Independent travel in China. Independent travel to China. Take a cruise along Eurasia's longest and deepest river, the Yangtze in Yunnan Province
How to maintain your sanity with two small children and the ubiquitous Chinese :)))
Why China and why now.
Reflecting on the topic of where to take children to the sea, in light of recent events: the terrorist threat in Europe and the Middle East and the sharp fall of the ruble, a rather unexpected decision was made to go to China. Moreover, at that time there was an Aeroflot promotion on air tickets, and in terms of money, if before China was at least cheap, now it is certainly not expensive.
Flight Moscow - Beijing by Aeroflot.
Everything here went without incident. Our friends took us to Sheremetyevo, from where we flew safely to Beijing.
So we flew...
A TV with cartoons and programs and games was just the thing...
Some people are having lunch...
Although it is certainly difficult with children on an airplane, they do not like to sit idle for a long time.
Upon arrival, we took the Aeroexpress to our hotel - Dragon King Hostel (previously I had to spend about 4 hours at the airport, due to the time of check-in at the hotel and the cost of the night transfer to it, but the children slept great)
This was our number. Quite worthy, in my opinion :)
The hotel can be easily reached by metro (From Zhangzizhong Road metro station (Line 5) (Exit C) it takes about 2 minutes to walk to it, we didn’t know this, so we had to get lost. Initially I thought that the distances in China are not such long distances, then I’ve radically changed my opinion, so don’t even think about the metro)
In general, the place itself is very convenient, there is a store nearby with very cheap prices for China (in the photo below there is the most unsightly entrance, where there are a bunch of boxes with goods - all the nearby stores are purchased in this store (in bulk from 2 pcs.), the prices are actually an order of magnitude lower ) (not far from the 7 eleven store - sort of), opposite there is a bank with a 24-hour ATM (across the road).
Here it is on the second floor (description and photos can be found further in the report)
Day 1. Beijing. Sky Temple...
The scale of the park and buildings is certainly impressive, especially considering when it was all built. In the park you will always see groups of Chinese who are either dancing or meditating, some are just walking and enjoying nature (you will never be left alone :)))). I somehow saw this picture: a grandmother is riding in an electric wheelchair (like for the disabled), gets to the steps, gets up, lifts the stroller, sits down and moves on (my jaw even dropped), in general they take care of themselves :)
Previously, only emperors could enter this temple, and the road to them is long and with constant slight upward slopes, as if you were rising into the sky. The temple is worth visiting, the architecture and park area are simply beautiful, I personally had doubts about the originality of the temple itself (but maybe I’m wrong), they arose while examining it very closely :)
In this temple, sacrifices were carried out (thank God only with animals) for a better harvest or rain, or something else. The interior decoration of the temples is identical.
This is another temple in the same park area. After passing this temple, only those close to the emperor went further, and only the emperor entered the Temple of Heaven itself (Temple of Heaven in the previous photos)
The main gate of the previous temple. Our children were held in high esteem here, everyone wanted to take a photo with them, especially with Ulya (blue eyes). Lukyan was sickened by such an abundance of attention to him:)
And this is another part of the park area. It’s difficult for me to say what she was responsible for, because... I wasn’t able to look through the crack much, it seems to me that this is something like a barracks.
We didn’t get there, it was already after 18-00, which means everything - everything is closed :)))) In China, if you got up at 12-00, then you were late for everything :))) For this reason, we were not successful several days - I slept for a long time, I just couldn’t get into it :)
And some of our crew move quite comfortably, almost like emperors :)
This is how our first day in Beijing ended; on the way back we still managed to drop into shopping mall for souvenirs that we will distribute upon arrival from China (wait for it...)
For information:
If you leave the central entrance of the park (next to the metro) and walk to the left for about 30 meters, you can cross the overpass to the other side of the road. Here you can go to a large store and buy souvenirs. Don’t forget to bargain, immediately lower the prices 3-4 times. It’s a very good place to buy souvenirs and a snack (price/quality matches), we haven’t found such a choice and such a low price at other tourist sites as here:)
The cost of visiting the park (Temple of Heaven) in 2016 is 34 yuan (I don’t remember if it’s a student or not)
Well, in the evening we had locally produced fruits.... Ripe mango is just super, especially after a hard day for the body.
Day 2. Beijing. Peking duck
The next day somehow didn’t work out for us and as a result, for the whole day we were able to see only half of Gugun and in the evening eat Peking duck. The duck itself somehow didn’t impress me, no, it’s certainly delicious and all that. But the whole point of it is not so much in the duck, but in the processing of its skin (so that it is crispy and juicy) and sauces while eating it.
This is what our restaurant looked like. We had to wait about ten minutes for a table.
Ulya, as always, showed herself to be a maniac before eating...
And so, Day 3
On this day we went to what everyone associates China with - the Great Wall of China, to a site called Badaling.
________________________________________ ___For information:
Student ticket price - 20 yuan ( common price 40 yuan).
In principle, these are all costs (if you are a fairly athletic person), but if youIf you don’t want to sweat and walk up to the wall (about 30-40 minutes), you can ride on a special sled on wheels (it’s difficult to name this device correctly).
Moreover, when you go down, you will get a whole bag of positive emotions - this is a small attraction :))) We liked it, the price is 100 yuan (round trip) per person. Also, having reached the very top of the wall (one of the highest points, you definitely won’t miss this place) you canwill ride (go down) along cable car
road, but I would recommend that you save this money for something else, because...You won’t see beautiful views on the cable car anyway, but it costs a lot, and I don’t advise you to skip the attraction (on the sled ride) - it’s very cool :) As far as I remember, this is an Italian attraction from some shaggy years :)))As everywhere else, it’s better to take water and snacks with you, because... prices here will be 2 times higher than usual and no one will bargain with you. At the exit there is an enclosure with bears, and next to it there is a sliced apple on a plate so that you can feed the bear, but not from your hands of course, but just throw food to him, this pleasure will cost 5 yuan :)Of course it’s a pity for the bears; spending all the time on a concrete floor somehow doesn’t seem very good to me :)
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The wall itself is certainly impressive, here are a couple of photos to get an idea of the full scale. Here Lukyan met a group of schoolchildren who, as usual, wanted to take a photo next to him, so it’s not known whether the wall was a landmark or Lukyan, of course he really likes this attention :))))
There are certainly a lot of people on this section of the wall, but it has several undeniable advantages: accessibility (direct bus), proximity (only an hour's drive from Beijing), and of course the fact that it has been restored and certainly looks impressive (neither vegetation nor sea or other relief features)
And on such a thing we climbed, and then descended accordingly (I highly recommend it, especially the descent)
A small attraction to remember the wall, there’s nothing too extreme there - but it’s memorable :) It was fun :)))
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How to get to the wall yourself:
The easiest way is to take the subway to the 积水潭 Jishuitan subway station, exit A. When you go up and stand with your back to the steps of the subway exit, you need to walk straight back (I mean the direction). As a guide, you will pass a large bus station on your left (you walk along it, as it were). Buses can be seen just outside the Deshengmen watchtower (it is not visible from the metro)and from there take bus No. 877 (tourist bus, it is much more convenient) or 919 (regular bus, only this one runs during the non-tourist season) the price of tickets for them is the same.
