Tips for tourists in China. Independent travel to China. Price, experience, reviews, advice What you need to go to China
So, you are planning to go to China. And they did it right! This country is famous for its centuries-old culture, inventions, natural landscapes, food and much more. Now there are many offers on the tourism market, but they are all of the same type and run along the same well-trodden routes. Besides, they don’t give you freedom: look to the right, look to the left... How about entering a country where they look at you with genuine childish interest, like an alien, where the whole carriage stands up when they see you)). Or chat with local residents and get to know the life of the country from the inside. Independent travel provides all this.
Below we discuss the main practical issues related to independent travel in China.
1. Visa to China
The first thing you will need for such a trip is a Chinese visa. There are several types of visas, which require different documents and different costs. The simplest one is a one-time tourist trip. You can register with a travel agency, which will naturally charge an additional fee for their work. You can apply for a visa yourself by taking the documents to one of the Chinese consulates: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok.
2. How to get to China and travel within the country?
There are several ways to get to the Celestial Empire from Russia: by plane, by train or by bus, and by hitchhiking. It all depends on your budget, where you are going from and what places in China you are going to visit. China, as you know, borders Russia in the Far East, and from there the route to Beijing is the closest. You can cover this distance by train. The easiest way to travel from Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the European part of Russia is by plane. There are both direct flights and with transfers in Astana, Almaty, Dubai, depending on the airline. Cheap tickets can be found on the website .
Inside China, you can also travel in different ways, whichever suits your taste. We traveled by train, buying tickets ourselves at the ticket office a few days before departure.
3. How much money to take to China?
It’s difficult to give a definite answer here - everyone has their own requirements and preferences. I can only give a link to our
It is better to exchange cash in Russia for dollars in advance, since rubles are not exchanged in China. Dollars are exchanged for yuan mainly by the Bank of China; the rate in the spring of 2013 was 6.1 yuan per 1 dollar. You can also use Visa and MasterCard bank cards. A fee will be charged for withdrawing money from the card. It varies from bank to bank, check with your bank before traveling.
Anya and I applied for ISIC youth cards; in some places they give a good discount. For example, we saved 90 yuan (450 rubles) on Mount Emeishan.
4. What to take with you to China?
Experience is the son of difficult mistakes)) It’s unclear why we were dragging sleeping bags with us, but it turned out that China is full of cheap and comfortable housing.
When packing, pay attention to what kind of weather awaits you in China. For example, in the spring there is a lot of rain and dampness in the southwestern regions, while in Xinjiang it can be cool but dry. From here, choose what to take. For independent travel, a backpack is an irreplaceable and convenient thing that you must have =).
As a last resort, buy what you need in China, all the clothes are made there anyway!
5. Accommodation in China - where to spend the night?
As mentioned above, the choice of accommodation is huge, especially in places popular with tourists. And competition makes prices reasonable. You can book a hotel or inn in advance - this is easy to do on the website. If you prefer to improvise, you can decide on housing on the spot. I just strongly advise against doing this if you are traveling on holidays: at the beginning of May and in the first half of October.
If you want to stay in an apartment or rent a room from the owners (often this works out cheaper than a hotel), try Airbnb (go to and get $25 as a gift for your first booking).
6. Where to go in China, attractions
The choice here is simply endless, China amazing country! Discovery awaits at every step =).
We visited 4 provinces, or rather , and the province , Yunnan and Manchuria. We simply passed by the rest of the districts by train.
7. Food
People in China love and know how to eat! Local residents adopted the rule “War is war, and lunch is on schedule”)). The choice of food is very large, although the main products for the Chinese are rice and noodles, as well as additives for them. You can have a snack at local chifans or buy food at the market or supermarkets.
It should be noted that Chinese food is very spicy - be careful, especially in the first days.
Helps a lot when organizing an independent trip mobile applications. We wrote .
That's all I wanted to say about traveling to China on your own. Come to the Celestial Empire, you will definitely be satisfied! Easy roads!
Amazing and multifaceted, ancient and at the same time ultra-modern, hectic and incredibly peaceful... A trip to China will reveal this country to you from a variety of angles, and decide for yourself which one to love. One thing we can say for sure - each of you will find a fragment close to you in this Asian mosaic!
What to see in China: the most interesting cities
Beijing
Visit previously closed to commoners palace complex Gugun
You should start your trip to China from the capital Beijing. Its symbol is rightfully considered the world's largest palace complex, Gugun or Forbidden City. During the reign of the Ming and Qing dynasties, which is about five centuries, entry here was closed to commoners, so today one can consider it a great success to be able to visit this incredible masterpiece of architecture. The huge Tiananmen Square looks no less monumental, where every morning the solemn ceremony of raising national flag. The best way to take a break from Beijing's gigantomania is in the Yiheyuan Gardens of Peace and Harmony, where the summer imperial palace is located among ponds and openwork pavilions. And, of course, a trip to China is impossible without admiring the pagodas: in Beijing these are the elegant Temples of Heaven and Confucius, which look more like precious boxes. And also! Just 60 km from the capital passes the famous Great Wall. Need I say that not a single trip to China is complete without visiting her?!
