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Travel Insurance China

Before you head off on holiday to China make sure you secure a trusted and reliable travel insurance policy with prices starting from *.

As one of the world's oldest civilisations and one of largest countries by land mass, it might seem a little overwhelming at where to begin with planning your holiday to China. With some of the most arresting natural wonders on the planet, China also bears a fascinating mix of historical and modern culture. It won't come as a shock to you that it's also the world's most populous country, so when you visit you'll be assured of a remarkable variety of different landscapes, people, food and activities. With Holiday Extras travel insurance for China you can choose a policy to fit your itinerary, which is perfect for a country of sprawling cities and beautiful scenery.

Do I need travel insurance for China?

It's an important question to ask. With an all-encompassing travel insurance policy to cover you against loss or theft of your belongings, protecting you against trip cancellation as well as repatriation, you can ensure that you won't be left to foot an expensive bill on your own. For any insurable, unforeseeable circumstances that could negatively affect your holiday, a Holiday Extras policy can give you that added peace of mind.

Although travel insurance is not a visa requirement for entry into China, it would be unwise to travel to the other side of the world without some form of protection should something unexpected happen. Knowing that you have a reliable travel insurance policy that can offer cover for emergency medical bills or a missed flight can do wonders for your peace of mind and take the worry out of any trip.

Yangtze River

Why choose Holiday Extras travel insurance for China?

  • Recommended and used by 500+ travel agents
  • We consider all medical conditions
  • We offer extras like extreme sports and gadget cover
  • We offer policies without excess
  • We offer single trip policies without any minimum or upper age limits**
  • We offer a 14-day cooling off period if you need to cancel your policy
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Compare Holiday Extras' travel insurance for China

Rather than bog you down with a thousand different options, our efficient booking process at Holiday Extras is customer-driven.

After you select your travel dates, the number of travellers and your destination, you have a choice of either single or an annual policy, and four varying levels of cover so you can tailor your policy to your holiday plans:

Levels of cover

Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Baggage cover
£500
£1,500
£2,000
£2,000
Cancellation cover
£1,000
£2,500
£5,000
£5,000
Medical cover
£5 million
£10 million
£10 million
£10 million
Excess charge
£150
£100
£50
£0
Lost passport
£250
£250
£300
£350
Personal money
£300
£350
£400
£500
Personal accident
£5,000
£10,000
£15,000
£20,000
Personal liability
£2 million
£2 million
£2 million
£2 million
Wedding cover
X
X
£1,500
£1,500
Gadget cover
X
X
X
£500

For further information please consult your policy wording here.

Cancellation cover

China

Medical insurance

For most people, one of the most important factors behind booking a travel insurance policy is the medical insurance provided. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), there are roughly 3,000 people a week who claim for some type of emergency medical treatment when on holiday abroad, levelling out at around £200 million paid out per year. We offer up to £10 million worth of medical care should you require treatment for declared medical conditions.

Before booking your policy, you will be presented with a discreet screening process to determine whether you have any pre-existing medical conditions. These will needed to be taken into account when creating the best insurance policy for you.

Get all of your vaccinations at least six to eight weeks in advance, as you'll need them to fully benefit from our medical cover. Consult your GP to determine which you will need. For the standard traveller, the recommended vaccinations for China include vaccines against Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus and Diphtheria.

Annual travel insurance

For travellers who can't keep away from China or just love to go on multiple trips per year, an annual policy could be worth considering. Our annual travel insurance provides the same volume of cover as a single trip policy, but protects you for an unlimited number of trips throughout a 365 day period. Just be sure that each trip doesn't exceed the maximum trip duration stated in the policy wording, which you can find when getting a quote. Annual multi-trip policies can be booked for an individual, couple or family.


Bronze (22 consecutive days), Silver & Gold (31 consecutive days) and Platinum (45 consecutive days).

Extreme sports cover for China

Alongside the historical tourist sites that you absolutely must visit, you might want to make your trip a little more active and immersive in rural China.

