You are allowed import 400 cigarettes, four bottles of wine or spirits and a reasonable amount of perfume. Cash amounts exceeding US$5000 (or its equivalent in another currency) should be declared.

Don’t bring any cold cuts which you as Chinese law forbids their import, Importation of fresh fruit it prohibited there are limits to other items, such as herbal medicine, that you can take out of the country. Rare animals and plants also can not be exported.

Cultural relics, handicrafts, gold and silver ornaments, and jewelers purchased in China have to be shown to customs on leaving. It these items are deemed to be ‘cultural treasures’, they will be confiscated. All bags are X-rayed.

It’s illegal to import any printed material, film, tapes etc ‘ detrimental to China’s politics, economy, culture and ethics’; this includes pornography. But do not be too concerned about what you take to read

Money
The Chinese currency is known as Renminbi(RMB), or “people’s money’. Formally the basic unit of RMB is the Yuan, which is divided into 10 jiao, which is again divided into 10 fen. Colloquially, the Yuan is referred as as kuai and jiao as mao. The fen has so little value there days that it is rarely used.

The Bank of China issues RMB bills in denominations of one, two, five, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan. Coins come in denominations of one yuan, five jiao, one jiao and five fen. Paper versions of coins remain in circulation.

Hong Kong’s currency is the Hong Kong dollar and Macau’s is the pataca. Both currencies are worth about 7% more than Renminbi.

Exchange Rate

US $1 = 8.29 yuan

Exchanging Money
Foreign currency and travelers cheques can be changed at border crossings, international airports, major branches of the Bank of China, tourist hotels, and some large department stores. Top-end hotels will generally change money for hotel guests only. The official rate is given almost everywhere, so there is little need to shop around for the best deal.

Keep at least a few of your exchange receipts. You will need them if you want to exchange any remaining RMB you have at the end of your trip. Those traveling to Hong Kong can change RMB for Hong Kong dollars there.

Cash
Counterfeit notes are a problem in China. Very few Chinese will accept a Y50 or Y100 note without first checking to see whether or not it’s a fake. Notes that are old and tattered are also sometimes hard to spend. You can exchange notes for new ones at the Bank of China – counterfeits, however, will be confiscated.

Local Chinese have a variety of methods for checking notes, including checking the watermark, the drawn lines (more distinct in fake notes) and color. The texture of fake note also tends to be smoother than authentic notes. Examine large denomination notes if given to you as change by street vendors; they could well be dumping a forged banknote on you.

Travelers Cheques
Take these with you. You should have no problem cashing them at hotels in China. Not only will they protect your money against theft or loss, but the exchange rate for travelers cheques is higher than for cash (around 2% higher). You can make a large saving, especially if you have paid no commission for your travelers cheques in the first place. If cashing at banks, aim for the larger banks such as the Bank of China or the CITIC industrial Bank. Bear in mind that most hotels will only cash the cheques of guests. It’s a good idea to change your money at the airport when you arrive as the rate there is roughly change receipts so you can change your money back to its original currency when you leave, Cheques from most of the world’s leading banks and issuing agencies are now acceptable in China – stick to the major companies such as Thomas Cook, American Express, and visa.

Credit Cards
Foreign plastic is gradually gaining a foothold in China, and useful cards include Visa, MasterCard, AmEx and JCB. Their use, however, is limited to more upmarket hotels and restaurants, supermarkets and department stores. You still cannot use credit cards to buy train tickets, but CAAC offices readily accept international Visa cards for buying air tickets.

Some hotels appear to display Visa signs, but in fact only take Chinese Visa. Check first with you hotel that it takes international cards.

Credit-card cash advances has become fairly routine at head branches of the Bank of China, even in places as remote as Lhasa. Bear in mind, however, that a 4% commission is generally deducted and usually the minimum advance is Y1200. The Bank of China does not charge commission on AmEx cash withdrawals. Certain cards offer insurance and other benefits.

Carrying Money
A money belt is essential ( for large sums of cash and your credit cards). Be alert in crowded places such as packed markets and buses. Split up your monry and leave a small stash of money (say US$100) in your hotel room or buried in your backpack, with a recode of the travelers cheques serial numbers and a photocopy of your passport.

CostsHow much will a trip to China cost? It really depends on how, where, and how long you travel.

Western China remains relatively inexpensive. Popular backpacker getaways such as Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangxi, Gansu, Xinhiang, Qinghai and Tibet abound in budget accommodation and cheap eats. Generally, keeping costs down to US$25 per day is not difficult.

Eastern China is hard to do on a shoestring. Most ultra-cheap hotels are not available to foreigners and many cities are devoid of dorm accommodation, putting you into accommodation with rate starting at US$25 to US$35 for a double.

Foods costs remain reasonable throughout China, and the frugal can eat for as little as US$5 per day. Transport costs can be kept to minimum by traveling by bus wherever possible or by traveling hard-seat on the train (which can be wearing, but also fun). In other words, traveling through the booming coastal cities of China for less than US$35 per day is quite a challenge.

Mid-range hotel doubles start at around US$35 and it’s easy to eat in mid-range restaurants from around US$5. Train travel is reasonable, and it generally about half the price of flying.

Top-end travel in China? You can hit the major attractions of the country stay in five-star hotels (US$100 and up for a double).

Tipping & Bargaining
In China (including Hong Kong and Macau) almost no-one asks for tips. Tipping used to be refused in restaurants, but nowadays, many middle and top-end eateries include their own (often massive) service charge; cheap restaurants don’t expect a tip.

Since foreigners are so often overcharged in China, bargaining is essential. You can bargain in shops, hotels and taxis (unless it’s on the meter) – but not everywhere. In large shops where prices are clearly marked, there is usually no latitude for bargaining. In small shops and street stalls, bargaining is expected, but there is one important rule to follow – be polite. Keep in mind that entrepreneurs are in business to make money – they are not going to sell anything at a loss. Your goal should be to pay the Chinese price, as opposed to the foreigners’ price- if you can do that, you’ve done well.