How much does it cost to travel to China? How to travel to China without a visa and return alive
For the past decade, our enterprising compatriots have been constantly traveling to this exotic country to buy goods. If at the end of the last century they brought bags of clothes, today the flow of clothing consists of electronic equipment, cosmetics and even furniture and cars. You can buy everything in China!
In addition to commercial interest, “the Celestial Empire” became a discovery for Russian tourists, like an unknown land rich in exclusive attractions. Today it is very easy to buy tourist package to any country, including China, including specifically for goods. But it turns out that it is much cheaper and more interesting to organize an independent trip.
What awaits you there
It is difficult to list the sights of the country, on the territory of which one of the most ancient civilizations on the planet arose, in one article; let’s try to mention at least the most famous in the world.
Leshane. Giant Buddha In the west of the country in Sichuan province, a giant statue 71 meters high was carved out of a rock. There are taller buildings on the planet, but this work was carved out of stone in 713.
Xi'an. Terracotta Army More than 8,000 warriors, 670 horses, 130 chariots carved from natural material in 200 BC. and dug out of the ground are now in three special halls of the museum. And this is not the entire army of ruler Qin Shi Huang. Some of the sculptures are still underground.
Forbidden City At the beginning of the 15th century, one of the largest palace ensembles, consisting of thousands of buildings and walls 10 meters high. Now the Forbidden City has become a museum and is open to tourists.
The great Wall of China. The only man-made object on the planet visible from Space with the naked eye. It is difficult to imagine a trip that would not include a visit to this colossal structure, erected in the 14th-16th centuries to protect the country from attacks by northern nomadic tribes.
Transfer natural monuments China is almost impossible. Li River, Huangshan Mountains, Hainan Island, Victoria Harbor and thousands more interesting places are waiting for you.
When planning to get acquainted with the places that interest you, historical monuments, interesting artifacts, you need to be aware of natural conditions, which you will find yourself in. Excursion China is most favorable in spring and autumn. In summer, the air temperature here rises to 400, and in winter, on the contrary, it drops to the same temperature with a minus sign.
A huge country, of course, has a different temperature range from south to north and humidity from east to west. Best time beach holiday on the famous Chinese resort island of Hainan from October to May. And you can take part in the grandiose, original celebrations of the New Year according to the Chinese calendar at New Year holidays in all big cities China.
Need a visa
China is a visa country. You can arrange it either through a travel agency or independently at the Chinese embassy. In the first case, it will be done for you quickly, without unnecessary delays and bureaucracy, but for an amount that will exceed two or three times the embassy visa. In the second, you will have to fill out all the paperwork yourself, but it will cost an order of magnitude cheaper (about 2,000 rubles).
There are privileges in obtaining visas for groups of tourists numbering more than 5 people. Visas also differ into tourist, business, multiple and double entry visas.
On the resort island of Hainan, you will be issued a visa on the spot for two weeks, but it is not a fact that you will then be allowed to travel with it to other territories. This tropical island with craters has long been extinct volcanoes is a special economic zone oriented by the government of the country to beach holiday tourists from all over the world.
Are we flying or driving?
Aviation is considered the most convenient means of transport for bringing tourists here. Even within the country, a well-developed network of local airlines allows you to quickly and inexpensively reach any remote point.
Experienced tourists advise starting their trip to China in Hong Kong. The short distance to the capital, inexpensive flights and visa concessions speak in favor of this particular route.
Trains and Shuttle Buses They also run between cities and regions and are quite inexpensive, however, they do not offer the comfort we are accustomed to. Don’t be surprised if the train, subway, or bus suddenly turns out to be smoky and dirty. But the prices for travel will pleasantly surprise you.
Don't be afraid if your trip suddenly takes you to the most remote area. There are villages in China where no white man has ever set foot, and where all the cafe visitors will stand up when you enter.
The Chinese are very peaceful and friendly to all guests. And you can get out of any remote places by calling a taxi. By the way, don’t forget to write down their phone numbers immediately upon arrival.
