China is one of the world’s largest countries by area and population, making it one of the most interesting travel destinations. In that sense, it’s a bit like the United States. It’s so varied and enormous that you can get lost there for months. But what should you consider before traveling to China? What do you need to know before visiting this Far Eastern territory? Let’s take a look.
Entry requirements
The first thing you’ll want to explore is the entry requirements. These vary considerably depending on where you’re from. Usually, Singapore has generous entry terms with China, but if you’re from another part of the world, especially Africa and South America, you may need to look for a visa. These visas allow stays in terms of hours, and you may be able to extend them.
Banking and money
You should also consider banking and money, especially if you’re going for a long time. While cash is a good option for a few days, eventually you’ll need some sort of card or access to an account with more money in it than you can reasonably carry. That’s why so many people look to open Chinese bank account services. These services are really handy if you’re going to be in and out of the country a lot, or you want some money with you. Sometimes you also want to make larger purchases, especially if you’re considering investing in the country in any way during your visit.
Health requirements
While COVID-19 is in the past, even in China there are some health requirements for visiting the country. Many international organizations recommend vaccines like typhoid and hepatitis A. Rabies and Japanese encephalitis are common in rural areas, so if you’re going to be leaving the big cities, then you may also want to consider these vaccines. Drinking bottled water is recommended, and you should carry hand sanitizer with you. If you can get travel and health insurance, then do it.
Internet access
That’s because of the Great Firewall. This actually blocks sites like Instagram, Google, and WhatsApp, which are completely normal in the West. Therefore, if you’re travelling from the West, it’s a good idea to download a VPN. You could also use an eSIM if you want it to bypass international travel restrictions on your smart device.
For spending more than a month in China, you’ll need WeChat. This is essential for things like payments, communications, and translation. You can use it for new services within the country.
Transportation
China’s internal transportation is excellent. It’s maybe even better than Japan right now. You can cross the country on its network of affordable high-speed trains. If you are in a major city and you want to get from one place to another, then Didi is good or Rides. This is that you can also use the metro systems which are usually safe and clean.
As for safety, we’ll just watch out for pickpocketing in crowded areas. Generally speaking, China is a safe country when it comes to petty crime.
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