Travel Tips for China

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) November 27, 2009 -- Robust and adventurous travellers will find much to enjoy in China. Many of the negative observations of China, from pollution to noise, are restricted to large urban centres – in particular Beijing. Take care that a three-week itinerary takes in both urban and rural China – try Hong Kong to Yunnan via the stunning scenery of Guilin and Yangshuo, or an exploration of some of the main historic areas of the country, from Beijing to Xian and on to the stunning Mogao Caves at Dunhuang.

Soft sleeper class on express trains is the most popular option with independent travellers. Tickets should be purchased a few days in advance. Large stations have separate desks for foreigners or you can, for a small service charge, use the travel desk in larger hotels. However, provided you're not travelling around Chinese New Year or the first day of May or October, you should have few problems getting around. Chinese signage is the norm, but if you know your train number, getting on board is straightforward. Seat61 (seat61.com) is an excellent source of clear, practical information. An English-language rail timetable is available at Duncan Peattie's helpful site chinatt.org.