Visitor Center | Travel information to the United States

What documents do I need to bring when traveling to the United States?

1. In order to facilitate inspection by local customs during transit, you should carry various documents such as your passport (passport photocopy), international air tickets, and ID cards with you and do not put them in your luggage.

2. After passing the Chinese border inspection, please carry your passport with you to fill in the immigration card in the United States. After arriving at the U.S. airport, you can pass through the U.S. Customs. After completing the U.S. customs procedures, the customs officers will return your passport and immigration card to you. This card is very important and must not be lost.

3. If you have just renewed your passport, be sure to bring your old passport with you when leaving the country. If you have a business visa, be sure to bring your invitation letter.

What items cannot be taken out of the country?

U.S. customs inspections are very strict. It is strictly forbidden to carry fruits, meat, contraband, animals and plants. You must declare when carrying more than 10,000 U.S. dollars. RMB cannot be used in the United States. Each passenger over 18 years old can bring 200 duty-free cigarettes and one bottle of spirits (not exceeding 750 ml, alcohol content not exceeding 22 degrees) when entering the United States. When returning to China, he can bring two pieces of duty-free cigarettes (400 pieces) and two bottles of duty-free wine (each bottle not exceeding 750 ml).

Does the hotel have power sockets? What is the voltage in the United States?

The hotel provides power sockets. The voltage in the United States is 110V, not the 220V commonly used in China. The three-hole sockets in the United States are slightly different from those in China. The top of the American three-hole plug is round, while the Chinese one is square. It is recommended that you bring a power converter. Power converters can be purchased at hardware stores and electrical appliance stores.

What is the climate like in the United States?

The northeastern coastal areas of the United States and the Great Lakes region in the north have a temperate humid continental climate, with cold winters and mild and rainy summers, such as New York, Washington, Boston, Philadelphia, and Buffalo;

The southeastern part has a humid subtropical climate, with warm winters, warm summers, and abundant precipitation, such as Orlando and Miami; the central part has a continental semi-humid, semi-arid and arid climate;

Most areas in the west have semi-arid and arid climates, such as Las Vegas and Grand Canyon National Park;

The northern section of the Pacific Coast has a temperate maritime climate, while the southern section has a Mediterranean climate, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego;

Alaska has a subarctic continental climate, with low temperatures and little precipitation all year round;

Hawaii has a tropical maritime climate, which is warm and humid all year round.

What is the time difference between the United States and China?

The time difference between the western United States and China is 16 hours. If it is 10 a.m. in China, then the time in the western United States is 6 p.m. the day before;

The time difference between the eastern United States and China is 13 hours. If it is 10 a.m. in China, then the eastern United States is 9 p.m. the night before;

In addition, the United States uses daylight saving time, so summer will be one hour earlier than winter, so the corresponding time difference will also be reduced by one hour.

How to make a phone call in the United States?

Telephone numbers in the United States have 10 digits, the first 3 digits are the area code, and the last 7 digits are the phone number.

1. Calls between locals and the same area: Just dial the 7-digit phone number directly, without dialing the first 3-digit area code.  

2. Long-distance calls in the local area: Regardless of whether they are in the same city or not, as long as the phone number is in a different area, you must first dial 1, followed by the area code and phone number.

3. International long distance: International direct dial call code 011 + country code + city or region code + telephone number.

For example, to call Shanghai, China: 88888888

Dial: 011 (international direct dialing code) + 86 (China code) + 21 (Shanghai code) + 88888888 (recipient’s phone number)

Note: When making international long distance calls, there is no need to dial the "0" before the other party's city or area number.

4. Emergency rescue phone number: For U.S. fire and police assistance, please dial 911.

U.S. embassy phone numbers

Chinese Embassy in the United States:

Address: 2300 Connecticut Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20008

Contact number: 1-202-328 2500

Fax: 1-202-588 0046

Email: oc_dc@mfa.gov.cn

Consulate General of China in New York:

Address: 520 12th Ave. New York, NY 10036

Contact number: 1-212-2449456

Fax: 1-212-5649389

Consulate General of China in Chicago:

Address: 100 West Erie Street, Chicago, IL60610

Contact number: 1-312-8030095

Fax: 1-312-8030110

Chinese Consulate General in Houston:

Address: 3417 Montrose Blvd., Houston TX 77006

Contact number: 1-713-5201462

Fax: 1-713-5213064

Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco:

Address: 1450 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Contact number: 1-415-6091789

Fax: 1-415-5630494

Consulate General of China in Los Angeles:

Address: 443 Shatto Palace, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Contact number: 1-213-807 8008

Fax: 1-213-8078091