Banks: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday; 09:00 to 15:00, Saturday and Sunday
Post Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 10:00 to 22:00, daily; some closed on Sunday
Museums: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday; some Saturday and Sunday
Business Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday

Hangzhou is a safe place to visit, with tourists facing little in the way of threats to their well-being. Violent crime is low and the little that exists rarely involves visitors. Petty crime is something of an issue, as with any big city, so visitors are advised to exercise common sense with regards to what they carry and how they carry it. Keep cash and valuable items such as cameras and mobile phones in hard-to-reach places and avoid wearing bags in a manner that makes them easy to be snatched or opened without you realising. Busy places such as bus and train stations often attract petty criminals so be extra vigilant when frequenting these locations.

Female travellers are generally safe to go out alone; however, taking public transportation late at night is best avoided if you cannot secure a travelling companion.

Electricity: 220V AC, 50Hz; round two-pin European plugs are the norm.

Some health issues need to be considered when visiting Hangzhou, largely because standards of hygiene are often not on a par with those of western countries. Visitors should be wary of where they choose to eat, avoiding places that appear obviously unsanitary. Tap water is not considered safe to drink and the cheap bottled water that is readily available is the best alternative.

In the summer season the sun can get blazingly hot and visitors run the risk of overexposure. It’s wise to limit your time in direct sunlight and to be sure to use a sunscreen with an appropriate SPF. Also be sure to drink plenty of fluids, as it’s easy to become dehydrated in the high temperatures that are typical of this time of year.

There are no specific immunisations required for visiting Hangzhou although rabies is present in the city so anyone anticipating close contact with animals might want to seek the necessary course of vaccinations ahead of their trip. You should also ensure other standard vaccinations are up to date.

Standards of care and treatment in the city’s public hospitals are not a high as those of western hospitals. The North American International Hospital Hangzhou (NAIHH) employs doctors with overseas training and competent English skills and is the best healthcare facility at which to seek treatment.

North American International Hospital Hangzhou: +86 571 87780120
Emergency services: 131/132/133

The Hangzhou dialect, belonging to the Wu language family, is the official language spoken by the people of Hangzhou. Most locals have little or nothing in the way of English speaking skills, although those employed in the tourist industry or operating businesses in popular tourist locations generally have some command of the language.

China’s national currency is the renminbi yuan (¥). There are 10 jiao or 100 fen in a renminbi yuan. Banknotes come in denominations of ¥100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, as well as 5 and 1 jiao. Coins come in denominations of ¥1, 5 and 1 jiao, as well as 5, 2 and 1 fen. Visitors should be aware that China has a big problem with counterfeit ¥50 and ¥100 notes.

There are ATMs in many parts of the city; most accept foreign cards but it’s wise to have a card that’s been endorsed by an international credit firm such as Diners Club, Access, Visa or AMEX. Currency and traveller’s cheques can be exchanged at most banks, at bureau de change counters at the airport and at some of the city’s larger hotels.

Visitors are permitted to import or export the following without incurring duty payments: 400 cigarettes, two bottles of liquor (each not exceeding 0.75 litres), a volume of perfume deemed suitable for personal use and a single item of electrical equipment.

Chinese etiquette, like the rules for social interaction in many Asian countries, is complex and visitors are unlikely to be able to grasp its subtleties in the space of a short vacation. Basics can easily be observed and will go a long way to earning you respect among the locals.

If meeting a local for the first time then a handshake is considered an appropriate gesture. Eye contact is generally avoided at introductions unless the person you are greeting is the relative or friend of someone you are already well acquainted with.

Be wary of open or public criticism or complaints of the locals, as this can bring about a loss of face which roughly translates as an insult to honour and can result in negative consequences for all involved. Losing one’s temper is not acceptable in Chinese culture and the individual who shows their anger is deemed to have ‘lost face’ in any such situation.

Dining Etiquette
Since the city has such a fantastic dining scene, entertaining of guests is invariably done at restaurants. However, there are some occasions on which locals host dinner parties and should you get invited along, then you’ll need to brush up on Chinese dining etiquette.

Be sure to arrive on time at your host’s abode and remove shoes before entering. You may bring a small gift for you host or hostess as a sign of appreciation for the dinner invitation; this is not imperative or expected, however. At the dinner table, guests must wait for the host or hostess to begin eating before they follow suit.

Chopsticks are generally the only utensils used and are normally placed on rests while chewing or talking. Never use your chopsticks to take food from communal dishes: use the serving spoon provided. It’s polite to sample at least a small amount of everything that you are offered and to leave a little food on your plate at the end of the meal.

Hangzhou is part of the Republic of China and hence all visitors, except those holding Chinese passports, are obliged to apply for a visa in order to gain entry. A health declaration must be signed by all visitors on arrival at the airport. Visas can be obtained from Chinese embassies in major cities across the globe.

The office of the Hangzhou Tourism Administration is the primary facility providing information and assistance to tourists visiting Hangzhou. The office is situated at 484 Yan'an Road. Phone: +86 571 5156617.