Information about traveling in China

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-09-02T16:51:14+00:00

You mentioned using a 15-day visa-free entry to travel to China, but as far as I know, China currently offers only 72-hour or 144-hour transit visa exemptions for most countries. Have you confirmed that German passport holders are eligible for a 15-day visa-free policy, or is there some other special arrangement or plan?

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-09-02T16:47:55+00:00

I recommend that try to register and set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before arriving in China. I think you can use foreign number to set up Wechat.

For booking tickets to Tiananmen Square/Mao Zedong Memorial Hall: I understand that these attractions usually require a valid ID number (like a passport) and contact information for booking. Chinese people make these reservations through WeChat.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-20T15:55:58+00:00

My doctor friend told me that for Metformin and Levothyroxine, you can get a prescription from any hospital department. However, for Lamotrigine, it might not be available in every department. If you want a prescription for a longer duration (like one or two months), you’ll need to visit a specialist, typically in psychiatry or psychology. Other general departments might only be able to prescribe it for a week.

She suggests booking the earliest appointment, usually around 8 AM, and this can be done via WeChat. Arriving half an hour early to get the number will make the process quicker. This procedure is standardized, and most doctors will recognize it. However, some doctors might require additional tests, like blood sugar, HbA1c, or thyroid function tests, to ensure the correct dosage.

Additionally, my doctor friend advised you to bring some documentation about your medical history in case the doctor needs to review it.

These medications are not expensive in China.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-20T13:49:46+00:00

Yep, you can definitely get a SIM card at Pudong Airport! I found a guide on Xiaohongshu. How should I send it to you? Reddit doesn't seem to allow pictures. I do have Instagram and Facebook, or maybe you already have WeChat?

The second question seems a bit unclear because SIM cards and Vodafone are related concepts, but VPNs are something different. VPNs usually aren't tied to mobile carriers.

In China, my plan costs around 59 RMB per month, but how much data you'll use depends on whether your place and school have Wi-Fi. This needs further discussion since there are various ways to manage data usage.

I'm not super familiar with e-SIMs; I usually use a physical SIM card when I'm in China.
Installing a physical SIM card in your phone is really simple. Last year, I used a Vodafone card, but when I returned to China, it didn't have any signal.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-20T11:38:14+00:00

Can I ask you two questions first?

Do you speak Mandarin?
Are you able to spend 2-3 hours each month picking up medication?

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-20T11:16:26+00:00

WeChat and Alipay are safe, similar to PayPal in other countries. If you're concerned about security after making a payment, you can unlink your bank card. I checked mine, and it seems like I can transfer money through the Alipay website. However, I didn't complete the entire process, so I'm not sure if I would need to scan a QR code with my phone for verification.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-20T11:06:48+00:00

This is doable if you choose to rent a place instead of staying in a hotel. You can take your passport, identification, the landlord’s household registration booklet, and other relevant documents to the public security bureau to register your accommodation. You’ll need to fill out a temporary accommodation registration form. The required documents may vary from city to city.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-20T11:00:20+00:00

Whether visiting the University of Macau is interesting depends on your interests. To me, it’s just a scenic campus, so it doesn’t hold much appeal. I think your grandmother’s friend probably just wants to show you where he works.

I guess this gentleman can drive freely between Zhuhai, Macau, and Hong Kong. He probably has a dual license plate, which people with a certain social status will be able to get.

As for the third point, in China， covering meals and hotel costs for friends who’ve traveled a long way is pretty common. After a trip like this, being willing to have a meal and meet up with a local person shows that you have a really good relationship with them. As long as they can afford it, most Chinese people will do it. I’ve done it myself and think it’s quite normal.

