National currency of Uzbekistan is sum. This currency has been put into circulation in Uzbekistan since 1994 and today is the only means of payment. In circulation there are banknotes of the following value: 100,200,500, 1000 and 5000 sum.  All the banknotes differ in color. It is mainly cultural and historic monuments of Uzbekistan are depicted on the notes. Currently, the entire banknotes circle, but the bills up to 100 sum and the coins are not used.

Since 2004 Uzbek sum (UZS) is a convertible currency. Currency exchange offices are located in the airport, hotels, in the markets and banks, as well as in district visa and registration offices (at passport departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs). Majority of currency exchange offices in the city accept euros and US dollars. Other currencies can be exchanged only in those exchange offices, which are located in banks. In hotels currency exchange offices are opened 24 hours 7 days a week. Others usually open at 9 a.m., but their working day is already over at 3.30 or 4 p.m. Not all of them work on weekends and not all the time. 

National currency of Kyrgyz Republic - som, consist of 100 tyiin.

Banknotes som are: 1 som, 5 som, 10 som, 20 som, 50 som, 100 som, 200 som, 500 som and 1000 som.

Banknotes of tyiin are: 1 tyiin, 10 tyiin, 50 tyiin.

Nowadays tyiins usually are not used.

It is not a problem to exchange currency in Bishkek now. There are a lot of commercial banks in Kyrgyzstan and exchange offices. Most of them are situated in Bishkek, but you can find it in other cities of Kyrgyzstan. But sometimes it is almost impossible to exchange your currency in villages and little towns. So, exchange your currency beforehand in large cities. It would be better to exchange currency only in banks or in large exchange offices.

Dollar USD and Euro  - the most popular currency in Kyrgyzstan. But it is not a problem to exchange Russian Ruble and Kazakh Tenge.

You can pay in dollar or Euro in some tourist shops and restaurant in Bishkek city. 

You should draw attention to the condition of your currency. Most of exchange offices and some banks will not exchange shabby, crushed and old notes.

Nepalese cuisine refers to the food eaten in Nepal. Nepal's cultural and geographic diversity has resulted in a variety of cuisines based upon ethnicity and on soil and climate. 

The subtropical character of the latter allows for intensive agriculture, including rice, lentils, corn, wheat and potatoes are the main productions.

Strongly Vegetarian, Nepalese cuisine is based on the use of rice and lentils. It borrows both, Indian and Tibetan food traditions, whose influence dates back to the Middle Ages.

Chinese cuisine includes styles originating from the diverse regions of China, as well as from Chinese people in other parts of the world including most Asia nations. The history of Chinese cuisine in China stretches back for thousands of years and has changed from period to period and in each region according to climate, imperial fashions, and local preferences. Over time, techniques and ingredients from the cuisines of other cultures were integrated into the cuisine of the Chinese people due both to imperial expansion and from the trade with nearby regions in pre-modern times, and from Europe and the New World in the modern period. In addition, dairy is rarely—if ever—used in any recipes in the style.

The "Eight Culinary Cuisines" of China are Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan, and Zhejiang cuisines.

The staple foods of Chinese cooking include rice, noodles, vegetables, and sauces and seasonings.

Plov (pilaf) is at the center of the restaurant menus and Uzbek culture. There are no parties without plov. May be accompanied by shashlyk (meat skewer) and each southern city has its own recipe.

Uzbek cuisine has been also heavily influenced by neighboring countries.

The cuisine of Turkmenistan, is similar to that of the rest of Central Asia.  Plov, shorba and manty are the staple, everyday food, which is also served at celebrations. 

A wide variety of filled pies and fried dumplings are available in restaurants and bazaars, including somsa, gutap (often filled with spinach), and ishlykly. These are popular with travelers and taxi drivers, as they can be eaten quickly on the run, and are often sold at roadside stands.

Turkmen cuisine does not generally use spices or seasonings, and is cooked with large amounts of cottonseed oil for flavor.

Kazakh cuisine is the cuisine of Kazakhstan, and traditionally is focused on mutton and horse meat, as well as various milk products. 

The Kuurdak or kurdak is often called the national dish of Kazakhstan. It is a roasted horse offal dish, sheep, cow, including the heart, liver, kidneys and other organs and cut and served with onions and peppers)

Beshbarmak, is the national dish among nomadic Turkic peoples in Central Asia.

