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Two Brits On The Go, Sarah and her travel partner, spend a month in China after deciding to visit during travels in Malaysia. They secure a visa in Vietnam and arrive with few expectations. The trip challenges their preconceptions: local transport, food, and attractions cost less than expected, while people help them despite language barriers. They use Trip.com to book accommodation and tickets, try regional foods, and experience mobile payments and facial-recognition entry at attractions. The vlog moves from large cities and ancient city walls to Zhangjiajie National Park and the Avatar Mountains. Sarah and her companion are impressed by China's infrastructure, scenery, and cultural variety, and say they want to return.
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Deciding to visit and travelling affordably
Two Brits On The Go, Sarah and her travel partner, share first impressions from a month-long trip to China. China was not originally on their itinerary; after seeing Chinese architectural influences in Malaysia, they decided to visit. They secure a Chinese visa while in Vietnam and begin travelling without firm expectations. They find transport, food, and attractions more affordable than they had anticipated. Taxis are inexpensive even for longer journeys, and they mention budget accommodation within the walls of ancient cities such as Pingyao for as little as £10 a night. They recommend Trip.com for booking accommodation and attractions, saying its interface and pricing helped them navigate language barriers.
The travellers talk about local people and crowds. Major cities can be busy, but people they meet are friendly and helpful. A young woman helps them understand a restaurant menu, and they notice that younger generations are learning English and are interested in speaking with foreigners. They suggest visiting attractions early to avoid crowds and researching local specialties because food varies by province. A full roast duck costs much less than they would expect in the UK.
Technology, cities, and natural landscapes
The video contrasts China's technology with what the travellers know from Europe. They see large train stations and facial-recognition systems at entrances, and they use QR codes for payment and entry to attractions. At Zhangjiajie National Park, facial recognition helps them enter. They also discuss the country's largely cashless routines and recommend mobile payment apps rather than relying on cash.
The trip includes modern architecture and ancient city walls, which they compare with historical sites in Europe. Zhangjiajie National Park and the Avatar Mountains surprise them with their natural beauty. They find the mountains as impressive as the cities and say visitors should include nature when planning a trip. The month-long journey changes their first impressions: they describe affordable travel, regional food, helpful people, advanced infrastructure, and landscapes they had not expected. They close by expressing a desire to return and explore more of the country.
They also describe the visa process in Vietnam and the planning it took to begin a month-long journey with no prior expectations. Their stays include budget accommodation inside ancient city walls, and they praise Trip.com for booking lodging and attractions. The platform's usefulness matters because of language barriers. Sarah and her companion observe that younger residents often learn English and are eager to interact, while a young woman helps them navigate a restaurant menu. Their food experiences range from local restaurants to a full roast duck, which they say costs a fraction of what it would in the UK.
The trip is not limited to urban areas. They highlight Zhangjiajie National Park and the Avatar Mountains as natural destinations that are as impressive as the cities. They also note ancient walls and buildings, and compare their accessibility with similar sites in Europe. Their first impressions bring together affordability, helpful people, mobile technology, regional cuisines, architecture, and landscapes, leaving them eager to return.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: How did Sarah and her partner get a visa for China?
- A: They secured their Chinese visa while travelling in Vietnam, before beginning their month-long trip.
- Q: What did they find affordable in China?
- A: They found local transport, food, and attractions cheaper than expected. They mention inexpensive taxis and budget accommodation, including a room in an ancient city for about £10 per night.
- Q: What technology surprised them during the trip?
- A: They notice QR-code payments and facial-recognition entry at attractions, including Zhangjiajie National Park. They also describe large train stations and the convenience of mobile payments.