Calling China	Embassies/Consuls	Other Research
Planning a visit	Planning a move	Visas
Which city?

Chinese dragons in the sky Kite-flying, a popular Chinese pastime, in Tiananmen Square.

Preparing for your big trip
You've taken that big step, and you are going to China. Or you are still kicking the idea around and need some more information. Either way, you are about to embark on a substantial trip. What should you be aware of?

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. Make copies of your passport and leave them at home with relatives. 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.

A video of kite flying in Beijing.

Visas
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.