The term Beshbarmak means "five fingers", because the dish is eaten with one's hands. The boiled meat is finely chopped with knives, mixed with boiled noodles, and spiced with onion sauce. It is usually served in a big round dish. Beshbarmak is usually served withshorpo – mutton broth in bowls called kese.

The tandyr nan is a baked traditional bread in a tandoor oven. It is popular in the cities of the Silk Road.

Culinary art of Tajik people was formed for many centuries.

Meat dishes are basically cooked from mutton and goat's flesh. Since Tajiks are Moslems they do not eat pork at all. Very popular is horse meat.

Flat cakes are traditional Tajik bread. They are made from yeast, simple and rich, unleavened as well as fancy pastry. Flat cakes are baked in tandyrs - clay ovens stoked with fire wood. 

Soups in Tajik cuisine are very thick, rich, with aroma of spices. Tajiks cook their soups basically from meat, bone broth or preliminary frying thinly cut meat, sometimes with milk or vegetable broth.

Sweets, drinks and fruit which in Europe crown any meal are served twice during meals in Orient, and sometimes even three times - they are served before, after and during meals. The national pastry - twiglets, puff sweet pies and, naturally, halvah - is very popular and delicious.

Kyrgyzstan stood on the crossroads of the Silk Road, and the caravan routes which crossed the territory carried not only goods for trade, but also brought examples of various cultures: Turkish, Persian, Arabian, Indian, Chinese, Russian and European and these mingled with the culture and traditions of Central Asia. As a result Kyrgyz cuisine has absorbed elements from all of the cultures with which it came into contact, and although many dishes that you will find are common throughout Central Asia, it is sill possible to find examples that have preserved their original, national identity.

Meat is central to Kyrgyz cooking - the nomadic way of life did no allow for the growing of fruit and vegetables - although these can be found in abundance in modern Kyrgyzstan. One of the most essential features of Kyrgyz cuisine is that dishes should preserve their taste and appearance. Sauces are intended only to bring out the taste of the dish - not to change it.

Boorsok - pieces of dough, deep fried in boiling oil - is a traditional table "decoration". They are produced in large quantities and spread over the derstokan or table at every major celebration.

Beshbarmak - perhaps the most typical Kyrgyz dish. The dish is meant to be eaten with the hands, not with a knife and fork! "Besh" means five and "Barmak"  - finger. Beshbarmak is served when guests arrive and at almost any festive gathering. This meal consists of noodles, which are mixed with boiled meat but into tiny pieces and served with a medium spicy sauce. Bullion is then poured over the mixture.

Shashlyk and Kebabs - meat cubes on skewers cooked over the embers of burning twigs. Mutton is the meat usually used, but it is possible to find beef, chicken, liver and even pork shashlyk. The meat may simply be freshly sliced or may gave been marinated overnight. Be warned, if the meat is mutton, then almost certainly one of the pieces on the skewer will be pure fat...the dripping fat onto the burning embers is thought to enhance the taste. Shashlyk is usually served with a sprinkling of raw onion, vinegar and lepyoshki.

Plov - rice mixed with boiled, or fried meat, onions and carrots (and sometimes other ingredients such as raisins), all cooked in a semi-hemispherical metal bowl called a kazan over a fire. Plov is a favorite dish in the South and is served to honored guests - the meal is not considered over until it has been served.

Lagman - flat noodles cooked in a stew of tiny pieces of mutton, potatoes, carrots, onions and white radishes. A Russian version, minus the noodles called Shorpo, can often be found.

In Uzbekistan, to get to other parts of the country, you can use the mini-buses. In Tashkent, buses start from the bus station near the metro station "Sobir Rakhimov." It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance, so passengers quickly snapping up seats. Tickets are sold to foreigners in the 51 street Movanurahr, from 8 am to 5 pm. For example the way to Bukhara will take 11 hours, to Kokand 3 hours, to Samarkand 6 hours, to Andijan 6 hours.

There are two main bus stations in Bishkek. At these bus stations you can take a minibus and get to any part of the country such as to the towns of the Chui Region as well as to Cholpon-Ata, Karakol, Naryn, Talas, Djalal-Abad, Osh etc. There is no well-defined bus schedule, so minibuses depart as soon ass they get full.

