Several familiar bloggers visited Blagoveshchensk last year. They wrote a lot about the capital of the Amur Region, but for some reason almost nothing about the Chinese side. When I asked why, everyone gave different reasons, but I was even afraid that they were forcibly formatting flash drives and erasing memory on the road. After all, it cannot be that a person, having found himself in another country for the first time, will not write anything about it!

Fear-fear, but interest is stronger. I captured the stages of crossing the border, despite the fact that photography is strictly prohibited there.

Residents of Blagoveshchensk constantly travel to China, they do not need a visa. It used to be for every weekend, but now it has become more difficult due to the increased exchange rate of the yuan. For some reason, Russians from other regions are convinced that only those who have an Amur residence permit in their passport can travel without a visa.

In fact, any resident of Russia can enter the border city of Heihe if he has a passport. Theoretically, you can even get to Beijing without a visa or arrange a trip throughout China. In practice, this adventure is likely to end in failure - when boarding a train or plane, your documents will be checked by border guards. But you will have enough color in Heihe, especially if you have never been to China.

1 When I was going on the road, the first thing I did was to exchange rubles for yuan. I did this in Blagoveshchensk, fearing that the course would be worse on the Chinese side. Do not repeat my mistake: as long as the situation is such that the Chinese will give you more: the ruble has become twice cheaper, they are happy to come to us to buy their own goods. In general, if we are talking about a small one - change where you want.

2 The trip to China starts from the river port. In winter and summer, the only difference is how you will be transported to the other side: in winter it is a bus, in summer a boat.

3 Prices bite. A regular ticket costs 2150 rubles. In the summer it is not much cheaper, maybe 200 rubles. The whole embarrassment of the situation is that the trip will take a maximum of five minutes, the bus will simply transport you to the other side of the river and drop you off at Chinese customs.

4 It's still on our shore. Chinese beauty does not freeze at -25!

5 The waiting rooms of the river station could certainly be refurbished, with the money they receive for fares. And now there are so few people, before the jump in the rate, large crowds dangled to China, people missed two or three buses, they could not get in there. The income is huge. There is duty free, where the cat cried.

6 Buses run every 15 minutes. It's made in China, of course. But the numbers are Russian. And the driver is Russian. And I, with a Russian passport, also get on this bus.

7 For some reason, the Chinese have their own transport. Apartheid in the Far East. They say that in a Chinese transport company, travel is several times cheaper. But we can't go there.

8 Hovercraft are not used. Apparently, they are simply not needed, the flow of people moving is minimal. After all, if I didn’t mess up anything, can these ships move on ice?

9 We go down to the floating bridge. It's five barges chained together. In winter, they block the Amur, and people can ride on them. Private transport is prohibited, only buses and occasionally Chinese trucks.

10 In fact, with such a passenger flow and active trade, a normal bridge suggests itself. In addition, our neighbor is China, which is famous for its ability to build roads and bridges in the shortest possible time. The first shuttles began to travel en masse in the early nineties, twenty years ago. And ten years ago, in 2004, our countries agreed on visa-free entry through this border crossing. There were even more people. Time to build a bridge? No, time to buy new boats and buses.

They say that every time Moscow asks why there is still no bridge over the Amur in Blagoveshchensk, local authorities go to the capital and somehow settle the issue. Too profitable business, to take two thousand rubles for five hundred meters of the road. She is called by the people - "golden mile".

Perhaps things will get off the ground by next year, when they promise to build a cable car here. Although this, too, is not at all an easy way, and you can take the same two thousand for a ride. Wouldn't it be easier to build a bridge? No, we have a special way.

11 The arrival hall is heavily smoky. This is the first thing that catches your eye. They smoke inside the station and are not shy. The interior looks like a small airport, everything is much more decent than in the port of Blagoveshchensk.

Border formalities go through quickly, but you still need to pay a little more. On their side, the Chinese are asking for another 100 yuan (today about a thousand rubles) for two tickets. One seems to be the visa fee and the other is the entrance ticket. Yes, China entry ticket.

12 As soon as you leave the border zone, a million Chinese rush to you, who begin obsessively offering their taxi services, assistance in accommodation. If you are Domodedovo Airport at rush hour, then you should understand what I mean. Only here they bombed ten times more, and they pester ten times more actively. I didn't know how to get rid of them.

Suddenly, the hall was filled with uniformed men armed with shields and clubs. Military police. The coolest guys from Chinese law enforcement. They began to circle around the room, banging their boots on the tiled floor and batons on their asses. This is how you have to deal with obsessive bombers, learn!- I thought.

In fact, they just walked in a circle and went to another room. Such security measures were introduced by the Chinese authorities after a bloody attack at a railway station last year. They don't have entry barriers.

