China: Important things to know about the country before you visit

China is one of those countries that is vast and varied, which makes it necessary for you plan exactly what you want to see during your trip. There is an endless list of things to know about China before you visit. Although China is a safe country, you need to know certain basic things about the country. To help you make the most out of your trip to China, here’s a list of things you need to know about China before you explore the country for a vacation.

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7 things to make note of before you visit China:

Bring visas for China

• One of the most important things to know is that China does not offer visas on arrival, so you need to arrange for your visa well in advance.
• When you apply for a tourist visa, you will have to provide a letter of invitation from a Chinese friend or relative or provide a detailed itinerary of your planned trip. This should also contain your return flights and confirmed reservations for your hotel bookings.

You should know the language

• If you have no knowledge of the Chinese languages, you need a translator there.
• You may need to bring a local to help translate. There are very few people who are aware of sufficient English to help you out.
• So, it is necessary to have an English translator or speaker on the trip.

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Use your bargaining skills

• Never agree to the marked price or first price offered by Chinese marketers.
• Use your bargaining skills and negotiate shrewdly and get the price to a lesser amount than the quoted price.

Water is not drinkable in China

• One important thing to keep in mind to manage your health in China is not to drink the tap water.
• Tap water in China is not drinkable. Bottled water is cheap and can be easily purchased from stores.

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Carry your own toilet paper

• Before going to China you should know one unusual thing is that most Chinese toilets do not provide toilet paper.
• Some hotels and good restaurants will provide it, but it is always a safe idea to carry toilet paper or a box of tissues.

Get a VPN for China

• The Great Firewall in China blocks sites as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and most Google apps.
• Hence, if you want to access these sites while travelling to China, you will have to purchase a VPN.

Hard to get vegetarian food

• If you are a strict vegetarian, you will have some trouble as the local cuisine relies heavily on meat.
• The simple way to say that you are a vegetarian is ‘I eat vegetables,’ which can result in a plate of delightful vegetables.

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