Rights and Duties in China

The General Principles of the Constitution of PRC: the People's Republic of China protects the lawful rights and interests of foreigners within Chinese territory, and while on the country's territory foreigners must abide by the law of the People's Republic of China.

Will my legitimate rights be protected in China?

Answer: Yes. Within Chinese territory, the legitimate rights and interests of the foreign visitors are protected.

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Can I enjoy freedom in China?

Answer: Yes. The freedom of foreign visitors is as inviolable as that of the Chinese nationals. Within the period of their visas, foreign visitors can freely visit the areas open to foreigners. They should, however, respect the traditions and customs of local areas. Those who want to visit areas that are not open to foreigners should apply for a Foreigners Travel Permit from the local public security organ. Only after the approval is granted, can they enter the area legally.

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Do I need to abide the law of China like the Chinese citizens, or are there special regulations for foreigners?

Visitors on Mt.Everest, Tibet

Answer: Similar to nationals, all foreign visitors must abide by the law of the People's Republic of China. Any activities that disrupt public order, threaten public security, or infringe upon the interests of the state; the society or the collective would be punished according to the laws of the country.

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If I met something unfair in China, how can I protect my rights?
Answer: If your legal rights and interests are infringed or something unpleasant happens to you, you may complain to related organs.
Complain to the National Tourism Administrative Bureau directly or to the Institutions of Supervision over Quality in each province, when:
•Your travel agents, hotels or other travel operators offer you poor service or do not follow the agreement
•The guides or other travel staffs extort money from you
•You are injured or your baggage is damaged/ lost due to the fault of the travel operators
Also, all large tourist cities have hot lines for visitors to voice their complaints. Most of the complainants were satisfied with the verdicts, which were determined after thorough investigations and verification of facts.


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Women and Children Travelers to China

Traveling with children may be more challenging since they are inherently vivacious, mischievous, active and easily bored. Needless to say infants or toddlers, need much more special and attentive care, placing much responsibility on adults. So sometimes a trip with kids can be an interesting test of patience and preparedness. But never worry about this. China is always glad to extend a welcome to your lovely kids.
With the right preparation, travel with kids can bring you a happy and enjoyable experience. Here is some useful information for your reference to help to make your trip with children more enjoyable, comfortable and safe.

Before Departure

Familiarize yourself with the considerations that apply in respect of children when traveling, including the visa, passport, preferential measures and discounts on varied transport fares as well as the admission fees of the scenic spots.

Choose appropriate destinations that are suitable for both you and your kids to visit. The informative, educational and instructive showplaces that are full of history, culture and art, like China, may widen your children's field of vision and enhance their knowledge. Try to find information or collect some material related to your destination and introduce them to your kids, which may establish a good background for your kids to understand and enjoy the coming trip.

Choose the right time to visit. Kids tend to be active and adventurous so it is vital that you are able to exercise the right level of control over them. Infants may cause much more trouble. So an appropriate time to set out is very important. Try to select a time when children may sleep in transit. This will ensure not only your peace of mind but also that of fellow visitors.

Make a reasonable itinerary for your visit. Children lack the physical strength of adults, so your routes should not be very grueling or too long. Make your journey scheduling as flexible and relaxed as possible to ease pressure on your kids.

Private tour for mother and children, Li River, Guilin

Pack your luggage well. Do not forget the things especially used for your kids including necessary clothes, food (some snacks and socks), toys, feeding-bottle (for infant) and a first-aid kit where some day to day medicines to deal with minor mishaps.

Make sure that your children are fit to travel; if there are problems, do follow the doctor's advice. If your visit is going to include physical activity, such as a fair amount of walking, practice before hand is recommended. Make sure that you have adequate health and travel insurances for your kids.

If possible, bring your baby-sitter or nursemaid as companions. They may be the very persons best suited to look after your children and so lessen any problems.

On Transport

Make sure you have already booked the train/air tickets especially for your kids at the required price. Contact the airport, airlines, or train stations as early as possible to tell the attendants your special needs and care for your children, so that they can make any relevant preparation in advance.

When you are on the plane, train or other transport vehicles, help your kids with the seat belt (infant should be held and carried in your arms or fixed on a special seating). Do not let them wander at will in the cabin or compartment to prevent possible injury or discomfort to other passengers.

Try your best to keep your children quiet. So in order to engage their attention, let them read books, listen to stories, and provide them with refreshment as appropriate.

Lodging

A family with our tour operators

Contact the hotel in advance to ascertain the general condition of the guest room. Make sure all the facilities are accessible for children's use. If necessary, ask the hotel reception to arrange for special needs such as an extra bed or crib as well as the availability of child minding services.

Hide away any small gadgets, or dangerous items that may harm your kids. Be conversant with the hotel emergency procedures in the event of fire, etc.

