Welcome to China
Traveling in China isn’t like visiting anywhere in the world. It isn’t always easy, but it is usually an adventure and it’s always an experience you’ll never forget.
There are so many things to see and do when you travel in China, that it’s impossible to fit them all into one trip. Maybe impossible to fit them into a single lifetime. I lived in China for three years and barely only scratched the surface. (Okay, to be fair, the COVID-19 pandemic made travel tough for most of that time.)
It’s a country with thousands of years of history, billions of people, and thousands of square kilometers of space. China is full of all sorts of depth and layers. Every time I think I’ve got it figured out, I discover some new detail that blows my preconceptions away.
The Latest Post About Traveling to China
- Ten Must-See attractions in Shanghai
Shanghai is China’s modern, pulsing heart. It’s home to millions of people, and as the economic center of the country, home to billions more dollars and yuan. Aside from being an economic powerhouse, Shanghai is also mainland China’s most international city. It’s one of the few places outside of Hong Kong where you’ll find someone… Read more: Ten Must-See attractions in Shanghai
Where to Go in China?
These are just a handful of the many, absolutely astounding places in China. Like cities? You could also check out Hong Kong, as well as other metropolises like Chongqing or Qingdao. Like nature? Why not visit rural Hong Kong on Lantau Island, or you could go to Moganshan or get off the beaten path on Chang Xing Island.
If you’re interested in ancient Chinese culture, and if you come to China you really should be, the options are also nearly endless. Aside from Beijing and Xi’an, you can visit the classical gardens and canals of Suzhou. And if your Chinese is good and you’re feeling adventurous, check out the city wall at Linhai.
What to Know Before Traveling to China
You Need a Visa
Unlike many countries, you can’t just show up in China. You’ll need a tourist visa in advance. You can get this done yourself at the nearest Chinese embassy or consult, however, it’s much easier to have someone do it for you. Me and a bunch of other people I know used My China Visa with good results.
They Speak Chinese
Obviously. However, outside of Shanghai and major tourist areas, very few Chinese people speak English. In fact, many people still speak their traditional dialects. Knowing a little bit of Mandarin will go a long way.
Obey the Rules
The Chinese government is notoriously strict. You’ll need a VPN to access Facebook and Instagram, for example. More importantly, drugs are very illegal here. DON’T DO DRUGS IN CHINA!
Everyone is also required to register their address with the police. Usually, your hotel or hostel will do this for you, but be warned that some hotels don’t accept foreigners. You’ll also want to watch out if you use Airbnb.
Pay Attention to Sanitation
China has public bathrooms everywhere. These may or may not have toilet paper and soap. Make sure you ALWAYS have some spare toilet paper and hand sanitizer when you go out and about.
More Posts About Traveling to China
- Ten Must-See attractions in ShanghaiShanghai is China’s modern, pulsing heart. It’s home to millions of people, and as the economic center of the country, home to billions more dollars and yuan. Aside from being… Read more: Ten Must-See attractions in Shanghai
- I Got Altitude Sickness in Shangri-LaAccording to the legends, Shangri-La is a green Himalayan paradise. A mystical Buddhist haven where people never age. A peaceful, magical utopia where everything is wonderful all the time. The… Read more: I Got Altitude Sickness in Shangri-La
- Exploring Lijiang: A Timeless Tourist Gem in ChinaDo you want to travel back in time? Be careful. Anything you do in the past might alter the present, with grave consequences. Better yet, skip the dangers of causality… Read more: Exploring Lijiang: A Timeless Tourist Gem in China
- The Magic of Jade Dragon Snow MountainJade Dragon Snow Mountain. The name sounds like something out of an ancient myth or a 70s Kung Fu movie. The mountain towers over the city of Lijiang in the… Read more: The Magic of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- Dali: The Town in China, Not the PainterNot to be confused with the artist, the town of Dali is located a couple of hours’ train ride north of Kunming in China’s Southwestern Yunnan province. There are no… Read more: Dali: The Town in China, Not the Painter