Shanghai
View of Shanghai at night from the Bund of the Bund ©
Shanghai is a kind of Chinese Greece, where you have everything! Climb to the dizzying heights of the local Oriental Pearl Tower and admire the reflections of the sky in the mirrored skyscrapers, then explore the intricate patterns of the Longhua Pagoda and the Jade Buddha Temple. Stroll along the popular Bund and go on a mega shopping spree on Nanjing Road, or spend a few hours in the tranquil atmosphere of the Yu Yuan Garden of Joy. Immerse yourself in the world of Eastern culture in museums of ancient art and traditional Chinese medicine, or wax nostalgic for old Europe in the elegant French Quarter. And also! In the suburbs of Shanghai there is a local branch of Venice, a town called Zhujiajiao. Be sure to plan to stop by during your solo trip to China!
Guangzhou
See the most flourishing city in the Celestial Empire with your own eyes! ©
Guangzhou is the most prosperous city in the Middle Kingdom and the embodiment of everything we know about Chinese cuisine. Due to its southern location, this metropolis is more reminiscent of a huge garden, where, due to some misunderstanding, skyscrapers suddenly appeared. Yuexiu Park with the ancient Zhenhai Tower and the annual chrysanthemum exhibition, the Orchid Garden with cozy tea houses and Baiyun Mountain, surrounded by greenery, are the main things worth visiting China and Guangzhou for. But there are also the temples of the Six Banyan Trees and the Five Spirits, the Mausoleum of King Nanyue, the Cheng Clan Academy and the futuristic hyperboloid TV tower. As for local delicacies, it is in Ganzhou that you can taste snake meat and dog meat, fried grasshoppers, frogs, worms and other miniature inhabitants of China. And also! An hour's drive from the city center, above the estuary Pearl River The harsh and beautiful Lotus Mountains rise, like giants carved out of stone by an inept craftsman.
Chengdu
Must visit ancient city in Sichuan province near Chengdu
Chengdu - like an extract of real China, combines ancient architecture and dizzying natural landscapes. In the city itself you will find colorful temple complexes Black Goat and Wuhoutsi, visit the imperial residence of Bishushanzhuang and stroll along the ancient streets of Wenshufang and Jinli. If you decide to travel to China with children, then a must-see item in Chengdu is the Giant Panda Sanctuary. And another 50 km from the city are the oldest dam in the world, Dujiangyan and mountain range Qingchengshan with many Buddhist monasteries hidden in the mysterious forest thickets.
Where to go in China: the best attractions
In addition to the main cities, when traveling around China you should also visit remote attractions that you should never miss!
Terracotta Army
The number of clay warriors is amazing
According to ancient tradition, chinese emperors They were buried along with their entire living (!) army, and only the first ruler of the Qin dynasty decided to distinguish himself with humanism and, instead of real warriors, took about 8,000 clay figures with him to the next world. The giant mausoleum was excavated only two millennia later, revealing an entire terracotta army with horses and weapons. There are no two soldiers alike here: each of them has his own facial features, and differences in rank and nationality are also visible. Without exaggeration, this is the most incredible archaeological complex in China!
Yuanyang Rice Terraces
Incredibly picturesque rice plantations of Yuanyang ©
Rice plantations make up one of the most alluring landscapes you can see while traveling in China. The best point for viewing these magical panoramas is in Yunnan province, where a whole network of observation platforms. IN different time of the year rice terraces look different. in winter and in early spring they are flooded with water and look like mirrored staircases; in the summer they are painted in emerald shades, and in the fall they explode with bright golden colors.
Huanshan Mountains
Must visit: mountain panoramas in the Huanshan region
What should mountain lovers see in China if they don’t want to get a special pass to Tibet? The most mesmerizing high-altitude panoramas await you in the Huanshan region. Sharp stone peaks, almost always shrouded in haze, which is constantly pierced by the sun's rays, create an incredible mystical atmosphere. laid through the mountains walking routes different levels difficulties, also apply on some slopes cable cars. And the best way to relax after tiring descents and ascents is at the foot of Huanshan in the hot springs, where the water temperature is always the same - 45°C.
By the way, many of these places can be visited without a visa during!
The best places to relax in China by the sea
Hainan Island
You can always find sunshine on Hainan Island. Even in winter! ©
Incredibly, holidays in China in winter are possible not only in thermal baths, but also at sea! Head to the tropical island of Hainan, where it's sunny and warm all year round. Resorts in this region will suit everyone. Tourists with children will appreciate the well-equipped sandy beaches with a gentle entrance into the water. Young people will enjoy a variety of entertainment: from bars and discos to diving and surfing. Those who want to spice up their holiday in China with an eventful experience won’t get bored either. cultural program, going to a folk village, Monkey Island and Butterfly Gorge.
The most active and popular resort in Hainan is Sanya, where it is always fun, interesting and inexpensive. Yalongwan is more suitable for lovers of a quiet, luxurious holiday. And if you are into surfing, we recommend staying in the Dadonghai area.
The holiday season is October-November and from March to May.
Baidahe
Baidahe can interest absolutely any tourist ©
Until recently, this resort was closed to foreigners; mainly politicians and the wealthiest residents of the Middle Kingdom vacationed here. Need I say that Baidahe has everything that can attract people of this level? Excellent infrastructure, wide golden beaches, clear sea, as well as mountains and healing pine forests. Moreover, this the best place, where you can relax in China near the capital: the train to Beijing takes only 3 hours. True, there is also plenty of entertainment in Baidahe itself: a water park, a safari park and a dolphinarium, the palace of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and the Dove's Nest park, where colorful sunrises are shown. And 35 km from the resort, the Dragon’s Head rises directly from the sea - this is what they call the very beginning of the Great Wall of China.
