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7-days in China

23 years ago

In spring I plan to participate in a 7-day tour of China. I have never traveled out of the country and need some clues on packing, etc. I know it is risky to travel out of the country but before I get older and more decrepid I have to do it. Thank-you for any help.

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Comments (4)

joann23456
23 years ago
Why do you think it is risky to travel out of the country? People do it all the time. As they say, it's risky to cross the street or get into your car.

China sounds like a wonderful destination, and I hope you enjoy your trip very much.

As for packing, most seasoned travelers agree that you should take as little as possible. I use a smallish soft-sided piece on wheels for all trips, of whatever length. Carry money, passports and medications with you.

I happen to love Rick Steeves' travel information. This is the URL for his website, which has wonderful information about packing and traveling light and about travel safety.

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/home.htm

You can also check out the U.S. consular advisories, though if you're naturally a bit paranoid, these will scare you unnecessarily, I think. At any rate, the advisory for China is here:

http://travel.state.gov/china.html

Be sure to have a good guidebook. I like to study them ahead of time and rip out the sections I'll need.

Finally, you might check out the usenet group rec.travel.asia or the mail list The Oriental List. Here is the URL to subscribe: http://members.axion.net/~pnh/China.html

Have fun!
Michelle_Switzerland
23 years ago
Risky to travel out of the country? Well, believe it or not life exists outside of the US, and functions quite well thank you very much. As for China ... I personally would have a very hard time supporting their tourism industry, or ANY industry for that matter at this point. I recommend reading, for example, about their human rights practices, or what they've done and continue to do in Tibet before making a decision about where to spend your vacation time.

I would also recommend packing at little as possible, regardless of your destination. You'll feel freer, and have room for whatever you may pick up on your trip. For overseas travel I normally use either just a back pack or carry-on bag, or if I have more things luggage that is hard. The soft fabric luggage may be cheaper, but your suitcase has a great chance to arrive severely mangled, if not completely destroyed, or ripped open with contents missing. Go for quality pieces.

Happy Travelling!
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Deer180
23 years ago
Barb
You did not tell us what part of China are you going to and when. If you go to Beijing it may be real cold yet, if you go to Hong Kong it may be warm & humid.

GO FOR IT! It is a great trip. Bring your OWN chopsticks tough (the ceramic ones) unless you eat in 4 star hotels.
Beer is great Tsingtao, etc. Drink Hot tea...it should be foamy / soapy looking when you look into the container or do not drink it!
More after ...
Melissa_M
23 years ago
China is FABULOUS! I've been twice, once taking our 13 year old God-daughter and she came back with life altering memories. This will be the learning experience of a lifetime for you, no matter WHERE you visit within China! Believe it or not, I felt safer in China than I do in my native born area of Los Angeles.
First off, DO NOT expect toilets to be anything like what you are familiar with here in the United States. They will have some western style toilet facilities in hotels and some restaurants, but take take clothing that you can hike up to the hips or drop to the floor if you have to. You will experience pit toilets, which are nothing more than a hole in the ground with 2 stones to step up on to keep your shoes out of the urine. OH! AND DON"T FORGET!!! BRING LOTS OF small packets (at least 1 packet per day plus a few extra to give out to others traveling with you, which will bond you as friends for life) of kleenex as toilet paper is often non-existant! Sounds horrid doesn't it? I wouldn't trade these memories or experiences for all the money in the world!
If you are traveling with a registered with a tour group, you will be staying in deluxe hotels (China does not allow tourists in tour groups to stay in anything but the highest quality hotels). The food will be somewhat westernized (no family in China eats as much meat at one meal as westerners eat in a single course). The running joke is that it takes 4 Chinese to make one American in size.
Plan on doing LOTS of shopping as China is one of the great BARGAINS of the world. For example, or God daughter bought herself a black pearl necklace from one of the "factory tours" for $35. Silk is abundant and extremely inexpensive.
So now, where in China are you visiting? Near the Great Wall at Badalang it can be windy and very cold. Lake Kun Ming at the Summer Palace can still be frozen until mid to late March. On the other hand southern China can be quite humid and downright hot. What you pack depends on where you will be visiting. One last thing, realize that formal dressing in China means simple black pants and a white button up the front shirt and flat casual walking shoes. That will be as dressy as you need, even in the most luxurious hotel.

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