Hotels and others like them
A huge selection of hotels of different star ratings and comfort explains the wide range of prices. There are hotels familiar to Russians, where all-inclusive with five stars on the façade. A day there will cost you from 5,000 to 18,000 rubles.
If your trip is not designed for a long stay in one place, you can stay in an inexpensive hostel or hotel, spending only 1000-3000 rubles per night.
You can freely and safely use private sector services. It will become even cheaper. Prices vary from 180 rubles to infinity. They are comparable to the price ranges of Crimean offers and, naturally, depend on the location and comfort.
In many hotels it is more profitable to book rooms in advance. This will not only provide significant discounts, but will also give you a guarantee that you will not be left under open air, especially if you come on holidays. Moreover, it is recommended to make reservations two to three months before the trip.
To eat or not to eat - that is the question
China has very spicy food. Be careful. If you want to prepare dishes yourself, try to purchase raw materials for them in stores, without being tempted by low market prices. It's not difficult if you don't give in to curiosity and don't experiment with display offers. All the products we are familiar with and at the same price can be found in all Chinese provinces in large department stores.
It is most profitable and interesting to eat in local cafes and restaurants. Of course, even if you know Chinese, you will not understand anything of the menu that will be served to you. Do not be shy! Feel free to point your finger at the plate from which a white gentleman is devouring both cheeks on the next table. You can even, taking the waiter’s hand, make a defile for yourself around the hall and choose on the tables the dish that seems most edible to you. Point your finger at it and they will bring you the same.
What do you guys have in your backpacks?
What to take on a trip is a big problem for the female half of travelers. Despite the diversity of climatic and natural areas, and therefore weather conditions, you don’t have to take anything to this country. Yes, just put your documents and wallet in the case and go light. Remember that all clothes, electronics and other necessary little things are made in China!
If you still want to be independent from stores, look on the Internet for the climate of the place where you are planning your trip. Be sure to study the weather forecast for the duration of your trip and only then pack umbrellas, swimsuits or fur coats in your suitcase.
There are dozens of Chinese cities behind us. The road from the border with the Russian city of Zabaikalsk, which I crossed by train, to Laos, which I entered on foot. (Don’t worry, I took the bus later).
Experimentally, it was found that, firstly, China is a wonderful country for independent travel, and secondly, it is possible to travel abroad even without knowing the language, although it is still not clear how I managed it. The golden rule of any business, “take it and do it,” also works for free wanderings, “take it and go.”
Don’t let the language factor bother you (they don’t speak English in China), but you shouldn’t relax either. Phrasebooks, guidebooks, basic English (at least to communicate with other foreign travelers) will come in handy. And the rest is details.
How to travel to China on your own?
Visa
Personally, I applied for a Chinese visa through an agency, simply by giving my passport to specially trained people while still in Russia. I won’t say that it was very difficult to submit the documents myself (although at that moment I lived in Kamchatka and agents, among other things, sent documents to Vladivostok, to the representative office), but I had one rule - the start should be easy. China is the first country of the first trip, and even an independent one, also alone. I decided to free myself in some way. Therefore, a passport, photo and money were all that was needed for 30 days in the People's Republic of China. But I extended it on my own, on the spot. The next 30 days were marked by the submission of the same documents.
Weather
China is such a big country that you can’t get away with generalized conclusions about the weather. Decide on your exact location, and then check with eyewitness accounts in this region. Where are you planning: to the Himalayas or Hainan? By the way, I’ve been to Hainan twice, and both times in October. Rumors about local typhoons are not exaggerated. I witnessed flying coconuts and uprooted palm trees the next morning. Although, if now someone asks whether it is possible to go to Hainan in October, I will not dissuade you. Both times I had a great time. The hardworking Chinese planted all the palm trees in place literally the very next day after the hurricane.
