All about a trip to China. Traveling to China on your own. When to go. Best time to visit China

Modern China is very different from the ideas of those who have never been there, and is based on photographs of other tourists and television programs. Moreover, if you have not been to central cities China, your next visit to Beijing, and that is what we will tell you about, will greatly surprise you.

A trip to China: modern Beijing

It was my first time in Beijing, but my “fellow travelers,” who were already familiar with the capital of China, claimed that a lot had changed.

If earlier the Chinese openly stared at the Europeans, now they no longer stare at us so fiercely, take less photographs and don’t point their fingers. Of course, in tourist areas, visitors from Chinese provinces click cameras, trying to capture not only beautiful views, buildings or nature, but also you.

Some people don’t mind being photographed in front of you or your company; they can also easily ask you for a joint photo. It is worth noting that all guidebooks report such curiosity of the Chinese, and ask them not to be angry with simple-minded Asians, but to smile back at them.

The Chinese love to take pictures with Europeans, but the reason for this is a mystery. Photo taken from the Internet

The first few days such attention was even flattering, but after four days of “having fun” with the Chinese, we, arrogant tourists, asked for three euros for a photo, but no less arrogant Chinese, pretending that they did not understand anything, simply took pictures in front of us on the sly , than just fun. But these are little things that can be overcome with ease and humor.

Guidebooks advise not to pay attention to some of the “childishness” of the Chinese, that’s just their mentality. Photo taken from Internet resources.

Separately, I would like to talk about smoking. If a few years ago the Chinese smoked everywhere: on public transport, at hotel receptions, in cafes and restaurants, now this trend has practically died down to zero. Smoking Beijingers can only be found on the streets, and mostly men smoke; we only met a woman smoking in 8 days in Beijing.

In some cafes you can smoke, if we are talking about the usual Chinese eateries, but it is better to ask the waiters or the owner of the establishment about this, as a rule, this is the same person. But it’s better not to buy cigarettes in China. The tobacco in cigarettes there is much worse than in Russia, there are also world brands, but their price is 20-30 rubles higher than the Russian one. That is why tourists fly to China with a carton of their usual cigarettes.

Special bins for cigarette butts in Beijing, unlike most European countries, no, but this doesn’t bother locals and tourists - they throw garbage right on the sidewalk. Despite this, Beijing is incredibly clean, but more on that below.

How many cities and countries have I visited, and believe me, there are a lot of them, I have never seen them wash pedestrian streets, they cleaned garbage cans with brushes, and people on special mopeds or bicycles with a small body rode around the city and collected garbage with “grabbing sticks.” Before you have time to open the candy, the worker is already right there to pick up the wrapper, and when he sees you throwing the wrapper into the trash bin, he sighs either with relief or with annoyance and leaves.

It’s very easy to get used to such cleanliness, but it’s difficult to get out of the habit. And this purity is superficial. Beijing is a very dirty city, whose government has been unsuccessfully fighting an impending environmental disaster for several years.

The fact is that the highest concentration of nitrogen dioxin and other hazardous substances has been recorded in the atmosphere of Beijing. The main reason is the large number of cars on the city streets. In addition, chemical emissions from factories in neighboring Hebei and Henan significantly increase the content of these same particles in the air. An impenetrable smog hangs over the city, high-rise buildings seem to be covered in soot, and the Chinese themselves all wear masks. Beijing authorities are struggling with exhaust fumes different ways, we’ll tell you more about one of them.

Renting bicycles in the capital of China is commonplace. Anyone can borrow it for temporary use, but there is one condition - you must have a special program installed on your mobile phone, for example OFO and Mobike. Of course, although renting a bicycle costs from 1 to 10 yuan, depending on the time, it is still not free.

Therefore, a card must be linked to the program, your identity must be identified, and, of course, a local SIM card with Internet access. This is necessary so that you can unlock and pay for transport online.

Each bike has a QR code that needs to be read using the program, then a code will appear on the mobile phone screen that needs to be entered on the bike’s combination lock to unlock the automatic wheel lock. The bicycle can be left anywhere, a special truck will come for it and take it to the parking areas, but this will only be at night.

During the day, bicycles are quietly left on the sidewalks, where they are picked up by subsequent tourists or city residents. It is worth noting that there is no shortage of bicycles; the application’s online map shows where the nearest bicycle is located.

In total, there are more than 13 million bicycles in Beijing. They are used by street vendors, couriers, garbage collectors, utility workers, and office workers. Additionally, since China does not recognize international driving licenses, many foreigners ride bicycles around the city.