Located in the heart of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is a great mountain barrier between an environment of huge desert and steppes. The landscapes are so diverse, that this small country offers a multitude of reasons to go there. Semi-desert wedged between lakes and alpine forests, unexplored mountains, fertile plains and nomadic traditions have created the peculiarities of Kyrgyzstan.

During the 20th century, Kyrgyzstan was incorporated into the USSR. Nowadays, as an independent republic, Kyrgyzstan is struggling to successfully implement free-market reforms and maintain political and ethnic stability. The Kyrgyz government has been actively pursuing ethnic tolerance and democratization polices. Kyrgyzstan has the most liberal media in the former Soviet Union, while both the Russian and Kyrgyz languages are official in this country of well-educated population and a sizable Russian minority.

Kyrgyzstan has a self-sufficient agricultural sector, rich in mineral resources and with high potential in hydroelectric power generation, while economic ties remain strong with Russia and the other members of the Commonwealth Independent States (CIS).

Area:
total: 198,500 sq km 
land: 191,300 sq km 
water: 7,200 sq km

Climate:
dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone

Geography - note:
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes

Ethnic groups:
Kyrgyz 72.1%, Uzbek 14.3%, Russian 6.8%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 0.3%, Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (2012 census)

Languages:
Kyrgyz (official), Russian (official)

Official Name: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

Area: 147,181 sq k

Geography: Nepal is a landlocked country located between China, in the North, and India in East, West and South. Highest point Mt. Everest (8,848m) and lowest Kechana (60m above sea level

Capital: Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. Kathmandu is a valley surrounded by four hills – Fulchowki, Chandragiri, Shivapuri and Nagarjun. Kathmandu valley has three major cities Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan. Situated at the altitude of 4,500 feet above sea level, Kathmandu is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. Before the unification of Nepal in the 18th Century, the three cities were independent states ruled by the Malla kings.

Population: 29.3 million (according to the census of 2010

Language: Nepali is the national language. However, people speak Newari, Bhiojpuri, and Maithali among others as their mother tongue. People in the urban areas understand English quite well

Climate: Nepal has four seasons, namely, 1. winter (Dec-Feb), 2. Spring (June-Aug), 4.Autumn (Sep-Nov). Nepal can be visited round the year.

Political system: Multi-party system of Democracy

People\religion: Nepal had more than 105 ethnic groups with diverse culture, traditions and lifestyle. Nepali people can be divided into two distinct groups:Indo-Burman and Mongoloid. Nepal is a secular state with majority of people following Hinduism. However, people practicing Buddhism, Christianity and Islam among others live in a good harmony

Administrative Division: Though Nepal is a federal republic, federal states are yet to be carved. Nepal is divided into five development regions, 14 Zones and 75 Districts

Geographical Division: Geographically, Nepal is divided into Hills, Mountain and Tarai regions.

Entry Procedures:
All foreigners, except the Indians, need to have a valid passport and a visa to enter Nepal. Visas can be availed from Nepali diplomatic missions and consular offices station abroad or upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport and other entry points.

Mongolia is a landlocked country in Northern Asia, strategically located between China and Russia.

The geography of Mongolia is varied with the Gobi Desert to the south and with cold and mountainous regions to the north and west. Much of Mongolia consists of steppes and much of the Gobi Desert. The terrain is one of mountains and rolling plateaus, with a high degree of relief. Overall, the land slopes from the high Altai Mountains of the west and the north to plains and depressions in the east and the south. The Khüiten Peak in extreme western Mongolia on the Chinese border is the highest point (4,374 meters).

Its area is 1,564,116 sq km (ranked 19th in the world) and the average attitude is 1580m. The highest point is Mount of Khuiten culminating at 4374 m altitude in the northwest. 

It has the lowest density in the world is 1,6hab / km ². 

Landscape: Mountains dominate two thirds of the country, nearly 8% of the territory is covered by forest and most landscapes are wide open prairies, plains and desert. Taiga and forest steppe also cover much of the country. 

