China Travel Guide

China Travel Guide

The People’s Republic of China is the most populous country in the world. China has a written history dating back about four thousand years. In addition to this, the remains dating to 6000 years ago, which had ideographic drawings, were also found. The origins of many discoveries, such as paper, gunpowder, compass, and printing, which form the cornerstones of today’s civilization, are based on ancient Chinese civilization. China is a country that has come to the forefront with its economic breakthrough in recent years. China’s influence in the Asia-Pacific region is more economy based than military. China is expected to become the world’s largest economy in 20 years. The People’s Republic of China is a tourism paradise that arouses all kinds of interest both culturally and geographically. Temples with centuries of history, endless tea gardens, geographical riches such as the Yangtze River, the third-largest river in the world, examples of the world’s most attractive beaches on the south coast, historical monuments starting from the Xian city and historical monuments from the Chinese Empire and skyscrapers with symbols of the modern world. All of them and much more create the tourism potential of the country. In addition, Beijing, the capital of China, is home to the country’s most important historical values.

General Information

Language Chinese (Mandarin)
Capital Beijing
Continent East Asia
Time Zone GMT+8
Currency Yuan
Plug Type A, C, I
Mean Yearly Temperature 20°C
Climate Tropical Savanna, Monsoon, Desert, Arid, Continental
Area 3.705.000 km²
Government Unitary State (One-Party Regime)
Vegetation Forest, Pasture
Livelihood Agriculture, Fishery, Trade
Phone Code +86

Official Language

The official language of China is Chinese. However, there are 292 languages in the world’s most crowded country, which has a very large surface area. In addition to the official language, the languages recognized by the state are Mongolian, Tibetan and Uighur. English is one of the most widely used languages in the country. Knowing English will make your life easier on a touristic trip to China.

Climate

China has a highly variable climate. Continental climate dominates the northern, western and northwestern parts of the country. Monsoon climate occurs in the south, east, and southeast of the country. Harsh continental climate dominates the western parts of the country. In China, the weather changes from south to north. In winter, cold and high-pressure air on Central Asia causes a wind from the land to the sea. In summer, an opposite situation arises. Northern winds are seen in winter and southern winds are seen in summer. The four seasons are quite obvious.

Local Time

China is in the GMT+8 local time zone.

Currency

Chinese Yuan is used as a currency in China. However, there are points where you can easily exchange common currencies such as US dollars and British pounds.

Vegetation

China is one of the richest plant resources in the world. China, which has more than 30 thousand varieties of plants, ranks third in the world after Malaysia and Brazil, where the plants are the richest in the world. The vegetation of the region in the south of the country is subtropical forests consisting of bamboos. In the north, spruce and pine forests form vegetation.

Livelihood

China is the world’s second-largest economy and largest exporter. It also has the largest foreign exchange reserve in the world. China has a highly diversified economy dominated by manufacturing and agricultural sectors. China is the world’s most populous country and one of the largest producers and consumers of agricultural products. The agricultural sector employs 16.4% of the active population. China is the world’s leading producer of grain, rice, cotton, potatoes, and tea. China has a dominant position in animal husbandry and fish production in the world. The industrial sector contributes to about 40.5% of China’s GDP and employs 26.3% of the population. Despite the increase in labor costs in recent years, China has become one of the most preferred places for outsourcing global production units thanks to the cheap labor market.

Where is China?

The People’s Republic of China is located in the east of Asia and on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean. China’s land borders are more than 20,000 kilometers in length and have 14 neighboring states around it. The total length of the coast of China is about 18,000 kilometers. The seas around China are the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. China has more than 5000 islands. The total coastline of the islands is 14 thousand kilometers. China’s sea neighbors are the Republic of Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Best Time to Visit China

Many tourists agree that October is the best time to visit China. Most of the country has a mild and warm climate in this month, while monsoon rains in the summer come to an end. This makes it easy to move around. October is also the best month to visit attractions such as Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Although October is a relatively expensive month, it is cheaper than July and August.

How to Get to China?

The airline is the fastest and easiest way to get from Turkey to China.