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In the evening, fruits are on duty as usual.
Day 4. Temple of Confucius.
Getting up early in the morning (on the fourth day, and even probably on the 3rd, I somehow got into getting up at 6:00) we went to the Confucius Temple, where Confucianism originated, a landmark (I always wanted to see it).
And here is the monument to the founder of Confucianism.
Park area of the Temple complex.
Inner garden. Trees that are more than..., God knows more than how many centuries these trees are :))))
Inside the temple itself. The design styles in the temples are very similar, so if you have seen one of the Chinese temples (well, maybe two), then you don’t have to waste your time on the interior decoration anymore :)
This is the house that Emperor Confucius gave to him for teaching his son :)
________________________________________ ___For information:
The entrance fee for an adult is 20 yuan.
Student cards are valid only for students whose age does not exceed 24 years, we were unlucky; we were 25 years old in ISIC. In general, this rule is found quite often in China, so take this fact into account.
I definitely recommend it for inspection, also if you have time there is nearbyThe Lamaist Palace of Peace (Yonghegong Lama Temple), and the quarter itself next to the temples is very interesting.
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Next we went to Gugong (Forbidden City), but since we had partially examined it the previous day, we went to Jingshan Park 景山, which is located immediately behind the Forbidden City and from the very high point which offers the best view of this most forbidden city (in fact, the name of the park is translated from Chinese - “view from the mountain” or “mountain with a beautiful view”).
Entrance to the park is, of course, paid, but we are saved by the international student cards made in advance; do not forget that the age in them must be up to 24 years old inclusive. In general, student cards really help make your wallet fatter in China, so don’t forget to use it (especially if you look young, I think you don’t need to learn how to make a student card in our homeland).
View of the observation deck from which it opens good view on Gugun.
And here is the culprit himself - Gugun or the Forbidden City, in a different way. The view itself is impressive and the inside is very cool.
Then we went down and decided to walk the gugong in reverse order. But as of April 2016, I can say for sure (100%) that the entrance from the back side is closed and you can only pass through the Forbidden City from one side - the central entrance, next to the metro. Because of this, we had to take a taxi to the main entrance, otherwise we would never have had time to explore the palace completely (the taxi cost us 20 yuan :)
Well, then just photos - look and be impressed :)
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For information:
The cost of admission to the Forbidden City is 40 yuan per person, for a student it is 20 yuan.
In terms of time, count on about half a day (it took us a day, but we were with the children, and we ourselves were a little stupid at the beginning), i.e. and the Temple of Heaven and Gugun can be explored in one day if you get up early and leave late and if you are athletic enough to walk for a long time (and you will have to really walk a lot).
Day 5. Amusement park and Summer Imperial Palace.
In general, the entertainment for children in Beijing somehow didn’t work out for me (the realities turned out to be very far from the original plans). During all the days of our stay in the capital of China, we went to the Cube water park 3 times, but all these times it was closed and only On the third trip, I found a Chinese man who told me in English that the water park was closed for a whole month - in general, we were somehow unlucky with him :)
By the way, we also went to this amusement park twice, because... on the Internet it is written that it is open until 21-00, but in fact it is open until 18-00, like everyone else in China :))) Although for me this is strange for an amusement park, of course there is also Happy Valey (he it definitely works until 22-00, but many of the attractions in it close after 18-00, and open only after 13-00 (be careful in general)), but it’s still too early for us to go there, which is why we weren’t allowed to ride everywhere: ) Looking ahead, I’ll say that I liked Disneyland Paris (and this park in Beijing is an attempt to copy the park in Paris) more, somehow everything there is more well-groomed and festive than here :)
We spent about 3,000 rubles in it, which, in principle, is not a little in itself (the ruble exchange rate was, of course, very depressing; before (2 years ago, before the crisis), all the fun would have cost us 1,200 rubles). The kids certainly liked it and in such a good mood we went to see the Summer Imperial Palace.
China... The idea of seeing the Celestial Empire came to me a long time ago and has been ripening for several years.
China seemed very unusual to my imagination.
Some things have been stereotypically stuck in my head since childhood, some were shocked from the news and the Internet...
In short, let's go and figure it out on the spot!
A trip as part of a Ukrainian tourist group was no longer necessary - I didn’t like the standard programs, but individual tour The cost simply went off scale and did not fit into the framework of my prudent pricing.
Trying to order a program from Chinese tour operators(the most famous are CYTS and CITS) also did not inspire. Either it was necessary to select a group of 5-6 like-minded friends in order to get a Russian guide and a relatively reasonable price, or to adapt to a group recruited by the Chinese side itself from all over the world, accompanied by a standard English-speaking Chinese.
Doubts peaked after studying a two-week tour offered by Beijing operator BEIJINGTOURGUIDE (website www.BEIJINGTOURGUIDE.com). There was practically no day in the program without visiting various factories and medical centers; for example, 40 minutes were allotted to the Beijing Zoo, and 2 hours to the Great Wall of China.
For a two-week program with an English-speaking Chinese guide, the company wanted 2396 bucks per nose (without external flights).
It was at this moment of tossing and torment that I came across someone’s wise saying that freedom has 2 degrees: the lowest - when you do what you want, and the highest - when you don’t do what you don’t want.
This moment was decisive.
Even the panic fear of hieroglyphs could not suppress the insatiable desire to create a route on my own and depend only on my own desires and preferences.
Almost six months before the trip, tickets for an external flight were purchased, documents were prepared for the Chinese Embassy, a visa was obtained and hotels were booked according to our movements. Airplane tickets within China were purchased on the first day, immediately upon arrival in Beijing.
So, I will briefly describe the technical details of preparing an independent trip to this country for those who want to follow our example.
1. Create a travel itinerary based on what you want to see.
2. Select the time of year when you want to go, taking into account possible natural disasters, the specifics of the regions chosen for inspection and Chinese holidays.
3. Get a Chinese visa.
There are 2 possible ways here:
a) contact any Chinese travel agency that has a license (this is mandatory, it is provided to the Embassy).
You will be emailed the program of your trip and an invitation. In this case, only insurance, a completed application form with 1 photo, international air tickets and, in fact, a passport will be enough.
