We'll be traveling to China in a few days and one of the things that our friends have told us is that China is an amazing and beautiful place to visit, but be wary of the rules and regulations that one shall encounter from the moment you land. Since I had to study more or less the things that we should be mindful of as we visit China, I have decided to share what I have found out through friends that have already been there. I know that some of these things may be a bit strange but remember, China is a totally different country compared to many of the other asian nations that most tourist would be used. If you take note of the following information here I am sure that you would find that despite the cultural shock you might experience, China is going to be a definite favorite place to add to your roster of places that you have visited.
Before you leave for China, here are some of the things that you must take note off as they are quite strict in the Chinese airports.
Latest Regulations of Civil Aviation Administration of China
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Lithium battery cannot be taken as checked luggage (Aug. 26, 2008) |
According to the latest news from Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), lithium batteries that are usually used in notebook PCs, cell phones and digital cameras cannot be consigned as checked luggage. However, air passengers are allowed to take them in their hand luggage.
This new regulation is released on the basis of OACI (Organization de l'Aviation Civile Internationale)'s prohibitions on dangerous items, to guarantee the safety of air passengers taking China flights. The regulations state that passengers can take electronic products, those using lithium batteries such as watches, calculators, cameras, cell phones, portable computers and DVs in their hand luggage. At most two spare batteries are allowed to be carried as hand luggage and they should be well preserved to avoid short-circuit; but no lithium batteries can be consigned in the checked luggage.
As for some other electric compact appliances, like electric tools or toys that use lithium batteries, passengers should prevent any unexpected startup. Still these appliances cannot be consigned.
Prohibition of the carrying of lighters or matches (Apr. 7, 2008)
On April 7, 2008, the carrying of lighters or matches by air passengers in China is prohibited by the CAAC, as a security measure.
Prohibition of the carrying of liquids by China domestic air passengers (Mar. 14, 2008)
On March 14, 2008, the CAAC announced the prohibition of the carriage of liquids by passengers boarding China domestic flights. The specific regulations are as follows:
a. Passengers taking domestic flights are prohibited from carrying liquids in hand luggage; such items can be shipped subject to packing being consistent with the relevant civil aviation transport provisions.
b. Passengers may take small quantities of cosmetics, with a limit of one item of each type; each container shall be no more than 100 ml in volume. All cosmetics must be placed in a separate bag ready for inspection.
c. Passengers from outside China transferring to China domestic flights may carry unopened duty-free liquid items, in properly sealed transparent plastic bags; relative receipts must be produced.
d. When purchasing tickets, passengers accompanying infants may apply for free liquid dairy products, provided by the airlines. Liquid medicines necessary for diabetic or other patients will be subject to safety inspection and will be kept by the flight crew.
For passengers taking international and regional flights, their carrying of liquids should still accord with the restriction on the carrying of liquids by air passengers in China.
Security Check
Security check at an airport in China |
A. Who cannot pass the security check?
Before the departure, passengers along with their luggage must receive the security check. For special passengers such as unaccompanied children, invalids, pregnant women, the blind and deaf as well as criminals, only should they meet the airlines' regulations or be approved by the airlines can they pass the security check. Patients with infectious diseases, psychopaths or individuals whose physical condition may do harm to other passengers cannot pass the security check.
B. What are hazardous materials by CAAC?
The carrying of hazardous materials can be very dangerous. The CAAC states that hazardous materials mainly include the following categories: aerated solids like polishes, paraffin wax or detergents; corrosive substances like acids, cleaning agents or wet button batteries; combustible materials like paint, thinners, flammable liquids, lighter, adhesion and portable stoves; explosive materials like fireworks, flare bombs, announciators, loaded firearms and gunpowder; radioactive substances like β-ray telescope, radioactive Pharmacy or to-be-transplanted pacemaker; compressed gases like tear gas, protected pressurized spray, air tank or gasoline tank (unless it is empty); infectious materials like vaccines or animal viruses; toxic substances like rat poison.
The carrying of hazardous materials can be very dangerous. The CAAC states that hazardous materials mainly include the following categories: aerated solids like polishes, paraffin wax or detergents; corrosive substances like acids, cleaning agents or wet button batteries; combustible materials like paint, thinners, flammable liquids, lighter, adhesion and portable stoves; explosive materials like fireworks, flare bombs, announciators, loaded firearms and gunpowder; radioactive substances like β-ray telescope, radioactive Pharmacy or to-be-transplanted pacemaker; compressed gases like tear gas, protected pressurized spray, air tank or gasoline tank (unless it is empty); infectious materials like vaccines or animal viruses; toxic substances like rat poison.
If passengers have to take those articles with them, they may confer with the airline's freight department.
C. Specific provisions for hand luggage
The following are articles that cannot be taken with passengers as hand luggage.