If you decide to download one of the applications, we recommend that you do this before entering China; there you will not see many of the usual Internet browsers and programs that are actively used in other parts of the world.

Instagram, Google services, Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox and other less popular services are absent throughout China. If you are an active user of the above, you need to install VPN anonymizers on your gadgets in advance, which will help you bypass the blocking.

It works like this: when you visit a site, it changes your IP address, hides your location and maintains anonymity in the browser. To simplify, with the help of the program you will access the network from China, but the network will think that you are accessing from India, Great Britain, the USA or any other country. This program “eats” the battery very quickly, so we do not recommend using it for a long time.

If we talk about programs that will facilitate tourist travel not only in Beijing, but also in any other cities, then we cannot fail to mention MAPS.ME (MapsWithMe). This is a program with offline maps of the whole world. It helps a lot if you are traveling without a guide. A traveler's assistant should also include a metro map, which can be downloaded from the Play Store for Android devices and from the App Store for iPhone.

In general, Beijing and its residents, as well as tourists from other provinces, are very friendly and hospitable to foreigners. Many speak English confidently and will try to help you if you ask them to.

Of course, their culture, rhythm of life and much more differs from what we are used to, but this is precisely why we travel - to see how people live in other parts of the world.

*All photographs used in the material were taken from open sources on the Internet.

China is very ancient state V East Asia with a huge population and an equally huge territory, covering 7 climatic zones. There are deserts, waterfalls, mountains, lakes, forests and even tropical islands in the south. At the same time, in one corner of China it can be –40°C, and in another +40°C. Bring an umbrella, as it often rains here, take comfortable shoes for hiking and warm clothes if you go deeper into the continent, especially into the mountains. The main tips when traveling to China: choose clothes that will be “neither hot nor cold”, that is, comfortable for moving around the country.

Food and water

No less important tips in China, this means choosing water and eating in places that are safe for Europeans. The issue of water quality and Chinese food must be taken extremely seriously. The cuisine is quite exotic, but the sanitary conditions are not always up to standard. It is better to choose dinner in a cozy Chinese restaurant - on the recommendation of your guide or hotel employees. You need to be no less careful with water; tourists are advised to drink only purchased bottled water, as well as from special thermoses installed in hotel rooms.

Health

You need to think in advance about what medications to take to China. If these are not drugs prohibited by law (narcotic and psychotropic drugs), then there are no special restrictions. You need to prepare the minimum necessary set of medications for personal needs, including stomach, headache, heart, etc.

General tips for China: get to know the country from the inside, respect local customs and the political sympathies of the people, be polite and smile. You are a guest! And guests are always welcome in China!

How much money to take to China - calculating the required minimum

How much money to take to China and what currency to take to China - these questions arise for those who go there for the first time. Let's start in order. How much money should you take to China so that it is enough for the most average tourist needs, without any extra frills? If you are traveling from an operator or travel agency, then your accommodation and meals are already included in the price of the tour. The most minimal and not entirely obligatory expenses remain: a taxi (from 3 to 10 yuan at a time), which you like street food, baked goods and sweets (10-20), beer (4-6) and wine (20), seafood delicacies (up to 60), excursions and souvenirs for friends. For all this you can spend from 50 to 100 yuan per day or more. Based on this, you must decide how much money to take to China. If you are not very strapped for money, take it with a reserve - at the rate of up to $100 for one day of stay, in the case when housing and flights have already been paid for.

In order not to worry once again about searching for exchange offices in China, immediately decide what money to take to China. Tips for China regarding this converge on one opinion: it is better to convert the entire amount you will need into Chinese currency or US dollars. Ideal option: 60% in yuan, 40% in dollars. You definitely won’t change rubles here, and you won’t be able to buy dollars for rubles. In China, currency can be changed at state-owned banks and exchange offices, and we advise you to keep the exchange receipts until the end of the trip. You can take with you up to 3 thousand dollars without certificates and documents and up to 10 thousand dollars - with entry into the declaration.

What you need to know about China - the primary truths

Communication

The main thing you need to know about China is that it is strikingly different from Russia in literally everything. Here everything lives according to its own laws, which are not always understandable to people of other nationalities, especially Europeans. When communicating, remember that the Chinese know English poorly, and Russian is out of the question (except international exhibitions, shopping and purely tourist facilities and sites). You should prepare well before the trip, study materials about local customs and culture, print out, if necessary, maps and routes for independent travel, learn the basic phrases of greetings and addresses, change the required amount of money at home.

