Flights and Travel Guide to China

The massive, vivacious and flamboyantly traditional country accommodating one fifth of the world’s population, China can just not be easily compared to any other place on the planet. The dazzling country has an unfathomable diversity. From food to shopping, nightlife to the daytime adventure, breathtaking sceneries to the congested roadside stalls, everything is worth to be experienced.
 
China has had a rampant economic growth in the past decade because of which a lot of its cities have shaped up. The major cities of China have a very modernized yet traditional essence.

For a lifetime mesmerizing experience China should certainly be explored with countless destinations, welcoming people, vibrant festivals and a lot more.

Geography/ Neighborhood

China stretches across Eastern Asia with its borders along the East China Sea, Korea Bay, the Yellow Sea, the South China Sea and several other countries. China is divided into three geographic sections: to the west are the mountains, the various deserts and basins in the northeast and the low laying valleys and plains in the east. Most of China nevertheless consists of mountains and plateaus such as the Tibetan Plateau leading into the Himalayan Mountains and Mount Everest.
China is world’s third largest country in the world in terms of area. It has fourteen neighboring countries from small nations like Bhutan to very large ones like Russia.

Climate/ Weather

The extensive magnitude of the country is suggestive of its diverse climates. The northeast experiences hot and dry summers and frosty cold winters. The north and central region has frequent rainfall, hot summers and cold winters. The southeast region has considerable rainfall, with semi-tropical summers and cool winters. Central, southern and western China is also at risk to flooding, and the country is also periodically subject to seismic activity.

Best time to Travel

The temperature is moderate with fewer rains around early autumn and is usually considered to be a good time to be in China. Spring time is also popular to visit because of the same reasons.
 
If you wish to travel in summers or in winters then make sure you carry along clothing accordingly as the weather is said to be at an extreme in both the seasons.

Getting in China

Capital/ Airport

The main international airport of China is the Beijing Capital International Airport located in the historic capital of the country, Beijing. It has been currently ranked as the world’s second busiest airport.

In 2009, the Condé Nast Traveler magazine named the Beijing Capital International Airport as the World’s Best Airport, based on its multi-criteria satisfaction survey, including factors such as:

• cleanliness
• speed of security/immigration clearance
• clarity of signs
• luggage handling

Flights to/from China

Airlines like Air China (IATA: CA); the flag carrier of the People’s Republic of China, Hainan (IATA: HU) and China Southern Airlines (IATA: CZ) use the Beijing Capital International Airport as their main hub for flying to different destinations. Air China however flies to 120 destinations from Beijing.

Apart from these airlines operating from Europe to China, European airlines like The Royal Dutch KLM (IATA: KL), Air France (IATA: AF), British Airways (IATA: BA), and Virgin Atlantic (IATA: VS) also fly from London to China. 

Visa/ Passport Requirement

To enter China you need a visa and a passport with at least six months validity. You will be fined if you do not have a valid passport and an appropriate Chinese visa and may also not be allowed to enter China. It could also result in immediate deportation. U.S. citizens should apply for a year-valid multiple-entry visa.  A multiple-entry visa is necessary if you plan to re-visit China, especially if you plan to visit either Hong Kong or Macau. However you may visit the Embassy of China’s website for current visa information. 

Accommodation

You can stay with a local family and forget the conventional hotels as it would cost you from around 50RMB to 100 RMB per day depending on the house and also how long you stay. At least one of the family members would speak English and will be able to manage an emergency situation.
If you are not willing to stay with a family then you can also find different kinds of lodgings from vacation resorts, spa hotels, auto courts, youth hostels, and hotels that cater to business travelers. The price for all of these depends on the area they’re located and what time of the year it is.
Some of the famous lodgings include Hyatt, Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Four Seasons, Hilton, Leeds, Marriott, Intercontinental, ACK, Shangri-La and Kempinski.

Getting Around/ Transport

• The cheapest means of traveling around China is the local transport as it travels throughout the country covering most of the nation. Busses and trains are usually packed with people.  
• About a quarter of the total population owns a bicycle, so you will see many of them around.
• Foreigners in China are forbidden to drive a car. However they can rent one for local use.
• Ferries are also used for transport but they have become less popular as trains and busses are much faster.

