FAQs

Q: ADMISSION -- What are your admission requirements?
A: EastBound Trip's China Programs are open to all persons worldwide
provided they are:
i. 18 to 60 years old (with exceptions)
ii. Have completed high school
iii In good health.
For exceptions, please contact the Admissions Section.

Q: ARRIVAL -- Can I arrive prior to the orientation day?
A: Yes. Let the Beijing office know your planned arrival date and EBT will make your accommodation reservations beginning on the day you designate. Note that you will be responsible for payment of accommodation fees for any additional days outside of your course program.

Q: COURSE CREDIT -- Can I receive university / college credit for course work conducted in your program?
A: All the universities & academies in EBT's programs are preeminent in their fields, and have cooperative arrangements with numerous universities and research institutions around the world. Many of our students in the past have received credit for their coursework completed here. EBT assists our students in obtaining any information and documentation required supporting their request for course credit. The final decision to offer academic credit is up to your university.

Q: MONEY -- How can I get or exchange money while I am in Beijing ?
A: The local money is RMB, we used to call it Yuan. One dollar is equal to 8.21 yuan, and one euro is 10 yuan approximately. You can get the change of your cash or the travel check almost in all large banks, ATM machines are available at limited Bank of China, CITIC Industrial Bank locations (downtown) and CityBank, Major hotels and most fine restaurants and stores now accept credit cards. Students enrolling for longer courses may wish to open a bank account through the (ICBC) Industrial & Commercial Bank of China OR BC (Bank of China) and transfer funds from accounts in their home country.

Q: FOOD -- How much do meals cost?
A: The cafeteria on campus offers single dish meals with rice for as little as 4 RMB (US$0.50 or 0.4 euro) per meal. Chinese restaurants on campus and in the local area offer meals for 10 - 20 RMB (~US$1-3 or 1-2 euros) per person. Western restaurants cost between 50 and 100 RMB (~US$6 – 12 or 5-10 euros) per person per meal.

There are many grocers or conveniences in street, most of them are open from 8:30 to 23:30 , and some of them are of 24 hours' service. In supermarket of Beijing you can find almost any food you may find in your country, these are open from 8:30 to 21:30 .

Q: COOKING -- Are refrigerators and cooking facilities available?
A: Sure, private apartment and home stay have a kitchenette and refrigerator; campus residence has the facilities as well(in public using); some of hotels does not offer kitchenette and refrigerator; please ask our program advisor for more information.

Q: LAUNDRY -- Where can I do laundry?
A: There are also Laundromats located nearby, which provide laundering, ironing, and dry cleaning services. Laundry service is also available on campus for students living there.

Q: TRANSPORTATION -- What kinds of transportation can I take in Beijing ?
A: There're many transportation options: public bus (which costs 1 RMB per ride within 5 kilometres) and subway (3 RMB per ride), as well as taxi which is less expensive, here're tree kinds of taxi service: 1.2 RMB/km, 1.6 RMB /km and 2.0 RMB/km, so it'll cost you 10 RMB (~US$1.25) for short distances (4 kilometres) and up to 30 RMB to go across town or downtown. Many students also opt to buy bicycles while they are in China . Bicycles are the most prevalent mode of transport in Beijing and the flat topography makes Beijing an ideal city for this type of transportation. New bicycles can be purchased for around 200 RMB (US$25) in almost all the large supermarkets, bike store can be fund in every where.

Q: INTERNET -- How can I get access to the Internet?
A: Internet access is provided free to EBT students via terminals in the EBT Center . EBT also helps arrange in-room Internet access for interested students living in the hotel. (There are different ways to connect internet, such as broadband, adsl, public calling numbers and etc, please contact our program advisors for more information) Chinese Internet service providers are very inexpensive. In addition, there are many Internet cafes in the university district.

Q: PREPARATIONS -- What do I need to bring with me?
A: Today in Beijing you can find almost any product and brand that you would find at home. Things needed for daily use are available in every supermarket. We recommend that you bring any prescription medication in sufficient quantities to last for the duration of your visit and any preferred brands of over-the-counter medications (cold & flu tablets, etc.) Clothing and shoes are also plentiful and very inexpensive.

Q: VACCINATIONS -- What vaccinations do I need for China ?
A: The following vaccinations and applicable frequencies are recommended for students coming to China: Hepatitis A (within previous 10 years); Hepatitis B (within previous 5 to 10 years), Japanese B Encephalitis (within previous 3 years); Tetanus (within previous 10 years); Polio (within previous 10 years); and Typhoid (once in lifetime). Students 55 and older should also have a Pneumococcal Vaccine.

Q: VOLTAGE -- What is the voltage used in China ?
A: The voltage here is 220. Converters and power strips may be purchased locally.

Q: WEATHER -- What is the weather like in Beijing ?
A: Winter (December - March) in Beijing is dry and windy. The capital experiences perhaps one or two snowfalls per winter, and the temperature hovers around 0 degrees Celsius for most of the season. Down jackets are recommended. Spring (April - May) is brief, but temperatures are pleasant (13 - 18 degrees Celsius). Sand and grit from the Gobi Desert to the north bring occasional dust storms. Summer (June - August) is hot with sticky humidity and afternoon thundershowers. The average temperature is 26 degrees Celsius. Fall (September - November) temperatures range from 5 degrees to the mid-teens. Evenings may turn unexpectedly cold. Light jackets or sweaters are needed.