Blogger: Lauren Lucy Crowley
As you may have noticed OnTheQT recently took a trip to China! What a fascinating place that captured my heart! We had an amazing time, and now its time to share our top tips with you!
Try and learn a few words before you arrive: It’s always a good idea to know a few basic words when you land in a foreign country. This is especially true in China. Locals there really appreciate and respect the fact that you have made an effort with their culture. As Chinese is so different to any European language it is also quite essential to know a few basic words… as hand gestures and acting just don’t work!
Be prepared for a disconnect from social media: In China many social media platforms are banned.. and it is illegal to use different internet pathways to access them. Therefore when you arrive in China prepare to live without snapchat, instagram and Facebook for your stay!
If you’re going in Winter be sure to wear 40 layers of clothes: If you’re travelling to China in the Winter.. then be sure to pack a few extra layers! Although hotel lobbies and cafes are well equipped for the cold with special entrances to block out any cold area… you need to be just as equipped! Coats, scarves, gloves, whatever you can fit in your luggage be sure to bring it!
Be weary of tour guide scams: There are a lot of fun things for tourists to do in China, and unfortunately some of the locals take advantage of the fact that it can be a difficult place to navigate around! If you are headed off on a tour for the day, be sure to trust your tour guide, clearly plan your activity together so ye both know what ye have agreed to, and only pay them when they have dropped you back to your hotel safe and sound.
Visit Victoria Peak in Hong Kong: My absolute favourite thing to do in Hong Kong was to visit the peak! We rode “The Peak Tram” which is the quickest and most scenic way to arrive at the summit! Although we queued for approximately 40 mins before boarding the tram, it was an amazing experience – it was such a steep incline it genuinely felt as though we were on a roller coaster! When we arrived at the top, we had a breathtaking 360 degree panoramic view of the entire city! I recommend taking this trip in the evening as you get to capture the view in the magical sunset! Such a memorable experience!
Visit the French Concession, Shanghai: The French concession was my favourite area in Shangai; a cute neighbourhood of cafes, restaurants, and shops in the Jingan area! It was simply beautiful to walk around for the evening tasting delicious velvety ice-cream, and delicious dark chocolate at the market stalls admiring the architecture!
Visit the Great Wall: You can’t visit China and not visit one of the seven wonders of the world – the Great Wall!! It was a little surreal when we hopped out of our mini bus (and freezing!) We set off on a mini – hike taking an abundance of photos along the way! Although it was artic, the scenery was stunning and so we ended up walking for over an hour!
Hope you have an incredible trip! x
