China is a land full of mysteries, dynasties and a chequered past that includes communism, all- powerful emperors and great poverty. There was a time not so long ago when no Western tourist would or indeed could visit China. Now China is realising it can be part of the rest of the world and is embracing commercialism and tourism.
Many Westerners now want to discover the secrets of China and the airlines are waking up to this fact. Therefore many airlines fly to China, especially to the larger cities where there are international airports waiting to welcome visitors.
Did you know that in China giving a clock as a gift wrapped in white wrapping paper would be seen as wishing ill upon the recipient? It's true! Both clocks and white denote death in Chinese culture, but gifts like wine and cognac are often appreciated.
Many Western customs are well-known and even accepted in most of China; however, it is still good to know some basic Chinese etiquette for your travels out of respect. There are many superstitions in China that shape their etiquette, especially when it comes to gift-giving and dining. Those are just a few thoughts to take with you on your trip.
Beijing is a city that somehow manages to balance progress with history. The most conspicuous demonstration of this balance can be seen when visiting the Forbidden City, an ancient palace that still stands proud amongst the skyscrapers popping up throughout Beijing.
Shanghai is both the largest city in China and in the world. Shanghai wasn’t always such a massive and important city; back in 18th century, it was just a fishing and textiles town. By the 19th century, its location on the coast made it an attractive port, and since then, Shanghai has been an up and coming city.
Guangzhou lays in the South of China. The city is quite big, with 6 million residents! People come to Guangzhou for the good quality of the food. It has the most restaurants and teahouses of all the cities in China. It can be pretty chaotic, so moving in the city is best with metro of taxi. Sounds good right?
Chengdu is the capital of China’s Sichuan province. It has been voted one of the greenest and most livable of China’s cities. The city is home to the Panda Research Base, the largest in the world. There are only about 1500 Giant Pandas left in the wild, most of them living in the bamboo forests surrounding Chengdu.
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✅ Buy travel insurance: In some cases, it could help you save a lot of money.