City Introduction

Though Helsinki has a history of over 450 years, it has been the capital of Finland for only 190 years. This young capital embraces the past brilliant traditions of Finland, while having the modern life style. New and old things across the city are mixed decently, showing the charms of metropolis and the elegance of North European style.

Known as the “Daughter of the Baltic”, Helsinki is surrounded by blue sea and islands at three sides. Beautiful environment, rich cultures, unique architectures, and numerous museums are great attractions to the tourists from all over the world. What are increasingly notable are the design taste of Helsinki, the minimalism style of North European style, the lively and unique originality, the delicate furniture, fashions, glasses and ceramics, all receiving global attentions and most being classics.

Major attractions of Helsinki include Suomenlinna as listed in world cultural heritage, grand church Tuomiokirkko, Temppeliaukion formed by excavation of natural rocks, Linnanmaki Amusementpark, brilliant Uspenski Katedraali, Seurasaari conserving the history and culture of Finland, and Sibelius Park for commemoration of Finnish famous music master.

 

 

 

 

History and Culture

Helsinki was established as a trading town by King Gustav I of Sweden in A.D. 1550 as the town of Helsingfors ON Baltic coast opposite to Tallinn, which he intended to be a rival to the Hanseatic city of Reval (today known as Tallinn). Finland at its early history was a territory of Sweden, with its name being “place newly discovered” in Swedish language and Finnish just call themselves “Suomi”. When establishing Helsinki as a city, its development was hindered by poverty, wars, and plagues. In 1561, King Gustav I invaded Tallinn, after which Helsinki lost its development motivation. So Helsinki still remained as a small coastal town for a long period. Compared with other busy trading centers along the Baltic, Helsinki was indeed inferior. In 1710, Helsinki suffered from a terrible plague, which was a huge disaster. Three years later, Helsinki in its initial shape was destroyed by a fire. The construction of the naval fortress Sveaborg helped improve Helsinki's status. During the last war between Russia and Sweden in 1808-1809, Helsinki suffered from another fire, in which 1/4 part of city was destroyed. It was not until Russia defeated Sweden in the Finnish War and annexed Finland as the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland in 1809 that Helsinki began to develop into a major city.

 

 

 

 

Climate Change

Helsinki has an average temperature of about 0℃ in spring, so a thick coat or warm cotton clothes are necessary. The climate in summer is relatively mild, without high temperatures. The hottest season is July and August, when the temperature difference between daytime and night is large, so consider to take a long-sleeved clothes, a short-sleeved clothes, and a pair of jeans or casual pants. It is a little cold in Finland, so thick coats are necessary even in September and October. In winter, the temperature may drop to minus over 30 degrees Celsius, and even the highest temperature is just minus 4-5 degrees Celsius. Extremely thick down jackets and warm underwear are essential for travelling in winter. However, sufficient heating is provided indoors or inside vehicles in Helsinki. You may visit some more indoor scenic areas if you could not stand the cold winter. The best time for travelling to Helsinki is from May to September, when the climate is pleasant and the season is the best. You may see eyeful green and glittering sea surface, and it is the most suitable for fishing, hiking, camping, golfing, bicycling and canoeing; the water park of Senera is open for business during this season. If you want to visit Santa Claus Village after touring in Helsinki, it is recommended to come here during the Christmas season. You may go shopping in the discount season of Helsinki and watch the new-year fireworks and Lux light show, experiencing the clean and white snow scenery of Finland.

 

 

 

 

Useful Information

Post Office

Stamps and postcards could be purchased in Main Post Office, but the postcards are a little more expensive than those in souvenir shops. Postal boxes could be seen here and there, such as in front of stores and inside supermarkets. The identity is Posti, with the letter O in blue and other letters in orange. The price of the stamps to China is 1.1 euros.

