China

Languages Spoken

The official language spoken in China is Mandarin, but you will also come across Cantonese, Wú and Hakka amongst others.

Currency

Name: Renminbi
Code: RMB
Symbol: ¥
100 RMB is approx £11

Time Zone

Time zone: China Standard Time (UTC+08:00)

The typical cost of a domestic beer in China is ¥5.00 (approx 56p) whereas the average cost of imported beer is ¥19 (approx £2.13).

A typical lunch in China can be anything from rice and noodles to even dumplings for breakfast. The cost of a meal in a local restaurant in China ranges between ¥15.00 (approx £1.68) and ¥35.00 (approx £3.92) but you can also find Western breakfast food like coffee which usually starts at ¥7.00 (approx 78p).

Taxi fares can range between ¥8.00 (approx 90p) - ¥50.00 (approx £5.60) depending on where you travel. Top tip: Most taxi drivers will not speak English, so make sure you have your destination of choice written down on paper beforehand!

Given the language difficulties and strict systems in the country, it can be difficult for independent travellers to get around China easily. However there are public buses and trains available in all key cities.

The great thing about some hostels in China is that staff are friendly and speak English. Accommodation can range from ¥25-50 (between approx £2.80-£5.60) per night.

The cost of a night at a budget hotel in China will range from ¥60-90 (approx £6.72-£10) with the cost of a double room in a midrange hotel costing between ¥200-600 (approx £22-£67).