| China is a large country at a size of 9,596,960 sq | | | | clean and in my opinion, cheap does not mean |
| km. China was only partially open to the world | | | | bad.There are many websites selling China hotel |
| from 1980 onwards and has been a communist | | | | rooms on the internet. You can also check out |
| country for many decades. Although there is | | | | the travel counters which are available in most |
| much progress in the travel industry and | | | | train, bus stations as well as airport.Book ahead if |
| infrastructure of China, there remain areas that | | | | travelling in peak seasons.Peak Tourist |
| need to be improved before it can match the | | | | SeasonsChinese New Year: Date varies but |
| level that most tourist would require.However, | | | | generally late January or early February. |
| much of the fun remain that it is different from | | | | May Day: First two weeks of May |
| the rest of the world. China will be the host nation | | | | China National Day: Middle two weeks of |
| for the Olympics in Year 2008. Travel facilities and | | | | OctoberAvoid travelling during these period. Book |
| infrastructure will be improving quickly as we | | | | rooms and travel modes way early if need to |
| approach Year 2008.China is rich in culture and | | | | travel. Believe me, the crowds during these period |
| history. Visit the Great Wall of China in Beijing, sip | | | | of time will be scary. What do you expect when |
| Chinese tea in Xiamen, dance with ethnic tribes in | | | | the entire Chinese nation of 8 billion people are on |
| Yunnan, check out 19th Century European | | | | holiday as well!Chinese FoodLocal food is absolutely |
| buildings in Qingdao - there are just so much to | | | | fabulous. Try as much Chinese food as your |
| do and see in China!Below are some travel tips to | | | | wallet or stomach can afford. Restaurants are |
| make your travel in China easier:Entry VisaChina | | | | available everywhere and open to late hours. Most |
| require entry visa from most countries. Apply at | | | | restaurants will have a menu that include |
| the Chinese consulate or through your travel | | | | photographs of the various dishes. Better yet, |
| agent before travelling to China.ClimateExtremely | | | | simply point at the food that your next door table |
| diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north. Be | | | | is having, especially if it looks delicious!However, |
| prepared with the right seasonal clothing.Foreign | | | | avoid street side stalls and drinking directly from |
| ExchangeThe unit of currency is known as | | | | the taps if you have delicate |
| Renmembi(RMB) or Yuan. Get some Chinese | | | | stomach.TelecommunicationsMobile phone |
| Yuan in your local country before travelling. When | | | | coverage in China is good in most locations. Global |
| in China, exchange foreign currency for local | | | | auto-roaming within China is not a |
| currency in the banks or at the hotel. Banks tend | | | | problem.InternetThere are cyber-cafes |
| to give slightly better rates than hotels. Take note | | | | everywhere in China, especially in tourist areas. |
| that some banks close for a noon siesta between | | | | Most are patronised by young people playing |
| 12-2pm.Payment facilitiesMost better class hotels | | | | online games but you still can check your Hotmail, |
| and shopping centres take Credit Card or | | | | Yahoo or Gmail. Access may be a bit slow for |
| Travellers cheques. Smaller hotels and shops take | | | | international websites.You will need to show your |
| cash only. Once out of the bigger cities, credit | | | | passport as China has tight regulations at Internet |
| card and ATM cards tend to be almost impossible | | | | Cyber Cafes.Toilet facilitiesOne of the worst |
| to utilize. Cash is still king in Chinese business and | | | | experience many has with China is the atrocious |
| trade.Counterfeit notes are common in China. | | | | toilet facilities. Things has improved very much but |
| Check carefully before accepting change, | | | | it may still be a good idea to empty your |
| especially if it consists mostly 100RMB notes. You | | | | stomach or bladder at every opportunity in a |
| can feel a texture difference where counterfeit | | | | hotel, restaurant or departmental store. Public |
| notes is concerned.Understanding of EnglishMost | | | | toilets and toilets in small shops can be a nose |
| civil servants, custom officials, police, hotel staff | | | | hazard!* Useful China travel tips *Try to get a |
| and men in the street do not speak English or at | | | | English speaking tour guide at every opportunity |
| best a smattering of English.Most signboards and | | | | you can. China has a rich and wonderful history |
| notices will carry both English and Chinese. | | | | and culture and without a guide, somehow, the |
| However, be aware that some translations can be | | | | flavour and significance of most tour sites can be |
| so notorious that one can hardly understand what | | | | lost.*Sneaky tip: Hang around a group that has a |
| was it's original Chinese intention.Do not expect | | | | English speaking guide if you cannot afford |
| hotels or shops to understand English. Only the | | | | one!Always ask for a receipt from a taxi driver |
| very big hotels will have staff that will understand | | | | so that you can complain if you have been |
| English.Most young people can understand basic | | | | cheated or for tracing purposes if you happen to |
| English if you speak slowly.Social SecurityChina is | | | | leave your camera behind in the taxi.Try to take |
| generally a safe country. However, hang on tight | | | | the namecard for each hotel that you are staying |
| to your wallet especially in crowded, popular | | | | at as these cards will have a Chinese address and |
| tourist sites in tourist cities such as Beijing and | | | | the map of your hotel location. This is useful if |
| Xian.These tourist cities also has a lot of touts in | | | | you need to seek assistance to find your way |
| the streets touting tourist from currency | | | | back as the English version or pronounciation of a |
| exchange to jewelleries to female companionships. | | | | hotel or a street name may be quite different |
| Avoid at all cost!Domestic TravelBus, train, ferries | | | | from the Chinese version.After a tiring day, check |
| and domestic flights are quite well developed. | | | | out Chinese foot reflexology or Chinese TuiNa |
| Avoid the crowd at the stations and book your | | | | (Chinese massage). Wonderful for the body after |
| tickets through the hotel tour desk or the nearest | | | | a hard day and very cheap to boot. Simply look |
| tour agent. Prices are likely to be competitive and | | | | out for shop signs that shows two feet! They are |
| tickets will be delivered to your hotel room. Again, | | | | everywhere.Make friends with the Chinese |
| avoid ticket touts who approach you in the | | | | whenever you can. They love to meet foreigners |
| streets.Local buses are cheap (US$0.10 or | | | | and will make good tour guides. Just buy a small |
| YS$0.20) and you may want to try out. Taxis are | | | | present as a small token of appreciation.Ken |
| convenient and are available at all hours. Starting | | | | Cheong worked and live in Mainland China for 5 |
| fares differ from each city and may be as cheap | | | | years. He has great admiration for the Chinese |
| as US$0.70 in Weihai and US$1.50 in | | | | people who has suffered for many years from |
| Shenzhen.Avoid travel in China during peak holiday | | | | war and political unrest to become a up and |
| seasons or book tickets well ahead.Local | | | | coming economy today. He shares his experience |
| HotelsThere is a good choice of hotels in China | | | | in China with people interested in visiting or |
| ranging from one star to the most luxurious 6 | | | | working in China in his chinese culture website. |
| stars. Most of the time, the rooms are safe and | | | | |