Holiday season – from May to September
Dalian
The funicular will help you better see the local beauty.
Another resort where it is better to relax in China with children or a group of young people. The main attraction of Dalian is 200 km of gorgeous beaches. The most popular of them is Xinghai, with paid sand and free pebble sections. And for those who are looking for peace and solitude, we advise you to go to the distant Banchuy beach. After sunbathing, take a walk around the city and find the ancient Russian and Japanese streets. If you are young and energetic, you will definitely appreciate the stormy nightlife cities with many bars, where both tourists and local students relax. Little holidaymakers won’t be bored either: they can be taken to an unusual forest zoo, an amusement park and an aquarium, but the main thing is to visit the longest glass underwater tunnel in Asia, located in the Dalian Aquarium.
The holiday season is from June to September.
Where to go shopping in China
Our guide to China would be incomplete without telling us about the country's top shopping spots, because shopping is one of the local tourist attractions! If you are not looking for something special, but are betting on low prices and a large selection of goods, go shopping in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.
Best places for shopping in Beijing:
Wangfujing Street is one of the central shopping streets of Beijing
- Wangfujing Street - where there are many brand stores with the highest quality items;
- Qianmen Dajie Street is a shopping promenade where you can find not only clothes and shoes, but also equipment, souvenirs and handicrafts;
- Xidan District - here you will find various shopping centers, supermarkets and souvenir shops;
- Yabaolu District - specializes in trade with Russia and often “speaks” Russian;
- The silk market is one of the most popular in Beijing, you can find almost everything here;
- The pearl market speaks for itself - pearls in all its forms are sold here;
- Panjayuan Market is the country's largest flea market, where you can find unique works of art, antiques, fabrics and much more.
- The Place shopping complex - where the most expensive and luxurious things are sold.
In Shanghai, all trading responsibilities are clearly divided between different areas:
Shanghai also boasts its “trade list”
- Longhua Street and the Bund are responsible for the sale of branded items;
- Near the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum metro station you can find the same brands, but much cheaper and no longer original;
- Quipu Market sells general clothing and shoes;
- The First Asian Market and Sunshine Bazaar specializes in jewelry;
- Dong Tai Market is worth a look for antiques;
- Tien Shan market offers the best choice tea;
- Cybermarket, as the name implies, is focused on the sale of equipment and electronics;
- And all goods are collected in one place in the Raffles City Shanghai and Shanghai New World malls.
What interesting things can you buy in China?
In addition to clothes and shoes of various quality, from well-known brands and their counterfeits to good market items, it is worth bringing various gadgets from China, because, most likely, your smartphone or tablet is made in the Middle Kingdom! The most popular souvenirs are items made of nifrite, legendary Chinese porcelain and pearl jewelry. And, of course, it is impossible to leave here without a box of real Chinese tea, for example, Puer, Baihao, Maofeng or Tie Guanyin.
Transport for independent travel in China
Moving between cities
An excellent alternative to planes are trains that connect almost all cities in China © Kristoffer Trolle
If your travel route in China runs through the entire country, it is best to use air travel to move around. The cheapest flights are offered by numerous Asian low-cost airlines, but when purchasing such tickets, pay attention to the free rate hand luggage. For those traveling with luggage, it may be more profitable to fly with non-budget airlines, of which there are also many in China.
An alternative to flying is to travel in China by train. Railways cover almost the entire eastern part of the country, and in the west they connect the main cities. Trains are divided into high-speed (up to 300 km/h), high-speed (up to 200 km/h), fast (up to 150 km/h) and regular trains. There are sleeping places (in a soft or hard compartment) and seats (also soft or hard). The most extreme thing is tickets without seats, which we strongly do not recommend buying. Sales are carried out only at the box office, since for using the site railways You must have a Chinese bank card and a local phone number. Most cashiers do not speak English, so there are special cash desks for foreigners, where, however, an additional fee is charged for “special services.”
If you are organizing a trip to China on your own and have small budget, it is worth considering the option of moving around the country by intercity buses. On popular routes between megacities, you most often find new, comfortable cars, while very old and very overcrowded buses sometimes go to the outback.
Traveling in China by car is extremely inconvenient, since international laws do not apply here. To rent a car you need to obtain a special document, but this procedure is long and difficult.
Urban transport
As in many countries, taxis are a popular means of transport for tourists.
The fastest way to move inside major cities- this is the metro, because ground transport stuck in traffic jams comparable in scale to those in Moscow. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office at the entrance to the subway, and on buses and trolleybuses - from the conductor. In addition to one-time travel cards, there are also special cards that work on the principle of an electronic wallet.
Taxis in China are the most popular form of transport among tourists. Payment is made according to the meter: the initial tariff (from 90 rubles) already includes the first 4 km of the route, then approximately 20 rubles are added. per km. At night and outside the city the tariff may be higher. In addition, there are also traditional Asian pedicabs. They are usually more expensive than taxis, but they don’t cost you in traffic jams and will add a unique flavor to your trip to China!
What you need for a trip to China
Be sure to stop by a couple of Chinese villages along the way
Do you need a visa to China?