Home shopping

Decide in advance what souvenirs to bring from China. It can be porcelain, swords, fans, silk blankets, decorative boxes and exquisite sweets, or... anything - after all, today’s China, without exaggeration, is the world’s greatest “craft shop”. Don’t be shy about bargaining; the Chinese themselves do it with pleasure and expect the same from you. Sometimes the original price for a tea set, equal to 300 yuan, eventually drops to 20...

What to take to China from home

On the road, be sure to take sunscreen and glasses, a first aid kit with a minimum set of medications and hygiene items; clothing that does not restrict movement and comfortable shoes. A Russian-Chinese phrasebook will not hurt at all; with its help you will be able to communicate with the local population, showing the necessary hieroglyphs.

Tourist information

It’s hard to believe now, but such familiar modern household items as paper, a compass and a printing press were invented not just anywhere, but in China, and even in ancient times. By the way, they say that the wheel and the calendar also appeared somewhere nearby, but these two facts are regularly disputed by many scientists. Be that as it may, China is rightfully considered the cradle of civilization, culture and science. And is also very attractive country for tourists from all over the world.

In terms of territory size, the People's Republic of China is in third place in the world, second only to Russia and Canada. In the north, China extends to Mongolia, in the west to the Himalayan and Tibetan mountains, in the east the country is washed by two Chinese seas. Politically, China consists of 22 regions, 5 autonomous regions, the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, as well as the island of Taiwan, which is claimed by all neighboring states, including China itself.

The capital of the state, Beijing, is the administrative and cultural center of the region, while Shanghai and Chongqing, which are superior in number and population density, share the main economic spheres of the state. Both the local population and visiting tourists prefer to indulge in relaxation on the island of Hainan, which is behind the back called “East Hawaii”, and where best resorts China: Dadonghai (Great East Sea), Yalunwan (Dragon of Asia) and Sanyawan. But a trip to China should not be limited to visiting only beach recreation areas; this ancient country deserves closer attention.

The Chinese mentality is very different from what we are used to. Of course, the Chinese are ready to turn a blind eye to many of the peculiarities of the guests, but the guests, for their part, must take into account the logic of a foreign country. So we have put together 10 tips for you, following which you can spend your time in China comfortably and not get into trouble:

1.Traditions of eating in China are centuries old. Popular all over the world, rice sticks are a real art, behind which there are many features. Moreover, with the help of all kinds of rituals associated with eating, respect for each other is conveyed. For example, you cannot pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks. You cannot stick chopsticks into rice; the Chinese associate this with sudden death. Why is that? But because it resembles smoking sticks in temples, which are precisely associated with all sorts of funeral rituals. A large piece of food must be held with chopsticks and bitten off. You also cannot point at something with chopsticks or move plates with them. After eating, they should be placed on the edge of the plate or on coasters, but not just on the table. And even without chopsticks, there are many peculiarities of food culture. For example, if someone hands you something, including a plate or cup, take it with both hands. Keep in mind that the dishes here are large and not designed for one person. However, they can cost very little, and it will be a shame to leave two-thirds of a huge portion of food on the plate.

2.Photo and video shooting in churches and museums is prohibited. In some places, filming is only permitted for an additional fee. It is not recommended to photograph government institutions and strategic objects (even bridges and dams). Follow the icons; most often there will be a symbol of a crossed out camera, but even without it you should be careful.

3. There are no firm rules for vaccination before traveling to China. But we recommend prior vaccination against cholera, Japanese encephalitis, polio, typhoid fever and hepatitis A and B. There is a risk of contracting rabies, tuberculosis, diphtheria and bilharzia (blood schistosis). And if you decide to visit the southwestern regions and Hainan Island, you should get vaccinated against malaria.

4.Drinking water from the tap and, especially, from sources and reservoirs is highly not recommended. In any hotel, your room will have either a thermos with boiling water or an electric kettle. Use for drinking mineral water from plastic bottles. When ordering chilled drinks, avoid ice. There is a risk that water for ice will be taken from the nearest river, and no one will boil it.

5. Most regions of Tibet are closed to tourists. And not only because there are nature reserves here. The main reason for this is religious issues. To travel to Tibet, a special additional permit is required, which is issued by the receiving party in advance. It is possible to visit Tibet with a group along a pre-agreed and agreed route; for this purpose, separate tours are created.