Address: Elielinaukio 2 F，00100helsinki

Website: www.verkkoposti.com

Contact Information: +358- 200-71000

Business Hours: 8:00-20:00 from Monday to Friday; 10:00-14:00 on Saturday, and 12:00-16:00 on Sunday

Medical Care

If you get sick during the tour, please contact Terveysasema, from which you may reserve for a doctor or care at low price; in case of emergency, treatment will be arranged as soon as possible. For the service of specialist doctor, you also need the referral sheet issued by the doctor from Terveysasema. The specialist doctors in public hospitals usually have high qualification, and the supporting facilities in public hospitals are also consummated. If you need door-to-door service, please contact a private hospital; some private hospitals provide door service, but usually at high prices. If you don’t want to go to hospital, you may go to a pharmacy for some common colds. The pharmacies in Finland have doctors, who are responsible for some ordinary diseases. The pharmacies sell not only different kinds of drugs and medicines, but also cosmeceuticals (such as Avene’s water spray).

Website of Finnish medical health service:

www.infopankki.fi/zh/living-in-finland/health/health-services-in-finland

4-hour health consulting service (the hotline of health consultancy provides health consultancy service and suggestions of medicine use)

Contact Information: +358-9-31010023

Haartman Hospital (public hospital)

Address: Haartmaninkatu 4

Contact Information: +358 -9-31063231 or +358- 9-3105018

Mehiläinen Töölö (private hospital)

Address: Runeberginkatu 47 A

Contact Information: +358 -10-4140444

Terveystalo Kamppi (Private hospital)

Address: Jaakonkatu 3

Contact Information: +358 -30-6000

Yliopiston Apteekki

Address: Mannerheimintie 96, helsinki

Contact Information: +358 -300-20200 (uniform customer service contact in Finland)

Business Hours: 7:00-24:00 from Monday to Sunday

Kauppatorin Apteekki

Address: Eteläesplanadi 2, helsinki

Business Hours: 8:00-19:00 from Monday to Friday; 9:00-16:00 on Saturday, and 10:00-16:00 on Sunday

Eliel Apteekki

Address: Elielinaukio 3,00100 Helsinki

Contact Information: +358-9-6129850

Business Hours: 9:00-21:00 from Monday to Friday; 10:00-18:00 on Saturday, and 11:00-17:00 on Sunday

Embassy and Consulate

Chinese Embassy in the Finland

Address: Vanha Kelkkamäki 11, 00570 Helsinki

Tel: +358-9-22890129

Fax: +358-9-22890155

Insurance

As one of Schengen countries, Finland follows the regulations in Schengen Accord. On the premise of purchasing tour medical insurance, the tourists applying for Finnish visa must provide a qualified Finnish tour insurance with contents meeting the following regulations: First, tour medical insurance covers the cost of medical return to home countries and the cost of first aid and emergency hospitalization, and the insurance amount is RMB 300,000 as the minimum; second, the insurance period of tour medical insurance shall be valid for the entire Schengen Zone and the stay period for tour, which covers two days, i.e., the day of departure and the day of return; third, under special circumstances, high insurance amount must be provided for those prone to illness.

The Overseas Comprehensive Travelling Insurance Noble Plan of China Pacific Property Insurance, and the Happy Journey plan of Ping An Insurance may be chosen; other insurance companies such as Huatai Insurance, International Travel Insurance, Allianz Insurance and AIU Insurance may provide insurance meeting Schengen visa requirements.

Number

The country code of Finland is +358 and the regional codes are different. The calling form is: country code + regional code + contact number. The country code of China is +86, and the calling form to China from Helsinki is: +86 + cell phone number or +86 + regional code + contact number. Skype online phone is less expensive.

The main telecommunication operators of Helsinki are DNA, Sonera and Elisa. DNA pre-paid cards with a validity of two years are sold in airport supermarkets. No certificates are required for card purchase, and the card could be used when inserted into a cell phone. The card has no monthly rent and free incoming call, and outgoing call and SMS cost less than 10 euro cents, which is very cheap. One contact card charges 4.9 euros, including free telephone charge of 7 euros; telephone charge could be prepaid in supermarkets. Flow package could be applied for with the wireless internet in the airport. You may have 4G flow without limit for one week at 7.9 euros or for 30 days at 16.9 euros.

