China Travel Guide

China isn’t so much a country as it is a completely different world.  To see all the sights in China would likely take you decades of nonstop exploring, not to mention a steely diligence to experiencing the subtleties of its vast cultural, historical, and geographical nuances.  Your surest road to maximum enjoyment from a China vacation isn’t going to be hinged on cheap flights or an unyielding itinerary, but in keeping it loose.   Take time to mingle with the locals, absorb the wonder of this foreign land that so greatly balances the yin of its awe-inspiring natural beauty with the yang of pragmatic commerce.

The best times to visit China have historically been spring (March-April) and autumn (September-October), though if you plan on spending time in higher elevation locales such as Tibet, Qinghai and Western Sichuan, then you’re probably best off sticking to the high summer (June-September).  For these seasons, daytime temperatures range from 68°-86°F, with sometimes bitterly cold nights or extended periods of wet and miserable weather.  During China’s major public holidays—particularly Chinese New Year—it is exceedingly difficult to get transportation and find accommodation, and should probably be avoided.  Although the cultural offerings are at their peak during these times, so are the frustrations in simply trying to travel from one province to another.

The availability of accommodation for tourists in China is typically good, ranging from communal dormitories to five-star international luxury hotels.  For the most part, there are laws in China which restrict or ban foreign tourists from the cheapest (unlicensed) hotels, although this is spottily enforced and slowly changing anyway.  Regardless, there’s an overwhelming number of sleeping options in the majority of Chinese cities, making it easy enough to find something in your budget and comfort range.  Booking a room in advance over the Internet is by far the best option during Chinese holidays, as it is extremely difficult to get a room anywhere.   In the off-season, rooms are plentiful and you’ll have many options available in mid-range hotels that are established and of good quality, such as JJ Inn, Rujia Home Inn, and Motel 168.  If you’re looking to splurge on both cost and luxury, look to the Marriott and Shangri-La chains to happily take care of the details – for a price.  At the opposite end from these is a series of national hostels, which are fairly comfortable for a much lower cost. Typically catering to foreigners, they have English speaking employees and can find you cheap, convenient transport around the city.

Whether you’re headed out on a vacation to China to experience their arts, history, shopping, nightlife, or food, you’ll find the opportunities as limitless as the imagination of its vibrant people.  From the cities to the rolling countryside, you may already have your sights set on walking the Great Wall of China, spending some time in Tibet, or taking an extended journey down the Silk Road.  There are countless sacred sites to visit as well, such as the Yungang Grottoes or the Mogao Caves, where Buddhist artwork is featured, some of which dates back over 1,500 years.

China has a lot of domestic flights to all major cities and tourist destinations, but these typically aren’t cheap flights.   Long distance buses remain a great option for ground travel, as they are frequent and inexpensive (read: overbooked).  Still, the services are extensive, the roads passable, and a seemingly unending parade of interesting towns and villages await you along the way.  A somewhat classier, decidedly faster mode of travel is the train.  They reach into every province (including Tibet as of July 2006) along a massive network of rails. Although not as cheap as the bus, it is hardly a costly way to go and is much safer than the buses, unless of course you consider the awful state of the toilets to be a considerable risk.  A rental vehicle in China often comes with a driver, which is undoubtedly the best way to see China by car. Driving in China is not recommended unless you are accustomed to driving in very chaotic conditions.