When is the best time to go to China?
The most comfortable months for traveling to China (including Beijing and Shanghai) are April-May and September-October, when throughout the country it is no longer cold, but also not too hot. No less good weather in China in November and December it is also found in the south of the country, so at this time you can safely plan a trip to Guangzhou. If we talk about resorts, then at north coast(Dalian and Baidahe) it’s better to go in the summer, but beach holiday in China in winter it is possible only on Hainan Island.
And if you are planning to escape in this direction from the Russian cold, then be sure to use ours.
You need to arrive at the airport 2.5 hours before departure. Be aware of the free baggage allowance and surcharge for excess baggage. The tickets indicate local time. To board the flight you need:
- Go through customs inspection and fill out a customs declaration. If the amount of money you are exporting is less than $3,000 per person and you do not have items that must be declared, then you do not need to fill out a declaration. When filling out the form, do not forget to indicate the entire amount of foreign currency that you took with you. Keep the customs declaration until your return to Russia.
- Check in for your flight at the check-in counter and receive your boarding pass. The check-in counter number is located on the central display opposite your flight number. All questions about your seat number on the plane can only be resolved at the check-in counter.
- Go through border control in any booth.
- Board the plane through the gate number indicated on boarding pass.
Passengers on international flights go through customs, passport control, as well as security control, after which they await the departure of the flight in the sterile area of the gallery of international airlines. When going through security checks, you must present your passport and boarding pass.
When transporting animals or plants, it is necessary to undergo phytocontrol / veterinary control.
Rules for pre-flight and post-flight inspections
In accordance with Appendix No. 1 of the Rules for pre-flight and post-flight inspections, approved by order of the Ministry of Transport Russian Federation dated July 25, 2007 No. 104 prohibited from transporting on board the aircraft by passengers in checked baggage and in things carried by passengers, the following dangerous substances and objects:
Allowed to transport on board the aircraft by crew members and passengers, subject to the required conditions, the following items and substances:
- in checked baggage in cargo and luggage compartments of an aircraft with isolated passenger access to luggage during the flight:
- crossbows, spearguns, checkers, sabers, cutlasses, scimitars, broadswords, swords, swords, bayonets, daggers, knives: hunting knives, knives with ejectable blades, with locking locks, simulators of any type of weapon;
- household knives (scissors) with a blade length over 60 mm; alcoholic drinks containing more than 24%, but not more than 70% alcohol by volume in containers with a capacity of no more than 5 liters, in containers intended for retail trade - no more than 5 liters per passenger;
- liquids and alcoholic drinks with an alcohol content by volume of no more than 24%;
- aerosols intended for use for sports or household purposes, the release valves of the cans are protected by caps from spontaneous release of the contents in containers with a capacity of no more than 0.5 kg or 500 ml - no more than 2 kg or 2 liters per passenger;
- in things carried by passengers:
- medical thermometer - one per passenger;
- mercury tonometer in a standard case - one per passenger;
- a mercury barometer or manometer, packed in a sealed container and sealed with the sender's seal;
- disposable lighters - one per passenger;
- dry ice for cooling perishable foods - no more than 2 kg per passenger;
- 3% hydrogen peroxide - no more than 100 ml per passenger;
- liquids, gels and aerosols classified as non-hazardous: in containers with a capacity of no more than 100 ml (or equivalent capacity in other units of volume measurement), packed in a securely closed transparent plastic bag with a volume of no more than 1 liter - one bag per passenger.
Liquids in containers with a capacity of more than 100 ml are not accepted for transportation, even if the container is only partially filled. Exceptions to transportation include medications, baby food, and special dietary needs.
Liquids purchased from duty-free shops at the airport or on board an aircraft must be packaged in a securely sealed plastic bag that allows the contents of the bag to be identified during the flight and has reliable confirmation that the purchase was made at airport duty-free shops. or on board the aircraft on the day(s) of travel. Keep your receipt as proof of purchase. Do not open the package either before boarding or during the flight.
The administration of the airport, airline, operator has the right to decide on the introduction of additional measures to ensure aviation security on high-risk flights, as a result of which it is prohibited to carry the following items in the aircraft cabin:
- corkscrews;
- hypodermic needles (unless medical justification is provided);
- knitting needles;
- scissors with a blade length of less than 60 mm;
- folding (without lock) travel, pocket knives with a blade length of less than 60 mm.
Upon arrival at Sanya and Haikou airport
- Upon arrival at Sanya Airport, you must go through passport control (present a foreign passport).
From April 30, 2018, a new rule for passing border control at Sanya Airport is in effect.(Hainan Island, China, international terminal). All tourists aged 14 to 70 years who fly to the island on direct charter flights According to the visa-free list, the following procedures will additionally be completed:- Fingerprinting;
- Biometric facial photo.
If a tourist refuses to undergo this procedure, the airport border control has the right to deport the tourist. All costs of deportation are borne by the tourist. - Receive your luggage. The monitors above the baggage belts indicate the flight from which baggage will be issued at this belt.
- At the exit from the airport building, go to a TEZ TOUR representative and find out the number of your transfer bus. To do this, name the hotel where you will be staying. The hotel name appears on your voucher.