Places to See

China has innumerable awe-striking places to see in its vicinity. Some of the spectacular places include:

• The only man-made architecture visible from space is sure to be witnessed. The Great Wall of China is just a couple of hours drive from Beijing. This place has extreme weathers; sweltering hot in summers and bitter cold in winters.
• Karakul Lake, Xinjiang, a glacier lake 3,600 meters above sea level tucked in the Pamir Mountains, just feels like the edge of the earth. Very close to the Tajikistan border and along the Karakorum highway is situated Karakul, the home to camels and yaks. You can spend a night in a yurt belonging to a local family and enjoy rice, vegetables and yak meat.
• The Tibetan towers of Western Sichuan beholds the mystery within. These towers are some 50 meters high and till now nobody knows why they’re there and what they are. You will get to hear a number of myths once you visit the place.
• The Forbidden City is neither forbidden nor a city, but it is a historic landmark. The place has numerous rooms and the makes the former residence of ancient Chinese emperors. It has been a part of many movies and is sure not to be missed.     
• Gulangyu is a popular destination for no motorized vehicle (with a few exceptions). Not even bicycles. No honking, traffic jams, or near-death experiences. Can this place even be called China? Visit and find out yourself!
• A destination known to be as ‘China’s Hawaii’, the Hainan Island is famous for hosting Chinese beauty pageants. The island is just beautiful with a white sparkling sandy beach and is a must to be on your list of places-to-visit.    

 Things to Do

• Relax as you take a foot spa-massage near Bailu Zhou at Da Tong Shui. Once you pay for the service, food is unlimited. Sit back and relax in you private area while you have your food and have your feet dipped in the aromatic footbath.
• Visit the Great Wall of China and take a walk from one end to the other without stopping.
• The museum of the Terracotta Army located in Xi’An, Shanxi province is a breathtaking location. Walk past through thousands of actual size terracotta lifeless figures as they stare at you.
• Walk down the Kowloon side promenade as it gives you a view of some of the most beautiful modern architecture in China.
• Rent a Tandem Bike and ride it all the way through the town pedaling as the locals cheer you on. Three people can cycle at the same time.

 Food and Shopping

The complex Chinese cuisine is famous all around the world. They have eight major regional cuisines as: Anhui, Fujian, Hunan, Cantonese, Jiangsu, Szechuan, Zhejiang and Shandong. Other than this they have Muslim and Buddhist sub-cuisines too. Occasionally, Chinese includes bear’s paw, shark’s fin, fish lips and jellyfish in their gastronomy.
Chinese silk, tea, antiques, paintings and calligraphy, Chinese medicines, jade and pearls, handicrafts and wonderful mementos for your family and friends are the things you would love to bring back from China. China has numerous perfect places to shop that can satisfy all shoppers’ appetite. From huge departmental stores and supermarkets to roadside stalls, China has it all!

Festivals

China has numerous festivals throughout the year. Some major ones are as follows:

• Spring Festival : 1st day of the 1st lunar month, which falls on January 24 in 2001.
• Lantern Festival : 15th day of the 1st lunar month, which falls on February 19 in 2000, February 7 in 2001.
• Zigong Lantern Show : Early February – Early March
• Qintong Boat Festival in Yangzhou :  April 4-6 every year.
• Spring Flower Fair :  28th-30th of the 12th lunar month, which falls on February 2-4 in 2000.
• Water Splashing Festival :  April 13-15 every year.
• Hainan Int’l Coconut Festival :  3rd day of 3rd lunar month each year.
• Goddess Mazu Festival :  April 25 and October 4 every year.

Nightlife

The night life is pulsating and hip in China especially in Beijing and Shanghai. You will find the buildings merrily illuminated and a lot many bars, night clubs and discos. The hot, sweaty and loud beats of the sizzling nightlife in China will get you into the groove.   

Travel Tips

• Make a handy book with majorly used terms and phrases, and also places to you wish to visit both in Chinese and English, just in case you need to find something out from the locals as they are not very good at English.
• Make sure you ask your tour guide to let you know about the etiquettes, manners and behaviors so you do not offend anyone as the Chinese people are very traditional.
• Chinese people are friendly and eager to practice English. It is pleasant to talk to them but don’t leave anywhere with a stranger.
• You need to be a good bargainer when shopping in China as the shopkeepers are likely to give a price thrice as much as how much it actually costs.

Is it Safe to Travel to China?

As per latest FCO advice, there are no travel restrictions in the place China which means it is a safe country to be visited. However it is suggested that the traveler should take an update from the consulate before traveling as the conditions vary from time to time.