China has one of the world’s oldest people and continuous civilizations, consisting of states and cultures dating back more than six millennia. Chinese civilization originated in several city-states along the Yellow River. For 4,000 years, China was ruled by hereditary monarchs or dynasties beginning with the Xia until the Qing, which finally ended in 1911 with the founding of the republic of China (ROC). The first half of the 20th century saw China plunged into a period of disunity and civil war that divided the country into two main political camps - the Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) and the communist party of China. Major hostilities ended in 1949, when the People’s Republic of China was established in mainland China by the victorious Communists. On 1 October 1949 Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic of China.
The PRC is considered to be a major power and an emerging superpower.
China has 22 provinces, 5 Autonomous regions and 2 special administrative regions.
The capital is Beijing.
Biggest City: Shanghai
Main cities: Hong Kong, Tianjin, Wuhan, Shenyang, Guangzhou, Harbin, Xi’an
Population: 1,250,000,000
Calling code: +86
GMT: +8
Currency: Renmimbi Yuan (RMB)
VISA
As a matter of fact, visas are required for visitors from most foreign countries to mainland China.
The Chinese Embassies and Consulates do not accept mail-in applications. Applicants for visas are requested to appear at the consulate in person, or apply through authorized visa agency.
Visas are issued with specific type relevant to the purpose of visit. The most popular types include tourist, business, student, work, and crew. You may also select number of entries such as single, double or multiple entry, if you apply for tourist or business visa.
Usually, you don’t have to be in your country of residence to apply for a Chinese visa. For instance, if you’re an Australian citizen travelling in Sweden and you want to stop in china on your way back, you can apply for your visa in Stockholm.
If you are flying to Hong Kong you can always apply for your visa through an authorized visa agency.
THE MUST SEE AND HOW TO GET THERE
-The Summer Palace (Beijing)
To go to the summer palace you have few options. You can, of course, book a tour from your hotel or you can be a bit more adventurous and go by yourself. Take subway line 2, stop in Qian Men west. Get out of the station and take bus number 690 to summer palace (last stop)
-The Forbidden City (Beijing)
The Forbidden City is in central Beijing, for this one you won’t need any help to find it.
In case I give you the link of Beijing Metro ;)
-Great Wall (Beijing)
There are 3 different parts of the great wall open to tourists; Badaling (very touristy), Simatai and Mutianyu.
Badaling: Take metro line 2; stop at Jishuitan station. Get out at east exit and take bus 919 Kuai (Kuai=quick) 8 stops to Badaling (15 RMB)
Si Ma Tai: Take metro line 2; stop at Dong Zhi Men station. Take bus 980 Kuai, last stop to Mi Yun Qi Che Zhan. Finally take a minibus to Si Ma Tai.
Mu Tian Yu: Take metro line2; stop at Don Zhi Men station. Get out from exit B and take bus 916 Kuai to Huai Rou Bei Dajie (14 RMB). Finally take minibus to Mu Tian Yu (10 to 15 RMB).
-Terracotta Army (Xi’an)
The Terracotta warriors are an hour by bus from Xi’an. All the hotels offer the tour, but for a cheaper deal you can go by yourself. You can take the bus number 306, next to the train station, which leaves approximately every 30 minutes. The price is 7 RMB.
-Yangshuo (Guilin)
You can take the bus to Yangshuo from Guilin train station. The bus stop will be on your right if you are facing the train station. It’s easy to spot, there is usually two or three buses waiting next to each other. The price should be 15 to 20 RMB one way.
-Shanghai
Depending where you are in China, you can go to Shanghai either by train or by plane.
-Hong Kong
The land border to Hong Kong is in Shenzhen main train station. Once you have crossed the border it is really easy to find your way. You can also take a train from Shanghai to HK.
For more information you can access: www.mtr.com.hk/
If you think you might get lost, ask one of the staff at the hotel, to write down a note in Chinese.
Example: Where is the bus stop for bus 306? Or, Can you let me know when we are arriving at Badaling? Etc… If you don’t find your way you will be happy to have this little note on you.
