GoIsrael Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

On January 17, 2016, the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the State of Israel on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements for Personnel Holding Diplomatic or Official Passports came into effect. Chinese citizens holding diplomatic or official passports are exempt from visa requirements when entering Israel and must stay in Israel for no more than 90 days within six months from their first entry. Chinese citizens holding official or private passports who come to Israel must obtain relevant types of visas in advance for purposes such as tourism, business investigation, work, and study. Israel does not accept visas on arrival. For visa regulations and application materials, please refer to the website of the Israeli Embassy in China.

On November 11, 2016, the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the State of Israel on the Issuance of Multiple Visa Arrangements for Individuals Holding Chinese Ordinary Passports and Israeli National Passports came into effect. Chinese citizens holding Chinese ordinary passports are eligible to apply for Israeli "B2" visas for multiple entries, with each stay not exceeding 90 days. The visa is valid for up to 10 years, but not exceeding the validity period of the passport. Attention: Chinese citizens holding "B2" to Israel are not allowed to stay in Israel for more than 180 days within one year from the date of their first entry.

According to the regulations of the Israeli Ministry of Interior, Chinese citizens who take specific flights and transfer directly without leaving the airport customs can be exempted from obtaining a transit visa, but this regulation often changes. Therefore, it is recommended that Chinese citizens who need to transit through Israel must still obtain their visas in advance.

It should be noted that countries such as Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Djibouti, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, etc. do not have diplomatic relations with Israel. If an Israeli visa or entry stamp is found when applying for a visa for these countries, the visa will be rejected.

Special reminder: 1. Please carefully read the departure time printed on the immigration officer's entry card and leave as scheduled before the specified time. 2. To avoid passport loss, you should carry a copy of your passport with you (including the information page and the entry and exit seal page). If your passport is lost, you should report it to the nearest police station and contact the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the Chinese Embassy in Israel (phone: 03-5467242, Chinese citizen and overseas Chinese document consultation hotline: 052-8391282, emergency hotline: 03-5459520, fax: 03-6023170) to apply for a replacement passport or travel permit. 3. If there is a sudden illness or other force majeure during the stay in Israel and it is impossible to leave before the required date, relevant proof materials should be prepared for possible inspection by immigration officials. If you need to stay in Israel for a longer period of time due to force majeure, it is recommended to apply for a visa extension from the nearest immigration office.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

Please do not bring weapons, flammable and explosive prohibited items when entering Israel. Drug trafficking and illegal drug smuggling in Israel carry heavy sentences, and if caught, may result in imprisonment or deportation.

Upon entry, one should comply with Israeli customs regulations. If passengers have no items to declare, they can leave through the green channel and arrive at the lobby; If passengers carry items that require declaration, even if they do not need to pay taxes, they must use the red channel for customs clearance.

1、 Green channel

Alcoholic beverages: 1 liter of strong liquor and 2 kilograms of table wine can be carried.

Alcohol perfume (such as cologne): 1/4 liter per person.

Tobacco products: Anyone aged 17 or above is allowed to carry 250 grams of tobacco or 250 cigarettes.

Gift: All kinds of gifts are acceptable, but not including alcoholic drinks, alcoholic perfume, tobacco products and TV sets. The value of the gift shall not exceed $150 (the value shall be determined by customs officers based on the value of the goods, plus shipping, insurance, and port charges. Even if carried into the country by several people, the value of the goods shall be calculated independently). A gift exceeding the above value must be taxed according to regulations. Any food with a total weight not exceeding 3 kilograms can also enter the country without declaration. Each instrument shall not exceed 1 kilogram. In addition, the following items that are portable and essential can also enter duty-free: typewriters, cameras, movie cameras (television cameras must be declared), radios, recorders, telescopes, personal jewelry, speakers, strollers, camping or sports equipment, single cars or similar travel items.

2、 Red channel

The following items must be declared and a tax deposit must be paid, which will be returned upon departure: video equipment, personal computers, boats, travel trailers, diving gear, and portable items worth over $1650. Please note that the value of all imported items is determined by the official price list of the customs department, not the actual purchase price. The deposit can be paid by bank check or credit card. Unless a permit is obtained in advance, all animals, plants, and military equipment may not be imported. Customs phone number (02) 6703333.

Please note: If you bring cash or equivalent items exceeding 80000 shekels (including) upon entry, you must declare them to customs in advance.

Residency and Naturalization

According to Israeli immigration law, if one or both parents are Israeli citizens, regardless of whether they were born in Israel or abroad, they are eligible to obtain Israeli citizenship.

Applicants who have resided in Israel for at least three consecutive years prior to submitting their citizenship application, have permanent residency, intend or have settled in Israel, understand Hebrew, have renounced or promised to renounce other nationalities upon obtaining Israeli citizenship, may acquire Israeli citizenship.

Under specific conditions, if the applicant has completed their military service in the Israel Defense Forces, or if the applicant's children have died during their service, or if the applicant has made significant contributions to Israel's security or economy, the Minister of the Interior may waive one or all of the above conditions and grant citizenship to the applicant, depending on the circumstances. Moreover, the above-mentioned naturalization application can be extended to the applicant's minor children.

After getting married abroad and returning to Israel, having been in Israel for at least three consecutive years within five years, intending or having settled in Israel, knowing Hebrew, having renounced or promised to renounce other nationalities upon acquiring Israeli citizenship, and potentially obtaining Israeli citizenship.

If you need to apply for long-term residence in Israel, you need to first apply for an entry visa at the Israeli Embassy in China. After arrival, you need to go to the office of the Ministry of Interior to handle the relevant residence procedures. Please consult the office of the Ministry of Interior nearby for relevant procedures. The information is as follows:

Some areas of Israel are currently red (high risk), while others are orange (high risk). Specifically, as follows:

1、 Red areas: Caesarea and its north, Ashkelon south, and Belsheba west. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Chinese citizens not to travel to the above-mentioned areas in the near future. Personnel and institutions in the area should evacuate or transfer to safe areas as soon as possible. In case of emergency, please report to the police in a timely manner and contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in the local area.

