If you’re planning a trip to China in the near future, one of the best and easiest ways to handle your travel accommodations is to book them through a China travel service. It can be a lot less hassle to book your flight, accommodations and group tour, if you so desire through a China travel service than trying to go it alone.

Regardless of whether you book your trip through a China travel service or plan to handle it independently, there are a few facts that you should keep in mind about visiting China when planning your trip. Taking the time to learn some basics about this fascinating country can make your trip much more pleasant, regardless of whether you travel alone or with a China travel service.

First, be aware that there are two official languages of China. They are Cantonese and Mandarin. Many people make the mistake of thinking that these languages are the same, simple Chinese, but they are not. Both reflect their own unique differences. Technically, Mandarin is the actual official language of China and is commonly spoken throughout the capital of China, Beijing. You may hear this language referred to as Putonghua by the Chinese people. By and large, most of the population of China speaks Mandarin; however you should be aware that many different dialects exist throughout China. There are actually seven different versions of China. If you’re planning to go with a China trave

The currency of China is known as the People’s Money or Renminbi. It is denoted with the symbol Y. You may also see the currency denoted as RMB. The currency is available in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan. You should be aware that there has been a widespread problem throughout China with counterfeit bills. The notes that are most commonly susceptible to counterfeiting is the 50 and 100 notes. You can generally note that counterfeit notes have more distinctly drawn lines and a more pronounced color. Whenever you exchange your money, always make a point to carefully examine the money you receive to insure that you are not receiving fake currency. The Bank of China is a common place to make your currency exchanges as well as hotels catering to the tourist trade. Unlike some countries, you will typically receive a better exchange rate for travelers checks than cash. Chinese currency also comes in coins such as the one yuan, five jiao, one jiao and five fen.

When traveling in China, it’s a good idea to remember that prices can vary widely throughout the country. By and large you can get by on less money in the western provinces than in the eastern regions. If you’re unsure about how much your trip to China will cost, be sure to ask an experienced member of your China travel service for guidance.