6. A foreigner in China should always carry with him a hotel business card with an inscription in Chinese or a card with his data filled out by any Chinese translator. The more such guidelines you have with you, the easier it will be for you in any situation, and the faster they will help you.

7.CNY, or yuan, is the only official means of payment in China. In general, some stores may also accept USD, but it will be more profitable for you to exchange currency. This can be done at the main branches of the Bank of China, hotels, international airports, at railway stations, in large shopping centers. You should keep the receipts received during the exchange; the return exchange of the remaining yuan at the end of the trip can only be done upon presentation. American Express, JCB, Visa, Master Card and Diners Club credit cards are accepted in international hotels and restaurants, and large state department stores. You can withdraw cash from them only at Bank of China branches (commission is about 4%). Credit card purchases are subject to a fee of 1-2% of the purchase price and are not eligible for discounts.

8. Take with you what you will need on your trip. This is especially important for the prevention and treatment of diseases. If you use any injections, take syringes with you; if you need antipyretics, stock up on all these medications in advance. It’s better to plan for everything, including a possible upset stomach and a cold, than to then try to explain to local pharmacies what you need. This also applies to other items related to hygiene, nutrition, and travel comfort. Think through everything as much as possible so as not to look for goods in huge supermarkets with Chinese signs. It’s not a fact that they will be dubbed in English even where there are a lot of tourists.

9. It is not customary to tip everywhere in China, but a maid or porter at a hotel will not refuse 1-2 CNY. By the way, in restaurants there are two menus, one for the Chinese, the other for you, and prices here will be 2-3 times higher. It's hard to do anything about this if you don't look Chinese, but you can try to ensure that they bring you the Chinese version of the menu.

10.China, as a more than densely populated country, can hardly be called safe for tourists. And this is especially true for megacities, of which there are a great many. Try to provide yourself with all hotel contacts, transport lists, maps and atlases of the city as much as possible, contact numbers translators and guides. Take care of your belongings and try not to walk alone, especially in unfamiliar areas and away from the hotel. Focus on your tourist group, and don't move too far away from her. Of course, nothing particularly terrible will most likely happen. China is quite civilized, and they will help you if you contact the police or just passers-by, in most cases. And, perhaps, even with joy and interest, the Chinese are responsive and curious. However, it is better to be on the safe side here.

The main thing a tourist needs to know in China

When traveling to Europe, everything is usually simple, since the life of Europeans is very similar to ours, and even if you don’t know the language, you can find your way around housing and transport, as well as buy something in a store. But with trips to eastern countries, the situation is more complicated, since in many countries they do not speak or understand at all, not only Russian, but even English, it is impossible to guess what all these local hieroglyphs mean, plus there are some local peculiarities , which should definitely be taken into account by those who decide to go on an independent trip to China or any other eastern country.

1. Time zone difference

Just be aware that China has a different time zone. The first few days will be spent adapting to new conditions. Therefore, you should take care in advance to set your internal clock to China time. Long flights and sleepless nights at the airport “help” me - I arrive without sleep, go to bed in the evening according to local time, wake up in the morning, and then I no longer have any problems with a different time zone.

A sleepless night at the airport is the best cure for jet lag.

2. Different air

Air. Due to the fact that China has a large number of factories and a fairly high population density, the air is noticeably different from the usual air in Europe and the CIS countries.

Smog is clearly visible in cities in China's northern zone. In the southern zone, due to the fact that there are fewer factories, it is not so clearly visible. But its consequences are felt. Among them are high drowsiness and problems in people with breathing problems. catch fresh air only possible after rain.

3. Language barrier

The language barrier. First of all, people in China don't speak English well. You may encounter this problem both at the airport and in a taxi. The only place where you can count on knowledge of the language is in high-class hotels. Or among people who professionally study foreign languages. Some take a translator - this helps, but you need to be careful. For example, often all the translator does is ask, “Iga dosha chen?” (How much does it cost?), but they ask for $50 a day. Drive them away right away, even if they were imposed on you by the company.

Secondly, all signs, names, signs, stops are written only in Chinese (i.e. in hieroglyphs, no English transliteration). The main advice is to write down phrases on a piece of paper that may be useful: “destination” for a taxi, necessary stops for public transport, currency exchange, shop, pharmacy and so on. An important nuance is that you will not be able to read the name of the stop, that is, you will have to compare the inscriptions externally. Therefore, it is worth writing as legibly and close to the original as possible.