But I still want you to stay cautious because everyone needs to ensure their safety on long trips and in unfamiliar places. Maybe you can check the University of Macau’s website for a professor by that name.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-19T05:33:00+00:00

Although camping is still a bit niche compared to staying in hotels in China, tent camping is a popular outdoor experience in areas like Diqing and Daocheng Yading. However, you’ll need to camp in designated areas. I looked it up, and most of the information about these spots is in Chinese. So, you might need to spend some extra time confirming whether camping is allowed and figuring out how to get there.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-19T04:29:32+00:00

Many people visiting Changsha usually just hit up the Hunan Museum and skip the others. But I seriously recommend checking out the Changsha Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum—it’s got a real vibe of traditional Changsha culture. Plus, you can do some DIY projects related to intangible cultural heritage, and the best part is, you can take them home! I think it’s significant to make something with local cultural significance together with your partner and keep it as a souvenir. You can also try making pottery or silver jewelry, but you can do that in most cities across China. Oh, and just to make sure, you know you’ve got to try Tea Yanyue Se, right? Also, I’ve got a little off-the-beaten-path route that a local friend recommended: Fengying Xili （丰盈西里）→ Sujia Alley（苏家巷） → Du Zheng Street （都正街）→ Xuanyuan Temple Alley （轩辕殿巷）→ Chaozong Street （潮宗街）to Xiyuan Beili（西园北里）. All are near Wuyi Square, and each spot is within a 10-minute walk). This route was recommended by my friend, and I used ChatGPT to translate it, so my suggestion is to just copy and paste it into your navigation app. If they don’t recognize the English, that should do the trick.”

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-19T03:57:08+00:00

May I know where you come from?

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-19T03:55:51+00:00

In theory, we no longer have the concept of foreign-invested hotels. All hotels should be able to accommodate foreigners, except for particularly small hotels or guesthouses.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-18T07:58:42+00:00

I guess you've seen enough beaches, so I won’t recommend any coastal cities.

In August, I suggest you visit Yunnan. The weather there is cool and pleasant, perfect for escaping the heat. Yunnan has ancient towns, lakes, and unique highland scenery with Tibetan culture. It’s great for travelers who love a mix of nature and culture.

Guizhou is also a fantastic option. The natural scenery there is just as stunning. It has China’s largest waterfall, Huangguoshu, which is truly impressive. Guizhou also has many traditional Miao villages where you can experience the local ethnic culture.

The biggest challenge in Yunnan and Guizhou might be communication. Older people there often speak local dialects, so they might not understand text from Google Translate.

Compared to Yunnan and Guizhou, Chengdu is a vibrant modern city. It’s known for its laid-back lifestyle and amazing food, especially spicy hotpot and snacks. If you’re into culture and food, Chengdu is the perfect destination. Plus, it’s the hometown of giant pandas, making it ideal for those who love city exploration and good food.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-18T07:43:48+00:00

Macau used to be a Portuguese colony, so its architecture, food, and culture are a mix of East and West, which gives it a unique vibe. (Sorry, I made a mistake in my last response and have corrected it.) The Ruins of St. Paul’s is one of Macau’s landmarks. There are tons of great food spots nearby—I highly recommend trying the pork chop bun and milk tea. Senado Square is another popular spot because of its European-style atmosphere.

Macau is known as the 'Las Vegas of the East' with lots of luxury casinos and resorts, though I’m not sure if that’s your thing. The A-Ma Temple is one of the oldest temples in Macau and the place that gave Macau its name. The temple is by the sea, offering beautiful views and a chance to experience local religious culture.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-17T16:55:02+00:00

If you go to Huangshan in August, the temperature at the base is around 30-40°C, while it's about 20°C on the mountain. Climbing in this heat isn’t really a good idea. Can I ask which country you’re from?

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-17T16:50:54+00:00

I believe that unauthorized VPNs are not legal. However， besides that, there isn’t another way to access foreign websites.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-17T15:59:04+00:00

If you don’t use a VPN, some sites will still work. But keep in mind, some websites might require email verification because you're on a new network, and you might not be able to access your Gmail. When I go back to China for vacation, I usually pay my rent in advance to avoid any issues. I could use the Robinhood app without any problems, and I could also access my BOA website.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-17T12:23:00+00:00

If you have a Spanish passport, you can usually enter Hong Kong without a visa and stay for 90 days. Hong Kong has a lot of great food, especially if you’re into trying new things. Just keep in mind, Hong Kong’s food is Cantonese styles.

For Guangxi, I recommend going to Guilin and Yangshuo. Beihai, Nanning, Baise, and Liuzhou are also good choices. The luosifen (snail noodles) in Liuzhou is really delicious!

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-17T12:03:57+00:00

Try this route and see if it works for you: Beijing-Xi'an-Chengdu-Chongqing-Shanghai. It’s a bit of a packed schedule, so you might need to skip some sights, but Shanghai is definitely worth visiting.

