Thank you for considering joining us on this extraordinary adventure as we celebrate the union of our hearts in China. As we plan our ceremony in China, blending the traditions of both our cultures, we are conscious of the potential cultural differences that may arise. In an effort to make your visit more comfortable and to alleviate any cultural shock, and as an extension of our warm welcome, we have put together this guide. We hope it will provide insights into the rich tapestry of Chinese customs, allowing you to fully immerse yourselves in the festivities and connect with the heart of our shared celebration.
Whether you've already made the decision to join us or are still contemplating, your presence would be an incredible honor. We look forward to the possibility of creating beautiful memories together against the backdrop of China's unique charm. Thank you for being a part of this significant chapter in our lives, and we hope to celebrate our love with you in China.
Time: Gathering at 09:30 am, 26 May 2024
Location: Galleria, Hall Nr. 6
Xidian Memory Culture and Creative Town D 8th, Gaobeidian Fangjia Village Jia
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
Address in Chinese for Taxi:
北京市朝阳区高碑店方家村甲西店记忆文创小镇D8号格乐利雅婚礼艺术中心
Visit our website for more information: www.wanting-gerwin.com
Wanting:
China: +86 18513343406
Austria: +43 6609149089
WeChat: WantingShi-Weiher
Gerwin:
China: +86 15712948325
Austria: +43 6605672361
WeChat: aeon022
6. Arranged Trips for Our International Guests
7. Sim Card and Payment Options
You're cordially invited to join us for our wedding ceremony, beginning with an intimate gathering in the chapel followed by a grand celebration in the main hall. In keeping with Chinese tradition, the wedding festivities commence in the morning and conclude after lunch. However, all are warmly encouraged to join us for drinks and an evening of revelry. Further details will be provided at the wedding.
In the spirit of Chinese customs, meals are shared among guests at communal tables, each seating approximately 10 individuals. The menu is translated as follows:
8 Kinds of Appetizer
Cantonese-style Assorted Stewed Seafood
Roasted Lobster with Butter and Cheese Sauce
Fried Crab with Typhoon Shelter Style
Steamed Grouper with Golden Cordyceps
Stewed Guinea Fowl with Ginkgo Seeds
Braised Fried Eggs and Pork Shank
Pan-fry Shrimps and Scallops
Steamed Scallops and Glass Noodles
Beef Ribs with Black Pepper Sauce
Bamboo Mushrooms and Mixed Vegetables
Fried Rice with Shrimps and Mixed Seafood
Cantonese-style Pork-boiled Crispy Puff Pastry
Steamed Stuffed Buns
Aloe Vera Coconut Milk Purple Rice Sago Dew
Fresh Fruit Platter
We encourage you to visit our wedding website for more information. Photos and videos captured on the wedding day will be uploaded there as well: www.wanting-gerwin.com
Fortunately, there is currently no restrictions on entering and leaving China. No test, no quarantine, like you travel to any other countries.
As you’ve known, China is huge, but how huge? China's population stands at 1.4 billion, and Beijing alone hosts over 21 million residents. Area wise, Beijing is more than ten times bigger than Greater London. To make the most of your travels, we recommend limiting your daily tourist attractions to three, or even just one or two if you prefer a more leisurely pace (because they are, indeed, quite large 😉).
Beijing's weather is comparable to Graz, though it warms up earlier. In late May, temperatures range from 15℃to 28℃ (59°F - 82°F). If you plan to visit other cities, be sure to check the weather, as China's climate can vary significantly.
Please note that this visa information is for reference only. For accurate and up-to-date details, visit the official website of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center here.
Certain countries enjoy visa-free entry for a limited period, and this list is expanding. Austria is currently not included, but we encourage you to check the policy frequently. You must submit materials in person, and no appointment is needed. Carefully read the Visa Categories on the website and apply for your type. If uncertain, feel free to ask us for assistance.
The photo requirements differ from those in Austria, but there is a photo booth at the center. Fast-track services are available for an additional fee, delivering the visa the next workday (if materials are submitted before 11 am), otherwise, the standard processing time is around two weeks.
Direct flights from Vienna to Beijing are offered by Air China. Alternatively, we recommend considering Lufthansa from Vienna with a stop in Frankfurt/Munich.
For the time difference, China is 7 hours ahead of Austria in winter, and 6 hours in summer.
Beijing boasts an extensive public transportation network, including 27 subway lines that cross the city efficiently. The subway with its ability to avoid traffic jams, is a swift and convenient way to navigate Beijing's diverse neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the city's comprehensive bus system, while offering numerous routes and a scenic experience, operates without a fixed timetable, requiring passengers to wait.
For taxi, no need to make a phone call – whether you prefer to wave for a taxi on the street or use an app like Gaode Maps, both options work seamlessly. Based on our experience, a 30 km taxi ride costs around 20 euros. Subway tickets generally stay under 1.5 euros, and bus fares are approximately 0.5 euros. Embrace the popularity of bicycle rentals, which can be easily unlocked through apps like Alipay. Always prepare for potential traffic jams.
China is not a member of Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, and consequently your Austrian or international driver’s license is not recognized. This means you are not allowed to rent cars. We also wouldn’t recommend so because the traffic rules are too different – speaking of which, please bear in mind that pedestrians do not have priorities when crossing roads. In other words, cars will not yield and give way to you – we’d say simply follow the crowd.
