Shaowu Yu, our experienced tour leader,
poses for a picture in Tibet.

Preparing for your big trip
You are about to pick up and go halfway around the world. What should you be aware of when going on such a significant trip? What can help makes things go smoother for you on your trip to China? This section was created to help you get prepared and also tips to help you should you need it when overseas.

Passports
A passport is a document that verifies your citizenship and your identity and permits you to travel abroad. You can request information for obtaining a passport by calling a local government office or for Americans, the State Department . It takes a couple of months to get one, so be sure to get one well in advance of your trip. Once, you get one make copies of your passport and leave them at home with relatives or friends, in case you lose it or need a copy faxed to you abroad. Try to memorize or write down your passport number in a separate place. Keep your passport with you at all times, you may need it to enter an embassy or consulate or as identification if you receive a wire from your home country. Don't lose it! It is a pain to get another passport, especially if you are abroad. You can't enter or leave any country without one.

Visas
Getting a passport is the first step. You will need a visa to enter the country. Contact a Chinese embassy or consulate. Visas are not free; the fees vary depending on what country you are from. You may have to drop it off and return for it later, but many times you can have it expedited, for an extra fee. There are different kinds of visas, depending on what you will be doing in China. Visas don't last forever. You must use the visa within a certain amount of time.