TRAINS IN CHINA
If you have time, the best way to travel in China is by train. Sometimes, you can spend as much as 40 hours in the train (Beijing to Lhasa), but it’s worth it. For long distance, you can choose the hard sleeper or the soft sleeper. For “short” distance, which can be at least eight hours, the soft seat is quite good. The trains are comfortable and generally on time.
If you are planning to take the train you should buy the tickets at least three days in advance.
If you are traveling during the Chinese New Year, forget about traveling because it’s the busiest time of the year in china.
Here, are some of the most popular route in China.
Beijing – Shanghai | |||||
One way | depart | Arrive | Soft seat | Hard sleeper | Soft sleeper |
Z1 | 19:56 | 07:29 | 41 US$ | 46 US$ | 72 US$ |
Z5 | 20:02 | 07:36 | 41 US$ | 46 US$ | 72 US$ |
T109 | 20:14 | 09:14 | 41 US$ | 46 US$ | 72 US$ |
Runs daily. Air conditioning.
Shanghai – Beijing | ||
One way | Depart | Arrive |
Z6 | 19:15 | 06:48 |
Z22 | 19:38 | 07:06 |
T104 | 20:36 | 09:36 |
Runs daily. Air conditioning.
Distance: 1463km
One way or the other the price is the same.
Beijing West – Xi’an | |||||
One way | Depart | Arrive | Soft Seat | Hard sleeper | Soft sleeper |
T75 | 18:28 | 06:50 | 36 US$ | 40 US$ | 62 US$ |
T41 | 19:03 | 06:44 | 36 US$ | 40 US$ | 62 US$ |
T27 | 21:30 | 08:36 | 36 US$ | 40 US$ | 62 US$ |
Runs daily. Air conditioning.
Xi’an – Beijing West | ||
One way | Depart | Arrive |
T232 | 18:10 | 06:22 |
Z20 | 20:16 | 07:17 |
T56 | 21:20 | 09:58 |
Runs daily. Air conditioning.
Distance: 1200km
One way or the other the price is the same.
Beijing West – Lhasa | |||||
One way | Depart | Arrive | Soft seat | Hard sleeper | Soft sleeper |
T27 | 21:30 | 20:00 | 90 US$ | 99 US$ | 157 US$ |
Runs daily. Air conditioning.
Distance: 4064km
Note:
Hard sleeper: Sleeping car for day and overnight travel.6 beds per compartment open to passageway.
Soft sleeper: Sleeping car for day and overnight travel. 4 beds per compartment being separate.
For more information about prices and times you can access:
To buy the train tickets you have several options. You can book at your hotel, at a travel agency or, you can go to the train station yourself, which is the cheapest way. Usually there is at least one English counter in big train station. Forget the stereotype from the traveling book about the pushing and all of this. It happens but as a foreigner the Chinese will be more careful, so no worries. It’s part of the traveling. Isn’t it?? If you are in a small city, you can ask someone at the hotel to write down a note for you, with the name of the destination and the type of seat you want.
BUSES IN CHINA
If you are planning to travel by bus in China, it’s possible. Unfortunately the only advice I can give you for this; it’s going to the bus station and ask. Unlike the train station, there’s no English counter. Once again ask someone at the hotel to write down what you need.
Most of the bus will be sleeper.
PLANE IN CHINA
China is a huge country; some of you won’t have the time to take the train. If you want to check price and timetable you can click on the window below. You will get all the information you need to travel by plane.
PLANE TO CHINA
If you still don’t know which airline you want to fly with click on the window below to check prices and timetables.
If you live in central Europe I recommend you to take easy jet or ryanair to London because the price of the ticket is usually cheaper.
HOTELS & ACCOMMODATION
For hotel reservation you can access Hotels combined which offers more than 200.000 hotels in 20.000 thousands destinations across 195 countries. Click on the window bellow to check the price for hotel across Australia. Many languages are available on this website.
If you are a budget traveler you can still find the price that will suit your budget. Hostel world offers you a search over 17.000 hostels in over 168 countries. To check the prices or make a reservation click on the window below. Many languages are available on the website.
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