Eating

When traveling, especially when going abroad there will be a change in diet. Children may not like the dishes on offer so you should consider their dietary needs with care. It is wise to ensure that they avoid unwashed fruit and the like as well as uncooked food and that you take all reasonable care to avoid stomach upsets.

Traveling 
Try to avoid visiting the more dangerous scenic spots as mountain and cliff footpaths, water in all its forms and areas such as jungle all present hazards. Pay much attention to your kid's movements. Keep them under your control and in view at all times.

Prepare some amusing games or small activities which may add some interest during trips and thus keep your children occupied.

Do not let them go out alone. Since travel destinations are usually unfamiliar to you, accompany your kids at all times as this is much safer. It is recommended that your kids carry a note of your name, telephone and address in their pocket in case they do get separated from you or become lost.

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Student Travelers to China

Nowadays more and more students are traveling abroad, and China is one of their favorite destinations to experience profound history and culture, as well as picturesque landscape. Going abroad can be expensive, so it is not unusual for students to travel on a budget. It can be a challenge to have a full and enjoyable adventure while trying to save money so we have put together a tip-list for students or any travelers who plan a budget tour:

Transportation is the most expensive aspect of any holiday, but proper preparation saves you money. Try to plan your trip early. As airlines usually release discount tickets several months in advance, so not only will have a wide range of destination choices you will get them at cheap rates. Airlines, such as Tiger Airways, Airasia, and Jetstar Asia for international flights in Asia, and Spring Airlines and West Air for domestic flights in China offer cheap tickets, but there will be extra charges for onboard services such as drink and meals.

Traveling by rail is always a good option for budgeting holiday makers. And for long-distance travelers, an overnight sleeper train ride cannot be better. It is cheap and comfortable, and also saves money on hotels. In China, train tickets are released 20 days in advance, and many are in great demand, so you’d better book all the tickets in advance.

Long-distance buses are available between cities and towns. Unlike trains running at fixed hours, buses are more flexible, departing every few minutes or hourly. In addition, you can reach some remote areas by buses. Tickets can be booked one to three days prior to departure. For some less popular routes, you can even buy tickets on the day of travel.

Public buses, subway, and taxies are the major transportation in cities. For visitors on a budget, public buses and subways are the best to save money. You can buy a transportation card for the city you are staying in which gives you discounts (at least 30% off) on bus and subway fares. This is especially recommended in large cities, like Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, and Guangzhou.

Hotels are another costly part. Inner city hotels or those near transportation hubs (airports and railway stations) and attractions are usually more expensive. The cheaper hotels are located on the outskirts of the cities; however, the money you save booking a cheap hotel may be taken up traveling to or from the attractions in the cities.

Hostels or youth hostels are popular among budget travelers, spending less for a bed and meeting interesting people. The facilities are not as good as those in hotels, but they are clean.

You may consider renting an apartment if you go with a group of people. Most apartments provide a washing machine and kitchen wares, so you also save the money on laundry and meals.

Couchsurfing is a new form of accommodation especially for student travelers. This is very popular in Europe and America, and is becoming more prevalent in China. You will get a free couch or bed, but the risk is that you live in a stranger’s home. If you are considering this then we recommend you do some research, there are couchsurfing websites, where people can post comments about the hosts.

Try to avoid traveling in peak season, especially during holidays. Holiday times in China as in most countries mean high hotel rates, expensive air fares, insufficient train tickets, attractions filled with people, and terrible transportation. What’s more, most attractions have different entrance fees for peak and low seasons. The travel peak seasons in this country are from April to November and the Spring Festival Holiday (late December to February).

Take advantage of the internet. Some attractions have discounted entrance fees if booked online, like the Window of the World in Shenzhen. Many travel websites and shopping sites also sell discount tickets for attractions. It is worthwhile to spending time doing some research.

Visit free attractions. Most museums in China are free to enter and these are good places for students to learn the history and culture of this country. Free parks, city squares, markets, and shopping malls are the best places to learn about and experience Chinese daily life.

Save money when you exchange currency. You can exchange some Chinese RMB in your country before leaving or withdraw cash from ATM machine after arrival (an extra service fee may be charged). The exchange counters in airports usually offer poor exchange rates.

Pack light and pack right. Cheap airlines charge for consigned luggage, so a light bag means you save money. Check the weather forecast before departure, and only take the necessary items with you.

International Student Identity Card holders may enjoy some discounts in shops, museums, hotels, and airlines in Hong Kong, Macau, and some cities in mainland China. Trains and attractions in mainland China do not offer discounts to international students.

Tips for safety:

1. Do not accept water or food from strangers.
2. Do not trust too “warm-hearted” people.
3. Avoid going out alone at night.
4. Do not touch anything you do not intend to buy.
5. Always take care of your purse and mobile phone.
6. Always carry a copy of your passport, visa, and other travel documents.
7. Keep a record of the telephone number of the embassy of your country.
8. Stay with your guide or teacher and tell them if you need to leave your group.