The disadvantage of this method is that after sending the invitation and tour program, the Chinese will ask you to transfer some kind of prepayment to their account. But you can delay this almost until the moment of departure, and then politely refuse, citing the high cost of the tour or something else. :) The visa does not depend on prepayment; it is issued based on the invitation, travel program and agency license provided.
b) do everything yourself:
- book hotels along the entire route on the website www.elong.com, booking is free, a notification letter is instantly sent to your email address. Payment for accommodation occurs at the hotel at the time of check-in. If you try to pay with a card immediately on the website, you can get even more low prices. But my payment card data stubbornly could not be read, so we settled on the first option - pay a little more at the hotel upon arrival and not worry about where the money was written off from the card. :).
- write in the first and last hotel Your itinerary letters requesting confirmation of the reservation, which are provided to the Embassy;
- take a certificate of income from your place of work (in option a) it is not needed);
- fill out a form with 1 photo;
- do not forget to include insurance, external air tickets and a passport in the package of documents.
That's it, you get your visa in a week.
Information for Ukrainian tourists: visa (one-time) is obtained in Kyiv - 850 UAH + 34 UAH (bank services). Rate: 1 dollar - 8.10 UAH approximately.
A Chinese single-entry visa is valid for 3 months. The dates of your trip should fall into this corridor.
4. Now that you have a visa, tickets and hotel reservations, you need to carefully prepare for the trip.
China is not Europe. Even if you know English perfectly, this can only help you in some hotels, and in the subway, where next to the hieroglyphs there is an English inscription in dubbing.
In all other cases, communication with people occurs at the level of gestures and pre-prepared pieces of paper with Chinese characters.
Therefore, a Russian-Chinese phrasebook is very desirable (especially in catering places). Names of cities, train stations, attractions, etc. Every morning we asked hotel staff to write in hieroglyphs depending on what we wanted to see and where to go. This is very convenient, because you don’t ask all the time “Do you speak English?”, but poke the necessary little finches at any Chinese, who is happy to explain with gestures what you should do.
5. Internal flights and transfers.
It is not possible to book a bus or train in advance without being in China - only at railway stations or bus stations in the country itself. You don't have to worry about communication. In large cities there is always one cash register where the cashier speaks English.
In small ones, a piece of paper prepared in advance with hieroglyphs will save you. There was not a single case where we were unable to get a ticket and explain where we needed to go.
It is possible to book flights on the same website elong.com, but keep in mind that these will be the maximum fares.
I wouldn't recommend doing this.
When you arrive at Beijing Capital Airport, go to the 3rd floor of Terminal 3 (all external flights arrive at this terminal) and buy required tickets(each Chinese airline has its own counter, the employees speak English).
I previously wrote down the numbers and departure times of the flights we needed (from the website elong.net) for the required dates, and the purchase process went quite quickly. There were tickets for all flights, we asked for the lowest possible (discount) price).
As a rule, airlines offer discounts on prices a few days before departure. For example, we saved almost 300 bucks on six tickets (2 people, three flights) than if we had ordered them in advance from Ukraine.
Domestic tickets are only in Chinese, so Arabic numbers are very helpful (Thank God the Chinese didn’t think of translating them into their badges). Where should we fly - we were guided by the date on the ticket, and by the flight number (English letters + numbers are stored there) - which gate to board at.
Don't worry that there won't be any tickets. China is a big country, there are countless people in it, the transport infrastructure is at a high level, local airlines- piled up. The only tension may be if the dates of your trip coincide with some Chinese holiday. But this tension will be everywhere - both in hotels and at attractions. Therefore, my advice is to plan your trip around Chinese holidays - at this time the whole country travels and travels with entire families, and the Chinese always travel in organized tourist groups.
Now about our route.
The more you immerse yourself in China in preparation for your trip, the more your head swells with how you can fit everything you would like to see into 2 weeks. We initially planned a trip in April to see cherry blossoms and spring China in general.
We started from the cherry blossom festival held annually in Beijing's Yuyutan Park (it runs from the end of March to the end of April).
Therefore, we chose travel dates from April 10 to April 24.
Since this was our first visit to China, the route was quite standard:
Beijing (4 days) - Xi'an (3 days) - Guilin (1 day) - Yangshuo (1 day) - Longzhi (1 day) - Shanghai (1 day) - Suzhou (1 day) - Zhouzhouan (1 day) - Hangzhou (1 day ). Since the first day in Shanghai we spent half a day in the hotel room due to the tedious long rain and nasty haze, we decided not to go to Hangzhou, but leave the last day to Shanghai.
Hotels were booked in Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin and Shanghai.
We bought international air tickets with a connection in Helsinki (UIA + Finair), which we did not regret at all. Convenient departure time, excellent service, even the 5-hour wait in Helsinki (there) passed unnoticed and not burdensome - very comfortable lounge chairs in the waiting rooms for passengers.
And now, actually, about the trip itself.
At 6.55 in the morning on April 11, we set foot on the land of the capital of one of the most ancient civilizations.
There are several ways to get to the city from Beijing Capital Airport: the easiest way is to take a taxi, or you can take a bus going to the Central Railway Station. There is a possibility of getting stuck in Beijing traffic jams, so we chose the third option - take the high-speed train Air Express (ticket 25 yuan) and get to DONGZHIMEN station (terminal) - line 2 or 13, and then take the desired line for 2 yuan to get to your hotel (ticket price in the Beijing subway is fixed, 2 yuan, regardless of the number of stops , transplants and branch color).
In Beijing, we booked the Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel, which turned out to be not only the best of our Chinese hotels, but also, perhaps, one of the best I have ever stayed in, despite the stated 3 stars. The cost of a day, by the way, exceeded other fives.
It is located a 10-minute walk from DONGSI metro station (line 5) in the Beijing hutongs area.
Hutongs are an ancient type of urban development in China, narrow streets of one-story houses practically glued to each other. The lowest classes of Chinese society lived here. After the Chinese Communist Party came to power, hutongs began to be mercilessly demolished and built up with identical high-rise buildings, very similar to Soviet microdistricts of the 70s of the last century (remember the beginning of the film "The Irony of Fate..."). When we were driving from the airport, the picture outside the window was painfully familiar, only the hieroglyphs gave some kind of novelty. And only in the central part of Beijing there remained colorful hutongs, on one of the streets of which our hotel was located. The spirit of the hutongs, preserved for a long time, gives a feeling of natural China, true Everyday life ordinary people, without popular tourist flourishes and gilding. Every year there are fewer and fewer hutongs, and I think that very little time will pass when hutongs can only be seen in pictures...
The Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel is designed in the style of a Chinese courtyard - a cotyard. Several courtyards are blocks of rooms. The courtyard itself is very national: lanterns, blooming magnolias, old furniture, pebbles - and absolute silence. The guests do not interfere with each other at all. The rooms have furniture from the Ming Dynasty. We slept on a 19th century wooden stucco bed, with a red canopy and an embroidered peacock on the wall. The rooms have a safe, TV, telephone, Wi-Fi, a wardrobe with the obligatory dressing gowns and slippers, an electric kettle, packet coffee, but loose tea, in painted Chinese jars - two types - green and green with jasmine. On the day of arrival we received a welcome plate of fruit, and on subsequent days we received 2 half-liter bottles of water and small bars, which were nicely placed on our bed.
Bathroom: instead of a washstand - a painted Chinese deep plate, all bath accessories (in China you don’t need to take toothpaste and a brush - they are provided in every hotel), a shower with hot and cold water (it was fun to watch how the water swirls counterclockwise as it flows - Asia, friends!).
Breakfast is wonderful, a wide selection of both European and Asian food, juices, coffee, tea, regular and soy milk, fruit, a large selection of pastries and sweets.
The staff is well trained, speaks good English and is very friendly. Upon check-in, they give you a map of Beijing with a metro map (free of charge), answer any question, and are well oriented in the streets of the city and where everything is. You can change money at the hotel (the dollar exchange rate corresponds to the bank exchange rate), which greatly simplifies and speeds up the process of receiving yuan. But this procedure is only for hotel guests. Not all hotels allow you to change money. If you live in a hotel where there is no exchange, another hotel will not change your money. Then you need to go to the bank, be sure to bring your passport (here, too, not all banks change dollars - we changed them in two: Bank of China and ICBC, it seems). Banks are open from 9 am to 5 pm, which is not always convenient since you arrive at the hotel late in the evening.
The exchange procedure takes 20-30 minutes, depending on the queue. They give you a ticket with the queue number, you fill out a declaration with your passport data and the required currency amount. A bank employee makes a photocopy of your passport, tells you the current exchange rate and, if you agree, the actual exchange process takes place.
At the Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel you can book any excursion, tickets to the circus, opera, etc. I don’t know the prices, since we went everywhere ourselves.
Reading reviews on websites about this hotel, I did not see a single rating below 5. And this is true. There's just nothing to complain about.
We hardly saw other hotel guests, except at breakfast. A very quiet hotel, especially mesmerizing in the evening - the red lanterns turn on, you sit down at a moving table with a cup of aromatic jasmine tea and share your impressions of the past day...
Travel budget:
- air flights Kyiv-Helsinki-Beijing, Shanghai-Helsinki-Kyiv - 750 USD
- 3 domestic flights: Beijing-Xi'an, Xi'an-Guilin, Guilin-Shanghai - 500 USD.
- hotels - 725 USD
- transport (taxi, trains, buses), food, tickets to attractions and performances, tea, souvenirs and gifts - 925 USD.
The amount can be reduced due to lower star rating of hotels and cheaper food (I’ll talk about this later).
To be continued...
Best China Vacation Destinations for Beginners independent travelers and those who have seen everything, but passed by the Great Chinese wall.
Throughout China's history, which spans more than 5,000 years, the country has developed one of the richest and most enigmatic cultures on our planet, with magnificent monuments, a great emperor, amazing evidence of religious worship and works of culture and art that remain one of a kind to this day. one of the most remarkable evidence of the flight of creative thought of mankind.
Empires replaced each other, the borders of China expanded, but the traditional Chinese lands in the heart of China - Beijing and Xian; the majesty of the Yangtze River and the Guilin region, as well as modern wonders Shanghai and Hong Kong. In these lands, the great philosophers - Confucius, Lao Tzu and Zhuang Zhou, expounded their teachings about life and the laws of the universe, shaping not only Chinese society, but also the society of the entire South Asian region as a whole. Many of the traditional China trips available to travelers involve these places and some of China's most famous landmarks in the world, such as the Great Chinese wall, Terracotta Army and Forbidden City. There is also always the opportunity to see giant pandas in the Chengdu Nature Reserve, take a cruise on the great Yangtze River, or relax among the karst landscapes of the Guilin region.
8 reasons to go on an independent trip to China
BEIJING
A visit to the Forbidden City gives an insight into the limitless power and wealth of generations of Chinese emperors.
THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
For many, the Great Wall of China is a symbol of China and one of the most outstanding evidence of the design thought of antiquity.
TERRACOTTA ARMY
The Terracotta Army, consisting of 8,099 life-size figures of warriors, servants and horses, is believed to have protected Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife. The man-made necropolis was accidentally discovered by a farmer in 1974 near the city of Xi'an.
SHANGHAI
Shanghai, striking in its scale and speed technical progress is one of the most amazing cities in the world that you should definitely visit.
YANGZE RIVER
A cruise along the Yangtze River promises to be a relaxing and highly entertaining event.
CHENGDU RESERVE
Chengdu is a sacred place for panda worship. See pandas in wildlife These days it is almost impossible, but in Chengdu they can be safely observed in conditions as close as possible to their natural habitat.
HONG KONG
Cosmopolitan Hong Kong – beautiful place to start or end a trip - see for yourself with ours.
CHINESE CUISINE
Chinese cuisine is as varied as life itself; it has countless national dishes, and in each region they are prepared differently.
How to get to China
The country has more than 50 international and local airports. From Russia to China you can fly either on direct flights of Air China or Aeroflot, or with a transfer in Dubai (Emirates), Almaty (Air Astana) and other airlines, depending on which city is the first on your travel route to China. By the way, the best idea would be to land in Hong Kong and start your journey from there, for example, to Hainan or Chengdu.
From Shanghai it is convenient to travel to Hangzhou, the Yellow Mountains, Guilin and Longzi.
When to go. Best time to visit China
Variations are possible with the weather in China - the country is large. Depending on where you plan to go, focus on that region. In the north and south of the country, summers are hot and humid, with frequent rain. At the same time, winter in the northern regions of China (with suffocatingly hot summers) is very cold and the thermometer often drops below -40 degrees Celsius. In the northwest, summers are less humid but drier; the air temperature during this season can reach +47 degrees Celsius. In central China, located in the Yangtze River basin, it is hot in summer and quite cool in winter.
That's why best time for visiting China there will be spring – from March to April or autumn – in September and October, when, despite the cool nights, the day is quite comfortable and the weather is excellent for excursions throughout the country. But still, just in case, it’s worth taking an umbrella with you so as not to be caught off guard in the rain. Season for a beach holiday on Hainan Island begins in October and lasts I'm at home.
China is worth visiting in winter, despite the cold in most areas, for the spectacular Chinese New Year and Spring Festival celebrations that fall on end of January – February.