A. firearms and equipments for military or police use
a. military or police guns: pistols, rifles, submachine guns, machine guns and baton guns
b. civilian guns: air guns, shotguns, sporting guns, anesthetic injection guns and starting guns
c. Other military or police weapons: batons, daggers and bayonets
d. State prohibited guns or weapons: steel ball guns, tear gas guns and electric guns
e. Imitation of firearms mentioned above: gun samples or guns used as properties
B. Explosives
a. ammunition: bombs, grenades, flare bombs, fire bombs, smoke shells, tear bombs, gas bombs and bullets including blank cartridges, testing missiles and practice ammunition
b. blasting equipment: blasting explosive, blasting fuse, detonating cords, non-electric detonating system and blasting agents
c. Pyrotechnic products: fireworks and firecrackers
d. Imitation of explosives mentioned above
C. State controlled cutting tools: daggers, three-square tools, backsword or double-edged sword that longer than dagger
D. Explosive and Flammable materials: cylinders containing liquefied or compressed gases such as hydrogen, oxygen and butane; white phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, nitrocellulose (including film), oilpaper and their products which may cause spontaneous combustion; potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium carbide, Mg-Al powder that will react with water; Gasoline, kerosene, diesel, benzene, ethanol (alcohol), paint, thinner, retinol and other flammable liquids; flashlight powder, solid alcohol, celluloid and other flammable solids; sodium peroxide, potassium peroxide, lead peroxide, acetyhydroperoxide and other organic oxides
E. Toxic materials: Cyanide, highly toxic pesticides and other toxic materials
F. Corrosive substances: sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, electrolytic batteries, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide
G. Radioactive substances like radioisotopes
H. Other materials that may harm the flight's safety, such as materials with strong irritating smell and strong magnetic articles that may interfere the normal working of aircraft's instruments.
The following are articles that cannot be taken with passengers as hand luggage.
A. firearms and equipments for military or police use
a. military or police guns: pistols, rifles, submachine guns, machine guns and baton guns
b. civilian guns: air guns, shotguns, sporting guns, anesthetic injection guns and starting guns
c. Other military or police weapons: batons, daggers and bayonets
d. State prohibited guns or weapons: steel ball guns, tear gas guns and electric guns
e. Imitation of firearms mentioned above: gun samples or guns used as properties
B. Explosives
a. ammunition: bombs, grenades, flare bombs, fire bombs, smoke shells, tear bombs, gas bombs and bullets including blank cartridges, testing missiles and practice ammunition
b. blasting equipment: blasting explosive, blasting fuse, detonating cords, non-electric detonating system and blasting agents
c. Pyrotechnic products: fireworks and firecrackers
d. Imitation of explosives mentioned above
C. State controlled cutting tools: daggers, three-square tools, backsword or double-edged sword that longer than dagger
D. Explosive and Flammable materials: cylinders containing liquefied or compressed gases such as hydrogen, oxygen and butane; white phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, nitrocellulose (including film), oilpaper and their products which may cause spontaneous combustion; potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium carbide, Mg-Al powder that will react with water; Gasoline, kerosene, diesel, benzene, ethanol (alcohol), paint, thinner, retinol and other flammable liquids; flashlight powder, solid alcohol, celluloid and other flammable solids; sodium peroxide, potassium peroxide, lead peroxide, acetyhydroperoxide and other organic oxides
E. Toxic materials: Cyanide, highly toxic pesticides and other toxic materials
F. Corrosive substances: sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, electrolytic batteries, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide
G. Radioactive substances like radioisotopes
H. Other materials that may harm the flight's safety, such as materials with strong irritating smell and strong magnetic articles that may interfere the normal working of aircraft's instruments.
Once you are in China there are still many more things that you should be mindful about. Compiled here are but a few of the things that one should consider.
Do…
- remove your shoes when entering a Chinese home or temple
- greet the eldest person in a Chinese family first, as a sign of respect (you'd really have to be quite observant on this one. Best to watch who people greet first)
- Call someone by waving them over to you with your palm down. Don’t point or use your finger (this gesture is used for dogs).
- present things to people with both hands, to show that what you’re offering is the fullest extent of yourself
- be very thankful if someone gives you a gift, then set it aside to open later, to avoid appearing greedy
- be prepared for random people to approach you and asking to practice their English
- keep calm when dealing with officials, especially if tense situations arise. Getting angry or raising your voice will create only an ugly, face-losing situation for all.
- eat what your host offers and orders, including alcohol; it’s rude to refuse (this worries me a bit as I'm vegetarian, guess I'll have to work hard to avoid this situation)
- touch your glass below that of the eldest person in the group when toasting – the eldest (aka wise one) holds his/her glass highest
- fill your companion’s tea cup when it’s empty, especially if your companion is older than you
- eat all of the rice in your bowl – some Chinese believe it’s bad luck to leave even a single grain behind
- say how much you love watching Yao Ming play in the NBA(got to check on his current news)
- prepare yourself to see animals treated very differently than you’re used to back home
- be punctual. Being on time shows respect for others.
Don’t…
- write anything in red ink unless you’re correcting an exam. Red ink is used for letters of protest.
- leave your chopsticks upright in your bowl or tap your bowl with them
- point the bottom of your shoes/feet at someone
- shake your feet, lest you shake away all of your luck.
- touch someone’s head (it’s sacred)
- give clocks or books as gifts. The phrase ‘to give a clock’ in Mandarin sounds too much like ‘attend a funeral’ and ‘giving a book’ sounds like ‘delivering defeat.’
- make political comments especially about MAO. Many Chinese remain huge Mao fans, as proven daily by the lines at his mausoleum.
- make out with your beau – limit your public display of affection.
- be offended when asked if you’re married – and if you’re over 30 and single, say yes, lest you be pitied
- give too much attention to an object someone else has; they may feel obligated to give it to you
- Use those pretty gold/silver papers for western décor. It’s for spiritual/cultural Chinese rituals.
- freak out if you don’t know what to do. When in doubt, simply watch what the Chinese people do and follow suit.
I do hope that you guys find this useful. Many thanks to some of my FB friends that have shared these infos to help me prepare, and hopefully for you too, as I count down to my China Trip.
If you need to know more here is a wiki article for tourists heading to China:
This would include tips on modes of transportation, useful websites, history and even useful websites that you can use as other resources to help you prepare for your trip to China.
Till Next Time...
Till Next Time...
-Metz-
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