Making Flight and Hotel Arrangements

Getting to and from China is a lot easier than most people think. Because China has such a large land mass, you can choose from multiple points of entry. Not only can you fly internationally on many foreign airlines or Chinese airlines, but you can also take advantage of the incredible number of domestic flights to and from Hong Kong, which serves as a gateway to the rest of China. (For info on domestic flights within China, see “Taking flight in the Middle Kingdom,” later in this chapter.)

In a booming travel market like China, full airline cabins and overbooked flights can be a problem. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you make your flight arrangements about a month in advance of your departure date.

Airport fees and fuel surcharges apply. The airport tax for international travelers into China is 90 RMB, and it’s included in the ticket price.

If you’re coming from North America, you’ll arrive in China the day after your departure date because you’ll cross the International Date Line. Therefore, you need to build this change into your busy schedule. Many businesspeople who travel to China arrive on a Sunday to allow time to get over jet lag. If your schedule allows, consider departing for China on Saturday.

Flying directly into mainland China

The most popular way to get to China is a direct nonstop flight from a major international city. Almost every such city in the world has a direct flight to China these days, saving travelers both time and hassle. This section discusses the airports in the most common Chinese destinations for business travelers: Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

Many airlines — including United Airlines, Air Canada, Northwest, Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern — fly directly to China from North America. In the U.S., flights depart from Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., and the list continues to grow. If you’re departing from Canada, you can fly nonstop to Beijing from Vancouver or to Shanghai from Toronto.

From Europe, you can travel from major cities such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, London, Milan, Paris, and Zurich. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air China, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, Virgin, Alitalia, Air France, China Eastern, and Swiss Air all fly nonstop to China.

Beijing, a growing gateway to the East Beijing made many improvements to its infrastructure in the run-up to the 2008 Olympics, and the government there is adding more and more international air routes that connect to China’s bustling cities. This allows more foreign airlines and domestic carriers to serve additional Chinese cities that are growing in popularity, such as Tianjin, Qingdao, and Hangzhou. Check with your travel agent for a direct flight to the city you’re traveling to. If one isn’t available, you can travel to Beijing (or the nearest large city) and take a connecting domestic flight to your final destination.

Beijing

Beijing, in the northern part of the country, is one of the most popular entry points in China. The Beijing Capital International Airport is conveniently located 25.35 kilometers (15 miles) from the center of the city. The airport has two terminals servicing 66 domestic and foreign airline companies.

From the airport, you can take a bus (60 minutes) for 16 RMB on four different routes in the city. Taxis take 40 to 60 minutes and are the preferred way to travel. The cost by taxi is 60 to 120 RMB, depending on the destination and the traffic.

Shanghai

A city of 18 million people, Shanghai is a popular gateway to China for foreign businesspeople. Its Pudong International Airport has two terminals.

From Pudong International, you can take a bus (five routes), taxi, or the Maglev train for the 19-mile ride into Shanghai. Depending on traffic and where you’re staying, a taxi ride should take 25 minutes to an hour and cost 100 to 150 RMB.

Taking the Maglev is definitely the most exciting option. This train, which runs on magnetic levitation, takes a mere 8 minutes and goes at speeds up to 430 kilometers per hour (267 miles per hour). Beware that the Maglev stop in Shanghai is several miles out of the way and requires a taxi ride or a subway transfer to your final destination. A number of reports say that taxi drivers at the Maglev station often require customers to pay fares substantially higher than the meter rates. Such behavior is generally isolated to pickups from the Maglev station and otherwise very rarely occurs in Shanghai.

Guangzhou

The city of Guangzhou (population 10 million) is located in the south of China. Guangzhou is a busy commercial center for visiting businesspeople in China. The Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport opened in late 2004, and the second phase of construction is scheduled to finish in 2009. You can grab a taxi for the 28-kilometer (17.4-mile) ride into the city.

Guangzhou has an enormous international trade fair (among other fairs) each October and April. Hotels fill up fast for the trade fair, so plan accordingly.

Flying into Hong Kong first

An option for many people is to fly to Hong Kong and take other transportation to the mainland. The Hong Kong International Airport — which is actually on an island — is one of the best, most interesting airports in the world. While at the airport, you can take advantage of its free Internet access and wide range of shopping and dining outlets. The flight procedures are the same as at other international destinations — go through quarantine, customs, and then to baggage claim (check out “Navigating the Airport after You Land,” coming up).

You have many choices of flights from Hong Kong to most of the popular destinations on the mainland (though flying directly into China is generally cheaper). Or you can take the Airport Express train for a maximum of HK$100 (US$12) (price depends on location), use one of six bus routes into the city, or use a taxi to get to and from the airport. If you get a taxi, get a red one — they specifically serve the urban area.

Another option is to travel from Hong Kong to the Chinese city of Shenzhen by one of the high-speed ferry companies that call at the Hong Kong International Airport. The ferry is a convenient way to get to southern China if you’re doing business there.

And if you prefer to travel by train, you can travel from Hong Kong via the Kowloon Canton Railway (KCR) to Lo Wu in southern China. From Lo Wu, you walk across the border into the mainland into Shenzhen. This option is relatively easy, fast, and low-cost. You can also reach other southern Chinese cities using the railway.

For more information on the Kowloon Canton Railway route system and ticketing, go to www.kcrc.com. Booking a ticket directly with the Kowloon Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) is easy by calling + 852 2947 7888.

Finding a good hotel

You can stay in one of many quality hotels in China. The hotels range from luxury five-star hotel chains that you’d find at home to three-star economy hotels. Try to select a hotel that’s near your appointments while in China.

Most international hotel chains are well represented in China’s major cities, and many good Asian regional hotel chains operate in China. One of the best represented foreign luxury hotel brands in China is Shangri-La. Some Chinese-owned hotels can be an option as well. Generally, the Chinese-owned hotels are not comparable to foreign hotels of the same star rating, but your travel agent can find you a suitable place to stay.

Business centers are common in many hotels in China’s major cities but less so in Chinese-owned hotels. Check with the hotel ahead of time to confirm that you’ll have access to a fax, express mail, broadband Internet, and a meeting room if you need one. International calling is also available.

When checking into a Chinese hotel, you need to present your passport as identification. Use the hotel’s safety deposit box, or if you’re lucky enough, an in-room safe, to store your valuables and passport. When checking out of the hotel, service fees and possibly a construction fee for the city that you’re visiting will also be on your bill.