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Area
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394,000 sq km
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Capital City
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Kunming
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Population
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Approximately 44.5 Million
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Language
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Mandarin. A local dialect is also spoken, not understood by outsiders. Outside large hotels, very little English is spoken
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Religion
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Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and Christianity.
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Climate
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Varies widely according to latitude and elevation, from subtropical in the south, to high tundra in northern areas.
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Local Time
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GMT +8
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Currency & Exchange
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Chinese Renminbi (RMB) is the medium of exchange. The basic unit of RMB is yuan, in denominations of 100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1. The yuan is divided into 10 jiao, which is further divided into 10 fen.
Foreign currency can be exchanged at tourist hotels and major branches of Bank of China. Exchange rates are subject to change so it’s best to check your local bank, many websites that offer conversion information or the website of Bank of China (http://www.boc.cn/en/index.html)
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Credit Cards
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Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted in Yunnan, but are still the domain of upscale venues. Some places advertise with the Visa, MasterCard, American Express logos but only accept Chinese cards. Ask if they accept international cards. Cash advances are also possible but only at major Bank of China locations.
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Travellers Cheques
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Travellers cheques can be exchanged into Yuan at major Bank of China locations and large hotels. The exchange rate is slightly higher than cash.
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ATMs
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ATMs are found throughout Yunnan. Airports, large banks and some hotels have ATMs that spit out RMB directly. There is a maximum daily withdrawal limit. MasterCard, Visa and American Express are among the accepted credit cards. It’s not a good idea to completely rely on ATMs, as the commission/handling charge taken by the bank is more, which is 3% of the total that you withdraw. The commission for bank cards is much less.
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Tips, Service Charges & Tax
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Tips are not expected for most services. Many mid-range and high-end restaurants and hotels include a service fee in the bill – so tipping is not expected and many even be refused if you try, exceptions to this rule include tour guides, hotel porters and your drivers who gladly appreciate them. Taxes are included in the stated prices.
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Driving Licenses & Restrictions
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Foreigners who want to drive in China require an International Driving Permit which can be arranged at the local Pubic Security Bureau. However, there are extensive restrictions on inter-city driving.
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Electricity
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220V, 50 Hz. Most outlets fit two-pronged parallel or three-pronged triangular plugs. (flat pin). Adaptors can be provided of free charge at most large hotels. Converters of 110V to 240V may be hard to find.
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Phone & Communications
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Police:110
Fire: 119
Ambulance:120
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Weights & Measures
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The metric system is used in Yunnan, though Chinese weights are still common. The Chinese jin, which is equal to half a kilogram (gongjin), is used by street venders – but not in supermarkets. The Chinese word for kilometer is gongli, this is used by taxi meters and road signs. Another useful word is mi, which is Chinese for meter.
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Water & Food
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Only drink water that has been boiled, purified or bottled. Be careful not to consume food that has been sitting out for long period of time. Hot, steaming food is most likely safe – heat kills germs. Most popular or well-established restaurants should be sanitary.
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Alcohol & Tobacco
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Domestic beer, popular Chinese spirits such as baijiu, wine and cigarettes are widely available. There is a nationwide anti-smoking campaign which is severely cutting back on young people’s habits.
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Business Hours
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Government and business offices follow a Monday through Friday workweek, though some are open on Saturday as well. The workday is roughly 8:30am to 5pm or 6pm with a one or two hours’ lunch break at midday.
Most businesses, including banks operate on similar hours, but they don’t close for lunch and are open throughout the weekend.
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