Personal Security

Petty crime directed at foreigners continues to increase, particularly theft involving pick-pocketing and purse snatching. Resistance to attempted robbery can lead to violence. Foreigners have been beaten and robbed, particularly in the popular expatriate bar areas of Beijing and Shanghai at night.

Prior to travel, Australians should ensure they have a variety of financial options available to them including credit cards, travellers' cheques and cash. Australians should consult their automatic teller machine (ATM) card provider for information about overseas services and availability. Not all overseas ATMs accept Australian cards.

Australians should only carry sufficient cash for their daily needs, secure their valuables against theft and avoid displays of wealth at all times. Photocopies of valuables such as passport, tickets, driving licence and travellers' cheques should be kept separately from the originals.

In many countries, passports are a prime target of theft for illegal purposes. Your passport should always be kept in a safe place, as considerable inconvenience and disruption to travel plans may result from its theft or loss. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

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Local Conditions

Travel and living conditions vary greatly between developed city areas and the less developed rural areas. Access to essential items, funds and communications may be limited.

Driving in China can be hazardous. The poor quality of many roads and generally low driving standards lead to many accidents, some serious. The safety standards that Australians might expect from tour operators and public buses, especially in rural areas, are unlikely to be met.

China is in an active seismic zone and is subject to earthquakes. The rainy season occurs between April and October. Severe rainstorms can cause flooding and reduce the provision of essential services. Typhoons can occur along the southern and eastern coasts. Travellers should monitor weather reports when travelling in affected areas. In the event of a natural disaster, local authorities will provide advice.

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Local Law and Customs

Australians are reminded that when overseas, they are subject to local laws. Local laws and legal processes can be very different from those in Australia. A violation of local laws may result in a jail sentence, served in a local prison. Consular assistance cannot override local law, even where local laws may appear harsh or unjust by Australian standards. There are severe penalties for all drug offences, including, in some cases, the death penalty.

Australians of Chinese origin should travel on their Australian passport, obtain a visa for China and present themselves as Australians at all times. The Chinese government does not recognise dual nationality and will not allow consular access by the Australian Embassy to Australians detained by Chinese authorities if they have entered China on a Chinese passport, a Hong Kong or Macau identity card or another non-Australian foreign passport. Consular access is however, allowed to those who have entered on Australian passports.

Failure to maintain a valid visa will usually result in fines charged at a daily rate of 500 Chinese RMB per day and/or detention. Australians engaging in employment in China are advised to check their working conditions carefully in advance and ensure that their employer provides a working 'Z-class' visa and Chinese residence permit.

All foreigners are required to register their place of residence with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival. This is done as part of the check-in process for those staying in hotels. Those staying with family or friends in a private home must also observe this requirement. Failure to do so can result in fines and/or detention. Foreigners must carry some form of identification (passport or Chinese residence card) at all times and present it upon demand to police authorities.

Travellers are permitted to travel only in those areas open to foreigners in China. Travelling is restricted near military installations and some border areas.

Permits are required to visit Tibet and many remote areas not normally open to foreigners. Only travellers in organised tour groups will be given visas to the Tibetan region of China.

Falungong activities are banned in China. Participants in Falungong activities or Falungong related demonstrations contravene Chinese laws and can expect to be dealt with according to those laws. Penalties include detention, deportation, arrest and imprisonment.

Some Australian criminal laws, including - but not limited to - those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, have extraterritorial effect. Australians who commit such offences outside of Australia may be prosecuted in Australia for those offences.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.

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Entry and Exit Requirements

Australians intending to visit China must be in possession of a passport which is valid for at least six months after the duration of intended stay, and a return or onward airline ticket. A visa is required for all travellers to China whether it is for tourism, business, employment or study purposes and all visitors should ensure they obtain a visa that is appropriate for the purpose of their visit. It is very difficult to obtain visas at Chinese border entry points.

