Banks: 09:00 to 16:30, Monday to Friday
Post offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Government departments: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 08:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 08:00 to 20:00, daily – some close on Sunday

Wuhan is safe to visit, even after dark, with an obvious police presence and a generally law-abiding people. Penalties for even minor infringements for the locals are harsh which it is why it is this way, a refreshing change compared to many places in the world today.

\Although levels of violent crime are low, pickpockets can still be a problem, however, and you should never let your guard down no matter how safe a destination purports to be. Be especially cautious around the busy train stations in Wuchang and in Hankou as well as in the long-distance bus stations in the same places. Keeping wallets and purses out of sight is common sense and while the locals may think that all foreigners are filthy rich anyway, wearing flashy jewellery when out and about is not a good idea.

The popular festivals in Wuhan, such as Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Wuhan International Tourist Festival, are times to be more aware of your surroundings for fear of being scammed, touted or having your pocket felt.

Many shopping streets are pedestrianised although Wuhan does have a traffic problem, as with elsewhere in the country, and the locals are not known for their courtesy – don’t expect a red pedestrian traffic light to mean that a driver would actually stop.

Police: 110 
Electricity: 220volts, 50Hz

The biggest cause for concern, health-wise, when visiting Wuhan is through stomach upsets from eating dodgy, or exotic, foodstuffs. It is always worth allowing a few days to settle in before trying out any exotic dishes and to never drink the tap water. Observing a restaurant for the throughput of customers and the state of the kitchen is always a good idea when you are not sure.

The risk of catching an exotic disease when in Wuhan is low but be wary of dogs on the streets as rabies is rife among the canine community here. Keeping up to date with any hepatitis injections as well as tetanus and polio boosters is also worthwhile.

There are some good hospitals and clinics in the city although rarely do the staff speak English. Be aware that many overseas medications sold in Chinese pharmacies may be fake so bringing an adequate supply with you is advised. Having the generic name of any medicine you may be on is also recommended, as is taking out good travel insurance.

Wuhan suffers pretty badly from pollution due to the common factors of excessive traffic belching out noxious fumes and from the heavy industries here. The often oppressive humid weather also helps to exacerbate the problem.
 
Emergency: 120
Wuhan Hospital: +86 27 858 55 908

Mandarin Chinese is the standard tongue in Wuhan although Cantonese will also be heard if you can tell the difference. There are also some fairly indistinguishable Mandarin dialects spoken in the region although most people will be speaking Mandarin in and about the town in the service industry. The Chinese, like many other Asian nations, are pretty adept at not being able to speak English very well and you may struggle if you intend travelling around farther afield. English will usually be understood in most large shops, hotels and restaurants in the city, however.

China’s currency is the yuan (CNY, ¥) which is used throughout the country, apart from Hong Kong which uses the Hong Kong dollar. The yuan is divided into 100 fen as well as 10 jiao and banknotes come in denominations of: ¥100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1. There are also 5, 2, and 1 jiao notes in circulation, while coins come in denominations of ¥1, and 5, 2, and 1 fen. Jiao coins of 5 and 1 are also in circulation.

Unfortunately yuan cannot be bought outside of China meaning you will have to acquire some in Tianhe International Airport as your first port of call in the country. Rates here are okay and beat those available in most hotels, although banks are generally your best bet for obtaining the most favourable exchange rates.

One minus about visiting China is having to keep receipts when you buy yuan, as you will have to show them when attempting to sell any yuan left at the end of your trip. Using traveller’s cheques can also be a pain as many places will not take them, although major hotels, shops and banks will all change them for you. Ensure you have them made out in major currencies, such as US dollars and pounds sterling.

More banks than ever are allowing foreigners to make withdrawals of yuan from their home accounts via ATMs. The Bank of China and the HSBC (Hongkong and Shanghai Bank) are your best bet for those with the likes of Cirrus and PLUS activated debit cards. Commission rates on the exchange may be a bit tight as well as limits on the issuing ATM, although this is certainly offset by the convenience of it all.

Credit cards are also not as widely used as elsewhere in the world apart from the largest shops, restaurants and at hotels. The Chinese versions of Visa and MasterCard are the most commonly accepted credit cards, yet more and more places are taking international Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. You can also have a cash advance on a credit card at a bank although costs are high.

The Chinese allow travellers to bring in more duty-free than most countries, with 400 cigarettes and two bottles of spirits allowable limits for those over 18 years. You can also bring in a reasonable amount of perfume. Import and export restrictions on antiques are quite strict, however, and you must have the right certification of exporting antique items. Naturally, bringing in any sort of pornographic material, drugs, or firearms is forbidden and dealt with very harshly.

Visitors will likely notice the formality and conservative nature of most Chinese, who are generally very polite and eager not to offend. The most important social conventions to observe when visiting China is to always try to dress smartly, even when casually attired, and to not raise one’s voice even in the most trying of situations. Particular emphasis is placed on dress and especially when dining out. Walking around the streets of Wuhan with hot pants and vest is not a good idea.

The Chinese are very formal in all situations when first meeting with long handshakes and the using of last names preceded by Mr or Mrs. Hotels tend to use surnames first and thus may refer to you as Mr/Mrs ‘first name’ unless you sign in with your surname first as the Chinese do.

Tipping used to be a swear word in China with most hotels and restaurant management openly forbidding their staff from accepting any gratuities. Things have cooled down somewhat, however, and it’s fairly common to leave a token amount for good food and service. Those on tours may get fed up with constantly being barracked for one.

Dining Etiquette
All but the classiest of places have informal dining in Wuhan and you shouldn’t feel the need to dress up unless frequenting one of these establishments. That’s not to say that not making any effort is the done thing, as even at a market stall or in a noodle shop you should try to look presentable.

Only eat with your hands when the meal warrants it, try not to talk with your mouth full and be mindful of the decibel level of your voice. These are particularly important if you manage to get invited to a local’s home, where only sitting until you have been invited to do so, only starting after the host/hostess has given the nod, and not finishing everything on your plate are musts. Another must in this situation is not to leave your chopsticks poking up out of the bowl, a definite faux pas.

The Chinese aren’t as tough against smokers as most of the rest of the world and it is quite common to see people propped up against no smoking signs while puffing away, or indeed sat eating and smoking in a non-smoking zone in a restaurant. The powers that be are cracking down somewhat, though, in large part due to the 2008 Olympics, and thus observing any non-smoking signs is advised.

Don’t feel obliged to tip in a restaurant unless the venue, quality of food and excellent service dictates it. If there is already a service charge there is no need to tip, yet tipping 10 per cent in a quality place is fine. Do not tip in the market or at a standard Wuhan noodle shop. Doing so will make you look a little naive.

Everyone needs a visa to enter China and they are fairly straightforward to get for the majority of travellers, including those from the UK, the rest of the EU, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where single-entry and multi-entry visas can be had. The single-entry variety allows just the one visit up to three months from the date of issue, while a multiple-entry visa holder can come and go for the visa duration. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of exit and two full pages should be available.

Wuhan’s official tourist office can offer visitors useful information on Wuhan attractions, Wuhan restaurants and Wuhan travel, as well as dish out Wuhan maps. 

Yichang Tourist Office
Yichang Tourism Administration
17 Hezuo Road, 430017
Wuhan
Phone: +86 717 283 3107
Website: www.tourist-office.org/china/wuhan