A visa is needed for all tourists entering China. Visa must be obtained prior to arrival in China. In order to obtain a China visa, you need a valid passport at least 6 months prior to return, 1 passport photo, and a visa application, available at the Chinese Consulate or download from Ritz Tours’ web site www.ritztours.net, and sometimes at your travel agency. If you prefer to have Ritz Tours obtaining your visa for you, please submitting everything 4 weeks prior to departure. For further information regarding your passport and visa, please contact your travel agency.

Passport must be valid for at least six months from the return day of your trip. Resident Aliens need both a passport and an Alien Resident Card for re-entry into the States. Please bring the name, phone number and address of the person you wish to contact in case of emergency. We suggest you make copies of all your travel documents and keep them in a safe place. Also, we recommend that your passport, air tickets, cash and other travel documents not be kept together, so you would not lose everything in case something happens. Be sure you have everything before leaving for the airport.

P1 Travel Insurance will be provided at no additional cost to you if final payment is received by Ritz Tours at least 60 days prior to departure. You may consider getting more insurance coverage based on your personal situation.

Due to the length of the trip and local traveling conditions, it is advised that you consult your doctor for existing medical/dental conditions before departure. If you are taking prescription medicine, please full label and pack (in your hand luggage) sufficient quantity for the duration of the trip. It may also be useful to bring aspirin, over-the-counter medicine for flu, indigestion, motion sickness, etc. In case of illness during the trip, please immediately notify your tour conductor and local guide for assistance.

China airport taxes are already included in your air tickets to China.

We suggest you bring comfortable, casual clothing and two pairs of good walking shoes for the trip. A raincoat, an umbrella and a light jacket are useful for traveling in all seasons. Check websites or newspaper for weather conditions before you go, and pack accordingly.

Contact lenses solution, sunglasses, hat, shavers, hair dryer, electrical converter and adapter.

Books, magazines, snacks, music tapes & a walk-man, notebooks, etc.

Camera, video recorder, extra quantities of films, tapes, and battery.

Since you may not have time during the tour to replace something or finding the brands you like, it maybe worthwhile to bring extra quantities of certain items.

For your convenience, we suggest you bring one large suitcase and one carry-on small bag. Do not over pack, leave space for purchases in China. Since your suitcase will be transported frequently during the trip, be sure it is strong enough to withstand all the handling. Also be sure it has wheels and a lock.

Baggage allowance for USA-China flight may vary by airlines and is subject to change at any time. Travelers are required to check airline’s website before departure.

As of February 1, 2008, the standard free baggage allowance of Air China is two pieces per person for checked baggage with size allowed (length +width +height) 62 in/158 cm each, maximum free weight allowed 50 lbs/23 kgs each, carry-on baggage is limited to one piece.

The standard free baggage allowance of Cathay Pacific Airways is two pieces per person for checked baggage, maximum free weight allowed 70lbs/32kgs each, carry-on baggage is limited to one piece.

For China domestic flight, each passenger is allowed one piece of check-in luggage, up to 44 lbs., and one carry on bag. Checked luggage must have a lock (combination locks are recommended) and a luggage tag showing the name and contact information of the owner. (Please use Ritz Tours tags for easy identification by our airport staff.) Baggage without a lock may be refused for transport.

Consider packing one change of clothing, one set of underwear and toiletry in your carry on bag to avoid inconvenience caused by delayed or lost luggage.

DO NOT pack medicine, valuables and other personal necessities in checked luggage. Keep them in your carry on bag.

Foreign visitors are allowed to import, free of duty, one carton of cigarettes, one 750ml bottle of alcohol. There are no restrictions on importing the following items for personal use: medicine, camera/camcorder, rolls of film, foreign currency, etc. Professional recording equipment is not allowed without an import permit. Pornographic magazines, weapons, inflammable and explosive items, books of a political nature and certain drugs are illegal and are not allowed to be taken into China. Merchandise labeled as “cultural relics” or “antique” may not be taken out of China without an official export license. Save all your currency exchange receipts and purchase receipts for possible Customs inspection.