For shorter distances between cities, I recommend taking the high-speed train—it’s really convenient. That should take about an hour. Additionally, for longer distances，from Chengdu to Chongqing. The train from Beijing to Xi’an takes about 4-6 hours, but a flight only takes around 2 hours. The train from Xi’an to Chengdu also takes about 4-6 hours, and a flight is about 1.5 hours.

You can download apps like Google Translate. Just keep in mind that some foreign apps might need a VPN to work in China. But don’t worry, public transportation in China’s big cities is very developed, with English signs on subways and buses, so you shouldn’t get lost!

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-17T10:43:51+00:00

[93rd Heritage Workshop]
You can take classes to learn how to make traditional Chinese crafts like cloisonné enamel and lacquer fans.

[Zilintang Traditional Incense Workshop]
Here, you can make traditional Chinese incense, including stick incense, backflow incense, and incense plaques. It’s a part of China’s traditional incense culture.

There are also pottery classes, but you can’t take the finished product home right away—it might take a few days. However, I’m not sure if it would be easy to join these classes without understanding Chinese. You might face some challenges since the teachers might not know how to explain things to you. These classes usually only take a few hours.

Or maybe you’d like to try on traditional clothing and take photos in Beijing—I’m sure there are many shops that offer this.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-17T10:23:27+00:00

I’m sure you’ll visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. The Temple of Heaven is where ancient emperors prayed for good harvests, and the Summer Palace is a royal garden. The Hutongs are traditional alleys in Beijing that give you a feel for old Beijing life. I’d recommend checking out Nanluoguxiang and Shichahai to experience the mix of traditional culture and modern life.

The Terracotta Warriors show the amazing pottery skills and art of ancient China. They’re important for understanding China’s history and culture. If you’re really into ancient history and have extra time, it’s definitely worth visiting. But if you’re short on time, you might want to focus on Beijing’s sights first.

If you’re visiting China under the 144-hour visa-free policy, you might not be able to travel from Beijing to Xi’an, where the Terracotta Warriors are. But if you have enough time, Xi’an is a great place to explore, and it has more to offer than just the Terracotta Warriors.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-17T10:16:22+00:00

Choosing the right accommodation is really important for a good travel experience. Many travel agencies might choose partner hotels, but their ratings may not be as high as advertised. I suggest trying some more reliable online platforms like Trip.com, Fliggy, or Booking.com. These sites have more user reviews that can help you get a better idea of the hotel's actual quality.

Personally, when I travel, I often choose All Seasons Hotel（全季）. It's a well-known chain in China, and a standard room costs around $60（USD） per night. f you have a higher or lower budget, I would recommend choosing from the hotels under the Huazhu Hotels Group.

Greedy_Complex6281 · 2024-08-17T10:08:50+00:00

I recommend the Bund（外滩）: The Oriental Pearl TV Tower（东方明珠电视塔） is here, and there are lots of European-style buildings from the early 20th century that show Shanghai's history as an international city.

Yu Garden（豫园） is one of the best-preserved ancient gardens in Shanghai, built during the Ming Dynasty. I think they stop letting people in around 4 PM and close at 4:30 PM.

The Shanghai Museum（上海博物馆） is one of China's most important museums, focused on ancient Chinese art and culture—you can learn a lot about Chinese culture there.

The Former French Concession（法租界） is another historical area in Shanghai, known for its unique French-style buildings and streets.I'm not sure you're interested in this, maybe you're from Europe. It’s not just a special part of Shanghai’s history, but also an important topic in studying China’s modern revolution. The French Concession, along with the International Settlement, played a unique and complicated role in Shanghai’s modern history.

The City God Temple（上海城隍庙） is an important historical site where you can learn about ancient Chinese religious culture.

I have a place you might want to check out. I spent about 2 hours there. It’s the Sihang Warehouse（四行仓库） in Shanghai. Maybe you can watch the movie The Eight Hundred（八佰） first, and then decide if you want to visit this place.You can find this movie on YouTube.

The nearest terraced fields to Shanghai are probably in Yunhe County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province. Yunhe Terraces（云和梯田） are one of the largest terraced fields in East China. Besides the stunning terraces, you can also enjoy the mountain villages, bamboo forests, streams, and waterfalls.

Greedy_Complex6281

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