2、 Orange areas: areas other than the red areas mentioned above. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Chinese citizens to travel to the above-mentioned areas with caution in the near future. Local personnel and institutions have closely monitored the development of the situation, maintained high vigilance, strengthened security precautions and emergency preparations, and ensured personal and property safety. In case of emergency, please report to the police in a timely manner and contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in the local area.                                

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas embassies and consulates will continue to closely monitor changes in the overseas security risk situation, dynamically adjust relevant risk assessments, and release and update corresponding security reminders in real time on platforms such as the China Consular Service Network. Please continue to pay attention.

public security

Overall security situation: Israel faces certain security risks. In the north, Israel has long been in a standoff with Hezbollah armed groups in Lebanon. The Golan Heights have been affected by the Syrian civil war, with multiple military frictions and large areas of uncleaned landmines. In the south, Israel is facing the threat of rocket attacks from armed groups in the Gaza Strip. On October 7, 2023, a new round of large-scale conflict broke out between Israel and armed groups in the Gaza Strip. In addition, in recent years, there have been sporadic violent attacks within the country and in the West Bank of the Jordan River. Sensitive areas such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv often experience violent incidents such as shootings, car collisions, and knife stabs, resulting in casualties.

Please avoid traveling to the border areas between Israel and Syria, as well as areas near Gaza. Please familiarize yourself with the emergency service hotline and the emergency evacuation plan provided by the Israeli government in advance during your stay in Israel. Always pay attention to personal and vehicle safety when traveling, strictly follow safety warning signs and follow the prescribed route, do not enter military controlled areas, and do not participate in political rallies and demonstrations.

Overall, Israel has good social security, but incidents of personal belongings being stolen occur in densely populated areas such as the Old City of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv beaches, as well as in hotel rooms in some cities. During travel, passports, credit cards, cash, and valuables should be properly kept. If renting a car for travel, do not leave valuable items in the car when leaving. Before going abroad, it is important to purchase travel insurance and promptly report any lost items to the police.

There are many traffic accidents in Israel. According to official statistics, a total of 364 people died in traffic accidents in Israel in 2021; In 2022, a total of 351 people died in traffic accidents. There are radar speedometers on highways, and speeding fines are relatively high. It is unsafe to hitchhike in Israel. If you need to travel to the southern desert area, please be sure to travel with multiple people, bring mobile phones and sufficient drinking water, and inform others of the itinerary and expected return time in advance.

It is worth noting that there will be very detailed security checks at the airport or border when entering and leaving Israel. Security checks will be conducted at the entrances of large shopping malls, supermarkets, and parking lots. Please be patient and accept security checks, and cooperate with opening your carry on bag or car trunk when requested by the other party.

natural disaster

Common natural disasters in Israel include earthquakes, floods, fires, etc. On December 2, 2010, a forest fire broke out in Israel, resulting in 42 deaths, dozens of injuries, 30000 emergency evacuations, and a total burned area of over 5000 hectares. The forest was reduced to ashes in the fire, making it the deadliest forest fire in Israel's history. Starting from November 20, 2016, fires broke out in many parts of Israel, affecting and evacuating 60000 people, which is 30% more than the area affected by the 2010 Mount Carmel forest fire. Israel has a rainy season from October to March every year, and the southern desert areas are prone to flash floods due to heavy rain, causing casualties.

It is necessary to master the knowledge of disaster self rescue in advance, pay attention to local news, and avoid going to the disaster stricken area. If you are in danger or trapped, you should call the emergency hotline in a timely manner and contact the Chinese Embassy in Israel if necessary.

FDA

Israel has basically no food hygiene and safety issues, tap water can be consumed directly, and vegetables and fruits can be consumed after washing. But food purchased at outdoor market stalls should be heated as much as possible before consumption.

Urgent Help

Police: 100.

Fire alarm: 102.

Ambulance: 101.

In case of emergency, you can also contact the Consular Protection hotline of the Chinese Embassy in Israel at 00972-3-5459520.

air traffic

1、 Airport situation

International Airport: Ben Gurion Airport (English name: Ben Gurion International Airport； code: TLV）。 Founded in 1936, located 20 kilometers east of Tel Aviv, Israel, it is the largest international airport in Israel. Approximately 20.8 million international passengers are received annually, and over 100000 international flights take off and land each year. The airport information counters are located in the main hall and departure hall, providing English flight information services. The ground conditions on that day can be obtained through the terminal and airport information counters.

There are also international airports: Ramon Airport in Elat (which can fly to Egypt and other neighboring countries), Haifa Airport (which can fly to Türkiye), all of which are small aircraft.

Domestic airports: Israel has more than 10 small domestic airports located in towns such as Arad, Haifa, Beersheba, and Herzliya, with a small number of daily flights to and from various cities in the country. Due to Israel's small land area, it can be reached on the same day by land transportation such as buses and trains, which can also avoid the trouble of transferring to a plane.

2、 Main modes of transportation to and from the airport

Train: The train station is located in the airport arrival hall, and it takes 20 minutes to travel to downtown Tel Aviv. There are trains every half hour, and each ticket costs 9 shekels. It takes 1 hour and 20 minutes to travel to the city center of Haifa, and each ticket costs 27 shekels. It takes about 30 minutes to go to Jerusalem. Please refer to the Israel Railway website for specific information https://www.rail.co.il/ The information published on this website shall prevail.

Bus: It can travel to major cities such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem (under Israel's actual control), Haifa, Ashdod, etc. It is located on the second floor of the terminal, near exits 21 and 23.

Taxi: There are official taxi stops outside the airport arrival hall. It is recommended not to take private vehicles.

Self driving car rental: On the left side of the exit, there are counters for self driving car rental companies such as Avis, Eldan, Budget, Hertz, Sixt, etc. If you need to rent a car, please go to the above rental counters for consultation.

3、 Flight

Hainan Airlines has launched direct flights between Shanghai and Tel Aviv on Mondays and Thursdays, Shenzhen and Tel Aviv on Tuesdays and Fridays, and Beijing and Tel Aviv on Wednesdays and Sundays. (The Beijing and Shanghai routes will be suspended on October 27, 2023, and the resumption time is yet to be determined.).

