Beware!  You will be surprised by China.

China may be still weird to westerners, maybe even scary to some.  But you should have it on your travel bucket list, and I think near the top of that list.

There are so many interesting places within China to experience and explore.

Before you go, make sure that you have the proper travel documents to enter the country.  At the time of this blog writing a Visa to enter the country was still required.  Be sure to look into the current requirements by visiting the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China website.

You will need to provide an address of where you plan to stay when you arrive into China.  Do not stress over this if you plan to move around while in China.  Simply provide the address of your first hotel.  And be prepared to also submit your passport to each hotel you stay, they will make copies and allegedly report your stay to the government.

If you haven’t traveled overseas (assuming you’re from the U.S.) be prepared for a long flight or flights to get there.  My typical path includes 1-2 domestic flights in the U.S. followed by 1 long flight over the Pacific.  My preferred port of entry into China has always been Shanghai Pudong Airport.  Into total my typical travel time from door to door has been around 26 hours.  If you are fortunate enough to call one of the larger U.S. airports your main hub, then it could be as short as 15 hours.

Oh, and make sure your vaccines are current.  Your doctor may have a list of those required or suggested for visiting China.

There is so much to see in China!  I spent 3-4 months per year traveling China over the course of 10 years and only visited a small portion of the country. 

Here are some of my favorite places:

1. Chengdu – There is so much to love about Chengdu, at least there is for me.  The layout of the city makes it very easy to navigate, even with the large amount of traffic.  At times there have been flights directly from the U.S. into Chengdu.  The diversity of the people made the city a lot of fun to explore.  But my favorite part…the spicy food of the Sichuan province, primarily Hot Pot!
2. Ningbo – This beautiful eastern coastal city always had a very small town feel for me.  The pace was a little slower, with beautiful parks to visit.
3. Shanghai – The size of Shanghai is overwhelming.  However, the amount of things to see and do here easily make you forget that you are in one of the world’s largest cities.

The food here is not the same as what you love about your local takeout.

At times it might even appear or smell so weird to you that you shy away.

But it is amazing, all of it!  Avoid the large polished restaurants and go for the small “Ma & Pa” places or find a street vendor.  You cannot go wrong with this strategy.  Not only will the food be delicious, you will also find (in my experience) that it is also cheap.

Be prepared for flavor!  Sometimes that might be a spicy dish that doesn’t even appear spicy.

Embrace the weird!  Bugs, yes, I said bugs they are actually very tasty and readily available at many street vendors.  Just be ready for staring eyes and giggles from the locals.  The same might be said for many sea creatures that you possibly haven’t seen before.

Use the chopsticks! You can do it; I believe in you! Order a dish of peanuts and practice, practice, practice.

High speed train travel will change your life!  This is something I really wish we had available in the U.S.  You can easily be on a train in minutes and to your destination in no time at all!

Compare the High Speed Rail to a domestic flight in China which are often delayed for no reason.  You possibly could travel to a destination within an hour or two that might take twice as much time or more to do by air.  Not to mention the comfort on these trains can be exceptionally better than a crammed plane.

I suggest springing for the business class seat for added comfort.  But if you prefer the economy class you will still arrive at the same time and be more comfortable than in a plane.

If there is one area that I don’t think you should try and save money on while in China, it’s the hotels.  Even the “Seven Star” local brands typically have rooms that are not very clean, or have unwelcoming smells, and often the AC doesn’t work.  Don’t be fooled by the lavish lobbies.

Instead I suggest sticking with chains that you might already be familiar with such as Marriott or Hilton.  Shangri-La is a brand that may not be familiar to westerners but delivers on the same level of quality as the others mentioned. 

Oh, and these brands, in my experience, are no more expensive than what you would pay in the U.S.  Even in the larger cities.

Lastly don’t be overly concerned about the language barrier.  Part of the fun, I’ve found, about traveling in China is interacting with people while speaking different languages.

Believe me, you can find a way to communicate.

The locals often find these interactions enjoyable too, or are just so friendly you won’t know they are annoyed.

When in doubt, use the translator on your phone.  This works very well.

Last resort, hire a translator.  They can be inexpensive and are often students fluent in the English Language.

If you were to ask me what my ideal one week in China trip would look like, this is what I would suggest.

Day 1:  Arrive into Shanghai, aim for a midday arrival time no later than 5pm “Beijing Time”.  Take a taxi to the area between the Nanjing East Road Residential District and Yuyuan Garden Residential District.  Enjoy the outdoor restaurants, visit the shops and walk to The Bund and see the skyline across the river.

Day 2:  Take the High Speed Train from Hongqiao Station to Ningbo Station.  Spend the day in Nantong Old Street where you’ll find plenty of things to do and see as well as eat.

Day 3:  Visit the Ningbo Drum Tower, another market area where there is a lot to see and do.

Day 4:  Fly from Ningbo to Chengdu, there are typically single flight options that will have you there in a few hours.  Take a taxi to the Giant Panda Research Center and see the Pandas.  You will thank me later!  For dinner go to the Chengdu International Finance Center.  The options are endless here.

Day 5:  Get up early and take the high speed train south to Leshan.  The hike to the Giant Buddha on the Min Jiang River.  If you have enough time, and energy take the bus to Emei Mountain.  The hike to the top (which includes a gondola ride) takes several hours, most of it stairs is well worth it once you reach the summit.  Amazing views and a large Golden Buddha await.

Day 6:  Fly from Chengdu to Beijing.  Visit the Forbidden Palace and Tiananmen Square.

Day 7:  Hire a car (your hotel can help) and take the ride outside of the city to Badaling, and walk on a portion of the Great Wall of China.

During all of these days; interact with the locals as much as possible, eat until you cannot eat anymore, walk the streets and see as much as you can see.

Enjoy China!