Travel to China
China has of course had massive publicity thanks to the recent Olympics and all the news and television coverage of the event. The coverage included the surrounding areas of the event locations, coverage of the towns and cities and a look at the lifestyle of the people. While many people may not have considered China before as a holiday location before the Olympics they may have had their interest triggered.
China has had a bad press in general based on their politics and lifestyles but its wise if you can to go to the country yourself to see what it’s like behind the headlines. You can go sightseeing to the areas you will have seen on television, you can explore the history you may have heard of and you can see how the people live. You might have trouble seeing past the allowed tourist items but even those that you are allowed to see will be of great interest to the avid sightseer.
There are ways to get to China but the obvious way is to fly there and make the most of the public transport when you get there. There is plenty to see and do although of course the beach style holiday may be suited to another country.
The travel within China is good for trains but perhaps not so good for roads due to overcrowding. If you want to see china properly it’s perhaps worth planning a multi base holiday or try to find a location close to the places you want to see.
Before considering a trip to China you will need to be aware of certain travel restrictions in force for travelers. There are obvious things such as passports but beware these must be backed up with a visa. If you fly in to China you must be in possession of the return ticket when you arrive, also be aware of time limits on stays. Also be aware that China doesn’t accept dual nationality or anyone who has contracted the HIV virus.
Once arrived there are a few other things to consider, photography for example is forbidden at airports, military installations and other possibly sensitive areas. Expressing political views and making any visible protest is unwise, also wearing revealing clothing is a bad idea for certain areas. It’s also worth bearing in mind cultural differences as well before visiting, bear in mind that the people are generally very quiet and reserved, don’t expect information to be given to you, you will need to answer.
If you greet someone for the first time they may applaud you as a response, also the people may show that may seem an unnatural amount of attention to you, this is normal and basically a sign of interest in foreigners. There are numerous other things to consider such as not putting chopsticks pointing up in a bowl because it indicates death, also leaving gifts from your own country when visiting is often a good idea and will put you in a favorable position.
