Pre-arrival Instructions
Once you have booked your plane ticket, please send us English copies of the ticket and a travel itinerary. We need to know the arrival time, flight number, terminal, and hotel contact information (for those who choose to book a hotel independently).
Weather
Please check the weather forecast before your departure and prepare suitable clothing.
Phone and Communication
We recommend that you enable your foreign mobile phone to recieve international calls as an emergency measure. SII will provide you with a local SIM card. Please note that your mobile must be unlocked and have the ability to be used in China – you can confirm this with your local mobile provider.
Money Exchange
You can exchange money in the airport upon arrival or in local banks. Since China is a cash based country, we recommend that you exchange 2,000 RMB in the airport.
International credit cards can be used for money withdraw in most local ATM’s – please confirm with your bank that your credit card can be used abroad. Most of the restaurants, coffee shops and stores do not accept international credit cards. Please note that there is no exchange of foreign currency in China on Sundays, therefore, if your arrival date is on a Sunday, please exchange money in advance or in the airport.
Internet
Most of hotels and coffee shops in Chengdu have wireless internet connections. Wireless connections in China are not as common as in the west. Therefore we suggest that you bring an Ethernet cable if you need regular access to internet in hotels.
Important Documents
Bring a few photocopies of your passport picture page and current visa. These should be kept separate from your passport in case they are lost or stolen. You will need a copy of each when dealing with the local police.