Public Transportation in China

There are around 500 cities in China. The number of cities with a population of 1 million and more is around 100. Therefore, public transportation is becoming an important issue to be solved in daily life. In the most developed and largest cities of China, such as Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hangzhou, the subway is, of course, the first thing that comes to mind in urban transportation. Especially in Beijing and Shanghai, there is a highly developed subway network of hundreds of stations. The Shanghai subway is now the longest subway network in the world. Subway tickets vary from 4 to 8 yuan (0.6-1.2USD) depending on the distance to the destination. As a result of the introduction of cashless life into daily life, in some cities, ticket prices can now be paid using WeChat or Alipay.

City buses have an important share of urban transportation in every city in China. In small cities, municipal buses are the only means of public transport. Recently, the use of electric city buses in the city has started to become widespread. Although most of the cities use electronic cards loaded with money in public transport, Beijing, the second-largest city and capital of China with a population of over 15 million, has begun to produce various solutions that will completely end the use of such cards. According to one of these, Beijing people traveling by municipal buses can now pay their ticket using their smartphones.

Taxis are the most expensive means of public transport. The most expensive taxi fares are in major cities. For example, in Shanghai, the opening fee of the taximeter is 14 yuan (2 USD). For the first 3 kilometers, the fare is fixed. However, after 3 km a certain fee is added per kilometer.

Transportation from Urumqi Diwopu International Airport to the City Center

Urumqi city center is about 16 km from Urumqi Diwopu International Airport. From 06.00 to 23.00 you can use the buses 27, 51 and 535 at the exit of terminals T2 and T3 to reach the city center.

Best Places to Visit in China

Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China, which extends in the northwestern part of China and has become the symbol of Chinese civilization, is regarded as the largest defensive wall in the world made by man. With a length of 21 thousand 196 km is now a fascinating tourist attraction for travelers. The Great Wall of China, one of the 7 wonders of the world, which is included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO, varies between 4 meters and 10 meters. The widest part is 9.1 meters. It is a place that is not difficult to visit. However, you should definitely reach the best route. Most travelers and visitors are visiting Badaling or Juyongguan. Mutianyu region is the most recommended area to visit since it is less crowded.

Beijing

Beijing is the capital of China. Beijing, one of the oldest capitals in the world and has a history of thousands of years, is called as a center of culture, tourism, and history. The Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square are located in Beijing. Spring is the best time to see these huge and historic buildings.

Urumqi

Urumqi is a must-see during your trip to China. Urumqi is the starting point of the historical Silk Road. The city is a popular destination for those planning a cultural trip with its historical texture. Xinjiang History Museum, Tianshan Grand Canyon and Red Hill are some of the places where the city’s historic and natural beauties can be seen.

Shanghai

Shanghai, China’s business and finance capital, is a cosmopolitan, vibrant and rich city where you can experience the West and Far East atmosphere at the same time. You can experience the history of temples, museums and colonial neighborhoods, as well as the metropolitan atmosphere between the bright skyscrapers, wide streets and shopping malls in the center, which is spread to the east and west sides of the river.

The word “Dong’ means “east” in Chinese, and “Xi“ means “west”. This large metropolis is divided into two by Pudong and Puxi by the Huangpu River passing through it. In other words, east of the Pu River and west of the Pu River. In fact, both regions are highly developed, but the Puxi side is a bit more historic, traditional and old, while Pudong is the most modern face of the city.

Where to Stay in China?

There are three different types of hotels in China: international, tourist and local. International hotels are generally the largest hotel chains in the world. Medium quality hotels are preferred by tourists and businessmen. You can safely stay at these hotels. Chinese people usually stay in low-quality hotels. Apart from the luxurious ones, two people can stay in single rooms in other groups. Because there is not much price difference between double and single rooms. Never book a hotel without knowing the location information and looking at the photos. You can get information from different websites.

In major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, there is also a home rental alternatives. In the Shichahai area, you can find the hotel and home options closest to the center of Beijing.

What to Eat in China?

