March 2018
At Home in the Summer Palace in Beijing, 2007
These are sites and services I can recommend for travel in China. But before you go:
- Critical web`tools and apps
- Be sure to download at least 2 free VPN before you leave home, maybe even a paid service. So many sites you are used to are blocked: Google, Facebook, ….
- Be sure to get a China sim card in the airport and let them set it up for you – all you need is internet and ask for “all of China” so no restrictions
- Then, from Playstore
- WeChat – has a terrific translation service that everyone uses and MUCH more
- Ctrip – easy for booking trains and planes, just set up your passport number and credit card and never worry again
- Viator – great for researching the sites you won’t want to miss, super easy to book, affordable as a single traveler, and EXCELLENT service
- Travel Advisor – for Top 10 things to see and do when your time is tight
- Booking.com – has huge variety to choose from, is easy to change and cancel, and best! doesn’t require a deposit in advance
- I’m looking at Airbnb but I have no experience yet.
- You should also have an app for:
- an off-line map (as Google maps may be blocked)
- a currency converter for double checking
- one or more VOIP services in case you want to talk to someone at home
- emergency contact for the country of your citizenship
- your favorite music – you may be waiting sometimes for a longtime
- an ebook reader – I love books but I try to travel light
- Sites promoting China tourism
- The China Guide and The China Guide on Facebook (which technically is blocked in China.. ?? This is why you must download a VPN before you go.)
- Sublime China
- Hi China Trip – online and on FB
- News sites, often with travel sections
- China Global Television Network – the equivalent of, e.g., BBC, CNN or Al Jazeera for Chinese and international news
- China.org.cn – online news about China in countless languages and a FB page with tourist related posting
- Shanghaiist on FB – candid news and amusing views from a fabulous city
- China Xinhua News online, FB and Twitter for fast news feeds
- China Minutes – online, FB and Twitter
- Special places to stay
- Amanyangyun, situated just outside Shanghai, a renovated river village (I haven’t checked it, it isn’t inexpensive but it is beautiful)
- General travel advice
- To make your travel in China even more interesting
- When you have to choose where to go and you can’t go everywhere!
- 21 Best World Heritage Sites ( China has 52 world heritage sites to date; of these 36 are cultural heritage sites, 12 are natural heritage sites, and 4 are cultural and natural (mixed) sites)
- Wine tours in China (and yes, the wine is really good! I drink copious amounts of Great Wall wine when I am working in Hefei.)
- All about Ningbo on FB – an accessible city on my list for 2018
- Stories of Beijing on FB and Twitter – tantalizing photos and suggestions
- Tourist Attractions on Chinese Money – this is my personal favorite – 6 notes, 6 destinations. Three more to go for me.
- The old Silk Road and the new One Belt One Road initiative (it is MASSIVE)
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