Where to live
In hostels. This will provide you with pleasant (read “low”) checks for accommodation, excellent acquaintances among foreigners from all over the world and people who actually speak and understand English, which long stay very relevant in the country. According to my personal observations, hostels in China are some of the best in Asia, with the right atmosphere of general drive for life and new discoveries. Stories like “I worked as a lawyer and then decided to change everything” or “we sold the car and went around the world” are the norm. Plus, your fellow travelers miss white faces and English speech just as much as you do. In China, a white man is a close friend to a white man, if not a relative. And don’t even worry about nonsense like “how can you live in a room for four?”, the main thing is not for fourteen (anything can happen), and you’ll even like the rest. I guarantee it.
Popular destinations
This is also a limitless topic, so I’ll highlight my TOP places in the “other” Asian country: Beijing and Shanghai - looking at the world from the top floors of skyscrapers really puts you in the right mood; (Huangshan and others), Hainan is that same banal tropical island that you dream about from home; Guilin and Yangshuo with their karst hills and lulling rivers, as well as the entire Yunnan province.
Transport
Riding experience Chinese trains can be inserted into your resume as proof of courage and fortitude. How to read in Chinese, namely hieroglyphs, where your train is and when it departs, if you are at a Beijing train station the size of small town and the wrong chosen direction can lead very far not only from the place of departure, but also from the truth as a whole? One fact is that you can travel on Chinese trains no matter what, I would even say despite it. Each time I was the only white face in the entire carriage and they constantly brought me some kind of food, trying to somehow satisfy my curiosity and gawk at the white girl, without being able to otherwise compensate for the language barrier.
Survive
To survive in China, and by survival, as you guessed, I mean getting to the right station and the right train, you need to clearly remember the “three people” rule, which sounds like this: “If you ask a Chinese how to get to the place you need (and , it doesn’t matter if he suddenly answers you in English or reads your phrasebook and gestures), do not go in the indicated direction until at least three people point in the same direction.” Simply put, ask at least three people “how to get there,” even if the first one knows exactly where you need to go and is ready to take you personally. Saying “I don’t know” in China means losing face and is a traditional trait. It’s better to show it wrong, especially to some foreigner, than to goof off and show your ignorance. Always ask again about everything, especially if you are in a hurry.
Otherwise, the safety rules are no different from other countries - stay vigilant and you will be happy on Chinese soil.
Do you want to confess? I still don’t understand how I managed to travel through the whole of China with a backpack on my back. Consequently, the longer I lived in hospitable countries South-East Asia, the more mysterious this Chinese “phenomenon” became for me. It's just that everything in life is simpler than it seems. But this can only be determined experimentally. Good luck!
A trip abroad planned by yourself can be much more interesting than offers from travel agencies. The main problem is lack of knowledge of the language, so at the preparation stage it is worth taking into account all the nuances of the trip.
An independent trip on a tourist visa to China must be arranged in advance so that the traveler has confidence that his vacation will be as comfortable as possible.
Officially, Russian citizens require a visa to travel to China on their own. The cheapest single-entry visa will cost a traveler 1,500 rubles for 2018. At the same time, he gets the opportunity to stay on the territory of the Celestial Empire for a total of 30 days out of a corridor of 90. Similar conditions apply when processing documents at the consulate.
To obtain a visa you will need to provide:
- international passport with a reserve of 6 months before expiration;
- a copy of the internal passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
- application form with color photo;
- insurance;
- confirmation of financial solvency for citizens who do not work;
- round trip tickets;
- invitation.
The invitation can be issued by a citizen of the receiving state or a travel agency. In the case of a personal invitation, you will need to provide the details of the host party (copy of passport and ID). An invitation from a travel agency is confirmed by a hotel reservation for the entire duration of your stay in the country.
Exception from official rules visa applications are made for residents of border areas who can apply for Required documents directly at the ground crossing point. Also, other conditions are provided when applying for a visa at the airport at the place of arrival, but it is worth checking whether this is possible at all. Without a visa, you can only visit Suifenhe and the border trade zone for up to 15 days, with the obligation not to leave the city. This is where many entrepreneurs go to buy goods.
For those who have previously visited the Celestial Empire, they are additionally required to provide a copy of their old passport with the appropriate notes. And confirmation of financial solvency consists of an account statement. Regardless of the expected expenses, the account must have an amount of no less than $100 per day of stay in a foreign country.
