Train travel information

Train operator in China:		Chinese Railways.  Train times in English: www.chinatravelguide.com.  Map of Chinese railways.  Official sites (in Chinese): www.chinamor.cn.net & www.tielu.org.  Agencies selling Chinese train tickets online:www.chinatripadvisor.com, www.chinatraintickets.net, www.china-train-ticket.com.  www.train-ticket.net sells train tickets for Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing-Hong Kong & Shanghai-Hong Kong.  Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (local trains in Hong Kong plus through trains HK to Beijing & Shanghai): www.mtr.com.hk.
Time zone & dialling code:		GMT+8 all year.    Dialling code +86.       Flights to China
Currency:		£1 = 9.9 Yuan (Renminbi) = 11.9 HK$.  $1 = 6.8 Yuan = 7.6 HK$.  Currency converter
Tourist information:		www.cnto.org (US), www.cnto.org.uk (UK), www.cnto.org.au (Aus).  Tripadvisor
Hotels & hostels:		Book hotels in China online   Tripadvisor hotel recommendations   Backpacker hostels
Visas:		UK & most other citizens need a visa for China. In the UK, Chinese visa issuing has been outsourced towww.visaforchina.org.uk.  More advice on Chinese visas.