Cathay Pacific Airways has opened direct flights between Hong Kong and Tel Aviv on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (currently suspended due to the Israeli Palestinian situation, resumption time to be determined).

Flights may vary due to seasonal and other factors. Please refer to the official websites of each airline for specific information. For flight information, please refer to: http://www.elal.co.il/ELAL/English/States/ General/. Alternatively, you can also transfer through a third location. For flight information to and from Israel, please refer to the website of Ben Gurion Airport in Israel http://www.iaa.gov.il/en-US/airports/bengurion/Pages/default.aspx .

The commonly used airport phone numbers are as follows:

Unit	Phone number
Airport inquiry	03-9755555
Hainan Airlines Global Hotline	0086-898-95339
Guotai Global Hotline	400-888-6628
Bus Information Center	03-6948888
Train Information Center	03-5774000
Taxi	03-9752383
VIP service (Laufer Aviation)	03-9754333
Police station	03-9715444
Immigration Bureau	03-9733333
Customs	03-975111
Office of the Ministry of Health	03-9711169
Office of the Ministry of the Interior	03-9754393
Office of the Ministry of Agriculture	03-9688986
Office of the Ministry of Tourism	03-9754256
Lost and Found Air Luggage	03-9717722

land transport

Highways: Israel's highways are in good condition, with traffic signs in three languages: English, Hebrew, and Arabic. There are over 40 highways in the country, with a well connected road network that includes multiple national highways, intercity highways, regional highways, and other highways. The per capita ownership of private cars in Israel is relatively high. The speed of trains in Israel is fast, so drivers should pay attention to avoiding them.

Traffic regulations: According to Israeli law, Israel implements "left-hand drive, right-hand drive", and drivers and all passengers should wear seat belts during driving. It is strictly prohibited to make phone calls while driving, and drunk driving is strictly prohibited. The alcohol test concentration cannot exceed 0.05%, and the speed limit on highways is 90-110 kilometers per hour. According to the law, driving lights should be turned on when driving on urban and intercity highways between November and April. Children aged 9 and below are required to sit in child seats, while children under 14 years old cannot sit in the passenger seat.

Railway: The Israeli railway is owned by the state and has a total length of approximately 1000 kilometers. There are a total of 8 lines that can reach major cities. According to statistics, the number of train passengers is currently increasing by 15% annually. Due to unstable relations between Israel and neighboring countries, there are still no cross-border railways. For more information, please refer to the Israel Railway website.

water communication

Israel is located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea with a long coastline. It has two large seaports, Haifa and Ashdod, which can accommodate large ships, and seven small seaports that can accommodate small ships.

Haifa Port, an Israeli commercial port. Located on the southern coast of Haifa Bay in the northern Mediterranean Sea. It is 74 nautical miles north of Beirut Port, 147 nautical miles northwest of Lemesos Port, 67 nautical miles south of Ashdod Port, and 163 nautical miles north of Said Port. The port is composed of new and old port areas. The old harbor area is located at the southeast corner of the eastern bay, concave inland, protected by a short breakwater on the outside, and has a small river that flows out to sea from inside. The east bank of the outer harbor is the free port area, and the west bank is the roll on/roll off ship terminal. The water depth along the edge is 8.5 meters, and the total length of the cargo and chemical terminal line is 985 meters. Xingang District is advancing towards the northwest coast, located on the southwest coast of the bay, protected by a breakwater extending eastward from the western shore. The Xigang District has a waterfront dock with a total length of 1520 meters, of which 1240 meters are at a water depth of 8.6-11.00 meters along the edge, used for containers (with two berths), general cargo, grains, passengers, etc. The oil pier line in the eastern part of Xigang District is 350 meters long, with a water depth of 10 meters (there are also three offshore oil berths in the harbor, with a water depth of 15.8-17.7 meters); There are two berths on the cargo embankment, with a length of 205 and 107 meters respectively, and a water depth of 6.8 meters. The area between Xigang District and the old eastern port is a newly built Zhonggang District in the mid-1980s, with three container and roll on/roll off ship berths. The total length of the dock line is 600 meters, including a container terminal of 420 meters and a water depth of 12-13 meters. There are two 35 ton loading and unloading bridges on the dock, with plans to add two more. The dock covers an area of 30 hectares and is Israel's first throughput port.

Phone: 00972-8-8517211; Fax: 00972-8-8524202; Email: info@israports.org.il .

Ashdod Port, an Israeli commercial port. 14 nautical miles north of Tel Aviv, 67 nautical miles from Haifa Port, 138 nautical miles from Beirut Port, 186 nautical miles northwest of Lemesos Port, and 119 nautical miles southwest of Said Port. The port is built on a flat coast, with four protruding dikes extending westward from the land shore. The north protruding dike is lengthened and also serves as a breakwater, extending in an arc from south to west and then turning north to protect the breakwater. Ships enter the port from north. The inner pier of the North Pier is 680 meters long and has three berths. The Central Pier and the South Pier each have five berths on the north, west, and south sides; There is also a bulk cargo pier south of the southern pier, with two berths on both sides. In summer, ships with a draft of 11 meters can dock, while in winter, bulk cargo ships with a draft of 10.5 meters are limited. There are a total of 20 berths in Hong Kong. In addition to the bulk cargo breakwater, other berths can also accommodate ships with a draft of 9.8 meters, mostly used for containers and general cargo. Oil loading and unloading is located in Ashkelon, about 10 nautical miles southwest of the port.

The terminal has a transfer warehouse of 40000 square meters, an open-air warehouse of 20000 square meters, and an open-air yard area of 184000 square meters. Hong Kong mainly exports foreign trade goods to and from Tel Aviv, as well as agricultural products such as citrus from nearby areas and mineral products from the mainland.

Phone: 00972-4-8341002; Fax: 00972-4-8341003; Email: agency@seatransport.co.il .