Visa to China
To travel to China, Russian citizens need a visa.
1. international passport, which is valid for at least 6 months from the end of the trip; the passport must have at least one blank page;
2. completed application form in Russian, English or Chinese V.2011A, signed by the applicant. The form must be filled out in block letters (on a computer or by hand) without corrections or blots;
3. photograph 3×4 or 3.5×4.5 cm on a light background. The photo must be attached to the application form;
4. an invitation from a Chinese travel agency or hotel with a red stamp. If the inviting party is a private person - an invitation in free form, certified by the seal of the local police department, and a copy of the ID of the inviting person.
5. hotel reservation for the entire stay;
6. original and copy of the policy health insurance for the entire duration of the trip, insurance coverage - at least $15,000;
7. air tickets;
IMPORTANT! If you are visiting China for the first time, you must provide a proof of employment. When applying for a visa at the Chinese consulate in Irkutsk, you must provide a certificate from the bank confirming the availability of funds in the account. Visa-free transit visa-free transit allowed allowed in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou And Chengdu. In this case, tourists must have permission to enter the third country and booked ticket with a departure date within the next 72 hours.
IN Hong Kong without a visa You can stay for 14 days. Macau visa on arrival and allows you to stay in Macau for no more than 30 days.
Visa on arrival you can also get on Hainan Island, if arriving direct international flight(Moscow - Sanya), or follow with a transfer in Hong Kong (Moscow - Hong Kong, Hong Kong - Sanya). The visa gives the right to stay on the island for no more than 15 days. In all other cases, you must obtain a visa in advance from the Chinese consulate.
Features of planning a trip to China
We warn you right away that we are talking about an independent trip to China - a country not for the faint of heart, spoiled by all-inclusive tourists. If one day on the beach of Egypt, Turkey or Montenegro, that’s not the point, the thought came to mind: shouldn’t we go to China ourselves for two weeks to see everything? We answer: don’t wave! Don't ruin your vacation and don't waste your money. What to do if you really want to? Or contact a travel agency, but it’s better to listen to our advice. 
First, the study of China must be done progressively. First, go to, for example, passing through or somewhere else in Southeast Asia. Then purposefully try your luck and see Chinese Las Vegas, perhaps compare it with its original in the USA. For the third time, going on vacation, again to Southeast Asia, book air tickets with long layovers in. Relax on the beaches of Hainan. And then, when the most “loyal” cities of China to tourists will be walked far and wide, you can think about long journey, for two to three weeks, and even visit the country on a romantic visit, traveling from Harbin to Sanya - along.
Secondly, why, in fact, do we warn and almost dissuade China: be prepared for the fact that English language Not everyone in China owns it; to be honest, almost no one, of course, except for schoolchildren and expats. You will have to explain yourself on your fingers. 
Thirdly, food, hotels, transport... If you have already visited India, at least Goa and then you should complete this quest easily and naturally. To order something in a cafe, point your finger at the picture; if there is no picture, then point at the plate of the Chinese sitting at the next table. You can ask the waiter to give you a tour of other people's plates - you walk along the tables and again point your finger at what you like best.
Hotels need to be booked well in advance. The Chinese love to travel always and everywhere, and they also love their homeland. 
Transport in China is very specific. There will be smoking on the buses. Smoking is allowed on trains. There is no smoking on airplanes. And thanks to the convenience, it is always better to choose an airplane. It's fast. simple and cheap. Airports receiving international and domestic flights, in China there is almost every big city. Transport links in China are very well developed, and where a plane does not fly, a train always goes; if there are no railway tracks, then the bus is coming, there are no flights - there is some taxi driver or private driver ready to take you to your destination for reasonable amounts. Have patience and a philosophical attitude towards everything that is happening around you, and then your independent trip to China will work out in the best possible way.
Cities and attractions in China that everyone should see
BEIJING
The modern capital of China, the city of Beijing is a real microcosm in this amazing country with its intriguing contradictions and perfect place to get started with rich history China, its landscapes and attractions. The majestic Tiananmen Square with monolithic monuments from the era of the greatness of communism faces one of the most impressive sights of China - the Forbidden City, and crowds of people in the bustle of the city dissolve in the serene expanses of the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace. Traditional “khatongs” are narrow, crowded streets of the city that are rapidly disappearing from the map. modern city– illustrate the more traditional side of Chinese life, while Olympic Park, the city's restaurants and hotels eloquently testify to a different side of Chinese life. In both cases, travelers have the chance to lose themselves in this diverse and complex community - to experience its flavor, it is worth spending at least three days here. 
One of your days in Beijing is worth spending on an excursion to the Forbidden City. This place served as the residence of several dynasties of Chinese emperors. The palace, known to us as the “Forbidden City,” was named so because anyone other than the emperor himself, his family and courtesans were forbidden to enter this territory. Anyone who violated this rule and entered there without the permission of the emperor was supposed to be executed immediately. Today, the Forbidden City is one of the main attractions of the capital, allowing visitors to look into the world of limitless power and wealth of the rulers of the Middle Empire. This architectural ensemble With about 1,000 buildings, it is the largest and best preserved in China.
Two more attractions of Beijing deserve attention and are worth seeing at least once in your life, no matter how much of a “tourist attraction” they may seem - the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace.
Built in a strict Confucian style, the Temple of Heaven, completely restored for the opening Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, served as a huge arena for ceremonial ceremonies designed to ensure a bountiful harvest. The exquisite decoration of its halls and altars is permeated with symbolism. The Summer Palace, a beautiful oasis of palaces, temples, lakes and decorative bridges, served as a resting place for the emperor and his family during the dry and dusty summer season. His huge park culture and recreation and classical gardens, so popular among both visitors to the country and among the indigenous inhabitants, has been called by UNESCO “a masterpiece of Chinese landscape design.” The temple was built over a number of years; At the same time, more than 100,000 workers worked to dig a huge artificial lake, which today can be crossed by boat. 
And of course, while in Beijing, do not miss the opportunity to appreciate one of the “new” wonders of the world – the Great Wall of China. Stretching along the borders of northern China, the Great Wall of China remains the country's most powerful symbol and one of the world's most impressive landmarks. Construction of its first sections began in the 4th century BC, and continued, along with constant reconstruction, until the 16th century.
The wall was built to hold back the onslaught of warlike tribes and prevent them from entering northern China; it is estimated that more than two million people died during its construction.
Nowadays, everyone can walk along the wall quite calmly, enjoying the fabulous views that open to the gaze of the traveler. The section of the Great Wall of China closest to Beijing is Badaling, which served as a kind of “gateway to the capital”. If you want to see one of the most peaceful and spectacular places, you need to go to Jinshanlin. Due to the fact that this section of the wall is located far from Beijing, there are no large tourist groups, which fill other sections of the wall.