Climate: The country has a continental climate that is changing very quickly. There are four clear-cut seasons! The temperature range is about 70 ° C between summer and winter. Mongolia is a remarkably sunny country (with relative sunshine 270 days / year). At night you can see an amazing display of stars. Winter is very long (November-April) and it is very cold in winter due to the high altitude of the country. In summer it is warmer in the Gobi in the south and in winter it is north of the country the lowest temperatures found. 

Population: Mongolia is home to a wide variety of ethnic groups and 2.7 million inhabitants according to the census of 2010, 60% of the population is under 35 years of which 60% are under 18! The number of newborns is growing very rapidly (Baby Boom). The government is pro-natalist policy to increase the population. 

Government: Mongolia has a parliamentary government with a president. The president is elected in general elections. Parliamentary and presidential elections are held every four years. The president can not make more than two terms. 

Administrative subdivisions: Mongolia is divided into 21 aimags (provinces), which are composed of 315 sums (small villages). There are two other major cities after the capital Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan and Erdenet. Each aimag has a capital where infrastructure is more developed. 

Telecommunications: Mongolia, most hotels and business centers offer direct international line, as well as telex, fax and internet connection. The most popular companies in Mongolia communication: Mobicom and Unitel-GSM, Skytel, Gmobile-CDMA. 

Currency: Tugrog (MNT). Currently (01/2012), 1 euro = 1800 MNT 

All times are UTC / GMT +8 hours 

Energy: There are a lot of coal for electricity generation. Part of the electricity is imported from Russia. Wind and solar energy are used locally on a small scale in Mongolia, but the potential for expansion in this area is considerable. 

Capital: The largest city in the country is Ulaanbaatar ("Red Hero"). Over 40% of the total population lives there. It became a city in 2006 with one million inhabitants. It is the economic, political, educational and cultural center of Mongolia. 

Mongolian language: the Mongols speak their own language, Mongolian. It is a language of Altaic origin as Turkish, Japanese and Korean. Mongolian has some regional differences in pronunciation, causing several local dialects. Although the Mongols of Inner Mongolia (China) speak Mongolian, they have a different accent. Kazakhs, the minority group in the country, speak Kazakh. The Cyrillic alphabet has been used since 1940 The youth of today are relearning the traditional Mongolian script Uigurjin which had not been used since 1940 in school. There are some newspapers and magazines that are published in traditional Mongolian script.

Covering approximately 9.6 million square kilometers, China is the world's second-largest country by land area, and either the third or fourth-largest by total area, depending on the method of measurement. China's landscape is vast and diverse, ranging from forest steppes and the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts in the arid north to subtropical forests in the wetter south. The Himalaya, Karakoram, Pamir and Tian Shan mountain ranges separate China from South and Central Asia. The Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, the third- and sixth-longest in the world, run from the Tibetan Plateau to the densely populated eastern seaboard. China's coastline along the Pacific Ocean is 14,500 kilometres (9,000 mi) long, and is bounded by the Bohai, Yellow, East and South China Seas. (Wikipedia)

Capital: Beijing (39°55′N 116°23′E)
Largest city: Shanghai

Official languages: Standard Chinese
Recognised regional languages: Mongolian; Tibetan; Uyghur; Zhuang

Ethnic groups:
91.51% Han
55 minorities

People's Republic proclaimed: 1949 

Area: 9,596,961 km2

Population: 1,357,380,000

Density: 145/km2

This country still unknown still hides many secrets . Many archaeological sites show a very rich history. While the capital Ashgabat seems out of the unreal. Very modern gilded buildings recall the madness of the last Turkmenbashi ( Turkmen Emperor ) .

The territory is almost completely covered with deserts and contains many minerals . It is confined between Uzbekistan , Iran and Afghanistan.

It is now possible to visit the Turkmen historical wonders dating back over 5000 years. Merv is probably the most important site during the Silk Road , but you can also visit the Great Mosque of Anau . It also hides the natural wonders such as hot Bakharden lake and cave Kou -Ata , canyons Yangikal , Gozli -Ata or the beaches of the Caspian Sea.

Area:

Total : 488,100 km2

Climate:
Turkmenistan has an arid desert climate with extreme summer heat and sub-freezing winter temperatures. Turkmenistan enjoys a dry, continental climate, with very hot summers (rarely below 35°C and occasionally up to 50°C in the southeastern regions of the Karakum Desert). Turkmenistan enjoys an average of 250 sunny days annually. In the south of Turkmenistan the climate is also slightly more continental than in the north and temperatures seldom drop below 5°C. Northern areas, near the Uzbek border and Khorezm (Dashoguz), can become very cold in winter with temperatures dropping below -20°C.

