China

China is the world’s most populous country and is among the most ancient civilizations along with the Babylonian, Mayan and Egyptian. It is also a country that has changed a lot in the last few decades. So travelling to China offers the oppotunity to experience both modern cities and ancient elements of their civilization, as well as the many natural wonders the country has to offer.

Highlights

Forbidden City and Imperial buildings

Great Wall

Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Buddhist caves and monasteries

Tibet

“Tibet – Mount Everest” by Göran Höglund (Kartläsarn) is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Ancient cities

“The black dragon pool” by Alexander Savin is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Fast-growing cities

“Chong Qing Nightscape” by Jaykhuang is licensed under CC BY 2.0

National parks

Natural wonders

Old capital of Xi'an and the terracota warriors

When to go

China is a large country with several climates depending on the area. For this reason it is difficult to determine one single best season that covers the whole country. China experiences all extremes of weather ranging from hot summers and cold winters in the northern, central and western areas of the country; to mild and humid subtropical weather, towards the south and east. Although there are great climatic disparities, spring and fall are generally the best time to travel. However, the peak tourist season is during summer (June to September). China´s summers are very hot in July and August. Beijing, for example, can see temperatures as high as 40° in July. Summer is also the rainy season in most areas, so weather is generally hot and humid. During spring, the weather is warm and comfortable, average temperatures are around 10-23° and relatively dry. This is why spring is one of the best times to visit, also offering the period of blooming. Similarly autumn in China also offers pleasant temperatures, low rainfall and clear days. Most of China experiences warm days temperatures and cool nights during this period. Many travellers choose autumn, especially for outdoor activities, although weather gets very cold at high altitudes around mid-October. Finally, visiting China in winter can be bitterly cold, however, since it is the low season, you can save money and avoid the crowds. Cities in north like Beijing and Harbin are covered by snow, while the weather remains pleasant in the southern regions, like Yunnan and Guangxi.

It is worth noting that some of the largest cities in China are very polluted, and this may affect your capability to breath normally. The pollution is worse during the dry and cold months of winter, early spring and late autumn. It is also worth checking the bank holidays in China, since domestic travel may be overwhelmed and attractions crowrded during these periods.

Beijing, northern and central China: The best time of the year to visit this part of China is during spring and fall, offering mild temperatures and limited rain. Beijing has an average low temperature of 10° and an average high of 19° in April, while October is quite similar (14° and 23°, respectively). The northern regions are extremely cold (temperatures reaching -25 ° in January in Harbin) with winds coming from Siberia. If visiting this areas, late spring, summer and early Autumn are your best bet.

The South: the south of China experiences strong rain during the summer due to the monsoon, with July normally being the most humid time of the year. The winter here is cool, with average temperatures ranging 18°-13°. Spring and fall are also the best seasons since they are relatively dry and temperatures are pleasant. It should be noted that the south is predisposed to typhoons from May to December, but especially from July to September. The worst hit areas include the islands of Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Tibet: The rainy season is from late May or June to September. The best time to travel is between April and May, or September and October. Travelling these periods allows you to enjoy snow outside of Lhasa without too much disruption. During the autumn foliage colours the landscape and harvest festivals are held in October. Winter in Tiber is extremely cold and the snow is abundant, highest mountains and trekking routes are inaccessible, and many roads may be blocked. During Tibetan New Year, Tibet is closed to foreign travellers. The festival usually falls in February or March and you are not able to enter Tibet during this period.

Inner Mongolia and the west: Inner Mongolia is a large area and located at high altitude. In winter (from November to March) the weather is freezing cold with average low temperatures between -11°/-22°. Summer (July and August) is warm but short with maximum temperatures ranging from 28° to 36°. In general, the best time to visit this regions of China is from late June to September, when the temperatures are mild to warm and the grasslands are green. For the western desert regions of China the best time to visit is from May to October. The summer here can be extremely hot and the winter freezing cold. Months like May offer average temperatures of around 16°, allowing visitors to enjoy without suffering extreme temperatures. Even within this period, weather can change significantly, higher areas being colder, while lower areas warmer and drier.

Practical information

Currency

The Chinese Yuan is the official currency. Typically, from 7 to 8.5 Yuan per Euro and 6 to 7 Yuan per US Dollar.

Language

The official language is Putonghua, based on the dialect spoken in Beijing, and known outside China as mandarin Chinese. Unlike other dialects such as Cantonese, it can be used throughout China. However, it may not be understood by people in rural areas. Chinese people do not understand English, it is largely useless for communication outside of hotels or major tourist areas.

