Beijing is easily accessible by all delegates. 36 passenger carriers fly into Beijing Capital International Airport. About 566 international flights and 757 domestic air routes link the capital with 54 cities in 39 countries. Delegates from Japan, Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America can fly direct to Beijing. Delegates from other parts of the world will find one-stop flights are available from most countries. Beijing is served by international carriers such as Northwest, United, Canadian Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, Dragon Air, Japan Airlines, ANA, British Airways, Malaysian Air, Austrian Airlines, Air France, Alitalia, Korean Air, Pakistan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai International, Air China, China Southern and China Northern.

 

Beijing Capital International Airport

Beijing Capital International Airport terminal officially opened on October 1, 1999. This new, bright and airy terminal, built at a cost of $1.1 billion, is a welcome replacement for the former facility, which started operating in the 1950s, and has become increasingly cramped and dingy with the rise in the number of passengers visiting China. Beijing Capital International Airport is spending about $1.8 billion in an expansion plan to meet increasing demand for passengers. The expansion plan includes a new runway and construction of new terminal buildings. The construction was started in 2003 and the new facilities are expected to begin operations no later than the first quarter of 2007.

 

Time Zones

Beijing operates on Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is calculated by adding 8 hours to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). At 12 noon Monday in Beijing it is:

• Buenos Aires 01:00 Monday
• Johannesburg 06:00 Monday
• London 04:00 Monday
• Los Angeles 20:00 Sunday
• New York 23:00 Sunday
• Paris 05:00 Monday
• Sydney 14:00 Monday
• Tokyo 13:00 Monday

 

Visa

To enter the People’s Republic of China, a foreigner must have a valid passport and Chinese visa. Foreigners arriving without valid passports and Chinese visas are generally not permitted to enter China and may also be subject to fines. Visas are required to transit China, even if one is only changing flights at an airport. Persons transiting China on the way to and from Mongolia or North Korea or who plan to re-enter from the Hong Kong or Macau Special Administrative Regions should be sure to obtain visas allowing multiple entries. Permits are required to visit Tibet as well as many remote areas not normally open to foreigners.

 

Customs

Then you take the red channel and the Customs officer will check it to see whether you have to pay duty or you have to deposit the things at the Customs, or whether you can take them into China but have to take them out on your departure. Please keep the stamped form with you and do not lose it, because you will be asked to give it back to the Customs officer for checking on your departure. If you do not take out all the things that you have brought in and you filled in the form, you will probably be asked to pay duty.

 

Leaving China

Departure is relatively much simpler. As mentioned above, you have to take out the things that you had declared with the copy of your Customs Luggage Declaration Form which you filled in on your arrival. If any item is missing, a certificate by the relevant department is required (for instance, a certificate from the police is required if something is stolen); otherwise, you have to pay import duty according to the Custom regulations. China has strict regulations on some articles for export, such as cultural relics, medicinal materials, gold, silver, or antiques for export. The cultural relics that are forbidden to be taken out of China include antiques earlier than the Qing Dynasty and ancient paintings and calligraphy (also some modern ones). Keep the receipt of the antiques you bought so that you can show them on departure. These antiques bought in shops which can be exported usually carry a red wax seal. For those you may buy on free markets, you have to show them at the customs to avoid trouble. Travelers who want to change Renminbi (RMB) back to foreign currency at the airport before leaving China will be required to show the exchange slip provided when they exchanged foreign currency into RMB on arrival or at banks.

 

Money Matters

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 your country to be sure that your brand of check or credit card will be accepted. Major credit cards (American Express, Master Card and Visa) are accepted by most major hotels and in many well-known restaurants. ATMs compatible with US bankcards are also available throughout Hong Kong and to a limited extent in major Mainland cities such as Shanghai and Hangzhou. Currency is the renminbi (People's Money), often shortened to RMB. The basic unit is the Yuan ( At press time, the exchange rate was 5.25 Yuan for one Australian Dollar, 15.44 Yuan for one British pound sterling, 5.47 Yuan for one Canadian Dollar, and 8.27 Yuan for one US Dollar.

 

Business Hours

Banks: Mon. to Fri. 9 a.m. to 12 noon, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Government Offices: Mon. to Fri. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Shops (Hours vary): Mon. to Sun. 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.