Chinese currency is called Ren Min BI (RMB) and is issued by the state bank, the People’s Bank of China. We suggest you bring a combination of cash (in various denominations) and travelers checks for your trip. US dollars in cash form are accepted at many places while travelers’checks must be converted into RMB first. You need original receipts to convert RMB back to US dollars.

Credit cards are not widely accepted in China but are becoming more popular in major cities. International hotels, department stores and shops frequented by foreign tourists generally accept them. Cash advance by credit card is not common and is only possible at a few assigned banks.

As of Feb. 2008, the exchange rate apply: US$1=RMB 7.20, US$1=HK$7.80

For direct dialing to China, the country code is 86. Major city codes: Beijing-10, Shanghai-21, Guangzhou-20. For other city codes, please contact telephone operator for assistance. Hotel telephone operators can dial US numbers for you, but the cost is high. You may want to bring a calling card (AT&T, MCI etc). Prepaid local phone cards are available at hotel shops or reception. Your tour conductor or local guide will assist you in this matter.

China’s electrical system operates at 220 volts. The electrical outlets are either for fat round pins or for flat angled blades. Please bring you own voltage converter and adapter.

Meals are included as per itinerary in China. Lunch and dinner are Chinese, and most meals are served as a set menu with 10 people per table. One glass of local beer or soft drinks or mineral water is included with lunch and dinner. Unlimited amount of tea is included with all meals. Additional drinks at mealtime are available for purchase. Please verify cost before ordering. Drinks in your hotel mini bar are extremely expensive. Do not take drinks from the mini bar and try to replace them later. YOU WILL BE CHARGED ACCORDINGLY since the mini bar accounting takes place in the morning, before you can replace anything. Hotel stores generally carry a variety of soft drinks and bottled water.

Tipping is customary all over the world. It encourages and rewards quality service. Your tour conductor, local guides, drivers, and other service personnel do their best to make your trip smooth and pleasant. Gratuities are tokens of appreciation. For your convenience, the Ritz Tours national guide may collect the gratuities on behalf of the local guide and driver on the last day in each city. The following is a guideline, you may use your discretion in this matter if extra services are rendered or some services are not received.

The amounts are for per person per day:
Ritz National Guide: US$3 (may tip at the end of the trip in China)
Local Guide: US$1
Local Driver: US$1

For the Yangtze River Cruise, tipping is separate from the above. For recommended amount, please refer to cruise company’s website: www.victoriacruises.com.

National Holidays:
* January 1 - New Year, May 1 - Labor Day
* October 1 - National Day

National Festivals:
* Chinese Lunar New Year and Spring Festival - First day of the first lunar month
* Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival) - The 15th day of the eighth lunar month

Costs that are responsibility of the traveler: anything of a personal nature, walking sticks and porter services (for touring the Mt. Huangshan), cost of special exhibits and attractions inside a tourist site after paid entrance.

Please keep an eye on your valuables at all time. Watch out for pickpockets while sightseeing.

Bring name and phone number of an emergency contact

Read your itinerary and hotel information before departure. Leave a copy of the your itinerary and hotel list with your family

For special requests (China domestic flight reservation, flight change & confirmation, Hong Kong & China hotel reservation etc), please have all the arrangements made with your travel agency before departure. Ritz Tours do not take any responsibilities for itinerary deviations or bookings made by other travel agencies

Individual domestic flights in China must be re-confirmed at the airlines office (of the departing city) 3 days prior to departure. Re-confirmation by phone is not accepted. Since you may not have sufficient time for re-confirmation after arrival in a city, Ritz Tours can help by arranging to have the ticket issued locally and re-confirmed.

It is very important to check in to the airline for transpacific flight at least three hours before the departure time. If you fly on your own, please look for Ritz Tours representative at the arrival airport. You must wear the red RITZ TOURS NAME BADGE at departure and arrival airports for easy identification.

For missed, delayed or cancelled flights or other emergency, please contact one of the following offices:
HEADQUARTERS: 626-289-2450, 626-532-0899
LOS ANGELES: 626-289-1010
NEW YORK: 212-973-1998
SAN FRANCISCO: 650-259-9983
SHANGHAI : 011-86-21-5306-9188