- Kunming: More than Just Nice WeatherKunming is the capital of China’s mysterious, Southwestern Yunnan province. Kunming is known by such nicknames as “The City of Eternal Spring” or the “City of Flowers” highlighting the city’s… Read more: Kunming: More than Just Nice Weather
- Sanya is China’s Surprising, Secret Tropical ParadiseSanya is China’s premier tropical island beach destination. It’s full of palm trees, beaches, and crystal-clear water, but remains relatively unknown West of the former Iron Curtain. Imagine a kind… Read more: Sanya is China’s Surprising, Secret Tropical Paradise
- I Finally Broke Down and Went to Shanghai DisneylandDisneyland. Ugh. What place on earth better represents the soulless void of American consumer capitalism? Maybe Walt Disney himself wasn’t actually a Nazi sympathizer, but he was anti-union and virulently… Read more: I Finally Broke Down and Went to Shanghai Disneyland
- Yangshuo China’s Awe-Inspiring Awkward MetaphorsHere’s the problem with visiting beautiful places: we’re limited by language to using cliché descriptive words and awkward metaphors. I can write about some scenery that is beautiful, dazzling, exquisite,… Read more: Yangshuo China’s Awe-Inspiring Awkward Metaphors
- Why Beijing is One of the World’s Awesomest CitiesThe world has many fascinating cities. Grand amalgamations of humanity that bustle with culture and energy. When I first visited Beijing, I was somewhat underwhelmed. It was only after going… Read more: Why Beijing is One of the World’s Awesomest Cities
- Beihai Park: My New Favorite Green BlobSometimes you find an amazing travel experience through extensive research and planning. Other times, you just sort of randomly stumble on them. The second case happened to me when I… Read more: Beihai Park: My New Favorite Green Blob
- Fragrant Hills Park: a New View of BeijingWhere can you find nature in a city of 20 million people? At first glance, Beijing seems like the last place you would look for natural beauty. Afterall, this sprawling… Read more: Fragrant Hills Park: a New View of Beijing
- The Summer Palace in Beijing: the World’s Nicest Birthday GiftSometimes the most peaceful places have histories full of war, embezzlement, and imperial collapse. How could on Earth could a green forested hill covered in classical Chinese architecture, surrounded by… Read more: The Summer Palace in Beijing: the World’s Nicest Birthday Gift
- The Great Wall of China is Actually Pretty GreatIs there a location that says “iconic China” any more than the Great Wall? No other site is as wrapped up with Chinese national identity or foreigners’ expectations of the… Read more: The Great Wall of China is Actually Pretty Great
- How China’s COVID-19 Delta Variant Outbreak Ruined My Summer VacationDespite China’s best efforts, the dreaded Delta variant of COVID-19 recently slammed into the country with a vengeance. The total cases in the country are now sitting around 121,837. That… Read more: How China’s COVID-19 Delta Variant Outbreak Ruined My Summer Vacation
- Qiuxia Garden: An Ancient Chinese Garden in Shanghai’s BackyardIf you’re looking for an escape from Shanghai’s overwhelming glistening modernity, you could do a lot worse than Qiuxia Garden. The garden is located in the suburb of Jiading, about… Read more: Qiuxia Garden: An Ancient Chinese Garden in Shanghai’s Backyard
- Jinshan Fishing Village: The Sea-Side Town with No Sea-SideThere isn’t much to Jinshan Fishing Village, or Jinshanzui, or 金山嘴渔村. However, it’s a nice place to spend an afternoon wandering around old narrow streets, soaking up some ancient Chinese… Read more: Jinshan Fishing Village: The Sea-Side Town with No Sea-Side
- The Shanghai Museum of Glass: Not a Good Place for ChildrenThe first question you may be asking yourself about the Shanghai Museum of Glass is why? Why would somebody go through all the trouble to make an entire museum devoted… Read more: The Shanghai Museum of Glass: Not a Good Place for Children
