(I). Prohibited Items
Entry and exit ports around the world generally have dedicated customs officials to manage the luggage and items of travelers. Regulations regarding the import and export of luggage and items vary by country. Therefore, when applying for a visa to a destination country, Chinese travelers should inquire with the relevant visa officers about the luggage and item management regulations of that country.
1. Personal Items
For personal daily necessities, countries in Europe and America generally have no restrictions; as long as they are for personal use, they are usually permitted for import. Travelers are generally allowed to bring in US dollars or other foreign currencies (including traveler's checks), but they must declare them truthfully. Before entering a foreign port, international flight attendants usually provide each passenger with a customs declaration form for clearance. Travelers should declare truthfully, including any foreign currency and traveler's checks carried. Western countries generally do not restrict the entry of foreign currency, but it must be declared. For gifts brought into the country, if they exceed a certain limit—for example, in the United States, if the value of gifts exceeds $50—customs will levy taxes.
2. Generally Prohibited Items
Customs worldwide generally strictly prohibit the entry of addictive or hallucinogenic substances such as opium, heroin, and marijuana, as well as their raw materials. Most countries, especially those participating in international wildlife protection organizations, have varying degrees of restrictions on animal products, such as ivory products and fur products. Western countries like the United States (except Japan) prohibit the import of ivory or ivory products from countries of origin, as well as the fur, skin, and bone products of endangered animals such as tigers and leopards. Major Western nations including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan prohibit travelers from bringing fresh fruits, vegetables, or unprocessed meat into the country. Arab and Islamic countries in West Asia have relatively strict import restrictions on books, periodicals, and other printed materials or audiovisual products that violate Islamic teachings. The State of Israel has strict restrictions on items and printed materials that are anti-Semitic or offensive to the sentiments of the Jewish people.
3. Items Prohibited in Singapore
Before entering the customs area, all entrants must complete an arrival card with personal details. In addition, a declaration form must be filled out, primarily to state any special items being carried. When entering customs, have your passport, visa, and return ticket ready for inspection.
Entering Singapore generally prohibits bringing in various fresh items, especially meat. Other items such as fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, seeds, animals, honey, mooncakes, salted duck eggs, and zongzi are also prohibited.
4. Currency
Starting November 1, 2007, anyone entering or leaving Singapore with more than 30,000 Singapore dollars or its equivalent in foreign currency and bearer negotiable instruments must truthfully declare it in accordance with Singaporean law and submit the completed declaration form to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority or the Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office.
(II). Departure
When departing, please ensure you have your passport, flight ticket, and personal travel items ready, and arrive at the designated meeting point. Remember to keep important travel documents and tickets such as your passport, visa, and flight ticket together; take good care of your cash, cards, and certificates. Our center will organize professional staff to handle luggage check-in and other procedures for the group. Group members should go to the airline's check-in counter to collect boarding passes and handle luggage check-in. Members should take care of their luggage claim tags, boarding passes, and return tickets. After filling out the departure card, you can pass through Chinese customs. When passing through customs, please move as a group, follow the instructions of the tour leader, and do not act on your own. Remember not to carry luggage for strangers to avoid being exploited.
(III). Flying
1. How to Prevent Airsickness
For those who suffer from severe airsickness, the following preventive measures can help avoid or alleviate symptoms.
(1). Ensure sufficient sleep the night before the flight so that you have plenty of energy for the next day.
(2). Take anti-airsickness medication at least one hour, or at least half an hour, before takeoff.
(3). Try to choose a seat far from the engine and near a window to reduce noise and expand your field of vision.
(4). While in the air, try to engage in activities that require concentration, such as reading, chatting, or listening to music.
(5). Maintaining spatial orientation is very important. Keep your gaze fixed on distant objects, such as clouds, mountains, or rivers in the distance. Do not look at nearby clouds.
(6). If you experience airsickness, in mild cases, continue to focus on your activity and look into the distance. If it is more severe, remain calm, sit still, and it is best to lie on your back with your head fixed.
(7). Prevent conditioned reflexes. If you notice a neighboring passenger showing signs of vomiting, leave the scene immediately and avoid looking at them.
(4). Precautions for In-Flight Meals
To avoid discomfort while flying, please note the following:
(1). Avoid overeating. High-altitude conditions can cause food to produce large amounts of gas in the body. Overeating increases the burden on the heart and blood circulation, and can cause nausea, vomiting, airsickness, and other "flight sicknesses."
(2). Avoid foods high in fiber and those that easily produce gas. At an altitude of 5,000 meters, the gas in the body increases by two times compared to ground level. Consuming such foods will worsen feelings of chest tightness and abdominal bloating during the flight.
(3). Avoid eating foods that are too greasy or contain large amounts of animal protein. Although the quantity may be small, these foods are difficult for the stomach to empty, and in the air, they will also cause gastrointestinal expansion.
(4). Due to changes in flight altitude, temperature, and air pressure, the human body consumes higher calories during flight. Therefore, it is important to consume high-calorie foods to maintain health. Generally, 1 to 1.5 hours before boarding, depending on individual circumstances, you may choose to eat bread, pastries, noodles, yogurt, leafy vegetables, lean meat, animal liver, candied fruit, or fresh fruit.
(IV). Entry
1. Filling Out the Arrival Card
Before the plane reaches its destination, flight attendants will distribute an arrival card to each passenger. The information required on the arrival card generally includes personal details, purpose of visit, destination name, and address. You also need to fill in: medications carried and the amount of cash carried. Please ensure you fill it out truthfully, carefully, and accurately. If the amount of cash carried exceeds the specified limit, you must use the red channel upon entry to make a customs declaration.
