Safety

The country is stable and secure. There have been recent situations that have been presented as acts of terrorism by the Chinese. Consequently, they have stepped up security measures.
Crime is still increasing and touches even the foreigners, who are mostly victims of muggings and theft of passport.

We recommend that the matter of:
- Always keep on hand your passport, airline ticket and a sum of money;
- Maintain a healthy dose of caution when you are in areas with high tourist attendance or particularly crowded (markets, areas of nightclubs, etc.);
- Avoid, in case of aggression, any resistance or reaction.

It should also:
- Maintain an attitude of caution at night, especially in areas of entertainment venues (in Beijing, San Li Tun district) where there have been cases of assaults and beatings at the expense of fellow
- Ensure, in making purchases in markets that the goods are popular for their satisfaction (the reimbursement is not insured);
- Negotiate the fare in advance of any tourist service.

During the summer the increased rainfall can lead to severe flooding in rural areas of river basins, particularly along the Yangtse (in south-central China) and the Yellow River (in northern China), which can achieve a high degree of danger. During the monsoon season (June-September) of considerable intensity can also typhoons descending on the coast of southeast China (regions of Fuijan and Zhejiang). Given the sudden variation in weather, especially during August and September, it is recommended that advance information on weather conditions of the areas they intend to visit, consult with specialized Internet sites (www.severe.worldweather.org, www.cma.gov. cn) or the China International Travel Service (Mr. Cui Ning, tel.00 86 10 66053759, fax: 00 86 10 66012018).
In China there are many seismic zones: the Heilongjiang, the Lijiang (in the Yangtze basin), the province of Hebei and the region of Beijing. Shock of some magnitude were recorded in 2003 in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Yunnan and Gansu. The most recent are those of May 2008 that have dramatically affected the province of Sichuan.

AREAS AT RISK
There are still places in China banned foreign tourists. Transit to these areas exposed to the risk of being stopped by local police authorities, fined and then expelled (or sometimes arrested). It is important to check with your travel agent or at the China International Travel Service (Mr. Cui Ning, tel. 00 86 10 66053759, fax: 00 86 10 66012018) that the location you intend to visit is not among those permitted.
It should be borne in mind that the Chinese government may, without notice, restrict access to certain areas.

In view of the regional political situation, you should never cross the Sino-Afghan border and the Sino-Pakistani. Just watched, and therefore dangerous, areas bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, dutiful then caution.
To avoid areas also border with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

AREAS OF CARE
Tibet. Entry visa to China is not possible to visit Tibet. To do this, we need a special permit which is issued with restrictive criteria to authorized agencies only for group visits. Foreigners can only stay in some hotels.
Those who attempt to enter with only seen in Tibet threatened with arrest. Journalists, public figures and diplomats must apply for a special permit issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The altitude in this area can cause physical problems for the elderly and those who suffer from heart or lung. Please consult a doctor before embarking on their journey to Tibet.
It is good to avoid further political themes in contact with the local population: the foreign tourist who participated in demonstrations for independence of Tibet or simply filming risk expulsion. Please note that getting through letters or parcels sent from abroad Tibetan people exposed to the risk of control by the police authorities. Foreigners can only stay in some Hotels.

Xinjiang. It is an active independence movement (the population is strain turkish language and culture and Islamic confession) that in the recent past, has claimed several attacks in major population centers. The situation is still under the firm control of the Chinese authorities. In some cases it was denied access to tourist groups in specific areas and it is prudent not to venture alone in rural areas of the region.

Trans-Siberian line. The activity of this smuggling in the border regions, as well as thefts and assaults have occurred on trains of this line to the detriment of passengers advised to take the utmost caution by travelers.

Yunnan. Although most of the province is open to tourism and worth a visit for its attractions, the increased smuggling of drugs present in the border areas with Burma, Laos and Vietnam can make dangerous areas less busy.

SAFE ZONE: they can be considered secure the main cities (bearing in mind recent increase in petty crime policy) and, generally, all places for which the China International Travel Service offers tours and excursions, including through the corresponding agencies abroad.

WARNINGS
If you are traveling in remote areas particularly at risk or subject at the time of the trip, in extreme weather events (eg floods), it is entirely appropriate to report to the Embassy) his route, leaving a forwarding address.

During your stay you must adhere strictly to the Chinese law.
In particular, please note that:
- Have banned public demonstrations that have not been approved by the local Office of Public Safety;
- There are restrictions on certain religious activities, such as distribution of material proselitistico;
- The religious movement Falun Gong is banned;
- The judicial authorities may order the seizure of the passport of the alien sued for civil cases, including commercial, which can not retain them until the conclusion of the dispute.

Generally it should be remembered that the public security authorities tend to apply strictly the rules of public policy towards its citizens foreigners. In dealings with the police, who rarely speak English, you should keep calm and, in case of misunderstanding, contact the Embassy or Italian Consulate for the necessary assistance.
If you incur measures restricting personal freedom (detention or arrest), the Chinese authorities are obliged to give immediate information to the diplomatic-consular Italian. However, this has not happened in recent cases, it is important that, directly or through those close, it comes in contact with the Embassy or Consulate General to request their intervention.

