After returning from my holiday to China, I decided that it may be a good idea to do a little fact file to help anyone who is thinking of going. Before my visit, I found that there was a lot of conflicting advice and information online:
Water – The water in China is not drinkable, and even the locals don’t drink it. You are not even advised to clean your teeth in it. There were kettles in the hotel rooms so you could boil water for cleaning your toothbrush and/or making hot drinks. Water bottles were available for free in all the hotels, so stock up on these to take out with you during the day.
Toilets – Hotel toilets are hi-tech, but those while you are out and about are mainly squat toilets. Toilet paper cannot be flushed down any toilets in China, either. Many toilets do not have toilet paper, so it is advisable to carry tissues around with you.
Hand sanitiser and wipes – It is a good idea to carry both these items around with you, too, as it enables you to freshen up and clean your hands throughout the day after handling money and before eating when you can’t wash your hands.
Insect repellent/ deodorant – Be aware that anything with a flammable sign on is likely to be thrown away at places you will be visiting in China when you go through the security check points. On bullet trains there is a rule that all aerosols in either cases or hand luggage should not exceed 100mls.
Sun protection – The sun felt very strong out in China, so sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses would be my recommendation while travelling around in the heat of the day.
First-aid – I bought a great little first-aid case this year that is small, compact and waterproof, and perfect for all your medical items. You can then just pop this in your case each time you travel.
Passports – Passports are continually checked wherever you go in China, so you have to carry them around with you at all times. I also bought a small travel wallet to house my passport, money and documents in to keep them all safe and make it less likely for my passport to slip out of my bag while getting other things out of it.
Language – I found that few people spoke much English in China, so a phrase book or translation app may be useful. A lot of the Chinese use translation apps, and they do help, but be aware that they are not perfect.
Mobile phones – The Chinese government uses a system of internet censorship that controls the use of online content. This system prevents use of many websites and applications, such as social media platforms, search engines, and news outlets. I had a VPN set up on my phone and an e-sim with about 10GB of data, but the wifi detected my VPN so I ended up turning it off and not using it at all during the holiday. The e-sim was great, though, and I didn’t use too much data using it all the time. I was able to use my phone normally as I would at home and could access all social media, etc.
Forward planning – If you are planning to go to China, do some forward planning, especially if you are considering independent travel. There are a few things to think about, and you will need to make sure you have plenty of time to get your VISA sorted before your trip.
