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Where to go
Domestic tourism is in a state of supernova, so getting around and finding accommodation during the peak summer tourist crush can be quite a headache.
Winter’s big chill is the quietest time of year and good hotel discounts exist, but the weather in some parts can be prohibitively cold. Spring and autumn are the best months to be on the road.
See the Climate section in the Facts about China chapter for information on seasonal weather variations throughout China.
Major public holidays are to be avoided if possible. Chinese New Year is a terrible time to be traveling; the same applies for the May Day holiday and National Day on 1 October.
Maps
Top-quality maps of almost every Chinese city and many small towns are readily available, some are very detailed, with bus routes (including names of bus stops), the locations of hotels, shops and so on. City maps normally cost only Y2 to Y4.
Maps are most easily purchased from bookstalls or street vendors around train and bus stations, from branches of the Xinhua Bookshop or from hotel front desk. Unfortunately most maps are only in Chinese. Tourist centers, hotel gift shops, Friendship Stores and sometimes foreign-language bookshops stock English versions. Here you may also find Chinese and English-language atlases of China. The Foreign Language Bookshop on Wangfujiang Daijie in Beijing has maps of other Chinese cities, but it’s not comprehensive.
What to Bring
If you are only traveling to a single destination, eg, Beijing or Shanghai, a suitcase will do. For others, a backpack is still the best carrying container. It’s worth paying the money for a strong, good quality pack as it’s much more likely to withstand the rigours of Chinese travel.
An alternative is a large, soft, zip bag with wide shoulder strap. This is obviously not an option if you plan to do any trekking.
If you are undertaking a longer trip, whatever you carry you gear in, the usual budget traveler’s rule applies – bring as little as possible.
You can wear pretty much what you want in China, although Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai are more fashion-conscious. Shorts and T-shirts are respectable summer wear. Flip-flops and sandals are OK. Clothing is one of the best cheap buys in China, so don’t feel compelled to bring everything from home.
If you are traveling in the north of China at the height of winter, prepare yourself for incredible cold. Good down jackets are available in China, but its hard to find good qulity boots (at least in larger size).
A reasonable clothes list would include:
A pair of cotton trousers and shorts
A long cotton skirt (women)
Lightweight shirts and a sweater
One pair of sneakers or shoes
Flip-flops- hotel slippers are often too small
Lightweight jacket or raincoat
A hat
Bedding
Hotels provide copious bedding during the winter months, as do the sleeper carriages on trains. Nonetheless, a sleeping bag, although a hassle to carry, can come in handy. Some travelers complain of an allergic reaction to some budget hotel blankets – perhaps it’s the chemicals they are washed in. you can also use it as a cushion on hard train seats, and as a seat for long waits on railway platforms. If you are planning on camping or spending time in the hills a sleeping bag is essential.
Toiletries
Toiletries and sachets of washing power are readily available. Outside the major cities, some items are gard to find, such as shaving cream, decent razor blades, mosquito repellent, deodorant, dental floss, tampons and contact lens solution. Bring condoms with you, as the suspect. Antibacterial hand gel (the kind that you don’t need to use with water) comes in handy as some public bathrooms don’t have hand washing facilities.
Miscellaneous Items
Check the Heath section in other chapter for a medical kit check list. Some handy items to stow away in your pack could include the following:
A padlock, especially for budget travelers.
A knife (preferably Swiss Army)
Insect repellent
A torch (flashlight)
A voltage stabilizer
A spare set of glasses and your spectacle prescription
Earplugs and sleeping mask
A sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
A water bottle and mug
A pair of binoculars – if you plan to be bird-watching and wildlife-spotting
A compact CD or MP3 player – a life-saver on lone bus or train journeys.
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