Visiting China will leave you with wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. China is filled with color, beautiful landscapes, and world-class culture. Traveling through China will be one of the most unique experiences you could ever undergo. However, in order to make your trip successful, preplanning your trip to China is essential.
1. Make sure that your passport is valid
The first thing you will want to do is make certain your passport is valid and up to date. Double check to make sure it does not expire when you are traveling.
2. Get a visa
Once your passport has been confirmed in order, you’ll want to get a visa. If your travel agent is preplanning your trip to China, they may be able to help assist you in acquiring a visa. To acquire the visa on your own, you’ll need to get in touch with the Chinese Embassies and Consulates. You will then be asked to fill out an application, which will ask information such as why you are visiting the country and what cities and areas you will be visiting. You’ll need to send your passport in with the application, as well. Depending on what country you are visiting from, the cost can vary between $20 and $60. Generally, the visa process can take less than a week, but in order to guarantee your visa application has been taken care of, you’ll want to take care of this item first in preplanning your trip to China.
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3. Acquire the assistance of a travel agent
If you are preplanning your trip to China, it may be more beneficial to acquire the assistance of a travel agent. The travel agent can help you plan your day so you don’t miss a thing. While the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China that should be on your must-see list, there are many other places that should be seen, such as the Yangtze River and the Silk Road in China. In you’re not going through a travel agent, make certain you conduct a lot of research in places to visit while you are in China.
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4. Schedule a visit with your physician
Another suggested item in preplanning your trip to China is to schedule a visit with your physician. With the exception of a Yellow Fever vaccination if you are visiting from an area that is known to be infected, China does not have any required vaccinations for those entering their country. However, this is a great time for you to schedule a physical and make certain you are healthy enough to travel and update your routine immunizations, such as tetanus, diphtheria, measles, mumps, and rubella. You may also want to get the Hepatitis A immunization if you are planning to travel to more rural areas of China. Check with your physician on any other recommendations he or she may give you.
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5. Children
If you are bringing children along on your trip to China, you’ll also want to make sure they see their physician before leaving the country. As most of the taxis in China do not have working seat belts, a child seat should only be necessary for infants. If you are planning on renting a vehicle, then you may want to bring the car seat along for your child’s safety.
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6. Chinese currency
In preplanning your trip to China, you’ll also want to research and get familiar with Chinese currency. In China, Renminbi, otherwise known as “the Peoples money” is the common currency. The US dollar equals to approximately 6.8 Renminbi, although you’ll want to check the rate before you leave. In the exchange bureaus, you’ll find Chinese currency listed as CNY, which stands for Chinese Yuan. One of the most important things you can do when preplanning your trip to China is to do some online research on understanding Chinese currency, as well as how to get cash and make purchases while you are in China. As China has a unique culture of bargaining in sales, it is much better to research how best to bargain while in China than to go in not knowing some of the rules and spend over your budget.
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7. Learning a little of the language
Learning at least some key phrases is something everyone should do as they are preplanning their trip to China. As mentioned above, bargaining with sales is part of their unique and fun culture. Learning a little of the language will give you a more rewarding experience. It will also help you to understand their unique cuisine and assist you in making the best decision in ordering what you’d really like to eat.
In preplanning your trip to China, it is best to do as much research as possible to make your trip a success. Learning the language, currency, and best places to visit before you go will allow you to spend more time enjoying yourself in China. Visiting China on a whim will not allow you to thoroughly take pleasure in the culture and community.