Language: mainly Cantonese.  Most staff at high-end hotels speak English, but visitors who want to explore the city on their own may need a phrasal book or ask the hotel staff to write down destinations as well as the name of the hotel in Chinese to make getting around easier.

Clothing: normal Western business attire is considered appropriate for doing business in China.  As Guangzhou is just Hong Kong's neighbor, local executives have learned to dress fashionably..

Currency: Renminbi (RMB), also known as Yuan (Y) or Kwai.
                 Notes issued: 500 RMB, 100 RMB, 50 RMB, 10 RMB, 5 RMB, 2 RMB, 1.5 RMB, 
                                     2 jiao, 1 jiao.
                 Coins issued: 1 RMB, 1.5 jiao, 5 fen, 3 fen, 1 fen.

Banking Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am-6.00pm. 

Tipping: tipping isn't required in China, although it is becoming more frequent within international tourist hotels and restaurants.  The decent tipping for porters and hotel staff is 5-10 RMB.

Telephone: the international dialling code for China is 86.  Guang Zhou's local telephone code is 020.  When making international calls from China, first dial 00 + country code + area code + telephone number.

Electricity: 220/240 V AC, 50Hz.  Either flat or square, two-pin and three pin-plugs are used.  It is recommended to bring a universal adapter as they are difficult to find in China .

When to go:

• Coldest Months - January and February, with temperature as low as 0 degree celcius.

• Hottest Months - July and August, with temperature as high as 38C and humid.

• Annual Precipitation - 1,680 millimeters.

Getting Around:

• By Metro (Subway)- A 18 km-long metro line goes from the Guangzhou Steel Plant to the East Railway Station with 16 stations.
• By Taxi - Taxis are the most common means of transportation for foreigners. All Guangzhou taxis have a meter. Expect traffic jams.

Getting In and Out:

• By air - Guangzhou is a little over 2 hours by air from Beijing. There are also flights connecting Guangzhou with other major Asian cities.
• By Train - Guangzhou is a non-stop two-hour train ride from Hong Kong; Guangzhou is a 24-hour train ride from Beijing.
• By Bus - Guangzhou can be reached in 3 hours by bus from Hong Kong.

Public Holiday :  

• January 1          New Year's Day.

• February 5-8     Spring Festival, Chinese New Year.

• May 1               Labor Day.

• October 1-2       National Days

 This article is authored and copyrighted
by Royal Exclusive Travel