 A: Summit’s Language Programs are open to all persons worldwide provided they meet Chinese visa requirements. * Note the HSK courses require a vocabulary of around 600 Chinese characters. Q: HOW TO APPLY A: Contact Maggie via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at +86 (871) 535.4889. Q: VISA A: Summit can provide the relevant invitation documents and advice for application for a 3 month or 6 month business visa from any Chinese embassy in your home country. We can also provide advice and help extend visas if you’re already in China. Contact us, or apply for details of the application process. . Q: PRICES AND DATES A: See our programs pages or send as an email for specific requests and enquiries Q: PAYMENT A: For students wishing to reserve a place on a particular course, or/and those applying for a business visa, Summit requires a 20% non-refundable deposit payable by the online PAYPAL option on the website. The rest is payable on your arrival. If you’re traveling in/to Kunming but are as yet unsure about whether to study, feel free to email us or come into the school for more information. See our map in the ‘About Us’ section. 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 – although the incidence of Japanese B Encephalitis is very rare in SW China)); 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: PREPARATIONS -- What do I need to bring with me? A: Today in Kunming you can find almost any product and brand that you would find at home. Soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. are all readily available at international supermarkets such as Carrefour or Wal-Mart. 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 is also plentiful and very inexpensive. Shoes are available, but larger sizes are hard to find. Q: INSURANCE A: Summit can recommend some well established insurance agencies that have a strong reputation for providing cover in China. The most suitable insurance plan will depend on your personal circumstances. Contact us for more information. Q: CHEAP AIRFARES A (1): There are lots of great deals for international travel to and from China. Shanghai is a well established cheap air travel hub, although Hong Kong and the airport at Chengdu also offer cheap flights to and from Europe. Beijing is often the only cheap option when flying in from the US. Contact us for advice or help. A (2): Contact us before booking Chinese domestic flights to or from Kunming. We can reserve you the cheapest flight available for your requested time/date of travel. Tickets are payable over the counter at the airport of departure. Q: ARRIVAL? A (1): Contact us before booking Chinese domestic flights to or from Kunming. We can reserve you the cheapest flight available for your requested time/date of travel. Tickets are payable over the counter at the airport of departure. A (2): China can be daunting even for experienced travelers. We are here to help. Let us know when you’re arriving in Kunming and we’ll be glad to pick you up from the airport and help you settle in to your preferred accommodation. On the other hand, we don’t want to smother you! We can do as much or as little as you like to make you feel comfortable. Contact us via the site email with any requests or queries. Q: ACCOMMODATION A: Accommodation is not included in the price of the course. See our ‘Accommodation’ section for more information. Q: What is the exchange rate? A: The official exchange rate for US dollars is approximately 8.27RMB to US$1. For Canadian dollars, the exchange rate is approximately 5.25RMB to $1CND. The exchange rate for the British pound is around 15.87RMB to $1GBP. Q: MONEY (1)How much money will I spend? A: People vary in their spending habits. Generally, program participants budget around $8USD a day. Q: MONEY (2) How can I get or exchange money while I am in Kunming? A: You may bring money with you, either in the form of cash or traveler's checks. ATM machines are available at Bank of China and CITIC Industrial Bank locations throughout the city, or cash advances can be drawn over the counter at most large banks for a transaction charge. Major hotels and most fine restaurants and stores now accept credit cards. Students enrolling for longer courses may wish to open a Chinese bank account, which we can help arrange, and transfer funds from accounts in their home country. Q: MONEY (3) What other types of expenses should I plan for while in Kunming? A: Entertainment in Kunming is generally inexpensive. A meal in a local restaurant averages around 15RMB (under US$2), although is cheaper if you’re eating as part of a group. DVDs can be bought for around 6RMB (under US$1). Local beer sells for 8-10RMB (around US$1) in bars or 3.5RMB (around US$0.5) in local supermarkets. Expect to pay western prices for a decent bottle of wine. Transportation options include the public bus (which costs 1 RMB per ride), as well as taxis which start at 8RMB or 9.60RMB after nine. Many students also opt to buy bicycles while they are in China. Bicycles are the most prevalent mode of transport in Kunming and the flat topography makes Kunming an ideal city for this type of transportation. New bicycles can be purchased for around 200 RMB (around US$25) or you can try out your bargaining skills at ‘the second hand’ bike market. Q: I am a vegetarian, is that a problem in China? A: In general, it is not difficult to be a vegetarian in China. Many Chinese dishes are vegetarian, and restaurants can often prepare dishes made to order. For example, sweet and sour pork can be prepared with tofu instead of meat. Kunming also has several restaurants with specific vegetarian options. Q: INTERNET – A: There are plenty of internet bars throughout the city. Many of the local cafes provided free internet and/or free wireless internet connection in their premises if you’re bringing a laptop. Q: VOLTAGE -- What is the voltage used in China? A: The voltage here is 220-240. Converters and power strips can be purchased locally. Q: WEATHER -- What is the weather like in Kunming? A: This is ‘Spring City’.. The yearly temperature averages 15.5 degrees Celsius. The months from Nov-Feb are generally colder and in fact there have been two snowfalls in the last five years. Mar-May sees regular rainfall while May to October sees the highest temperatures, often reaching the high twenties. Remember, Kunming averages about 200 blue skies a year. Chinese sunglasses are truly terrible, so bring your own! |