WHERE TO LIVE. BEST HOTELS IN BEIJING
Located next to east gate Imperial Summer Palace, offers relaxation in one of the most luxurious and impressive places in Beijing. Most rooms are furnished in the style of a hundred years ago. There is a private entrance to the territory of the Summer Palace, so this is the first thing that hotel guests can visit right in the morning.
More a budget option The Haoyuan Guesthouse. Nestled between two lovely courtyards, Haoyuan is the former residence of a wealthy Beijing banker. It is located away from the noisy crowd of the city; however, Tiananmen Square is only a 15-20 minute walk from the hotel. The hotel's 16 rooms are decorated in traditional Chinese style, and in the hotel's backyard you can easily immerse yourself in peace and quiet, truly feeling like you are in real China.
- DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS FOR ACCOMMODATION IN BEIJING HOTELS
CHENGDU
Quiet city Chengdu, the capital of the “fiery” province of Sichuan, is reliably isolated from the rest of the country by mountain peaks that surround it in a kind of ring. Spicy dishes national cuisine, the friendliness of the locals, as well as the many temples and teahouses, provide some of the best opportunities in all of China to observe local life. In the west, the misty mountains stretch hundreds of miles towards the Tibetan plateau, while in the north, covered in dense bamboo forests, lives one of China's most famous national symbols - the giant panda, which leads an almost reclusive lifestyle. They are extremely rare in the wild, but a visit to a panda sanctuary or research center located near the city of Chengdu guarantees the opportunity to get up close and personal with these magnificent animals.
HAINAN
The Chinese call sunny island with magnificent beaches and hotels, its own Hawaii. The island is located at the same latitude as northern Vietnam. Therefore, the climate in Hainan is very warm most of the year, and the days are sunny and clear. There are clean ones here sandy beaches and a number of high-end hotels and resorts, many with their own private beaches.
Away from the coast, you can spend a day hiking along the tropical forests, or visit the monkey sanctuary, although most people come here just to relax by the sea. Hainan Island can be easily reached from most major cities China. It is developing at a breakneck speed, as a result of which it has lost some of its charm; but, nevertheless, this is - wonderful place for those who want to relax and combine excursions with beach holiday while traveling in China.
- DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS FOR ACCOMMODATION IN HAINAN HOTEL
SHANGHAI
Shanghai is a vivid illustration of the well-known phrase about the city of contrasts. He is the embodiment of self-confident 21st century China. The atmosphere of cosmopolitanism here is very far from that which reigns in most other cities in the country. Surrounded by colonial buildings inspired by 1930s architecture, stroll along the waterfront, a sparkling jewel in the pre-war crown East Asia with views of the towering skyscrapers of Pudong.
New Shanghai is made of glass and metal. Futuristic buildings can be found literally everywhere here, and they grow like mushrooms after rain. Further along the river is the French Concession - with streets dotted with shady alleys and an excellent selection of bars and restaurants; this part of the city is calmer than others. This area brings to life the history of the city from the time when Shanghai was an unremarkable fishing village, even before the rapid development of Western trade with China in the 19th century. As a result of the infamous Opium Wars, a weakened China allowed a number of foreign governments, including the French, to open concessions with free trade. At the beginning of the 20th century, the concession became one of the first residential areas of the city with luxurious villas and green boulevards. Those days are long gone, but the area still exudes tranquility and is a great place for an evening stroll. 
The area crossed by canals and exquisite flowering gardens also deserves the attention of travelers. Suzhou, a beautiful place located just an hour by train from Shanghai. Water channels and tree-lined squares frame this area, which is famous for its weaving tradition, with techniques that led to the opening of the famous Silk Museum. In the vicinity of Suzhou there are picturesque villages on the water such as Tongli, Zhouzhuang And Zhu Jia Jiao, where ancient stone bridges cross winding canals and old merchant houses line narrow cobbled streets. The best thing that these small villages have to offer is a rare chance to get acquainted with the era of a bygone China; however, during peak season it can get quite crowded; Therefore, if you are visiting the Suzhou area, it is better to plan to leave your hotel early in the morning to avoid crowding.
WHERE TO LIVE. BEST HOTELS IN SHANGHAI 
Located in the heart of Shanghai's French Concession, the villa Anting offers excellent quality accommodation at an excellent price. The hotel is housed in a building that blends well with the surrounding colonial-era buildings; numbers in Anting very conveniently located and comfortably furnished. There is both a traditional Chinese restaurant and a restaurant serving familiar Western dishes. But one of the best features of this hotel is the lush green gardens, which provide travelers with a welcome break away from the endless bustle of Shanghai.
For those who prefer to live in the heart of the city, it is better to choose a hotel conveniently located near the embankment Peninsula- one of the largest and most luxurious hotels in Shanghai. Peninsula located in an Art Deco building. The hotel's rooms are some of the most spacious in the city, some with stunning views of the river and Pudong's glittering buildings.
- DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS FOR ACCOMMODATION IN SHANGHAI HOTELS
HANGZHOU
The Chinese consider their former capital Hangzhou is one of best places in the country and most of the population prefer to relax here. Hangzhou deserves the love of millions for the most part thanks to scenic views West Lake, a landscape immortalized over the centuries by countless Chinese artists. Although Hangzhou's water scenery has become less attractive than elsewhere these days, the city's tranquil atmosphere and greenery set it apart from other more famous places. After the mad rush of Shanghai and Beijing, this is a great place to rent a bike and go for a walk by the river and into the nearby hills. You can also visit the local tea plantation, which produces tea of such high quality that it is regularly presented during visits by various heads of state, including Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. All this, combined with the newly introduced choice of very authentic and comfortable hotels, makes Hangzhou the ideal place to stay towards the end of your trip. 
In addition to walking around the city and exploring local attractions, from Hangzhou you can travel to one of the most sacred mountains in China - Huangshan - Yellow Mountain, located three hours drive from Hangzhou; so a visit to this place goes well with a visit to this part of China, which is often underestimated or simply overlooked by tourists.
The mountain is very popular among the Chinese population, but if you conduct an experiment and spend the night in one of local hotels, you may find that its top is at your complete disposal. Sunrises here are stunning, with the sun slowly rising to reveal a series of jagged peaks melting into a sea of clouds. So if you want something mind-blowing and amazing where you can take hundreds of “no filter” photos, be sure to get to Huangshan and climb it.
WHERE TO LIVE. BEST HOTELS AROUND HANGZHOU
Surrounded by tea plantations and tiny villages, untouched by the excesses of civilization, Amanfayun – perfect place to relax and pamper yourself. Designed in a traditional country style, each of the 47 rooms at this hotel are housed in typical village houses, some of which are over 100 years old. There is a tea room, several restaurants and a SPA salon. Temples, lakes and other delights of Hangzhou are just 20 minutes' drive away.
- DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS FOR ACCOMMODATION IN HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS IN HANGZHOU
GUILIN
Guilin, a city located in the south of China, evokes a feeling of peace and has a more relaxing effect on travelers than the more developed cities in the north of the country. The sheer limestone peaks located behind the flat plain around the city form a stunning landscape that has served as one of the main motifs of Chinese art and literature since time immemorial. Guilin itself is a pretty nice town, but it mostly serves as the gateway to the region. Yangshuo and Lushen are places you can easily reach to enjoy the views. A little further there are several charming villages untouched by civilization, where you can see interesting festivals of local small ethnic groups.
YANSHO
A river cruise from Guilin to the small trading town of Yangshuo is a popular and highly affordable way see jagged Mountain peaks from limestone. As you float downstream, you'll see classic scenes from provincial China: herds of buffalo grazing, farmers cultivating their fields, and fishermen unloading their day's catch. Despite the fact that in last years Yangshuo is becoming more and more popular among travelers, but it still remains as calm and friendly as ever. A trip to Yangshuo is also a great excuse to explore the countryside by bike, car or, more modestly, on foot. There are opportunities for rafting on many of the river's tributaries.
Evenings in Yangshuo are best spent with fishermen who use specially trained cormorants rather than fishing rods for fishing, or while having dinner at one of the many local restaurants cities. There is also the opportunity to see exciting sound and light show Yangshou impressions is directed by Zhang Yimou, who directed the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
LONGJI
Located two hours north of Guilin, the Longji Dragon's Spine Ancient Rice Terraces offer a delightful opportunity to learn more about the traditions of the Zhuang people who live in the area. An overnight stay in a hotel surrounded by terraces is a great opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of modern China and experience a traditional rural way of life. You can spend hours walking through the villages scattered along the surrounding slopes, either independently or accompanied by a guide. Although the local peasants are already quite accustomed to travelers from the West, it is still a great way to see a different side of life in China, different from the frantic rhythms of the modern cities of this country. 
Beyond Longji, the terrain becomes more mountainous and the roads rougher. This part of China is considered one of the least industrialized in the country. Those who can put up with modest accommodations and rough roads will be rewarded with fantastic scenery, a variety of minority cultures and visits to modest, largely untouched villages such as Chengyang. For those who are interested in the culture and traditions of China, the vicinity of Longji provides a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the local festivities that take place here throughout the year. One of such interesting celebrations is the Lushen festival in honor of a wind musical instrument made from reeds, which is held in early October. The festival program includes performances by musicians, as well as various performances, dances, bullfights and horse racing.
So, you are planning to go to China. And they did it right! This country is famous for its centuries-old culture, inventions, natural landscapes, food and much more. Now there are many offers on the tourism market, but they are all of the same type and run along the same well-trodden routes. Besides, they don’t give you freedom: look to the right, look to the left... How about entering a country where they look at you with genuine childish interest, like an alien, where the whole carriage stands up when they see you)). Or chat with local residents and get to know the life of the country from the inside. Independent travel provides all this.
Below we discuss the main practical issues related to independent travel in China.
1. Visa to China
The first thing you will need for such a trip is a Chinese visa. There are several types of visas, and accordingly they require different documents, different prices. The simplest one is a one-time tourist trip. You can register with a travel agency, which will naturally charge an additional fee for their work. You can apply for a visa yourself by taking the documents to one of the Chinese consulates: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok.
2. How to get to China and travel within the country?
There are several ways to get to the Celestial Empire from Russia: by plane, by train or by bus, and by hitchhiking. It all depends on your budget, where you are going from and what places in China you are going to visit. China, as you know, borders Russia by Far East, from there the route to Beijing is the closest. You can cover this distance by train. The easiest way to travel from Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the European part of Russia is by plane. There are both direct flights and with transfers in Astana, Almaty, Dubai, depending on the airline. Cheap tickets can be found on the website .
You can also move around within China different ways, whichever you prefer. We traveled by train, buying tickets ourselves at the ticket office a few days before departure.
3. How much money to take to China?
It’s difficult to give a definite answer - everyone has their own requirements and preferences. I can only give a link to our
It is better to exchange cash in Russia for dollars in advance, since rubles are not exchanged in China. Dollars are exchanged for yuan mainly by the Bank of China; the rate in the spring of 2013 was 6.1 yuan per 1 dollar. You can also use bank cards Visa and MasterCard. A fee will be charged for withdrawing money from the card. It varies from bank to bank, check with your bank before traveling.
Anya and I applied for ISIC youth cards; in some places they give a good discount. For example, we saved 90 yuan (450 rubles) on Mount Emeishan.
4. What to take with you to China?
Experience is the son of difficult mistakes)) It’s unclear why we were dragging sleeping bags with us, but it turned out that China is full of cheap and comfortable housing.
When packing, pay attention to what kind of weather awaits you in China. For example, in the spring there is a lot of rain and dampness in the southwestern regions, while in Xinjiang it can be cool but dry. From here, choose what to take. For independent travel, a backpack is an irreplaceable and convenient thing that you must have =).
As a last resort, buy what you need in China, all the clothes are made there anyway!
5. Accommodation in China - where to spend the night?
As mentioned above, the choice of accommodation is huge, especially in places popular with tourists. And competition makes prices reasonable. You can book a hotel or inn in advance - this is easy to do on the website. If you prefer to improvise, you can decide on housing on the spot. I just strongly advise against doing this if you are traveling on holidays: at the beginning of May and in the first half of October.
If you want to stay in an apartment or rent a room from the owners (often this works out cheaper than a hotel), try Airbnb (go to and get $25 as a gift for your first booking).
6. Where to go in China, attractions
The choice here is simply endless, China amazing country! Discovery awaits at every step =).
We visited 4 provinces, or rather , and the province , Yunnan and Manchuria. We simply passed by the rest of the districts by train.
7. Food
People in China love and know how to eat! Locals adopted the rule “War is war, and lunch is on schedule”)). The choice of food is very large, although the main products for the Chinese are rice and noodles, as well as additives for them. You can have a snack at local chifans or buy food at the market or supermarkets.
It should be noted that Chinese food is very spicy - be careful, especially in the first days.
When organizing an independent trip, mobile applications are very helpful. We wrote .
That's all I wanted to say about traveling to China on your own. Come to the Celestial Empire, you will definitely be satisfied! Easy roads!
WikiHow works like a wiki, which means that many of our articles are written by multiple authors. This article was produced by 41 people, including anonymously, to edit and improve it.
