Tips to Set Up a Representative Office in China

After your first study visit to China, you may realize that doing business in China requires a local presence of your firm to facilitate business communications, or you may wish to further assess a better understanding of the size and potential of the China market before investing committed resources.

The next step is to consider setting a representative office, which is the fastest and the most economical way to competitively position your firm’s presence in China. But first of all, you need to understand if a representative office’s structure is the most appropriate for your firm’s China’s market entry strategy.

A representative office’s primary function is to conduct China market research, and to coordinate parent firm’s activities in China. This includes liaison with local contacts, contract negotiations, warranty and after sales service, lastly import, export and distribution services.

However, a representative office is not allowed to conduct profit making activities which includes collecting payments or issue product or service invoices. Besides, the representative office can only represent its parent company for its existence in China. It is important to note although there is no with no profits, taxes to are still payable to the Chinese government. Furthermore, recruitment of staff cannot be done directly through your office but has to go through a local human resource agency.

Depending on your nature of business and its intended operations in China, the location of your representative office cannot be overlooked in your market entry process. Most representative offices are often located in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen as these cities offer higher agglomeration of the same industry players. However, 2nd or 3rd tier cities should also be considered for an early mover advantage into China market.

In addition, your representative office portrays your commitment and business operation in China and therefore an above average office furnishing will aid to leave a good impression on your Chinese partners or clients when they visit your office for discussion.

A representative office in China not only demonstrates your firm’s commitment to stay competitive in China, it also helps to improve communication between partners and in turn building up the much needed “Guan Xi” (Relationship) for more business opportunities and cooperation.

However if you are considering to set up a manufacturing or processing facility in China, a wholly foreign owned enterprise (WFOEs) will be of a better option, but would require a higher capital injection.

A point to note is that, even if you have set a WFOE in a city where your manufacturing facility is based, you may want to consider having a representative office in your target sales cities to facilitate business operation. On the other hand, a good distribution partner with regional coverage can help to rectify this problem.

Last but not least, it will be beneficial for your firm to engage a good Chinese market research firm to assist you to perform the necessary market research, setting up your representative office, arranging your China business trips, interpretation services and lastly market entry into China.

What Makes China An Ideal Holiday Destination

In recent years China has developed into a very popular tourist destination. It is now possible to rent holiday home accommodation in China and experience the true culture of this unique country.

China is one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations. This country has the highest population in the whole world and some amazing sights for tourists to see. It is famous for it electronic goods, travel and tourism.

A visit to China is like a visit to another world. It has different culture, different food and different people. China has several attractions to offer the tourists. It is like a treasure box that hides some of the best tourist places.

Beijing is the capital of the China. It is the most popular city of the country and famous for its cultural and historic places. Beijing has a number of temples, parks, museums and ancient houses. So, if you are willing to gather the information about the rich history and culture of China, Beijing is an ideal place for you. When staying in Beijing it is now possible to rent self catering holiday apartments.

If you are visiting China for the first time then you should explore The Great Wall Of China. It is one of the seven wonders of the world. It is China's most important cultural and historic symbols. It starts from the Shanghaiguan in the east of China and ends in the Jiayuguan in the west of China. It covers a total distance of around 6,300 kilometers.

The Great Wall of China was first built as a defense line against the nomadic incursions. The construction of this wall was begun around seventh century BC. Every year millions of tourists visit the great wall and are amazed by its sheer scale. The Wall of China is also known as a paradise for photographers. So, if you have a passion for photography, take your camera and be sure to visit this amazing sight.

Another popular tourist destination of China is the Forbidden City. It is also known as the Palace Museum or Imperial Palace. It is located in the center of the Beijing. This place is ideal for those people who love to gather information about the history of the country. The Forbidden City is also one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites.

For all those people who love to spend their holidays near to nature, the Heavenly Lake is the best place for them. This lake is situated in the east of Tianshan Mountain range. The lake is surrounded by the snow covered mountains that make it one of the most beautiful lakes of the world. This lake has an average depth of 60 meters and you can witness ice bergs, ice mushrooms and ice fountains. If you are lucky enough you will be able to rent holiday home accommodation in this region.

China also offers several places for worshiping like the Temple of Heaven. This temple is the largest temple and altar complex in China. You can get the experience of a peaceful atmosphere and also enjoy walking through its beautiful park. You can also watch local people doing Tai Chi and other forms of exercise like dancing. You can also relax in this place in a peaceful atmosphere.

To experience the marine life of China, you can explore the Ocean Aquarium in China. This is one of the favorite tourist spots of the country. Ocean Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world. You can see several marine creatures here and it is well worth a visit.

China has made a real effort in the last few years to encourage tourists and has relaxed its regulations to accommodate them. In some parts of China it is now possible to rent holiday home accommodation. If you get the chance to rent a holiday home in China it will allow you to experience the real China and get a true feel of the culture of this unique country.

China Hotels: the Olympics Fail to Draw a Crowd

This year athletes from all around the world will be descending on Beijing for the summer Olympic Games. As well as this millions around the world who will be watching at home on their television screens as the events unfold and potentially a few records get broken.

Whilst the athletes will be flocking to Beijing the same can’t be said for large portions of supports and fans. Hosting the Olympics is meant to draw a much larger tourist crowd than has been reported for this year, it is a chance for countries to almost show off and show the world what they have to offer and maybe they’ll return some day.

