6 Important Things To Know Before Traveling To China

So you’re heading to China I hear? Perfect, there are a few things that you need to know before stepping on the plane. We won’t be talking about country-specific visas and logistics, but we will review a few things that you might want to consider before your trip, including the best free VPN apps that need to be downloaded ahead of time. I spent a little over two weeks in China while exploring Asia —  and let me tell you — it is unlike any other country that I have explored. China is stunning; its forests are magical, the history of its martial arts is ancient yet still very much alive, and the folks that we met were often incredibly welcoming and straight-forward.

Fantastic Adventure Awaits You In China

While in China my top adventures were The Great Wall, Zhangjiajie National Forest, (also known as the Avatar forest), hiking to the top of Mount Huashan, and spending time with the Eagle Claw Master. There’s so much to cover, so I’ve split up the information on China into two posts so that you can get the serious info right here, and find the most epic travel itinerary here. Let’s dive in.

1. The Best VPN Apps For China

If you want to stay connected to friends and family back home, you’ll need to download a VPN app BEFORE you get into the country. Facebook, Instagram, and all of the apps that some are used to using are banned and blocked in China. So are the VPN apps, that’s why I have “BEFORE” in bold and capitalized. There are a few different VPN apps that are free, but this is the one that worked best for me.

Download WeChat To Send Messages In China

If you are with a group or want to be able to send messages to others in China while in China, make sure to download the WeChat app. You’ll have to have someone who is already approved in the app to let you in, so start scrolling through your contacts to see who has been accepted.

2. Expect Blatant Animal Cruelty In China (Just Like In The U.S. And Other Countries)

Unlike the U.S., it seems to me that China is more straight forward with what body parts of animals they are selling. A lot of countries, especially the U.S., like to package up animal parts so that consumers are able to turn a blind eye and forget that they paid for someone to be slaughtered.

In China it’s often just all out there. So expect to see a lot of dead animals and their body parts out in the open, including those of dogs. Avoid eating animals and their secretions so that you can minimize the amount of suffering that you support with your dollar and combat climate change via food choices. Not sure how to eat plant-based while traveling? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered in this free guide!

For those who love a tale of bravery and hope, check out my first ever podcast interview on the Unruly Travel & Alternative Living podcast. I spoke to an activist who went to jail in China for rescuing dogs from a slaughterhouse as she shared her story of courage, loss, and animal rescue.

3. What To Know About Vegan Travel In China

As a vegan, it was helpful that I was in China with a guide and a group that had been there many times before. We visited a lot of rural places where many people didn’t speak English (and I don’t speak Mandarin) which made communicating specific dietary and ethical needs challenging. That’s where a vegan food card and translation app can be helpful.

How To Translate And Share Your Dietary Needs

You can download free vegan food cards online, explaining what your diet consists of in different languages, to print out and bring with you while dining. Google Translate is also helpful when trying to read labels, product descriptions, or instructions. You can download key phrases or entire languages while you have wifi and use them when you are offline or without service. This is one example of technology being incredible helpful – with the Google Translate camera function all you have to do is hold the app up to words, and within seconds, it will translate them through the lenses!

4. How Are The Toilets In China?

Unless you’re in fancy tourist area, expect to be squatting to do your business via a hole in the ground. Sometimes the bathrooms have sit-down toilets, and sometimes not. Most of the time no toilet paper is provided so be sure to bring your own, if you’re into that sort of thing. I didn’t have a huge problem with the set-up of the bathrooms because for me it feels more natural to squat, but it is a good thing to be mindful of for folks who have a hard time bending down or limited mobility for different reasons.

5. Chinese Food In China VS ‘American’ Chinese Food

I’ve been to a lot of countries and the food is usually pretty similar to the country-specific cuisine that I’ve tried before in the US. But this was not the case in the places that we visited in China. If you think that the food there is going to taste exactly like the Chinese food that you’re used to eating at home, think again!

A Note On Speciality Plant-Based Foods In China

In the rural areas at least, the food wasn’t anything like anything that I had before. I also had a hard time finding “specialty” plant-based foods (think: plant-based cheeses, meats, and ice cream), so you’ll have to keep your eating simple (which could be fun!) in those parts of the country or bring lots of snacks. It’s all part of the adventure.

The big cities, on the other hand, are another story. They’re stocked with more familiar and amazing plant-based creations that are just waiting for you to devour them. Find the plant-based options near you and enjoy! 

6. Is The Water In China Safe To Drink?

While in China don’t drink the tap water. Although the water quality in is continuously improving, due to the presence of natural contamination and presence of pollution in water supplies it’s not safe to drink. If you decide to drink the tap water, you may end up sick. (This is my rule of thumb when traveling in most countries!) Buy filtered water or bring your own filter alongside a water bottle to cut down on waste and pollution.

Not sure where to stay while in China? Check out Hostel World!