A visit to China will provide many delicious and unforgettable impressions. To get the most out of your visit program, you need to take into account local peculiarities, and the following tips will help you pack your bags for a successful trip.
Steps
- Carrying your own toilet paper is especially important for those traveling by train.
- Train toilets in China can only be used in “rural areas”, outside the urban area.
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Take Pepto Bismol and loperamide in a chewable form. The quality of tap water in China is terrible. Problems can arise even if you brush your teeth, rinse the toothpaste off with tap water, or eat vegetables that have been washed and not cooked. To prevent intestinal problems, chew 2 tablets before meals.
- Poor water quality is characteristic primarily of rural areas rather than “urban” areas.
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Prepare your clothes according to the season. China is very hot in summer and very cold in winter. Bring plenty of clothes, and remember that you can always use your hotel laundry or laundromat if any parts of your wardrobe need cleaning. However, some laundries use detergents that can cause allergies, so it is safer to use dry cleaning.
- China is a lot like the US. Summers in the south are very hot and humid, while winters in the north are frosty and dry.
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In most Chinese establishments, the dress code can be described as: reasonable informal, but if you are planning formal meetings, it is better to wear a suit or formal attire.
Be careful not to get water into your mouth while showering. Her taste is normal, but there is a danger of getting some kind of infection. Therefore, it is better to use bottled table water for rinsing your mouth and brushing your teeth.
- IN small towns can sell cheap table water that has only undergone rough filtration. It is safer to use water from supermarkets, buying well-known brands.
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Visit your GP(s) or travel clinic. Specialists will help you determine which vaccinations you will need, taking into account your health status, vaccination history, the characteristics of the regions you plan to visit, as well as the expected activities during your trip. You must comply with all these requirements before your trip. To purchase any psychotropic drugs in China, you are required to show a prescription certified by a doctor. Bring enough antibiotics and other prescription medications you may need during your trip to last your entire stay in China (plus a few extra pills). Transport medications in their original packaging. US travelers can get all the information they need about medications in China from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Prepare a small camping kit for each family member. Keep a mini roll of toilet paper and a bottle of hand sanitizer in your hip pouch. It is better to choose a non-alcohol based antiseptic, since in some provinces (especially Guangzhou) it may be confiscated at customs. Add a high-calorie nutty cereal bar, cough drops, and chewing gum. It's also worth bringing a flashlight so you don't end up in the dark during power outages that happen in China.
- Don't forget that you are in China and not some other place! To reduce environmental pollution, toilets usually do not have toilet paper. Always have paper napkins on hand, which can be purchased at any store for 1-2 yuan.
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Always have some cash and traveler's checks with you as most restaurants and shops credit cards do not accept. Prepare a handbag with money, traveler's checks, air and train tickets. It needs to be firmly and safely fixed on you, and it is advisable to cover it with clothing. This will be safer than leaving these things in the hotel room.
- Major banks in large and medium-sized cities have ATMs that accept debit cards. You can use your USAA Federal Saving Bank and North American East Asia Bank cards without any problems. IN small towns some banks don't even exchange dollars for Chinese yuan.
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Other essential items include a raincoat and/or umbrella, a hat, summer time – sunscreen and glasses, insect repellent, as well as a power adapter (power converter), necessary for powering and recharging electrical appliances.
- Always carry with you business card the hotel where you are staying. This will allow you to be brought back if any unforeseen situations arise. In case of emergency, you should have a copy of your passport, the original of which can be left in a safe place at the hotel.
- Don't eat everything. It is better to know what is being offered to you and how this dish was prepared. In places like Beijing's Wanwujing Market, snacks are often prepared inappropriately. If you are not sure about the quality of the food you eat, drink beer - it will help you digest incompatible food, the main thing is not to abuse it.
- If you are African, European or Hispanic, don't be surprised if Chinese people ask permission to take photos with you.
- Once you've decided where you'll be going, do some research. Find out about the climate conditions in the area. There is nothing worse than being dressed inappropriately for the weather. At the same time, a certain conservatism is needed. Long pants and neat shirts/jackets will do for any terrain.
- Take the time to study maps of the places you are staying or planning to visit. This will help you stay on course while walking around the city. You're also less likely to get lost if you're armed with a handheld GPS navigator.
- Before traveling, you should prepare a printout of all the hotels in the areas where you will go. Be sure to prepare a printout in Chinese (you can use the Chinese pages of the websites of these hotels or translate the text using an online translator). This will make it easier for you to communicate with taxi drivers, who often do not speak English. For the same purpose, you can ask the hotel concierge to write in Chinese the name of the attractions you plan to visit.
- Even cheap hotels have a heater on each floor for drinking water. Use a clean bottle to cool 97.22 C boiling water to a manageable temperature.
- Control the amount of cash you have on you. Just in case, it’s worth having a NZ that will be enough to take a taxi back to the hotel. Most airports have ATMs, and it's best to get cash as soon as you arrive.
- Read a few reports from other travelers to get a better idea of the attractions and what to look for. Find a travel brochure to study during your flight or in your hotel room.
- Internet censorship has been introduced in China. To access Facebook or YouTube you will need a proxy address replacement service.
- Chinese mobile operators work on other standards. If you need to use one device in China and the USA, you will need a phone with a quadraphonic frequency range. Also make sure that you do not have a local SIM card. To work in China, it must be nationwide.
- Find an audio course Chinese language, and also grab a dictionary. Knowledge of the Chinese language is necessary, but there is no need to be discouraged by its complexity. You just need to remember a few key phrases and general grammar rules. Remember that outside of 5-star hotels and fancy restaurants, people's knowledge of the English language is usually limited to the word "hello!" If you want to move freely, you need to learn the basic phrases. You can also ask the concierge to write down on paper the names of the places you plan to visit during the day. Thanks to this, you can explain to the taxi driver where you need to go. In urban areas, the chances of finding someone who speaks English increase.
- Chinese currency is only sold in China, so you need to find out where the exchange offices are. Add information about major banks to the list of major hotels you prepare for your trip. This will allow you to find the nearest location whenever you need to change dollars or traveler's checks into yuan.
Gather all the documents needed to travel to China - passport, everything required visas, international air tickets etc.
Take everything you need to China. Although there will be shops on every corner, they will not always sell the same things that you are used to at home. Most toilets do not have toilet paper, so it's best to have your supply on hand. Large rolls are inconvenient to carry, so even before the trip you need to put aside part of the roll that is more than half used. For a family of four, 6-8 of these mini-rolls will be enough for a two-week trip. Of course, in 5-star hotels the toilets are decorated in European style, and in international airports There are definitely Western-style toilets. Stock up only on what you need. It is better to take with you only one key to the house and to the car.