China has experienced rapid growth and change since it opened its doors to foreigners in the 1970s. It’s a nation with a rich history and one of the fastest growing economies on Earth. While you may naturally expect to see fascinating ancient temples, the Great Wall, mushrooming skyscrapers and large crowds in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, China has many surprises for first-time visitors. That’s why we are offering you this guide containing tips that will enable you to enjoy your first trip to this great travel destination.
1. Get Your Visa Early
One of the most vital things to know before travelling to China is they don’t give visas when you arrive. So you must arrange for your visa in advance. If you need a tourist visa, you have to show a letter of introduction written by a friend or relative in China. You may also need to provide details about all the places you plan to visit. Along with the application, you should provide information about your hotel bookings and return flights. It is better to apply for your visa in person at a Chinese consulate in your country. (There is also the option of having your visa application sent by post.)
2. Don’t Leave Without Travel Insurance
China is quite safe for tourists. In fact, their low crime rate is responsible for attracting millions of tourists every year. But it is important to be prepared. Make sure you get travel insurance before you leave home. If anything like loss of luggage happens, without insurance, you will need to pay a lot of cash and bear with the inconvenience. The small travel insurance fees will give you peace of mind. Use a reliable travel agency that provides cover for travellers in all parts of the world. Don’t forget to include all valuable items including your laptop, tablet and cameras.
3. Take Good Care of Your Health
Travelling to any country can put significant stress on your body and affect your health. So you must take appropriate steps to manage your health. In China, avoid drinking the tap water; it’s not treated for drinking. Instead, you need to buy bottled water from a restaurant or department store. Also, bear in mind that air pollution is a real problem in China’s big cities. Join the locals in the practice of wearing face masks (if necessary) and avoid any strenuous activity on days with very bad air pollution. If you need to see a doctor in China, you can find hospitals that cater to the needs of foreigners. Fortunately, most doctors in these hospitals speak English.
4. Arrive at the Airport Early
Delays are part of air travel in China. You need to arrive about three hours before your take-off time for international flights and two hours ahead for a domestic flight. Most Chinese airports are overcrowded and chaotic and domestic flights seldom take off on schedule. So be ready to wait when you are travelling to or from major airports in cities like Beijing. To save time consider landing outside the capital. There are many destinations outside of Beijing that are a short flight away. From these places, you can use the fast and reliable G-Trains to get into the capital. These fast trains also have relatively low fares by Western standards.
5. Buy a Local SIM Card
Your telecom company at home may offer you roaming services in China, but you could pay a huge price for this. Instead, get set to buy local SIM cards when you arrive. The major telecom companies are China Unicom and China Telecom. You can get yourself a Chinese SIM card at the airport or a corner shop and make local and international calls at low rates. Unfortunately, the SIM is locked to the province where you purchase it. So you will have to pay roaming charges when you use the SIM to receive calls in another province.
6. Purchase a VPN that Works in China
China is famous for its ancient Great Wall. But it also uses a “Great Firewall” to block access to major social media websites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. You may also find it difficult to use your favourite search engine there, too. So get a reliable VPN that works in China. Don’t think you’ll be okay with your free VPN, it will disappoint you as soon as you arrive in China. So buy your VPN subscription before you leave for China.
7. Get a Translator
You will find many good hotels and restaurants with locals who can speak fairly good English. So you can still enjoy your time at your hotel or eatery without feeling like you need to learn Chinese. However, this might not be the case when you find yourself on the high street. For instance, most taxi drivers don’t speak or understand English. So you have to get your direction or destination written out for you by locals before you board a taxi. Also, many banks have very few English speakers, so if you plan to use banks often, you need to have a translator. In addition, you should download a good language translation app so you can use it to translate some important public signs and messages.
Author’s Bio:
Sofia is a passionate writer from Sydney. She also enjoys decorating houses and engaging in home renovation projects. That is why she loves sharing her experience and advice with other people through her writing. Besides this, she loves technology and gadgets which can help us get through a busy workday.
