Korean Job Discussion Forums

[socky_bomb]

Hello all,

Have a few questions about China.

First, my girlfriend is coming to Korea to visit, then we are going to China together. Since she won't have an ARC, I'm guessing she'll need to get a visa for China from the U.S. before she gets on the plane? Is that correct? And if so, any idea how long it takes to process and how much it costs?

Second, I will have my ARC in a week. Where do I go to get a visa to China (I live in Gwangmyeong, near Seoul) and how long will it take to process and how much will it cost? (I'm sure I can find this part elsewhere but... since you're already here, why not)

Third, I'm trying to plan a 7-9 day loop through China and need help filling in the gaps.

I'm thinking about taking a boat from Incheon to Tianjin. Stay one night, train to Beijing and see the Forbidden City, Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Underground Palace, etc... Spend 2-3 days here. Then go SouthWest to Xi'An for the Terra Cotta Army (1 day + overnight travel). Loop back into Qingdao for 1 day and catch the boat ride home.

Anyone have suggestions for stops between Beijing and Xi'An and places to hit on the way back to Qingdao? Still got a day or two to fill up.

Thanks for any input!

[alwaysbeclosing100]

xanada.co.kr did my china visa.....it is in itaewon......search the forum if you want an agent south of the river that does visas.......soho travel i think.........takes about a week to process and costs over $200 if you are from the US.......i have no idea what it takes to get a china visa in the US.......

IMO the boat seems like a bit of a hassle for not much cost savings.....maybe do an open jaw plane ticket for beijing and shanghai........

[D.D.]

she can just get her visa in the states before she comes. easier and cheaper, i imagine around 5 days and 105 bucks for visa in states.

[qcat79]

that's far too much distance in travelling in china for that short of a period. i did two weeks in only two provinces last summer and wasn't near enough time. if i were you, i'd stick to two cities and one place off the path for that kind of schedule.

you need to get your chinese visa in the area near myeongdong. there are tons of agencies there that process them for about $200 a pop. i suggest asking for the double entry one if i were you. you pay just a bit more, but it'll save you the hassle in case you want to go back to china again, or head to hong kong, then back to the mainland.

[samd]

Skip the boat, it's just not worth it from what people I know who have taken it have told me. Not much cheaper, lots of waiting around, slow, uncomfortable, no view, going to where you catch the boat is harder than going to the airport, etc. Seoul to Beijing flights are cheap, I just got one for 280USD including tax on Ctrip.

Also Tianjin is ugly and polluted with nothing to do, and absolutely nothing unique in terms of food or entertainment. It's a waste of a night in China. Skip the boat and skip Tianjin, there are so many nice cities/places where your time is better spent.

Use Ctrip to book flights and hotels, they're awesome.

Beijing, Xian, Qingdao are doable in 7-9 days, but if you fly instead of sail, then you'll have a couple of more extra days, and if you want to do a lightning tour you could even squeeze in Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Chongqing, Qingdao and back to Beijing. Domestic flights are cheap and plentiful, and there are lots of options for times.

I agree with a previous poster that you need much more time to do each place justice, but if you just want to see as many cities as possible, you could easily spend only 2 days in each one.