Frequently Asked Questions-More Info About Sanbao
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Sanbao
Ceramic Art Institute at Jingdezhen Frequently Asked Questions-More Info About Sanbao |
PREPARATION LIST FOR CHINA TRAVEL
GUIDES: We suggest you pick up a copy of the “Lonely Planet Guide to China”. This publication has good overall information - climate, food, medical, etc.. You should consult your personal physician about travel to China as well as your local health department. Hepatitis A shots are recommended for food and water. A helpful language book is “Mandarin Phrasebook” by Lonely Planet. It will at least give you a few greetings and things to say about how good the food is. You will be able to point to words and sentences for Chinese people to read.
INSURANCE: Please obtain emergency medical insurance for your stay outside your country. Check with your health insurance plan to find out what you are presently covered for and what you need extra to be covered for emergency evacuation back to your country of origin. Carry a copy of your medical history if it is appropriate. Penicillin and aspirin are readily available over the counter.
PACKING: Pack, in light suitcases, for a warm climate and bring a light rain jacket. Bring sunglasses and a small flashlight. Wheeled suitcases are best to navigate train stations. Do your best to pack light cotton clothes you can wash. Minimal laundry services will be available in China. Clothes are inexpensive in China. Bring alcohol pads or anti-biotic gel cleansers with you for cleaning your hands. Mosquitoes are present from April to November so bring long sleeve clothing for the evening and some mosquito repellent lotion (no aerosols on the plane). Leave room for your irresistible purchases. You can purchase most items in China instead of bringing them, except for alcohol pads or anti-biotic gel cleansers.
GIFTS: Bring some small gifts to give to Chinese artists and friends. Personal work or local handcrafts are most appreciated. Colored throwing ribs are cool for students. Please bring a ceramics publication from your country to donate to the Sanbao Studio library.
MONEY: International ATM machines are now readily available in most cities and the international airports and will accept bankcards (Cirrus, Plus). Change some currency when you arrive at the airport or in Shanghai. Travelers Checks fetch a slightly better rate and you will need to supply the Bank Of China branch with a Xerox copy of your passport (prepare copies beforehand). Bring a money pouch with you and carry it at all times during travel - this is a good place for your passport too.
POWER: Any DC power sources and battery chargers will have to run on 220 Volts in China. Some of the newer video camcorders can charge on both 110 and 220. Or else you will need an adapter that accepts 220. Sanbao has a transformer from 220 to 110. The USA plug will fit in China. The European plugs will also fit in China. Slide film can be difficult to buy outside of major cities (and is available in Jingdezhen, so bring what specialty films you need. Print film and developing is readily available.
PHONE: Phone cards are available in China and many public phones are built to take them. Calling from China is relatively expensive, so it is best to make a short call to the homeland and have them call you back. Some phone companies have plans that allow you to call through a certain number and have the charges put on your phone bill at rates charged from North America. Some American phone cards also have international capabilities when abroad.
EMAIL: Get yourself a Hotmail or Yahoo account or some other suitable web-based email if you want to stay in contact with folks back home. There are internet shops everywhere.
CHINA VISA
If you do not have a passport, obtain one. Your passport must have at least 6 months left before expiration on the departure date.
To obtain a Chinese visa, your passport must be sent along with your visa application form to your nearest Chinese Consulate. The process should take about 2-3 weeks through your local travel agent. Harmony Travel, the designated travel agent of Jingdezhen Sanbao in USA, can process your application for you. Or you can use the 2 Visa Agencies listed below.
Apply for a 1-3 month visa, depending on your stay; always ask for at least one week more than you think you will need. For 30-90 days, apply for a Tourist Visa, which is normally one-entry and 30-90 days (this is a very new process to get 90 days and not only 30). Research/Business “F” Visas of 2-3 months can be applied for - use your official invitation letter for this.
www.china-embassy.org Visa application information in USA
Chinese Embassy in USA
Address: Room 110, 2201 Wisconsin Ave. N.W. Washington, DC 20007 Tel: (202)338-6688 Email:chnvisa@bellatlantic.net Main Tel: (202)328-2500 Fax: (202)588-0032 Faxback of Visa application form (202)265-9809Sanbao Designated Travel Agent in New York
Travel Agent: Ping Yuan Song Harmony Travel Inc. 83-12 Broadway Elmhurst, NY 11373 USA 718-803-8878 457-1902 457-1937 fax pingyuan73@yahoo.com
To apply for a visa, get information on applying and/or to acquire an Application Form as a PDF image which can be saved and printed, go to: (this site offers info on 90-day Tourist Visa) http://www.visa-chinese.com/pages/tourist.htm
VisaRite Service Inc.http://www.visarite.com/China_visa.htm
or
Travel Docs
Washington DC OfficeTravel Docs
San Francisco Officehttp://www.traveldocs.com/cn/vr.htm (Tourist “L” Visa)
www.traveldocs.com/cn/vrb.htm (Business “F” Visa)
http://www.traveldocs.com/cn/visa.pdf (visa application form)