The best months for moderate temperatures are April and May for the beautiful blossoming deserts and mountains. September and October are great for an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, in the autumn harvest season. There is snow in the north, as well as above 1,000m in the mountains in January and February.

Geography :
Turkmenistan is located in the southwest part of Central Asia. In the north and the east it borders on Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, in the south -on Afghanistan and Iran. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea. There are only three types of landscapes there: desert plains, oases and mountains. The most part of the country's territory (about 80 %) is the plain occupied the Kara Kum Desert stretching from west to east for 880 km. (375,000 square kilometers). In the northwest, by the coast of the Caspian Sea there is the Kara Bogaz Gol Gulf located 35 m below the sea level. In the south and southwest are the Kopet Dagh and Paropamisus Mountains. The largest lake is Lake Sarykamysh (saline). The main rivers are the Amu Darya, the Murghab and the Tedzhen.

Natural resources: oil, gas, potash and rock salts, nonferrous and rare earth metals. Climate - sharp continental, very dry. Winters are warm, summers - hot.

Time: UTC + 5 hours (UTC stands for Universal Time Coordinated).

Customs:
Permission from the Ministry of Culture is required to export carpets or other objects of art. Carpets produced before 1975 may not be exported. Export certificates for carpets are issued by the Museum of Carpets, which seals the carpets and issues export certificates, after the appropriate fee has been paid in manat currency (amount depends on the size of carpet).The best place to buy carpets is Tolkuchka Bazaar.

Communication:
Turkmen language belongs to the Turkic group of languages (closely related to Turkish) and has been the official language since 1990. It is therefore now used in all official state and literary matters. The Cyrillic script used during Soviet times has gradually been discontinued, in favor of the Latin alphabet. Turkmen, Russian and English are the most widely known languages.

Official Name: Turkmenistan
Capital: Ashgabat
Population: 5,043,618
Total area: 488,1OO sq. km
Density: 8 people per sq. km
Languages: Turkmen, Russian, English
Government: Single party republic
National currency: Manat
Population: Turkmen 91 %, Ukrainian 3 %, 2% Russians

Kazakhstan is by far the largest of the Central Asian states of the former Soviet Union. It has borders with Russia, China, and the Central Asian countries of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
Kazakhstan is the world's ninth biggest country by size, and it is more than twice the size of the other Central Asian states combined. Its lack of significant historical sites and endless featureless steppe have put many off Kazakhstan, while many still are captivated by the emptiness and mystery of this Goliath state. It will be many travelers’ first port of call on their Central Asian adventure, and there is much for the intrepid traveler to enjoy. Kazakhstan is the richest country in Central Asia, due to its large oil and natural gas reserves. The country is also the largest landlocked country. (Wikitravel)

Capital: Nur-Sultan (former Astana) (51°10′N 71°25′E) 
The largest city with a population of more than 1.8 million people is Almaty.
Largest city: The largest in terms of population is the city of Almaty. 
And the largest in territory - the city of Shymkent
Official languages: 
Kazakh (national) 
Russian
Ethnic groups:
67,98 % Kazakh
19,32 % Russian
3,21 % Uzbek
1,47 % Ukrainian
1,47 % Uyghur
1,1 % Tatar
1.1% German
4.35% others
Independence from the USSR: 1991
Area: 2 724 902 км²
Population: 18,671,893 
Density: 5.94/km2
Currency: Tenge (₸) (KZT)
Time: zone West / East (UTC+5 / +6)
 

The territory that now constitutes Tajikistan was previously home to several ancient cultures, including the city of Sarazm of the Neolithic and the Bronze Age, and was later home to kingdoms ruled by people of different faiths and cultures, including the Oxus civilization, Andronovo culture, Buddhism, Nestorian Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Manichaeism. The area has been ruled by numerous empires and dynasties, including the Achaemenid Empire, Hephthalite Empire, Samanid Empire, Mongol Empire, Timurid dynasty, and the Russian Empire. As a result of the break up of the Soviet Union Tajikistan became an independent nation in 1991. A civil war was fought almost immediately after independence that lasted from 1992 to 1997 however since the end of the war, newly established political stability and foreign aid have allowed the country's economy to grow. (Wikipedia)
 