13 Here I am free. The Ferris wheel, which so beckoned from Blagoveshchensk, turned out to be unfinished up close. The builders screwed up, and he was not accepted for safety reasons. Or maybe on purpose? Is this a Potemkin village?

14 The city, which lives entirely on trade with Russia, is now going through hard times. It is necessary to change the schemes: Heihe is the very north, and by the standards of China, a distant province. And they brought a lot of goods.

15 The closest building to the customs office is the shopping center “Ostrov”, the nastiest place in the city. By the way, we really are on the island, moreover, it once belonged to Russia. At what point and how the Chinese ended up there, I don’t know, tell me. After all, they fought for the uninhabited Damansky in the sixties, but this one was given up without a fight?

16 Inside, at first glance, an ordinary shopping center with all sorts of junk. The main thing, as I understand it, is not to rise above the first floor. They say that they can beat a tourist there if you stop to look at the window, and then you don’t buy anything. It is especially dangerous now when there are no Russians in the city. Or maybe they're pushing.

17 Funny Chinese signs in Russian start here.

18 Although what awaits us in the city itself is much cooler. There will even be a separate post about them!

19 Vodka shop is my favorite!

21 There is another shopping center just behind the Island. The same Yuan dong, which is so clearly visible from the Blagoveshchensk coast. Near it there are buses that go to the center. Usually everyone uses taxi services: it is inexpensive even now, within a hundred rubles in the city. But the bus costs ten.

22 What is the first thing to do in China? Breakfast, it's time. In the morning, the stomach is empty. Even if the noodle shop is not yet open, but is open - come in, you will not be left hungry.

23 Igor met me in Heihe. He lives in China, is fluent in the language and does business, helping to ship goods across the border, and then send them to transport companies throughout Russia. Igor is the king of shuttles :) And I, the cudgel, will never learn how to take pictures properly on goPro - people turn out to be different from what they are in life.

24 Now I will tell you about the way back, it is also interesting. I will definitely tell you about the two days that I spent with the Chinese.

25 The border guards will ask for 35 yuan. It's a ticket out of China, yes. Not a bribe, an official fee. I seem to like taking pictures with my phone - the quality is lame, but it's not as bad as it used to be. But stealth is the best weapon of a spy and a photoblogger. In summer, you can even shoot border guards if you put your phone in your shirt pocket.

26 The same “Russian” bus and a cheerful driver who said that the cable car, it seems, will really be built, and then he will not have a job. Because in summer the same driver is the captain of the boat.

27 I was driving back in good weather, I was able to shoot this wonderful bridge. Normal bridge. You can’t go fast on it, but it is several hundred meters long. The pontoons were built half from Chinese barges, half from Russian ones. This is the Chinese part.

28 And this is ours. Noticeable difference, right? And it's not that the barges themselves are older and narrower, although this is also the case. But couldn't the road have been cleaned properly? No you can not. Just like you can't build a bridge.

29 Such is the journey. Nothing extreme, as you can see. But how terrible China is, how it is painted - I will tell you in the next report.

How much does a trip to China cost. Sasha and Katya, Trip4cent editors, traveled around South China for two weeks and we calculated our travel expenses. Everyone's expenses are different and we wrote this article only based on personal experience.

How much does a trip to China from Russia cost in 2020

How much does a visa to China cost

3.400 - 4.800 rubles. per person

For us, obtaining a Chinese visa has become a headache. There is a consulate general of the Republic of China in St. Petersburg, but at the moment we needed, they had a problem with issuing visas. Suddenly they began to refuse to issue a visa to everyone without explanation. Only business visas were issued.
Katya was leaving for a month and she had to overpay and apply for a business visa. I was leaving later and managed to get a visa 3 days before departure.

You can apply for a visa yourself at the consulate for 3,300 rubles. +2.5% for payment and collect a package of documents. We applied for a visa through a travel agency and I paid 4,800 rubles. for a single entry visa.

It is more convenient to arrange through a travel agency, because you do not need to collect a complete package of documents and you can apply at a convenient time for you.

How much are tickets to China

20.000 - 35.000 rub. per person

There are often promotions and sales on tickets to China. We did not manage to catch them - the flights were for the May holidays. We bought Aeroflot direct flights from Moscow to Guangzhou for about 26.500 rub. in two directions. More about 7.000 rub. spent on tickets to Moscow and back.

China travel insurance

900 rub. per person for 14 days

Insurance was required to obtain a visa. We already had credit card insurance and it came up for visa processing.
You can pre-order insurance online, print it out and submit it along with the package of documents.
You can apply for insurance under the requirements of the Chinese Consulate on the website.

