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Shaoxing Travel
Q: How can I get to Shaoxing?
A: There are many ways that you can get to Shaoxing:
- By air: Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport is 30 km. away from Shaoxing with shuttle bus services available. The taxi fee is about 200 yuan (negotiable with driver).
- By train: The Hangzhou-Ningbo Railway passes through Shaoxing. It takes about 50 minutes from Shaoxing to Hangzhou and 1 hour and 40 minutes from Shaoxing to Ningbo. All the trains departing from Ningbo have a stop in Shaoxing.
Q: When is the best time to visit Shaoxing?
A: Shaoxing is located in a subtropical zone with monsoon climate. The annual average temperature is 16.5°C. The best time to visit Shaoxing is from May to October while the weather conditions are comfortable and scenery is the most beautiful. Another pleasant time to visit Shaoxing is in April, when the flowers are blooming and trees are turning green.
Q: Is local transportation easily accessible?
A: Yes! There are more than 20 public bus routes in Shaoxing with No 8, No 88 to Lu Xun Native Place, No 1 to East Lake, No 3 to Lanting. The starting fee for a taxi is 7 yuan (within 2.5 km), and the charge for every km is 2 yuan thereafter.
Q: Is Shaoxing safe for visitors?
A: Yes, Shaoxing is one of the safest cities in China even at night, when visitors can walk alone with confidence.
Q: What are Shaoxing people like?
A: We're glad you asked! We like to think of ourselves as down to earth, funny, friendly and good-natured Chinese people; and we're especially proud that we live in Shaoxing.
Visa-related Issues
Q: What type of visa do I need to apply for when visiting Shaoxing?
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:
- Provide a valid passport or any document in place of a passport.
- Fill in a visa application form and handing in recent passport photos.
- 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 Shaoxing?
A: Yes, 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 Shaoxing. The exchange rate in the hotels is the same as that in the 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 indeed open bank accounts in China, both Chinese RMB and US dollar accounts (the latter only in special foreign exchange banks). It’s not necessary to have resident status in China; a tourist visa is sufficient.
Other Travel Tips
Q: Can I bring any electrical appliances to Shaoxing?
A: Yes, as long as they're compatible with local electrical voltage here in Shaoxing—220 Voltage and 50 Hz A/C. Most hotels provide wall sockets in every bathroom 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 Shaoxing with me?
A: Yes, we do suggest that you take some common medicines with you. However, the containers should be clearly marked with the generic name of the medication, and 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 is 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
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