China
Still current at: 22 July 2010
Updated: 22 July 2010

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary (earthquake; attacks on kindergartens), the Domestic Unrest section (restoration of communications) and Natural disasters (Typhoons) section (flooding in south of China).  The overall level of the advice has not changed; there are no travel restrictions in place in China.

Travel Summary

Tropical storm Chanthu is expected to make landfall in Guangdong and Hainan provinces on Thursday 22 July, and it may pick up force while over the South China Sea. You should check with your air carrier/tour operator as flights may be affected.

There is serious flooding in parts of Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan and Guizhou provinces and the Guangxi autonomous region in the south of China. British nationals should obtain the latest information before considering travel to those areas and should follow advice from the local authorities when there.

An earthquake measuring between 6.9 and 7.1 on the Richter scale struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in Qing Hai Province on the morning of 14 April causing widespread destruction and significant loss of life. Over 2,000 are confirmed dead and thousands more injured. There are no reports of death or injury involving any British nationals. For further information, please continue to monitor this advice.

Violent incidents in different parts of the northwest Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region erupt from time to time and there have been a number of deaths, including civilians, but there have been no reports of death or injury involving foreign nationals. See the Domestic Unrest section of this Travel Advice.

Xinhua news agency reports that seven children and two adults have been killed at a kindergarten near Hanzhong city, Shanxi province on 12 May 2010. This is the fifth such violent school attack in the past two months in mainland China, resulting in dozens either dead or injured. To date there have been no reports of death or injuries involving foreign nationals. The authorities have indicated they will take a number of steps to improve security across schools. However, if you are concerned about safety issues you should directly contact the relevant school and discuss any concerns you have.

There is an underlying threat from terrorism in China. This reflects both the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks and the possibility of terrorist acts by groups opposed to the Chinese Government. They could be indiscriminate including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

1,131,342 visited China in 2009 (Source: National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China). Most visits to China are trouble free. 406 British nationals required consular assistance in China in the period 1 April 2009 - 31 March 2010 for the following types of incident: deaths (46 cases) ; hospitalisations (89 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (120 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (827 cases).

All foreign nationals are required to carry their passport at all times as the Police regularly carry out random checks. Precautions need to be taken against pick-pocketing and other street crime.

We recommend that travellers obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See the General ( Insurance ) section of this Travel Advice.  Top

Business Disputes

Business disputes in China are not always handled through the courts. Recently, incidents of British nationals being detained against their will by workers or hired gangs for the specific purpose of extorting money or intimidating for other gains have increased. Typically the British national is threatened with violence and detained at a factory, hotel, or private residence until payment is negotiated and delivered. It is rare that violence is actually instigated. However, the threat of violence is a recurring theme and has proved very stressful for our nationals. The police are generally reluctant to act unless they have specific evidence of an actual assault.

Anyone entering into a contract in China should have it thoroughly examined, both in the United Kingdom and in China. Contracts entered into in the United Kingdom are not enforced by Chinese courts. British nationals doing business in China should be aware that if they become involved in a business and/or civil dispute, and the case actually goes to court, the Chinese government may prohibit them from leaving China until the matter is resolved, as has happened to some British nationals. Civil cases may sometimes be regarded as criminal cases and the defendant may be placed in custody.  Top

Local laws and customs

There are severe penalties in China for drugs offences. These include the death penalty, which was imposed on a British national who was executed in China for a drugs offence in December 2009. Foreign nationals are required to carry their passports with them at all times as the Police carry out random checks; failure to produce your ID can lead to a fine or detention.

There are restrictions on undertaking certain religious activities, including preaching and distributing religious materials. The Falun Gong movement is banned in China. Homosexuality is not illegal although there are no laws specifically protecting the rights of homosexuals. For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your Trip page.

Passport validity

Your passport should have a minimum validity of six months on arrival in China.  Top

General

Insurance

We strongly recommend that travellers obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to China. Exclusions should be checked carefully and any policy should cover all the activities the holder wants to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page. If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.

Lost/stolen passports

Before submitting an application for a replacement loss/stolen passport, the loss should be reported to the nearest police station and to the Municipal Public Security Bureau, who will issue a 'confirmation of loss' report. Flight arrangements may also have to be re-scheduled as an exit visa, which can take several days to process, is required for those departing China on a new passport. Registration Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

If you are travelling independently, or planning an extended visit, you are particularly encouraged to register with LOCATE on-line, indicating the areas you plan to visit. The British Embassy is in Beijing and there are British Consulate-Generals in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing. Further information is available on the China Embassy website.

Entry requirements

Visas

British nationals require visas to enter the mainland of China, but not Hong Kong. Visas must be obtained prior to arrival, including for Hainan Island where an earlier exemption no longer applies. For details of entry requirements to China you should contact the Chinese Embassy in London in good time before your proposed trip. Chinese Visa policy requires that foreigners leave China to change a visa from one category to another. You should carefully check your visa validity as fines are levied for overstaying.   Top