2. Travel in China
Why China?
• Colourful people
• Tradition, modernity
and rapid change
• Endlessly interesting
cuisine
• Thriving art scene
• The focus of the world’s
attention
3. Travel in China
China Trivia - Did you know?
1. China is the most populous nation in the world
2. The Terracotta Warriors are life-sized and have
different faces, hairstyles and expressions
3. Ice cream was invented in China
4. During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, organisers
refitted hundreds of toilets after complaints
from foreign athletes about having to squat
5. Some of the first forms of currency in China
were made of shell, satin or jade
6. There are more than 40,000 characters in the
Chinese language
7. There are more people who speak English in
China than in the USA and Europe
4. Travel in China
Common Misconceptions
1. Chinese tourists take more tours around
London than any other nation
2. If the population of China walked past
you in single file, the line would never
end because of the rate of reproduction
3. The Great Wall of China is visible from
space with the human eye
5. Travel in China
Things to consider before you go…
• Visas – Book an appointment online at your nearest embassy. Processing time is 4
days, or 3 days for express service. Visit www.visaforchina.org.uk for more detailed
information.
• Vaccinations – There are no compulsory vaccinations, but Typhoid and Hepatitis A
are recommended. Ask your GP for more information or see www.netdoctor.com at
least 1 month before you travel.
• Toiletries – It can be difficult to get hold of western cosmetics in China, so take a stock
of all the deodorants, sanitary products and make-up that you use.
• Tissues – Wherever you travel in China, you will find that public toilets leave a lot to be
desired. Always carry tissues in your bag.
• Phrase book – A phrase book is ESSENTIAL for your first few months in China. Gestures
have little power. The Lonely Planet Mandarin Phrase Book is excellent. For those of you
who are interested in wowing your Chinese acquaintances, try The Beijinger published by
New Run Media.
• Safety – China is a relatively safe place to travel.Look out for pickpockets, but
otherwise women should feel comfortable travelling alone.
6. Travel in China
Cities
Beijing - Things to see and do
• Try the 10km Great Wall hike from Jinshanling to Samatai
• Take in a Beijing opera at one of the many opera houses
• Hang around Tiananmen Square at dawn or at dusk to
watch the evocative flag ceremony
• Don’t miss 798 Art District, the old electrical factory
transformed into a concentration of contemporary art
galleries and studios
• If visiting in winter, try Mongolian hot pot for a hot and
steamy meal
• Go to a modern, midrange to high end restaurant for the
best Beijing duck
• Don’t miss the night market for a taste of starfish, silk
worm and all manner of barbecued creepy crawlies
7. Travel in China
Wild China
Tibet – Getting there
• Visa – You will need a separate visa to
enter Tibet’s borders. Travel regulations
are constantly changing and it is best to
keep in touch with your tour company
• Tour Guide – Foreign tourists must be
escorted by a tour guide, although this is
subject to change
8. Travel in China
Wild China
Tibet – Things to see and do
• The Jokhang Temple is the spiritual heart of
Tibet, sitting in the centre of Lhasa, circled
daily by devoted pilgrims and surrounded by
a bustling, religious market place
• Visit the Potala Palace for an impression of the
unity of religion and state in the holy city
• Explore the breathtaking lakes and mountains
surrounding Lhasa
9. Travel in China
Wild China
Personal Recommendations
• Take the train for some
fantastic views and to
avoid the effects of
altitude sickness
• Make a trip to Gyantse to
see where the British
attacked
• Visit Tibet at Chinese New
Year when tourists are few
and you may stumble
across some Tibetan new
year celebrations
• Spend time ‘people
watching’
10. Travel in China
Culture Shock
• Expect to feel frustration and confusion
• Expect days when you feel insignificant in a huge, bustling city
• You will feel panic when problems arise that you don’t
understand
Dealing with Culture Shock
• Don’t be afraid to have a coffee or a coke in one of the
many western cafes or restaurants in China’s cities
• Try to laugh about your frustrations with friends or other
travellers
