China Travel Guide

The concept of a country promoting itself by giving out tourist information for free has not yet taken hold in China. There is a very thin scattering of tourist promotion offices in foreign capitals, though these government organisations are officious and generally unhelpful - their only function seems to be recommending possible tour operators and advising telephone callers to listen to long, useless and expensive recorded messages. A more promising source of immediate information is the Internet.

Similarly, inside the People's Republic, there is no such thing as a tourist information office. CITS , the state-accredited tour operator with a special responsibility for foreigners, was originally dressed up as such, but now it is just one of a large number of competing local operators who have no function other than selling tours and tickets, and renting cars. However, it may still be worthwhile dropping in on the local branch of CITS, or an affiliated organization (CYTS or CTS), especially in out-of-the-way places, as it is sometimes here that you will find the only person in town who can speak English - and he or she may be delighted to have the chance to chat with a foreigner about local tourist attractions. But this is probably the exception rather than the rule. You should assume that most leaflets, brochures and maps from these places will not be free. Other sources of information are your own hotel staff (in upmarket places), or any local English-speakers you happen to meet. Otherwise, in certain tourist centres, restaurant proprietors have taken it upon themselves to act as the local information office, giving advice in exchange for custom.

In Beijing and Shanghai you'll find English-language magazines with bar, restaurant and other "What's On" listings, aimed mainly at the resident expatriate population. These are usually distributed free in bars and upmarket hotels. The local English-language newspaper, the China Daily, also has a few listings of major cultural events forthcoming in Beijing and one or two other large cities. In Hong Kong and Macau you are beset with information on all sides.