The climatic and geographical diversity in China is also something proportional to its dimensions. From the tropical weather in the South coast, to the sub arctic in the North, China has it all. All the possible types of terrains in the world can be found here. From the deserts and plateaus to the mountains and the ocean. Everything, including food, people, adventure and culture, is in abundance here. The Turpan depression in China is the second lowest point on Earth, higher only to the Red Sea.
For the traveler from the West, certain common habits of the locals might be annoying and irritating at times. Be advised that these habits are mostly due to curiosity and seldom out of hostility. People here might stare at outsiders, and might even comment verbally on your being an outsider, but the main reason behind their doing is that they want to strike a conversation with you. Those locals who know English will walk up to you and strike a conversation, others might just stare in amazement! Spitting and unhygienic habits may be annoying. Smoking and shoving/pushing at public places is also common, but overall, the people of China are good natured, and have realized the kind of revenue tourism generates for them, and therefore, they are welcoming too.
English is unknown to many in China still and therefore striking a conversation might be difficult. You can visit the local tourist help centers for help, but it is strongly advised that you should do a brush up of the major local language – Mandarin at least on a superfluous basis. Buddhism and Daoism are the main religions followed here, with some people following Christianity and Islam also. China shares its boundaries with a huge number of countries ranging from India, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal to the South to Russia and Mongolia to the North. Because of this, a traveler out on a long vacation can venture into a tryst with the East, with China as the main destination, and other peaceful areas of the East as subsequent destinations.
Beijing, the capital, is situated in the North region of China, and along with Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, Tianjin and Heibei forms the Yellow river basin area, which has been the traditional heartland of China, Chinese culture and the impact of various dynasties on shaping the past, present and future of this huge empire, as it stands today.
Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang in the North East region form the “RUST BELT”, owing to huge iron ore content in the soil here. North Western regions are basically deserts and are home to nomadic people. The cities of Shaanxi and Xinjiang are Islamic populist states and the people here are friendly and warm.
For the adventure bound, the South is the part offering panoramic view of the scenery, glimpses of the wildlife of the mountains and some rugged terrains. Places like Tibet and Yunnan, known for their natural beauty are a part of the South West. The South central is composed of many valleys and flat areas, nested amidst the shadow of the mountains, because of which, they happen to be very fertile farming areas. These are the places you would love to visit if tranquility is what you are seeking, finding it in abundance amidst tame and timid people, mostly farmers, or just sitting in a jute or mud hut, sipping a cup of tea and looking at the rain, turning the land into a lush green picture. Anhui, Sinchuan, Chinquing, Hubei and Jiangxi offer you the perfect setting for a spectacular rendezvous with yourself.
The East and south east are traditional trading centres, owing to their nearness to the sea, and to the main trade partners of China – The ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nation) nations. South east was a traditional trading hub, with main trading centers being at Guangdong, Hainan and Fujian. In the near past, trading has shifted to the more modern areas of Shanghai and Zhejiang, towards the East of China, making these hustling business centers of the future. Hong Kong and Macau are world renowned trading centers, housing big corporate houses. Hong Kong is the home to the HSBC bank or the Hong Kong and Shanghai Business Corporation.
Some of the major tourist attractions of China, other than the places mentioned above are Guanzhou, which is one of the most liberal Chinese cities, boasting of a cosmopolitan culture, Suzhou, also known as the ‘Venice of the East’, because of the numerous canals and waterways here and the city of Guilin, which is famous for mountaineering activities and water sports. From trading point of view, the cities of Xi’an, which lies on the ancient Silk Road, and the city of Hangzhou, known for its silk industry, have had a special history in building modern day China’s economy.
The Great Wall of China is one place every tourist who enters China wants to be. The history of this wall dates back to the Ming dynasty, and it is one of the dozens of UNESCO world heritage sites on offer in China. Places of Buddhist religion and other monumental places are also worth a visit here.
Traveling into China has become difficult these days, owing to security concerns over the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and one might face some problems getting the visa. There are 5 categories of visas you can get, with the L-visa being for tourists. Hong Kong and Macau have a different visa and they can be obtained from their respective embassies, although holders of passports of some countries might be able to frequent between Hong Kong/ Macau and China with only one generic visa. It is better to get your visa made before arrival, because Visa on arrival is possible only the Special Economic Zones of Shenzhen or Zhuhai.
Air travel is busy here, and getting your hands on discounted tickets is really difficult, even when almost all major players in the airline industry are competing here to get a hold on the domestic and foreign clientele. The main reason behind exorbitant prices here is that the demand exceed supply by a great deal, and getting a ticket in the first place can be a headache until and unless you book in advance, let alone getting discounts. But if you book really in advance, airline carriers like Cathay Pacific and Tiger Airways might offer you low priced tickets.
The rail and Bus network within China is exceptional, but again, you need to book and plan early. Train tickets are offered at different prices, depending upon the type you choose. Main categories of train tickets are hard seats, soft seats, hard sleepers, soft sleepers and standing. Soft sleepers are the most comfortable way of traveling by train here. Soft sleeper cabins are spacious with a temporary latch to provide privacy and usually have 2 of four beds, divided half on either side. Hard sleepers on the other hand have 3 tiers on either side, without a latch and there is a common pathway, which means that chances of your stuff being ‘picked up’ while you are asleep are high. So for a traveler who has small but expensive stuff, it is suggested to tale the uppermost tier, and place your belongings by your head to keep them safe.
Buses in China are a varying experience to say the least. From mammoth air conditioned buses, plying long distances and offering bunker beds, to the uncomfortable and crowded rural buses, the choice is varied. At times, you might not get a comfortable bus at all in some in land areas, so you have to take a smaller and possibly a less comfortable bus. In the sleeper coaches, you might be required to take your shoes off at the gate, and this might be quite annoying. The shoes are given back to you if the bus stops at some place and you need to get down. But all in all, if you find taking off your shoes rather un-called form you are suggested to buy yourself a pair of Kung fu shoes. The best part about traveling in short spurts by rural coaches is that they are willing to stop at any place, even in the middle of no where, and drop you. This means that you can take a stroll by the country side, experience unique cultures first hand and meet interesting people, and when you are done with all this, you can take another rural coach and proceed on with your journey.
Taxi service is good here, but one needs to be careful with the drivers. Make sure that the driver looks friendly and behaves well before you board the taxi. Check the driver’s id and the license plate of the vehicle. Getting a taxi here is a difficult job, and it in not necessary that the one who asks the driver to stop is the one who gets the ride. If there are many people competing for the same taxi in an area, it is advised to move a little farther up and take the seat on priority basis. Other ways of traveling are by bicycle and by subways. Whatever you do, just beware of theft, as you can be looted of just about anything, even your underwear, if it’s worth some bucks.
Accommodation and food are not a problem anywhere in China and good hotels, restaurants and Cafes are in abundance, even in the remotest of areas.
The inquisitive traveler has a lot of everything in China, from getting massaged and old age Chinese therapies to adventure sports or just sitting by the country side, sipping on some tea. Trading and business flourish here in the trading districts. China is the place to be, if you want to ‘live’ on your holiday, rather than just ‘exist’!