Capital: Beijing.
Time: GMT + 8. Despite the vast size of the country, Beijing time is standard throughout China.
Tel. Code: 00 86 + 010 Beijing, 020 Guangzhou, 0773 Guilin, 021 Shanghai, 029 Xi'an.
Official Language: The official language is Mandarin Chinese. Among the enormous number of local dialects, large groups speak Cantonese, Fukienese, Xiamenhua and Hakka in the south. Mongolia, Tibet and Xinjiang, which are autonomous regions, have their own languages.
Currency: 1 Renminbi Yuan (RMBY) = 10 chiao/jiao or 100 fen. Notes are in denominations of RMBY100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1, and 5, 2 and 1 chiao/jiao. Coins are in denominations of RMBY1, 1.5 chiao/jiao and 5, 2 and 1 fen.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin sockets and some three-pin sockets are in use.
Religion: The principal religions and philosophies are Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism. There are 100 million Buddhists and approximately 60 million Muslims, 5 million Protestants (including large numbers of Evangelicals) and 4 million Roman Catholics, largely independent of Vatican control.

Climate: China has a great diversity of climates. The northeast experiences hot and dry summers and bitterly cold winters. The north and central region has almost continual rainfall, hot summers and cold winters. The southeast region has substantial rainfall, with semi-tropical summers and cool winters. Central, southern and western China are also susceptible to flooding, China is also periodically subject to seismic activity.
Required clothing: North – heavyweight clothing with boots for the harsh northern winters. Lightweight clothing for summer. South – mediumweight clothing for winter and lightweight for summer.

Beijing/Peking (BJS/PEK) airport (Capital International Central) is 28km (18 miles) northeast of the city (travel time – 40 minutes by bus and taxi).
Guangzhou/Canton airport (ADL) (Baiyun) is 7km (4 miles) from the city (travel time – 20 minutes). Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) airport is 13km (8 miles) southwest of the city (travel time – 25 to 40 minutes).
Shanghai Pudong (PVG) airport in the eastern financial district, is 30km (19 miles) from the city centre (travel time – 50 minutes by bus or taxi).
Departure tax: RMBY90. Children under 12 and transit passengers (proceeding within 24 hours) are exempt.