China Travel Tips
Visit China to see the Great Wall and eat Peking Duck?
Why not?
The Magnificent Great Wall of China
Travel safe and travel smart – Here are 6 China Travel Tips for everyone
China, land of oracles and delicate calligraphy, tops the list of “must see” places for the young and old alike. But traveling to a country almost half a world away is not without its challenges. Given the language barrier and the cultural differences, you just may find yourself talking yourself out of the trip.
Well, don’t. I’ve put together a list of China travel tips to help you travel to China painlessly and stress-free.
- Get a visa. China requires entry visa from most tourists. Apply for one through your travel agent or from the Chinese consulate. You can get the list of requirements and procedures online or off.
- Pack casual, pack light! Bring casual clothes, a jacket, sweaters, and perhaps a dress or a business suit just in case you’ll need something more formal, toiletries, a medicine kit, copies of your flight and hotel information, your Lonely Planet guide, and your most comfy pair of walking shoes. In China, you will do a lot of walking.
- Think Yuan, not dollars. Sure, the U.S dollar is the prince of currencies but in China, banks close between noontime and 2pm for siesta. You wouldn’t want to starve while you wait for banks to open so don’t leave your country without some Chinese Yuan on hand. Outside China’s bigger cities, ATM and credit cards are all but useless.
- Check your change. Counterfeiting is very, very common in China so check your change before you leave. If you have reason to suspect you’ve been given a counterfeit, refuse the change and ask to be given a different note.
- Be careful with your wallet. In tourist cities like Xian and Beijing, pickpockets are a dime a dozen. Do not put wads of cash in your wallet and stash your cash where it’s not easy to pick – inside socks, for example. You will feel silly but you’ll still have your money.
- Speak English clearly and slowly. Most Chinese you meet on the street do not speak English or if they do, only a little. Speak clearly and slowly, and don’t rely too much on the Chinese to English translations you see on signboards. They’re rarely accurate and they rarely make sense, even to the Chinese.
With luck and the 6 China travel tips above, your trip to one of the most populated countries in the world will be filled with happy memories.