Hiking in China is one of the most popular methods of seeing all facets of the country, and there are some fantastic guided hiking/trekking routes and tour packages you can research before you fly out. Check out the other-worldly sights of Zhangjiajie National Park, which served as the inspiration for the 2009 film Avatar. The mountain Huangshan is a great location for travellers to experience this and companies offer three-day mountain and hiking tours.

Just remember to check that you are covered under your travel insurance policy for your activity. Across all of our policies we offer cover for over 100 sports and activities as standard — at no extra cost to you. Depending on the pace or difficulty of the hike, we have a range of hiking cover that you can consult to see what category your type of hike/trek is under.

  • Trekking/Mountain Walking/Hiking/Rambling/Mountaineering (in group) all up to 1,000m - Covered as standard
  • Trekking/Mountain Walking/Hiking/Rambling/Mountaineering (in group) all up to 2,000m - Extra Activities Cover Level 1
  • Trekking/Mountain Walking/Hiking/Rambling/Mountaineering (in group) all up to 3,000m/4,000m - Extra Activities Cover Level 2

Alternatively, if you want to inject a little adrenaline into your holiday to China then extreme sports might be up your street. Soak in, and fall (literally) in love with the metropolitan expanse of Macau by bungee jumping off the 233m tall Macau Tower.

Macau, Huangshan, Zhangjiajie
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China: at a glance

  • What is the currency of China? China's currency is offically called "Rembini" but is measured in units: "Yuan" (¥)
  • How many hours ahead is China? China is 8 hours ahead of the UK
  • What plug sockets are used in China? There are three types: the most commonly-used is two flat pins, there is three-pronged angled pins or two narrow round pins. Electricity is 220 volts, 50 cycles AC
  • What's the best way to travel around China? High-speed train or flying
  • What is the flight time to China from UK? Approx. 10 hours and 30 minutes
  • What is the capital of China? Beijing
  • Which social media apps can I not use in China? Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Snapchat

Chinese tourist visa requirements

UK tourists need a visa when visiting mainland China, but for places like Hong Kong and Macau, this is not required. As a tourist, you will need to apply for the tourist L visa. In order to obtain a tourist L visa to mainland China, you will need:

  • A passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your visit to China
  • Have a least two blank visa pages
  • Complete the visa application form

Finger-printing

The Chinese government has recently introduced fingerprint scanning at all the major entry points to the country, and requires that all visitors between 14-70 years old, have their fingerprint scanned.

Registering with the Chinese authorities

All foreign visitors need to register their address with the Chinese authorities within the first 24 hours of their stay. If you are staying at a hotel, then usually the registry is completed for you. However, if you have arranged your own accommodation with a friend, relative or through third party bnb sites, then you may need to register the address yourself.

Currency in China

The official currency used in China is the Renminbi ('The People's Currency') also known as the Yuan and is currently among the top 5 most used currencies in the world. Chinese currency comes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan.

Exchanging currency at banks in major cities like Shanghai is generally not a good idea. The process is long and complicated - it can take up to an hour to complete all the paperwork and supply a photocopy of your passport. For the sake of your sanity, it's advised to just use an atm for cash withdrawals.

Using ATMS in China

This is the advised method of accessing currency in China, though you'll need to check with your bank for any extra charges for currency exchanges, foreign transactions and handling fees.

What to do in China

  • Slip into the Forbidden City and witness the best-preserved collection of imperial architecture in China.
  • Wind your way along the Great Wall, and take in spectacular views on your journey.
  • Explore The Bund in Shanghai, a waterfront area that exhibits an array of different architectural and artistic styles.
  • The Karst Mountains in the Guangxi Province are so impressive that you can see them on the 20 Renminbi note. You can get a great view from nearby Yangshuo town.
  • Visit adorable Giant Pandas in Chengdu of the Sichuan Province, where 85 percent of China's wild Giant Pandas reside.
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Holiday Extras Cover Ltd and Holiday Extras Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Holiday Extras Cover Ltd 05058680 and Holiday Extras Ltd 01693250 are registered in England and Wales. Registered address: Ashford Road, Newingreen, Kent CT21 4JF.

Holiday Extras is underwritten by Travel Insurance Facilities plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered address: 2nd Floor, 1 Tower View, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4UY. Company number 03220410.