These are the things you absolutely must know if you are considering backpacking in China. Use our experience, learning the hard way, to prepare for your trip to China. With a little bit of time and preparation, you will have a much easier time backpacking in China! The following tips for China involve a little bit of learning, and a lot of street savvy. So let’s get to it:
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The Best Tips for Backpacking in China
Here are the tips we picked up along the way while backpacking in China.
Tip 1: Student Card
If you are a student, were, will be, can be…get yourself an international student card! Almost all entrances are 50% off the price. Ask for a “xuesheng” ticket (pronounced shwe-shung).
Tip 2: Read up or take a Guidebook
Almost nothing in China is labeled in English, not even at main tourist sites. If you want to know what you are looking at you should probably read about it beforehand or get yourself a guide.
We are big fans of the Lonely Planet guidebook, for those on a backpacking budget. As a matter of fact, we took this (heavy) guide with us and broke it apart into smaller sections that we took on various tours with us.
Tip 3: Hiring a Guide
If you want a guide, generally it is better to get yourself one after you enter the site and not outside the gates where prices are inflated.
Tip 4: Directions
Acquaint yourself with the characters for the directions (north, east, south, west). They are often found on street signs but only in Chinese.
Tip 5: Restroom signs
Ditto for the characters of male and female, so you know which toilet to go to. I made this nifty graphic for you. Pin it now to save for later!
Tip 6: Learn the Numbers
Learn the numbers, and more importantly the hand signals for the numbers; this is a must for bargaining and you must bargain.
Tip 7: Handwritten Note in Chinese
Get someone at your hotel to write for you in Chinese characters where you want to go. Then it will be easy to show this to taxis and bus drivers, especially when you move southward and the dialects are hard(er) to understand.
Tip 8: Take a Business Card
People you meet will want to trade business cards with you. Even if it is just a name card with an email or phone, it makes for an easy way of sharing contacts.
Do you have any more tips for backpacking in China? What else have you found useful to know ahead of time?
Want to read all about our trip to China? We spent over a month backpacking all over China. Here’s where you can find all of our posts:
- Four Days in Beijing
- Visiting the Great Wall
- Day Trip to Datong
- Exploring Pingyao
- Xian (Terracotta Soldiers)
- Xian to Chengdu
- Sichuan Highlights (Pandas!)
- Shangri-la
- Dali
- Lijiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Kunming and Yangshuo (Rice Terraces)
- Guangzhou and Hong Kong
Start Planning Your Trip to China Now! There are amazing bargains to be had!
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