Monday, July 12, 2010

China Travel Tips To Prepare You For A Visit To China

By James Brad Lee

China has an unrivalled allure for many visitors around the world who visit this country for diverse reasons. As a country with a long history and rich traditions and cultures, there are multiple opportunities for visitors to explore its many facets such as the food, music, natural and historical landmarks, and many others.

Regardless of what is the purpose of your visit to China, it is important that you get yourself well prepared so that you know what to bring and what to expect during your exciting trip. The following useful information and advice about China travel would help inform you about how you should go about preparing for your trip.

Packing essentials

Packing the right essential items has never been more important as you prepare for your exciting China trip. To prepare for walking long distances in attractions such as the Great Wall of China, a good pair of walking shoes would help you traverse difficult terrain such as long flights of steps.

A raincoat or umbrella would also help protect you from the elements in open spaces that can be found in places such as the Forbidden City. To ward off pests during the hot and humid summer, insect repellant would come in handy. Above all, your dressing should always adapt to the weather conditions of your specific destination in the month of your visit.

Some shopping insights

The various regions and cities have their very own specialty products. Hence it is wise not to purchase everything in the first few days of your trip if you are visiting these different regions. For instance, you can get mounted butterflies in Yunnan and silk carpets in Shanghai. Bargaining is common in China and even encouraged if you want to get the best prices for the products you wish to purchase.

Diverse cuisines and flavours

No other country elicits strong reactions in its cuisine like China. With a diverse array of regional cuisines that utilize the different parts of plants and animals, be prepared for a gourmet experience like no other. Nonetheless, the many different styles of cooking and preparation result in gourmet masterpieces that are unique to each region. That is the alluring appeal of Chinese cuisine. Tipping is not necessary for most cases, although a service charge will be levied in some restaurants.

Safety and security

While you can generally expect to be safe in China and be treated with friendliness and hospitality by the locals, it is always wise to adopt necessary safeguards in the evenings and in crowded spots. Do not display your wealth unnecessarily and make sure you keep your expensive belongings in plain sight at all times. Also, beware of scams and do not fall for them by being alert and not following people whom you do not know.

What you should know when getting around by yourself

If you decide to go exploring without a guide, it is recommended that you have your hotel card in your possession wherever you go. This is because the card has information of your hotel printed so that you can get directions to return to your hotel if you are lost. If you cannot speak Mandarin, riding a taxi would be much easier for you if you show the driver the name and address of your destination in Chinese. This is because many taxi drivers barely understand English.

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