Transport to your destination and within the country
Most travelers prefer to travel to China from Russia using airlines, although you can cross the border by any means of transport. There are frequent buses from Vladivostok, as well as border areas, which provide fairly fast border crossing for residents of the respective regions.
Before purchasing a ticket, you need to roughly outline a travel plan if you need to visit several cities. However, it is best to enter and exit from the same airport.
You can travel within the country using any convenient transport: planes, trains, ferries, buses and even taxis. IN major cities The best way to get around is by bus or metro. To do this, it is enough to buy a travel card, which you can return at the end of the visit and get a cash deposit back for it. The travel card is a plastic card that needs to be topped up periodically. Cost of one trip to public transport will be about 30-50 cents.
Advice from an experienced traveler! Taxis are quite cheap in China, and tourists who come here for the first time prefer to use this type of transport. However, after about a month of living, Russian residents often realize that they have to spend too much on transport. In many cities it is more convenient to get around on foot or on a rented bicycle.
How to find housing?
When applying for a visa through a travel agency, a hotel reservation is required for the entire duration of your stay in China. But often hotels do not meet the traveler's expectations, so long-term bookings have unpredictable consequences. It is much more convenient to book it for just 1-2 nights. This will provide an overnight stay in a hotel, but it can be changed if the conditions are not to your liking.
Most often, travelers face the same problems when choosing a hotel:
Poor sound insulation
In some buildings, you can easily hear the conversation of people in the next room, even if they do not raise their voices.
Bad location. Often the point is not that the hotel is not located in the center or is difficult to find. The problem is what is in close proximity, for example, you can find a hotel opposite a landfill.
Conditions in the room
Foreigners choose their place of residence based on the room description and photographs, but they often do not correspond to the real state of affairs. The rooms may be much smaller than advertised, and sometimes there is only a bed inside the room.
Those who do not want to face such inconveniences are advised to pay attention to the reputation of the establishment before booking. Best service provided by network companies that operate in several cities. However, their housing costs will be an order of magnitude higher, so you need to prioritize: price or quality.
For most citizens, booking a hotel is the only available housing option if you plan to independent trip To China. If there are no restrictions in this direction, you can look for an alternative. Short-term rental of apartments is not practiced in Asian countries, since the standard contract is drawn up for a year. But if you wish, you can find specialized websites with intermediaries through which you can rent an apartment for a shorter period.
A double room in a mid to low quality hotel will cost around $10-$15 per night. In chain hotels, the minimum price tag is set at approximately $30. Renting an apartment for a month will cost approximately 400-500 dollars.
This expense column most influences how much it costs to travel to China. The final vacation amount will range from $1,000 to $2,000 for two adults for 10 days. The difference lies mainly in the payment for housing.
Nutrition
It is important to know! Chinese food is very different from what people in Russia order for home delivery. Be prepared for a bright and very unusual taste, which will lead to an upset stomach. The aroma from most street cafes is quite unpleasant without getting used to it.
Be prepared for the fact that Chinese food is very different from what we are used to.
There are several food options:
- in establishments under a well-known brand;
- in local cafes;
- self-cooking from products purchased in the supermarket.
In the Celestial Empire, you can easily find world-famous establishments. For example, McDonald's. Many tourists are accustomed to eating in such restaurants, since the employees carefully monitor sanitary standards, and the menu is identical almost everywhere. The disadvantage of this method is the rather high prices.
You can have a hearty meal in eateries for just $1.50. However, unlike food chains, the language barrier needs to be mentioned here. Not all cafes have menus with names written in Latin or photographs, so ordering food is at your own peril and risk. In addition, small restaurants serving local cuisine hardly adhere to hygiene standards, which has a negative impact on the health of visitors.
In all Chinese cities many street cafes. But finding an English-speaking waiter is almost impossible.
However, try local cuisine worth it, since it is an integral attribute of the Celestial Empire. Surprisingly beautiful and interesting snacks can be bought even from street vendors. And if you have concerns about your health, you should find out about the restaurants run by Chinese Muslims. These are the cleanest establishments. If you decide to travel to China on your own, you first need to find out the address and reviews about them on the Internet.
