For travel safely, before you depart or after you arrive, PLEASE DO
- SOS Registration on www.internationalsos.com;
- Bring the prescription medicines you take every day;
- Write down your emergency contact, but do not address your boyfriend or girl friend;
- Go your local post office to hold your mail;
- Call your bank to tell your travel plan so that they can release your credit card or debit card;
- Call your cell phone carrier about your travel plan so that a promotional plan for the international roaming can be available;
- Call Adobe not deactivate your Adobe Creative Cloud subscription during your trip in China. Or your Adobe CC membership may be suspended;
- Pack your luggage lightly and early;
- Getting around and notice your instructor before you and your group members leave campus or dorm for a group activity;
- Video chat with your parents every day through WeChat.
If you don’t kno whow to use the video chat please let me know. I will walk you through how to use it in our pre-departure meeting.
For travel safely, PLEASE DON’T
- Talk about your trip on Facebook, Twitter, or any social medium until you get back;
- Upload your pictures during the trip on any social medium until you get back;
- Ride the local taxi less than three people;
- Ride local Uber taxi.
Water and Beverages
- Do not drink tap water;
- Drink only bottled or boiled water and carbonated beverages;
- When purchasing bottle water, ensure that the lid is securely fastened, and never be opened;
- Avoid ice unless it have been made from safe water;
- Do not accept any drink (caned or bottled beverages) from strangers. (For example: drink a canned coke from an unfamiliar passenger on train).
Food / Meals
- Regular meals during the trip in Beijing, Hunan, and Shanghai will be arranged by designed travel agencies and restaurants;
- Regular meals during the study week in HNNU will be arranged by HYNU food service in the student dinning hall;
- Avoid eat “Paidang” and hotpot in any sidewalk restaurant unless you can ensure food safety.
Alcohol Policy
- Drinking is NOT permitted during program time or while on flight, train, and bus;
- Drinking is NOT permitted in any hotel/guest house bedrooms;
- Purchase of any form of alcohol for later use outside the designated place is NOT permitted;
- It is forbidden to buy or to be in possession of bottles or multiple cans of alcoholic drinks of any kind from supermarkets, grocery stores, kiosks, duty free, or anywhere else.
- Without team leader’s permission, group outings to restaurants and bars is NOT permitted.
Health Care & Hospitals
In Beijing and Shanghai, many quality hospitals can be available to offer a good standard of medical care. No matter where you are, contact the CHina trip program leader, SHU’s International Student Advisor, or International SOS if you are sick or need medical advice or service.
Ambulance: 120
Crime
“China is nowhere near as terrifying as many guidebooks would have you believe.
Yes, the traffic is chaotic and the air could be better – much better – but China is one of the safest countries in the world for female travelers, solo travelers and families.”
— CNN
Police: 110Currency Exchange
For the currency exchange, the instructor, the tour guide, or the coordinator of HNU’s International Exchange Office will help you to get Chinese currency in local banks after you arrive China.
Communication
http://pxstudio.us/blog/?p=23280
The basic dictionary app is free. It costs US$14.95 to buy the optical character recognition function (compatible with the iPhone 4 or 5 camera). Point the iPhone at a Chinese menu and get an instant translation.
Search useful apps on App Store for your iPhone:
- Chinese Lessons
- Eng-Chi Speak It Up
- Photoscape X
- Onavo Protect (VPN)
- Photofox
- Photolab
- Color Splurge
- YouCamPerfect
- YouCamMakeup
- Fisheye
- Blend Edit
- Creative Cloud
- Adobe XD
- Youtube or Youtube TV
- TikTok
- TripAdvisor
Respect and Responsibility
Student to participate in study abroad commits the University of Texas Rio Grandy Valley through the auspices of the Office of International Programs to enhance academic programs. Please respect and consider that you are in a foreign country where customs and traditions are different from our own. As a UTRGV student, your words and deeds will represent the UTRGV’s image and the country’s image.
1: How can I keep in touch with my friends and family when I travel in China?
You have multiple ways to communicate people when you travel in China.
