China: Overview
The People’s Republic of China, the most populated state in the world, is located to the east of Asia and it shares froniers with fourteen countries: Afghanistan, Butan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal, North Korea, Russia, Laos, Mongolia, India, Kazajstán, Kirguistán, Tayikistán and Pakistan.
Climate
The climate of China is mostly continental and subtropical. The south is warm, humid and rainy while the north is cold, dry and windy. During the end of spring and summer the south is especially rainy. The east of the country is Monsoon area.
Some recommendations
The used currency is the renminbi (RMB) - basic unit: yuan - and although most of the foreing currencies can be exchanged in the country, it is good to ask -at the embassy or any other reliable source- before you travel whether your own currency can be exchanged directly to RMB in Chinese banks or if it is necessary to convert it first into another currency. It is also important to know that the circulation of foreign currencies or bank accounts opening with those currencies is not allowed in this country. Besides traveler's checks the following credit cards are accepted in China: Master, Visa, American Express, Diners and JCB. To enter to the country you need a passport valid at least for six months and, in many cases, a visa. It is important to make sure at the embassy what kind of visa do you need and which are the requirements to obtain it. To keep healthy during the trip it is better to eat light foods, fruits and vegetables, to drink as much mineral water as you can and to avoid street food. People coming from certain countries will have to produce valid vaccination certificates for smallpock, cholera and yellow fever, among other. Before traveling you shuold ask about this and other possible medical requirements in the Embassy of China of your own country. Also, if you are planing to visit Tibet, it is necessary to take certain precautions like carring oxygen to use in the event of being affected by height reaction symptoms (dizzyness, lack of air, nose bleeding, fast heart beating, thirst, muscular pain and fatigue). In case this happens the most advisable thing to do is to stop walking, sit down, relax and take oxygen. However, if the symptoms persist, you must reamin calm but seek medical help. Trips to Tibet or to any plateau are not advisable for people with heart conditions, breathing or high pressure problems. In the most important cities you can find charged public bathrooms for 0.20 or 0.30 yuan per person; bathrooms in airports and big shopping centers are free.
Where to go
Millennial China offers a wide variety of destinations full with tradition, mystery and culture. Tourists main destinations in this country are: Beijing (Peking), the country’s capital, where you can see many imperial palaces and gardens, samples of millennial architecture, temples, monasteries and artists; Shanghai, the largest metropolis in the country, washed by China Oriental Sea and famous by the new buildings in the rivera, the pier, Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple and Shanghai Museum, among many other things. Xian city was the capital of eleven dynasties, for what it makes an excellent choice for travelers who want to learn about Chinese history; Hong Kong whose sovereignty was resumed by China in 1997, is the commercial, financial and industrial biggest center in the world and the main tourist destination in Asia. Tibet Autonomous Region invites you to learn its history, to enjoy the incredible beauty of its landscapes and to get in touch with its interesting culture.
Other important destinations worthwhile to visit during this trip are Guangzhou, the beautiful “City of Flowers”; Guilin, the "First under the sky", called like this because of its beautiful rivers and hills; Yunnan, the "City of Eternal Spring"; Hangzhou, a true paradise and one of the six ancient capitals of China; Suzhou, crossed by the Great Channel and home of ten unique gardens; Luoyang, where you can also visit very beautiful gardens and important historical vestiges; Qufu, full of millennial history and Confucio’s native town; Nanjing, called " Crouching tiger and hidden dragon city" for its mountain and river; Xinjiang, inhabited by a wide variety of nationalities; Shanxi, home of beautiful temples and grottos; Chendge, call "The fresh garden without summer" and The three Gorges, the biggest hydroelectric dam in the world.
Something else
Besides the unforgettable destinations already mentioned, this country offers you many traditional festivals, full with color, mystery and lights throughout the whole year. It is also possible to make tours where you can learn some Taijiquan or study the millennial Chinese medicine. Of course, you cannot leave China without going to one of the magical Chinese theater representations.
