I don’t want this to be a discouraging post about traveling in China, but I do want to be honest about just exactly what to expect when you travel here so you have very few surprises.
Also, I feel compelled to write this post because I’m tired of meeting other foreigners and hearing the constant bitching about this environment and everything that they don’t like about it because it’s different than their home. Maybe being in China before this has changed me in that way, but seriously, why come over here to experience this new and different world to then only bitch about it?
Ok, so I may have been this person before, but not for long. So as a courtesy to all or any foreigners reading this, quit it. You’re being annoying and it’s not a nice color on you. It makes you look entitled and more privileged than the natives that welcomed you into their country.
There are some things you will just never change about China no matter how much you bitch and complain about them. If you don’t like it, go home.
Most people run into this issue when visiting and it completely disrupts their visit to China and the possibility of truly enjoying this place. Focusing too much on the drastic cultural differences is a waste of time. China is MAGNIFICENT if you choose to let it wash over you and don’t attempt to nitpick at everything that is different than what you know.
This is a post about the good things you can expect when traveling in China and some of the bad things you might be able to expect. Both are provided because let’s be honest, we know our home countries aren’t perfect, so why should China be any different?
Everything is Cute in China
You will find a lot of cuteness in China. I’m not exactly sure what the obsession of cute Hello Kitty style items stems from, but I am 100% onboard.
You can find cuteness in notebooks, pens, attire, photography, you name it! I’ve never seen such cuteness in the US before. Then there is this nifty website here, called Taobao, that sells all the cute and girly things that you can hoard to your heart’s desire. Plus, all the cute and girly things are insanely cheap. This brings me to my next topic…
Everything is Insanely Cheap
The most expensive part about being in China is just flying here. You’ll spend more money to travel here than you will to live and eat here. To give you an example, a bowl of noodles, on average, is like 10 RMB, which is about $1.43.
Now, the more Western you get with your food, the more costly, so this is just one other reason to stuff your face with the local cuisine. Other than that, cabs are cheap, subways are cheap, bike shares are cheap, everything is cheap. If you want to buy a lot of things for really cheap, come to China and bring an empty suitcase.
Food is Delicious… When You Figure Out What’s Good
When I first arrived in China five years ago, my friend, Erin, took me to a place in Chongqing that she regarded as a famous place to eat in the city. She ordered a huge variety of food for us to choose from. Food is my favorite, and it was obvious by my 190-pound body. I sampled little pieces from each plate until I got to one in particular that looked like a beef dish.
Using my chopsticks, I placed the hot beef in my mouth and was met with a very unusual taste, the taste of liver. I almost threw up at the table. From then on, I made it a point to know all of the foods I would be eating in China so I could avoid two of the worst tasting flavors of all, kidney and liver.
Kidney and liver aside, each region in China has a drastically different flavor than the other. One of the best ways to really take in the culture is to try the local cuisines, even if they look questionable. I’ve found I don’t like kidney and liver, but I will definitely eat rabbit head or boil up some cow stomach in hot pot. With technologies within WeChat, you can translate menus and order items easily.
Some of my favorite foods when traveling in China are Chongqing Hot Pot, outdoor BBQ, Chongqing noodles, chao shou, tomato and egg dish, shredded potatoes, twice-cooked pork, and literally a billion more.
Bubble Tea is EVERYWHERE
So guys, I am obsessed with bubble tea. My brother Jason does not like it and says they use fake milk, and even if that’s true, I don’t care. Give me all the fake milk in my milk tea. It is my favorite part about traveling in China.
My favorite places to get bubble milk tea are places like Cha Time, Happy Lemon, and Coco. However, if none of those options are available, I will not discriminate over which location I will get a bubble tea.
I have also recently discovered a bubble tea from Happy Lemon that has a thick sweet cream smeared around the inside of a cup of milk tea. It is heaven. For those of you who are coming to visit, you will be drinking this, I guarantee it.
A Plate of 30 Dumplings is $3
If you’re anything like me and go to a restaurant for dim sum, you probably feel like the dumpling orders are too small of portions at astronomical prices. I’m here to tell you that you can get huge portions of dumplings when traveling in China for like 30 RMB, or $3. AND, they taste SO MUCH BETTER.
The flavors of dumplings in China will ruin the taste of dumplings from P.F. Chang’s for the rest of your life. No more cabbage filled dumplings for you, no sir. These dumplings are made with savory beef, lamb, or pork and a little side of sauce for dipping.
Accommodations are SO Cheap and Good!
One time, I stayed at a hostel in Xi’an. It was a capsule hotel called Blackstone Capsule Hostel. Inside, the hostel had little capsules, big enough to fit two people comfortably. Staying at this hostel only cost me $8 a night. Hostels are so easy to stay in and easy to find for cheap. Most of them have ratings of 4.5 to 5 stars. Hostels are perfect for solo travelers or if you are traveling with your friends.
Even a Holiday Inn and Suites in China is around $50 a night.
China Has Some Funky Smells
I will not lie, when traveling in China you’ll notice there is some kind of stank. I don’t have an explanation for why it smells quite ‘shitty’ here. So, when you get here and it smells like an outhouse in your nearest bathroom, don’t be discouraged, just choke back your dry heaves and carry on… and maybe bring a mask.
Also, there is a thing here that, when you smell it, it can activate the gland that makes you want to hurl everywhere. It is a deceivingly delicious dish called Chou Doufu or, Stinky Tofu. Sometimes the smell pops up out of nowhere and makes your nose really angry, but it’s actually quite tasty!
Unfortunately, there is no way of avoiding the smells, so just breathe through it, or don’t breathe at all.
The Pollution Can Be Really Bad
I remember Chongqing stayed consistent with its pollution rankings on the Air Quality Index (AQI). I felt like it went above 200 on the AQI very rarely. However, in Xi’an, I have seen it reach 356, which is considered hazardous. For days like that, full hazmat suits are advised.
Unfortunately, there is really nothing you can do about this especially as one single foreigner visiting or living here. What I can say is do your part to not add to it. Don’t order food online if you don’t have to, try to walk or ride bikes as much as possible.
Before you come to China, get a really good mask to bring with you, or buy one here. If you have someone inviting you, have them help you find a good mask with a filtering system so you can keep your lungs clean.
Get Cozy With the Strangers
The concept of personal space is not even in existence here, let alone pondered. If you ever dream of the anxiety you’ll feel if you ever find yourself with your nose in someone’s armpit on a subway or bus, China may not be the place for you. Think about it, in Xi’an there are 12 million people living here. When you look out the 25th-floor window of your apartment it may not seem that way, but it’s true.
China is crowded. Just avoid going out at peak times of the day or else you’re going to have to get comfy with strangers very quickly. Also, no one lines up to get onto subways, trains, busses, and everything else. Too many people and everyone thinks they are more important than the person next to them. The point is, you can either get really mad at the closeness or just laugh at it. I choose laughter.
Please, Thank You, and Excuse Me Don’t Really Exist
I’ve been told while traveling in China, I say ‘please’, ‘thank you’, and ‘excuse me’ entirely too much. For us, being polite is a hard habit to kick. When you learn Chinese, you still learn how to say ‘thank you’ and ‘you’re welcome’. Heck, I still say both. So I’m not entirely saying you should be rude but think of it as a possibility to abandon those formalities whilst in China.
It’s not uncommon to yell at the owner of a restaurant for the check or leave without someone telling you to have a good day. It just is what it is. If you would like to stubbornly hold onto those formalities of being polite in a country that doesn’t quite care if you use them or not, that is totally your choice and no one will judge.
Beyond all of this and the surprises you most likely will face being in China, it is a lovely and incredibly fascinating place to be and I highly encourage people to visit and break down the walls that separate us and learn to understand each other’s worlds.
If you enjoyed this blog and are already set for traveling to China, visit my most recommended apps for visiting China here!
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