Language
Overview
The official language is Mandarin. In addition to numerous regional dialects, larger groups speak Cantonese, Fukienese, Xiamenhua and Hakka. The autonomous regions have their own languages, such as B. Tibetan and Mongolian. Translation and interpreting services are good. English is partly spoken in business circles as well as in shops, hotels and by tour guides.
Public Holidays
01/01/2022 New Year
02/01/2022 Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)
04/29/2022 Labor Day
09/10/2022 Mid-Autumn Festival
10/01/2022 National holiday
Source: Top-mba-universities.com
In addition to the dates listed above, the following holidays occur regionally: March 8 International Women’s Day. 4 May Youth Day. 23 May Tibetan Liberation Day. June 1 International Children’s Day. 1 Aug Armed Forces Day.
Duty free shopping
Overview
Travelers can bring the following items into China duty-free: 400 cigarettes; 100 cigars and 500 g tobacco. 1500 ml of alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of more than 12%; Gifts up to a value of RMB 2000. All valuables (cameras, watches, jewelry, antiques, etc.) must be declared upon entry. A copy of this declaration must be presented upon departure. Drug possession is punished with long prison sentences, drug trafficking is punishable by death. Customs officials can confiscate CDs, magazines and books and examine them for political, religious or pornographic material.
Prohibited Imports
that are subject to quarantine and originate from countries and regions currently experiencing animal and plant disease pandemics. Note: Hunting weapons and ammunition can be imported with a permit obtained through the travel agent prior to departure. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Prohibited Exports
An export ban exists for valuable cultural and other relics, for all types of media that are carriers of state secrets and for endangered animal and plant species and their seeds and other reproductive material from them. Antiques can only be exported if they bear an export seal from the Office of Cultural Artifacts. When purchasing jewelry, jade items, art objects, paintings, calligraphy and antiques, the receipt must be kept in order to obtain an export certificate upon departure. The items mentioned may not be exported without this certificate. Note: According to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, no ivory or ivory products, Turtle shells and the tortoise shell made from them, as well as certain traditional medicines (eg from bear bile) are imported into Europe. More information is available from China Customs.
Contact addresses
Consular section of the Embassy
Lombachweg 23
Bern
Switzerland
+41 (31) 351 45 93.
Mon-Fri 09.00-12.00.
Visa Service Headquarters Vienna
Schönbrunner Straße 108, Top 1.01
Vienna
Austria
+43 (0)1 544 3591 11.
http://bio.visaforchina.org/VIE2_DE/index.shtml
http://bio.visaforchina.org/VIE2_DE/index.shtml
Mon-Fri from 09:00 – 15:00.
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
Kalcheggweg 10
Bern
Switzerland
+41 (31) 352 73 33.
http://ch.china-embassy.org
http://ch.china-embassy.org
Mon-Fri 08.30-12.00 and 14.30-17.30.
Consular department of the Embassy
Neulinggasse 29/1/11
Vienna
Austria
+43 (1) 710 36 48.
Office hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 08.30-11.00 and Mon, Wed 14.00-16.00.
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
Consulates General in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/M., Hamburg, Munich.
Branch of the embassy in Bonn.
Märkisches Ufer 54
Berlin
Germany
+49 (30) 27 58 80.
http://de.china-embassy.org/det/
http://de.china-embassy.org/det/
Mon-Fri 08.30-12.30 and 13.30-17.00.
Visa Service Headquarters Hamburg
Willy-Brandt-Str. 57, 5th floor
Hamburg
Germany
+49 (40) 323 10 60 00.
http://www.visaforchina.org
http://www.visaforchina.org
Mon-Fri 09.00-16.00.
Visa Service Headquarters Berlin
Invalidenstr. 116-119
Berlin
Germany
+49 (30) 979 92 00 00.
http://www.visaforchina.org
http://www.visaforchina.org
Mon-Fri 09.00-16.00.
Visa service center Frankfurt
Bockenheimer Landstraße 51-53
Frankfurt/M.
Germany
+49 (69) 26 91 91 30.
http://www.visaforchina.org
http://www.visaforchina.org
Mon-Fri 09.00-16.00.
Visa Service Headquarters Munich
Lutzstraße 2
Munich
Germany
+49 (89) 58 92 74 60.
http://www.visaforchina.org
http://www.visaforchina.org
Mon-Fri 09.00-16.00.
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
Metternichgasse 4
Vienna
Austria
+43 (1) 714 31 49.
http://www.chinaembassy.at
http://www.chinaembassy.at Consular department of the Embassy
Brückenstraße 10
Berlin
Germany
+49 (30) 27 58 85 72.
http://www.china-botschaft.de
http://www.china-botschaft.de
Public service: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., telephone information: Tue and Thu 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Visa Service Headquarters Bern
1st floor, Murifeld, Weltpoststrasse 5, 3015 Bern
Bern
Switzerland
+41 (0)58 618 89 99.
http://bio.visaforchina.org/BRN2_EN/
http://bio.visaforchina.org/ BRN2_EN/ Visa Service Headquarters Zurich
Giesshuebelstrasse 45
Zurich
Switzerland
+41 (0)58 618 89 99.
http://bio.visaforchina.org/ZRH2_EN/
http://bio.visaforchina.org/ZRH2_EN/ Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China
(with visa issue).
Mythenquai 100 (Consular Section)
Zürich
Switzerland
+41 (44) 201 10 05, Consular Section: +41 (44) 209 15 00.
http://zurich.china-consulate.org
http://zurich.china-consulate.org
Mon-Fri 09.00-12.00. Tue and Fri 4.00-5.30 p.m. (Telephone information consular department).
Business
Business etiquette
Scheduling appointments is common, and value is placed on punctuality. Business cards should have the Chinese translation on the back. Business people usually meet their business partners in restaurants. You should always show up a little early. It is customary to invite the host as well.
Opening hours
Business Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, with an hour or two for lunch.
Business contacts
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, the country code is 0086. Area codes: Beijing 10, Hong Kong 852, Macau 853, Shanghai 21. The number of payphones in China is steadily decreasing because most people use mobile phones. Public telephones are most likely to be found at kiosks and post offices. Prepaid phone cards are available at major hotels, most small convenience stores, and many other outlets. Another way to make cheap calls is Skype, provided this service isn’t currently blocked in China.
Mobile phone
GSM 900, 3G (2100), 4G (LTE) with coverage throughout the country. Network providers include China Unicom. International roaming contracts exist. However, it may be cheaper to purchase a Chinese SIM card.
Internet
In big cities, free Wi-Fi is available in some cafes, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls and other public places like airports. However, a Chinese mobile phone number is often required for access to the public and free networks. Some hotels provide internet terminals for their guests. Network providers include Eastnet China Ltd. Internet cafes are common in larger cities. Note: With the “Great Firewall”, China has its own independent Internet that is state-controlled. It must be borne in mind that some websites and online services have been censored and are therefore inaccessible such as Wikipedia, all Google applications, Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, BBC,
Post office
Post to Europe takes about 6 to 14 days. All mail should be marked The People’s Republic of China. Large post offices are open from 08:00 to 19:00. Stamps are available in hotels, where postcards and letters can also be mailed.
