How To Travel In China As A Foreigner

Traveling in China

China can be an exciting new adventure, especially if it is your first time here. It is also quite inexpensive to travel to most places, especially if you are willing to do as the locals do. This could mean buying tickets months in advance before major holidays in order to get the best price or eating a lot of cheap street food which can be found on basically every corner. These are the most basic things you will need to know about traveling China from own experience:

Decide on where you want to go and what you would like to do first. If you enjoy a good beer and the freezing cold you can head up north, namely to Harbin. If you prefer more temperate weather with a mixture of sun and rain you can head west or east. Central China does not differ that much from the east and the west but if you want something a little more tropical then be sure to head down south. There you will find lush green palm trees and exotic flowers all year round. It is always better to have a travel partner because two heads are always better than one!

Modes of transportation:

The C-trip app is very useful for buying plane tickets, train tickets and making hotel reservations in China. Download the English version. For long journeys I would recommend taking a flight. Simply buy your ticket using your Chinese bank card once it has been activated for online use. You should proceed to domestic departure on your day of travel. If the bullet train is unavailable then make your way over to the train station or use the app to get a hard or soft sleeper ticket. The hard sleeper tickets might look cheaper and appealing but for your own peace of mind do not purchase them unless it is for a short 1-5 hour journey.

For those who want to really see China then you can go ahead and book a slow train (non D or G trains). The journey tends to be quite long so it is best to take snacks and make sure that you book a hard or soft sleeper. The hard sleeper is okay but you will have about six people sharing one sleeping area which for 24 hours can be great or a real travel nightmare depending on how you look at it. Ensure that you have your passport on hand. There are signs in English throughout the train stations so you will be just fine. Taxi is also a good option but make sure you pay according to the meter. If you speak Chinese you can also call a didi taxi (similar to uber) which is cheaper and very reliable.

Where should you stay?

This hotel did not look so great on the outside and I instantly started to worry but as soon as I entered the room I was pleasantly surprised. There was cable tv, kettle and lot of toiletries. I was even allowed to check-in early at no additional cost. For 70 RMB per night, it was quite great and in the heart of everything.

When searching for hotels make sure that as a foreigner you can actually stay at the hotel. Not all hotels in China are allowed to accept foreigners as guests so be sure to get this information before confirming your reservation. There are hotels, hostels and guest houses available. I would recommend the hotel or guest house. Make sure you are able to see pictures of the exterior and interior of the hotel. Read the reviews. Most of the hotels in China, even though they look rather simple on the outside are nicer on the inside.

Usually the hotels that are fully registered and can accept foreigners have at least one staff member that speaks some amount of English. Be sure to have a translator app (like Google Translator) handy just in case. You should also ensure that where you decide to stay is close to the rest of civilization. Ensure that there are restaurants, attractions, train station or airport within close proximity or at least a few minutes away via taxi.

What should you eat?

The cuisine here is vast and quite unique. You can dine at local Chinese restaurants without spending much but be sure to avoid things like beef which is not a common commodity in China. Be careful of the water that you drink and where street food is concerned, proceed with caution.

In most areas you will be able to find common western restaurants like McDonalds, Starbucks, KFC, DQ, Pizza Hut and a few others that have become a daily treat for most people here. If you want to indulge more into the Chinese cuisine then you can ask the front desk where they would recommend. You can also walk into restaurants with picture menus and simply point and order.

Walmart in China has a growing number of Western products. A little more pricey than Chinese supermarkets but very affordable.

McDonalds in China.

Chinese people are very friendly and helpful. Just make sure you have data and translator on your phone so that they can understand you. Really, all you need is that and common sense.

Overall, I had a great time traveling throughout the south of China. Wherever you decide to venture, the steps are pretty much still the same. Here are some pictures of my travels in China. Next time I will share with you my journey to Hong Kong.