Important! If you don't own Chinese at a sufficient level - don’t try to speak it. Features of the language - each sound has four tones of pronunciation, which radically change the meaning of any word. One word in different tones can have different meanings, including offensive ones. Each province in China has its own accent. A Chinese from the north will not always understand a Chinese from the south. Therefore, you should not be surprised by the difference.

4. Food in China

Food. It is not profitable to dine in large cafes in China. Even regular tea exceeds average European prices. Therefore, there are several food options left.

The first is small eateries, where the main nuance is the unknown in what conditions the food is prepared. No one can guarantee compliance with sanitary standards. On the other hand, if you are not afraid for your stomach, then the pricing policy of such places will pleasantly surprise you and will suit the wallet of any tourist. When placing an order at a restaurant or cafe, be sure to check the level of spiciness of the food.

The second is buying food at the market. Here the prices will be half as much as even in eateries, but again the question arises about sanitary conditions and the impossibility of guaranteeing your continued health after eating this food. That's why the best option If your hotel does not provide meals, buy food from the store and cook it yourself.

Solving problems with unsanitary conditions: Buy at the market only those fruits that need to be peeled - bananas, oranges, mangoes, etc.

Don't eat exotic food on the street. Such as insects, scorpions, spiders different types. The Chinese themselves almost never eat this way; it is made specifically for tourists, and is not always safe for an unprepared stomach.
Prepare in advance that when buying food in the store there will be no dairy products or it will cost quite a lot of money. Problems may arise with bread, because... The Chinese don't eat baked goods, so if you want to replace it with something, the best thing is steamed flatbread. The closest thing you can find in China is as bread.

5. Transport in China

Transport within the country. The most popular means of transport within the city are buses and taxis. When traveling by bus, be sure to remember which stop you need. The main thing is not to forget that buses run strictly until 23:00 and not a minute later.

Important: in China, any transport, including taxis and buses, is not late, and no one will wait for you!

In some places you can try some exotic transport, for example, in floating villages, look at houseboats and ride on a small boat along the market in this village.

If you use a taxi service, order it from specific place and for a specific time, you should not be more than five minutes late. The taxi driver has the right to leave if the client is late at the required time. Look carefully at the meter and pay only according to it. Don't take drivers' word for it.

The most popular means of traveling around the country is trains. When buying tickets, be very careful. There are three categories of tickets - seated, standing, and floor. Depending on the category, there are different pricing policies. The most expensive places– sedentary. When purchasing, be sure to specify which seat you need. Be careful when traveling during the holidays.

6. Buying souvenirs

Souvenirs. Never buy souvenirs at tourist attractions. Their price is usually one and a half to two times higher than outside cultural places.

I would also like to separately mention the shopping streets with souvenirs. It is believed that it is important to bargain with the Chinese on prices. When you are on a shopping street, this is a mistake. Since the souvenirs in all the shops are almost identical, the prices for them are also identical. Therefore, if you buy souvenirs on a shopping street, do not argue with the seller and do not disgrace yourself, but buy at the set price. If you want cheap souvenirs and the opportunity to bargain, look for a unique product that has no competition, or look for small shops outside shopping streets and attractions. Then you can reduce the purchase price by one and a half to two times.

7. Hotels and other accommodation in China

Housing. When you look for accommodation on Booking or another site, immediately close the cheapest offers. Yes, in large cities in China you can find rooms for 150 yuan, but you don’t want to live in them - dirt, torn linen, no refrigerator or fan, no bathroom, with windows facing the corridor, and even in some kind of hole. You will find more or less normal rooms in which to live for only 200-300 yuan. It will be poor here, but it will be clean, tidy, with a shower, hairdryer, towels, normal beds, and so on. And for 350-600 yuan you will already get excellent rooms with beds with orthopedic mattresses, silk sheets and mattresses, air conditioning, coffee with Chinese buns in the morning and other pleasant things.

Cheap doesn't mean bad, but it doesn't mean good either. Choose a hotel based on photos, ratings and reviews from visitors.

Be sure to print a hotel business card with Chinese characters, otherwise you risk not getting to the place (how else can you explain to the taxi driver where you need to go?)

These seven tips concern independent trip to China, but don’t forget to take into account general travel tips. For example, read the article about. An incredible selection of formats, designs and the opportunity to create your own unique style.

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 visit it during your independent travel in 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

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

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

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 at such big cities like 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

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 provided by numerous Asian low-cost airlines, but when purchasing such tickets, pay attention to 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 Chinese bank card and local phone number. Most cashiers don't know English language, therefore, 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.