How much does housing cost in China

10.000 - 20.000 rub. per person when traveling as a couple

Our hotels were one of the small cost items. In just 2 weeks, we spent approximately 17.000 rub. for two. We did not have an exact trip plan - only the initial and final stages. We booked hotels on or through the site - sometimes there were cheaper offers on it.
We fell into the period of the May holidays and could not find accommodation in the ancient town of Fenghuang. The minimum price on Booking for a room was 4,400 rubles. for the night. We found a room for 2,700 rubles.

Through the application, you can also buy train tickets in China.

• IN Yangshuo we lived 3 nights in a hostel at the language school where Katya studied. 80 yuan per night. Total 2.400 rub. for 3 nights.
• On Longsheng Rice Terraces we lived in . Total 3.000 rub. for 2 nights. Also very praise . The receptionists there speak English, which is rare, and helped us book bus tickets to Fenghuang.
  By the way, our rooms were modest everywhere, but with their own bathroom. See an example of a room on the terraces in the video below.
• IN Fenghuan we stayed one night in a hotel booked at the last moment through the trip.com app. We will not recommend him. We chose this option out of desperation. Paid for the night 2.700 RUB.
• Close to Avatar Park Zhangjiajie, or rather in its suburbs Wulingyuan, we lived in a great room with a private bathroom. Just paid for 3 nights 4.500 rubles.
• One night we spent on the train from Zhangjiajie to Guangzhou and this cost was taken into account in transport
• To Guangzhou on the way back we stayed in a budget but great hotel near the center. It was the only place in China where breakfast was included. Paid for 2 nights 4.300 rub.

Food prices in China

8.000 - 15.000 rub. per person when traveling as a couple

We ate quite budgetary at the local public catering-chufalnya. To a greater extent, locals eat there and the staff speaks only Chinese. Katya is studying Chinese, so we were able to understand each other. We eat a little, sometimes it turned out that only 2 times a day.

• Breakfast is not served in China, so we usually asked for fried eggs, ordered rice and a popular dish - eggs with tomatoes. This breakfast for two was worth it. about 350 rubles.
• For lunch and dinner, we ordered what we could understand from the menu. Often these were fried or boiled dumplings, fried rice or noodles. From appetizers ordered eggplant, cucumber salad, spinach salad, coleslaw. Average cost of lunch or dinner 350-500 rub. for two.
• European food is much more expensive. Went in once Pizza Hut in Guangzhou. Ordered a medium pizza, coffee and dessert. It cost at 1300 rubles. Ordering European food in small towns is often impossible or difficult to find.
• Often bought fruit - mango and banana. Bananas about 15-20 rubles. per piece, mango about 100 rubles. per medium piece.
• In stores, the choice of familiar products for Europeans is sharply limited. There are practically no dairy products. Drinkable yoghurts we bought only one item and they cost 90-150 rub. for packing. But I liked it ice cream for 50-100 rub. for packing.

Transportation prices in China

12.000 - 20.000 rub. per person

Inland transport in China is quite expensive and the distances are long. On the way back from Avatar Park to Guangzhou (980 km.) We chose between train and plane. The plane cost 8.000 rub., reserved seat night car 3.500 rub., compartment car about 6.000 RUB. As a result, we decided to ride in a reserved seat car for 14 hours.

Our other transport costs. Costs for 1 person:

• High speed train (2.5 hours) from Guangzhou to Yangshuo 1.500 rub.
• Near 500 rub. for trips to the subway Guangzhou and Shenzhen
• Bus (3 hours) from Yangshuo to Longsheng Rice Terraces 900 rub.
• 400 rub.
• Bicycle rental in Yangshuo (2 times) 300 rub.
• Bus from Longsheng to Fenghuang (4 hours) 1.500 rub.
• Bus from Fenghuang to Zhangjiazde (3 hours) 800 rub.
• Train from Zhangjiadze to Guangzhou (14 hours) 3.500 rub.
• High speed train from Guangzhou to Shenzhen (40 minutes) and back 1.500 rub.

There were many more transfers on small buses, a couple of times we took a taxi. As a result, the total cost of transport resulted in a significant part of the cost of the trip.

Prices for entrance tickets, entertainment

5.000 - 10.000 rub. per person

China itself is one big entertainment, so we were neither in museums nor on excursions. We paid only for the entrance to the national park Zhangjiadze and rice terraces Longshen.
Our entrance fees per person:

• 800 rub. entrance tickets to the rice terraces Longshen
• 2250 rub. entrance tickets for 4 days to enter the national park Zhangjiadze
• 650 rub. bailun's elevator lift Zhangjiadze one way
• 1440 rub. Tyandzy cable car in two directions in Zhangjiadze

Communication prices in China

1.000 - 2.000 rub. per person

In China, you can buy a local SIM card with internet. This is what Katya did. Upon arrival in Guangzhou, she bought a SIM card for 1.800 rub. The price included 3Gb the Internet. This was enough for the whole trip. The validity of the card is 3 months.