Urban transportation

Tel Aviv: Currently, there is only one "Red Line" light rail in Tel Aviv, which will officially open on August 18, 2023. Other light rail lines are under construction. Other urban transportation mainly relies on taking buses, taxis, or renting cars for self driving. The operating hours of Tel Aviv buses are generally from 5 am to 12 pm, but some routes are suspended earlier, with only some buses operating on Friday afternoons and Saturdays throughout the day. The one-way bus fare is 5.9 shekels, and a daily ticket can also be purchased for 13.5 shekels, but the ride starts at 9 am. Tickets can be purchased from the driver after boarding or at the New Central Bus Station. Taxis can be taken at the rental station (Mo NIT), and calling for a taxi may incur an additional fee of 5 shekels. Kilometer can be used for counting, or the price can be negotiated with the driver and not displayed on the meter. The one-way fare is 20-30 shekels in urban areas and 50-60 shekels in suburban areas.

Regarding the phone number of the taxi company:

Hakastel taxi service：+972-3-6993322。

Palatine：+972-3-5171750 。

Shekem：+ 972-3-5270404 (additional charge of 3.3 shekels for telephone service).

major city

1、 Tel Aviv Yafo, founded in 1909 and merged with the ancient city of Yafo in 1950, has now become a modern city along the Mediterranean coast. It is the financial, commercial, trade, transportation, and cultural center of Israel, with a population of approximately 420000. Here are the largest university - Tel Aviv University, the oldest theater - Israel Theatre, and the most famous orchestra - Israel Symphony Orchestra. Many Israeli commercial institutions, banks, political parties, Jewish Labor Union, major newspapers, journals, and publishing houses are headquartered here. Tel Aviv holds a dominant position in Israel's economic life, with 25% of the total workforce and over half of the country's factories. Most embassies of countries are located in this city. In July 2003, UNESCO designated the White City of Tel Aviv as a World Cultural Heritage site.

2、 Haifa is an important port city and capital of the Haifa district in Israel, located along the Mediterranean coast with a population of approximately 280000. It is the administrative, industrial, international trade, and commercial center of northern Israel. It undertakes most of Israel's import and export tasks. The port area of Haifa is adjacent to the bay, and the commercial and residential buildings are located on the Carmel Hill, with a panoramic view of the bay from the mountaintop. There are famous Israeli Institute of Technology, University of Haifa, Maritime Museum, and numerous beautiful parks built here. Haifa has multiple ethnic minorities living peacefully together. The famous Bah á 'í Hanging Gardens are also located in Haifa city.

3、 Be'er Sheva is the capital of the southern Negev region. It is located in the northern part of the Negev and is a new city established on the site where Jewish ancestors lived 3500 years ago, with a population of approximately 200000. It is the administrative, economic, and cultural center of the Negev, serving as the intersection of the Dead Sea and Eilat highways. Jews and Arabs each make up about half of the population, and it has long been a military stronghold in history. The famous Ben Gurion University (Belsheba University) was built here.

4、 Eilat, located at the southernmost tip of Israel, is the only sea outlet to the Red Sea. The city has a port, but it is not large in scale. The climate here is hot and dry, with an average temperature about 10 degrees higher than the national average. The city attracts a large number of tourists with its striking Red Sea scenery, beautiful beaches, and comprehensive service facilities, making it a vacation and tourist destination for Israelis.

【 Main attractions 】

White City and Museum in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is famous for two architectural styles. The most internationally renowned White City in Tel Aviv boasts approximately 4000 Bauhaus and international style buildings, forming a landscape with large white exterior walls. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. These buildings were mainly built in the 1930s to 1950s and were the farthest point reached by the European modernist art movement. They were designed by many Jewish architects who received education at the German Deshobhaus school during the pre Nazi era. Tel Aviv is the city with the highest concentration of such buildings in the world. At the same time, the city has adopted the urban planning of a garden city, designing many wide tree lined avenues that are quite harmonious with this architectural style.

Israel has more museums per capita than any other country in the world, many of which are located in Tel Aviv. The most famous is the Israel Museum of Homeland, known for its rich archaeological and historical exhibits about the land of Canaan; The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is one of the major art museums in Israel; The Jewish Diaspora Museum is located in a corner of the Tel Aviv University campus and is a museum dedicated to the international Jewish diaspora. It collects historical documents and artworks related to the prosperity of the Jewish people and the persecution they suffered during the Jewish diaspora period. The Palmach Museum near Tel Aviv University showcases Israel's military activities before its founding to the audience through multimedia. The Tel Aviv Exhibition Center is located in the northern part of the city and hosts over 60 major events annually. Many museums and art galleries are scattered in the southern district of the city, which has a strong artistic atmosphere, including the Tel Aviv Museum of Primitive and Contemporary Art.

Jaffa Old City

Jaffa is a port city with a history of over 4000 years and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is now part of Tel Aviv Jaffa. Tel Aviv means "hill of spring" in Hebrew, derived from the Hebrew translation of Herzl's work "New Homeland". There are multiple explanations for the origin of the Jaffa name. According to Jewish tradition, after the great flood that destroyed all things receded, Noah's son Japheth, who survived, established this city. Therefore, people named the city "Japheth" after him, and its pronunciation gradually evolved into "Jaffa". Some people also believe that "Jaffa" is a homophone of the Hebrew word for "beauty", because the scenery here is excellent and picturesque. At present, Jaffa has become a gathering place for artists from all over the world, and their sunset sketches facing the Mediterranean have become a scenery.

Caesarea

Caesarea is the former site of the city of Stratonosporgos, built by King Straton I of Sida. In 90 BC, it was captured by King Alexander Janias of the Kingdom of Judah and became a Jewish city. In 63 BC, the Roman Empire conquered this city and granted it autonomy. During the reign of King Herod the Great, he vigorously built this city and renamed it Caesarea, meaning "City of the Roman Emperor", in order to show goodwill to Rome. In 22 BC, a deep-water artificial harbor was built here, accompanied by municipal facilities such as temples, markets, and large lighthouses, in an attempt to develop the city into a Mediterranean trading hub. After several wars and earthquakes, most of the buildings collapsed or sank to the bottom of the sea, and they disappeared without a trace. After the establishment of Israel, the Rothschild family funded the development of this area into a settlement primarily focused on tourism. Caesarea National Park was built along the Mediterranean Sea and still preserves ruins such as ancient Roman theaters, sports fields, and Crusader walls.

