[China Trip] Preparations, 1 Week Before
(Written back around summer 2002)
Wow! I can’t believe it. I’ll be heading off to China in just over a week! This is something I’ve thought of doing since I first came to Japan. Why? Well, as one person pointed out/asked, Why do you want to go to China; you’ll suddenly discover your ancestry and never come back again! He’s right. This being my first visit to mainland China will be a good opportunity to explore my roots - although the places that I will be visiting are different from the villages that my grandparents grew up in.
Unfortunately, I am not as prepared as I would like to be, yet. But hopefully over the next week, I’ll have some time to do a bit of research on the places I’ll be visiting; find some useful Web resources; get a more secure backpack!; start packing; get my insurance; book accommodations for the latter part of my trip; the list seems endless.
Okay, so a bit of info about the trip. I’ll actually be going on a tour along with my relatives from my mother’s side. One of my cousins is currently living in Saitama and I’ll be on the same plane as him heading to Shanghai. The rest of his family will be flying in from Canada, stopping over in Narita, then meeting us in Shanghai. There’s a slight chance that we may see the others in Narita - but they will in a different terminal.
The tour is with a Canadian-based company called Silk Holidays. The price of the tour is okay I suppose, although my friends say that you can get it cheaper from Hong Kong. Also the fact that I’m flying in from Tokyo is a bit of a disadvantage in that Days 1, 2, and 11 of the tour are wasted; plus I had to buy the airfare separately. But, this being my first trip, I’m more happy to be going with people that I know - especially because I don’t know the language / customs.
So what is the itinerary?
Day 1 Home City - Shanghai:
Depart from your home city for Shanghai.
Day 2 Arrive Shanghai: (Dinner)
Upon arrival, proceed through immigration and custom formalities. Meet our local guide and transfer you to hotel.
Day 3 Shanghai: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Your full day sightseeing begins with a trip to see the magnificent Mandarin garden - Yu Yuan which was built in 1577 and visit the ancient township of Zhouzhuang. Evening enjoy the Acrobatic show.
Day 4 Shanghai - Hangzhou: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Morning visit the Bund - \”Wall Street\” of former foreign powers. Then take your train or coach to Hangzhou, known as China’s paradise on earth. After a short rest, visit Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou’s most favored Buddhist temple which was founded by the Buddhist monk, Wei Lin in 326 A.D..
Day 5 Hangzhou: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Your full day sightseeing includes the Pagoda of Six Harmonies - a masterpiece of traditional Chinese architecture of wood and brick. You will also have a boat ride on the immensely beautiful West Lake, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, and other scenes of great charm. Then drop by Dragon Well tea plantation.
Day 6 Hangzhou - Suzhou: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Take the train or coach to Suzhou - \”Venice of the East\”, a traditional Chinese Gardens City on earth. Visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the famous Hanshan Temple. After lunch, visit Tiger Hill that boasts 18 sites of natural beauty and the 1000-year-old Huqiu Pagoda and a silk factory.
Day 7 Suzhou - Nanjing: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
This morning take coach or train to Nanjing. One of the ancient national capitals of China for ten dynasties. The tour takes you to Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Linggu Temple - built during the late Ming Dynasty, it’s 22 meters “Beamless Hall” was entirely built with bricks without any columns. Also stroll along the stoned - animal aligned boulevard that leads to Xiaoling Tomb.
Day 8 Nanjing - Beijing: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Beijing. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Day 9 Beijing: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
On your first day, your excursion will take you to the infamous Tian An Men Square where Mao’s mausoleum is situated. Also visit the Forbidden City where the 24 “Sons of Heaven” ruled from the dragon throne. After lunch, continue your journey to the Temple of Heaven where the emperors prayed for abundant harvest, and to the Summer Palace for a breathtaking view of lake, landscapes and pavilions. Tonight enjoy an authentic Beijing Duck Dinner.
Day 10 Beijing: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Following breakfast, visit one of the 13 Ming Tombs and its underground vault. Next, proceed to the only man-made structure that can be seen from the moon - the Great Wall.
Day 11 Beijing - Home City: (Breakfast)
Bid farewell to China and depart for your home city in Canada.
So as you can see there’s quite a bit planned - although to be honest, I haven’t read the itinerary yet. In fact, I found out a couple of days ago that I miscalculated the number of days of my tour. So there will be 4 extra days in which I’ll be on my own… Oh well, when I get to Beijing, I will decide what to do.
So in terms of preparations, what have I done so far?
- Applied and received my tourist visa for China. Most people will have to do this.
- Went to Tokyu Hands and purchased money belt; large lock for the luggage (resembles a small bike lock); plastic passport holder with chain.
- Started reading the Lonely Planet China book. At least now, I have a bit better idea of where the cities that I will be visiting are located.
