Information for Staff

Please book your travel directly through the University approved Travel Agent - currently Ian Allan for China.

You should contact them at UniTravel@ianallan.co.uk and once you have provided them with details of your travel requirements, they will source flights and accommodation (normally being the Crowne Plaza Chengdu West) or if you prefer, you can give them specific flight details.  Following your initial enquiry, Ian Allan will then send you a quotation.  When you are happy with this quotation, please send this on to eng-porequests@glasgow.ac.uk  quoting UESTC.  The official purchase order will then be raised on receipt of your request.  

Please note that you should send the quotation asap as flight costs may rise or seats may no longer be available until Ian Allan receive the official purchase order.

The University's travel insurance covers staff and postgraduate students travelling on business if the journey is outside the UK.  Please note that an on-line form must be completed for each journey and once complete an insurance cover note will be returned via e-mail.

You should complete the on-line form at:  http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/finance/staffsections/insuranceandrisk/forms/travelinsuranceform/

If you are a non-Chinese national, you will need to apply for a visa to visit Chengdu. Visitors to the Joint School should apply for a business & trade visa, which will be issued as either an “F” or “M” type visa in your passport. It is possible for visas to be arranged via CIBT travel agency co-ordinated by Katy Phillips, or it is possible to arrange your visa alone via the visa centre in Edinburgh:http://www.visaforchina.org/EDI_EN/.

To apply, you will need to provide a completed application form, a passport sized photo, and an invitation letter from UESTC together with your passport. Invitation letters can be arranged by Katy Phillips.

*Please note that Chinese visas take either 4 working days (standard) or 3 working days (express) to be processed in the UK, plus postage time. The decision regarding the duration of your visa is at the discretion of the embassy.

British Embassy Beijing:

Telephone (General enquiries only) +86 (0) 10 5192 4000

Telephone (Consular assistance for British nationals) +86 (0) 10 8529 6600

British Consulate-General Chongqing (responsible for Sichuan Province):

Email britishconsulate.chongqing@fco.gov.uk

Telephone (General enquiries only) +86 (0) 23 6369 1400/6369 1500 

It is advisable to consult the FCO foreign travel advice before your trip to China: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china

There is also a UoG Risk Assessment form that Insurance/SEPS have recommended to be completed by all staff travelling out to China.  The form doesn't go into mitigating controls for each risk but does at least makes the traveller aware of risks before their trip.  Please contact TNE Project Coordinator: Katy Phillips.

In general, if your UK vaccinations are up-to-date, this is sufficient for travel to China. However, please check the following advice for detail on the vaccinations required:

http://www.nathnac.org/ds/c_pages/country_page_cn.htm

• Prescription Medications - Take more than you need in case your travel plans change and leave in their original packaging.
• Imodium - Your stomach may not enjoy your culinary adventures as much as you do.
• Ibuprofen - Include an anti-inflammatory for general aches and pains.
• Benadryl - Even if you aren't prone to allergies, take along just in case.
• Conversion plug
• Toilet paper – Remember to bring your own when you are not in a hotel, as toilet tissues are not normally supplied in a public toilet.
• Personal belongs – Please take good care of them, including setting up the remote control system of your mobile phone and removing the micro SD card if any from your phone.

(Some source: Internet, Ruoli Zhong)

Please note that the air quality in Chengdu may aggravate bronchial, sinus or asthma conditions, so please make sure you have plenty of the relevant medications if you suffer from these conditions. You can check the real-time air quality index here: http://aqicn.org/city/chengdu/

Chinese mobile phone can be sold alone, or together with a SIM card like contract phone in UK. SIM card in China is registered with proper ID card/passport.

Visitors are suggested to bring one of the guest phones kept in Glasgow which has contact information of Crowne Plaza West and Wyndham, as well as landline of UoG administration Manager.  The guest phones have a monthly allowance of 100M data and 160 minutes local phone calls (i.e. free of charge to receive or make calls in Chengdu, charge if making and receiving call when you are outside of Chengdu).

Please contact Katy Phillips to arrange before leaving Glasgow.

Cash – Chinese Yuan (RMB - Renminbi), there is almost no need for this, but if desired, it can be exchanged online (eg, http://www.travelex.com/) for home delivery, ordered online and collected at Glasgow airport or directly exchanged on spot at the airport.

It can also be exchanged at Chengdu airport with cash or travellers cheques or at Wyndham Hotel with either cash (at a higher exchange rate than in the airport) or a credit card (which attracts a 5% commission).

There are ATMs from which you can withdraw local currency with your credit/debit card, but you will be charged cash advance fees plus the normal commission etc.

Ms. Ruoli Zhong (钟若黎), Administration Manager, UoG Chengdu Office, UoG-UESTC Joint School

+86 28 6183 1501, Mobile(for emergency only): +86 28 136 6811 3871

There is one main hospital that the UoG insurers utilise in Chengdu downtown, which is a private clinic operated by Global Doctors. This is the preferred option for medical attention. Please ensure you take a copy of your travel insurance cover note when seeking treatment.

The Chengdu Clinic （环球医生）

No.62 north of Kehua Road （科华北路62号）

Lippo tower,section S （S区，力宝大厦）

2nd floor9-11 （二楼9-11号）

Chengdu,Sichuan Province （成都，四川）

610041

P.R.C

It is conveniently located in the southern part of the city and is situated next to the American and German consulates. It has provided excellent quality health care for many expatriates from many countries who live and work in this region. The Chengdu Clinic is dedicated to ensuring it has high quality medical equipment and English speaking staff to cope with emergencies and difficulties in most circumstances. It offers multi-lingual services to assure the best possible healthcare in the region.

Please find a list of their services below.

. Routine Dental care

. GP Consultation and health check up

. Provision of treatment of medical emergencies

. Prenatal and antenatal care plan with post natal follow up

. X-ray examination and pathology analysis

. House calls and Hotels visits

. Vaccination and immunization

. Specialist and hospital referrals through Global Doctor's specialists and hospital network

. Emergency stabilization and coordination of medical evacuation /repatriation

. International standard pharmacy

. Medical examination for visa

. A comprehensive range of corporate health care services

. Pre-employment, annual and relocation medical examinations

. The establishment of personal health records to develop personal health measures

. Implementation of health surveillance and disease tracking, to ensure the integrity of medical services

. Providing health check up for company and individual

If necessary, it is also possible to visit the UESTC Campus Hospital on the new campus for medical attention. The hospital is the building beside the west gate as shown on the map below.

You are not guaranteed to find an English speaker at the hospital so where possible you will need to be accompanied by a Chinese speaker. In this case, please contact Ruoli Zhong.

Medical care in China is not free of charge. You will be issued with an invoice upon receiving treatment which will need to be settled at the time. Medical expenses are covered by the University’s travel policy and can be claimed on return to Glasgow. All paperwork regarding your treatment (medical reports and certificates, invoices, receipts) must be retained to be submitted with your claim: http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/finance/staffsections/insuranceandrisk/howtomakeatravelinsuranceclaim/#d.en.212457