I used a travel sim card. The SIM card worked perfectly, but the card is billed for each Mb And I didn't use it unless absolutely necessary. As a result, I spent about 10€ from balance. Communication tariffs in China:

Now when you connect to you can get 7€ to the account when replenishing from 25€. To do this, you need to order a card on our link, activate and replenish your account.

I also had to spend money on a VPN service. In China, many sites do not work well and Google, Facebook, Instagram and many others do not work at all. I installed the app on my work computer. Express VPN and everything worked. The downside is that you had to connect the connection every time. The monthly tariff is more expensive than six months and a year and cost 830 rubles.

Other expenses in China

3.000 - 5.000 rub. per person

There are always some additional costs. I want to buy souvenirs, something to eat. Sometimes there are unforeseen expenses. During the trip to Zhangjiadze, it rained for two days in a row and we bought sets of raincoats and comfortable shoe covers for walking twice.

How much are tours to China

In some countries, we compare the cost of a package tour and independent travel. Package tours to China are sold mainly in Hainan. This is island China and you don't need a visa. If it is difficult for you to organize an independent trip, then you can start with a package tour to Hainan.

The cost of a package tour can be more expensive than an independent trip and cheaper. It depends on the hotel and your travel expenses.

Estimate the cost of a package tour to China:

The total cost of an independent trip

So, let's calculate how much money you may need to travel to China per 1 person when traveling on your own

1. Visa from 3.400 to 4.800 rub.
2. Flights from 20.000 rub. up to 35.000 rub.
3. Insurance 900 rub.
4. Housing 10.000 - 20.000 rub.
5. Food 8.000 - 15.000 rub.
6. Transport 12.000 - 20.000 rubles
7. Entertainment and excursions 5.000 - 10.000 rubles
8. Connection 1.000-2.000 rub.
9. other expenses 3.000-5.000 rub.

How much does a trip to China cost on your own in the end: from 63.300 rubles. up to 112.700 rub. per person when buying more expensive tickets, hotels, domestic flights and enhanced meals.

The indicated prices are indicative and may change for your trip, but they can be used for budgeting.

Might be interesting:

Want more fresh news and travel ideas? Subscribe for updates

WikiHow is a wiki, which means that many of our articles are written by multiple authors. When creating this article, 41 people worked on editing and improving it, including anonymously.

Visiting China will give you many delightful and unforgettable experiences. To get the most out of your visit, you need to take into account the local features, and the following tips will help you pack your bags so that the trip is a success.

Steps

Gather all the documents you need to travel to China - passport, all necessary visas, international air tickets, etc.

Take everything you need to China. Although shops will be found on every corner, they will not always sell the things that you are used to at home. Most toilets don't have toilet paper, so it's best to have your own stock on hand. Large rolls are inconvenient to carry, so even before the trip you need to set aside a part of the roll that is more than half used. For a family of four, 6-8 of these mini-rolls will be enough for a two-week trip. Of course, in 5-star hotels, the toilets are decorated in European style, and at international airports there are definitely Western-style toilets. Stock up on only what you need. It is better to take only one key from the house and from the car with you.

• Having your own toilet paper is especially important for those traveling by train.
• Train toilets in China can only be used in "rural areas", outside the urban area.

1. Take Pepto Bismol and loperamide in a chewable form. In China, the quality of tap water is terrible. Problems can arise even if you brush your teeth by rinsing off the paste with tap water or eat vegetables that have been washed and not cooked. To prevent bowel problems, chew 2 tablets before meals.

   • Poor water quality is predominantly found in rural areas rather than "urban" areas.

2. Prepare your clothes according to the season. It is very hot in China in summer and very cold in winter. Take a lot of clothes, and remember that you can always use the laundry service in the hotel or self-service laundry if any parts of the wardrobe need to be cleaned. True, some laundries use detergents that can cause allergies, so dry cleaning is safer.

   • China is a lot like the US. Summers in the south are very hot and humid, while winters in the north are frosty and dry.

3. In most Chinese establishments, the dress code can be described as sensible informal, but if you are planning formal meetings, it is better to wear a suit or formal attire.

   Make sure that water does not get into your mouth while taking a shower. Her taste is normal, but there is a danger of picking up some kind of infection. Therefore, it is better to use bottled table water for rinsing your mouth and brushing your teeth.

