First-Timer’s Guide to China
Being a school social worker is AMAZING; however, you must only travel when school is not in session. That means traveling when prices are the highest and families are also traveling with their children. Therefore, I was beyond excited to have the opportunity to help chaperone a trip for 16 high school art students to visit their sister art school in Shanghai, China! We also visited Beijing and Suzhou!
Here’s a first-timer guide to China, including an overview of the flight experience, essential items to pack, critical cultural norms to consider, and must-do activities in each city:
The Flight Experience
I left Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, which is my favorite because of how small it is (making it easier to get to all the gates). We had one layover in Washington, DC, before arriving at our first destination, Beijing. In total, we were in the air for approximately 16 hours. The hardest part of the trip was coming home. There is a 12-hour time difference (East Coast time), which makes it EXTREMELY hard to adjust. I recommend ensuring you have nothing planned for the day after you return home.
Packing List
We all participated in several workshops about what to expect while in China. The first topic was dress attire. We traveled to China in April when the weather was wonderful. The air quality, an issue in the earlier months, started to clear up, and the temperatures averaged between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit with a slight decline at night.
Clothing
Sneakers and a windbreaker. These were the two most essential items of clothing to pack. We did an immense amount of walking, and the windbreaker came in handy due to extreme elevation changes.
Pro tip:
The bathrooms are more like holes in the floor. Be mindful of what you are packing to wear because some items of clothing are a little challenging to squat in (if you are not used to it).
Miscellaneous
Travel-size tissues. Pack travel-size tissues because it is rare for a bathroom to have toilet paper.
Cipro. This antibiotic treats infection and is something you want to obtain from your doctor before traveling to China. The plumbing in China is ancient, so drinking tap water and even using the tap water to brush your teeth is not safe.
Snacks. The airline will provide three meals during your flight. However, I recommend packing many snacks because of the long travel time.
Cultural Norms & Other Important Considerations
Dinner is typically served on a lazy Susan, allowing everyone access to the dishes. Do not stick your chopsticks in your rice!! That is a tradition that is usually done at a funeral ceremony. When you finish your meal, place your chopsticks across your plate.
Pro Tip:
It is a good idea to brush up on your chopsticks skills. Only a handful of restaurants will offer utensils other than chopsticks.
Another no-no is pointing in public as it can be seen as very offensive. The local people are very friendly; however, it can be a little overwhelming. Americans are treated like celebrities!! We had our pictures taken both secretively and blatantly. At some attractions, people lined up to take photos with individuals in my group.
Transportation
As far as travel goes, because we traveled with a large group, we were able to rent a bus in each city. Catching a taxi in China is pretty hard. We had to place ourselves in front of the vehicle and jump in (unless you download an app they use to order taxis). In major cities, subway travel is more straightforward yet chaotic.
Pro tip:
I highly suggest learning important travel phrases in Mandarin (the native language) and downloading Google Translate. It will make getting around a little easier.
Beijing (4 Days)
Accommodation
We stayed at the Jiangxi Grand Hotel, specifically chosen because of its proximity to a medical center. All the hotels we stayed in supplied each room with two water bottles daily.
Must-See Places
The Summer Palace
The Art of Cloisin Pottery
Jade Factory
2008 Olympic Square
Tea House
The Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square
Food
One of my most memorable dinners in Beijing was at a hot pot restaurant. Every table had a hot pot of simmering water, and you were given your choice of thinly sliced meat with vegetables, mushrooms, wontons, egg dumplings, tofu, and seafood to be placed into the pot. The best part is creating your dipping sauce at the sauce station.
Shanghai (3 Days)
Our next stop was Shanghai. We took a five-hour train ride on the Bullet Train, one of the world’s fastest trains. Although it was long, the ride provided terrific views of the countryside.
Accommodation
We stayed at Holiday Inn Shanghai Vista, conveniently located in an area with many restaurants and shops.
Must-See Places
Shanghai has many attractions; however, our main focus was on the sister school, the High School of Shanghai Theatre Academy. My top suggestions for places to go in Shanghai are the following:
Old Town Shanghai. Great place to stock up on souvenirs and get a glimpse of traditional life.
The Bund and Boardwalk. This is a mile stretch of boardwalk along the Huangpu River with amazing views!!
Nanjing Road. The main shopping street of Shanghai runs approximately 4 miles long.
Food
Old Town Shanghai is also where you can get the BEST soup dumplings and sample local Shanghainese-style food. I was lucky enough to be invited out to dinner with some of the staff from the school.
Pro- tip:
When someone invites you to dinner, they are usually going to pay for it and order everything.
With that said, I did not have a say in what was ordered but had to be polite and tried everything. They ordered several traditional Chinese dishes, including sea cucumber soup, whole glazed fish, lamb, quale eggs, chicken feet, dumplings, duck, and bullfrog.
Pro-tip:
The waiters and waitresses bring out fruit at the end of every meal. DO NOT EAT THE FRUIT. The fruit is washed in tap water, which we cannot drink. However, you can have tea because the water is boiled.
Suzhou (2 Days)
Accommodation:
The last stretch of my trip was Suzhou. We stayed at the Suzhou Taiyang Plaza Hotel, which, like the hotel in Shanghai, was conveniently located next to shops and restaurants.
Must-See Places
Ancient Temple
Water Village
Suzhou Silk Museum
Pearl Factory
Ancient Gardens
Overall Reflection
China is filled with amazing experiences, different cultures, memorable views, and some of the kindest people you will ever meet…and I only scratched the surface!! Traveling to China was never on my bucket list; however, I cannot wait to use my ten-year visa again. I am grateful that I was allowed to immerse myself in such a fantastic environment and enjoyed myself more than I thought I would!!
