Adoption

Under the Adoption Law of the People's Republic of China, an adoptive parent must be 30 years of age or older to be eligible to adopt. The age restriction may be waived if the adopting parent is adopting a step-child. Children must be under the age of 14 when being adopted by a foreigner or by an overseas Chinese unless the child is a blood relative. The China Center of Adoption Affairs handles all matters relating to adoption. It is under the Ministry of Civil Affairs and has a website that contains much relevant information. The center can be reached at:

E-mail: mail@china-ccaa.org

Tel: (010) 63575785

Fax: 63575786

Address: No.7, Baiguang Road, Zhongmin Building, Xuanwu District, Beijing 100053, People's Republic of China

Credit Cards

Master Card, Federal Card, Visa, American Express, JCB and Diners Card are accepted in China, but only in major cities. Holders can draw cash from the Bank of China and pay for purchases at exchange centers of the Bank of China, appointed shops, hotels and restaurants. Credit cards are not always accepted for the purchase of rail and air tickets. Most ATMs do not accept foreign cards.

Electricity

The electric voltage in China is 220V/50Hz and the standard wall socket has three-connectors.  The best hotels also have 110v, but travelers from the United States and other countries where the voltage is 110v might wish to bring an adaptor to China.

Communications

China's Internet country-code top-level domain: cn

China's telephone calling code: 86

Free Emergency Telephone Numbers in Chinese Major Cities:

To report a fire: 119

To report a robbery: 110

To seek first aid: 120

To report a traffic accident: 122

To get the correct time: 117

Weather forecast: 121

Domestic long distance:

For direct long-distance calls (DDD) in China dial the domestic prefix "0," then the area code and phone number.

International calls:

Dial the international prefix "00," then the country code, area code and phone number.  International calls made from China have a three-minute minimum charge and then a minute-by-minute charge.

Collect international calls:

United States - 10810

Japan - 108811, 812, 813

Hong Kong - 108852

Canada - 108186

Australia - 108610, 612, 613

Germany - 1084902

Great Britain - 108440

France - 10833

Denmark - 108450

Spain - 108340

Italy - 108390

International Organizations in China

European Union Delegation of the European Commission

Chancery: No. 15, Dong Zhi Men Wai Da Jie, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6532 4443

Facsimile: (8610) 6532 4342

League of Arab States

Chancery: 1-14-2, Ta Yuan Office Building, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6532 4083

Facsimile: (8610) 6532 4082

United Nations Development Programme

Chancery: No. 2, Dong Qi Jie, San Li Tun, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6532 3731 and (8610) 6532 3730

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Chancery: 4-2-151, Jian Guo Men Wai, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6532 2835 and (8610) 6532 2837

United Nations Fund for Population Activities

Chancery: No. 2, Dong Qi Jie, San Li Tun, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6532 3732 and (8610) 6532 3733

World Food Program

Chancery: No. 2, Liangmahe Nanlu, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6532 3734 and (8610) 6532 3735

United Nations Children's Fund

Chancery: No. 12, San Li Tun Lu, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6532 3131

Facsimile: (8610) 6532 3107

World Health Organization

Chancery: 9-2-151, Ta Yuan Diplomatic Compound

No. 1, Xindonglu, Dong Zhi Men Wai, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6532 5633

Facsimile: (8610) 6532 2359

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization

Chancery: 5-153, Jian Guo Men Wai, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6532 1725 and (8610) 6532 4854

International Labor Organization

Chancery: 1-11-2, Ta Yuan Office Building, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6532 5091 and (8610) 6532 5093

World Bank Resident Mission in China

Chancery: Building 5, Diaoyutai State Guesthouse,

No. 2, Fu Cheng Lu, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6851 2227

Facsimile: (8610) 6852 4140

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Chancery: No.2, Liangmahe Nanlu, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6532 6806

Facsimile: (8610) 6532 1647

UNIDO Investment Promotion Service, Beijing

Chancery: 5-1-41, Ta Yuan Diplomatic Compound

No. 1, Xin Dong Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6532 6140

Facsimile: (8610) 6532 6145

International Monetary Fund

Chancery: 11/F Hong Kong-Macao Center

Dong Si Shi Tiao Li Jiao Qiao, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6501 2551

Facsimile: (8610) 6501 1565

International Finance Corporation

Chancery: Unit 3711, 37/F, Jing Guang Center,

Hu Jia Lou, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6501 5171

Facsimile: (8610) 6532 5176

International Maritime Satellite Organization

Chancery: Suite 2404, Block E, Huiyuan International

Apartment, Beijing, China

Telephone: (8610) 6499 1639

Facsimile: (8610) 6493 1067

Temperature Conversion

To convert Fahrenheit into Celsius, subtract 32, multiply by 5, and divide by 9.

To convert Celsius into Fahrenheit, multiply by 9, divide by 5 and add 32.