The trouble with the Chinese Olympics is there seems to be a number of hurdles in the way for people to come to the country to enjoy the Games. Official figures from the tourism Bureau in Beijing state that tourism figures are down 12.5% from a year ago which seems crazy considering the Olympics are happening this year.

The worst hit for this slump in tourism are hotels and the lack of tourist spending, in what was meant to be an excellent year of fully booked hotels and free-spending tourists, many have asked the question why?

The reasons for this apathy seem to be multiple ones. Firstly the negative press that China has received recently with regards to its human rights record and the disputes over Tibet has spilled over in to the build up for the Games. The tour that the Olympic flame took around the world starting in Athens was severely disrupted on numerous stop offs including Paris, London and San Francisco. The aim of these protestors seemed to be to draw attention to the negative side of China and some may argue they managed just that.

Other reasons include strict visa laws meaning that it would be hard to get in to the country at all. The recent earthquake in Beijing has caused speculation with regards to personal safety which has led to a lack of interest from some parties.

These reasons seem to be why most hotels in china are going to be between 44% and 77% filled, one hotel owner said that this was disappointing since they were expecting this figure to be in the 90s generally but unfortunately many foreign tourists are not going to be filling the hotels this year.

While the Olympics this year will surely be worth seeing it seems that people are more interested in observing from the armchair than the stadium in China.

Top 8 Must Do Before you Go to China

The most difficult thing, before preparing for a trip, is to come up
with the right ideas of what you should actually do. If you have never been to
Chinabefore, things might be a little
bit confusing for you. Here are some of the most important tips on how to
prepare yourself before going to this country.
1.Arrange your flight tickets
The first thing you should do is arrange your flight. Almost every major
airline flies to China. It is usually possible to book a flight on line, either
through the airline directly, or through a third party travel agency.
Approximate fares from Europe or North America will be around US$ 800 in low
season , rising to nearer US$ 1,600 in high season (summer months, around
Christmas and Chinese New Year).
2.Apply for a visa
After arranging your tickets will be able to apply for a Chinese visa.
The necessary documents needed to apply for a tourist visa are flight tickets,
original passport with a validity of at least 6 months and a completely filled
application form with photo. If you do business in China you need an invitation letter by a company to get a F-Visa. In order to obtain a visa it is not necessary to
submit the documents personally to the embassy. You may ask a third person.

3.Take out an insurance
Before going to a place like China you should remember to take some kind
of insurance, that can be used abroad, like accident or medical insurance. The
cost of travel insurance may vary depending on the cost and length of your
trip, your age or your health. Purchase insurance from a broker, or directly
from an on line insurer, as it is much cheaper than that sold by travel
agents.
4.Get vaccinated
Although there are no obligatory vaccinations before going to China, it
is highly advisable to see your doctor in this matter. Different vaccinations
are being recommended for certain travel destinations. This is because there
are several climatic zones in this country. The most common vaccination is
against hepatitis and typhoid. Information is available either the health
insurance information packs or at pharmacies that offer vaccination advice.

5.Take some medicines
For a trip to China, it is a good idea to bring a first aid kit. In
addition to typical travel supplies (band-aids, bandages, laxatives, etc.),
include insect repellent especially for the summer and if you go to the south
of China, make sure you've got some kind of topical anti fungal agent, and
sunscreen. In winter an additional supply of moisturizer is recommended because
it can get very dry.
6.Bring some cash
Before going to China make sure that you have some money in cash,
either in US Dollars or Euro. These currencies can easily be converted into the
Chinese currency RMB. In some places like smaller towns or villages around the
country, it might be quite difficult to find a bank or a cash dispenser. The
Bank of China is believed to be the most trustworthy place to change money.
7.Check your cellphone
All Europeans and many North Americans operating on GSM can use their
ordinary mobile phones. But North Americans, who operate on a different
frequency, need to have a more expensive tri band model. You may also need to
call your cellular operator to "unlock" your phone if you want to use it with a
local provider.
8.Buy a phrase book
You have to remember that not all people in China know how to speak a
foreign language. Even some employees at typical touristic places, like museums
or famous temples often do not speak English. It is highly advisable to buy a
decent phrase book before you come, just to make sure that you will be able to
communicate with the locals by asking them essential things such as directions,
food etc.

Who Needs a Transit Visa China?

Most people are aware that when they decide to travel globally, they may need a visa in order to enter the country they wish to visit. This is true of China. Typically, someone who needs a china.html transit visa Chinise someone who is traveling to another destination by way of the People’sRepublic of Chinahis type of visa, unlike others cannot be purchased or ordered through the mail, express delivery, internet or any other type of delivery. You must pick up your application and submit it in person. Generally, these types of visas are good for 1 or 2 entries. You can expect to pay for your visa, so do some research to see how much it will cost you so you are not surprised when you go to the office. The form referred to as a visa application form for the P.R. China as well as a recent small picture of yourself that allows the viewer to see the whole of yourself are just two of the things you will need. You should not be wearing a hat, sunglasses or anything else that may block your face.
You will also need to have a valid passport in order to get a transit visa China that has a minimum of two blank pages and is valid for a minimum of six months from the date of your application. You will also need a visa for the country that is to be your ultimate destination as well as plane tickets to the destination.
If you are not a citizen of the United Kingdom or the United States, you will not require a transit visa f you stay inside the airport for 24 hours or less. If your connecting flight out of China is longer then that, you will need to apply for a transit visa .If you are traveling by way of Shanghai, there are a few other countries besides the UK and the US where it is allowed that you may remain in the airport waiting for your connecting flight out for up to forty eight hours.