Capital and largest city: Dushanbe (38°33′N 68°48′E)

Official languages: Tajik
Recognised regional languages: Russian

Ethnic groups:
79.9% Tajik
15.3% Uzbek
1.1% Russian
2.6% others

Religion: Islam

Independence from the Soviet Union: 1991

Area: 143,100 km2

Population: 8,208,000

Density: 48.6/km2

Once part of the Turkic Khaganate and later Timurid Empires, the region which today includes the Republic of Uzbekistan was conquered in the early 16th century by nomads who spoke an Eastern Turkic language. 

This region was subsequently incorporated into the Russian Empire in the 19th century, and in 1924 it became a bordered constituent republic of the Soviet Union, known as the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (Uzbek SSR). It subsequently became the independent Republic of Uzbekistan on 31 August 1991 (officially, as of the following day). 

Most of Uzbekistan's population today belong to the Uzbek ethnic group and speak Uzbek, a language belonging to the family of Turkic languages.


Capital and largest city: Tashkent (41°16′N 69°13′E)

Official languages: Uzbek
Recognised regional languages: Karakalpak

Ethnic groups:
81.1% Uzbek
5.4% Russian
4.0% Tajik
3.0% Kazakh
2.5% Karakalpak
1.5% Tatar
2.5% others

Independence from the Soviet Union: 1991 

Area: 448 978 km2

Population: 30,185,000

Density: 61.4/km2

Currency: Uzbekistan som (O'zbekiston so'mi) (UZS)

Time zone: UZT (UTC+5)

In China there are over 180 airports, and this number continues to grow due to new and always thoughtful, modern airport terminal. In what would be the province did not plan to travel as tourists, almost everywhere there own airport, and even more than one. The largest airports in China: Hong Kong; Guangzhou; Beijing; Shenzhen, Ürümqi; Shanghai.

Customs
Import regulations:
Free import of:
1. max. 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars and 500 grams of tobacco.
2. max. 1,5 liters of alcoholic beverages exceeding 12% alcohol by volume;
3a. Residents: articles brought from overseas:
- residents: max. value of CNY 5,000.-.
- non-residents: max. value of CNY 2,000.- for articles remaining in China (People's Rep.).
Prohibited: fruits.

Arms and Ammunition regulations:
Import, export and transit is allowed, if prior authorization is obtained from competent department. Arms and ammunition must be declared at all times. If prior authorization is not obtained, import of arms and ammunition is prohibited.

Additional Information on regulations:
Antiques should be declared on arrival.

Export regulations:
Cultural relics, endangered animals and plants and precious metals must be declared.
Additional information: antiques should carry an authorization seal or authorization letter by the Department of Cultural Relics. A customs declaration obtained when entering China (People's Rep.) is required in case the items will be re-exported.

Pets:
Cats and dogs:
- may be imported either as passenger's checked baggage, in the cabin or as cargo.
Only one pet per passenger is allowed;
- shall be under 30-day isolation and quarantine and can enter only via the airports of Beijing (PEK), Guangzhou (CAN), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Urumqi (URC). For exemptions see items 1., 2. and 3. below;
- must have a microchip according to the international standards of ISO 11784 and 11785.

The following pets are exempt from isolation and quarantine and may enter China (People’s Rep.) through any port after passing on-site quarantine:
1. pets arriving from Australia, Cyprus, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Macao, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA (Guam and Hawaii only) and holding valid quarantine certificates and vaccination certificates issued by the competent authorities of the exporting country;
2. pets arriving from any other country and holding:
- valid quarantine certificates and vaccination certificates issued by the competent authorities of the exporting country;
- rabies antibody test showing a blood titre result of at least 0.5 IU/ml carried out in an approved laboratory;
3. guide dogs, hearing dogs and rescue dogs and holding valid quarantine certificates, vaccination certificates and relevant professional training certificates.

Prohibited: birds.

Baggage Clearance regulations:
Baggage is cleared at the first airport of entry in China (People's Rep.).
Exempt: baggage of passengers in transit via Beijing (PEK) or Chongqing (CKG), if it is labeled to a destination outside of China, and the onward flight is within 24 hours.

