Travel Tips
for China China is a
large country at a size of 9,596,960 sq km. China was only
partially open to the world from 1979 onwards and has been a
communist country for many decades. Although there is much
progress in the travel industry and infrastructure of China,
there remain parts that needs to be improved before it can match
the level that most tourist would require. However, much of the fun remain that it is different
from the rest of the world. China will be the host nation for
the Olympics in Year 2008. Travel facilities and infrastructure
will be improving quickly as we approach Year 2008.
Chinese is rich in culture and history.
Visit the Great Wall of China in Beijing, sip Chinese tea in
Xiamen, dance with ethnic tribes in Yunnan, check out 19th
Century European buildings in Qingdao - there are just so much
to do, see and learn in China! Below are some travel tips to make your travel in
China easier: Entry Visa China require entry
visa from most countries. Apply at the Chinese consulate or
through your travel agent before travelling to China.
Climate
Extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north. Be
prepared with the right seasonal clothing. Foreign
Exchange
The Chinese unit of currency is known as Remembi(RMB) or Yuan.
Get some Chinese Yuan in your local country before travelling.
When in China, exchange foreign currency for local currency in
the banks or at the hotel. Banks tend to give slightly better
rates than hotels. Take note that some banks close for a noon
siesta between 12-2pm. Payment
facilities
Most better class hotels and shopping centres take Credit Card
or Travellers cheques. Smaller hotels and shops take cash only.
Once out of the bigger cities, credit card and ATM cards tend to
be almost impossible to utilize. Cash is still king in Chinese
business and trade. Counterfeit
notes are common in China. Check carefully before accepting
change, especially if it consists mostly 100RMB notes. You can
feel a texture difference where counterfeit notes is
concerned. Understanding of English
Most civil servants, custom officials, police and hotel staff
and men in the street do not speak English or at best a
smattering of English. Most
signboards and notices will carry both English and Chinese.
However, be aware that some translations can be so notorious
that one can hardly understand what was it's original Chinese
intention. Do not expect hotels
or shops to understand English. Only the very big hotels will
have staff that will understand English. Most young people can understand basic English if
you speak slowly.
Social Security
China is generally a safe country. However, hang on tight to
your wallet especially in crowded, popular tourist sites in
tourist cities such as Beijing and Xian. These Chinese cities that are popular with tourist
also has a lot of touts in the streets touting tourist from
currency exchange to jewelleries to female companionships. Avoid
at all cost!
Domestic Travel
Bus, train, ferries and domestic flights are quite well
developed. Avoid the crowd at the stations and book your tickets
through the hotel tour desk or the nearest tour agent. Prices
are likely to be competitive and tickets will be delivered to
your hotel room. Again, avoid ticket touts who approach you in
the streets. Local buses are
cheap (US$0.10 or YS$0.20) and you may want to try out. Taxis
are convenient and are available at all hours. Starting fares
differ from each city and may be as cheap as US$0.70 in Weihai
and US$1.50 in Shenzhen. Avoid
travel during peak holiday seasons or book tickets well ahead.
Local Hotels
There is a good choice of hotels in China ranging from one star
to the most luxurious 6 stars. Most of the time, the rooms are
safe and clean and in my opinion, cheap does not mean
bad. There are many websites selling
hotel rooms on the internet. You can also check out the travel
counters which are available in most train, bus stations as well
as airport. Book ahead if
travelling in peak seasons.
Peak Tourist
Seasons Chinese New Year: Date varies but
generally late January or early February. May Day: First two
weeks of May China National Day: Middle two weeks of
October Avoid travelling
during these period. Book rooms and travel modes way early if
need to travel.
Chinese Food
Local food is absolutely fabulous. Try as much Chinese food as
your wallet or stomach can afford. Restaurants are available
everywhere and open to late hours. Most restaurants will have
menu that includes photographs or simply point at the food of
your neighbouring table, especially if it looks good!
However, avoid street side stalls and
drinking directly from the taps if you have delicate stomach.
Telecommunications
Mobile phone coverage is good in most locations. Global
auto-roaming is not a problem.
Internet
There are cyber-cafes everywhere, especially in tourist areas.
Most are patronised by young people playing online games but you
still can check your Hotmail, Yahoo and Gmail. Access may be a
bit slow for international websites. You will need to show your passport as China has
tight regulations at Internet CyberCafes. Toilet facilities
One of the worst experience many has with China is the atrocious
toilet facilities. Things has improved very much but it may
still be a good idea to empty your stomach or bladder at every
opportunity in a hotel, restaurant or departmental store. Public
toilets and toilets in small shops can be a nose hazard!
* Useful China travel tips
*
Try to get a English speaking tour guide at every opportunity
you can. China has a rich and wonderful history and culture and
without a guide, somehow, the flavour and significance of most
tour sites can be lost. *Sneaky
tip: Hang around a group that has a English speaking guide if
you cannot afford one! Always ask
for a receipt from a taxi driver so that you can complain if you
have been cheated or for tracing purposes if you happen to leave
your camera behind in the taxi. Try to take the namecard for each hotel that you are
staying at as these cards will have a Chinese address and the
map of your hotel location. This is useful if you need to seek
assistance to find your way back as the English version or
pronounciation of a hotel or a street name may be quite
different from the Chinese version. After a tiring day, check out Chinese foot
reflexology or Chinese TuiNa (Chinese massage). Wonderful for
the body after a hard day and very cheap to boot. Just look out
for any shop that has two feet as it's signboard! Make friends with the Chinese whenever you can. They
love to meet foreigners and will make good tour guides. Just buy
a small present as a small token of appreciation. For more information, check out this interesting C
hina Book.
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