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| Tourism
in China - Independent Traveller |
This page
offers general advice regarding Independent Travel
in China (September 2008) |
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Your Destination:
Normally entry into China is fairly straight-forward
Entry from both Hong Kong and Macao, or via international
flight etc, to any major city is quite common and easy.
Info Sheets
Over the years I have written several information sheets
for first-time visitors to China. They cover all things
I can think of, including: Weather, Electricity (220
V), Customs and Practices, Food and Drinks, etc. I intend
to edit these into a single Word document and make it
available for download very soon. In the meantime, if
you would like the unedited version, then please ask
via our Contact Page
and I will return immediately
Sight-seeing
I have also produced several Word documents for general
and local sight-seeing, City Breaks, and tours of greater
China. Again, I wish to edit them before offering them
here, but if you would like one please Contact
Us and state places of interest
Notes for Independent Travellers Only:
1. Entry
Independent travellers crossing via unusual border crossings
in remote parts of China can expect lengthy delays and
possible 'local surcharges' - be sure you know what
you are doing! Some of these areas may have political
turbulence or terrorist activists. You may need to prove
you are a simple tourist!
Please note that whilst I consider China to be one of
the safest Countries in the World, you should check
your planned itinerary first, especially when visiting
unusual and remote parts.
The British and Commonwealth Office offers
excellent guidance and current advice relevant for all
Western travellers
2. Travel
Given you enter and leave China via sensible border
crossings, then you are bound for a truly wonderful
adventure. We recommend you make use of local travel
deals, which can give you very cheap access to internal
flights, transfers, hotels. You may or may not want
to do the associated day-long and continuous planned
trips with the tour party, but some can be very useful.
We can offer practical advice and local knowledge, supported
by experiences from other independent travellers who
have gone before you. Contact
Us for further information, stating you
intended destination or what you would like to experience.
For instance: in general, China does not do 'Hitch-hiking'
3. Personal Safety
Please ensure you have a safety-net, especially in places
Foreigners do not usually go to. Generally your welcome
from local people will be very warm, helpful, and friendly
- but sometimes things can go wrong for no foreseeable
reason.
a. Have some money available somewhere
in the world, which can be accessed in your absence,
and which can be sent to you if you have lost your cards.
b. We strongly urge you to have a contact
telephone number of somebody in China! This will need
to be a Chinese national = somebody who will immediately
understand in Mandarin (Other language) what the problem
is. If you are in any doubt, contact us immediately
and we will arrange this for you, no charge and our
pleasure
c. You should also ensure someone is
looking out for you. We greatly admire your temerity
for seeing the world as an Independent Traveller, but
this does not mean you should also be niaive! Ensure
there is a regular contact, say weekly, that if you
miss - then alarm bells are sounded on your behalf.
Most likely = you probably forgot, or ended up somewhere
with dire communications. You could also have been kidnapped,
or worse? A weekly 'hi, we're fine, bye' is all that
is needed + a codeword if something is wrong and you
cannot say so. This is highly unlikely in China, but
don't be stupid!
d. Many Independent Travellers are
backpackers on extended sojourn's often lasting many
months. We will presume you have a supply of Iodine
tablets for water purification and other purposes? Be
cute about what you take with you, and consider a small,
durable, fold-away solar panel (Or backpack with one
integral). These normally come with outputs suitable
for charging: mobile phones, cameras, radios, and even
laptops on larger versions! Our friends at Excel
Trading do have offers on some of these products.
Get a key fob with 'Everlasting light', or a small rechargeable
solar torch
4. Nepal and Tibet
We have very good friends in Nepal who can arrange made
to order trips in Nepal, and also visits to Tibet +
associated simple entry into China. These are ordinary
Nepalese guides who usually see little of the money
paid by International travellers to Nepali Agencies.
We can put you in direct personal contact with the actual
guides themselves.
5 . Other SouthEast Asian Countries
We also have links and personally trusted friends in
virtually all other Southeast Asian Countries. If this
is your thing, again Contact
Us for further information and personal
introduction. Our list includes: Bhutan, Northern Indian
Provinces, Burma (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), Malaysia,
Singapore, Laos, Vietnam, and The Philippines.
Vaguely related: We can offer similar in Peru, Brazil,
Russia, and Malawi
During Autumn 2008 this page will expand to include
common destinations and more in-depth advice. We welcome
feedback, information, and advice from other Independent
Travellers who have done this before.
Please call back later, Contact
Us, and also read sections for General
Tourism - as these include basic tips not
reproduced again above
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| This
information is as supplied by the Chinese Embassy in
UK, as dated 20th June 2008, and/or other reliable sources.
Please check this information yourself as it may alter
without notice, and whilst we try our best to ensure
it is correct, please do not hold us responsible for
any errors - this is intended as a simple guide only |
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