China covers a land area of 9.6 million square kilometers and currently consists of four municipalities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing), 23 provinces, five autonomous regions (Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, and Guangxi) directly under the Central Government, and two special administrative regions (Hong Kong and Macao).
Chengdu is the capital-city of Sichuan Province, as well as the political, economic and cultural center of the Province. Chengdu serves as a hub for both land and air transportation and plays an important role in the contexts of both domestic and international communications. As of end 2022, the population of Chengdu stood at approximately 21.26 million. Chengdu covers a land area of 14,335 square kilometers, which is divided into 12 districts, 5 county-sized cities and 3 counties.
China spans over a vast geographical area. Local weather varies considerably from one location to another. Latest weather information of different regions can be found at the website of China Meteorological Administration.
China Meteorological AdministrationWith a long summer and short winter, Chengdu has a climate featuring "no intense heat in summer and few snows in winter", which is quite moderate with a long frost-free season and relatively active rainfalls in autumn and at night. The climate also features a low wind speed, high humidity, many clouds & mists and little sunshine. The annual mean temperature is 15.5～18.2℃. During the extreme weathers, the highest temperature can reach 36.6～39.5℃, while the lowest temperature -3.5～0.3℃. The annual total precipitation ranges from 829mm to 1784mm, of which most rainfalls occur in July and August, accounting for about half of the annual total precipitation. In general, months including May to August witness the rainstorms.
China's official currency is Renminbi (RMB), commonly known as Yuan. Paper bill includes 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 Yuan and 1, 5 Jiao, and coins include 1, 5 Jiao and 1 Yuan. Currency exchange service is available at banks.
Besides cash, banking service is also available for Hong Kong residents living in the Mainland. In general, a mobile phone which can receive message in the Mainland as well as basic documents which include, but not limited to the following, are required for opening bank accounts:
Identification Document, e.g. passport, Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (commonly known as "Home Visit Permit")
Statement with residential address
Please check with specific banks for detailed application process and related information if necessary.
As with most other countries, China adopts the metric measurement system. Household voltage is 220 volts in the Mainland. No voltage conversion is needed if travelers want to use electrical appliance purchased from Hong Kong. However, the power plug is different from those commonly used in Hong Kong and thus a plug adapter is required. The typical shapes of power plugs in the Mainland are shown in the pictures below.
All automotive vehicles, non-automotive vehicles and pedestrians should keep to the right side of the road in the Mainland, which differs from the practice of keeping to the left in Hong Kong.
Besides, the traffic rules also differ. In the Mainland, vehicles may take right turn even if the red light is on, but this would only be applicable where no disturbance is made to cars or pedestrians passing by (however, if the red light signaling right turn is an arrow instead of a round shape, vehicles would be prohibited from taking the right turn until the light turns green). In Hong Kong, on the other hand, no vehicles may take the right turn whenever the red light is on.
Pedestrians and drivers of automotive vehicles and non-automotive vehicles should observe traffic rules applicable in the Mainland. Besides, Chengdu has promulgated and implemented specific local rules. For more information, please refer to the website of the Chengdu Traffic Management Bureau (Chinese Version Only):
Chengdu Traffic Management Bureau1Metro
There are many metro lines operating in Chengdu, including Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4, Line 5, Line 6, Line 7,Line 8, Line 9,Line 10, Line 17,Line 18，Line 19 and Tram Line 2.
For more detailed information, please refer to the website of the Chengdu Rail Transit(Chinese Version Only):
Chengdu Rail Transit2Taxi
Taxi fare in Chengdu starts from RMB 8. A surcharge would be levied for usage between 23:00-6:00 the following day. For detailed information, please refer to the website of the Chengdu Transport Bureau or dial (028) 83355363.
Chengdu Transport Bureau3E-hailing Service
In recent years, E-hailing service is very popular in the Mainland. Passengers can hail for service on the spot or by making prior appointments with drivers of private cars and taxies for transportation service via APP or on the web. Further details are available from common search engines on the internet.
4Buses
Chengdu has a comprehensive bus network that basically covers the whole city. For more information about routes and fare, please visit the website of Chengdu Public Transport Group Co., Ltd or call the services hotline: (028)85076868.
Chengdu Public Transport Group Co., Ltd5Railway
Chengdu is one of the hubs of western China's railway network. There are several railway stations in Chengdu, namely Chengdu Railway Station, Chengdu East Railway Station, Chengdu West Railway Station and Chengdu South Railway Station. Passengers are advised to be mindful of the departing and arriving stations when purchasing railway tickets and taking trains.
To purchase railway tickets, Hong Kong residents would be required to provide valid identity documents such as Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents. In order to purchase train tickets, passengers may visit the ticketing offices located at relevant railway stations, via ticketing hotlines (purchasing hotline: (028)95105105),website of 12306 China Railway or APP, etc.
For further information, please refer to the website of 12306 China Railway:https://www.12306.cn/en/index.html.
The China Railway Corporation announced in June 2017 that automatic ticket vending and issuing machines which could read and verify Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents with embedded chips had been installed at railway stations in Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Hunan, Guangdong, Sichuan, Chongqing, Shaanxi, etc. Hong Kong and Macao compatriots can now purchase and collect tickets with their Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents at these railways stations which they frequently use.
6Air
There are two international airports in Chengdu, i.e. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. The Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located in the Shuangliu county, 16 kilometers away from the city center and connected by Chengdu Metro Line 10. There is an expressway connecting the downtown and the airport. In addition, long-haul buses to major cities in Sichuan, airport shuttle buses to the downtown and taxi are available in the airport. For further information, please refer to the website of Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, or dial (028) 85205555.
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, which was put into operation in June 2021, is located in Jianyang City,Chengdu. The airport is 51 kilometers away from the city center and connected by Chengdu Metro Line 18. For further information, please refer to the website of Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, or dial (028) 86906666.
7Bike-sharing
In recent years, bike-sharing service is very popular in the Mainland. In general, users of different bike rental companies may need to pay certain amount of deposit before using the service. However, some e-platforms provide deposit-free bike rental service. Further details are available from common search engines on the internet.
1Driving License
Hong Kong residents are required to obtain valid driving licenses if they wish to drive in the Mainland. Drivers should carry their driving licenses while driving. Hong Kong residents who meet relevant conditions promulgated by the Ministry of Public Security (including requirements in age and physical and other conditions, etc.) could apply for driving licenses from traffic management departments.
For more information about the application of driving licenses, please refer to the website of the Chengdu Traffic Management Bureau (Chinese Version Only):
Chengdu Traffic Management Bureau.2Renting cars
If Hong Kong people would like to drive in Chengdu, they could rent a car from the local car leasing companies. Generally, Hong Kong people are required to provide photocopies of their Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents and driving licence as well as intended leasing period to the car leasing companies when entering into car rental contracts. For more information, please visit the website of the car leasing companies.
3Traffic management measure for automotive vehicles
All vehicles including local license plates and non-local ones should obey the requirements of traffic restriction in specific periods, zones and regulations specified by the Chengdu Traffic Management Bureau.
For more information, please refer to the website of the Chengdu Traffic Management Bureau (Chinese Version Only)
Chengdu Traffic Management BureauSince the laws and procedures of purchasing properties in the Mainland are different from that of Hong Kong, purchasers may note the requirements and seek professional advice as appropriate. An article on it is provided for reference.
https://www.cdeto.gov.hk/file/pdf/home/ndzyjl_tc.pdf(Chinese version only)