DNA flow package purchase website: http://m.prepaid.fi

Pay attention that certain service fee will be deducted for some reservation calls. For example, apart from telephone charge, connection charge will also be deducted and charged by telecommunication operators for taxi reservation calls.

Network

In many locations of the city, wireless internet accessing is available with computer or mobile connection. You may get wireless network hotspots on a city service map. Free wireless internet accessing service is also available in the buses and streetcars of some Helsinki public transportation (HKL).

City service map website: http://www.hel.fi/palvelukartta/Default.aspx?language=en&city=91

 

 

 

 

Visa Information

Passport

Valid tourist visa must be obtained, and the validity of passport shall not be longer than ten years; the passport after the validity of visa to be issued shall have a validity of at least 90 days. In addition, passports shall have at least two blank pages, and damaged passports will not be accepted. Passports may be obtained from the local Exit/Entry Administration where Hukou is governed.

Measures for lost or stolen passports:

(1) If the passport is lost or stolen, the sufferer should report the local police office and ask for reporting records;

(2) Prepare written reports, with contents including: the experience before and after travelling in Finland, the process, place, time, number, issuing time and issuer of the lost passport, and the address and telephone number of the sufferer;

(2) The sufferer should go to the Consular Department of the Embassy with the reporting records, written report on lost passport, copy of original passport and Chinese ID certificates (New version of Chinese ID card or Finnish resident information certificate), fill in the “Application Form for Passport, Travel Certificate, Seaman’s Certificate and Return Certificate”, and submit three recent (within last six months) bareheaded passport photos.

(4) The re-issuance of passport or travel certificate may take a long time since personal ID information needs to be verified from domestic public security household register department. Passport or travel certificate will not be issued in case of incomplete formalities or inconsistency with personal reports.

(5) The cost of re-issuance of passport / travel certificate is 25 euros. The payment may be made through POS machine with Master or Visa card, or through transfer with local bank card or at bank counter; payment could not be made in cash.

Tips:

1. The application of re-issuance of passport shall not be cancelled or withdrawn in any case after submission to the embassy. The original passport, even if found later, could not be used any more.

2. Businessmen or tourists visiting Finland for a short period may apply for the travel certificate issued by the People’s Republic of China if the passport is lost and they need to return as soon as possible.

Visa application procedures

The applicant shall provide the following materials when applying for visa.

● Application form of Schengen visa

● An application form completed in English and signed by the applicant

● A color photo

● A recent (within last six months) passport photo with light-color background at 47mm ×36mm

● Passport (or other valid international travel certificates) and one copy of passport ID page The validity of passport shall not be longer than ten years; the passport after the validity term of visa to be issued shall have a validity term of at least 90 days. In addition, passports shall have at least two blank pages, and damaged passports will not be accepted.

● Pay the application fee Original and copy of travel medical insurance document. Manually written insurance policies are not accepted.

● Corresponding insurance should cover the Schengen Area of travelling and be valid for the entire stay period. The insurance amount shall be at least 30,000 euros and include emergency medical treatment, emergency medical transfer and body return after death.

The application of visa for the purpose of travelling requires the submission of the list of certificates.

● Air ticket booking order

The air ticket booking order for the first travelling in case of the application for multi-trip tourism. Notes: The order must be the round-trip air ticket that has been confirmed. The air ticket must be issued and paid after visa issuance.

● Minors (under 18)

Student ID card + letter of certification issued by school, including the following information: Complete school address and telephone, leaving permission, name and position of approver, one copy).

