Going to China

Imagine coming to a land where you are completely alien, the culture is 5,000 years in the making. The great dynasties of the past have left their great relics all over China for you to discover. The people, so proud of their country, and wonderfully curious about you, want you to come so that they help you experience the essence of their country. Aged faces populate local parks to practice Tai Chi at 6 am. There is great and diverse food, much more delicious and diverse than any Chinese food you can hope to have at home. Additionally, there are great Western restaurants, expat bars and nightlife for you to experience.

Preparations

*Passports 
A passport is a document that verifies your citizenship and your identity and permits you to travel abroad. Make copies of your passport and leave them at home with relatives. Try to memorize or write down your passport number in a separate place. Keep your passport with you at all times, you may need it to enter an embassy or consulate or as identification if you receive a wire from your home country. Don't lose it! It is a pain to get another passport, especially if you are abroad. You can't enter or leave any country without one.

*Visas 
You will need a visa to enter the country. Contact a Chinese embassy or consulate. Visas are not free; the fees vary depending on what country you are from. You may have to drop it off and return for it later, but many times you can have it expedited, for an extra fee. There are different kinds of visas, depending on what you will be doing in China. Visas don't last forever. You must use the visa within a certain amount of time.

*Work Permits 
There are strict procedures for foreigners who wish to obtain visas to live and work in China. The most important visa classes for foreign workers are:

• Business/Official Visit Visa
• Employment/Work Visa
• Resident Visa

There are other classes of visas for airline pilots, mariners, diplomats, tourists, family visits, students, and journalists. 

Business and Work Visas must be obtained prior to entry into China, and numerous documents are required for visa application. If a foreigner works without the proper employment permit, public security officials are authorized to terminate the employment and impose a fine on the worker. In serious cases, the public security officials will force the expatriate to leave the country. 

Keep in mind, that the Chinese government does not recognize dual nationality and that visa requirements for Hong Kong are different than those for the People's Republic of China. Foreigners staying in China longer than one year must submit a notarized health certificate. 

After preparations

After making proper preparations, you are ready to choose you method of getting to China. Most people go by air, but you can also go by sea or by land.

*On your trip to China

You've taken that big step, and you are going to China. Or you are still kicking the idea around and need some more information. Either way, you are about to embark on a substantial trip. What should you be aware of? 

A little planning and knowledge will go a long way toward making your trip to the PRC go smoothly. Learning more about China and obeying the laws and respecting the customs will make your stay as pleasant and incident-free as possible. 

*Arrival

Arriving in China may be a shock to you, especially if you have never been there before. Many signs will be in Chinese characters, which, unless you have studied Chinese before, will be completely alien to you. There will be people around you who only speak Chinese. Don't worry too much about this. Many people can speak English, and many important signs are labeled in English and Chinese. Going through immigration and customs is relatively painless. Once you leave the airport, things can really get stressful if there is no one to meet you. You need to find a hotel and a map. You need to be able to get around on your own. Not a problem. You simply need to be prepared.

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