Currency
Currency Import regulations:
Local currency (Chinese Ren Min Bi-CNY): max. CNY 20,000.- in cash.
Foreign currencies: Amounts exceeding USD 5,000.- in cash must be declared.

Currency Export regulations:
Local currency (Chinese Ren Min Bi-CNY): max. CNY 20,000.- in cash.
Foreign currencies: Amounts exceeding USD 5,000.- in cash must be declared.

Airport Tax : No airport tax is levied on passengers upon embarkation at the airport.

Consular Services

A consular service is available in Beijing, Shenzhen and Shangai , but most citizens can obtain a visa online before arrival.

Apply China Visa on Arrival at Airport Beijing, Shenzhen and Shangai.
Aliens may apply Chinese visa on arrival at Beijing airport, in cases of an urgent need to travel to China and a lack of time to apply for visas to the Chinese visa office abroad, for the following reasons:

Being invited at short notice by the Chinese side to attend a trade fair in China;
Being invited to China to enter a bid or to formally sign an economic or trade contract;
Coming to China under contract for supervision over export shipment, import commodity inspection or checked on the completion of a contract;
Being invited to install equipment or make rush repairs;
Coming to China at the request of the Chinese side for settling claims;
Being invited to China for scientific or technological consulting services;
A last-minute replacement or addition, approved by the Chinese side, to a delegation or group that has been invited and has already obtained visas for traveling to China;
For visiting a patient in a critical condition or making funeral arrangements;
As persons in immediate transit who, because of force majeure, are unable to leave China by original aircraft within 24 hours or have to leave China by other means of transport;
As other invitees who really do not have enough time to apply for visas to the above-mentioned Chinese agencies abroad but hold letters or telegrams from designated competent authorities approving the application for visas at port visa agencies.
Tour groups organized and received by International Travel Agencies in China or the approved Hong Kong/Macao travel agencies.
Port visa offices shall not handle visa applications of aliens who do not come under the above-listed categories.

Apply China Visa on Arrival at Airport Beijing
Aliens may apply Chinese visa on arrival at Beijing airport, in cases of an urgent need to travel to China and a lack of time to apply for visas to the Chinese visa office abroad, for the following reasons:

Being invited at short notice by the Chinese side to attend a trade fair in China;
Being invited to China to enter a bid or to formally sign an economic or trade contract;
Coming to China under contract for supervision over export shipment, import commodity inspection or checked on the completion of a contract;
Being invited to install equipment or make rush repairs;
Coming to China at the request of the Chinese side for settling claims;
Being invited to China for scientific or technological consulting services;
A last-minute replacement or addition, approved by the Chinese side, to a delegation or group that has been invited and has already obtained visas for traveling to China;
For visiting a patient in a critical condition or making funeral arrangements;
As persons in immediate transit who, because of force majeure, are unable to leave China by original aircraft within 24 hours or have to leave China by other means of transport;
As other invitees who really do not have enough time to apply for visas to the above-mentioned Chinese agencies abroad but hold letters or telegrams from designated competent authorities approving the application for visas at port visa agencies.
Tour groups organized and received by International Travel Agencies in China or the approved Hong Kong/Macao travel agencies.
Port visa offices shall not handle visa applications of aliens who do not come under the above-listed categories.

See the list of countries exempt from visa on the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China or contact us directly for last minute information.

Airports of Turkmenistan are one of the most developed parts of the state transport infrastructure providing the high-speed communication between cities in the country and with foreign countries.

There are 6 airports in a structure of the State national service "Turkmanhovayollary": International airport of Ashgabat named after S. Turkmenbashy; International airport Turkmenbashy; International airport Mary; Airport Turkmenabat; Airport Dashoguz; Airport Balkanabat.

Customs:
Import regulations:
Free import for passengers of 18 years or older:
- 2 packs of tobacco products;
- 1,5 liters of alcoholic beverages;
- 1 kilogram of jewelry;
- personal belongings up to a reasonable value.

Arms and Ammunition regulations:
Import permit, issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is required.

Additional Information on regulations:
Customs declaration must be handed over on departure. The import of plants is only allowed with a special agricultural permit, issued by the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources of Turkmenistan.