Legislation planned for use and / or sale of drugs (soft or hard):
Chinese legislation on the use and trade of drugs is very rigid and comes to provide for the general store, the death penalty. In the recent past, Italian citizens were fined and expelled for possession of small quantities of soft drugs (including personal use).

Local law provided for sexual abuse or violence against children: prostitution is illegal is that use of prostitution. Recently, the public security authority of big cities (especially Shanghai) have hardened police measures for these crimes, to keep coming to jail for 5 to 10 days foreign nationals, caught in the act, before expelling them.
Sexual abuse or violence against children are severely punished with sentences ranging from three to ten years and provide for the death penalty for serious cases.
It should be remembered that those who commit crimes abroad against children (sexual abuse, exploitation, prostitution) are being prosecuted on their return to Italy on the basis of the laws in force in our country.

Health situation


The quality of health care in China is not high. Especially fond of you can find medical and health authority, but with limited knowledge of English or other languages. The costs of hospital stay for foreign nationals are high (up to 500.00 euros per day in the capital) are also very expensive services provided by some clinics operated by foreign associations, which are present only in big cities.

In rural areas, may experience heavy lack of health care, inadequate facilities and medical personnel are not sufficiently specialized.
In the Chinese territory operate large international companies such as International SOS and Global Doctor they provide, (at high prices), a transfer service health patients outside of China.

There are no endemic diseases details, however, tuberculosis and hepatitis A and B are widespread.
Japanese encephalitis was made in 2006 a limited number of casualties during the summer in rural areas and wetlands in the country (Henan, Shanxi): You should consult with your doctor to evaluate depending on the flight schedule, l 'opportunity' of vaccines (the vaccine, widely distributed, is available in major Chinese cities).
If you are traveling in Yunnan and Hainan island, it should protect themselves from mosquito bites to avoid the slightest risk of contracting malaria. Yunnan, Guangdong, Henan and other provinces of central and south seem most concerned with the spread of disease.
Occur each year on average 1000 cases of rabies in humans. In 2006, major outbreaks were in Shandong and Yunnan. And 'good then avoid contact with stray animals.
Are also sporadic cases of dengue fever in the south (Guangdong).
Significant growth spreading sexual diseases, especially AIDS, for which you should take every precaution (in sexual relations, in medical treatment involving the use of needles, etc.).

China was hit by a serious outbreak of SARS in 2003 which ended, according to WHO, at the end of July 2003 and in April 2004, some cases had reappeared in Beijing and Anhui. The WHO does not consider the current state of SARS as a threat to public health.

Since late 2003 avian influenza virus (H5N1) has affected some Asian countries (Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Laos and South Korea) including China. During 2006 and early 2007 there have been some cases of human H5N1 avian influenza virus affected. However, the influence is at risk as low. In February 2008 it was reported a human case in the Home Location Haifeng, Shanwei city (province of Guandgong) affected by the virus H5N1. In China, human cases infected with avian flu have so far 30 (including 20 deaths). The local health authorities continued to take preventive measures and controls against the spread of the epidemic.
Nationals wishing to travel to the country as a precautionary measure is recommended to consume poultry meat and eggs only if well cooked and to avoid any direct contact with poultry and poultry.


WARNINGS
It is important that the fellow possess adequate international health insurance providing for payment of hospital costs and possible repatriation or transfer of the patient in another country.
In the case of organized tourist trips, so check carefully the content of health insurance included in package tours and in the absence of adequate safeguards, we suggest you take out individual health insurance policies.
We do not recommend the trip, if unaccompanied, of persons suffering from psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia and others), because 'in case of recurrence of the disease during their stay in China is very difficult to seek treatment at psychiatric facilities in China and is even harder to return by air.
The physically disabled are disadvantaged by the presence of architectural barriers even in the most famous and popular tourist attractions.

Vaccinations: It is recommended, subject to medical advice, vaccinations against tetanus and polio. We also recommend the following vaccinations (depending on the health of passengers and behind medical opinion): diphtheria, typhoid, hepatitis A and B, Meninococco. For the areas of Yunnan and the island of Hainan, as in the provinces of Guangxi and Guizhou, the vaccine against Japanese encephalitis is recommended for stays in rural areas. For that vaccination is always good to consult your doctor before starting to evaluate the opportunity, given the real risk of anaphylactic shock and possible side effects. If you are coming from countries with endemic yellow fever must present evidence of having maintained its vaccine.

Some tips sanitation:
• avoid drinking tap water because very often not potable;
• Do not take food prepared on the road, even if cooked not offer sufficient guarantees of hygiene;
• Always wash vegetables and fruits;
• in possession of essential medicines (antibiotics, antipyretics) and equip themselves in sufficient quantity for the duration of the trip, drugs of which he makes regular use.

Please note also that in the case of medical repatriation Air China does not allow the carriage on board oxygen cylinders.