Eateries sometimes provide an interesting way of serving food: like a buffet or churrasco. However, even in a simple cafe the portions are very large. Some dishes are only served for two.
Tourists who are not suitable for these methods need to take care of their own nutrition. Buying groceries in Chinese supermarkets without knowing the language will be a difficult quest, so it is recommended to go food shopping with a dictionary downloaded to your phone. Without clues, only some types of fruit can be identified. By the way, vegetables and fruits may differ depending on the area, because the area is very large. Tourists should try exotic fruits, especially from the southern part of the state. Some of them cannot be tried in Russia, since they cannot be transported. It is not advisable to buy sausages or sausages, as they are made from soy and taste completely different from regular food.
Externally, Chinese supermarkets differ little from ours. But it is difficult to buy anything without a dictionary.
Not all travelers have the opportunity to prepare hot meals themselves. Not all apartments even have a kitchen. Most ordinary residents use portable stoves that run on gas or electricity.
By the way, the price of travel to China is from travel companies Meals are not always included at the hotel. Because of this, an independent trip can be much more profitable than exorbitant prices in agencies.
Additional costs: the mentality of local residents
All Chinese are very emotional and noisy, so on the streets of big and small cities the rumble does not subside for a minute. You can get used to this quite quickly, especially since visitors often join in with everyone’s shouts with pleasure.
Chinese streets are always very crowded and noisy by our standards
The Chinese make the most noise in the markets, where even an inexperienced tourist can bargain. Locals They are in a hurry to cash in on foreigners, so do not hesitate to reduce the price several times. Such actions are the norm for all Chinese stores. The Chinese show numbers on their fingers differently than in other countries, which means you should familiarize yourself with the rules of the account before trading.
It is best to pay in cash, since Visa or Maestro cards are not accepted in all shops and cafes. There is another system here that simply cannot complete a transaction with foreign card. You can withdraw money from ATMs. Cash and valuables must be constantly monitored, as petty theft is very common here.
Yuan is the national currency
In the Middle Kingdom, it is rare to find Chinese who speak English well, so you should definitely take a phrasebook with you and download several translation programs. Even without basic knowledge of the language, these tricks will help you communicate with other people. In addition to phrase books, it is worth downloading several applications with maps of the cities you plan to visit.
Visitors use the Internet only via Wi-Fi. It can be found everywhere. Mobile Internet and communications when traveling for several days will be too expensive, both with a native SIM card and a local one. Buying a foreign SIM card will cost more than $40 and will require language skills to understand its terms and conditions. If you wish, you can buy a SIM only in specialized communication stores.
A personally prepared trip to China with children or a loved one will be interesting experience. This is the only way to truly see the country from the inside, so don’t be afraid to experiment!
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So, you are planning to go to China. And they did it right! This country is famous for its centuries-old culture, inventions, natural landscapes, food and much more. Now on tourist market there are many proposals, but they are all of the same type and run along the same well-trodden routes. Besides, they don’t give you freedom: look to the right, look to the left... How about entering a country where they look at you with genuine childish interest, like an alien, where the whole carriage stands up when they see you)). Or chat with local residents and get to know the life of the country from the inside. Independent travel provides all this.
Below we discuss the main practical issues related to independent travel in China.
1. Visa to China
The first thing you will need for such a trip is a Chinese visa. There are several types of visas, which require different documents and different costs. The simplest one is a one-time tourist trip. You can register with a travel agency, which will naturally charge an additional fee for their work. You can apply for a visa yourself by taking the documents to one of the Chinese consulates: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok.
2. How to get to China and travel within the country?
There are several ways to get to the Celestial Empire from Russia: by plane, by train or by bus, and by hitchhiking. It all depends on your budget, where you are going from and what places in China you are going to visit. China, as you know, borders Russia by Far East, from there the route to Beijing is the closest. You can cover this distance by train. The easiest way to travel from Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the European part of Russia is by plane. There are both direct flights and with transfers in Astana, Almaty, Dubai, depending on the airline. Cheap tickets can be found on the website .