Export regulations:
Objects, which have artistic, historical, scientific and cultural values require an export permit issued by the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan.

Crew members customs regulations:
Same regulations as for passengers apply.

Pets:
Dogs and cats need a veterinarian certificate of good health issued at point of origin no longer than 10 days prior to arrival in Turkmenistan. In case these regulations are not complied with, the animal will be kept in quarantine. Pets may enter as passenger's checked baggage, in the cabin or as cargo.

Baggage Clearance regulations:
Baggage is cleared at the first airport of entry in Turkmenistan.

Currency
Currency Import regulations:
Local currency (Turkmen New Manat - TMT): allowed for residents of Turkmenistan if the amount has been declared on the customs declaration when leaving the country. Foreign currencies: allowed if declared on arrival.

Currency Export regulations:
Local currency (Turkmen New Manat - TMT): allowed for residents if declared on departure.
Foreign currencies: up to the amount imported and declared.

Airport Tax
Departure Tax is levied on all passengers traveling abroad: USD 25.-.
Place of payment: Airport of departure.
 

Consular service:

Additionally $50 are charged for the issue of visas at the international airport of Ashgabat.

The Mongolian language to refer to the airport use the term niseh ongotsny buudal or just niseh buudal, for example Altai niseh buudal.

In Mongolia, Chinggis Khaan airport of Ulaan Baator, is the only international airport of the country. There are 25 airports but but 15 of them operate commercial flights.

Import regulations:
Free import by:
1. passengers of 18 years of age or older:
- 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 250 grams of tobacco;
- 1 liter vodka, 2 liters of wine, and 3 liters of beer;
2. all passengers:
- old currencies, 1 per appropriate unit, which is not in use but only for collection purpose;
- personal effects.

Additional Information on regulations:
Following items must be declared on arrival: archeological artifacts, ancient books and manuscripts, art, electronic goods.

Prohibited: books, film, tape or other medium that may be considered violent or pornographic, narcotics or psychoactive substances or their accessories;
Restrictions: archeological or palaeontological artifacts, firearms and spare parts, human blood or body parts, over-the-counter medicines, poisons, radioactive or chemical substances, samples of animals or plants for analysis and weapons.

Export regulations:
Same as is allowed for import. However, goods (not for industrial and trade purposes) are restricted to a value of USD 500.-.

Pets:
Dogs and cats require a Good Health Certificate.

Baggage Clearance regulations:
Baggage is cleared at the first airport of entry.
Currency Import regulations:
Local currency (Mongolian Tugrik-MNT) and foreign currencies: no restrictions if declared on arrival.

Currency Export regulations:
Local currency (Mongolian Tugrik-MNT) and foreign currencies: up to the amount imported and declared.

Airport Tax
Airport Tax is levied on all passengers departing from Mongolia. Fee: USD 12.-.

Consular Services

1. Tourists who are coming from European countries where there is no Mongolian diplomatic presence are eligible to obtain on-arrival visa at the airport in Ulaanbaatar or Mongolian border points.

2. Transit visa can also be applied at Mongolian borders if the applicant is coming from European countries where there is no Mongolian diplomatic presence and has an onward flight/train ticket or obtained a visa if applicable, of the country he or she plans to visit immediately after Mongolia. (Transit visa allows for a stay up to 10 days in Mongolia)

Important notice: You must contact the relevant diplomatic mission whether your country is among the countries whose nationals are eligible to receive on-arrival visa before your intended travel to Mongolia.

General requirements for visa applications will apply for applicants requesting on-arrival visa.

To avoid longer processing times, travelers are advised to complete the application form prior to their arrival in Mongolia. Visa fee shall be paid on arrival.

3. Visitors coming to Mongolia for a purpose other than tourism may only be issued on arrival visa if the following requirements are met:

– Applicant is coming from countries where there is no Mongolian diplomatic mission

– You must have an inviting person/entity who must apply for your on-arrival visa approval at the Immigration Agency of Mongolia 14 days prior to your expected arrival (www.immigration.gov.mn)

– Official/government visitors may be issued on-arrival visa if an inviting government/public organization apply for your visa approval at the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia (www.consul.mn)

 or contact us directly for last minute information.