- Travel Advice
DFAT advice for China
When travelling to China, you should always get travel insurance in case the worst happens. To help you ensure you travel safely, we have included the travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for China.
| China overall | This Advice is current for Friday, 05 December 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Tibet | ||||
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Xinjiang Province | ||||
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Tibetan areas of Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces | ||||
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Health Issues (milk products). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
[top]Summary
- We advise you exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in China because of the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, crime and natural disasters.
- Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security threats.
- We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Xinjiang Province due to a number of recent bombings that have occurred, including in Kashgar on 4 August and Kuqa on 11 August.
- We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Tibet. Protests by Tibetan monks in Lhasa turned violent on 14 March, with reports of deaths and injuries. While the Chinese authorities have now re-opened Tibet to foreign tourists and journalists, demonstrations and violence could occur with little warning. You should not attempt to travel to Tibet without permission from the Chinese authorities.
- We advise you exercise a high degree of caution if travelling to the provinces bordering Tibet (Gansu, Qinghai and Yunnan), due an increased military presence following reports of demonstrations and violence.
- We advise you to exercise caution if travelling to Sichuan Province in south-western China following the major earthquake that struck the area on 12 May 2008. The quake was centred 92 kms north-west of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries and extensive damage to property, transport and communications infrastructure. There have been landslides and flooding in the affected areas, as well as continuing aftershocks. If you travel to Sichuan Province, you should monitor the media and follow the instructions of local authorities.
- You should avoid all demonstrations and protests as they may turn violent.
- The Chinese authorities have put in place more stringent requirements for visa issue. You should check with the nearest Embassy or Consulate of China for detailed information well in advance of your intended travel date.
- The World Health Organization has confirmed human deaths from avian influenza in China. See Health Issues below for advice to Australians travelling to or residing in China.
- There has been an outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in several provinces, particularly in eastern and southern regions of China. More than 40 deaths have been reported since March 2008, mostly among small children. See Health Issues below for more information.
- Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
- register your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency
- subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
