A lake in Jiuzhaigou

Whether you’re there for the extra-long wall or for a belly full of Peking Duck, China has a bit of everything for the wanderlust-stricken. I was extremely overwhelmed while attempting to plan a month-long trip through the Land of The Red Dragon, and I don’t want that intimidation to stop you from booking a trip to China.

I compiled all of the tips, hacks, and otherwise useful information I found through my research for you to peruse at your leisure.

Planning a Trip to China

• Visas:  I’m an American, folks. So your experience might differ from mine, however: It takes roughly 4 business days to get your Chinese visa.
  •  I purchased mine in Tokyo, for 15,000 yen = $140 USD. They are MUCH cheaper for Japanese nationals.
  • Remember to print out hotel and flight reservation receipts. They will want all of these, along with your application paperwork, and a copy of your passport, additional passport photos (which they didn’t even use), and your original passport.
    What a waste of paper!
• Accomodations: Hostels > Hotels: I hear these are some of the best in the world. Not only that, but they are dirt cheap. In comparison to a cheap hotel, you are going to have a more cleanly experience, and get to meet travelers from all over the world.
  • I chose to use AirBnb because I’m traveling with a large group of friends, and it was cheaper to book than hostels!!! Together, we spent less than $50/week per person in accomodation costs across all districts of China
  • Couch Surfing: Due to the visa requirements of providing receipts, this can be a bit tricky. Here’s what you do: rather than BOOK your hostel, simply reserve your place for 10% of the total cost. Then, you can cancel after you get your visa if you choose to couch surf. Not bad, considering the average cost of reserving a bed was $0.80-2.00 USD. 
• Transportation: Keep a physical copy of your hotel reservations on you IN KANJI in case you are lost. I purchased a small notebook and filled it with useful phrases as well as my reservation information.
  • Trains: You can totally get around by train through mainland China. This website is a godsend!
    I’m taking 2 overnight trains (for less than $20 each) and quite a few bullet trains throughout my stay.
    “G” and “D” trains are bullet trains, “K” is a local version.  Bullet trains have specific stations they stop at, different from K trains. (I had a mini freak out when I thought I couldnt get from one destination to another for 26 hours, until I realized that Xian NORTH is a G & D train only station and XIAN is for K trains.)
    • Useful Websites:
      • Seat 61 (Beginners help guide)
      • Booking Website
  • Airfare:If you feel like flying from point-to-point within China, you can easily purchase tickets for less than $100. If however, you are on a budget like myself, a bullet train is much cheaper, and overnight trains will help save you on accommodation costs.
• Cell Service: Thank you, T-Mobile!!! Not only will they get you past the “great wall” of censorship to use Google (and Facebook, you Zucker-suckers), but you will be able to use handy translation apps and google maps. Make sure you download a copy of a map, or screenshot a pin in case you get lost!

Chinese Cuisine

• Food: Bring a bottle of activated charcoal to take everyday. It will help protect your stomach against any bacteria in the local cuisine that you might not be used to. Then, enjoy all that you can without worrying too much about becoming ill.
  • Rice: not often served at the beginning of the meal. You can order by asking the waiter for “mifan” (rice)
    • Side note: do watch the way the food is prepared to avoid food poisoning at street vendor locations. Do the people preparing the foods also touch the currency? Find another vendor! Are the sauces at room temperature? Maybe best to avoid those. Otherwise, go crazy on the street food. It’s without-a-doubt the best way to experience local cuisine

Hygiene Tips

• Public restrooms will not have toilet paper, or soap. I keep a small handkerchief and hand sanitizer in my purse, as well as a zip lock bag with folded toilet paper or tissues.
  • There probably will be squatty-potties. Ladies, they aren’t that bad…and I mean, don’t we usually hover-squat anyway?
  • Masks: Due to high air pollution, it would be smart to purchase face masks to protect yourself. A small mask similar to a surgeons mask will keep out a lot of the pollution from your lungs, and provide a barrier that hopefully will prevent you from becoming ill.

Language Barrier

Sure, if you have the time to learn basic Mandarin, you should probably sign up for classes. Who actually has that time or motivation though?
Here’s a few useful phrases that you should learn or at least write down just in case!!!

• Hello, How are you? Nǐ hǎo ma? (Nee-haoww-mah?) 你好吗
• Where is a toilet? cèsuǒ zài nǎli (te-sua-zie-nah-lee) 厕所在哪里
• Thank You: Xièxie.  (sshyeah-sshyeah) 谢 谢
• I’m sorry. Duìbuqǐ. (dway-boo-chee) 对不起
• How Much? 多少 Duōshao (doo-sha-ow)
• I’m lost wǒ mílù le…. (woah-me-lu-la)
• Where is…?  … zài nǎlǐ? (… dzeye naa-lee?) …在哪里
• Do you have …? Yǒuméiyǒu …? 有没有 …?
• I want to go to … Wǒ xiǎng qù…  (Wor sshyang chyoo …) 我想去 …
• Please write it down (Máfan nǐ xiě yīxià, hǎo bù hǎo?)

I hope you are slightly less overwhelmed than I was at the beginning!! I am so sad I am only spending a month in China- it’s so big, I wish I could travel for longer. Where are you planning on going?
Comment below or send me an email- I would love to hear about your trip to China!!!!

Join in the Adventure!