Our representatives wear yellow shirts with blue ties and blue trousers/skirts. - Go to the parking lot, find the bus you need for transfer, check in with the TEZ TOUR representative accompanying the bus, saying your name, put your luggage in the luggage compartment of the bus.
- Listen carefully to the information that the accompanying person (transferman) will provide on the way to the hotel. Also, the accompanying person (transferman) will inform you about the time of meeting with your hotel guide.
Upon arrival at the hotel
- Go to the TEZ TOUR counter to meet the hotel guides.
- Fill out the registration card at English language.
- Hand in your passport and voucher (1 copy out of 3) hotel guide. A passport is required for registration mandatory registration all tourists, it will be possible to pick it up in a day.
- Wait for check-in. Check-in at the hotel is at 15.00. Upon check-in, you will be given room keys.
- After checking into your room, review the information provided by the hotel. Pay attention to which services are paid and how much they cost (as a rule, the information is in a folder and lies on the table or bedside table).
Meeting with the hotel guide
The time of meeting with the hotel guide will be informed to you by the accompanying person (transferman) on the way to the hotel. At the appointed time, you must approach the hotel guide, who will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby. To the meeting, take with you your passport, voucher, and return flight ticket.
If you have any questions or problems, please contact your hotel guide or the hotel reception. The guide’s coordinates (photo, name, mobile phone) and the hours when the guide is directly at the hotel are indicated on the TEZ TOUR information stand in the hotel lobby.
The day before your flight home
- Go to the reception and check if you have any outstanding bills for Additional services(use of minibar, telephone, etc.). If you have any debts, pay them.
- In the evening, go to the TEZ TOUR information stand or the hotel guide and check the departure and departure times from the hotel. To do this, you need to know the number of the return flight you are departing on.
Check out from the hotel
On the day of departure, you must vacate your room by 12:00, hand in your keys and towel cards.
You can leave your luggage in the hotel storage room.
To avoid various complications, please do not be late and arrive at the transfer at the specified time.
Arrival at Sanya and Haikou airport for departure
- Upon arrival at the airport, go to the check-in counter, where your flight number is indicated (the counter numbers will be additionally given to you by the attendant (transfer person) on the bus on the way to the airport).
- Check in for your flight (provide your passport and ticket).
- Drop your luggage at the front desk.
- Get your boarding pass. Pay attention to the gate number and time for boarding the plane (on the boarding pass the gate is indicated by the word GATE, the time - TIME).
- Go through passport control (provide your foreign passport and completed migration card for departure).
- Proceed to the departure hall, where you will wait for the boarding announcement for your flight.
Helpful information
Medical service
To receive free medical care You must contact the telephone numbers specified in the insurance company’s medical policy. When visiting medical institutions without a referral from an insurance company, the tourist pays for the services independently.
Vaccinations are not required for travel to China. You should not drink tap water. Drink guaranteed safe water and drinks (boiled water, drinking water and drinks in factory packaging). Be sure to wash raw vegetables and fruits. Try to avoid food of questionable origin, even if it looks attractive and appetizing, such as food prepared by street vendors. Do not eat meat dishes, not subjected to heat treatment.
Traditional Chinese medicine has its roots in ancient times and is an independent system that includes the theory of the occurrence of diseases, diagnostic methods and treatment methods. There are four main methods of diagnosis: inspection, auscultation, questioning and palpation.
As for the treatment itself, currently there are the following main methods. Firstly, this is the use of medicinal products of natural origin: 80% are of plant origin, the remaining 20% are of animal origin and minerals. Next comes acupuncture and moxibustion. In addition to exposure to needles, cauterization or warming with wormwood is also used.
Famous clinics in Sanya Yukang, Garden of Longevity, Taiji.
First aid kit
Before your trip, prepare and take with you a first aid kit, which will help you with minor ailments, save your time searching for medicines and eliminate communication problems. foreign language, in addition, many medications can different countries have different names.
General information on China
Political system. Political structure of the People's Republic of China - Communist regime.
Time. The whole country lives according to Beijing time, being located in five time zones. Time difference with Moscow: in winter + 5 hours, in summer + 4 hours.
Language. Official language- Chinese. The generally accepted writing system is Chinese characters.
General information about Hainan Island
O. Hainan is a huge tropical island located in the very south of China. Hainan is washed by the waters of the South China Sea. The average annual temperature is +24°C, the amount of precipitation per year is 1500 mm. The climate of Hainan Island is mild, tropical, and summer reigns on the island all year round. In summer, the daytime temperature is usually around 33 degrees.
The true pearl of the island is the year-round resort town Sanya. Most hotels and recreation areas are located in the city's three main bays - Yalongwan (Dragon Bay), Dadonghai (Great East Sea) and Sanyabei.
Visa
Entry into China is carried out on the basis of a visa previously issued at the Chinese Consulate or on the basis of a group visa-free list.
Time
The time is 4 hours ahead of Moscow.
Mains voltage
Mains voltage 220 V.
Tips
Tipping is not accepted in China, but nevertheless, in a restaurant it is enough to leave change. For drivers and maids, it is enough to leave a purely symbolic amount.
Customs
The amount of imported foreign currency is not limited. When importing an amount of more than $5,000, you must declare this in the customs declaration. The amount of yuan transferred across the border should not exceed 6,000 yuan. Duty-free import of 600 cigarettes, alcoholic beverages not exceeding 1.5 liters, and jewelry is allowed for personal use.
