China Travel Service Hong Kong

China Travel Service Hong Kong (CTS-HK) offices are generally open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday. This includes the branches in Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok. The Hong Kong Island and Newe Territories branches are also open from 9am to 5pm on Sunday.

Visas can be arranged by China Travel Service Hong Kong, the mainland affiliated agency. A good many guesthouses, hotels and most travel agents can also arrange or facilitate entry visas. Next day delivery agents will usually charge around HK$200 for a single entry visa and HK$250 for a double entry visa. This is better than the HK$1200 visa that will hit you in the airport.

China Travel Service Hong Kong Island Offices

• CTS Head Office (T 2853 3533)
  CTS House, 78-83 Connaught Road, Central HK, Hong Kong
• Central Branch (T 2522 0450)
  G/F, China Travel Bldg, 77 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong
• Causeway Bay Branch (2808 1131)
  Rm 606, 6/F, Hang Lung Centre, 2-20 Paterson St,

China Travel Service Kowloon Offices

• Tsimshatsu Branch (Tel: 2315 7188)
  1/F Alpha House, 27-33 Nathan Road, Tsimshatsu, Kowloon
• Mongkok Branch (Tel: 2789 5888)
  G/F & Room B, 2/F, Tak Po Bldg, 62-72 Sai Yee Street, Mongkok, Kowloon
  

China Travel Service New Territories Offices

• Shatin Branch (Tel: 2692 7773)
  Shop 717-718, 7/F, Citylink Plaza, Shatin, N.T.

China Travel Service Hong Kong
Visas Information

All foreign nationals require a visa to enter China and this can be obtained prior to departure through your nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate or from a local branch of China Travel Service Hong Kong.

Alternatively, if spending time in Hong Kong before visiting Mainland China, a visa can be arranged quickly and easily from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, CTS, CITS or from one of the many travel agents specialising in Chinese visas.

Different types of visa are available depending on length and purpose of stay and these are valid from the date of issue, therefore do not apply for the visa too far in advance. The visa takes up an entire page and will not be issued if one clean page is not available in your passport.

Once in China, an extension for a period of up to 30 days can be applied for at the Foreign Affairs section of the Public Security Bureau (PSB) - a branch of the police force that can be found in most towns. Once in China, personal identification must be carried at all times.

China Travel Service Hong Kong - Customs Information

• Unlimited foreign currency may be imported but must be declared on arrival. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount that was imported and declared on arrival.
• Visitors may take the following into China duty free:
  - Alcohol - 2 litres of alcoholic beverages
  - Tobacco - 400 cigarettes
• Prohibited items: Arms, ammunition, radio transmitters/receivers, exposed but undeveloped film, fruit and certain vegetables.
• Penalties for carrying or trafficking illegal drugs are extremely severe, ranging from long prison sentences to the death penalty.
• A form must be completed declaring valuables such as jewellery, electronic goods, cameras etc. on arrival to ensure that they can be taken out of the country when you leave. Receipts for items purchased in the country such as jewellery, handicrafts and paintings must be kept as you may be asked to show these on departure.

Favourite Places to Visit

• Shanghai The most commercial minded city in China is expanding at breakneck pace. Stroll down the busy shopping artery of Nanjing Lu, take a sightseeing cruise along the Huangpu River or enjoy trendy restaurants and bars in the restored old quarter of Xintiandi.
• Beijing China's capital gearing up for the up coming Olympics with a new stadiums and performance venues replacing the age old hutong of courtyard houses. Ancient attractions like The Great Wall the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City remains big tourist draws you wouldn't leave China without seeing them!

China Travel Service Hong Kong - Information

• China Time The whole of China is in the same time zone: GMT+8 hours
• China Currency Renminbi (RMB), also known as Yuan (Y) or Kwai -
  Check current exchange rates 10 jiao = 1RMB, 10 fen = 1 jiao; Notes issued: 500RMB, 100RMB, 50RMB, 10RMB, 5RMB, 2RMB, 1RMB 5 jiao, 2 jiao, 1 jiao; Coins issued: 1RMB, 1.5 jiao, 5 fen, 3 fen, 1 fen
• China Tipping Information - Tipping is not standard practice in China and is actually discouraged, although it is becoming more acceptable within international tourist hotels and restaurants.
• China Banking Hours Monday to Friday 9.00 am-12.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm
• China Language The official language is Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua), however numerous dialects are also spoken throughout the mainland. English is not widely spoken, therefore a phrase book would be extremely useful to point to key phrases written in Chinese characters. Another useful item would be a map with place names written in both English and Chinese.
• China Telephone Information The international dialling code for China is 86
  When making international telephone calls from China first dial 00 + country code + area code + telephone number
• China Electricity 220/240 V AC, 50Hz; Either flat or square, two-pin and three-pin plugs are used. It is advisable to take a universal adapter, as these are difficult to find in China.
• China Water Tap water is considered unsafe to drink so stick to boiled and bottled water. Most hotels provide distilled water or flasks of hot water in rooms on request.
• China Health Information Make sure that you have adequate health insurance that covers evacuation, as although medical care is available, it is not always of the highest standard. Consider inoculations against typhoid, cholera, polio, hepatitis A, Japanese encephalitis and take advice regarding anti-malarials. It is always best to check the current situation and any vaccination requirements with your doctor when planning your trip. In restaurants, avoid cracked crockery and rinse chopsticks, bowls and cups with hot tea before use, as they may have only been washed in cold water.

China Etiquette/Dress Code Information

• Casual clothes are acceptable everywhere, although smarter clothes can gain more respect. Revealing clothes should be avoided.
• Problems that arise in China through cultural differences can often be put down to simple misunderstandings.
• In general, Chinese people are not forthcoming with information unless they are specifically asked for it, so be prepared to ask direct questions to get the information you need.
• Locals may not even speak honestly but will try to say what they think you want to hear. This is not done maliciously and an element of patience and understanding will ease the situation.
• Chinese people are courteous but reserved and politeness is appreciated at all times. Don't always be fooled by a smile as this can mean that the person is upset or embarrassed and try to avoid confrontational situations that may cause a loss of "face".
• Confrontation is not appreciated and will only worsen rather than resolve any situation.
• Photography is not restricted around tourist areas but it is worth noting that taking photographs is not allowed in airports and permission should be gained before snapping away at any government or military bases.

China Diplomatic Missions

• Many countries have representative offices and consulates in China.

While this Hong Kong website have made extensive effort to be accurate, we make no warranty or guarantee as to the correctness of the above and all information listed here. Certainly schedules, prices and policies will and do change. Sometimes contact info is provided so one way to be sure is to call or book ahead. Similarly, we do not guarantee the claims made by our sponsors and advertisers. Caveat emptor!