Introduction: Travelling
in China
China, formally the People’s Republic
of is a country in Eastern Asia that
is slightly larger than the United States
of America. With coasts on the East China
Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South
China Sea, it borders Afghanistan, Pakistan,
India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar (or Burma),
Laos and Vietnam to the south, Tajikistan,
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to the west,
Russia to the northeast and northwest,
Mongolia to the north, North Korea on
the northeastern coast.
As you travel in China, you will enjoy
a diversity of culture, language, customs,
and economic levels. The economic landscape
is particularly diverse ranging from
the major cities such as Beijing and
Shanghai which are basically first world
to rural areas in the interior which
are still at third world levels.
China Climate and Topography
The climate is also extremely diverse,
with it being tropical in south to being
sub-arctic in north
There is also a wide range of terrain
with mostly mountains, high plateaus,
and deserts in west; while plains, deltas,
and hills can be found in the east. On
the border between Tibet and Nepal lies
Mount Everest, at 8,850 m, being the
highest point on earth. While Turpan
Pendi, in northwest China is the lowest
point of the country, at 154 m below
sea level. This is also the second lowest
point in the world, after the Dead Sea
in Israel.
Travel in China by Airplane
China
has a great deal of domestic flights
to all the major cities and tourist destinations.
Beware, though, that travelling from
China to Hong Kong is considered an international
flight and, as such, can be quite expensive;
you can save some money at the price
of some hassle by flying to Shenzhen,
just across the border, instead.
Prices for domestic flights in China
are set at standard rates. However, most
good hotels will have a travel ticket
service and will be able to save you
15%-40% off the price of tickets. Even
after considering discounts, traveling
by plane in China is not inexpensive.
Do be prepared for flight delays; these
are on the increase despite pressure
from both the government and consumers.
Train Travel in China
Train
travel is the major mode of long-distance
transportation for the Chinese themselves,
with an extensive network of routes covering
the entire country (with the notable
exception of Tibet).
There are five classes of travel:
* hard seat travel
class (ying zuo)
* soft seat travel
class (ruan zuo)
* hard sleeper travel
class (ying wo)
* soft sleeper travel
class (ruan wo)
* standing travel
class
Soft sleepers are the preferred mode
of transportation for long distance travel
and are relatively cheap by Western travel
standards.
Travel China by Bus
Traveling
in China by bus, and by coach,
is inexpensive and ideal
for in-city and short distances
transportation. Local buses
start at around 1 RMB and
can be quite packed during
rush hour. More modern buses
with air conditioning charge
2 RMB. Fares are marked on
the outside of bus doors
and no change is provided,
so have exact fare.
Travel by taxi (in China’s
Cities)
Taxis
in China are generally common, and reasonably
priced. In most situations, expect between
10 and 30 Chinese Yuan for an ordinary
travel within the city. There is no extra-charge
for luggage, but at night it does get
a bit more expensive. While drivers trying
to cheat you by taking a longer way are
not unheard of, it is not that common,
and on average shouldn’t be a nuisance.
Note that sitting in the front passenger
seat of taxis is the norm — some taxis
even mount the taxi meter down by the
gearbox, where you can only see it from
the front seat.
Car Travel in China
It
is disputed if International
Driver’s Permits can be used in mainland
China (the ROC, or Taiwan, is a signatory
to the convention which created IDPs,
but not the mainland). If IDPs cannot
be used on the mainland then one must
pass a local exam to get a PRC driving
licence.
Travel by pedicab
In
some mid-sized cities, pedicabs are a
much more convenient means of travelling
short distances.
Travel in China: Health and
Safety tips
Be careful of your valuables
while on the train; property theft on
public transportation has gone up in
the recent years.
When you travel in China
by train, be prepared with some motion
sickness pills if you are inclined toward
that type of ailment.
Drivers in China often
disregard the rules of the road, and
accidents are frequent. Sudden swerves
and stops can cause injury, so keep a
good hold wherever possible.
This article is licensed under the GNU
Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the Wikitravel
article “China”.