10 Tips for your First Trip to China
Before deciding to go visit beautiful China that has such
rich history and culture, you’ll have to be prepared to deal with smog,
chopsticks, crowds and culture shock! Just stay aware and be prepared to have
the most stress-free vacation.
Here are our top tips from
locals for your first trip to China!
Plan in Advance for a Visa
China requires all visitors from most countries to have an
entry visa. Its best to make an appointment at your local visa agency at least
two months in advance.
The fee to obtain a visa ranges from$100 - $200 depending on
your home country. You will need your passport and flight and hotel information
to obtain a tourist visa
When to Visit
The best time to visit this beautiful country is late
October to March where the heat isn’t unbearable and you aren’t sweating
through clothes and dying from humidity. It is also much less crowded,
especially at the touristy places.
Where to Visit
For your first time in China we would recommend the higher
tourist destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Guilin. Of course
depending on your personality you might prefer one city over another. Each
region has its own weather conditions and attractions as well.
Language
This is considered the hardest thing to overcome for a
foreigner traveling to China. This is why we recommend learning some basic
phrases before leaving. Many Chinese people cannot speak English or really
understand it. It’s useful to download a translator especially when using taxis.
Censorship
The Chinese government censors everything from media to the
internet so don’t think about accessing sites like Facebook and Twitter and
apps like Snapchat or Instagram. Even if you’re using gmail you won’t have
access to it without a VPN blocker on your phone and computer before leaving.
For a free VPN blocker on your phone we’d recommend betternet
and for a good paid option use ExpressVPN.
Culture Shock
China lifestyles are different than Westerners. Being
prepared will help minimize the amount of culture shock you’ll face.
In large cities, China experiences a large amount of traffic
and pollution so don’t be surprised to see people wearing surgical masks to
protect their lungs. The toilets will not have any toilet paper and most are
squat toilets meaning it’s basically a hole in the ground. Don’t expect soap in
the public washrooms either. So come prepared with hand sanitizer!
You’ll notice that there are many street vendors all over
the streets of China, if you plan to buy something it is perfectly acceptable
to negotiate prices. Try to go for half the asking price. Esp. if you are a
foreigner they will charge you more. If you don’t plan to buy anything don’t
ask because they will follow you around.
You May Be the
Tourist Attraction
Be prepared that if you plan to visit Beijing and Shanghai, locals
are not used to seeing Westerners. Some people may ask to take a photo with you
and stare at you.
People are just mainly curious. Be polite to strangers but
keep your street smarts in your back pocket.
Food and Cuisine
Chinese food tends to differ from the dishes you get at
home. Each signature region dish varies from region to region. Since there are
eight distinct regional cuisines there are approximately eight categories of
Chinese cuisine! Of course it’s recommended you try and learn to use chopsticks
before you go to China.
Staying Healthy
If you can, try to avoid having to visit the hospitals in
China. They are really different from western medical centers, especially in
smaller cities. Pollution is a real problem in China, if your respiratory
system isn’t good then try to stay out of big cities and wear a mask.
Drink only bottled water and boiled tea!
When trying street foods, make sure you go with a local so
they know which ones are clean and don’t use leftovers or stale oil! Have Imodium
ready with you in case your stomach doesn’t take in the food.
Staying Safe
Crimes against foreigners is still extremely rare in China.
Chinese people have favorable opinion of Westerners. However, in the bigger
cities, risk of pickpocketing is a possibility but, besides that, the worse may
be being over-charged for items from street vendors. Just stay aware and alert.
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