- How Shanghai is Celebrating the Chinese New YearThe Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is undoubtedly the biggest of all the big holidays in China. It’s like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s all rolled into one gigantic… Read more: How Shanghai is Celebrating the Chinese New Year
- The Best Chinese Food You’ve Never Heard ofChinese food in China is nothing like Chinese food in America. In America, the best Chinese food is a little takeout joint that serves paper boxes full of cream cheese… Read more: The Best Chinese Food You’ve Never Heard of
- The Longjing Tea Village in HangzhouThe Longjing Tea Village in Hangzhou is a sort of holy land for tea drinkers. Longjing tea is smooth, mellow, and can be ridiculously expensive. If you’d asked me two… Read more: The Longjing Tea Village in Hangzhou
- Oriental Land: on the far edge of ShanghaiOriental Land is a large park located, ironically, on the far western edge of Shanghai. It’s about a two-hour subway ride from the center of the city, dangling on the… Read more: Oriental Land: on the far edge of Shanghai
- Lantau Island: The other side of Hong KongLantau Island is not the Hong Kong you expect. When someone says “Hong Kong” you probably think of glistening skyscrapers stretching towards the heavens, and densely packed urban life. Or,… Read more: Lantau Island: The other side of Hong Kong
- Inside a Chinese Wet MarketChinese wet markets are large open markets where vendors sell fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat, unpackaged and unprocessed. Ever since the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was identified as… Read more: Inside a Chinese Wet Market
- Hold on to Your Butts: It’s Gucun Park, ShanghaiGucun Park in Shanghai is also known as “dinosaur park.” Walk through dense forests of leafy green plants. There’s a rustling in the leaves. Something is lurking in the forests… Read more: Hold on to Your Butts: It’s Gucun Park, Shanghai
- Shipyards and Strawberries on Chang Xing IslandOur Chang Xing Island adventure started with a message from the boss. “We’re going to Chang Xing Island next week. We booked a hotel room for you.” That was it.… Read more: Shipyards and Strawberries on Chang Xing Island
- Guyi – Shanghai’s Secret GardenGuyi Garden is a lovely classical garden just an hour north of downtown Shanghai. It’s not as famous as some of the other nearby gardens, but that makes it feel… Read more: Guyi – Shanghai’s Secret Garden
- The Oriental Pearl Tower – Yesterday’s Future, Today!The Oriental Pearl Tower is arguably the most iconic representation of Shanghai’s skyline. It may be the most iconic representation of modern China. Huge reddish-purple spheres held up by three… Read more: The Oriental Pearl Tower – Yesterday’s Future, Today!
- Moganshan – Prepare to Meet your new AuntieThick stalks of bamboo tower overhead. The tops sway back and forth in the breeze. Birds are chirping. The air is brisk and refreshing. An old tractor, possibly built before… Read more: Moganshan – Prepare to Meet your new Auntie
- Beijing: Surprisingly Gritty and InterestingThe thing about Beijing that struck me the most was how gritty it all was. Gritty to the point that you could taste it when you walked outside. There’s a… Read more: Beijing: Surprisingly Gritty and Interesting
- Linhai and the Pretty Good Wall of ChinaLinhai is a small city that seems to be off the radar of most Westerners. It’s a mere three hours on the fast train outside of Shanghai, between Ningbo and… Read more: Linhai and the Pretty Good Wall of China
- Hong Kong: the Human Race in ConcreteHumanity piled on top of humanity. Stacks of human beings in concrete towers, some of which look like they’re on the verge of collapse. There is a bright and shiny… Read more: Hong Kong: the Human Race in Concrete
- Suzhou: The Pleasantest Place in ChinaAh, Suzhou, the Venice of the East. Or maybe that’s a bit Eurocentric? For all we know, Venice is the Suzhou of the West. Either way, Suzhou is only a… Read more: Suzhou: The Pleasantest Place in China
If you need more information about traveling in China, you can visit https://www.travelchinaguide.com/. Be warned: they are a travel agency. I haven’t taken any of their guided tours, but their website is full of useful information.
