China is certainly one of the most famous countries in the world. It is also currently the most populous nation in the world having ⅕ of the world population or roughly 20% of it, although India is chasing China for this title. It is also one of the largest countries in the world. China currently competes as one of the strongest economies in the world. Although the country is officially a Communist single-party state, it allows corporations as well as a small private business to exist.

Traveling info

All visitors to China must have a valid passport and almost all must have a visa with the exception of Singaporean, Bruneian and Japanapanese citizens who may enter China for 15 days without a visa. Other exemptions involve tourists who are staying in Macau and are part of an organized trip from Macau to China and passengers of international flights who have confirmed onward ticket from China. Passengers of international flights landing in China and flying onward must ask permission of Chinese authorities if they want to leave the premises of the airport. Tourists who want to drive in China are required to have a Chinese driving license. No other national driving license is recognized in China. An international driving permit is not valid in China either. Licenses issued in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are not considered Chinese licenses. Tourists who decide to cross the Chinese border in a private vehicle or import one by ship will have to register the vehicle in China will receive Chinese license plates and will have to pass a Chinese driving exam.

Traveling hazards

Driving in China can be quite a challenge as China ranks among the top in the traffic accident and fatal traffic accident rate. The average driver in China has less than 5 years of driving experience. Traffic is largely unregulated, road courtesy like giving the right of way or respecting the right of the way barely exist. It is important to watch out for motorcyclists in particular as most of them do not own motorbike driving permits. China is the second country with the biggest road network however the vast areas of China has roads varying in condition. Highways and city roads are generally modern and well maintained. Public transport in major cities is generally modern however smaller towns may have poorly maintained vehicles.

Environmental hazards

China is a vast nation with a variety of climates ranging from Tropical, Desert, Temperate to Boreal. There are many endemic species as well as many large predators which are capable of injuring or even killing humans. There are four species of Tigers which inhabit south, central and northeast regions of the country. The Bengal tiger, South China tiger, Indochinese tiger and far bigger and more dangerous than the other three Siberian tigers. Tiger attacks in the wild are usually fatal. It is estimated that between the 1800s until today almost half a million people were killed by Tigers however there has been a sharp decline since the 19th century. South China is where people are most vulnerable to tiger attacks. Unlike some bear species who are shy and retreat, tigers follow their prey and if you notice a tiger watching you, he is probably studying if it is capable of turning you into prey. There are roughly 85 casualties of Tiger attacks yearly. China is home to 7 species of bears which is more than in any other country in the world. One of the species is so rare, that there is barely any information about it, namely the Tibetan blue bear. Although there is little information about the behavior of this bear it is considered not dangerous due to its rarity. Other less dangerous bears include the giant panda and the sun bear. The Eurasian brown bear, Himalayan brown bear, and the ussuri brown bear are generally docile and shy however attacks have been reported. The Asiatic black bear is the most dangerous out of its family. This bear has no fear of humans and is known to be aggressive. There are also four species of wolves, the Eurasian, Tibetan, Mongolian and Himalayan wolves. All of these are pack hunters. There are rare reports of wolf attacks however often the animal is rabid when attacking. Healthy specimens usually avoid human contact however deal damage to the livestock. There are 4 snakes which are considered among the most venomous in the world. The Chinese cobra, many-banded krait, trimeresurus, and bamboo viper. All of these snakes have a very strong venom which accounts for many deaths yearly. There are two particularly venomous spiders in China. The Chinese bird spider and the Chinese golden tiger. Both of these Spiders inhabit the southern region of the country and are capable of injecting deadly venom which at best will result in necrosis around the bite. Swimming in Chinese lakes and rivers is generally not advised unless there are designated spots to do so. Many lakes and rivers are badly polluted making it unsafe for swimming. Chinese coast varies in safety. Designate and guarded beaches are generally safe and trouble free however unmarked beaches and beaches near river mouths should be avoided due to the possibility of pollution. Shark attacks were reported previously however guarded beaches are generally safe due to the commotion caused by boats etc. which scares sharks off.
China is one of the countries most affected by natural hazards. The Chinese coast is hit by up to 5 typhoons a year which wreck havoc particularly in smaller urban areas which may not be as prepared as major cities. Earthquakes happen roughly a couple of times a month and generally occur in the Himalayas or the southern provinces of China with sporadic earthquakes occurring in the very northwest of the country. Tsunamis caused by earthquakes also hit the Chinese coast dealing a lot of damage to the infrastructure. Both floods and droughts occur in China. Chinese climate is diverse enough to suffer both from harsh winters in the north, floods throughout the country and draughts in the warmer areas.

Health hazards

There is currently a possibility in China to be infected with influenza. The avian flu H7N9 is spread by birds. It is recommended to avoid poultry markets, farms, birds and their droppings. Eating undercooked poultry is also greatly discouraged. There is a possibility of contracting Polio in Xinjiang province, therefore it is recommended to get a Polio vaccine before visiting that area. There are several other vaccines which are strongly recommended for tourists. These are the routine vaccines also known as MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, rabies and Japanese encephalitis vaccine. There is a risk of contracting malaria in China. Unfortunately, there is no approved vaccine however there is medicine on prescription which should be available to anyone after consulting their local general practitioner. The public sector in China delivers services free of charge for Chinese citizens however the quality of service varies. Large Chinese cities like Beijing or Shanghai offer modern world-class health services whilst facilities in rural areas may provide very poor health services or there may be no facilities in the nearest vicinity. Private hospitals provide superior quality of care compared to their public equivalent however prices for private services are very high. Health insurance is a must when visiting China. If traveling out to the countryside it is best to make sure the health insurance policy covers emergency airlift as prices for these may be colossal.
In case of an emergency dial 120.

Crime

Crime both violent and petty exist in China, a crime such as pickpocketing and other forms of theft happens regularly and particularly in large cities. Another crime involves drug trafficking, human trafficking, murder, assault, etc. Although violent crime barely affects tourists, petty crime does. Tourists are particularly vulnerable to thieves in large cities, popular tourist spots and public transport. Westerners are particularly targeted in hope of economic gain. Exposing signs of wealth will certainly attract potential thieves, therefore, wearing jewelry or expensive clothing is not advised. It is important to be discreet with money. Money belts are a great way to store cash discreetly and safely. Violent crime mostly affects tourists in nightlife areas including nightclubs bars etc. Most cases are disputes settled with violence. There is no terrorist threat in China as the Chinese authorities crack down on potential terrorists however the western areas of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have Muslim terrorists who want independence for that region. Attacks, however, are very rare. Religious and ethnic violence in uncommon in China. Drug laws in China are very severe and involve long prison sentences or even capital punishment.

Summary

As one of the oldest nations in the world, China provides tourists with some of the most incredible attractions in the world like the terracotta army, the forbidden city, the Potala Palace and of course the great wall of China and while there you can try the real Chinese food and none of that fake takeaway. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/visas/hrsq/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/china