge is usually added. Consult
with your bank before departing the United States to be sure that
your brand of check or credit card will be accepted. Major credit
cards (American Express, Mastercard and Visa) are accepted by
most major hotels and in many well-known restaurants.
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