Baha'i Shrine and Garden

The Bah á 'í Hanging Gardens are located on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, and are the resting place of the Bah á' í prophet B á b. The construction of the Bah á 'í Garden was quite intricate, and since the founder of the Bah á' í Faith, Bah á'u'll á h, personally chose this place as the resting place of the Prophet B á b in 1891, the project has been intermittent for over a hundred years. The Bah á 'í Garden was finally unveiled in 2001 and opened to visitors for free, and has now become a popular tourist destination in Israel. The construction cost of the Bah á 'í Garden is 250 million US dollars, and the annual maintenance cost is also as high as 4 million US dollars. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come here to pray, meditate, recite scriptures, and visit other Bah á 'í holy sites in the temple. At the top of the garden, one can overlook the city center and harbor of Haifa.

The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea between Israel and Jordan is the most unique place in the world, both in terms of scenery and culture. The reason why the Dead Sea is called the Dead Sea is because the salt content in the seawater is much higher than that in the ocean, making it impossible for most organisms to survive and causing several times the buoyancy of the ocean. Therefore, people will not sink in the Dead Sea, but can experience the feeling of drifting that cannot be felt in other oceans. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on the earth's surface, 400 meters below sea level. It is approximately 60 kilometers long from north to south and 17 kilometers wide from east to west. The Dead Sea is rich in mineral rich seawater and extracted black mud, which is said to have miraculous therapeutic effects on skin diseases. Therefore, there are hot springs and accommodation facilities for treating skin diseases along the Dead Sea, as well as bathing equipment and towel rentals. Visitors can enjoy the pleasure of floating on the Dead Sea.

Masada

Masada is an important site of the Jewish Wars in ancient Rome and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

The final battle of the Jewish resistance against Roman invasion took place in Masada during the Second Temple period (536 BC-70 AD). Nearly a thousand Jewish men and women retreated to the mountaintop palace of King Masada Herod near the Dead Sea and built defensive fortifications. They held out here for three years, but eventually committed collective suicide and burned down the palace and houses. Today, the 'never falling spirit of Masada' has become a treasure that Jews take pride in.

Lake Galilee and its surroundings (Sea of Galilee)

The Lake of Galilee is the largest freshwater lake in Israel, with a circumference of 53 kilometers, a length of approximately 21 kilometers, and a width of approximately 13 kilometers; The total area is 166 square kilometers, the maximum depth is 48 meters, and it is 208-213 meters below sea level, making it the lowest elevation freshwater lake on Earth. The tourism industry is the most important economic pillar in the Lake Galilee region, and the entire Lake Galilee area has become a popular vacation destination. There are many historical sites around the lake, and millions of local and foreign tourists visit every year. The main city along the lake, Tiberias, has a rich cultural heritage. Tiberia is a mountain city, with the old city area at the same height as Lake Galilee, 210 meters below sea level, while the new city area is much higher than sea level, with a large drop. People standing in different parts of the city can capture different scenery of Lake Galilee.

Jerusalem

City Overview

Jerusalem was placed under international jurisdiction in the 1947 United Nations partition resolution between Palestine and Israel. With the outbreak of the first Middle East War, the city was divided into two parts, with Israel occupying the western region and Jordan controlling the eastern region (including the Old City of Jerusalem). In 1967, the Third Middle East War broke out, and Israel seized the eastern region, taking control of the entire city of Jerusalem. In 1980, the Israeli parliament passed a bill declaring Jerusalem as the "eternal and indivisible capital", but it was not recognized by the international community. In 1988, the Palestinian National Council adopted the Declaration of Independence, declaring Jerusalem as the capital of the newly established State of Palestine. At present, Israel regards Jerusalem as its political and cultural center, with the Prime Minister's Office, parliament, most government departments, and the Supreme Court located here. The Old City of Jerusalem has a history of 3000 years and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is also a holy site for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

【 Main attractions 】 Old City, Jerusalem

The Old City of Jerusalem is a holy site for the three major religions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. It is divided into Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Armenian districts, with an area of approximately 1 square kilometer. The Western Wall of the Old City, also known as the Crying Wall, is the most important holy site in Judaism. It is 48 meters long and 18 meters wide, divided into male and female sections for Jewish men and women to pray on the wall. The famous Al Aqsa Mosque and the Rock Golden Summit Mosque are adjacent to the Wailing Wall, and the old Muslim district is lined with shops and vendors. Every Friday, one can always see many Christians and clergy in Muslim areas. They carried wooden crosses, put on coarse cloth clothes, and retraced the "arduous path" of Christ Jesus through suffering, burial, and resurrection. The 500 meter long 'bitter road' crosses the bustling market and leads straight to the beautifully decorated Church of the Holy Sepulchre. You can also visit Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem to overlook The Church of All Nations and the Old City of Jerusalem, and visit Mount of Zion to see the location of the Last Supper in biblical stories and the tomb of King David.

Urban Transportation

The main modes of transportation in the city are by bus, taxi, or renting a car for self driving. Taking a bus in Jerusalem also involves buying tickets after boarding, usually getting on the front door and getting off at the back door. The one-way ticket price is 6.6 shekels, and the ticket is valid for passengers or transfers within 90 minutes of purchase. You can take the Jerusalem City Tour, which costs 45 shekels for adults and 36 shekels for children. Due to the complex distribution of streets in the urban area of Jerusalem, it is important to ask the driver to display a meter when taking a taxi.

Commodity prices

The unit of currency in Israel is the New Israel Shekel, abbreviated as: NIS）， Abbreviated as shekel, the maximum denomination of paper currency is 200 shekels, the minimum denomination is 20 shekels, and the maximum denomination of coins is 10 shekels, the minimum denomination is 10 cents.

1 US dollar can be exchanged for approximately 3.92 shekels (average exchange rate in September and October 2023). Israeli prices are relatively high. For example, a cup of coffee costs about 10 shekels, and a hamburger costs 20-30 shekels.

