China
I first came to China in October 2018 and it immediately captured my interest in a way that no other country ever has before. I have so far spent over 6 months travelling around this huge and infinitely varied country attempting to see and understand as much as possible.
China is also one of the most difficult countries to travel through in the world for one simple reason: The tourist language is not English. Very few people you interact with will speak or understand any foreign language and even the tourist industry is mostly used to dealing with domestic Chinese tourists. Unless you speak Mandarin, travelling here presents a very different set of challenges to other regions of the world.
I do not speak Mandarin and even now can only speak, understand and read the very basics. The guides I have included on this website include all the tips and tricks I have been able to pick up that make travelling away to all of the fascinating places much easier and more rewarding.
Why to travel in China
If you are reading this then it is likely that you are already interested in visiting. If you aren’t then just have a look through the places I have written about and see what catches your eye. I guarantee there will be all sorts of things that do!
Wonderfully friendly people, bustling cities of all styles, epic mountains throughout the country, the Tibetan highlands, the frozen magic of the North East, the atmosphere of the coastal cities, the vast history and culture little understood by the west and in my opinion the best food in the world!
Everyone should come!
Where to Visit
Things to Know
Click the heading for the guides
- Preparing for a visit – What do you need to have ready before entering China
- Mental Preparation – what to expect to avoid a rapid burnout
- Accomodation in China – Where to stay and what to expect
- Figuring out a menu – If you can’t read Chinese this can be tricky, here’s how to make the most of the incredible food
- Money in China – What do to if you can’t get WeChat Pay (and what WeChat pay is)
- How to get around – High and low speed trains, flights, coaches, public buses, metros or just walking around; here’s how to get where you are going
- Useful Characters and Phrases – how to get by with the minimum Mandarin for those who haven’t, can’t or won’t learn
- Getting the best weather – which regions are best in what seasons and when to stay away
- Other Tips and Tricks
Featured Blog Posts
Country Details
First Visited: October 2018
Time Spent: More than 6 months so far
Why to visit: The culture, the food, the challenge, the food, the scenery, the food…
Highlights: Lhasa, Potala Palace, Langmusi, Zhangjiajie National Park, Harbin Ice Festival, Yading, Huangshan
Last Updated: October 2019
Please help me keep this website as accurate and helpful as possible
One of the biggest problem I have found with online travel information is that it becomes obsolete very quickly. If you have read anything here that you think may be incorrect, incomplete or out of date then please send me a message using the form below.
Also I would be delighted if anyone is able to send in further tips and logisitcal information that I can add to this page to make it as helpful as possible. Thanks everyone!
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