ElectricityElectrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Plug types vary
but the two-pin flat blade and oblique three-pin flat blade plugs
are common. Adapters are generally required. LanguageThe official language is Mandarin Chinese, but there are
hundreds of local dialects. TippingTipping is not officially recognised, although the practice is
becoming more common among travel guides, top-end restaurants, tour
bus drivers and hotel staff. If wanting to tip leave a gratuity of
10%. Large hotels and restaurants often include a service charge in
their bills, usually of about 10%. Safety InformationChina is generally safe, and there has been no evidence of a
threat from global terrorism. Serious crime against foreigners is
rare but does occur, particularly in isolated or sparsely populated
areas. There has been an increase in the number of muggings and
robberies at Beijing International Airport and the Jianguomenwai
area of Beijing, as well as in Shenzen, bordering Hong Kong. If
trekking alone, including following parts of the Great Wall, it is
advisable to leave an itinerary and expected time of return with a
third party. Travellers should take extra care in street markets
and at tourist sites, which attract thieves and pickpockets, and
around the popular expat bar areas at night where lone foreigners
have recently been attacked. Travellers should be cautious about
using pedicabs in Beijing, as tourists have been mugged and demands
for money made by pedicab drivers; women in particular have been
targeted. Seasonal heavy rains and typhoons cause hundreds of
deaths in China each year, particularly those areas bordering the
Yangtze River in central, southern and western China.
Demonstrations took place in Lhasa, Tibet, as well as in some
Chinese provinces in protest against Chinese rule in Tibet;
although the situation seems to have stabilised, visitors are
advised to stay up to date on the latest situation before
travel. Local CustomsThe Chinese have th
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