Visa

A passport, valid for at least six months, and an associated visa are necessary to enter China. Visas cannot be issued at the border. You need to complete an application via the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country. The visa application requires that you specify: the areas of China you plan to visit, details of your round-trip flight ticket plus hotel bookings or an invitation letter from China, which are typically provided by tour operators.
The processing time normally takes 4 working days for getting a Chinese tourist visa, but it is recommended that you have enough time to get all the documents a couple of weeks in advance. The validity of a China visa is usually 3 months.
Applicants who intend to travel to Tibet must obtain a “Tibet Travel Permit”, which can be obtained from Tourism Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region by travel agencies. Tibet is not like other places in China that are easy to travel to. There are many restrictions and regulations you need to know before your departure. You may only enter Tibet from mainland China or Nepal. It’s not possible for you to visit Tibet independently without a tour guide. All foreign citizens have to be in a tour group, that has been organized by a local travel agency.

ATM & credit card

Major credit and debit cards are widely accepted in malls, shop, hotels and restaurants and bars in Chinese cities. ATMs are widespread in every city and major town but we recommend you choose those at the branches of major Chinese banks. ATMs should display in both Chinese and English. The commission and exchanges rates charged for ATM withdrawals depend on your bank and card provider. Most major banks have exchange desks for foreign currency.

Opening times

Shops are usually open from 8:30 until late in the evening, around 8pm. In winter timings are generally 9am to 7pm. High streets stores and malls tend to open from 10am to 10pm. Local food shops and markets selling fresh products remain open from early in the morning until late at night. Restaurants and cafes also have extended opening times, typically from early morning to late at night, specially in bigger cities.
China has one single time zone covering the whole country.

Time: GMT +8 hours.

Main airports

Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Kunming Changshui International Airport are Chinese main airports and those offering flight connections to outside China. There are plenty of domestic airports around China as well.

Public transport

Most visitors arrive in China by air, although overland routes exist with train links to Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Vietnam, and a bus link to other countries in South East Asia and Pakistan. Domestic air travel is cheap and quick, there are extensive domestic flight routes involving numerous regional airlines flying to over 150 airports. Flight cancellations and delays due to bad weather are common, especially in winter or monsoon season. Traveling by train is an excellent way to see the countryside and get to know the people. Trains normally are punctual, fast, and safe and a reliable transport option. Trains are usually crowded so it is advisable to either buy your ticket in advance or ask in your hotel o travel agent for arranging your bookings. Traveling by bus is essential for reaching places that are not served by train. Tickets are both easier to procure and cheaper than train tickets, the problem is that, in the absence of a national operator, the service exist with minimal regulation. Sometimes vehicles are poorly maintained and road conditions can be bad, especially in the remote or rural areas. A small network of ferries serves ports along China´s coastline and some of the inland waterways. Local transport in many largest cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, features complex and efficient networks with subway, bus, tram, taxi and public bicycles.

Things to avoid

Talking about politics openly with strangers, talking about the death or mentioning that someone has died, white colour represents death, so avoid giving white things as gifts or wrapping gifts in white paper or ribbons, making personal contact such as kissing or hugging in public, gesturing with your chopsticks, drinking tap water, accepting any invitation to a teahouse or cafe from a stranger in tourist areas, leaving your chopsticks vertically in your food, taking pictures at security checks.

Food

China has one of the most varied cuisines in the world, with a great range of ingredients and cooking techniques. Chinese food is generally spiced but can cater any taste, with dishes ranging from mild flavours to very spicy. Some of the best known dishes are: “Hot Pot” (a boiling broth, in which you cook your a choice of meat, noodles and vegetables are cooked), “Sichuan Pork” (poached spicy slices of pork), “Dim sum” (dumplings with different fillings such as minced meat and chopped vegetables), “Chow Mein” (stir-fried noodles with meat, usually chicken, beef, shrimp or pork, onions and celery), “Kung Pao Chicken” (the major ingredients are diced chicken, diced chili and fired peanuts), “Ma Po tofu” ( spicy and hot taste which comes from pepper powder, milky tofu is enriched with brownish red ground beef and chopped green onion), “Peking Duck” (crispy roasted duck, which is then sliced and eaten in thin pancakes with cucumber and spring onion).

Electricity and plug types

The electrical current in China is 220 V and 50 Hz. You will see a variety of plugs in China, typically adapted for Type A (US) and Type C (Europe) in hotels at main tourist spots. It is advisable to carry a travel conversion plug, which are also available in most of Chinese larger cities.

Health and insurance

China´s healthcare consists of a mix of public and private institutions. Public hospitals are not free for foreigners, but are inexpensive relative to Western standards and simple treatments are affordable. It is advisable to take a private insurance in case of medical emergency. Ensure that all of your routine vaccinations, such as tetanus and polio are up to date. It is also wise to get vaccinated against hepatitis A and typhoid. Malaria medications is a good idea for those visiting rural areas, especially Yunnan and Hainan. Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis are advised if spending extended periods of time in rural areas.

Other

Tipping is not common in China. Hotel staff do not usually expect to be tipped. Some Chinese hotels or international hotels will be charging you a 5% to 15% service charge on top of your bill. China is one of the safest country to travel, nevertheless, touts do operate specially in areas with many tourists.