   • In small towns, they can sell cheap table water that has only undergone coarse filtration. It is safer to use water from supermarkets by buying well-known brands.

4. Visit your general practitioner(s) or travel clinic. Experts can help you determine which vaccinations you need based on your health status, vaccination history, specific regions you plan to visit, and activities you plan to do during your trip. Before the trip you need to fulfill all these requirements. To purchase any psychotropic drugs in China, you must show a prescription certified by a doctor. Bring along any antibiotics and other prescription medications you may need during your trip to make sure you have enough for the duration of your stay in China (plus a few extra pills). Transport medicines in their original packaging. Travelers from the US can get all the information they need about medicines in China from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

5. Prepare a small camping kit for each family member. Place a mini toilet paper roll and a bottle of hand sanitizer in your hip pouch. It is better to choose an antiseptic that is not alcohol-based, since in some provinces (especially Guangzhou) it can be confiscated at customs. Add a high-calorie sweet cereal bar with nuts, cough drops, and chewing gum. It's also a good idea to bring a flashlight so you don't end up in the dark during power outages that happen in China.

   • Don't forget that you are in China and not anywhere else! To reduce environmental pollution, toilets usually do not have toilet paper. Always have paper napkins on hand, which can be purchased at any store for 1-2 yuan.

6. Always carry some cash and traveler's checks with you as most restaurants and shops do not accept credit cards. Prepare a bag with money, travelers checks, air and train tickets. It must be firmly and safely fixed on itself, and it is advisable to cover it with clothes. It will be safer than leaving these things in a hotel room.

   • The main banks of large and medium cities have ATMs that accept debit cards. You can easily use your USAA Federal Saving Bank and North American East Asia Bank cards. In small towns, some banks do not even exchange dollars for Chinese yuan.

7. Other must-haves include a raincoat and/or umbrella, a hat, in the summertime sunscreen and goggles, insect repellant, and a power adapter (power converter) needed to power and recharge electrical appliances.

   • Always carry the business card of the hotel where you are staying. This will take you back in case of any unforeseen situations. For emergencies, you must have a copy of your passport, the original of which can be left in a safe place at the hotel.
   • Don't eat everything. It is better to know what is offered to you and how this dish was prepared. In places like Beijing's Wanwujing Market, it's not uncommon for light snacks to be prepared in a non-technological manner. If you are not sure about the quality of the food you eat, drink beer - it will help digest incompatible food, the main thing is not to abuse it.
   • If you are African, European, or Hispanic, don't be surprised if the Chinese ask permission to take pictures with you.
   • Once you've decided where you're going, do some research. Find out about the climate conditions in the area. There is nothing worse than being dressed for the wrong weather. At the same time, a certain conservatism is needed. Long pants and neat shirts/blazers will do for any terrain.
   • Take the time to study the maps of places where you are staying or planning to visit. This will help you stay on course while walking around the city. You are also unlikely to get lost if you arm yourself with a handheld GPS navigator.
   • Before traveling, it is worth preparing a listing of all the hotels in the areas where you will go. Be sure to prepare a printout in Chinese as well (you can use the Chinese pages of the websites of these hotels or translate the text using an online translator). This will make it easier for you to communicate with taxi drivers, who often do not speak English. For the same purpose, you can ask the concierge at the hotel to write in Chinese the name of the attractions that you plan to visit.
   • Even cheap hotels have a drinking water heater on every floor. Use a clean bottle to cool 97.22 C boiling water to an acceptable temperature.
   • Control the amount of cash you have with you. Just in case, it is worth having an NZ, which is enough to return to the hotel by taxi. Most airports have ATMs and it's best to get cash as soon as you arrive.
   • Read a few reports from other travelers to better understand the sights and what to look out for. Find a travel booklet to read on a flight or in a hotel room.
   • China censors the internet. To access Facebook or YouTube, you will need an address replacement proxy service.
   • Chinese mobile operators operate on other standards. If you want to use the same phone in China and the USA, you will need a phone with a quadraphonic frequency range. Also make sure you don't have a local sim card. To work in China, it must be nationwide.
   • Find a Chinese audio course and also grab a dictionary. Knowledge of the Chinese language is necessary, but there is no need to be upset about its complexity. You just need to remember a few key phrases and general grammar rules. Remember that outside of 5-star hotels and fancy restaurants, people's knowledge of the English language is usually limited to the word "hello!". If you want to roam freely, you need to learn basic phrases. You can also ask the concierge to write down on paper the names of the places you plan to visit during the day. Thanks to this, you will be able to explain to the taxi driver where you need to get. In urban areas, the chances of finding someone who speaks English increase.
   • Chinese currency is only sold in China, so you need to find out where the exchange offices are. Add information about major banks to the list of major hotels you prepare for your trip. This will allow you to find the nearest place as soon as you need to change dollars or travelers checks into yuan.