- WeChat: http://www.wechat.com/en
WeChat (Chinese: 微信; pinyin: Wēixìn; literally: “micro message”) is a mobile text and voice messaging communication service developed by Tencent in China. The app is available on Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Symbian phones. Web-based OS X and Windows clients also exist; these however require the user to have the app installed on a supported mobile phone for authentication, and neither message roaming nor ‘Moments’ are provided. As of December 2015, WeChat has over a billion created accounts, 650 million active users; with 70 million outside of China.WeChat provides text messaging, hold-to-talk voice messaging, broadcast (one-to-many) messaging, video conferencing, video games, sharing of photographs and videos, and location sharing. It can exchange contacts with people nearby via Bluetooth, as well as providing various features for contacting people at random if desired (if these are open to it), next to integration with social networking services such as those run by Facebook and Tencent QQ. Photographs may also be embellished with filters and captions, and a machine translation service is available. WeChat is the most popular social media in China.For iPhone user, search Wechat and download it from App store. For computer user, you may visit this link http://www.wechat.com/en/ and follow the download steps based on its instruction. In any area with free Wifi, you could use this app to contact your family and friends in China. WeChat has many impressive features for you to use: http://www.wechat.com/en/features.html#live_chat. However, make sure to use the app in a Wifi area to avoid an expensive charge of international roaming. - Skype video call: http://www.skype.com/en/
- Facebook and Twitter:
Because China blocks Facebook and Twitter, you need to download an application such as VPN for surfing Facebook and Twitter in China. Here is the link:
http://www.utrgv.edu/en-us/search/?q=VPN
If you would like to get a VPN app on your smart phone, search Onavo Protect in App Store, or visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/free-vpn-onavo-protect/id577491499?mt=8 - Cell phone
2: Can I use my cell phone in China?
You can use your phone in China if your carrier does not lock your handset. Even if your phone is locked, you can call your carrier and ask for unlocking it. There are three carriers in China, China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom, using TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, and CDMA2000 networks, respectively. You can buy a SIM card in China from one of the carrier according to your phone’s network mode.
Note: The international roaming charge can be high (about $10 USD/per day). It is strongly advised to use a local SIM card.
3: Can I buy a cell phone in China?
Yes, you can. You can buy a contract-free cell phone in stores. If you plan to stay long in China, you can even consider buying a phone with a contract from GSM carriers, which will provide you with a favorable rate plan.
4: Can I use the phone I bought to make calls directly?
That depends. You can make calls if you buy a phone with a contract. Then a SIM card is included and you can use the phone directly. But if you buy a contract-free phone, you have to purchase a SIM card and insert it into your phone. Confirm with your provider if your SIM card support international calls before you making international calls.
5: Where to buy a SIM card?
You can get a SIM card at a service counter of any one of the three GSM carriers. Usually, a new card user is required to deposit a certain amount of money in the account, say CNY 50 – 100. You can purchase a SIM card at the SHU orientation if your phone is unlocked by your US phone carrier.
6: Does my SIM card which is bought in Beijing or Shanghai still work in other provinces?
Yes, all cards in China can be used nationwide, and there is no domestic roaming charge if your card support 3G network.
7: How can I recharge if the money of my cell phone runs out?
You can go to the service center of your carrier for recharging. Also, you can buy a top-up card costing CNY30, CNY50, or CNY100
8: Can I have my telephone bill and if yes, how?
Yes. Go to the service center of your carrier and have it printed out. Or, you can call the service number of your carrier for an e-bill sent to your phone.
9: If my SIM card has some problem, to whom will I turn for help?
You can call the service number of your SIM card supplier.
China Mobile: 10086 (24 hours service)
China Unicom: 10010 (24 hours service)
China Telecom: 10000 ( 24 hours service)
Both offer English service. You can ask any question related with your phone and SIM card.
Calling Tips:
1. All these numbers are free and provide services in English.
2. When you use China Mobile service to make international calls you need to add 12593 before the number you are calling and add 17951 when making national long distance calls.
10: Can I use my phone to make international call directly？
No, you need to contact your supplier to activate the service. We would suggest that you choose a plan for your international roaming in China.
11: What is the rate of international call?
The charge is up to your destination. It is strongly recommended to consult your carrier. You can also buy an IP card to make international calls, which are easy and cheap. The card is available at stores and newsstands.
12: Can I find a fax machine easily in China?
Yes. Fax machines are available in some stores and business centers in hotels.
13: Useful telephone numbers in China
If you have an emergency while you are traveling (such as fire or traffic accidents), or other trouble or have other complaints or questions, the following telephone numbers may be helpful.
Emergency Numbers
| Police (Calling) | 110 |
| Police (Text message) | 12110 |
| First-aid Ambulance | 120 |
| Fire | 119 |
| Traffic Accidents | 122 |
| SOS in Water | 12395 |
Calling Tips:
- 110, 120 and 119 are free calls. 110 may be used for all emergencies. It is the first number to call. Whether 119 or 120 is called depends on the situation.
- The more details you can provide to the police, the better. At a minimum you will need to provide your name and location and give a description of the problem. If you don’t know the exact position, tell them the landmarks buildings nearby. If you are in a remote area, you will need to give the name of the town or village. After the call, you should keep your phone on in case they need to call you back. When you see a police car approaching, wave to them actively.
- After calling 120, first-aid treatment is not encouraged. Unless you have first-aid training, you should just wait patiently for the doctors to arrive.
- If you can leave the accident area, please wait for the rescue workers at some obvious places where they can easily find you.