Israel has four major banks, namely: HAPOALIM、LEUMI 、DISCOUNT、FIRST INTERNATIONAL， There are branches throughout the country. Automated teller machines (ATMs) are also quite common and have English operating interfaces. You can withdraw money from ATMs with your credit card or savings card from a bank with cross-border withdrawal services. Israeli ATMs generally only have a 4-digit password, which may not be compatible with domestic bank cards, and withdrawal fees are relatively high. It is recommended to bring US dollar cash for short-term travel and exchange it for shekels in the future. It is relatively convenient to use credit cards in Israel, with POS machines available for card swiping from cafes to large stores, supermarkets, and hotels.

During normal working hours, it takes 3-4 hours to transfer money to Israel through Western Union.

Post offices and banks are closed on Friday afternoons and Saturdays, with most being open from Sunday to Friday mornings.

Main Chinese restaurants

East Sea (Hayam Hasini): Shenkar St 3, Tel Aviv Yafo

Long Sang: Allenby St 44, Tel Aviv Yafo

Beijing Duck House: Bograshov St 34, Tel Aviv Yafo

Hong Kong Dim sum Sum: Ben Yehuda St 9, Tel Aviv Yafo

Insurance Medical

The healthcare system in Israel is well-developed and has a comprehensive national healthcare system, but treatment for non nationals is expensive and requires payment before treatment. Hospitals and clinics have medical staff who provide 24-hour English service. If you fall ill during this period without insurance and have expensive medical expenses, it is recommended that you obtain insurance in China in advance for short-term stays such as tourism or research, or purchase medical insurance in Israel on a daily basis. Those under 49 years old only pay $1.6 per day. For payment standards and related processing methods for other age groups, please refer to the following insurance company websites: http://www.egertcohen.co.il/health/ Migrant workers are generally required by the National Insurance Bureau to collect work-related injury insurance from their labor companies, but the insurance coverage is limited to the treatment and compensation costs caused by work-related accidents. If you need to treat other illnesses such as colds and chronic diseases, you should purchase the above-mentioned medical insurance through your own human resources company.

For information on major hospitals and medical centers in Israel, please refer to this website: http://science.co.il/hospitals.asp Pharmacies are densely distributed in major cities and can be found everywhere. Please note that prescription drugs such as antibiotics cannot be purchased directly from pharmacies and must be obtained from pharmacies with a prescription issued by a doctor.

Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv: Weizmann St 6, Tel Aviv-Yafo

Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem: Kiryat Hadassah, POB 12000，Jerusalem

Rambam Medical Center in Haifa: HaAliya HaShniya St 8, Haifa

Customs taboos

Israel is a place where different religions and cultures intersect and merge, and people have a high degree of faith and customs. Avoid traveling to Orthodox Jewish communities on the Sabbath (every Friday sunset to Saturday sunset). Driving into these communities on the Sabbath is a serious offense and can easily lead to conflicts. When going to religious places, one should dress neatly. When visiting a Christian church, women should wear knee length clothing with sleeves on their tops, men should take off their hats, and not wear shorts. When entering the mosque, shoes should generally be taken off, women should wear knee high clothing and headscarves, and men should not wear shorts. The dress code for entering Jewish religious sites and holy sites such as the Western Wall follows the dress code for entering mosques, where women wear headscarves and men are not allowed to expose their heads. Banners or slogans with political or religious significance are not allowed to be displayed in the Al Aqsa Mosque area (known as the "Temple Mount" in Israel).

According to Jewish customs, Jews are not allowed to light fires for cooking on the Sabbath. They must prepare their meals before the Sabbath, drive, or even use any electrical equipment such as elevators, TV remote controls, and power switches.

Jews eat kosher food, and the first kosher regulations are related to animals. The only edible mammals are ruminant animals with hooves, which can eat beef but are not allowed to eat pork and horse meat. Eating most domesticated poultry (such as chickens, ducks, geese, etc.) is allowed, but some new species such as ostriches and emus are not allowed. The Bible specifically mentions the fasting of ostriches. Fish must have fins and scales, and mollusks and crustaceans should be avoided. The second Kosher regulation is related to animal blood. Jews consider blood to be the 'liquid of life' and strictly prohibit its consumption. Kosher meat and poultry must be slaughtered in a special way to remove blood. The third Kosher regulation states that dairy and meat products (excluding fish allowed by Judaism) cannot be consumed simultaneously. All Kosher products must be dairy, meat, or neutral food (Pareve), which includes all plant-based foods as well as fish, eggs, and honey. The fourth Kosher regulation prohibits the consumption of fermented foods produced from barley, rye, oats, wheat, and spelt wheat during the Jewish Passover period. The main food that can be consumed is specially made unleavened bread (Matza).

When dining with Jews, one should respect their dietary habits and obtain their consent in advance for the food to be consumed together.

Due to the dietary taboos of Jews and Muslims, it is strictly prohibited for tourists to bring their own food and drinks to hotel restaurants and other places. Please be sure to comply with local religious customs.

Jews are not allowed to perform face to face rituals and generally only shake hands between people of the same sex. Many Jewish women do not have physical contact with individuals of the opposite sex other than their husbands, nor do they shake hands. When encountering someone of the opposite sex, they should avoid actively shaking hands with them and refrain from performing face to face rituals.

During the Muslim fasting month, Muslims are not allowed to eat between sunrise and sunset (except for children under 8 years old), drink alcohol, smoke, and avoid engaging in these activities in public places.

In Muslim and ultra Orthodox Jewish dioceses, extra caution should be taken when taking photos of individuals, and the consent of the parties involved should be obtained. Do not take photos of military personnel, police officers, or military and police facilities at customs and checkpoints at any time. Other areas may take photos with the consent of military personnel, police officers, or locals.

Israel is located along the Mediterranean coast, and the weather is relatively hot throughout the year. During the summer period from May to October, the highest temperature reaches 35-40 degrees Celsius. People dress casually and prioritize comfort. They do not need to wear jackets and should carry sunglasses, sunscreen, and other sun protection products to avoid exposing their face and neck to the sun. If you need to go to desert areas with large temperature differences between day and night, you should bring warm clothing such as sweaters. In traditional dioceses, it is advisable to avoid wearing sleeveless T-shirts and shorts, and it is recommended to bring one or two long coats and pants.

