China Travel Guide: 17 Essential Tips Before Your Trip

17 things I wish I knew before visiting CHINA 🇨🇳

Destination:ChinaCity:ShanghaiPopulation:24.9 million
17 things I wish I knew before visiting CHINA 🇨🇳
Joel Friend2024-09-0115 min

Here are 17 things I wish I knew before visiting China, from applying to Visa's, VPN's and more do not travel to China before watching this video!.

0:00 - Intro

0:18 - Don’t forget this!

3:02 - The ‘Uber’ of China

3:48 - MOBILE DATA

4:51 - Transport in China

6:00 - When to go?

6:58 - This shocked us!

7:33 - Visa’s

9:42 - THE FOOD

10:28 - Translating…

10:56 - VPN’s

12:36 - WeChat & Alipay

13:38 - Booking stuff

--- Joel Friend
September 1, 2024, Autumn in China

Video Chapters

  1. 0:00Intro
  2. 0:18Don’t forget this!
  3. 3:02The ‘Uber’ of China
  4. 3:48MOBILE DATA
  5. 4:51Transport in China
  6. 6:00When to go?
  7. 6:58This shocked us!
  8. 7:33Visa’s
  9. 9:42THE FOOD
  10. 10:28Translating…
  11. 10:56VPN’s
  12. 12:36WeChat & Alipay
  13. 13:38Booking stuff

Joel Friend's China trip: High-speed trains, delicious food, and cultural surprises! A must-watch before you go.

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

  1. Tip 1Always carry your passport; it's a legal requirement in China, needed for various activities, including train travel and even convenience store visits. Photocopies are not accepted. (0:18)
  2. Tip 2Use the Didi app, the Chinese equivalent of Uber, for affordable and convenient transportation throughout China. It's user-friendly and available in English. (3:02)
  3. Tip 3Utilize China's extensive high-speed train network for fast, easy, and affordable travel between cities. Book tickets in advance through Trip.com. (4:51)
  4. Tip 4Plan your trip during the shoulder seasons (May-June and September-October) to avoid large crowds and extreme temperatures. Avoid Chinese holidays and summer vacation periods. (6:00)
  5. Tip 5Check visa requirements based on your nationality. For those eligible, a 15-day visa-free entry is available; otherwise, be prepared for a more extensive application process. (7:33)
  6. Tip 6Obtain a VPN before entering China to access blocked websites and social media platforms. Surfshark and Astrill are suggested options. (10:56)
  7. Tip 7Use WeChat Pay and Alipay for transactions in China. Set up accounts before your trip to avoid verification issues. (12:36)
  8. Tip 8Use Trip.com to book attractions, tickets, and transportation. It offers a wider selection than other platforms and simplifies the booking process. (13:38)

Joel Friend's China adventure is a whirlwind of insightful tips and surprising discoveries. From navigating the unique payment systems of WeChat and Alipay to mastering the high-speed rail network, this video reveals the essential knowledge for a smooth trip. Learn about the unexpected cultural nuances, the importance of a VPN, and how to secure a visa, all while experiencing the vibrant food scene and breathtaking landscapes. Don't miss this essential guide before your own Chinese expedition!

More about the current video:( 11 / 12 )

17 things I wish I knew before visiting CHINA 🇨🇳

This travelogue by Joel Friend offers 17 essential tips for navigating China. He emphasizes the necessity of carrying a passport at all times, a stark contrast to many other travel destinations. Joel highlights the challenges of using Google Maps in China, recommending Baidu Maps instead, and underscores the importance of having mobile data for seamless communication and navigation. He details his experience with the efficient and affordable Didi app, the Chinese equivalent of Uber.

Safety in China is a key theme, with Joel describing his experience as safer than in London, attributing this to the extensive camera surveillance system. The importance of travel insurance is stressed, particularly SafetyWing, which he uses and recommends. He also discusses the optimal time to visit, suggesting May-June or September-October to avoid peak seasons and extreme weather.

Cultural differences are highlighted, including queue-jumping and public spitting, which surprised Joel. The video delves into the visa process, emphasizing the recent visa-free entry for 15 days for certain nationalities and the more complex process for others. Joel details his own experience obtaining a two-year multi-entry visa.

Joel also covers practical aspects such as using the subway system, which he found surprisingly user-friendly, and the unique dining experience of sharing food from a central table. He also discusses the prevalence of international food chains in China. He recommends having a good translation app and a VPN for accessing blocked websites and social media platforms. He explains how to use WeChat and Alipay for payments, emphasizing the importance of setting them up before arriving in China.

Finally, he recommends Trip.com for booking transportation and accommodation, highlighting its advantages over other platforms for navigating the Chinese booking system. Overall, Joel's video is a comprehensive and entertaining guide for anyone planning a trip to China, filled with personal anecdotes and valuable insights.

China Travel Guide: 17 Essential Tips Before Your Trip

Here are 17 things I wish I knew before visiting China, from applying to Visa's, VPN's and more do not travel to China before watching this video! Some links above are affiliate links and may give me a small amount of money if you decide to purchase anything after clicking these links :) 0:00 -...

China Travel Guide: Essential Tips & Unique Experiences

Before you travel to China, watch this video! Joel Friend shares 17 essential things he wishes he'd known beforehand. From visa applications and VPNs to navigating China's unique transportation and mobile data systems, this video is packed with practical advice. Discover the best time to visit, uncover surprising cultural insights, and learn about food, translation apps, and essential payment methods like WeChat Pay and Alipay. Get ready for an unforgettable Chinese adventure!

Attractions in this video: Great Wall, Forbidden City