Chinese cuisine is world-famous. It is among the richest culinary cultures in the world. Chinese cuisine is divided into four as; North, South, East and the West. Although there are important differences between them, dishes with sauce and vegetables, cooking dishes in pits called wok and eating with chopsticks are among the most important and common features of Chinese cuisine. Although Beijing is in the North, it is possible to taste all the dishes of the country in the capital.

There is almost no unused material in Chinese cuisine, and the Chinese are proud to eat a wide variety of things. In addition to the ingredients used in other cuisines of the world, Chinese cuisine has some unique ingredients. Of these materials, soybeans and soybean-derived materials are of particular importance. These include soy sauce, soymilk, bean sprouts, and tofu. Soy sauce is a sauce obtained by fermenting soybeans with water, salt and cereals and is widely used in Chinese dishes. Soymilk is a high protein beverage obtained by grinding dry soybeans with water. Bean sprouts are the newly sprouted form of bean grains. Tofu is a soft and solid food obtained by heating and precipitating soy milk like curd cheese.

Rice is also frequently consumed in China. In addition to chicken and fish meat served with vegetables such as broccoli, mushrooms, and cabbage, the world-famous Peking duck is among the most popular foods. Below are the leading restaurants where you can taste Chinese food.

  • Traditional Chinese food and Sichuan: Meifu Jiayan / Beijing
  • Peking Duck: Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant / Beijing
  • Chinese Ravioli, Uyghur Rice and Zhua Fan: Southern Vernal Restaurant / Urumqi
  • Vegetable and chicken dishes: Shanghai Garden / Shanghai

Shopping in China: Best Souvenirs to Buy

You can find hundreds of different kinds of tea, especially green tea, in China. Tea and teacups of different sizes and features are among the most preferred souvenirs. Perhaps one of the most popular products you can take home for your female relatives is silk. Beautiful silk clothes can be quite expensive depending on the quality. The same applies to bedclothes, but smaller items such as pillowcases, bags, and accessories are cheaper and more common in tourist areas. If you are interested in buying silk clothes or traditional Chinese clothing, you should consult someone who knows this very well. You can also choose porcelain, figurines, colorful chopsticks and items with dragon figures.

Things to Know Before Visiting China

  • You should pay attention to public holidays before your trip. On public holidays, most venues are closed.
  • It is a good idea to keep your money in US Dollars or Euros. You can use your bank cards in China.
  • Bargaining culture exists throughout the country. You can negotiate for souvenirs.
  • You can receive immediately activated phone lines from markets.
  • There is a form to fill in at the entrance and exit. Be sure to fill out and submit this form.
  • Access to popular social media applications and game consoles is not allowed in China.

Nightlife in China

There is a dynamic nightlife in China, especially in Beijing and Shanghai. Bars, nightclubs and elegant restaurants are among the indispensable places of nightlife. In Beijing, the Wudaokou district is one of the places where these places are concentrated.

Shanghai offers a wide range of venue alternatives for theater, opera, cinema and acrobatic performances unique to Chinese culture. There are also places where you can listen to jazz and rock interpretations of local and foreign musicians to listen to live music. Shangcheng Acrobatic Show and Era Intersection of Time are among the most popular shows.

In Urumqi, bars and clubs are heavily involved in the newly developing nightlife.

Public Holidays in China

  • 3-4 April – Qingming Jie Festival
  • 1-2 May – Labor Day
  • 1 July – CPC Founding Day
  • 1 October – National Day
  • 25 December – Christmas

Festivals in China

  • (Date changes according to the Chinese calendar) – Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
  • 22 February – Lantern Festival
  • March – Zhonghe Festival
  • 4-6 April – Qingming Festival
  • 10-11 June – Dragon Boat Festival
  • 9 August – Double Seven Festival
  • 9 October – Double Ninth Festival

FAQ about China

  • What are the working hours in China?

Public institutions are open from 08.00 to 17.00. All institutions are closed between 12.00-14.00.

  • Is hierarchy important in China?

Hierarchy is especially important in business life. Punctuality is also very important.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *