Thorn Tree travel forum

North-East Asia branch Frequently Asked Questions thread

This branch covers China (inc. Hong Kong and *Macau*), Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan and Tibet.

Other information about the region can be found under Lonely Planet Destinations.

Inside this thread we hope you'll find the answers to all your questions, if not, feel free to share anything you feel is missing!

Travel buddies, travel companions or trek partners
If you're seeking any of the above, then please post on our Travel Companions branch, not on the destination branches. Such topics posted on this branch will normally be moved by the moderators to the Travel Companions branch without notice. If you also have a travel question then please post that as a separate topic on the appropriate tr... more »

PERMIT SITUATION UPDATE

OK.......just spent yesterday trying to get to bottom of the permit situation for the next few weeks. Here is what I have found out.

1. Some Tibetan areas of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai are closed to foreigners until the end of March (I could not get confirmation of which areas...sorry!)

2. Lhasa and central Tibet (Namtso, Shigatse, EBC etc) IS open (with permits) at the moment.

3. American and European travellers are being denied Chinese visa's in Nepal. and the rumour is that this will remain until the end of March. (this means there may be NO WAY to enter Tibet from Nepal until the end of March) This news comes from friends in Kathmandu. It is tough to officially confirm this news as this decision comes from the Chinese Department of Foreign Affairs.....not from the Tourism Bureau who is low on the totem pole!

4. As usual there are a few independent travellers (usual... more »

Hong Kong to Tibet to Nepal

Hello there,

I am vising Hong Kong at the start of March and would then like to go overland (maybe some flights) to Tibet and then Nepal.

I was hoping someone might have done part of this route before and could give me some advice on which way to go?
If anyone has an idea of the price that would be great aswell!

I have about three weeks to make it to Kathmadu

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Will the immigration in Hong Kong let me in with a one-way ticket?

Will the immigration in Hong Kong let me in with a one-way ticket?

I will arrive from Manila on the Philippines and continue to mainland China.
In Hong Kong, I will apply for a Chinese tourist visa.

Can't I just tell the immigration in Hong Kong I will continue to mainland China?
Or will they require me to present an onward ticket?

I'm a Swedish passport holder, and have 5 previous Chinese visas in my passport.
1 is unused because I never travelled to China at that time, 4 visas are used.

Must I apply for a Chinese visa in my home country?

Must I apply for a Chinese visa in my home country?

Previously, there was no problem to apply for a Chinese visa in Chiangmai in north Thailand (5 years ago).
But now, I get mixed information: some say I must apply for a Chinese visa in my home country Sweden
(travel agents in the Philippines and in India say this). But on the home page of the Chinese embassy in
both India and the Philippines, there's information about fees etc. for foreigners for applying for a Chinese
tourist visa. Also, on Chinese embassies' websites in India and the Philippines, it says I must present a
return-ticket together with my visa application.

However, when the travel agent in the Philippines called the Chinese embassy in my presence today,
there was no such requirement for me to present a return-ticket (I'm a Swedish passport holder). But now,
the difficulty seemed to be that it might be nec... more »

Kunming to Guilin via Shilin by Train

I'm hopefully headed to Yunnan in January, but sadly, will have limited time. One thing I noted is that there are several express trains running between Kunming and Guilin, with several heading on elsewhere in China. This would save on backtracking, as I could head on from Shilin to Guilin on K394, leaving at 20:13 the same evening.

So, my questions:

• Some guidebooks mention a dedicated Kunming-Shilin express, leaving about 8am, numbered '201', leaving from a special platform at Kunming station. The railway timetable sites I've looked at don't mention it. Does this still run?

• Shilin is an intermediate station, and I understand that tickets can only really be bought locally. What are my chances of being able to pick up a soft sleeper berth for the same day on arrival in Shilin? Or, alternatively, could this be bought in Kunming?

• Again, some guidebooks mention a s...

Have any non-Philippino applied for a Chinese visa in Manila?

Have any non-Philippino applied for a Chinese visa in Manila?

I was told by a travel agent here in Manila that it might be impossible to get a Chinese visa in Manila for a foreigner if I don't hold a residence permit in the Philippines (I'm only a tourist here, and hold a Swedish passport). I can't be sure though, so I consider to try. But the risk is that I loose USD 100 if my application will be declined.

The travel agent said I don't need to present any flight-ticket or hotel reservation, but it might be possible the Chinese embassy requires a residence permit in the Philippines.

Has any Westerner applied for a Chinese visa in Manila (successful or not)?

China - Lhasa - Kathmandu overland?

Hi,

I've read the Tibet FAQ and permit updates threads, but I'd really like some help specific to me. A friend and I are going to be in China in May/June and we'd like to go overland to Kathmandu through Tibet: what is the best (if there is any) way to do this? I've read that Friendship Highway is the route to take, but if independent travel isn't permitted, how is it possible? Do you have to take a tour that takes you all the way through?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Can I get a Chinese visa without showing return-ticket+hotel reservatio

Can I get a Chinese visa without showing return-ticket+hotel reservation?

I plan to apply for a Chinese tourist visa at Chinese embassy in Manila, the Philippines. At their
website, it says the visa application must be accompanied by a return-ticket and a hotel
reservation in China. But I think it mostly applies to Philippino passport holders. It does not
explicitly says anything about that though.

Anyone with any experience of applying for a Chinese tourist visa in Manila?

I have never had to show any return-ticket when applying for a visa to China (and I've been
there three times). Two times, I've applied for the visa in Sweden, one time in Chiangmai
in north Thailand.

I am a Swedish passport holder.

If I take a chance and submit my visa application without enclosing any flight ticket at all,
and no hotel reservation, what might be the consequences? Will the Chi... more »