[Major Festivals] (The following festivals are in chronological order according to the Gregorian calendar and follow Jewish customs. All festival periods start from sunset on the day before the festival and end at sunset on the day of the festival):

1、 Purim Festival

Adar, the 14th and 15th of the Jewish calendar, usually falls in the third month of the Gregorian calendar. Purim means "drawing lots" in Hebrew. It is said that in ancient Persia, a wicked official determined a day to kill all Jews by drawing lots because he hated a Jewish man who had offended him. A Jewish woman who became the queen executed the wicked official through maneuvering and saved the Jews. During festivals, theaters usually perform plays related to this story. People (mainly children) also wear masks related to the characters in the story to attend the party, so some people call it the Makeup Festival. At the party, people usually eat a special triangular biscuit (Hebrew pronunciation: Ozna Haman), symbolizing the ears of evil officials.

2、 Passover (Pesah)

The 8 days starting from the 14th day of the Nisan month in the Jewish calendar are usually between March and April in the Gregorian calendar. Passover originated from the Book of Exodus in the Bible, where Jews slaughtered Egyptians to thank and celebrate God's crossing over the door frame of a Hebrew family painted with sheep's blood, helping Jews break free from Egyptian slavery and gain freedom. The festival is celebrated for eight days, with two days off at the beginning and end. Before the festival, people are required to remove all fermented foods from their homes. During the holiday season, the sale and consumption of fermented foods are prohibited, and only non fermented foods can be eaten, such as a special non fermented pancake called Matsa. During the Passover period, supermarkets have almost no bread to buy.

3、 Holocaust Day

On the Jewish calendar, Nissan falls on the 27th day of the month, which is the end of April or the beginning of May in the Gregorian calendar. In commemoration of the six million Jewish people who were brutally killed by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945, the Israeli parliament passed a law in 1951 establishing the 27th day of the Jewish calendar as Holocaust Remembrance Day. During the holiday season, Orthodox Jews around the world are required to fast for a day. Every household lights candles and recites Jewish scriptures. A rally or parade attended by important figures such as the President and Prime Minister should be held domestically to mourn the victims and celebrate the survival of the Jewish nation. At 10 o'clock in the morning, the whole country honked for two minutes, and the people stopped all work and stood in silence to mourn the victims.

4、 IDF Memorial Day

The Jewish calendar falls on Iyar 4th, which is the end of April or the beginning of May in the Gregorian calendar. All public places are closed the night before the festival. This holiday is set one week after Holocaust Remembrance Day and one day before Independence Day, to commemorate the soldiers of the National Defense Forces who sacrificed their lives to protect national security since the War of Independence. On the evening of the day before the festival, the whole country honked its horn for one minute, and the people stood in silence to hold an official commemorative ceremony. The president attended. At 11 am the next day, honk the horn again for two minutes.

5、 Independence Day

The day after Memorial Day, it was established to commemorate Israel's independence in 1948. On the evening before the festival at 8 pm, the Israeli parliament held an official celebration ceremony on Mount Herzl, with members of parliament and cabinet in attendance. The ceremony includes lighting twelve torches and firing ceremonial cannons. The main activities on the day of the festival include the National Defense Force parade, aerial performances, the President's reception for diplomatic missions and outstanding soldiers, an international Bible competition, and the Israel Prize award ceremony. In addition, municipal governments also hold entertainment parties and set off fireworks. During the national holiday, family barbecue gatherings can be seen everywhere in parks of various sizes in Israel.

6、 Bonfire Festival (Lag Ba Omer)

Legend has it that he was the most outstanding disciple of Jewish rabbi Archiva, and Rabbi Simon Bar Johai revealed the deepest secret of Kabbalanism on the day of his death, thus commemorating him for bringing light (wisdom) to the world. On that day, people will make a pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Simon Ba Yuehai.

7、 Pentecost (Shavot)

On the 49th day after the first day of Passover, around May or June in the Gregorian calendar. Pentecost is a day to celebrate a bountiful harvest of wheat and also a day to commemorate Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. This is a joyful festival where people decorate their homes with flowers. The night before the festival, they have a sumptuous feast with milk and cheese. On the day of the festival, the "Ten Commandments" should be recited.

8、 Temple Destruction Day (Tesha B'Av)

Tesha B'Av means the 9th day of Av in the Jewish calendar. It is said that both Jewish temples were destroyed on this day. Jews commemorate this sad day with fasting.

9、 Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashana)

The Jewish New Year is the beginning of a year in the Jewish calendar (lunar calendar), around the ninth and tenth months of the Gregorian calendar, and is one of the most important holidays for Jews. During the holiday period, there are two days off nationwide. In the synagogue, the horn of sheep is played, symbolizing the hope of receiving God's blessing to celebrate. Friends meet and greet each other to say hello to the New Year (Shana Tova). According to tradition, people eat apples dipped in honey during the New Year, symbolizing a sweet and beautiful new year.

10、 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

Yom Kippur is an important religious holiday on the 10th day after the Jewish New Year. Jews set up this holiday to confess to God and ask for forgiveness. Judaism stipulates that during the Day of Atonement, one must fast for one day and pray and reflect in the synagogue. When people meet in the synagogue, they wish each other a good evaluation from God. Yom Kippur ends with the melodious sound of horns in the evening, and on that day, except for special vehicles such as ambulances and police cars, all vehicles generally do not drive on the road.

11、 Sukkot (Sukkot Festival)

7 days starting from the 15th day of the Tishri month in the Jewish calendar. This festival is to commemorate the life of the Jewish ancestor Moses, who led the Jews out of Egypt and lived in thatched huts in Sinai for 40 years. The main feature during the festival is that every household builds a thatched hut. During this period, Jews would hold branches of date palm trees, guava branches, willow branches, and citron fruits in their synagogues or homes, shaking them in all directions and praying.

