China medical travel insurance and visa application

January 03, 2019

China is one of the most fascinating countries in the world, truly embodying its hereditary philosophy of yin and yang, it’s a country full of complementary extremes: from exploring the tranquillity of ancient Buddhist temples or escaping into the simplicity and stillness of Rural China to immersing yourself in the thriving and tech driven urban cities like Hong Kong and Beijing. China fuses its Eastern heritage with its futuristic tech dominance in the most poetic and intrinsic of ways. This extraordinary culture of contrasts has attracted and mesmerised people from all over the world.

There’s a lot to get excited about when organizing your visit. To fully enjoy your adventure, make sure you give yourself peace of mind and organize your travel insurance policy so you can relax and enjoy your vacation knowing that you have got all your bases covered.

Aside from finding the right cover for you, here are some other important travel tips to be aware of before you set off on your adventure:

Visa Information for China

Do I Need to Get a Visa to Visit China?

Yes

U.S. Citizens who are planning to visit China have to apply for a visa via the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General. You’ll have to apply at least one month before your trip. If you are visiting Hong Kong and have a valid US passport you don’t need a visa, but if you want to also visit China’s mainland you will have to buy a visa to travel from Hong Kong to mainland China. Check out Hong Kong travel information here.

Travel Documents You Will Need to apply for a Tourist Visa

• A valid U.S. passport.

All passports must have a minimum of 6 months before expiration and your passport should also have at least two blank pages for stamping.

• A completed tourist visa application
• A photograph that fits the requirements
• Proof of travel itinerary, including flight and hotel booking documents

Health and Medical Advice

Before jetting off on your travels, you should check for any health risks, required vaccinations and any epidemic breakouts occurring in China. It’s also a good idea to find out where the nearest hospital is in case of an emergency.

Do I Need to be Vaccinated When Travelling to China?

We would highly recommend that you get protected against Typhoid, Hepatitis A and B, Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis as well as getting your routine vaccinations updated.The standard vaccines are:

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis
• Influenza
• Polio
• Chickenpox

Book an appointment at your local practitioner or find your local Passport health clinic. You should book an appointment, at the latest, four to six weeks before your trip, giving enough time for the vaccinations to take effect.

Travel Health Updates in China

Before setting off on your travels, it’s a good idea to be aware of any outbreaks in China, in case you should avoid travel or need to have extra vaccinations.

In March 2017, CDC reported that Chinese health authorities have confirmed human cases of avian influenza A (H7N9) since September 2016. CDC advises people traveling to China to avoidcontact with poultry (including poultry markets and farms), birds, and their droppings and to avoid eating undercooked poultry. Infected birds that appear healthy may still be able to transmit this virus to humans.To keep up to date on any breakouts, visit the CDC website.

Emergency Contact Information in China

No one ever wants to have to call the emergency services whilst they’re on vacation, but unfortunately accidents happen and it’s important to be prepared for when they do.

Police emergency contact number in China: 110

Fire emergency contact number in China: 119

Medical emergency contact number in China: 120

China Local Laws and Customs

• Gambling is illegal in mainland China
• Carry your ID or passport as police carry out random checks and failure to produce on ID can result in a fine or detention.
• Chinese authorities are extremely strict on drug use and possession. The police have been known to undertake random drug tests on foreign nationals on entry into China.
• The Chinese authorities maintain control over internet access and some services, Google, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are permanently blocked.

Safety and Security

Petty Theft

China is quite a peaceful country and street crimes are relatively uncommon.  However, like in any other country, popular tourist destinations and cities are subject to being hot pickpocketing zones where thieves will use a variety of methods to try and divert your attention. Be alert and keep your belongings with you at all times, especially in crowded areas, in public transport and popular tourist areas. It’s always a good idea to keep valuable belongings or extra spending money in a hotel safe, if you have one.

U.S. Embassy in China

U.S. Embassy Beijing

55 An Jia Lou Rd, Chaoyang District

Beijing, China, 100600

Telephone: (86-10) 8531-3000

Email: [email protected]

Useful Tips for China

Official Languages: Standard Mandarin

Depending on which region you are visiting, the majority of cities in China will be able to converse in English especially when you are visiting major tourist spots like Beijing and Shanghai. But in most rural regions Mandarin will be the only language spoken so it’s always a good idea to learn a bit of basic vocabulary beforehand.

Currency: Renminbi

Before your trip China make sure to exchange enough Chinese Yuan Renminbi for your spending requirements and to get the best exchange rates.

Chinese Plug Sockets: Type A, Type C and Type I

You will need to buy a plug adapter If you don’t have one already. You will also need to buy a voltage converter or transformer as the standard Chinese voltage is higher than in the U.S (120V). Its best to go for a converter which can also alter the frequency as the U.S. frequency rate is 10 Hz higher than in China and so may be dangerous to use without a converter.

© 2018 UnitedHealth Group Incorporated. For informational purposes, UHG does not guarantee the correctness or completeness of the information.