Items prohibited for import:
- weapons and items imitating weapons;
- explosives;
- drugs and psychotropic drugs;
- pornography;
- religious literature with extremist content, political materials, audio and video materials related to racial discrimination, terrorism, and military topics;
- materials that may harm China's politics, economy and culture.
- canned food (meat and fish)
- meat (fresh, dried, frozen, sausages, frankfurters, poultry, etc.)
- fish (dried, smoked, etc.) and seafood
- vegetables fruits
It is prohibited to export historical documents, valuable objects and works of art, as well as paintings and graphics without a store receipt confirming the legality of the purchase, or an export permit from the Chinese Administrative Department for Cultural Property under the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China.
Power Bank (charger) with a capacity of more than 10,000 Amp (amps) cannot be exported from China. We recommend not to bring these chargers with you, as customs may not allow/seize the Power Bank upon departure from the country.
It is prohibited to take lighters out of China, even in luggage.
Medicines are allowed for export only in luggage, if there is a stamped receipt and an export permit or prescription.
Money
Yuan (CNY) (1 yuan = 10 jiao = 100 fen). Banknotes in circulation are 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 yuan. The yuan exchange rate is set by the state. In colloquial speech, when denoting prices, “kuai” is also used instead of the word “yuan”, and “mao” is used instead of “jiao”. Yuan is circulated in the form of paper bills and coins.
Within the PRC, the circulation of foreign currency and settlements in it are prohibited. Foreign currency exchange is carried out at branches of the Chinese Bank (Bank Of China), which are available at all airports, hotels and large stores. Currency exchange in markets and streets is not recommended due to the increased risk of currency counterfeiting. Major credit cards accepted are American Express, JCB, Visa, Master Card and Diners Club. However, many expenses within the country, including transport, are paid only in cash.
Please pay attention when paying by cardMasterCardmay have problems!
The shops
State stores are open seven days a week from 9:30 to 20:30, private stores from 9:00 to 21:00, and often even longer. Markets usually open at 7:00 (some even at 4:00) and are open until 10:00-12:00.
Unit of weight in China - 1 jin = 0.5 kg, the price of the product will be given to you exactly for 1 jin.
In large state stores and grocery stores, prices are fixed. You should bargain in the markets. Even if there is a price tag on the product, this is nothing more than a “guideline” indicating the order of the cost of the purchase. The choice of souvenirs is huge, but many of them are of low quality. Chopsticks, beautiful porcelain, cups, lacquer boxes, seals and scroll cases can be bought at every turn. Hangzhou and Suzhou are famous for their excellent tea and silk. Real antiques are usually sold only in state stores and are expensive. When purchasing it, you must obtain an export permit from the seller.
What to bring from Hainan Island:
- Pearl. Pearls are the pride of Hainan Island. Hainan pearls are a variety of the most famous "Nanzhu" pearls, which means southern pearls. It is generally accepted that the best pearls are mined in the South China Sea, which washes the island of Hainan.
- Tea. Rare and elite varieties of tea grow on the island; you can try them in teahouses different types tea, learn about the art of brewing teas and buy different types of healing tea.
- Silk. Gifts purchased here for your loved ones and friends, be it silk clothes, silk bed linen or always fashionable silk paintings, will be remembered for a long time, because the art of silk has been alive for more than one millennium.
- Crystal. Crystal in Hainan is rightly called the third treasure of the island after pearls and tea. The island has the largest deposits of rock crystal in China. Hainan crystal is considered the purest, so it is used to make jewelry and even glasses for glasses. Crystal carving is highly valued. For example, the sarcophagus of Mao Zedong was made from Hainan crystal.
- Shark oil. At the beginning of the 20th century, a Japanese doctor discovered a special substance in shark oil - squalene, which can act as a natural antibiotic. In addition, scientists have discovered that shark oil contains another important compound - aloxyglycerides, which have a powerful effect on the immune system. Among other things, shark oil is the best supplier of valuable vitamins A, E, D - these are vitamins that fight age-related changes in the body. They improve vision, skin and hair condition, strengthen blood vessels and bone tissue.
Hotels
Mandatory deposits in hotels in China (on the day of arrival)
When checking into most hotels in China, tourists may be charged a cash deposit for the safety of the contents of the room and minibar. Upon check-out from the hotel, the deposit is fully refunded to tourists. Payment of the deposit is due on the day of arrival. The deposit can be made either in cash or blocked from a bank card*. Visa, Mastercard, Maestro cards are accepted.
*Attention! In case of by bank card, when the hotel unlocks funds, the transaction does not take place immediately and in some cases can last 30 days (the funds are returned to the owner’s account within a month).
Please note that you are not allowed to bring your own drinks into the hotel restaurant.
It is not allowed to take food taken from the buffet outside the restaurant.
Beaches
All beaches in Hainan are municipal; when choosing a hotel, pay attention to the description; not all hotels have their own beach area with free sun loungers and umbrellas.
A tan. It is better to sunbathe before 11 am, otherwise you risk overheating and sunburn. Excessive sun exposure can ruin your entire vacation. Use protective creams with high UV protection. Do not neglect hats when staying in the sun for a long time
Transport
The main means of transportation in China are bus and taxi. To get around the city it is better to use a taxi. There is a “TAXI” sign on the roof of the car, and payment for 1 km of travel is stamped on the glass; payment is made according to the meter readings. Taxi fare for less than 2 km is 10 yuan, then 2 yuan for each kilometer. During holidays, the fare increases by 5 yuan.
