Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque sed justo ultrices, dignissim dui at, laoreet dui. Quisque ut felis et neque dignissim ultricies vitae quis tellus. Nullam mattis cursus ornare. Nulla nec molestie erat. Suspendisse nec gravida ante. Donec quis tempor arcu. Quisque sed vestibulum mi.
Hello fellow travelers! If you are planning your trip to China, you’ve come to the right place! In this blog, I’m going to give you some answers to common questions that will make your trip to China unforgettable.
Do I need a VPN – Yes or No?
If you are planning on taking your mobile or laptop with you, download a VPN before you arrive.
What is a VPN? It is a secure connection to another network over the Internet. When you connect to a VPN, your device acts as if it is on the same network as the VPN. This means that if you are in China and the VPN server is in the US, the web servers will understand that you are browsing from the US.
It is a very useful service for accessing social networks like Facebook, Google or YouTube, which are blocked in China. I remember that in the early days I didn’t have a VPN installed on my phone, and I could not use Gmail, google maps and other applications I needed.
However, if you do want to disconnect from social media and enjoy your trip with only your senses: this is your opportunity. Just make sure you have planned your trip well and you have downloaded everything you need beforehand.
Do Chinese people only speak Chinese?
Another tip I can give you is that it may be difficult to find people who speak English in China. So, if you need to ask someone for directions your best option is to use signs or carry maps or photos of the places you want to get to. Some Chinese students are fluent in English, so if you need to ask something, try to judge by age and ask someone young.
Another tip is to always have your address written in Chinese to show taxi drivers or people helping you find your way. It is also a good idea to have a translation app on your phone, although be aware that they are not always accurate.
Don’t carry anything flammable in your backpacks.
If you plan to travel by train or underground, you should know that generally all stations have backpack checks. If you pass through with any flammable objects such as aerosols, they will throw them away. So make sure you don’t carry anything of this kind.
Buy a chip when you arrive
As for internet connection, I recommend buying a data chip. The Wi-Fi in food stores or shopping centres is not the best. I opted for a 30 USD chip in Shanghai, which also worked in Beijing.
Wear a mask
Pollution in China is a world-known problem. If you plan to travel for several months, I recommend that you bring a mask or buy one there. In my case, I travelled for 15 days without wearing a mask. As a result, I and four of my travel friends ended up sick. Better to be safe than sorry, so take a mask with you.
Pedestrians don’t have priority, watch out!
Traffic in China’s big cities is organised chaos. If you are walking, be very careful on the pavements and at street corners. Bicycles and motorbikes go everywhere and it is normal. If you are on the pavement and you hear a horn, you know that a motorbike is coming behind you (yes, on the pavement!). At corners, even if the pedestrian light is green, motorbikes and bicycles are still crossing, and so are turning cars!
Bring cash
It’s not very common to use credit cards in China, so I recommend you always carry cash, because cards are not accepted for entrance fees to parks, museums or some eating places and other tourist attractions.
[/fusion_text]
How to get around?
The metro or underground is a highly recommended option in China. It works perfectly: the frequency of the trains is 2-3 minutes max and the maps of the stops and combinations are in English and Chinese, which makes it easy to find your way around. In addition, the metro is quite cheap and is a good way to avoid traffic and crowded streets. When you need to get from one city to another, I recommend travelling by train. Planes can have long delays, and the time you waste on a flight can be the same as the time you would spend on a train. Fast trains take about 6 hours to travel between major cities, and offer amenities such as free Wi-Fi, well-maintained seats and on-board restaurants. If you want to save on accommodation, I also recommend travelling by night train. I travelled in a soft sleeper, and it is very comfortable. The only disadvantage is that the trips are much longer (for example, the trip from Shanghai to Beijing was 11 hours), but this way you can save a night’s accommodation and take advantage of the time to sleep on the train.
What do we eat?
It’s important to be prepared for the Chinese food culture. It’s delicious, but it can be different from what you’ll find in the West. Some dishes may be spicy or have a very strong flavour. There may also be dishes that are not fully cooked, such as crispy duck. It is important to be aware of this to avoid any health problems.
Finally, it is crucial to be aware of cultural differences when travelling in China. For example, it is common for people to ask you about your age, marital status, salary and other personal details that may be uncomfortable in other societies. Try not to be offended by these questions, but take them as a cultural curiosity.
In short, China is a fascinating and contrasting country with a lot to offer. With these tips, I hope I have helped you to better plan your trip and make your experience in China even more exciting and memorable. Have a Great Trip!
