Health

1) Before Tour
Prior to departing for China, it is recommended that you get accident and medical insurance coverage for any medical expenses that may arise during a trip.

No vaccinations are required for travel to China but it is advisable to check with your doctor for current information. Tetanus and typhoid vaccines are essential for travel anywhere, and rabies and hepatitis vaccinations are recommended. Please note that there is a risk of malaria in remote areas of south China, so take precautionary measures before you go.

For Health Regulations please check with your local health unit for required vaccinations and inoculations.

2) In the tour
The obvious way to avoid illness is to follow the basic rules of hygiene throughout your journey. In particular, this applies to restaurants and roadside snack bars. Never eat raw or undercooked food. This includes salads. Carry your own chopsticks and a metal bowl with a lid for train journeys and meals in small roadside restaurants. Fruit and vegetables should be washed thoroughly in purified water, then peeled or boiled. Drink only boiled or bottled water, even though the tap water is said to be drinkable, irrespective of where you are. The adjustment to climatic variations and different foods may result in colds or digestive disorders that, although rarely serious, may impede one's enjoyment. Toilets off the beaten tourist track tend to be primitive so it is useful to bring along your own sanitary necessities and moist towels when venturing outside your hotel. Air pollution in the large cities is severe, particularly in winter. Respiratory ailments are common. Some regions of China, including Tibet, Xinjiang, Sichuan and Yunnan have very high altitudes. These can put strain on your health. People with heart disease or high blood pressure are advised not to travel in these areas in view of the serious physical problems that can occur. All travelers should avoid strenuous activity until they are fully acclimatized.

3) Medicine
Most hospitals in big cities provide a high standard of medical care in China. However, in some remote areas, the medical service may not be to such a standard. Ensure your physical condition is good prior traveling. Bring some medicines with you, such as aspirin, anti-histamines and so on. It is also wise to carry some anti-diarrhea capsules, such as Imodium. Should your symptoms persist, seek professional advice to stop the problem from becoming serious.

4) Drinking water
Unlike in most western countries, the tap water in China is undrinkable, even in the finest of hotels. Tap water is not safe; all water consumed must be boiled or filtered unless it is bottled mineral water. Although many locals do drink the tap water, we recommend that you drink only bottled water or boiled water. Bottled water is available everywhere. You may use the tap water to brush your teeth as long as you remember to rinse your mouth once or twice after brushing. Most hotel rooms in China are equipped with a water dispenser, providing you with both hot and cold water. Some hotels provide hot water in thermoses while others may just offer you a water heater, and you then have to boil the tap water yourself. Four and five-star hotels in China commonly provide you with a dispenser filled with high-quality mineral water in your rooms, and this service is mostly free or has a small charge.

5) Medical Services
The clinics in large hotels and restaurants offer medical and first aid services to travelers. If you feel uncomfortable while on a tour, you may call the outpatient department of a local hotel, or ask your guide to take you to see the doctor.

Dial 120 for an ambulance or call your tour guide or hotel staffs for help if you are not in good health. You can also phone the SOS International, 24-hr alarm center in Beijing (010-6542 9100) or in Shanghai (021-6295 0099) for advice on local medical services.

6) Emergencies
China is a relatively safe country. Travelers should be conscious of pick pocketing and bag snatching. While traveling in China, you may come across some emergencies. Once you are in trouble, do not hesitate to call 110 for the police or 120 for an ambulance. Also, make note of the telephone number of your guides, tour group leaders, hotels and even your embassy and consulates. If you lost your credit cards or traveler checks, inform the issuer as soon as possible. If you lost your passport, you must report to the nearest Public Security Bureau and explain what has happened. Contact your embassy or consulate as well, applying for an exit document with a certificate issued by the local Public Security Bureau.

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