Language: the official language is Mandarin Chinese, however numerous regional dialects are also spoken throughout the mainland such as Cantonese, Fukienese, Xiamenhua and Hakka.

Clothing: casual clothes are acceptable everywhere, but revealing clothes should be avoided. 

Currency: Renminbi (RMB), also known as Yuan (Y) or Kwai.
                 Notes issued: 500 RMB, 100 RMB, 50 RMB, 10 RMB, 5 RMB, 2 RMB, 
                                     1.5 RMB, 2 jiao, 1 jiao.
                 Coins issued: 1 RMB, 1.5 jiao, 5 fen, 3 fen, 1 fen.

Banking Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm.

Tipping: tipping isn't required in China, although it is becoming more frequent within international tourist hotels and restaurants.  The decent tipping for porters and hotel staff is 5-10 RMB.

Telephone: the international dialling code for China is 86.  Guilin's local telephone code is 0773.  When making international calls from China, first dial 00 + country code + area code + telephone number.

Electricity: 220/240 V AC, 50Hz.  Either flat or square, two-pin and three pin-plugs are used.  It is recommended to bring a universal adapter as they are difficult to find in China.

When to go: best time to visit Guilin is Autumn or Spring when it is warm.

Tourist Season - May through October
Coldest Months - January and February with temperature as low as 3C;
Hottest Months - August with temperature as high as 36C;
Annual Precipitation - 1,900 millimeters (mainly in May through September)

Getting in and out:

By Train - Guilin is seven hours from Nanning and 14 hours from Guangzhou by train.
By Air - A 55-minute flight from Guangzhou. There are also direct flights available from Hong Kong.
By Car - Guilin is one hour away from Liuzhou by express bus.

 

Public Holiday:

 

January 1         New Year's Day.

February 5-8    Spring Festival, Chinese New Year.

May 1              Labor Day.

October 1-2     National Days

 

 

This article is authored and copyrighted
by Royal Exclusive Travel