Getting to China

AIRPORT TICKETS

All students are encouraged to book tickets independently well in advance of departure through a U.S. travel agent. Students flying from New York should consider inexpensive international flights with stopovers through Seoul, Korea, and students flying from San Francisco or Los Angeles should consider international flights with stopovers through Osaka or Tokyo, Japan, on JAL, since both offer affordable direct international flights to Shanghai and Hangzhou.

C-Trip
E-Long Travel

Please check with your airline carriers as to the amount of luggage you are allowed to bring with you to China. Please note if you are not flying direct and have planned a stopover in China that the number and size restrictions of checked and carry-on baggage for international and domestic carriers may differ, and while the international carrier may allow more or heavier baggage, smaller domestic planes may not. Please note that different luggage restrictions for international and domestic flights exist even for the same airline, so please make certain of the baggage allowance on all flights to avoid charges for overweight baggage. Most airlines, however, allow two pieces of checked baggage in addition to one piece of carry-on luggage.

AIRPORT ARRIVAL

For students arriving in China, there are several cities in China that have international connections with the United States and European countries, including Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) has international connections to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Bangkok, and Singapore. We recommend that students traveling to China for the first time fly directly into Hangzhou on a domestic or international flight, although this may not be the least expensive alternative. Students with sufficient international travel experience may also fly directly to the Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) and arrange other transportation to Hangzhou by bus or taxi, following directions in the below section. You may also take the bus or maglev from the Pudong Airport to Shanghai and then take either a bus or train from Shanghai to Hangzhou, but this alternative is only recommended if you intend to first stay in Shanghai for more than one day, as this can be complicated for inexperienced travelers.

We recommend that you change at least USD 100 into Chinese Yuan (CNY) at the international airport (approximately equivalent to CNY 823), since orientation week will begin soon after your arrival and you may have little time to change money in the city. If you will be traveling by bus or taxi from Shanghai, you should change USD 200, since a larger amount may be necessary to cover your transportation costs or unforeseen expenses enroute to Hangzhou.

Please remember to pack all documents sent by World Headquarters, including China Center Guidebook and the Program Handbook, and the recommended phrasebook and guidebook in your carry-on luggage. Should anything happen in transit, such as loosing your checked-in luggage or missing a connecting flight, it is important you have these items on your person so you know how to contact us and travel independently.

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