- Ask some of my friends for any contacts that may be in Shanghai / Beijing.
- Called the doctor to see if I need any special shots. Ideally you should get them about 2-3 months ahead of time, but I really waited until the last minute.
Unfortunately, that’s about all I’ve done so far. I’ll keep you updated on what other things I do to prepare for the trip - and hopefully update the China Web links section with URLs that I find useful in case you want to go to China.
I’ll also try my best to keep an updated personal diary of my experiences in China - good and bad - although this may be wishful thinking as I don’t know if I’ll have internet access there.
Filed under: China
Article Part 2:
Here are some additional tips from family:
Money exchange: For China-it’s just as easy to convert money over there. You can go to thebank. (of course there is a charge) Not sure how it works with the Yen butwe converted American money. We traded most of ours on the black market cuzwe knew the people but also did at the bank.
Visa requirements:I know you need a Visa to go to China. Make sure you have all yourdocumentation with you. Depending where you stay-may not want to leave toomuch in the hotels etc?
Clothing: In terms of clothes-it’s probably pretty hot over there? You don’t need tobring tons of stuff. Are you planning to buy clothes etc? Everything isreally cheap there. You can bargain with the people like crazy. It’s notlik Hong Kong where they don’t budge that much. In China if they can make apenny they will sell it.There are lots of people that try to sell fake stuff. If you are buyingexpensive items just make sure you go to an established store and don’t buyoff the streets. This is probably the same in all the Asian places.
Toiletries: Bring your own toilet paper around. No one supplies any.
Water: Only drink bottled water. Make sure there is a seal, there isn’t a straw.We found that many people would take the empty disposed bottles and then putthe regular water in it and sell it.
Valuables: Be very careful with your money. They are very smart there. Also it is socrowded so there is lots of pick pocketing. Make sure you keep your stuffwith you at all times. Make sure your bag is secured. I wouldn’t carry awallet in your back pocket or front pocket. Easily taken. Also same with a bunch of money. If it is noticeable you are a target. Just be very carefulwith your money. Also don’t pull out a big wad when you go to pay for something.
Being ripped off: No matter what-they know you are a foreigner.
In Beijing they talk Mandarin. Are you going on a tour?
When buying things they know we are outsiders so they try to rip us off.
Innocolations: Shots-I got my shots but you may be okay. You’re living in Asia and havetravelled to other parts. If you haven’t gotten sick then you may be okay.I just found that I had to go after every meal!
Fruits: Don’t eat fruits that have been washed. Only eat stuff where you can takethe peel off and eat the inside.
Electronics: Your camera-you can take it but just be careful and keep it close to you atall times. Make sure you know where it is.
Money II: If you are taking more money out of your bag etc or anything like that tryto do it where no one can see you etc. Don’t want to tip them off.
Street Food: Not sure how your stomach is? I didn’t eat off the street but everyone else did and they were fine.
Article Part 3 ([China Trip Update] Preparations, 5 Days Before):
Okay, I’m getting a bit more organized now. I’ve gotten a new back pack which is more secure than my other - which I can use to carry around stuff on a day to day basis (while leaving a small suitcase at the hotel - the type that fit underneath your seat).
Bought a few more combination locks to lock things up… My worry now is that I’ll forget or get the various combinations mixed up.
I checked the battery charger for my camera, and luckily it has a built in transformer. China uses 240 Volts where as Japan/North America uses 110/100 Volts.
I got myself a larger capacity memory stick for my camera - 128 MB which hopefully will store enough low-medium quality pictures without having to carry multiple memory chips around.
Picked up some US denominated traveller’s cheques from Mizuho Bank. Here’s an interesting story for you… I went to the bank asking to buy either US currency or US travellers cheques and they were SOLD OUT of both! This was at around 11:00 AM. So the lady recommends the UFJ bank across the street. (I’m not sure if they are an affiliated bank or not). However, next to UFJ there is another Mizuho Bank branch. It could be that this worker didn’t know that there was another Mizuho in such close proximity - ever since the merger of the the 3 banks, there’s been no shortage of Mizuho that’s for sure.
Yesterday, I went to the International Clinic in Roppongi and got my Hep A shot. It costs 7000 Yen which is almost certainly more expensive than anywhere else… Unknown to me until after I got the shot, you’re not supposed to drink any alcohol. (I met up with some friends at this Brazilian restaurant : acarafe tropicana - excellent food, but couldn’t drink! So I had several fruit juices. Oh well, better for me I guess.)
I’m also going to have some medicine brought over - Pepto Bismal, Tums, Insodium, Bug Repellent; as well as some foodstuff - granola bars, quaker oatmeal packs, etc…
Well that’s it for now, will keep you updated.