China Travel: Wikis

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The China Travel Service (CTS) is the tourism and travel agency of the government of the People's Republic of China. Its task is to market China to the rest of the world and to promote and develop its visitor economy. It is a sub-ministerial authority which is responsible to the China National Tourism Administration.

CTS was established on November 19, 1949 and growing out of Overseas Chinese Service founded in Xiamen, Fujian Province, is one of the first tour operators of China. In 1974, Overseas Chinese Service Head Office changed its name to China Travel Service Head Office. As the head enterprise of China Travel Service in the whole country, China Travel Service Head Office gradually developed from a travel agency whose main business focused on overseas Chinese, Chinese with foreign nationalities, Chinese from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to a travel agency whose business consists of inbound tourism, outbound tourism, and domestic tourism.

Today it serves hundred of thousands tourists from home and abroad. It has joined the China Travel Association, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and became a full member of these associations. It has established close cooperative relations with hundreds of travel service providers of main tourism countries in the world.

CTS Head Office has become one of the largest travel agencies in China and its business scope covers the fields of travel service, hotel management, car rental, domestic and international trade, international cargo transportation and publication and others. It has established a comprehensive network centering on Beijing and covering other areas through Hong Kong and Macao China Travel Services.

References

http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_travel/2003-09/24/content_36089.htm

External links

Official website

China Travel Visa

A China Visa is a pre-requisite for China travel. All foreign passport holders must acquire a China visa before arriving China.

Ordinary passport holders of Japan, Singapore and Brunei who come to China for sightseeing, doing business, visiting relatives or transit can enjoy a visa free period of 15 days. Nationals of these countries holding other types of passport or visit China for other purposes will still require a visa.

Visa for China is usually valid for three months. That means visitors have to arrive China within three months after obtaining the visa.

Types of China Travel Visa

Individual visa: China visa type ‘L’ is issued for sightseeing purposes. Visitors usually stay for a period of 30 days, no more than 90 days, and could not be extended upon expiration.

Group visa: Group visa is issued to foreigners traveling in tour groups. Group visa is not issued on the passports, but on a separate paper, which requires the group members enter and exit China together. Tour leaders are to take responsibility to apply for their guests.

Visa fee: Visa fee varies according to mutual agreement between China and corresponding countries.

Documents Required

A completed and signed application form

Original passport with at least six months validity and a blank page for the visa

Birth certificate and parents' passport copy (If the applicant is under 18 years old)

One recent passport size photo

Visa to Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR)

Under one-country-two-systems, Hong Kong SAR has a liberal visa policy. Nationals of more than 170 countries can travel Hong Kong without a visa and stay from seven days to six months.

Visa to Macau Special Administration Region (SAR)

Like Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR has an independent visa policy. For a day trip, Macau visa is not required for most nationals. Even if you need one, a land visa can be obtained at the immigration counter.

Visa fee is MOP100 per person or MOP200 per family. A land visa is usually valid for 30 days.

Apply a China Visa from Hong Kong

This information is only valid for foreigners residing in Hong Kong traveling to China.

Application has to be submitted by hand (travel agents can submit on behalf of their clients) to the following address. Electronic submission is not accepted.

Office of the Commissioner of
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
The People's Republic of China in the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,
7th Floor, Lower Block,
China Resources Building,
26 Harbour Road,
Wanchai,
Hong Kong.

A regular application can be completed in three working days. That means submitting on Monday and collecting on Wednesday. Next day or same day service is available at extra fee.

Visa fee varies according to mutual agreement between China and corresponding countries. For example US passport HK$490, UK passport HK$450 plus agency fee (if applicable).

Visa application submission hours: 09:00 - 12:00 / 14:00 - 17:00 (Monday - Friday)

Apply a China Visa from Overseas

Travel agencies usually provide China visa application services. Visitors can also submit applications directly to their nearest Chinese Embassy.

China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited ( ) is a travel agency based in Hong Kong, China. It operates tours within China and accepts applications for Home Return Permits.