FAQs
Visa-related Issues
Q: What type of visa do I need to apply for when visiting Suzhou?
A: The Chinese Government issues different types of visas according to the purposes of the visitors. Foreigners wishing to travel to China should apply to a local Chinese embassy or consulate for tourist visas (L). In the event of a group tour of more than nine persons, the organizer has to apply for group tourist visas (L).
Q: What do I need to prepare when applying for a visa?
A: When applying for a visa, foreigners are required to answer certain questions and go through the following formalities:
1) Provide a valid passport or suitable document in place of a passport.
2) Fill in a visa application form and hand-in recent passport photos.
3) Submit documents needed for visa application and documents that explain one's reasons to enter China.
Q: What are the entry and exit regulations in China?
A: When arriving in China from abroad, foreigners need to go through procedures such as a quarantine check, frontier inspection and luggage check, just as in other countries. The departure is somewhat easier; travelers only need to fill in Exit Registration Cards and have their passports and visas checked.
Q: Do I need to apply for a visa again after leaving and re-entering China?
A: Yes. If you are travelling with an L visa, you have to apply for another visa when you need to leave and re-enter Mainland China. Please check with any Chinese embassy or consulate for the latest status.
Money Matters
Q: What’s the money used in China?
A: The Chinese currency is called Renminbi (people's currency) and is often abbreviated to RMB. The basic unit is the yuan. Ten jiao make one yuan; 10 fen make one jiao; and thus 100 fen make one yuan. You can check the latest currency exchange rate at http://www.gocurrency.com.
Q: Where can I change my money into Chinese Yuan?
A: You can exchange traveler's checks or cash in most banks and hotels in Suzhou. The exchange rate in the hotels is the same as that in banks.
Q: Are credit cards accepted?
A: Many hotels and shops accept well-recognized credit cards. No surcharge will be levied for credit card use.
Q: Can I open a bank account in China?
A: Foreigners can open bank accounts in China for both Chinese RMB and US dollar (the latter only in special foreign exchange banks). It’s not necessary to have resident status in China; a tourist visa is sufficient.
Travel Tips
Q: Can I bring any electrical appliances to Suzhou?
A: Yes, as long as they're compatible with local electrical voltage - 220 Volts and 50 Hz A/C. Most hotel bathrooms provide wall sockets for razors and hair dryers that accommodate both straight two-pin plugs and triangular three-pin plugs.
Q: Am I allowed to bring my medication to Suzhou with me?
A: Yes, we do suggest that you bring some common medicines with you. However, the containers should be clearly marked with the generic name of the medication printed. You might also want to bring along a prescription for the medication to show that you legally use it.
Q: Can you give me some useful telephone numbers?
A: The following are some commonly-used telephone numbers you may find helpful:
110 Police
114 Local telephone number and area code inquiry
119 Fire
120 Ambulance
10000 China Telecom customer service
10086 China Mobile customer service
10010 China Unicom customer service