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Is it safe to travel to Hong Kong?

With an efficient subway, multiple inexpensive taxis and a good public bus system, Hong Kong is normally one of the world's easiest major cities to get around.

In the midst of this week's Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, however, travelers in Hong Kong may find moving around slightly more difficult than usual.

Since being occupied by demonstrators, access for vehicles is restricted in key areas of the city and many shops and restaurants in those areas have chosen to close.

Sections of major roads have been closed to vehicle traffic, though largely left open for pedestrians. In fact, walking around Hong Kong has been an extremely pleasant experience for a lot of visitors walking on roads that are normally jammed with cars.

After the clashes and tear gas attacks on protesters on Sunday night/Monday morning, the protests have been extremely peaceful and relatively festive.

However, the situation on the ground could change at any time and all visitors are advised to be appropriately cautious.

Several nations have posted travel warnings to Hong Kong with similar advisories.

Brief transport update:

• Hong Kong International Airport is operating as per normal. The Airport Express train, stations and check-in services are also operating normally.
• The MTR subway system is operating as normal and is the transport of choice at the moment as it serves all of the road closure areas.
• Vehicular access is restricted or completely closed in parts of Wan Chai, Admiralty, Central, Mong Kong and Tsim Sha Tsui. Around 70 bus routes have been rerouted and around 25 services stopped. Check with hotel concierges and bus companies KMB, Citybus and NWFB for more details and advice on making your journey.
• The Hong Kong tram track section between Western Market and Victoria Park (including the Happy Valley loop) has been suspended.
• Visitors arriving at or leaving from hotels in affected areas should allow more time for their journey and be prepared to lug their baggage to MTR stations if buses, taxis and other road vehicle services cannot access the hotel.

In more detail:

Areas affected

In Hong Kong Island's Admiralty and Wanchai districts, Gloucester Road, Harcourt Road and Connaught Road Central have been closed to vehicle traffic, but remain open to pedestrians.

The area outside SOGO shopping mall in Causeway Bay, including Yee Wo Street and Percival Street remain closed but the demonstrators have agreed to reopen East Point Road as an emergency corridor for fire engines and ambulances.

The public square Edinburgh Place in Central is also a protest zone.

Various streets in these above areas have also been closed to vehicle traffic, but remain open to pedestrians.

Protests are also happening across Victoria Harbour in Kowloon, with sections of Argyle Street and Nathan Road in Mong Kok occupied by demonstrators.

Tsim Sha Tsui's popular shopping street Canton Road is also affected by the protest. A small crowd of a few dozen now occupy a section of the road. The crowd once peaked to a few hundred.

Hong Kong has its second public holiday in a row on Thursday and the size of the protests has increased over two days. The protest tends to grow at night, as more residents join after school, work or other activities.

It is also possible the protest groups may move or extend to other areas without notice.

'Protest tourism'

Hong Kong protest hotspots

The protests have proven to be an attraction for some visitors.

Many tourists have taken to walking to and through protest zones independently, though tourists on private tours around protest areas have been seen.

Locals, tourists and supporters of the protestors have taken to "sightseeing" and looking for photo ops on elevated pedestrian bridges over roads near the Central Government Offices in Admiralty, where the largest protest (in terms of number of people) is taking place.

The idea of Hong Kong protests as tourist attractions might seem surreal, but it isn't entirely new.

In 2012, Lonely Planet included Hong Kong in its list of top 10 cities to visit, recommending such exotic attractions as the Star Ferry, Chinese fortune-telling and local protest rallies.

The popular guidebook called Hong Kong "China's most liberated city" and predicted that 2012 would be an exciting year for the city, highlighting its "rallies infused with theatrics and eruptions of song, dance and poetry" as it continued its push for greater democracy.

Safety concerns

Travel to and within protest areas is generally safe.

On Sunday evening and early Monday morning, police attempted to move crowds with force, including firing tear gas canisters. The protests have since been peaceful.

However, protestors continue to operate ad hoc supply depots at various points around and within protest zones, handing out water, towels and surgical masks to those wandering through the area as minimal protection against further potential uses of tear gas by police.

Supplies including food and umbrellas are also being given out to protestors and sometimes others entering protest areas.

Hong Kongers have their say on protests

Public transportation has also remained safe.

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Planning Your Greatest Family Vacation

The tricky thing about family vacations is that they include your family. And with your family comes school and work schedules, video games and cookbooks, rock concerts and the big football game that can't be missed. With these conflicting schedules and widespread interests, you'll definitely need time to map it all out.
The goal is simple - make everyone happy with an unforgettable trip to the perfect destination. Achieving that goal can be daunting, especially when all the travel planning falls on you. But it is obtainable, as long as you know what your family enjoys and what travel options you have at your disposal. In the end, seeing your children's faces light up makes it all worth the effort.