● When minors travel alone or with unilateral parents

(When minors travel alone,) a notarization of leaving permission issued by both parents or the statutory guardian or (when minors travel with unilateral parents) a notarization of leaving permission issued by unilateral parents or the statutory guardian, should be provided, which should be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for notarization; if it is handled overseas, the notarization should be provided by relevant foreign governmental authorities. Notarization certificate of family relation or guardian relation will be issued the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Original household register (translation not required) and copies of all pages of household register (only for Chinese citizens)

● Accommodation certificate

Covering the accommodation of the entire stay period in Schengen countries. Booking is also available on other websites, and return is accepted after the issuing of visa.

● Travel plan

Clearly displaying the documents of travel plan (transportation booking, itinerary, etc.)

● Certificate of applicant repayment capacity

Bank statement of the last 3-6 months, not needing deposit certificate

Statement balance should meet the following requirements: Standard preparation of 30 euros/person/day in Finland apart from accommodation

The statement is the bank statement of the payer person or company

● In-service personnel

A copy of business license of the company affixed with the seal, a letter of proof issued by the employer (an English document, or a Chinese document with English translation); official company letterhead paper is required with official seal, signature and date; the following information should be confirmed: The address, telephone and fax numbers of the served company; the name and position of the signer from the served company

Mafengwo Finsh visa application website: http://visa.mafengwo.cn/easy/10448.html

Tips: Finland is one of the Schengen visa countries, so Schengen visa insurance must be purchased before applying for Finnish visa. The website for buying Schengen insurance in Mafengwo: http://www.mafengwo.cn/insure/shengen.html

Visa centers

Chinese citizens from Beijing, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shandong, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Tianjin, Tibet and Xinjiang may go to Finnish Embassy in Beijing to apply for visa.

Chinese citizens from Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Zhejiang may go to Finnish Embassy in Shanghai to apply for visa.

Finnish Embassy in Beijing

Website: http://www.finland.cn/zh

Contact Information: 010-85198300

E-mail: sanomat.pek@formin.fi

Consulate General of Finland in Shanghai

Contact Information: 021-52929900

E-mail: sanomat.sng@formin.fi

In addition, Consulate of Denmark in Guangzhou and Consulate of Hungary in Chongqing may also handle visa application procedures on behalf of Finland for Chinese citizens.

Chinese citizens from Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Hainan may go to Consulate of Denmark in Guangzhou to apply for Schengen visa to Finland, or go to Finnish Visa Application Center in Beijing for application.

Consulate of Denmark in Guangzhou

Address: Rm. 801, China Hotel Building, No. 1 Liuhua Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City

Website:

http://www.kina.um.dk/en/about-us/danish-representations-in-china/royal-danish-consulate-general-in-guangzhou

Contact Information: 020-86116100

Chinese citizens from Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou may go to Consulate of Hungary in Chongqing to apply for Schengen visa to Finland, or go to Finnish Visa Application Center in Beijing for application.

Consulate of Hungary in Chongqing

Address: 6/F, Marriott Business Building, No. 77 Qingnian Road, Chongqing

Website: http://www.mfa.gov.hu/kulkepviselet/chongqing/en/

Contact Information: 023-63781655

Notices on customs and entry/exit

Visitors to Finland shall not bring drugs and other contrabands; counterfeit or pirated products; meat and meat products, milk and dairy products; and pet foods. Visitors taking cash of over 10,000 euros for entry/exit shall declare to customs.

The quotas of allowable free articles per person are as follows:

(I) 200 cigarettes, or 100 small cigars, or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco. The minors under 18 are not allowed to bring tobacco products into Finland.

(II) 1L liquor with alcohol degree exceeding 22, or 2L alcoholic drinks with alcohol degree lower than 22, such as wine. Tourists aged 18 or above may bring and posses alcohol drinks with alcohol degree lower than 22; and tourists aged 20 or above may bring and posses liquor.

Animal and plant inspection and quarantine: Finland implements strict regulations on the entry of animals and plants, and allows conditionally certain pets; prior application with designated plant protection institutions and Finish plant inspection agencies is required for the entry of plants, and the plant quarantine certificate should be provided. Please refer to the website for details.

