China travel advice

Most visits to China are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

In April 2009 a bomb blast in Urumqi City (capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region) killed one and injured several others. In early July, state media (Xinhua news agency) reported 197 deaths and more than 1,600 injuries after serious rioting erupted in Urumqi City.

Further violent protests erupted in early September leading to five deaths and an unknown number of injuries and arrests. An increased military and armed police presence and the sacking of a number of senior party officials and Public Security Bureau staff in Urumqi has reduced the tensions and the city has returned to normal. British nationals are advised to be aware of ethnic tensions and disruption to travel at times in Xinjiang and to avoid all areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place during times of tension.

It should be noted that, within Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, access to the internet and to international telephone lines is blocked; text messaging remains blocked at this time. There is no indication when normal services will be restored.

Travellers to Tibet should check with tour operators or travel agents and monitor the international media and this travel advice for information relating to travel to Tibet.

Travellers should be aware that ongoing political and ethnic tensions can lead to the spontaneous eruption of unrest and violent protest in Tibet. While foreigners are not normally targeted during such unrest, travellers should remain alert to the possibility of being caught up in unexpected outbreaks of violence.

Travel to Tibet or the ethnic Tibetan provinces requires the permission of the Chinese authorities.

On 12 May 2008, an earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter scale struck south-western China, 92 kms northwest of Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan Province. Transport links have been damaged. Chengdu airport is closed but Chongqing airport has reopened though flights are heavily delayed. Visitors are advised against all but essential travel to Sichuan given the damage to infrastructure and a warning from Chinese authorities warning about the possibility of aftershocks in the affected regions.

There have been outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) in poultry in China. Since November 2005, this has led to a small number of human fatalities in rural areas of Liaoning, Guangxi, Anhui, Sichuan, Hunan and Guangdong provinces, believed to have arisen through close contact with infected poultry. The risk to humans from avian influenza is believed to be low. However, as a precaution, travellers should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds could occur; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of the possibility that the avian ifluenza outbreaks could lead at some point to a human flu pandemic, if the virus mutates to a form which is easily transmissible between people.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel