Travel - China

Independent China Travel, this is a tricky one... as travelling in China is rather difficult.

The first thing that I think you need to do is understand that things are going to be frustrating and difficult, however just to relax and deal with everything that comes in a smiling... cool as possible... manner.

It does help to learn a bit of Chinese before you come, even if it is just "Hello" and "Thank you".

The tour information in the major cities around China for Independent China travel is actually very good.

Beijing for example, gets millions of visitors every year, the city is set up well for foreign independent China travel.

Beijing is big...very big and very spread out, it cannot be walked, there are only a few sites that you can walk to from each other; you will need to take taxis or the subway.

Time and patience is required to get around this city, rush it and you will get lost.

The China rail system, though still difficult to purchase a ticket, is very good and you can get all over the country this way.

The three times of the year to avoid as there will be millions upon millions of Chinese traveling all over the country by Train, Car, Plane, donkey, etc, are Chinese New Year (different date every year, but normally end of January till mid February), Labour Day Holiday (the last week of April / first week of May) and the National Day Holiday (the last week of September/first week of October).

These are the three big national holidays and most Chinese working in other cities all over China, travel home to see their families.

Planes, Trains, Hotels, donkeys are never discounted over these three holiday periods.

We have a special page for Train Travel in China... check it out for more information.

Shanghai, is well set up also, you can get around relatively easily, all the hotels, places to go and sites to see, are well sign posted.

In Shanghai and in Beijing, finding all the pubs and clubs is easy as well, the best local magazine to pick up for the nightlife and restaurants would be "That's Shanghai" or "That's Beijing".

These restaurants will not be the cheapest, however will have English menus, if you need to eat cheap, there are thousands of local places to eat.

I have made a menu of safe Chinese food that most westerners will like, its easy to use at local places; contact me if you would like me to send it to you.

Xian another popular place to go, everyone just has to see the Teracotta Warriors. Xian is a little harder to get around, however can be done, with some time and patience.

Independent China Travel - Out of the Major Cities

The further away from the major cities you go, the harder it becomes to move around and communicate.

Yes it's difficult... however it be can be done and is a lot of fun, frustrating at times, but still fun and I did it 10 years ago.

There are many very low budget hostels, hotels, around China, set up for independent China travel. Some will have a dormitory style set up, others are like a hotel. It pays to check the room and the sheets, for cleanliness before you pay, most places will let you inspect the room first.

These places are low budget, electricity, water, this sort of thing, will not always work, and remember this is part of the adventure of Independent China Travel.

If you travel China on a budget that is very low, these places can be bad, to say the least; if you pay a few dollars more, your resting and traveling experience will be so much more pleasurable.

At very low budget, many things with the hotel or hostel that you will expect to work or be in the room etc, just will not work or not be there, and you will not get any help to fix it... or find it... That's China.

Independent China Travel - Important points

• All the places , wherever you go, whether it be a big city or a small town, will have the persistent Hotel sellers, Taxi drivers, Map sellers... hassling you at all the train and bus stations.
  You will just have to get used to it.
• Taxis in China... always use registered taxis.
• You will get ripped off, or end up paying way to much for something, just take a deep breath and say you will be more careful next time.
  Just stick to you own fairness understanding of a good price or service, and you will be ok, the Chinese, or any seller for that matter will want to get the highest price possible, where as you will want to pay the lowest price possible.
  Bargaining can be fun; relax and go with the flow. If you think the price for something is fair at the time you buy it, well then it is a fair price.
• I have not heard of any problems with personal safety, anywhere in China.
  You always have to be aware and be alert and not silly, always use your common sense, however I live in Shanghai and I think this is the safest city I have even lived in and I have lived in many big cities all over the world.
  I have even been told by western women living here, at networking evenings, etc that they feel that Beijing/Shanghai and China are the safest place they have ever lived or been to.
• In the major cities, there are banks everywhere, this means lots of ATM's if you go out of the major cities into the countryside, you will not find many, if you do, they may not work.
  It's easy to cash Traveler's Cheques in all the banks.
  China is really a cash society, so you will need to carry cash.

If you are traveling on a time restraint, it can be frustrating and difficult as a bus or train or a flight just happens to have problems messing up your timing.
If you have no time restraints, Independent China Travel is so much fun, if a bus or a train does not come, it just does not matter, another will be along tomorrow.

Independent China Travel can be so rewarding! The further out into countryside or no-mans land you go, the harder the traveling becomes, however even more rewarding!