Say Ni Hao to ancient cities, dancing dragons, and amazing landscapes - adventure awaits in China!
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Whether you’re braving the crowds of Beijing or retracing the footsteps of nomads before you on the Silk Road, China is as diverse as you’d expect a country of 1.4 billion people to be - and offers a plethora of opportunities for Canadian visitors.
Foodies may want to taste their way through China on a search for the best xiaolongbao (also known as Chinese soup dumplings.) Partygoers may want to dance the night away in Shanghai, while history buffs may prefer to trade the skyscrapers for some of the ancient Chinese villages like Chengyang and Xitang.
Many Canadians also include the Great Wall of China as a part of their itinerary or decide to visit during the festive activities that happen during Chinese New Year.
Such uniqueness brings surprises – some are amazing, but others not so much.
For the not-so-awesome surprises like travel accidents and lost bags, you may want to consider travel insurance for China. We also encourage you to check out our team’s tips for the things you need to know before visiting China.
You booked the flights to Shanghai and even pre-purchased tickets for Yu Garden. You’ve taken the steps to plan an awesome vacation, but there’s some things you just can’t plan for.
If you get hurt hiking through the bamboo forests at Monganshan National Park you may need to see a doctor. Or if a typhoon hits Shenzhen before your trip, it could make it impossible for you to travel there.
Canadian travellers may want to consider travel insurance for China that could help with things like trip cancellation, overseas medical coverage, and repatriation. There are different plans to select from, and when you get a quote you can compare the options to determine the best international travel insurance for your needs.
World Nomads covers more than 250 activities for Canadians travelling to China- including things like surfing in Houhai Bay, rock climbing in Yangshuo and paragliding in Hangzhou.
When you get a quote for your travel insurance for China, you’ll need to list your planned activities. You won’t be able to add or remove activities after you make your purchase, so make sure you add them all at that time. If you are participating in an activity that isn’t listed in your policy wording, you can contact us to determine if you will be covered.
If you’re scuba diving the Great Wall of China (yes, that’s a thing!) and get decompression sickness, emergency medical coverage could reimburse you for your medical expenses. If your injury is serious, our medical team may also recommend that you return home to Canada for treatment. In that instance, repatriation coverage that is included in your travel insurance for China could get you there.
Keep in mind that your Government Health Insurance Plan may only pay a small portion, if any, of your medical expenses in China. In most situations, medical providers will want their money upfront and you would submit for reimbursement afterwards.
If you have a medical emergency when travelling to China, you can call the 24/7 emergency assistance team and they can help refer you to a place that offers the level of care that you need. If your medical team only speaks Mandarin, our team can also help communicate with your doctors if there’s a language barrier.
What happens if your checked bag ends up in Hunan instead of Hainan? If you’re lucky, your bag just took a detour and will eventually make its way to you. Even a delayed bag can be stressful though. If this happens, you could still be reimbursed for a change of clothes and toiletries until you and your bag are reunited.
It’s not something anyone wants to think about, but sometimes you’re left sitting at the carousel waiting for the bag that never comes. If you arrive in Shenzhen and realize that your bag is gone forever, the baggage coverage included in your travel insurance for China may reimburse you for the cost to replace your lost belongings.
When you get a quote, you can check the policy wording in your international travel insurance policy to get the specific details on depreciation and policy limits.
Travel insurance for pickpockets in China
With such a large population, it can be hard dealing with the crowds while travelling in China. Unfortunately, where there are crowds, there can also be pickpockets.
We’ve heard claims of theft happening at transportation stations and on trains. It’s also not uncommon to hear reports of pickpocketing around major attractions located in some of the larger cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian and Guiyang.
Before you leave Canada, make sure to review our tips for protecting yourself from petty crime in China. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid putting anything valuable in your back pockets. You may also want to carry handbags across your body, and even wear backpacks on your front.
If you’re robbed, make sure you file a police report. You’ll need that if you make a claim.
What happens if you get sick a few days before leaving for China? If your doctor tells you not to leave Canada at that time, you could be forced to cancel your trip. Your travel insurance plan for China includes cancellation coverage and could reimburse you for those non-refundable flights, hotels, and activities you paid for in advance.
Sometimes situations happen that can disrupt your plans once you’re already in China. If there’s an unexpected landslide and the Canadian Government issues a travel advisory against travel to that region of China, it could definitely prevent you from continuing on with your planned activities.
If you have travel insurance for China, and something unexpected happens that causes you to cancel, delay, or interrupt your trip, you may be able to recover your unused, prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses.
Before you leave Canada, we encourage you to check out the Canadian government’s safety warnings for China to review their up-to-date warnings on any advisories. Weather, safety, and political situations can change at any time, and this is where they list their up-to-date warnings on any advisories that may exist at that time.
Watch out for some of the scams in China- like counterfeit Chinese money. Try to carry smaller denominations or only pay with exact change to avoid getting fake money in return.
If you purchase travel insurance for China, it’s always a good idea to save the 24/7 Emergency Assistance phone number and your policy number in your cell phone so you don’t have to search for that if an emergency happens.
Try to learn how to speak a few Mandarin phrases before you go. In certain areas of China, you won’t find people that know how to speak English or French.
You may also want to download our China Travel Safety Guide.
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. It is important you read and understand your policy as it contains benefits, conditions, exclusions and pre-existing condition exclusions. If you do not understand your coverage, or if you have questions, just ask us.
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Covers the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.
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Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Telephone +1 866 878 0192 (toll-free from Canada and the Continental U.S.) or +1 416 646 3723 (collect from anywhere else in the world)
Contact the teamBefore your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.