You can also move around within China different ways, whichever you prefer. We traveled by train, buying tickets ourselves at the ticket office a few days before departure.
3. How much money to take to China?
It’s difficult to give a definite answer here - everyone has their own requirements and preferences. I can only give a link to our
It is better to exchange cash in Russia for dollars in advance, since rubles are not exchanged in China. Dollars are exchanged for yuan mainly by the Bank of China; the rate in the spring of 2013 was 6.1 yuan per 1 dollar. You can also use bank cards Visa and MasterCard. A fee will be charged for withdrawing money from the card. It varies from bank to bank, check with your bank before traveling.
Anya and I applied for ISIC youth cards, in some places they give good discount. For example, we saved 90 yuan (450 rubles) on Mount Emeishan.
4. What to take with you to China?
Experience is the son of difficult mistakes)) It’s unclear why we were dragging sleeping bags with us, but it turned out that China is full of cheap and comfortable housing.
When packing, pay attention to what kind of weather awaits you in China. For example, in the spring there is a lot of rain and dampness in the southwestern regions, while in Xinjiang it can be cool but dry. From here, choose what to take. For independent travel a backpack is an irreplaceable and convenient thing that you must have =).
As a last resort, buy what you need in China, all the clothes are made there anyway!
5. Accommodation in China - where to spend the night?
As mentioned above, the choice of accommodation is huge, especially in places popular with tourists. And competition makes prices reasonable. You can book a hotel or inn in advance - this is easy to do on the website. If you prefer to improvise, you can decide on housing on the spot. I just strongly advise against doing this if you are traveling on holidays: at the beginning of May and in the first half of October.
If you want to stay in an apartment or rent a room from the owners (often this works out cheaper than a hotel), try Airbnb (go to and get $25 as a gift for your first booking).
6. Where to go in China, attractions
The choice here is simply endless, China amazing country! Discovery awaits at every step =).
We visited 4 provinces, or rather , and the province , Yunnan and Manchuria. We simply passed by the rest of the districts by train.
7. Food
People in China love and know how to eat! Local residents adopted the rule “War is war, and lunch is on schedule”)). The choice of food is very large, although the main products for the Chinese are rice and noodles, as well as additives for them. You can have a snack at local chifans or buy food at the market or supermarkets.
It should be noted that Chinese food is very spicy - be careful, especially in the first days.
Helps a lot when organizing an independent trip mobile applications. We wrote .
That's all I wanted to say about traveling to China on your own. Come to the Celestial Empire, you will definitely be satisfied! Easy roads!
Despite the fact that China is becoming increasingly popular with tourists all over the world every year, reviews on the Internet from our compatriots about trips to China are, to put it mildly, ambiguous, so let's talk about those features of the country that may be unacceptable for some travelers.
1. If your passport is valid for less than 6 months from the end of the planned tour, choose another country
At the Chinese consulate, all documentary formalities are strictly observed, so in order to avoid problems with obtaining a visa and trip disruption, it is better not to take risks and take care of a new passport in advance.
2. If you are not ready for the additional hassle associated with obtaining a Chinese visa
There is nothing fundamentally difficult in preparing documents for obtaining a Chinese visa - no unnecessary certificates are required, only a foreign passport, an application form, copies of a Russian passport, a photograph and an invitation from the Chinese side. Consular fee for a tourist trip is 1,500 rubles. Moreover, if you are planning to vacation in Hainan, then when departing on a direct flight from Moscow, you do not need a visa at all!
Mountain Lake in China
3. If you basically fly only on charter flights, then - alas!
You can only get to China regular flights airlines Hainan Airlines, Aeroflot, etc. Planes fly from St. Petersburg to Beijing on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Accordingly, the duration of the trip should be “adjusted” to the airline’s schedule. Flight time is about 7 hours.