How to organize an independent trip to China in 2019! Visa, tickets, hotels, food, transportation, security. How much does it cost to travel to China? Cost calculation, tips and observations.

The material was prepared on the basis of the author's personal experience of independent travel to China: three months of living in Shenzhen, as well as trips to Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

China is huge and very diverse, so it is impossible to clearly say where what prices and conditions are. I will start from Shenzhen - the center of all electronics, a young and rapidly growing city in the very south of China, which borders on Hong Kong. I will tell you what is useful for a tourist when planning an independent trip to China in 2019, as well as my own observations about the country and travel tips.

How to apply for a visa to China

A visa to China is required for Russians, except in rare cases. A regular one-time ticket costs 1,500 rubles, a double-entry ticket costs 3,000 rubles, and a multiple-entry ticket costs 4,500 rubles. Plus, there is a bank commission of 2.5% per person.

Urgent single entry - 2400, urgent double entry - 3900, urgent multiple entry - 5400. There is also an express review, it costs more.

It is better to stay in chain hotels, as they care about their reputation. A day in such a hotel costs from $30-40 for a double room. Chain hotels in Shenzhen: Greentree Inn , Sheraton, Novotel, etc.

Adviсe:

• Look for a hotel with good soundproofing - the Chinese are noisy.
• Photos of hotels do not always correspond to reality.
• Sometimes a room can be clean and comfortable, but have extraneous odors, such as dampness. Or windows overlooking the courtyard, where there is a dump or a Chinese street cafe (which produces smells no better).

Rent. If you want personal comfortable housing, look for a room, apartment or house on Airbnb. The choice of housing is huge. Renting an apartment in Beijing costs about $30-50 per day, in Shenzhen - from $27. You can rent an apartment for a month on Airbnb for $600-1500 (rooms - $500-900). The price depends on the city, area and condition of the house. For example, in Shenzhen, near the beach in the resort area, an excellent apartment was rented for $600. There are discounts for long term rentals.

Food and Cuisine of China

Another difficulty you will face when traveling to China on your own in 2019 is food. It is very specific here, so there are problems with going to a cafe, especially if you do not know the language. But here McDonald's and KFC come to the rescue. There are also many well-known European chains where you can order food from pictures. However, their prices are much higher - for example, a side dish with meat costs from $ 6. Sometimes tea is included in the price. At McDonald's, a Big Mac (potato, cola, double cheeseburger) will cost about $ 5.

In general, in a cafe you can eat for $5 or more, in restaurants a simple dish costs from $10.

Where you can eat inexpensively and tasty in China:

• Cafe for locals. You can have a hearty meal in them for $ 1.5, but no one guarantees the quality of the products and compliance with sanitary standards. Minus - it is difficult to order dishes, as often there are no pictures or there are few of them, and if there are, it is not clear what it is.
• "Muslim" are local cafes run by Chinese Muslims. The food there is prepared in compliance with all norms and is really very tasty. I love their noodles and would recommend trying them. They cook it in front of you, and this process is interesting to watch. Cost from $ 1.5 for a huge portion.
• Supermarket. A kilo of bananas costs $1-2, apples $2-3, tangerines $1-2. I do not recommend buying sausages. This is not at all what we expect: Chinese sausages are made from soy with tons of spices and additives. They taste sweet and have a specific smell, but for the sake of curiosity, you can try it once.

(Photo © Jo@net / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)

Internet and Cellular in China

All sim-cards are sold only with a passport in specialized places. The cost of mobile communications is quite high - from $ 20 per month, plus the same amount is charged for buying a card and choosing a tariff plan. To purchase a normal tariff and understand everything, you need to know Chinese. If you need internet in China, it's easier to use Wi-Fi while traveling - in big cities you can find it everywhere.

There is another nuisance that many people face - this is the blocking of all Google, YouTube, Instagram services. To access them, you need to install a special VPN program for yourself.

Transport in China

With transport in China, everything is fine. The infrastructure is very developed. Airplanes, ferries, trains (including high-speed ones), buses, subways and taxis. You can get to any point without problems. Travel by bus - from $ 0.3, in the subway - from $ 0.5.

If you are going to go to China for a month, buy a travel card. A plastic card can be topped up and used on the metro and buses, and then returned and the money back. The cost is 4$. It is very convenient: you do not need to find out the cost of tickets, buy tokens, stand in lines. Accordingly, the problem of language also disappears. For trips within the same city, $ 10-30 is enough for a month.

A very common form of transportation is electric mopeds. In fact, this is a taxi, only less comfortable, more extreme and cheaper - from $ 2. The main advantage is the absence of traffic jams, as mopeds ride where they want. The only downside is the language. We need to agree on a price and a destination.

(Photo © Lαin / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

ATMs and cards

Be prepared that in many stores your Visa or MasterCard may not be accepted, since in China another payment system is UnianPay. This card can be issued at any bank for free. If you need to withdraw money from your own, then there are many ATMs for this.

Chinese mentality

Don't be surprised if in China you feel like a monkey that everyone wants to take a picture with. For a Chinese, having a photo with a European is an indicator of coolness, status, so you will always be in the spotlight. They will always turn around and, without hesitation, look at you point-blank. In addition to the increased interest, the Chinese will try to make money on the "white man". For them, we are walking money, so bargain in all stores. For example, once we reduced the price of a shirt from $35 to $5.

You can talk about the culture and upbringing of most Chinese for a long time. To give way to a girl, to let her go ahead, to let people out of the transport, to throw garbage into the bin - this is not about them. They also have no sense of tact. Do not be surprised if at the first meeting you will be asked about your personal life, salary and health. The Chinese themselves are very cunning and enterprising, but at the same time good-natured.

Useful words in Chinese for the traveler:

Security in China

Do you know where the tradition of wearing a backpack in front came from? From China. Petty theft is very common there. In big cities everywhere you can meet a policeman who will gladly help in any situation. Also in all buses, subways, shopping centers, and just on the street there are cameras, so in big cities there is nothing to be afraid of, walking along the streets in the evening. From personal experience: I walked with photographic equipment, and not once did anyone try to pester.

Also in China there is an unspoken rule that animals, children and laovayam(foreigners) everything is possible.

(Photo © Today is a good day / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

How much does a solo trip to China from Russia cost?

Let's calculate how much a trip to China for two for 10 days costs when departing from Moscow:

• Single entry visa - $52.
• Air tickets from Moscow to Beijing and back - from $586. Find a ticket >>
• Hotel in the center of Beijing in the low season - $130. Find a hotel >>
• Meals in eateries for locals - $ 120.
• Insurance - $23.
• Transport and attractions - approximately $200.

So, how much does it cost to go to China on your own? The minimum cost of the trip, if you are ready to save - about 1111$ for two for 10 days.

If you are used to living in comfort, then the trip will cost approximately 1711$ for two (accommodation in a 3 * hotel - $ 250 and meals in cafes and restaurants - $ 600). We spent $1,500 a month for two.

Check out our helpful tips for self-guided travel to China in 2019:

• See how the Chinese count on their fingers before traveling. The match with our score is only up to 4, then everything is different.
• Be sure to download the translator to your phone.
• Take the right medicines, as you can hardly find anything familiar in Chinese pharmacies. More likely to meet a dried toad than activated charcoal.
• Download the Baidu program and maps of the cities where you are going to live on your phone. This program will help you choose the route, time and mode of transport, determine the best way. You won't get lost with her. I highly recommend!

I hope you have a general idea of ​​​​prices and conditions. And the problem of language, as you see, is not so terrible. Travel, because there are so many interesting things in the world!

(Photo © monkeylikemind / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Intro Image Source: © mandylovefly / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The state of the People's Republic of China is located on an area of ​​more than 9 million square meters. km and in terms of scale confidently ranks 3rd in the world, behind Canada and the Russian Federation. The rich cultural heritage of China attracts travelers from all over the world and does not leave any tourist indifferent.

Landmarks of China

How to travel to China on your own

China for a tourist is a world of contrasts, a combination of the splendor of a modern metropolis, a carefree and expensive life with a modest life of farmers and trinket market traders. Here the rapid pace of modern life is best combined with ancient history.

You can go to the Celestial Empire as part of a group, and then part of the organizational issues will be resolved by a travel agent. Sophisticated tourists who prefer to travel on their own should take into account some simple details of the trip:

Book accommodation or hotel rooms in advance.

Apply for a visa and buy insurance.

Buy plane tickets.

When traveling independently to China, you need to understand that 80% of the population does not speak foreign languages. To avoid problems with the language barrier, it is advisable to raise your level of Chinese to at least HSK1.

Registration for training

Free Trial Lessons

Every week we hold free trial lessons for adults and children. In the lesson, you will get acquainted with the basics of the Chinese language, its phonetics, hieroglyphs and learn your first phrase. We regularly hold presentations of programs for parents of students.

Level detection

If you or your child has already studied Chinese before, then before starting classes, you must pass an interview to determine the level. After that, we will select a suitable group and assign a trial lesson in it.

We have received your application. Thank you!

Something went wrong! try again

Itinerary in China: where to go

Popular tourist destinations include modern and traditional recreational activities:

SPA resorts
There are many professional health centers in China, where the developments of modern Western medicine are effectively combined with the unique methods of Chinese therapy. You will be offered therapeutic mud baths, aromatherapy, acupuncture, herbal treatments, body wraps, moxibustion, balneotherapy, acupuncture, inhalations, various massages. People go to China to improve the functions of the musculoskeletal system, to treat cardiovascular and gastrointestinal pathologies, the respiratory and nervous systems, rheumatism and arthritis.

Ski resorts
Fans of active pastime will appreciate the infrastructure and high service of the ski resorts of Baydahe, Jinguetan and Yabuli. Modern tracks that meet international standards allow both professionals and amateurs to actively engage in sports.

Ecotourism
On the territory of China there are numerous historical monuments of architecture, ancient temples, pilgrimage sites on the Sacred Mount Huashan, national parks in the Sanqinshan and Jade Mountains with a huge variety of rare plants and animals, Wolong National Park with the natural habitat of giant pandas. Most of the areas are designated as World Heritage by UNESCO.

dive resorts
For exciting diving, the surroundings of the city of Sanya are suitable - Xiaodonghai, Yalongwan and Dadonghai bays, the islands of Wuzhizhou, Sidao. Among the variety of marine fauna you can find starfish, many bizarre fish, large jellyfish, more than 50 varieties of corals. The water of the South China Sea is so clear that underwater landscapes can be viewed at a depth of up to 25 meters.

Landmarks of China

the great Wall of China- one of the seven modern wonders of the world, the largest building on the planet. Climbing the wall will seem like an exciting walk only for physically prepared tourists. Evaluate the capabilities of your body in advance, as a large number of steps can take all your strength, and the tour will not be enjoyable. The funicular is an alternative.

Shaolin Monastery. Here you can watch the life of the monks with your own eyes, see their daily many hours of strength and spirit training, as well as a demonstration of martial arts.

Tropical island of Hainan. An ideal place for a relaxing beach holiday with white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Fans of diving and snorkeling will be able to admire the beauty of the underwater world with bright landscapes, unusual fauna and coral thickets.

Thermal springs of Nantian. There are more than 40 pools with warm water on the territory of the health complex, the available temperature range allows everyone to find their own comfort zone.

Oceanarium on Henkin Island. The world's largest oceanarium contains the rarest specimens of the deep sea. Here, tourists can feed the crocodiles, look at the most terrible and unusual animals up close.

Monkey Island. The journey to the island on the longest and most picturesque cable car in China can already be considered an additional excursion. And on the island, tourists will find a sparkling pearl museum and jewelry stores.

Shanghai. Arriving in Shanghai, tourists should definitely see the temple of God - the Guardian of the city and the Temple of the Jade Buddha, as well as take a walk along Nanjing Street (Shanghai Arbat).

Hong Kong. A cultural and historical center with many galleries, exhibitions and museums: horse racing, police, medical sciences, Madame Tussauds wax figures, Tsui Art Museum, Lau Wook Folk Museum, Pao Art Center and other attractions.

Important and useful little things for tourists

Additional information will facilitate your stay in the country and help to avoid embarrassing situations for both beginners and experienced tourists:

Time. The difference with the Moscow time zone is +5 hours.

Payment system. In modern shopping centers, hotels, restaurants, bank cards of almost all payment systems are accepted for payment. For small purchases, it is best to have cash in national currency. The best currency converter is at the airport.

Transport. Traveling in China is quite easy with high-speed trains (350km/h), tickets should be bought in advance, especially if the planned trip falls on a weekend or holiday. Car rental is only possible with a driver, as international driving licenses are not valid here. To travel short distances, you can use the services of a taxi, the prices are adequate. It is important to have an address written in Chinese with you, almost no one speaks English.

Shopping. The finest natural silk and world-famous Chinese porcelain are among the most popular and expensive souvenirs. From exclusive gifts, you can bring pearl jewelry, healing tinctures for ants, snakes, scorpions, Chinese Maotai vodka. Expensive gifts should only be bought in shops or factories. You can bargain and talk about price reductions not only in the market, but even in large stores.

Weather. When planning a trip to China, you must take into account that the weather in different areas can vary significantly even at the same time of the year. Depending on the location, some provinces may be cold, while other areas may be under the rays of the scorching sun.

A trip to China will allow you to immerse yourself in the ancient traditions and unusual culture of this country, see the bewitching landscapes of national parks and mountain ranges, visit the largest architectural monuments, palaces of emperors, ancient temples, pagodas and museums, as well as appreciate local cuisine that has preserved thousands of years of traditions and secrets. .