Travel in China

1. Travel in China

2. Travel in China Why China? Colourful people Tradition, modernity and rapid change Endlessly interesting cuisine Thriving art scene The focus of the world�s attention

3. Travel in China

4. Travel in China Common Misconceptions Chinese tourists take more tours around London than any other nation 2. If the population of China walked past you in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction 3. The Great Wall of China is visible from space with the human eye

5. Travel in China Things to consider before you go� Visas � Book an appointment online at your nearest embassy. Processing time is 4 days, or 3 days for express service. Visit www.visaforchina.org.uk for more detailed information. Vaccinations � There are no compulsory vaccinations, but Typhoid and Hepatitis A are recommended. Ask your GP for more information or see www.netdoctor.com at least 1 month before you travel. Toiletries � It can be difficult to get hold of western cosmetics in China, so take a stock of all the deodorants, sanitary products and make-up that you use. Tissues � Wherever you travel in China, you will find that public toilets leave a lot to be desired. Always carry tissues in your bag. Phrase book � A phrase book is ESSENTIAL for your first few months in China. Gestures have little power. The Lonely Planet Mandarin Phrase Book is excellent. For those of you who are interested in wowing your Chinese acquaintances, try The Beijinger published by New Run Media. Safety � China is a relatively safe place to travel. Look out for pickpockets, but otherwise women should feel comfortable travelling alone.

6. Travel in ChinaCities Beijing - Things to see and do Try the 10km Great Wall hike from Jinshanling to Samatai Take in a Beijing opera at one of the many opera houses Hang around Tiananmen Square at dawn or at dusk to watch the evocative flag ceremony Don�t miss 798 Art District, the old electrical factory transformed into a concentration of contemporary art galleries and studios If visiting in winter, try Mongolian hot pot for a hot and steamy meal Go to a modern, midrange to high end restaurant for the best Beijing duck Don�t miss the night market for a taste of starfish, silk worm and all manner of barbecued creepy crawlies

7. Travel in ChinaCities Personal recommendations If travelling by train, always book tickets in advance to avoid a standing ticket Visit the National Grand Theatre and soak up the beautifully modern structure juxtaposed with the ancient glory of the nearby Forbidden City Avoid standing still on Tiananmen Square as Chinese tourists love to have their photo taken with foreigners!

8. Travel in ChinaCities Shanghai � Things to see and do Shoot up 88 floors to the top of Jinmao tower for a shimmering view of the city Take the maglev, Shanghai�s magnetic levitation train, for the fastest and most fun airport transfer you will ever experience This is the city of glittering lights and contrasting architecture � soak up the awe-inspiring cityscapes amongst crumbling structures in Shanghai�s old town

9. Travel in ChinaCities Personal Recommendations Spend only 5 minutes on Nanjing Road, the busiest shopping street in the world Take a trip to Suzhou or Hangzhou to escape the city Spend some time exploring the French Concession Visit the Communist Propaganda Museum

10. Travel in ChinaCities Xi�an � Things to see and do Visit the Big and the Small Goose Pagodas to see the sacred texts that have shaped Chinese Buddhism Explore the Muslim Quarter for antique shopping, haggling, tasty food and a stroll around the tranquil Great Mosque Have a look around some of the smaller temples, such as the Lama Temple and the Temple of the Eight Immortals Try Yang Rou Pao Mo � a tasty broth-like soup, with lamb, crumbled bread, garlic and chilli

11. Travel in ChinaCities

12. Travel in ChinaRural China Guilin � Things to see and do Guilin is the misty and mountainous province that inhabits the imagination of intrepid travellers. Spend time watching the planting and harvesting of the many rice farms and talking to farmers as they go about their business. Take a bamboo boat ride down the Li River for spectacular karst scenery

13. Travel in ChinaRural China Personal Recommendations Don�t miss the Dragon�s Backbone Rice Terraces Take a few days to explore the breathtaking scenery surrounding Yangshuo Hire a bicycle and you will most certainly bump into some water buffalo bathing in the sun

14. Travel in ChinaRural China Henan � Things to do and see Visit the Longman grottoes and feast your eyes upon a masterpiece of Buddhist carving Don�t miss the Shaolin Temple, the birth place of Kung Fu Nestled away in the Wanxian mountains, Guoliangcun is a beautiful stone hamlet perched on a cliff top. Little known amongst most Chinese families, Guoliangcun attracts legions of artists and filmmakers who make a pilgrimage to the village to exercise their creative talents

15. Travel in ChinaRural China Personal Recommendations Make a visit to Guoliangcun a priority If you are travelling on a budget, Henan is a great destination with comparatively cheap food, transport and accommodation

16. Travel in ChinaWild China Tibet � �The roof of the world� �The most stupendous upheaval to be found on the face of our planet� Sven Hedin, Explorer �One of the cruellest environments on earth� Peter Hopkirk, Author �A place rich with all the strange beauty of your night time dreams� Heinrich Harrer, Mountaineer and Author

17. Travel in ChinaWild China Tibet � Getting there Visa � You will need a separate visa to enter Tibet�s borders. Travel regulations are constantly changing and it is best to keep in touch with your tour company Tour Guide � Foreign tourists must be escorted by a tour guide, although this is subject to change

18. Travel in ChinaWild China Tibet � Things to see and do The Jokhang Temple is the spiritual heart of Tibet, sitting in the centre of Lhasa, circled daily by devoted pilgrims and surrounded by a bustling, religious market place Visit the Potala Palace for an impression of the unity of religion and state in the holy city Explore the breathtaking lakes and mountains surrounding Lhasa

19. Travel in ChinaWild China Personal Recommendations Take the train for some fantastic views and to avoid the effects of altitude sickness Make a trip to Gyantse to see where the British attacked Visit Tibet at Chinese New Year when tourists are few and you may stumble across some Tibetan new year celebrations Spend time �people watching�

20. Travel in China Culture Shock Expect to feel frustration and confusion Expect days when you feel insignificant in a huge, bustling city You will feel panic when problems arise that you don�t understand Dealing with Culture Shock Don�t be afraid to have a coffee or a coke in one of the many western cafes or restaurants in China�s cities Try to laugh about your frustrations with friends or other travellers

21. Travel in China Final Recommendations Young pioneers � a small, organised and inexpensive travel company who arrange trips from Beijing to North Korea. See dprk.youngpioneertours.com/ for more information Wind Horse � a helpful Tibetan tour company with excellent local guides. See www.windhorsetours.com for more information New Practical Chinese Reader � a fantastic resource for anyone who is serious about studying Mandarin Lonely Planet China � don�t leave home without it!