28.Travel Tips Safety and Laws Embassies and Consulates
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Travel Tips
Safety and Laws
Embassies and Consulates
While traveling or living in Beijing,
your country’s embassy or consulate can assist if: you need to apply for
a passport or emergency passport (for example if your passport has been
lost or stolen), you have fallen seriously ill, you have been the
victim of a crime or you have been arrested or imprisoned. They can also
register births, deaths and marriages for their citizens, issue visas,
and can often supply trade development information for businesses.
Security and Safety
Travelers are advised to take routine
precautions for personal safety. Remain aware when traveling, avoid
restricted areas, ensure your wallet is secure as pickpockets can be at
work in popular tourist spots. It is illegal in China to exchange money
outside of a bank or official currency exchange, be aware of Chinese
nationals that may want you to exchange RMBs for US dollars.
Tourist Information Centers
- Capital Airport Tourist Information Center: Beijing — Tel +86010 64598148
- Chaoyang Tourist Information Center: Beijing — Tel +86010 64176627
- Dongcheng Tourist Center: Beijing — Tel +86010 65123034
- Xicheng Tourist Information Center: Beijing — Tel +86010 66160108
- Xuanwu Tourist Information Center: Beijing — Tel +86010 63510018
- Haidian Tourist Information Center: Beijing — Tel +86010 82622895
- Fengtai Tourist Information Center: Beijing — Tel +86010 63323983
Public Toilets
Public toilets in Beijing are called WC
(water closet) or toilet, restaurants, shopping malls bus stations,
airports, and some scenic spot usually have a public toilet facility.
Private toilets usually charge a fee of about .5RMB – 1RMB.
Tap Water
Do not drink the tap water, stick to
bottled water and don’t drink drinks with ice cubes or fruit juices that
may have been watered down with tap water. Bottled water can be bought
at any convenience store and roadside kiosks.
Major Catastrophes
The Emergency Management Office in
Guangdong Province, where Beijing is located, has a helpful and
comprehensive web site in English, with information about what to do in
the event of a natural disaster such as an earthquake, typhoon or flood,
or major disease outbreak like dengue fever, flu or SARS. See http://www.gdemo.gov.cn/english/Headlines/200905/t20090518_92682.htm.
Click on the online booklet “Are You Ready?” which details how the
emergency procedures work, describes the warning signals and emergency
alerts and explains what individuals and families should do. Emergency
shelters are set up in public parks, squares and stadiums. The web site
lists the evacuation routes.
Police and Local Laws
110 is China’s equivalent of 911. Use
this to report a crime or an emergency. Police officers tend to be very
diligent in pursuing traffic violations or instances of public disorder.
Around Beijing are public posters describing how citizens should
behave, including: no cursing, spitting, littering, arguing, jaywalking,
illegal parking, vandalism, loitering or smoking in public places.
Political slogans or demonstrations
criticizing the government or the Communist Party are regarded as
inciting public disorder. Handing out unauthorized literature is also
forbidden. In some cases police have used methods of investigation or
interrogation that would not be acceptable in North America. Penalties
for breaking the law, even unintentionally, can be severe. The legal
system is in transition. China has a constitution which protects some
individual rights, but the Communist Party has ultimate control over the
way the law is applied. Foreign nationals can be arrested, imprisoned
or expelled from China.
Drugs and Alcohol
Alcohol is easily available in China at
bars, restaurants and government liquor stores. Beer, including regional
specialty beers, is popular. Also common is the powerful bai jiu, made
from rice or sorghum. The alcohol content of many Chinese beers and
other beverages is higher than the Western equivalents, so you should be
careful about your intake. If you drink too much, you can be arrested
for being drunk and disorderly which can result in a fine or
imprisonment.
Drug abuse and trafficking are regarded
as threats to national security in China. If you are convicted of
possession, use of or trafficking in illegal drugs, the penalties are
severe and can include large fines and long terms of imprisonment.
Restricted Areas
China closely monitors Internet content
for material that the Communist Party regards as politically or morally
unacceptable. Internet access is blocked to obscene or politically
subversive sites and many overseas web sites. To warn Internet users to
stay away from illegal content, Beijing police have animated police
officers who appear on screen on China’s most popular portals, including
Sohu and Sina. Chinese authorities monitor Internet use by individuals.
All military locations and anything that
can be regarded as being of security or military interest are
off-limits. Taking photographs of such areas can result in problems with
the authorities.
If traveling to Tibet, you must obtain
permission in advance form the Tibet Travel Bureau. Most areas in Tibet
are not open to foreigners except Lhasa City, Shigatze, Naqu, Zedng and
Zheng Muxkhasa and the main roads between them. You can be fined,
arrested and deported for visiting restricted areas.
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