Every time you travel, you will most likely be met with some cultural differences. Northerners who travel down south might be thrown off guard by the humidity or overly impressed with southern hospitality. A born-and-bred German might be surprised by some of the cultural differences they’ll find upon traveling to Mexico. However, one destination that both excites and terrifies individuals due to the stark differences it is known to have is China.
China is an incredibly culturally rich country with sacred temples, century-long traditions and unique food offerings that have been drawing visitors in for a long time. However, it is also such a diverse place that even its letters and symbols are uncommon to foreigners. Preparing for your first trip to China will definitely take more effort than preparing to travel to England or an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. Implement some of the tips below in order to take the stress out of the equation and only feel excitement prior to boarding the first leg of your trip.
Apply for an Entry Visa
A passport isn’t all you need to visit China. The government requires most foreigners to additionally apply for an entry visa to gain entrance into the country. Those hoping to embark on a trip here must submit their applications along with a fee, evidence of a valid passport and their flight itinerary. Rather than waiting until the last possible moment to complete this task, it is best that you take care of this application soon after purchasing your flights. This will ensure timely delivery and will take the stress away that procrastination usually brings on.
Prepare for the Language Barrier
Chinese is a difficult language for many foreigners to learn, especially since the characters used to form words are unrecognizable to most. It might not be possible to learn the language in its entirety prior to embarking on your trip, but you can begin to familiarize yourself with some common terms in order to get by. In this day and age, it has never been easier to navigate your travels here with the use of a cellular GPS or the use of Google Translate to communicate. Use these resources whenever needed to help you travel with ease.
Educate Yourself on Cultural Differences
The Chinese lifestyle might look entirely different to you depending on where you are traveling from. Although we can find common ground with just about any culture, there are sometimes more differences than similarities depending on the country you are traveling to. There are many etiquettes specific to Chinese culture, as well as traditions that are practiced that might be uncommon to visitors. Read up on these ahead of time and visit as respectfully as possible.