HOW TO TRAVEL CHINA

This is the ultimate China starter guide!

This guide includes what to expect when traveling China, what food to try, activities to consider, as well as more tips and inspiration for your first trip to China!

China Travel Tips and What to Expect

China is an incredible country full of unique culture, tons of people (it's the most populous country in the world), and plenty to see and do.

Expect the unexpected if you're from a western country - you may experience some culture shock, but that's the fun of going somewhere new.

Please keep in mind that while I traveled to China for two weeks, I visited big cities in the east - Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai - and there are many more large cities, smaller towns, and various sub-cultures in both western and eastern China (I have some additional resources for cities I have not personally traveled to included in this guide as well).

Population

There are a LOT of people in China. Yeah, you probably know that but if you're not used to big cities and you visit some of the larger ones like Shanghai or Beijing, be prepared to be around people all the time.

For size comparison, New York City roughly has a population of 8.5 million people; Beijing has around 22 million people.

Currency

Chinese yuan

Language

Mandarin (North; most major cities) and Cantonese (South, includes Hong Kong)

LANGUAGE TIP: Have screenshots, printouts, or the business card of your hotel name in Chinese characters (instead of only being spelled out phonetically).

Since many Chinese people don't speak English, it is helpful to have these on hand if you take a taxi or are asking someone for directions.

Censorship

China censors (blocks) a lot of sites you may use daily on the Internet. Some of these sites include Google, Gmail, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Wordpress, and more.

INTERNET TIP: Download at least 1-2 VPNs on your laptop/phone/tablet before you arrive in China if you'd like to use those sites. I used SurfEasy on my phone and also used an app called TunnelBear on another trip.

The VPN will make it look like you're visiting the site outside of China. Keep in mind that VPN download sites are blocked in China as well so you'll need to do this beforehand. The VPN on my laptop stopped working in the middle of my trip and I wished I had a backup on there!

Bathrooms in China

Most toilets in China are squat style. Hotels and some tourist attractions almost always have western toilets (“throne” style), but keep in mind you may need to squat to use the bathroom.

Also, it is hit or miss on whether the bathroom will have toilet paper and a sink with soap. Keep toilet paper and hand sanitizer with you.

Getting a Visa for China

Make sure to plan well in advance to secure your visa for China and have your passport ready to go before you do so (the visa for Americans is a full-page sticker that is placed on one of your passport pages).

Since I visited China for work, the company I worked with prepared this for me, though I still had to go through the application, etc.

Here are some tips on completing your visa app for China, though obviously make sure to go through all the requirements/guidelines from your country's government website well ahead of time!

Top Activities in China

Great Wall of China - near Beijing

Forbidden City - Beijing

Summer Palace - Beijing

Terra Cotta Army - Xi'an

The Bund skyline - Shanghai

Chinese Acrobat Show

Trying Peking duck in Beijing

Trying Hot Pot style food at a restaurant

TripAdvisor is a great resource to learn more about these popular activities for travelers in China!

Where to Stay in China

Book a place to stay - my all-time favorite booking website is the well-known Booking.com - I’ve used it for years all over the world.

It is the easiest way to search and find the best hotels (hostels too!), especially based on reviews. I always check the reviews on Booking, even if it’s a name-brand hotel. You never know!

Food in China

Chinese food! If there is one thing I have to say about China, it is that I really like Chinese food.

Before you go looking for orange chicken and fortune cookies, however, know that authentic Chinese food is much different than some of the random items you'll find in the US or other western countries. (Yup, "orange chicken" and fortune cookies are American and you won't find those in China.)

Delicious food, adventurous food, and food you may find odd if you're not used to it...China has it all.

TIP: Be sure to drink only bottled water or filtered water in China.