How to go

VISA AND OTHER PROCEDURES

Portuguese visitors must apply for a visa at the Consular Section of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, at Rua de São Caetano Nº2, Lapa in Lisbon. One-entry visa costs €35; two-entry visa costs €53.

More information at Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Portugal

HEALTH AND SAFETY CARE

China does not require any vaccine to grant tourist entry into the country, except for yellow fever if arriving from a country at risk of disease transmission. You should be on guard against malaria especially if you visit Yunnan provinces, the island of Hainàn and, although the risk is substantially lower, Anhui, Ghuizhou, Henen, Hubei and Jiangsu.

Pay attention to the altitude habituation if you plan to visit the highlands (above 3.500m) mainly from Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan. 

For more information on traveling health, see the Health Portal of the Ministry of Health and Tropical and Traveler Medicine Clinic. In FitForTravel find country-specific health and disease prevention advice (in English).

Check the social-political situation in advance if you plan to travel through the Xinjiang Autonomous Province. Avoid doing this if there are still outbreaks of instability.

TRIP TO CHINA

A TAP (tel: 707 205 700) flies to Beijing, with only one stopover in Munich or Frankfurt – flights from Munich to Beijing and Beijing to Munich operated by Air China – for around €800.