China Odyssey Tours Frequently Asked Questions

Entertainment / Shopping :

• Are there any entertainments we can go and entertain in each city or area, especially during the night time?
• Can I use my credit card to pay for the things I have bought?
• Can you give us some suggestions about shopping in China?
• I notice that in some of your package tours, Peking Opera in Beijing & Tang Dynasty Show in Xi’an are included, can you give us some advice what to wear for these occasions?
• What are the good buys in China?
• Will we have chance to shop for souvenirs during our tour in China?
  

1. Are there any entertainments we can go and entertain in each city or area, especially during the night time?

   China is a large country with long history and cultural diversity, different places may have different things for you to see and enjoy, and so do the entertainments, for example, in Beijing, you can go and watch Peking Opera, in Xi'an you can watch and enjoy Tang Dynasty Show, in Shanghai, you can enjoy the night view by cruising on Huangpu River and watch acrobatic show, while in Guilin & Kunming, you can go and enjoy the minority show.

2. Can I use my credit card to pay for the things I have bought?
   

   In friendship stores or some big department stores in big cities, when you buy goods, you can use international credit cards such as: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diner's Club, Million Card, Federal Card and the JCB card of Japan.

3. Can you give us some suggestions about shopping in China?
   

   The suggestions about shopping in China:
   1) It is better for you to buy goods at department stores and factories, where the quality of the goods can be guaranteed and you don't have to worry about the things such as you may get the fake money back.
   2) It is better for you to buy local specialties in different cities rather than buy everything in one city. Because China is a big country; different cities are famous for different items. For example, Beijing is famous for cloisonné & cashmere sweaters, Xian is famous for replica of Terra Cotta soldiers and rugs and antiques, and Shanghai is famous for jade, Hangzhou for tea & fresh water pearl, Suzhou for silk, Guilin for scroll paintings and China South Sea Pearls.
   3) Please do not feel obligated to shop.
   In order to fulfill your needs to buy goods with Chinese characteristics as souvenirs and gifts, our guides may offer you shopping opportunities, but, sometimes, you may think you do not want to go at all, in this case, please do not feel embarrassed to tell our guides directly. And also in the shops, do dot feel obligated to buy anything because the shop attendants are very kind to you.
   4) Ask your tour guides and shop attendants whether you can get some discounts before you pay for the goods, even over the counters in some department stores.
   5) When you buy antiques, make sure they do not date before 1795, as antiques that date before 1795 are forbidden for sale or export. And those dated between 1796 and 1949 should bear a small red seal and a Certificate for Relics Export from the regional Cultural Relics Bureau, to allow them to be taken out of China. The seal also proves the genuineness of the items. Please keep the receipts well indicating the name and age of the antiques.

4. I notice that in some of your package tours, Peking Opera in Beijing & Tang Dynasty Show in Xi’an are included, can you give us some advice what to wear for these occasions?
   

   For these occasions, normally it is not necessary to dress up, you can just wear casual as usual during the tour, but if you prepare formal dress with you and prefer dressing up, you can also do that.

5. What are the good buys in China?
   

   In China, the good buys are: silk, tea, antiques, paintings and calligraphy, Chinese medicines, handicrafts such as cloisonné, paper-cutting, replicas of terra-cotta horses and warriors, jade & pearls, etc.

6. Will we have chance to shop for souvenirs during our tour in China?
   Yes, you will have chance to shop for souvenirs while traveling in China, either you can shop in the Department Stores or friendship stores or free markets, sometimes our tour guides will show you to some factories and workshops in which the local specialties are produced and sold.

Most Frequently Asked Questions:

• What kind of tour(s) can I get from you?
• What documentations do I need to travel on your programs in China?
• Where can I change our money into your currency?
• Can I use credit cards in China?
  
• Can I use my mobile phone in China?

Questions related to this topic:

Before you go to China

• Necessary travel document
• Money
• Health Issues



Traveling in China

• Something about China
• Hotel / Meal
• Travel
• About Yangtze River Cruises
• About Tibet Tours