6 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 visas and logistics, but a few things that you might want to consider before exploring. 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 (seriously), the history of its martial arts is rich but still very much alive, and the folks that we met were often sweet but straight-forward.

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. Stay Connected

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.

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 to See Dead Bodies (Just Like In The U.S.)

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. Read why travelers should be consuming plant-based diets.

3. Bring Your Vegan Food Card & Translation App

It was helpful that I was in China with a guide and a group that had been there many times before because it seemed that not many Chinese folks spoke English where we visited, or just chose not to. (And there is nothing wrong with that!)

Translate And Share Your Dietary Needs

For me, China was not a place where I could slide by identifying words that looked like English or Spanish words. For this reason, it is helpful to bring a vegan food card and a translation app. You can find 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. Technology is strange – all you have to do is hold the app up to words, and BAM, it will translate them through the lenses!

4. Get Ready to Drop it Low

And by that, I mean to use the toilet, of course. Unless you’re in some fancy tourist area, expect to be squatting to do your business in 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 for different reasons.

5. The Food May Not be What You’re Expecting

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 USA. But not 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 Plant-Based Specialty Foods

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, so you’ll have to keep your eating simple (which could be fun!) in those parts of China, 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. Enjoy! 

6. My Last Tip to You is Simple

Don’t drink the water. Just don’t do it, or you may end up sick. (This is my rule of thumb when traveling in most countries.) Buy filtered water or bring your own filter!

View my most epic travel itinerary here!

*This was not a budget trip. My time spent in China was with a group tour.

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