Few countries in the world are as diverse and beautiful as China. With thousands of years of history, diverse cultures, invaluable traditions, and mouthwatering cuisine, China is among the top travel destinations in the world. Our essential China travel guide will help first-time travelers to explore China without any hassles. From picking the right accommodation and charting the right itinerary to eating the right things and not missing the important attractions, we’ve covered everything! So read our China travel guide and know how to visit this massive country the right way.
You need a Visa to visit China
Not just our China travel guide, but this is among the most important things to be covered by any travel guide to China. To visit China, you will need to apply and get your Visa beforehand. You can apply for it online, at China Visa Centers around the world, or at embassies in the US. Those transiting through China have the option to travel Visa-free for 144, 72, or 24 hours depending on the trip details. However, you will need to show tickets to your onward destination.
What does it typically cost to visit China?
Some of the cheap China travel packages online may tempt you to make an impromptu trip to China on last minute flights. But however exciting that may seem, it’s always better to be prepared, especially when the destination is as vast and as diverse as China. To know what it will cost you to visit China, consider the following things you will be spending on. Frame your budget depending on how much you are willing to spend on each of the following.
- Accommodation:
If you’re visiting a smaller city, there are dorms you can stay at for as little as 25 CNY. This can go up to 90 CNY in larger cities like Beijing. Private rooms will cost around 125 CNY in smaller places and almost twice that much in cosmopolitan ones. There are plenty of Airbnb options in major cities and prices vary depending on the city.
- Transportation:
Despite its vast size, China is pretty cheap to travel across. You need not book business class flights to travel from one city to another. You can just as easily take the high-speed bullet train. Also, you can hire a taxi starting at 6 CNY. Regular trains and domestic flights are cheap as well. Many of the major cities are equipped with an extensive underground system as well. As per our China travel guide, buses remain the cheapest way to get from one place in China to the other.
- Food:
If you can handle street food, one meal will cost approximately between 7 and 14 CNY. A full meal at a restaurant will cost about 14 to 25 CNY. So, if you decide to stick to street food, you’ll spend approximately just about 67 CNY or less for an entire day’s food. The cost of food is even cheaper in smaller places and you could eat well for less than half the amount you spend in major cities.
- Activities:
You will be surprised to know that even the most popular of China’s attractions cost a reasonable amount to visit. For instance, our China travel guide lists the approximate cost to visit the Great Wall of China between 47 to 68 CNY. Lesser-known attractions are prices even lower at around 14 CNY.
[Note: Rates are approximate only and may vary depending on the time and destination.]
Get a local SIM and a VPN
Any brutally honest travel China guide will tell you that websites like Facebook, Snapchat, and Google are blocked in China. To get past this, you will need to install a Virtual Private Network (or VPN) on your mobile. This will help you upload travel pictures, check your emails, and other such things. However, ensure to get the VPN installed before you go as more often than not, VPN sites are also blocked in China. It’s also a good idea to get a local SIM card if you’re planning to stay longer in China. Our China travel guide suggests it as the best way to avoid sky-high roaming charges.
Must-see attractions in China
There is too much to see and do in China and we cannot possibly list them all in our China travel guide! However, there are some utterly awesome and not-to-miss attractions you should take note of. Regardless of which China travel company you pick, make sure your tour covers at least some of these attractions. Try to cover as many of these as possible and make another trip to get the rest. Take a quick look at what they are below!
- The Great Wall of China
- Summer Palace
- Forbidden City
- Xi’an Terracotta Army
- Tiananmen Square
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Keeping in mind the above-listed important things in our China travel guide will enable you to enjoy a hassle-free first trip to China. Experience the rich culture of China, learn about its fabulous history, and gorge on delicious food! Take a lot of pictures, post them in your travel China blog, and inspire wanderlust in other travelers across the world. Book cheap flights to China at the earliest and enjoy exploring this stunning country!