China Health Care Tips

No special vaccinations are required, but those who have traveled from an infected area before coming to China should have vaccination records available for a Health Declaration form upon arrival.

Tourist travel in China can be extremely strenuous and may be especially debilitating to someone in poor health. It is necessary to bring personal medical record, particularly for those with a history of coronary or pulmonary diseases. They should have a complete medical checkup before making final travel plans. The absence of your medical records would make you disoriented when emergency occurs.

China discourages travel by persons who are ill, pregnant, or are of advanced age. Visa applicants over 60 are sometimes required to complete a health questionnaire. If medical problems exist, a letter from your physician explaining treatment and, if relevant, copies of your most recent electrocardiograms would be helpful in case a medical emergency occurs in China. You can join our tour to China if you are physical disability. Besides the point that we take care of each individuals in our tours, we pay high attention to people who have special needs or physical disability. The local guide will always give you help whenever you have needs. But the following circumstances you should be aware of: Please note that cruise on the Yangtze River requires extensive walking. Services for the physically impaired are few and far between. Hotels are ok but buses and most of the scenery spots are not equipped to handle wheelchairs. On vessels, while a few cabins have been redesigned to offer wider doors, there are no elevators between decks - stairs are used. On stops at different ports while cruising the Yangtze, steep stairs and pathways must be navigated to get from the ship to the roads where tour buses can pick up passengers for sightseeing. Most of the sightseeing is on foot. Therefore, regretfully, we do not recommend these tours and cruises to wheelchair bound passengers or to passengers with severe walking limitations or other severe physical disabilities. Although we did successfully operated tours for some passengers with certain degree of disabilities.

Air pollution in some large cities is a problem, particularly in winter, and respiratory ailments are common.

HIV has become a significant concern in China. You should ask doctors and dentists to use sterilized equipment and be prepared to pay for new syringe needles in hospitals or clinics. Do not drink tap water. Hotels almost always supply boiled water that is safe to drink. Buy bottled water and/or carbonated drinks. Make sure you carry water purification tablets to use when neither boiled water nor bottled drinks are available. If at high altitude remember boiling points are higher. And water should be allowed to boil for considerably longer.

Special Diets - Airlines can accommodate you with vegetarian meals.

In Chinese restaurants, if you are with a group, meals tend to be served family style. There will be a variety of dishes, and there will always be vegetable-only dishes. If you have any questions about the meals, you can ask your local guide for help.

Meals in China - Both Chinese and Western cuisines are available throughout. All breakfasts are western style buffet with fruits, cold and hot cereals, Danish, Chinese dim sum and etc. Lunch and dinner are Chinese food. The round dining table accommodating 8-10 people provides an opportunity for quiet camaraderie. If you plan to try the food sold by street vendors, we suggest that you consult your doctor about recommended inoculations.

Some other suggestions:
Do not skip meals. Sightseeing takes energy.
Do not overindulge at meal times.You will feel better if you eat small portions throughout the day.
Eat fruits and vegetables whenever possible. This can help you avoid constipation.

Drink plenty of fluids. Mild dehydration, resulting from excessive perspiration, can make you more susceptible to fatigue, even illness. Keep a bottle of drinking water with you and try to drink even when you are not thirsty. On sightseeing trips, bottled water can be purchased everywhere for about 25 cents per bottle. Alternatives to water include fruit juices and soft drinks. Remember that alcoholic beverages will cause further dehydration.

Drinking water - Do not drink tap water in China. If your hotel room is not furnished with suitable drinking water, simply dial the housekeeping department and the chambermaid will be glad to bring you a thermos of hot water or a carafe of cold drinking water free of charge. Chinese and Western mineral/spring water can be purchased in most hotels. Chinese beer is excellent and is available throughout China. Imported beer, wine, spirits, and Coca-Cola are available everywhere.

Smoking - For smoking is hazardous, it is not allowed on public place in China.There are opportunities to smoke during the frequent sightseeing and rest stops. Note also that Chinese regulations strictly prohibit smoking on all domestic air flights.

People with Diabetes
Packing for a trip overseas? Getting ready for a road trip with friends? Finally going on that cruise? Plan ahead and ask important questions of your healthcare team to learn some great tips to maintain healthy diabetes management while on your getaway. Follow these tips and enjoy a more relaxing vacation!

* Whether you're lounging by the pool, or sightseeing for the day, remember to adjust your daily routine to accommodate your vacation schedule. Don't skip meals and remember that increased physical activity like hiking, walking or swimming may reduce blood glucose levels. You may need to adjust your medication or eat an extra snack.

* When you are away, it is important to test your blood glucose levels frequently, especially after meals if you cannot identify total carbohydrates or if you are more active than usual.

* Keep yourself hydrated by bringing bottled water.

* Always be prepared for the unexpected such as lost luggage, cancelled or delayed flights, rerouted trips and illness. Remember to pack supplies and portable snacks such as single servings of peanut butter and crackers, fruit cups, pudding, granola bars, fresh fruit or rice cakes in a carry-on bag to treat low blood sugar.

* When traveling to a different time zone, keep in mind you will need to adjust the time you eat your meals as well as when you take your medications.

* Be familiar with your destination. Do a little research ahead of time to identify the location and hours of operation of nearby hospitals, restaurants or grocery stores and pharmacies that you can get to easily.

Travel by Plane - Understanding the security measures in airports, consider bringing a letter from your physician stating that you are carrying an insulin pump and/or insulin/syringes and lancets to manage your diabetes," says Latham. Increase fluids before, during and after your flight to reduce the risk of dehydration. Most flights still sell mini-meals, but most are high in calories, fat, sodium and carbohydrates. If the snacks provided have food labels, be sure to read the food label and make your choice accordingly. When in doubt, it is always best to bring your own snacks (see above for a list of suggestions). During long flights, get up and walk around regularly, if possible.

Travel by car - Keep a cooler in the car with snacks and drinks. Also, be familiar with the route you plan to take. In the event that you need to find a location to stop, it will be helpful if you have identified populated areas with access to food, pharmacies and potentially hospitals. If the trip is several hours or more, consider stopping regularly to stretch and walk.

Travel by Boat - Most cruises have flexible meal times and buffet eating, however, you may want to request specific eating times and special meals (smaller portions, lower fat and sodium), if needed. Have a plan before filling up your plate at a buffet and try to make only one trip. Fresh fruits and vegetables typically are available, and it is a great way to incorporate fiber-rich foods into your diet.