Epidemic prevention requirements: Finnish has no special requirements on entry quarantine of Chinese citizens.

Notes: Customs is behind the frontier inspection, and accessible through green and red passages, with green one as NOTHING TO DECLARE and red one as DECLARE. The Customs sometimes will have random inspections on visitors with NOTHING TO DECLARE; those taking articles that shall be declared not declared will be punished.

Contact of Finnish customs: +358-20-690600; E-mail: kirmo@tulli.fi

Tourism Service Number

Emergency contact information: 112

Police: 112

Ambulance and fire engine: 112

 

 

 

 

Notes

Helsinki has an overall good public security situation, stable society, and relatively high people quality. Lost items in restaurants and other public places could be found most possibly. But for foreign tourists, handbags are often stolen in the public places such as airports, railway stations and restaurants (particularly at the time of dining). In recent years, Chinese tourists or businessmen in Finland often suffer from property, certificate, etc. being stolen. So it is recommended to be more vigilant since entry, particularly at the time of dining, do not have talks with strangers, do not bring a large amount of cash, and keep in good custody valuables when outing.

Prepare in advance passport copy and personal recent photo (small two inch photo of passport specification); in case of accident, call 112 or go to the embassy.

Lost and found:

Suomen Löytötavarapalvelu

Address: Mäkelänkatu 56

Contact Information: +358 -600 -41006

(1.67 euros/min + city call charge)

Suomen Löytötavarapiste

Address: Kampin keskus, Narinkka 3

Contact Information: +358 -600-0441 (1.67 euros/min + city call charge)

Business Hours: 10:00-19:00 from Monday to Friday; 10:00-16:00 on Saturday

Helsinki Police Department

Address: Pasilanraitio 1

Contact Information: +358 -295-417912

Business Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00-11:00

 

 

 

 

Festivals(Important/Historical/Folks Ones)

Vapunpäivä eve

Held on April 30 every year Tens of thousands of young people wearing white college student hats will gather in South Wharf Square in downtown Helsinki, play joyful music performance, clean the statue of Daughter of the Baltic, and put the college student hat on her head. This marks the starting of the annual Carnival night.

Recommended tour in Helsinki - Vapunpäivä eve

Samba Carnival

In every June, a group of Samba dancers from different regions of Finland will show up in Helsinki avenues for carnival. Some of them wear elegant dresses and crystal crowns, hold the Finland flags; some wear sexy Bikini in collocation with triangle shorts and see-through dresses; and some wear gorgeous and showy dress skirt with large hems. They dance Samba in the teams, which attracts many visitors and locals.

Time: June

Juhannus

On Juhannus day every year, all kinds of celebration activities are held across the country according to folk customs, and Seurasaari in capital Helsinki is the center of Juhannus Festival. Seurasaari in the eve of Juhannus is filled and decorated with tender birch branches, and the flower pillar standing in the lawn is the most stunning. The end of the flower pillar has a windmill and a wind vane with anadems weaved with colorful flowers and green leaves. People will dance in traditional dress at Seurasaari on that day.

Time: About June 24 every year

Wife Carrying World Championships

In July, strong men from all over the world will carry their wives to cross puddles and barriers in Sonkajärvi area, which is about 550km from Helsinki, and audience at both sides of the tracks will cheer for players and be amused and overwhelmed with joy by funny scenes.

Time: July

Viapori Jazz

The 4-day Viapori Jazz will be held in Suomenlinna at the end of August every year, during which every night has different activities. Large concerts of many bands will be presented, and dining and entertainment activities may also be provided in banquet halls and clubs.

Time: End of August

Christmas

Finland is the hometown of Santa Claus, who will travel from Korvatunturi within Arctic Circle in northern Finland by deer sledge to Helsinki and attend the traditional Christmas street lighting ceremony on Alexander Street in downtown Helsinki. Locals will dress up as snowflakes, forest animals, Snow White, etc. and lead the deer from northern areas to participate in the celebration activities.