Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IncognitoHFX]

I've talked to quite a few people about travelling to China and have inquired about it here, yet I haven't been able to make such a trip yet. I guess, unlike my trip to Tokyo, it's one of those things that needs to be planned meticulously as a bad plan in China would be worse than a bad plan in other places.

That being said, where is a place I could go that would give me the most "Chinese experiences"? I want to see all the salient things people identify with China, like the Great Wall, Tiannamen Square, The Forbidden Palace, et cetera, but I also want to be able to go it alone as opposed to going with a tour group and I don't to be involved with anything that resembles a "resort".

I'm asking this because I've heard so many mixed-bag stories about China. I've heard that it was beautiful yet dirty and I've heard that it had the potential to be extremely dangerous if you end up in the wrong place. Then again, I've heard the majority of this from Koreans so I tend to take it with a grain of salt ("oh! China dirty!")

Does anyone have any advice for someone like me travelling through China? What would be the best way to go about it? I wouldn't mind travelling in a small group but my friends aren't really too keen on visiting China. Are there any agencies that specialize in single tour guides (ie:a person to travel with me)? Are they expensive?

Any information would be useful. I'm planning on taking this trip sometime next year and planning it now. Thanks

[littlelisa]

I went to Beijing in March for a week and had a great time. I went alone, not with part of a tour.

If I went again, I think I would stay with a couchsurfer, but actually, I had a great experience because I made Chinese friends very quickly and hung out with them a lot. I have a friend who fits into the other side of things (not liking Beijing and saying it's really dirty), but even he says that the people are really just wonderful people. My experience probably would have been very different if I hadn't made such great friends. I still keep in touch with them and would like to go back. My friends want to go travelling with me all through China from Beijing to Tibet.

Why not sign up for Couchsurfing? It's a great community and an easy way to get a less touristy view of China. I met two people who were couchsurfing in Beijing (I was not signed up then), and they had an amazing experience and were telling me all about it. Might be what you're looking for.

Edit: also, apparently I went at a really good time weatherwise. Not cold, and before the summer smog comes in. Maybe consider a trip in March?

[ttompatz]

Hit Beijing... Get a hotel like the Home Inn chain... rates are reasonable.
From there you can do the usual tourist stuff that you mentioned in your post. You can catch a day tour (or get information) out to the great wall from your hotel. The rest of the stuff in the city is easily accessible by taxi and a guide is NOT NECESSARY.

Typically the desk staff have someone who speaks passable English and can assist you with your requirements (like notes written in Chinese for a cab driver telling him where you want to go).

Beijing and most of coastal China is not hard to get around in. If you head into the more remote parts of Western or Northern China you may very well have need of a translator (make friends!).

Have a great trip.

[I-am-me]

I went to Beijing last Sept. Spent 9 days there and still didnt see all the sites. Best advice I can give you is stay at youth hostel near Tianamen square. Trains and buses all stop nearby. Youth hostels around there have cheap trips to the wall and other sites. PM me if you want anymore info on youth hostels. Get a train map online. I found it pretty easy to get around.

[jkelly80]

Does anyone know of a good short-term housing establishment? I'm looking to stay in Beijing next spring for about 3 months or so while I study the zhongwen. Any good spots/websites for this kind of thing? Thanks.