China Travel Guide | She is Wanderlust Female Adventure Traveler

Located in East Asia, China is the world’s most populous country, home to a millenaire culture and one of the oldest empires in the world, unique architecture, extraordinary scenery and vibrant cities, a trip to China will be a life changing experience.

Why Visit

CULTURE AND HISTORY: China’s civilization date back more than 5000 years, one of the Four Ancient Civilizations. Chinese cultural history has enormous diversity and variety, as the customs and traditions vary by geography and ethnicity. An abundance in spiritual values, arts and traditions, unchanged over millennia.

LANDSCAPES: China’s landscapes are abundant, diverse and impressive. Deserts, grasslands, mountains and tropical coastlines, discover the mystical landscapes of this ancient civilization.

CUISINE: The chinese restaurants from your town have nothing to do with the food in China (or maybe just a little). Each region has its own unique dishes. Unique, strange and diverse cuisine is found in this country, delight yourself with their flavors.

VIBRANT CITIES: With 1.4 billion people, cities in China just keep growing and growing. From Shanghai and Beijing to Wuhan and Chengdu, impressive skyscrapers and modern structures mixed with scenic landscapes and a never stopping nightlife.

Located in Southeast Asia and with a rich history and culture, diverse nature, stunning and fascinating archaeological sites, flavorful food and hospitable people, you shouldn’t miss Cambodia if you are visiting Asia!

Why Visit

LANDSCAPES: China’s landscapes are abundant, diverse and impressive. Deserts, grasslands, mountains and tropical coastlines, discover the mystical landscapes of this ancient civilization.

Name: People’s Republic of China
Capital: Beijing
Official Languages: Standard Chinese
Currency: Renminbi (yuan; ¥)
Time Zone: UTC + 8

Name: People’s Republic of China
Capital: Beijing
Official Languages: Standard Chinese
Currency: Renminbi (yuan; ¥)
Time Zone: UTC + 8

Bucketlist

What to expect

LANGUAGE: Mandarin is the official language of China, with more than the 70% of the population speaking it, but there are also several dialects that vary depending on the province. Less than 1% of the total population speaks english, although you can find fluent english speakers in the main cities where you there are higher levels of education, especially in cities like Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

ELECTRICITY: In China the standard voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. That’s the standard voltage in the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa; If you are traveling from the US you will need an adaptor

CURRENCY: Chinese yuan (Renminbi) is the official currency in China. Dollars and other big currencies can be accepted by some merchants, but not for the majority. It is recommended to exchange the currency. Major credit cards are widely accepted. 1 US dollar equals 7.08 yuans.

SAFETY: China is a relatively safe and non-violent country to travel around. Occasional robberies, petty crime and scams can occur, especially at bus and train station, so be cautious and avoid wearing flashing jewelry and avoid traveling alone if you are a woman. Also, if you decide to drive, take your precautions with the crazy drivers.

CLIMATE: China’s territory is so extend, that climate varies from region to region. The majority of the country features hot summers and cold winters, besides the south, that is more characterized for having a semi-tropical weather. I would recommend to go in spring, from March to April or autumn, from September to October, to avoid extreme temperatures.

PASSPORT: Only 51 countries are able to travel to china without a visa (including US, europeans, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, Russia, Ukraine, Qatar) but this visa exception is only valid for 72 hours (3 days) or 144 hours (6 days) depending on which city you visit (you can only apply for this visa exception in certain cities).

Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa if they are staying less than 90-15 days depending on the country: Bosnia and Herzegovina, San Marino, Mauritius, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Ecuador, Fiji, Grenada, Qatar, Serbia, Seychelles, Tonga, United Arab Emirates, Brunei, Japan, Singapore. If you are not a citizen of one of these countries or you would like to stay longer, you would have to apply for a visa in advance with the chinese embassy of your country.

How to get around

By plane: China is a really big country with 22 provinces. To cover the distances in a decent time, air travel will be necessary. China has more than 180 national airports, with a lot of airlines offering low cost routes. Some domestic airlines like Shanghai Airlines, Tianjin Airlines are now offering smaller domestic destinations that previously could be reached only by train or bus. Be aware than flying in China is very weather dependent and delays and cancellations are common.

By bus: Buses are a good option when you are traveling on a budget. They are cheaper than trains and flights and they cover many small towns that are not accessible through train or plane. The downside is that delays are somewhat normal due to traffic, and depending on the route, the conditions of the road might not be ideal.

By train: China has one of the best and most extensive train networks in the world, with the newest trains going at 200 mph. Advance bookings are recommended, especially for sleeper classes. Train is usually a more reliable option than air travel in China. They are generally highly punctual and a safe way to travel.

By car: It is technically impossible for tourist to rent a car in China, as you will need a chinese driver’s license and a residency permit, be also aware that the majority of signs have no english translation, and there is a lot of traffic in the main cities. Some rental agencies will rent you the car with a driver. You could also move around by taxi, that are relatively cheap, although their english skills might not be the best.