Some famous tourist attractions in Beijing include:
We plan to arrange group visits to several places. The Great Wall is already scheduled for one day. Let us know if you'd like to join or if there are specific places you'd love to explore together. If traveling alone, some places may require appointments. For instance, the Forbidden City needs online reservation with your passport, so plan ahead and always carry your passport with you.
Local sim cards are challenging for short stays. You can try sim cards from Amazon; activate them before leaving your home country.
Exchange rates are approximately 1 Euro to 8 Chinese Yuan. It is highly recommended to download Alipay App (Paypal counterpart) and WeChat App, and set up accounts. You could bind them with foreign payment cards, while commission fees apply. China has embraced fully cashless payment, so Alipay and WeChat Pay are a must to survive there. However, it's still advisable to exchange some cash in Austria.
You might have known that the Great Firewall in China prevents you from accessing your favorite apps, including but not limited to Google, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, Signal, Slack, Twitter, WhatsApp, etc. Therefore, a working VPN is essential if you wish to keep connected to your family, friends, and work. We tested and verified these two apps that worked like a charm with secured privacy during our stay in September 2023: VPN Unlimited from KeepSolid and Windscribe. Change Protocols if it doesn’t connect. Settings in Windscribe with Protocol UDP and Port 54783 were outstanding. You could also purchase a personal server (KeepSolid Netherland) for more secured connection and faster speed.
Avoid ExpressVPN, NordVPN, IvacyVPN, and PureVPN, which are good at marketing but don’t function in China.
We urge you to download WeChat and set up an account, and even ask your family and friends abroad to do so, in case if VPNs fail. You can add us as friends based on our contact info on the top.
In China, all the above-mentioned banned Apps have local Chinese versions, which can be used without VPNs. Here are some useful apps (with links for iOS devices):
It is a pity to notify you that not all hotels in China accommodate foreigners; only the ones with permissions are capable. Hotels listed on Booking.com should be suitable, but please confirm it before booking. Airbnb is banned in China, but it’s still possible to live in apartments if you prefer, and please contact us directly regarding this.
We visited hotels in September in Beijing to collect those in which you are welcome to stay. They are centrally located, close to tourist attractions, and with convenient public transportation. The price ranges are only for reference, and fluctuation may apply due to high season. Feel free to contact them directly or ask us to reserve a room for you.
北京香江戴斯酒店 Days Inn Forbidden City Beijing
Nanwanzi Hutong No.1, Nanheyan Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
Price Range: 75 - 480 euro per night
Tel: +86 010 65127788
亚朵酒店 Atour Hotel - All branches in China
Chao Wai Toutiaojia No. 93, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Website: http://www.hotelatour.cn/en
Price Range: 80 - 300 euro per night
Mobile of the sales manager of this branch: Mr. Fu, +86 19903127835
希岸酒店 Xana Hotel
Qianmen Street No. 72, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Website: https://hotels.ctrip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=107178252
Price Range: 110 - 250 euro per night
Tel: +86 010 52172021/+86 010 52172028
如家快捷酒店-北京国贸店 Home Inn Guomao Beijing
Baiziwan Road No.20, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Website: https://hotels.ctrip.com/hotels/976740.html
Price Range: 50 - 80 euro per night
Tel: +86 010 87771155
欢阁酒店 CitiGo Hotel
Qianmen Street No. 112, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Website: https://hotels.ctrip.com/hotels/28642364.html
Price Range: around 100 euro per night
Tel: +86 010 59799438
Mobile of the customer manager of this branch: Mr. Wu, +86 13836966568
懿庭臻舍酒店 Yi Ting Zhen She Hotel
Qianmen Street No. 143, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Price Range: 85 - 150 euro per night
Tel: +86 010 59006499
北京诺富特和平宾馆 Novotel Peace Hotel Beijing
Jinyu Hutong No.3, Wangfujing, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Website: https://www.booking.com/hotel/cn/novotelpeace.html
Price Range: 100 - 170 euro per night
Tel: +86 010 65128833
北京国贸饭店 Beijing Traders Hotel
Jianguomenwai Street No. 1, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Website: https://www.booking.com/hotel/cn/china-world-summit-wing.html
Price Range: 260 - 600 euro per night
Tel: +86 010 65052277
北京华彬费尔蒙酒店 Fairmont Beijing Hotel
Website: https://www.fairmont.com/beijing/
Price Range: 150 - 4000 euro per night
Yong An Dong Li No. 8, Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Tel: +86 10 8511 7777
北京东方君悦大酒店Grand Hyatt Beijing
Oriental Plaza, East Chang An Avenue No.1, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Website: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/china/grand-hyatt-beijing/beigh
Price Range: 329 - 700 euro per night
Tel: +86 010 85181234
北京信谊酒店 City Line Hotel Beijing
Yutong Street No. 9, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Website: https://hotels.ctrip.com/hotels/1776741.html
Price Range: 60 - 160 euro per night
Tel: +86 010 65285566
We're eagerly anticipating the joy of celebrating our special day with you in China. Your presence will undoubtedly add to the magic of this moment. If you have any questions or need assistance with anything, please don't hesitate to reach out. We can't wait to create unforgettable memories together and look forward to welcoming you to Beijing.
With Love,
Wanting & Gerwin