The bus is the most economical mode of transport, bus routes provide connections throughout Sanya and its suburbs.
Main route buses:
- Bus No. 2: East Station - Dadonghai - City Center - College
Dadonghai Square - Xiazhi Department Store - Luhuitou Square - Sanya City Hall (Shidai Hai'an Bar Street) - First Market Crossroads (Sanya International Trade Square) - Yifang Department Store - Public Parking Lot ( pedestrianized street) - City People's Hospital - Mingzhu Department Store - Nongken Hospital - Bus No. 15: Yalongbei Bay - Dadonghai Bay - City Center - Sanyabei Bay - West Station
Yalongbei Bay - Club Hotel sea world- Yalongbei Square - LiuPan Village - TianDu Village - NonSha Village - OjiaYuan Village - East Station - Dadonghai Bay - Palm Hotel - Luhuitou Square - Sanya City Committee (Bar Street) - Ganmen Village - High school Practices - People's Insurance Company - Taixin Hotel - Hotel Central Asia- Chinese Medicine Hospital - Shuili Building - Public parking (pedestrian street) - Red Soltsy Restaurant - TianDu Hotel - Chinese Bank - ShenYi Hotel (Sanyabei Bay) - ZingWei Hotel - 425 Hospital - Friendship Street - Nongken Hospital - West Station
Rent a Car
Since international driver's licenses are not valid in China, car rental is only possible with a driver. This is all the more convenient because driving in China is, to put it mildly, specific.
Culture
Behavior rules. China is a country with centuries-old traditions and culture, so it is better not to violate social and religious norms so as not to offend the locals.
- You cannot photograph military, strategic sites and government buildings, as well as people, without first asking their permission.
- In China, it is not recommended to argue about political topics, especially about Mao Zedong, student unrest, etc.
- It is impossible to express dissatisfaction with the culture and history of China, and also to show disrespect for them.
- You can't litter, you can be fined for it.
- You should not show aggression or irritation towards the Chinese.
- Most Chinese people are friendly towards tourists, so be prepared for the fact that many local residents They will greet you and perhaps even point a finger - react to this calmly.
- It is not allowed to touch a woman or take her arm.
- It is not customary to open the door for a woman or give her a seat, because... Women and men have equal rights in China.
- You should refrain from smoking in hotels, parks, squares and on the street; drinking alcoholic beverages is also prohibited in these places.
- You should take food from the plate with chopsticks silently.
- You need to suck in the noodles noisily - this is what all Chinese do, this shows how tasty it is for you.
- You cannot stick chopsticks (or utensils) vertically into a bowl of food - this is reminiscent of incense being smoked in a temple, and therefore evokes thoughts of moving to another world.
- Under no circumstances should you string pieces of food onto chopsticks - this will offend every Chinese person.
Phones
Upon arrival in China, it is most profitable to buy a local SIM card, because... calls will cost less than if you call from the hotel. cellular distributed in China almost throughout the entire territory. When purchasing a SIM card, you should make sure that the selected tariff plan has international roaming. In addition, it is better to ask the seller on the spot to activate it, because... doing this yourself can be difficult without knowing Chinese. You can buy a SIM card at the offices of China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom. You can also purchase cards for international calls with per-minute payment.
To call Russia, you need to dial 007 (Russia code) + area code + the phone number you need.
When dialing a Chinese landline number from your mobile phone, you need to dial: + 7 + 86 (China code) + area code + the phone number you need.
Useful phones
- International Help Desk (English): 115
- Police and rescue: 110
- Fire department: 119
- Ambulance: 120
- Traffic police: 122
- Information service for foreigners in critical situations:
in Shanghai 8-10-86-21-6-439-06-30,
in Guangzhou 8-10-86-20-8-667-74-22
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For me, preparation for an independent trip to China followed a well-established pattern that I have been using for many years. There was no big difference for me. Since I don’t know either Chinese or other languages (so it doesn’t matter to me where to fly - to China, Brazil or the USA), in any case, I have to prepare carefully for the trip, not missing anything, so that on the spot, it no longer arises no questions or problems. 1 . We need to decide How many days You eat and make up route around the country. For myself, even before the trip, I decided that it was impossible to embrace China in one go and therefore, I divided it into two trips (and maybe more). Therefore, on the first trip (after all, you never know whether there will be a next one), the places that I wanted to see first were chosen. These were basically the most important historical cities, which almost all were at one time or another the capitals of China and are of historical interest (I love history, especially ancient and medieval) The route was designed so that I would descend from the north to and further to the south (this saves money, no need to go back.) Here's the full route. Beijing (5 days) - Tianjin (1 day) - Great Wall of China (1 day) - Xi'an (2 days) - Huashan Mountains (1 day) - Nanjing (2 days) - Suzhou (2 days) - Shanghai (2 days) - Hangzhou(3 days)-Guangzhou(2 days)-Shenzhen(3 days) Total 24 days in China. Well, here everyone is free to choose their own time and route. Since I can’t imagine a summer vacation without relaxing on the warm sea, Thailand was added as such a vacation for two weeks, especially since a ticket from the last city of China, Shenzhen, cost only 120 US dollars to Bangkok. 