China
4. If when traveling by train you are used to buying out the entire compartment in order to feel comfortable, then in China you will have to fly by plane
In China it is impossible to buy a coupe in whole or in part, that is, if the program excursion tour If you plan to travel by train between cities, you will have to share a four-seater compartment either with tourists from your group or with the Chinese. There are no two-seater coupes. As a rule, travel between cities is overnight and lasts approximately 12 hours, for example, between Beijing and Xi'an.
One of the entrances to the Forbidden City
If this issue is of fundamental importance to you, the option remains to move to domestic flights. By the way, China has very developed air traffic and a fairly high level of flight safety. Baggage rules in hand luggage even more stringent than those accepted throughout the world.
China
5. If you cannot tolerate tobacco smoke, choose another country or stock up on a respirator
The Chinese smoke a lot. Accordingly, almost everywhere there is a smell of tobacco, there are smoky rooms in hotels, and guests also smoke in hotel lobbies. Smoking is prohibited in train compartments; in restaurants you can choose a room for non-smoking visitors.
Chinese outback
6. If you are on a special diet or are very picky about what you eat, take your favorite foods with you.
A lot has been written and said about the fact that Chinese cuisine is very unique, but how suitable it is for you personally, you will only understand, so to speak, “on the spot.” Some people do not have enough meat - indeed, the basis of the Chinese diet is stewed, boiled, stewed vegetables, noodles and rice. Some people cannot tolerate spicy and salty foods. If in Beijing, Shanghai and other large cities you can still find food adapted for Europeans, then in the provinces this will be a problem. You will find the cutlery we are used to only in large cities; in the outback you will have to eat with chopsticks. Of course, in China there are places favored by the British and Americans, where the cuisine and other amenities are at top level, For example, nature reserve pandas, but this is rather an exception.
Giant Buddha statue, Leshan
7. If you experienced culture shock visiting public restrooms in the former Soviet Union (or modern India) and never want to see them again, then choose another country to travel to.
All public toilets in China are free. Tourists who have seen Soviet “conveniences”, when they see Chinese ones, think “scoop”. Indeed, very similar: two soles and a metal bowl at floor level, no toilet paper and a corresponding smell. So for those tourists who do go to China, advice - take it with you toilet paper and wet wipes.
8. If you prefer silence and privacy, and your personal psychologically comfortable space is one and a half meters - choose another country
There are many people in China. Not even that - there are A LOT OF PEOPLE in China! This fact actually entails many different consequences, namely: everyone constantly touches each other with their elbows and other parts of the body, they talk quite loudly, therefore very noisily, they look with sincere, but completely unceremonious curiosity at everything interesting and unusual, for example - you
Against the backdrop of the Great Chinese wall
9. If your travel budget involves an amount of less than 50 thousand rubles per person, then you need to choose another country or take out a loan
Most a budget option to get acquainted with China - a week-long tour to Beijing. Today it costs from 50 thousand rubles per person. If you want to see Xi’an (Terracotta Army) and Shanghai within a week’s stay, expect to pay at least 70 thousand rubles per person. To not only see the main cities, but also relax for a week on Hainan Island, budget from 100 thousand per person. Treatment in China is very popular among the stars of domestic and international show business - both in the central part and on the island of Hainan.
In order to feel comfortable when planning a tour and during the trip itself, you can use the installment payment service, which is offered, for example, by our company for up to 7 months at 0% per annum.
Village with rice fields, China
10. If your vacation falls during the Republic of China Day or Chinese New Year celebrations, travel to another country
There are two grand holidays in China - the founding day of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese New Year. During these periods - from 28.09 to 04.10 and the last ten days of February to the beginning of March (celebrated according to the lunar calendar, so there are no exact dates) - China has official public holidays, and all Chinese begin to travel en masse within the country. Hotel prices triple, and tourist sites Pandemonium begins. So it is better to plan your trip for other dates. The ideal time, especially for combined tours, is spring and autumn, when it is warm on the mainland and not very hot on Hainan Island.
Among other tourists, China
In conclusion, I want to say: I am sure that a trip to China will not leave anyone indifferent. Our tourists return from this diverse country with invariably positive impressions.
Panda
If you have any questions, write to: [email protected]
