How to get to Wuhu and What to bring

From Beijing:
By Train: This is the best way to travel from Beijing to Wuhu. There are a few direct trains daily from Beijing to Wuhu, taking around 16 hours. Train timetable is as follows:

Train number	Dept from Beijing	Arriving Wuhu
K45	10:08	01:35 (next day)
1409	16:00(Beijing West Station)	08:29 (next day)
K101	23:30	15:40 (next day)

* Train fare: A Second class sleeper is around 300 RMB

From Shanghai:
By Train: There are a few direct trains, daily from Shanghai to Wuhu, taking 5 to 8 hours. Train timetable is as follows:

Train number	Dept from Shanghai	Arriving Wuhu
5046	04:00	12:22
T732	06:58	11:48
2182	13:08	20:15
N518	22:02	04:07 (next day)

* Train fare: From 40 to 120 RMB
* There are many express trains from Shanghai to Nanjing, taking about two and half hours. You can then change to a direct bus from Nanjing to Wuhu.

By Bus: There are a few direct buses, daily from Shanghai to Wuhu, taking 5 hours. Bus timetable is as follows:

Departing Station	Dept from Shanghai	Arriving Wuhu
Shanghai Main Bus Station	07:25	12:25
	10:20	15:20
	12:40	17:30
	13:40	18:30
	16:30	21:30
Shanghai South Bus Station	8:10	13:10
	14:40	19:40

* Bus fare: From 100 to 120 RMB

From Nanjing:
* By Bus: There are buses from Nanjing to Wuhu every fifteen minutes, from 06:30 hrs until 19:00 hrs. The journey takes about one and a half hours. Bus and Train fares are around 30 RMB.
* By Taxi: It will cost between 300-350 RMB from Nanjing Airport or downtown Nanjing to Wuhu.

Airport Pick Up Services:
This service is available from Shanghai and Nanjing Airports, please contact the office for more information.

What to Bring
After your stay in China you will have many new possessions so it is best to pack as lightly as possible. Clothing, in particular, is very cheap in Wuhu and of good quality. There are large western supermarkets in Wuhu, such as Wal Mart. In 2008, both B&Q and Carrefour will be opening superstores here, so the range of goods available is growing.

As travel is a main draw for people coming to China, a guide, such as the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide, would be very useful. Also a Mandarin phrasebook is essential.

Some products, like deodorant, are difficult to find and you may also want to bring some English books to read.

If you are unsure about bringing something then please do not hesitate to ask us.

Money
Obtaining Chinese RMB is relatively easy now in the USA and the UK, it is available from many branches of major banks. Alternatively, exchanging Pounds Sterling (English), Euros and US Dollars on arrival in China is very easy. We recommend that you bring some money but some or all of the first month’s salary can be paid in advance.

On your arrival in Wuhu, our administrative staff will assist you in opening a bank account and obtaining a Debit card. You can withdraw money at any Bank of China ATM.

Shops in Wuhu don’t accept foreign credit cards. You can withdraw the cash from the main branch of Bank of China, but beware of high credit card commission.

In general, the cost of living is very low and most of your salary can be seen as disposable income. This can be saved, but be warned, exchanging RMB back into foreign currency is difficult, and the rate is very low.

Telephones and Internet Access
International calls in China are expensive and require a special phone card, which can be purchased outside Aston office for around 22 RMB (face value 100 RMB). This will buy 27 minutes call time to anywhere in world.

Internet access is a lot more convenient and an ADSL connection (Broadband) can be provided. Internet cafes are cheap (usually 1RMB for one hour), and common in any town or city.