2 . Now we need to deal with that how to get there to China. Usually I buy tickets 10 months in advance (but even before that, a year, sometimes two years in advance, I monitor this route in different months on search engine sites such as Skyscanner.ru and Momondo.ru and install the best prices and the best options for yourself) When flying to China, there is no point in buying tickets so early, so I bought a Moscow-Beijing ticket in just 5 months. I look for tickets using search engines, but I almost always buy tickets on the websites of airline companies. It was the same here - I found the cheapest flight - went to the Hainan Airlines website, bought a one-way ticket for 282 US dollars. The flight takes 7 hours - departure from Sheremetyevo on July 14 at 19.55, arrival in Beijing on July 15 at 09.05 local time. From China, as I already said, I flew to Thailand (a ticket for AirAsia is a low-cost budget ticket - the ticket is only 120 US dollars - I bought it 5 months in advance) 3 . The next step was to understand how to get around between cities in China. This is definitely the most perfect way movement - railway transport. In China, it is one of the best and most modern in the world! The photo shows one of the Beijing train stations - Tskntralny How to buy train tickets - this question arose even before the trip. Now (this happened not long ago) you can buy tickets for Chinese trains on the Internet - it’s better to book them in Russia on the website chinahighlights.ru, pay and receive them using the reservation number that will be sent to you at any train station in China. Here in the photo is Beijing South Station I had 10 trips by rail, including two night trains). Everything went perfectly (I’ll tell you in detail about the specifics of trains and stations in the next tip) I also had one flight within China from Hangzhou to Guangzhou. I bought the ticket through the website - expedia.com (this site has never let me down either in the USA or in South America) 4 . Next step. Figure out how to get to airports and railways stations. It couldn't have been more difficult. In Beijing at the airport there is a metro line; I sat down and went to the desired station, in Hangzhou the metro did not reach the airport yet, and for the first time I could not understand and find information where the shuttle stop was and I had to order a taxi from the hotel to the airport (the first and last time in China) Railway stations (there are several of them in almost all cities, like in Moscow (you also need to figure this out, which station you are going from and which one you are arriving at) - but all of them that I needed were connected by metro lines, so it’s difficult to get there did not arise before them (this will be discussed as a separate council). 5 .Now it was necessary book hotels. I used two sites - Booking.com (you can only pay in cash at the hotels in China) and the Agoda.ru site (money is withdrawn immediately upon booking and you don’t have to pay anything in China) Everything went with a bang! there were no problems. In the future I will give an overview of all the hotels (the price range was from 30 to 40 US dollars, once 50). I chose hotels near railway stations so as not to have to walk far. 6 . Visa. I ordered a visa to China through a travel agency - they gave it for 3 months (it cost 6 thousand rubles) - it does not require any hotel reservations or tickets. If I lived in Moscow, I would do everything myself for 2 thousand rubles. 7. Attractions. The next step is to figure out what to see in each city, that is, choose the attractions. What I do now is simple - I go to the website - tripadvisor.ru I type the city that I need in the search and then - “Entertainment” section and the entire list of attractions of this city drops out, with reviews of tourists and their photos, you can understand whether you need this attraction or not. It is important that all attractions are arranged according to the tourist rating and basically it is always correct, with the most outstanding ones going first. Open the attraction you need - on the right side there will be a small map, and under it an important function - “Name and address in the language of the region” - open it and print out this name in Chinese and you can safely show this printout to the Chinese (I did this several times), if you can’t find the attraction, do the same through this site with the name of the hotel (have their address in Chinese). You also need to make printouts of the names of the cities you will be moving through in China. But just in case, I also check by typing a phrase in the Yandex search - for example, “Sights of Xi’an” and read there and select. 8. Chinese transport in cities. We have chosen the attractions for each city - now we need to figure out how to get to them. There were no problems here either, since all cities have a metro, you need to navigate by stations. To do this, download or print metro maps of all the necessary cities in English - in the Chinese metro, everything is duplicated in English. (About the Chinese metro, I will give separate advice) And in some cases, we plot a route using the Google Maps website - select a city. A routes window will appear in the right corner - for example, enter the name of your hotel and the name of the attraction and select the function public transport) Google will give you bus route numbers We check on the map where the attraction is located, and for greater peace of mind we also prepare printouts in Chinese). I made printouts of the desired part of the city on a printer and marked my walking route around the city. Although I also had a tablet. 9. . Upload to tablet. Offlan (simplified Chinese) translator - works without the Internet and produces the necessary hieroglyphs (the Chinese understood me - I used it several times), and just in case, I bought a simple Russian-Chinese phrasebook in our bookstore. You also need to download Google maps of China (offline), which work without the Internet - everywhere 10. Money. I changed the money back in Orenburg at Sberbank, something like 1 yuan 9 rubles. For 24 days, 4 thousand yuan, or about 40 thousand rubles, were spent on food and sightseeing and local transport (not including railways). I will give the remaining prices for trains and hotels in the following tips. Well, we are ready to travel around China!!! There's nothing wrong with it - you just need to figure it out. 12 . Made it in a few days medical insurance on the Internet in Ingostrakh for 24 days in China - I printed it out and took it with me. China... The idea of seeing the Celestial Empire came to me a long time ago and has been ripening for several years. |
