With the fascinating history and culture, China is truly a country on the march. Its immersive vastness and incredible icons are sure to capture the attention of the travelers.
However, if you are visiting for the first time, you may encounter some surprises along the way. Therefore, we have put together five essential tips that will help you to make your trip seamlessly wonderful-
Plan Your Entry Visa In Advance
It is the first and most important thing to keep in mind that China doesn’t offer visas on arrival. Therefore, is you are planning to visit there, don’t forget to arrange your visa in advance.
While applying for the tourist visa, you need to provide travel dates, detailed itinerary, and proof of onward travel. It includes details of return flights and confirmed reservations of your hotel bookings.
You can apply for the visa in person at the Chinese consulate or via post. Further, if you want flexibility with your itinerary, make use of the online sites that don’t require upfront payment to confirm bookings.
Purchase A VPN Before Entering China
Before you visit China, keep in mind that the Great Firewall blocks social media sites such as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, etc. It seems extremely frustrating to lose access to the websites to stay in touch with family and friends, especially during long-term travel.
One way around this is to purchase a VPN for China that disguises the computer’s IP address. It seems like you are connected from the other country even if you are in China.
Please note that China blocks access to VPN service providers as well. So, make sure to get your virtual private network before arriving there.
Money Is More Acceptable Over Card Payment
Though large hotel and restaurants now accept Visa and MasterCard, Union Pay is the most accepted card scheme in China. However, in most of the parts, while traveling the country, you are required to pay with cash.
Yuan is the national currency of China, and most of the businesses don’t accept any money in dollars or any other currencies. So, make sure that you come with enough cash to travel from city to city.
Travel With Open Mind
Like the other travel destinations, avoid visiting with preconceived ideas. The recommended destinations of China include Shanghai, Beijing, Guilin, and Xi’an. Also, different regions have different climatic conditions and attractions throughout the year.
Summer in China is humid and smoggy, and the busiest time of the year because the locals, as well as tourists, take time off during this period. However, you can consider traveling between October and March for a less crowded, cooler temperature experience.
Be Prepared To Manage Your Health
The larger cities in China face serious problems of Air pollution. Many of the local people pit on masks to avoid exertion on days with particularly bad pollution.
Some of the important health care tips to be considered while traveling in China include:
- Avoid drinking tap water. You can purchase bottled water at fairly low prices.
- Bathrooms are rarely stocked with toilet paper. So, it’s a good idea to pack some in your bag along with hand sanitizer.
- There are Chinese pharmacies that offer both eastern and western medicine at reasonable prices. You can purchase the medication from there as per your prescription.
Final Thoughts
China is a massive country with a rich history, distinct cultural groups, and a variety of landscapes to explore. We hope these tips would help you to have a memorable time there.