China is on the bucket list of most travelers, and being able to visit it even once in your lifetime is a big deal! It’s a very big country, with a history longer than most others in the world, and there’s a lot to see and do while you’re there.
But of course, if you’re coming from the US, there’s going to be quite a few things you’ll need to do to prepare for your trip to China. Some may be unexpected, others are fairly standard for taking a trip abroad, so let’s go into a little more detail below.
You’ll Need a Travel Visa
If you want to visit China, and you’re coming from the USA, you’re going to need a visa as well as your passport in order to gain entry. There are some cities and regions in China that don’t require a visa to get into, but it’s much better to have one issued to ensure you can move freely around the country.
Of course, depending on your reason for visiting, you’re going to need a certain type of visa. There are about 4 main types you can look into, and you can find more detail on those right here.
Don’t worry, the process is fairly simple to get along with. Thankfully, the internet means most people are using Evisumservice.be to apply for a visa and get it approved in a short matter of time. You don’t have to wait around for the embassy itself to take your application in, stamp it with approval and then let you get on again. Weeks can be involved in this matter!
Make Sure You’ve Got the Right Vaccinations
First thing’s first, it’s important to be topped up on all of the right and reasonable travel vaccines before you go anywhere; these include the TB vaccine, as well as the vaccines for Mumps, Measles, and Rubella, etc.
According to the World Health Organization, if you’re planning to travel to China, it’s recommended that on top of these, you get vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B, as well as for Cholera, Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, polio, rabies, and of course, tetanus.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry when traveling, so ensure you leave enough time to get your shots and boosters before you jet off to see China in full.
Work Out the Best Way to Fly
There are quite a few ways to get to China, and most notably of all, you can fly there. You can choose to go direct or use stop-offs and layovers if you’re someone who prefers a break in your long haul flights.
Most people like to enter via Beijing, the capital, or they like to enter via Shanghai or Hong Kong. Keep that in mind if you’re planning to avoid crowds of tourists! It’d also be good for you to check out the entry stops of Chengdu and Guangzhou; these are also pretty popular stops, specifically for those wanting to immerse themselves in sights, sounds, and culture, and less so for anyone wanting to shop until they drop.
Work Out the Best Spots to Visit
Following on from the spot above, make sure you know where you want to go before you go. With a country like China, it’s key to come up with some kind of itinerary to keep you on the straight and narrow. It’s a big country, with a lot of districts, and there’s a lot of world-famous stops you might want to get off at while you’re here.
You have the Great Wall of China, of course, as well as the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Army to snap some great shots of. You can also visit the Chengdu Zoo while you’re here because it’s one of the largest in the world, and maybe your only chance in your lifetime to take a peek at some giant pandas in a semi-native habitat!
Ready to Go?
Traveling to China takes quite a bit of preparation, so make sure you’re ready for this process before you think of booking yourself a vacation away there. Make sure you’ve got plenty of items on your bucket list to see while you’re there, to ensure you’re never missing a moment of such a once in a lifetime experience! But of course, most importantly, ensure that you’ve taken the right safety measures, and you’ve got everything you need to enter and stay in the country.