Travellers should be aware that Hong Kong and Macau are Special Administrative Regions with separate visa and entry administration. Travellers who exit mainland China to visit those destinations may require a new Chinese visa if they wish to re-enter mainland China. Some travel permits, issued in Hong Kong or at Hong Kong-Macau-Chinese mainland border crossings, are valid for limited travel to special areas only such as Shenzhen, Zhuhai or other areas in Guangdong Province. It is illegal to use these permits to travel onwards to other parts of China.

Visa conditions are subject to change. For up-to-date visa information on entry requirements for China, including Hong Kong, Macau and Tibet, Australians should contact the nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate, well in advance of travel.

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Health Issues

Quarantine measures are in place in China, including the requirement to complete a health and quarantine declaration form and undergo body temperature checks as required. Depending on the contents of the declaration and the result of the body temperature check, they may be required to undergo a medical examination. If this examination shows that the passenger is likely to be infected with SARS they may be referred to a local hospital for further tests and/or treatment and may not be allowed to depart immediately.
Different quarantine requirements are in place in the various provinces and municipalities in China. The nearest Embassy or Consulate of the People's Republic of China can provide detailed information.

Japanese Encephalitis (also known as Encephalitis B) is a mosquito-borne disease endemic in rural areas of Southern China from June to August. Travellers intending to spend time in rural areas should consult their doctor or a travel clinic about vaccination.

Tibet, Qinghai, parts of Xinjiang, and western Sichuan are situated at altitudes over 3000 metres. Travellers to these areas may suffer from altitude sickness if they do not allow time for acclimatization.

A health declaration card must be completed upon arrival in China. HIV-positive status is grounds for refusal of entry or deportation. Anyone applying for permanent residence, or intending to stay or study for longer than one year, must either produce upon arrival an HIV/AIDS test certificate (approved by a Chinese Embassy or Consulate abroad) or undergo a test within 20 days.

HIV/AIDS has become a significant concern in China. There is a risk of unsafe blood and blood products in regional China. Doctors and dentists may need to be asked to use sterilised equipment and may charge for new syringes in hospitals or clinics.

For information on prevalent diseases and inoculations, travellers should consult their doctor, travel clinic or the World Health Organization (WHO). Further information can be found in our 'Travelling Well' brochure.

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Travel and Health Insurance

Medical care in China can be very expensive. The standard of medical care and range of familiar medicines available in China are limited, particularly outside of major cities. Upfront payment is usually required for medical treatment and medical evacuations from China can be extremely costly.

Travel and medical insurance is strongly recommended for all overseas travel. Travellers should check with their insurer to make sure that their policy meets their needs. In particular, insurance should have provisions for itinerary delays and for medical evacuation, particularly from remote locations such as Tibet. Local travel and bus operators may not carry accident liability insurance. Travellers should seek advice from their insurer on what type of circumstances and activities are the subject of exclusions in their policy.

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Consular Assistance and Registration

Australians in China are encouraged to register with the nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate and ensure they keep their information up-to-date. Australians may obtain consular assistance from the:

Australian Embassy
21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie
Sanlitun, Beijing 100600
Telephone (86 10) 6532 2331
Facsimile (86 10) 6532 4605
Website http://www.china.embassy.gov.au

Australian Consulate General
Level 22, CITIC Square
1168 Nanjing Xi Lu
Shanghai 200041
Telephone (86 21) 5292 5500
Facsimile (86 21) 5292 5511
Website http://www.china.embassy.gov.au/shanghai

Australian Consulate General
Room 1509
Main Building
Guangdong International Hotel
339 Huanshi Dong Lu
Guangzhou 510098
Telephone: (86 20) 8335 0909 (visa enquiries only)
(86 20) 8335 5911 (non visa enquiries)
Facsimile: (86 20) 8335 0718
Website: http://www.china.embassy.gov.au/guangzhou .

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade offers an on-line registration service. The registration information provided by you will help us to find you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family emergency.

Australians planning travel and those overseas are encouraged to monitor our travel advice updates, including through use of our free subscription service, at smartraveller.gov.au.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.

Send us your requirements and China travel interest today. Contact us directly on 02 9299 0088 or Enquire here.