Before planning your family's next vacation, check out this advice from ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents). Some of the most travel-wise people in the world, ASTA members know that planning the perfect vacation is easier with time and good advice on your side.

Great Family Vacations Start with Great Family Planning

At the heart of every good, stress-free vacation experience is the perfect plan. If you want a perfect plan that your entire family will love, then get them to help you make it. The more input you get from each family member, the better. Your children may surprise you with some of things they suggest to do on vacation. If the destination or activity is already set, have your kids research online or at the library for exciting things to do while you're all there.

Once the family plan is in place, keep your kids involved by putting them in charge of at least one aspect of the trip. If they're good with maps, make them the navigator. Do they have an eye for photos? Make them the official vacation photographer, in charge of not only taking photos during the trip, but also of compiling the album once you return. They will enjoy the responsibility of the project and the trust you give them to accomplish it.

Setting Your Sights - Where in the World Will You Go?

In The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda says, "Adventure, excitement…a Jedi craves not these things." Well, a Jedi might not crave them, but your kids do. The good news is that there are millions of exciting adventures in this world for you to choose from. The bad news is that there are millions of exciting adventures in this world for you to choose from.

Paring down the list is priority number one. Consider your budget, timeframe and expectations. Are beaches calling your name? How about something in the park variety, be it an amusement, theme, water or National one? Is international travel in your future? Family friendly cruise or resort? With all those in mind, check out these options below sent in by travel agents around the globe.

Follow Your Sense of Adventure at a National Park

America's 388 National Parks are not just the great outdoors, they're the greatest outdoors, and always a family favorite. From glaciers and geysers to canyons and deserts, there is something that will wow every age group. At the tip of your travel tongue may be Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon, but dig a little deeper and you will find many surprises.
Your children will actually enjoy learning at a National Park. They'll become minor geologists in the dark depths of Kentucky's Mammoth Cave. Watch their eyes erupt with wonder at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. History comes alive by tracing footprints at Antietam National Battlefield or watching oil droplets bubble to the surface of Pearl Harbor above the USS Arizona Memorial. Experience white water action over class V rapids through magnificent gorges and valleys at Gauley River National Recreation Area. Or, conquer the ice age as a family by hiking along Glacier National.

National Parks are perfect for kids. Most of the larger parks run Junior Ranger Programs, allowing kids to participate in fun activities while learning about the area's natural habitat and historic significance. Other parks offer nature walks and wildlife talks specifically geared toward children to show them that nature has more to offer than video games.

All Aboard! Cruising Family Style

Cruise ships are a family vacation planner's best friends. Picture a floating, mega-resort with tons to do for everyone in a confined space where you know your kids are supervised and safe. Many cruise lines offer voyages designed specifically for families, with expanded activity programs and shore excursions for all age groups and waterslides, ice rinks and climbing walls that keep kids and parents happy for days.
Some cruises have even developed onboard programs that not only feature family together time, but also arrange crucial alone time for parents. Together, parents and kids can participate in mock game shows, story hours, treasure hunts and other activities. Later, adults can schedule a massage or spend time on the sun deck knowing their kids are enjoying a host of supervised games and activities. To find a family cruise line to your liking, talk to a travel agent who specializes in cruises.

Something Wild This Way Comes - African Safaris

For something a bit out of the ordinary, many travel agents rave about African safaris. There's a long list of wilderness adventures available in every degree of comfort, adventure and budget. Safaris range from luxury holidays, where elegant lodges and fine wines share time with tracking giraffes from a sturdy, open-roof vehicle, to mobile camping safaris where you follow predators or stake out the great wildebeest migration, sleeping in tents at a different locale each night.

Just mention the word "safari" to your kids and watch their eyes grow as large as a lion's as they roar with approval. Each safari is judged by the thrilling wildlife it encounters, and many come through with high marks as they safely bring your family into the playgrounds of zebras, lions, elephants, hippos, rhinos, gorillas, cheetahs and a whole ark-full of other animals. So many beasts roam these lands that the ground itself feels alive.

Travel Agents - Your New Favorite Aunt

When you're ready to make the most of your next vacation, open your arms to a new member of the family - your neighborhood travel agent. Your travel agent can save you so much time and money while relieving stress that you may want to invite him or her over for next Thanksgiving.

Money is a big part of any travel experience, and the more value you feel you're getting, the more you'll enjoy yourself. Travel agents understand this principle more than anyone, which is why they work within your schedule, budget and expectations to produce an incomparable vacation experience.

Doesn't a family as great as your own deserve an equally great vacation? Contact a trusted travel agent and start planning your great family vacation today.

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