12、 Chanting Festival (Simhat Torah)

The day after the end of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. Jewish believers recite the Jewish scripture "Torah", which usually takes a year. The chanting festival is set up to celebrate the completion of "Torah", and the religious atmosphere is strong. This is a joyful and happy festival, so people (mainly believers) sing, dance, and eat sweets. During the celebration ceremony, an essential task is to remove the scripture and walk seven laps in your hand.

13、 Hanukah (also known as Candlelight Festival)

8 days from Kislev 25th in the Jewish calendar. This festival is set up to commemorate the success of Maccabi's uprising against Greek invaders and the liberation of Jews. This festival lasts for eight days, and the main celebration ceremony is lighting a candle every day. The candle holder with nine candlesticks is specially designed for this festival. Among them, the higher one in the middle is designed to ignite the other eight. At the beginning of the festival, people eat a special type of potato cake and exchange gifts afterwards. During this period, people also eat traditional foods such as jam and donuts.

Communications Power

Internet: Most hotels are equipped with internet facilities. For information on fees, please consult your hotel. Some hotels and cafes are equipped with wireless internet devices. Ben Gurion and Eilat airports have free wireless internet facilities. Local users can also purchase mobile phone cards without real name authentication and come with their own network data (the data usage may vary depending on the price).

Phone: The international area code for Israel is 972. For domestic calls, an additional 00 is required. For example, to call the Chinese Embassy in Israel's Overseas Chinese Affairs Office from China, you can dial 00-972-3-6023191. To make a phone call within Israel, simply dial the area code and phone number. The area code for Tel Aviv is 03, the area code for Jerusalem is 02, and the area code for Haifa is 04. If you want to call the Chinese Embassy in Israel's Overseas Chinese Affairs Office in Israel, you can dial 03-6023191. Public telephones are available in large shopping malls, gas stations, bus stops, and major streets, and phone cards can be purchased from post offices or currency exchange points. If you need to check your phone number, you can dial 144, which is available in English. Cellcom and Orange, two telecommunications companies in Israel, use GSM for their mobile phones, Pelephone uses WCDMA for their mobile phones, and Golan uses WCDMA for their mobile phones. Chinese domestic mobile phones can be used by directly installing a local SIM card, which can be purchased from post offices or currency exchange points.

Power supply voltage: Israeli standard voltage of 220 volts, 50 hertz, European style socket with 2-3 circular holes, compatible with adapter plugs.

institution functioning abroad

Embassy Name: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Israel

Office hours: Sunday to Thursday 09:00-17:30

Address: 222 BEN YEHUDA ST., TEL AVIV

Email: P.O.BOX 6067 TEL AVIV

Postal Code: six million three hundred and forty-seven thousand three hundred and twenty

website: http://il.china-embassy.org

Fax: 00972-3-5467251

E-mail: consulate_isr@mfa.gov.cn

24-hour help hotline: 00972-3-5459520

Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency Hotline of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (24 hours):+ 86-10-12308/+86-10-65612308

[Common Information]

1、 Embassy of Israel in China

Address: No.17 Tianze Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Ambassador: H.E. Ms. Irit Ben Abba, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Postal Code: 100600

Website: https://embassies.gov.il/beijing/Pages/default.aspx

Phone: 010-85320500 (switchboard)

010-85320664 (Business Department)

010-85320667 (Embassy Spokesperson, Director of News and Public Diplomacy)

010-85320661 (Administrative Department)

010-85320662 (Consular Visa Office)

010-85320668 (Culture, Academic and Inter provincial Affairs)

010-85320669 (Agricultural Science and Technology Counselor)

010-85320535 (Agricultural Science and Technology Assistant)

Fax: 010-85320613 (Embassy, Administrative and Consular Visa Office, Director of News and Public Diplomacy, Agricultural Science and Technology Counsellor, Cultural, Academic and Inter Provincial Affairs)

010-85320612 (Business Department)

Email:

Business Department, News and Public Diplomacy: info.china@israeltrade.gov.il

Agricultural Technology: agriculture-sec@beijing.mfa.gov.il ， mashav-assitant@beijing.mfa.gov.il

Cultural, academic, and inter provincial exchanges: culture-sec2@beijing.mfa.gov.il ， culture-assistant1@beijing.mfa.gov.il

2、 Consulate General of Israel in Shanghai

Consul General: Bai Lewei

Address: 13th Floor, Puhui Building, No. 318 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu District

Postal Code: 200001

Phone: Chinese Service+86-21-60102522/23/29 (Monday to Friday 09:00-12:00)

24-hour fax line:+ 86-21-60102555

Fax lines for the Consul General's Office, Vice Consul General's Office, Assistant Consul General's Office, News and Media Department, Political and Economic Department, and Cultural and Academic Department:+ 86-21-53099293

Cultural and Academic Department: 60102518 (phone), culture2@shanghai.mfa.gov.il (Email)

Economic Department: 60102500 (phone), shanghai@israeltrade.org.cn (Email)

Political and Economic Department: 60102519 (phone), economy1@shanghai.mfa.gov.il (Email)

Media Department: 60102516 (phone), press@shanghai.mfa.gov.il

Email:

Consuls and heads of consular departments, consul@shanghai.mfa.gov.il

Visa office, consular@shanghai.mfa.gov.il

Passport and registration office, consular2@shanghai.mfa.gov.il

Territory: Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi

3、 Consulate General of Israel in Guangzhou

Consul General: Alex Goldman Shayman

Address: 19/F, Development Center, No.3 Linjiang Avenue, the Pearl River New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou

Postal Code: 510610

Phone: 020-85130500 (switchboard)

(Monday to Friday 09:00-12:00)

Israel Guangzhou Visa Application Center: 020-60168636/22218536

Fax: 020-85130555

Territory: Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hainan

4、 Consulate General of Israel in Chengdu

Consul General: Han Jiadi

Address: 17th Floor, Ping An Financial Center, No. 99 East Street, Jinjiang District, Chengdu City

Phone: 028-68719500 (Monday to Friday 09:00-12:30)

Fax: 028-86756180

Territory: Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou