The following are some tips for traveling safely:

Get as much information as possible from us about the places you are to travel.

Make several copies of your passport, traveler's checks, credit cards, itinerary, airline tickets and other travel documents. Take one copy with you and leave one copy with a relative or friend back home.

Be sure the photographs on your passport, driver's license and other ID is accurate, and be sure your passport, driver's license and other ID is valid and not expiring before you return from your trip.

When you don't need to transfer from one city to another and don't need to bring your passport, driver's license and other ID with you, it's better to leave them in the safety box in the hotel either in the room or at the reception (some five-star hotels may have safety box in the rooms, while all the hotels above 3 star have safety boxes at the reception). If you need to carry your passport, driver's license and other ID with you, be sure you put them in a safe place that the others can not reach them, like you can put them in the money belt under your clothes. The same with all your tickets, credit cards and important documents and valuable things. Be sure the door of your hotel room and window is closed and locked at all times, especially when you are not in the room.

Do not answer the hotel room door before you verify who it is. Never let a stranger come into your room.

The water from the tap in the most hotels is not drinkable, so always drink the boiled water or bottled water.

Take most of your money in traveler's checks and record the serial numbers, denominations and date and location of the issuing agency, don't sign your name on the traveler's checks before you use them. Remove all unnecessary credit cards from your wallet. Be sure to carry your credit card company's telephone number in case your card is lost or stolen. Always report losses immediately.

Always exchange money at the Bank of China or in the hotel counters, don't try to exchange money in the black market, because it is illegal and sometimes you might be ripped off.

Always prepare some small changes, which you can use to buy things from the street vendors, especially those at scenic spots, and when you get changes back, check carefully in case they are counterfeit money.

Dress down, leave expensive jewelry and watches at home and don't show large amounts of cash or traveler's check in public.

During your tour, when you have free time, you may want to go somewhere on your own by taxi, it's better have your hotel arrange taxi service for you, take a hotel card with you or ask your tour guide / receptionist to write down the names of the hotels and places you want to go in both English and Chinese before getting in the car. Remember the number of the taxi in case you leave anything in it.

Prepare a matchbook with some useful words and phrases both in Chinese and English. You can show the matchbook to a policeman or a local people if you need to find out and say like: "Where is the restrooms?" or "Where is KFC?" etc.

Respect the customs of local people, especially when you go to visit the areas of different minorities, ask your tour guides about the proper etiquettes, behaviors, manners and taboos to avoid offending people.

Most people in China are friendly, and some of them are eager to practice English, it is delightful to talk with them, but never go to anywhere with a stranger.

If you are to take the train during your tour in China, be sure you take your train at the right railway station because some of the big cities in China may have two or more railway stations, and when you get to the railway station, be careful with all your properties since the railway stations in China are always crowded, and never entrust your luggage to someone not in uniform. While you are on the train, be sure your passport, your credit cards and all valuable things are put in a safe place.

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China Tours, China Travel, Custom China Tours - A China-based company provides tour packages for family, couple, individual & group. Help you plan & organize your tour to China according to your preferences http://www.chinaodysseytours.com/tours/index.html.