13 surprising facts about China
What would you say about taking a trip to Asia and more specifically to China?
The Celestial Empire attracts many tourists every year, so much so that the country has risen to the 5th most popular travel destination in the world. China arouses people’s curiosity, by both its customs that can be the polar opposites of ours, and by its gorgeous landscapes.
There are already a lot of websites on the internet that give tips and advice about traveling to China. But in this article, you’ll learn about some of the country’s more unusual characteristics. Because just like traveling to any foreign destination, there can be some challenges, so it’s a good idea to be prepared before you go.
Here is a selection of 13 surprising facts that you need to know about China.
A crowd of passengers at the railway station in Zhengzhou on the first day of "Golden Week."?
1. Avoid national holidays
NEVER plan a trip during the Chinese national holidays. In China, there’s no such thing as official paid vacation, and the only chance for people who live there to travel is during state-sanctioned official holidays. And...they really love travel. Everyone at the same time! "Golden Week" is the rare week when Chinese people take off. So the train stations and airports are overwhelmingly packed with people.
2. Plan your stay outside these national vacation periods
And that's not all: all the tourist sites during this period are swarming with people. So before planning your trip, make sure that your dates do not coincide with any national holidays. And remember: four of the six major celebrations change their date every year. However, you can definitely rule out May 1st and the first week of October.
Business class seating in the high-speed Beijing-Shanghai train.
3. Book your tickets in advance
If you are a procrastinator, you’ll face some troubles in China. In fact, when traveling by train for example, it is best to buy your train tickets at least a month in advance. Otherwise there’s very little chance you’ll be going anywhere. The price differences between first and second class seats are often insignificant, but the difference in comfort is enormous. That's why the tickets go very fast. If you still need to get somewhere, there are tickets with no guaranteed seat, you’ll just have to sit on the floor during the trip.
4. Always keep your train ticket and passport on you
Another important thing: you can only enter train stations by showing your ticket as well as your passport. You’ll have to wait in line to go through security. Give yourself plenty of time.
A passenger train near the city of Guilin?
5. Are you a little OCD? Avoid sleeper trains
You need to know that bed sheets are not changed after the previous traveler uses them. To get clean sheets, you’ll have to get on at the initial departure station.
6. China has highly-developed public transportation
Chinese transportation is excellent. No matter where you are, you'll have no trouble finding buses, a subway, or even a train. Be aware that they don’t run all night though. In Shanghai, for example, the subway stops at 10:30. But remember that taxis are cheap and always available.
A pedestrian crossing with automatic turn gates to prevent people from crossing the road when there’s a red light.
7. Are you a bit stingy? That’s OK!
In China, it’s very hard to leave tips, even in restaurants, taxis, or hotels. And even if you really like the service, no one will ever accept your money, no matter how hard you try!
8. Good manners are required
If you are invited to lunch or dinner by a Chinese person, he or she will pay for your meal. But beware that this works the other way around too: if you invite someone, you pay. And since people in China eat at set times, the chances of finding a place to eat outside the usual times are low.
9. The language barrier
Despite appearances, no one speaks English. Not even in hotels. Don’t try to take lessons at the last minute or even teach yourself with the internet, it takes real training (or a gift) to speak Chinese. The language is made up of tones. In the end, just memorize some basics: hello, goodbye, please, thank you, or even eat, drink, toilets ... You can also download an app that can translate Chinese for you.
The Robot Dining Hall cafe in Ningbo where robots work as waiters. They can take orders and understand simple phrases.?
10. China is cut off from the rest of the world
There is no Facebook in China. There are no Google services, such as the search engine, Gmail, Google Maps, or YouTube. Android users will have trouble loading apps. So be prepared for social isolation or prepare a VPN beforehand.
11. Foreigners are not welcome everywhere
Not all hotels have the right to host foreigners. There is a law in China regarding the compulsory registration of foreign citizens, and not all hotels can perform this function. When booking the hotel, check the small print for the phrase “Only for citizens of mainland China.”
12. Hot water: The Holy Grail
In China, hot water is consumed throughout the day. You can find it everywhere: in train stations, airports, parks, and restaurants. This is very practical, because you can fill your thermos to make tea or heat up some noodles wherever you are. This is very convenient if you’re traveling on a budget.
13. Chinese people are very friendly
This can be a problem if you ask for directions. By kindness, they will tell you a way, even if they don’t know exactly where it is! They really want to help and think that if they don’t, they will look bad. Avoid disaster and take the easiest option: download a map to your phone.
The Chi Lin Nunnery in Hong Kong
China is an amazing and beautiful country. Traveling there by yourself requires additional effort, but in exchange you’ll receive so many unforgettable impressions that you’ll be certain it was worth it in the end.
Maria Pipenko for BrightSide.me
By Straker Julia
Writer
Passionate about writing, I write articles on the subjects that I love. Creativity and Animals themes are my favorites!