2. Entry Procedures
(1) Follow the "Arrivals" signs unless you are transferring at the same airport; "Arrivals" will guide you to Immigration Control.
(2) There will be electronic displays at the immigration checkpoint indicating which channel to use. Generally, there are dedicated channels for non-citizens. Please have each group member line up, present their passport, and have the group leader (or monitor) hold the invitation letter at the front of the line to explain the group's situation to the immigration officers.
(3) All passengers must complete entry procedures for their flight through the designated channel.
(4) Immigration officers will check if your documents are complete and if you hold a valid passport with a visa.
After verification, the immigration officer will stamp your passport to indicate the date of entry.
(5) After passing through immigration, you can proceed to collect your luggage. Based on the flight number on the electronic display, your luggage will be on the corresponding carousel (these procedures are the same as domestic flights). If you find your luggage is incomplete, contact your airline's airport office immediately.
(6) After collecting your luggage, the next step is customs inspection. You will generally see two exits:
① Green Channel — Nothing to declare;
② Red Channel — Items to declare;
If the items or cash you are carrying exceed the limit, you must choose the red channel.
(V). Safety
It is generally very safe. The local area is convenient, and the residents are warm and friendly. However, this does not rule out the possibility of occasional incidents in certain areas. Group activities are the safest way to travel; please do not leave the group to act alone while traveling abroad. Upon arriving at each stop, be sure to record the address and phone number of the hotel, the room numbers of the tour leader and guide, the license plate number of the tour bus, and the driver's contact number, so that you can find the group in case you get lost. When visiting tourist attractions or during free time, be sure to remember the meeting time and location clearly. Even if you leave the group for only a few minutes, inform the tour leader or fellow group members. When leaving the hotel, be sure to take a hotel business card for transportation and asking for directions.
Take care of your travel documents and personal belongings. Do not put valuables in checked luggage when flying. Cameras, camcorders, and camera batteries should not be checked. After receiving your checked luggage, be sure to remove the old tags to avoid errors during the next check-in. Keep valuables and documents with you. If items are lost in the hotel or on the tour bus, the hotel or driver will not be held responsible.
The following are safety precautions you should note:
1. Be extra careful when crossing the street, as the driving direction of motor vehicles abroad may differ. Remember to look for "Look Left" and "Look Right" prompts on the ground when crossing major intersections. Some major intersections have pedestrian crossing signal buttons; press this device when crossing to trigger a signal for passing vehicles to stop and wait.
2. Do not carry large amounts of cash, do not exchange money on the black market, and make maximum use of payment tools such as bank cards and traveler's checks.
3. Back up your passport, bank card, and traveler's check numbers so that you can report them lost or stolen promptly and accurately if they go missing.
4. Avoid disputes with intoxicated individuals.
5. If you must travel alone at night, try to avoid deserted streets and avoid hailing taxis in dark areas. Inform your landlord, friends, or relatives of your whereabouts.
6. Stay away from drugs.
7. Take care of your personal belongings. If you encounter theft or robbery, report it to the police immediately and seek help from the school's international office.
(VI). Points to Note While Traveling Abroad
1. When taking planes, ships, buses, or subways, you must abide by traffic regulations and try not to tamper with public facilities.
2. Board and alight from buses and subways in an orderly manner, keep the vehicle clean, and take your trash with you to throw in a bin outside when you leave. Do not open sealed windows or emergency exits yourself, except in emergencies or with the driver's permission.
3. Walk on sidewalks. At intersections with traffic lights, press the button on the roadside pole and wait for a clear signal before crossing. Do not cross when a red warning sign is flashing or steady. Where there are no traffic lights, ensure there are no cars coming from either direction before crossing, and never take photos on the road.
4. Keep quiet in public places to avoid disturbing others. After bedtime, do not talk loudly in your room, as this may disturb other guests.
5. All dangerous activities (including dangerous sports) are prohibited. Avoid acting alone without permission.
6. If you have a conflict with someone, report it promptly; do not argue, and certainly do not resort to force. If you engage in a fight while abroad, you may be immediately deported.
7. Manage your valuables and pocket money well, and spend money according to a plan. Check all your luggage and belongings every time you leave the hotel, and keep an eye on your luggage in public places to avoid losing money or valuables. Remember not to leave luggage unattended, otherwise, airports, stations, etc., have the right to confiscate it as dangerous items.
8. Do not talk loudly in public places. Be polite when entering or exiting doors or using stairs; ladies first. Queue in an orderly manner and do not cut in line. Pay attention to environmental hygiene; do not spit or litter.
9. When dining, place leftover food on your own plate or another plate; do not leave it on the table, and certainly do not throw it on the floor. At buffets, take only what you can eat and do not waste food.
10. Smoking and drinking are prohibited in public places.
11. You must stay close to the group during outings. If you get separated, do not panic; it is best to stay where you are or go to the nearest public phone booth to call the tour leader.
12. Keep the hotel room clean and do not damage room equipment or items. Do not take items from the room to other rooms. Each room should be cleaned before departure.
13. Many public places have drinking water devices for tourists; just press the button for water to spray out, but please do not use them to wash your hands.
14. When entering or exiting a place, look for "ENTRANCE" and "EXIT" signs. Push the door for "PUSH" and pull for "PULL." Be careful not to bump your head on glass doors or windows.
