CHINA: Experiences & Travel Tips
There were the obvious sights like the Great Wall and the Terracotta Armies to consider, but the more I read about China's wealth of stunning landscapes, cities, history and culture, the longer the to do list became! We eventually managed to whittle our trip down to six fantastic destinations. Here's the first three:
BEIJING
We started by visiting Chairman Mao in his Mausoleum – a bit macabre maybe, but it was interesting to see the devotion of the Chinese people to their former leader. Then on to Tiananmen Square, one of the largest city spaces in the world, which leads directly onto the Forbidden City – a huge site comprising of hundreds of buildings and temples completely enclosed behind a massive town wall. This was the private palace for the Chinese emperors from the 15th to the 20th century and has the architecture and artefacts to reflect this.
TIP 1: As a tourist in China you’re obliged to carry your passport at all times. You almost always need it when buying museum tickets or to get through security checks at key locations like Tiananmen Square.
We had lunch at a little restaurant in Northern Beijing’s “Hutong” district – a maze of old-world alleys. Dinner was in a popular Peking Duck restaurant, where the language barrier made for an entertaining exchange with our waiter – which was all part of the experience!
TIP 2: Even in large Chinese cities, very few people speak any English. Carry a card with your destination written down in Chinese characters (to hand to your taxi driver) and download Google Translate and Pleco with a few key phrases bookmarked.
The next day was our trip to the great wall. The most popular restored sections are a 60- to 90-minute drive North of Beijing. We’d organised a driver ahead of time, so we could arrive around 9am. We found ourselves almost completely alone (which made for some great pictures) and we had a few hours to explore before heading down by toboggan! The Great Wall is probably be the most visited attraction in all of China and it was a tiring, full day, but it was totally worth the effort!
TIP 3: Domestic tourism within China is huge. This can make attractions extremely busy, particularly on weekends. Arrive at the most popular sites early to avoid the crowds.
One of the best ways to cover long distances in China is by sleeper train. I think we were the only foreigners on board from Beijing to Xi’an - it was good fun and definitely an experience! If this isn’t quite for you, there’s also plenty of flights and daytime bullet trains along the same route.
TIP 4: Overland trains are popular, and tickets often sell out. Tickets can be purchased 30 days ahead of time through online agents (including me!)
XI’AN
Arriving at 7am on Sunday - we went straight from the train to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Discovered by accident in the 1970s, you can see the oddly shaped grassy hill that makes up Emperor’s tomb from miles away - makes you wonder how they missed it! With thousands of soldiers still to uncover, the dig and restoration will continue for decades.
TIP 5: The warriors are a 40-minute drive outside of Xi’an city. The easiest way to get there is by taxi and then hire a private guide to bring the huge site to life.
We stayed in a centrally located modern hotel. Xi’an is a thriving city with a fantastic shopping/restaurant/bar scene. It’s a much larger city than you would imagine, with a historic Muslim centre (owing to its position at the start of the silk road). The city walls contain the oldest parts of the city and are pleasant for an evening walk or to circumnavigate by bicycle, as we did.
TIP 6: Choose a hotel within Xi’an’s city walls to make the most of visiting the Muslim Quarter and Xian’s historic sites.
China’s fantastic train network opens several worthwhile day trips from Xi’an. We chose to visit Mount Huashan, one of China’s five sacred mountains housing several influential Taoist temples. Starting with what had to be one of the world’s steepest and best cable car rides, followed by winding trails, stupendous views and good-natured locals, this was one of the most memorable days of our whole trip. As a popular pilgrimage site, the mountain hosts plenty of facilities - a hotel, restaurant, shops and toilets!
TIP 7: Public toilets in China rarely offer paper or soap, so carry your own supply of tissues and hand sanitiser.
TIP 8: Only large western hotels and restaurants accept card payments - always carry cash.
Xi’an is one of the jumping off point into Tibet, and that’s where we were headed next.
LHASA
A three-hour flight from Xi’an, Tibet has controversially been a part of China since 1949. With a distinct cultural heritage, an extremely remote location and 12,000 feet above sea level, this is a truly unique place to visit.
The first afternoon was spent getting used to the altitude, sampling some of the local cuisine (delicious!) and taking our first footsteps out into the Jokhang Square and the Barkhor Circuit. The ancient city centre is filled with a strange mix of locals, tourists, police and traditionally dressed pilgrims from all corners of China – it was like stepping on to a film set!
TIP 9: Foreign tourists are welcome in Tibet, but you do require a permit. These are free of charge but must be obtained by your local guide ahead of time.
Next morning, we had acclimatised quite well and set off for our timed slot to enter the Potala Palace. First built in the 7th Century, the site has been continually added to and extended, serving as home to successive Dalai Lamas for over 300 years. We spent the afternoon at the Sera Monastery touring the various buildings and watching the famous monk debating.
On our final day, we visited the Jokhang Temple – the spiritual centre of Tibetan Buddhism - before heading out of the city to see Yamdrok Lake and view the distant Himalayan mountains. Everywhere you looked was an Instagram photo!
TIP 10: The Internet is restricted in China, with no access to Google and social media. Register for a Virtual Private Network account (VPN) before you travel so you can work around the restrictions.
Our afternoon flight took us back to mainland China and the provincial capital of Sichuan.