General Advice

Why Travel to China?
Big, big, big. Big population, big history, big distances and big clusters of unique sights. The food is fantastic if you've got the sass to eat native, it's cheap, the shopping is excellent, oh and China's the Centre of the Earth.

Downside:
Big distances mean big expenditure of time and money for domestic travel.
Generally the Han people are not over friendly, though other ethnic groups, especially on the borders are much better.
Petty crime is on a steep rise.
Cuisine hygiene is questionable and hepatitis A is freely available; take your own chopsticks and get a jab?
Human rights abuse is also freely available to minorities, most notably Tibetans.

Terrorism
A small number of bus bombings have occurred in recent years. These bombings, which have mainly occurred in ethnic minority areas, have not been directed against foreigners.

Where to go:
1] ***Beijing [Peking] for the Forbidden Palace, The Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, Tiannamen Square and lots more, though a huge and brutal rebuilding project for the 2008 Olympics is erasing many lovely old places.
2] *Shanghai: this neon-lit, sophisticated Manhattan of Asia sports extravagant skyscrapers, exercise-packed parks, bike-packed streets, endless noise and pungent odours. Good for travellers who like sensory overload, not so good for seekers of ancient artifacts.
3] ***Yangsho [south], for amazing pointy hills [karsts] and rural tranquility. Sensational 6 hour Li River trip from Guilin and terrific biking.
4]**Tibet [esp.Lhasa] but beware altitude problems. Cold too. Not recommended for delicate constitutions.
5] ***Yunnan Province [sub-tropical, near Burma/Laos], for colourful ethnic minorities and some stunning architecture. Kunming [Stone Forest+], Dali, Lijiang.
6] Wuhan, for Yangtze River ferries.
7] **Suzhou, for canals, gardens.
8] *Turfan, Kashgar [far north-west] for Muslim minorities, desert scenery and Silk Road relics. Extremely hot and distant.
9] *Xian, for terracotta army, hot springs.
10] *Hong Kong, scenic and historically interesting though no longer the world's greatest shopping centre. That's now Bangkok.

Local travel
China is periodically subject to earthquakes, and the Karakorum and Khunjerab pass routes can be hazardous during the summer months due to land-slips.

The poor quality of roads and generally low driving standards lead to many and sometimes serious accidents.

There have been several incidents of overcrowded ferries sinking, leading to loss of life.

When flying within mainland China we advise using European or North American aircraft, such as Airbus or Boeing. We recommend that travellers check the type of aircraft used on their desired route, which is published in the airline timetable, and choose their itinerary accordingly.


Activities Guide:
Trekking: Around Tibet, Tibet to Nepal also permitted. Yunnan and Yangsho, great places for long and short walks.
Biking: good way to see most places, especially Beijing and southern towns like Yangsho; plenty of hire available.
Train travel: Trans-Siberian and many local lines. Take your own food.

Take care: Frenchtown, Shanghai, is the 8th most robbed tourist area in the world [according to MoneyGram money transfer service].

Locking suitcases:
Recent problems with an expensive combination lock on a suitcase were solved by popping open the lock with one twist of a screwdriver. And if I can do it, so can anyone.
Furthermore, on investigation, little mass-produced 'travel' padlocks that you can buy from travel carousels at airports and in many shops all used the same key. Thus any half-intelligent, thieving baggage handler/room maid would need to make only a small investment in a couple of popular keys [e.g. the 'Go' brand] to get access to many cases.
Moral: Don't use combination locks and buy your padlocks from a locksmith beforehand, including a spare, and check they require different keys to open them.

Transport troubles...
Unlicensed taxis are occasionally driven by muggers and rapists it seems - a global development as unpleasant reports have recently arrived from Bangkok [Thailand], Cuzco [Peru], Mexico City and Prague [Czech Republic] on the same subject. The obvious solution, if you can afford it, is always get a cab from a taxi rank or hotel or at least hail one that looks official - with a sign on the roof. Check the driver's photo licence. In Thailand get a taxi rather than the quaint but dodgy tuk-tuks.

Unfortunately crowded public transport in many locations is also a thief's paradise - pickpockets can discreetly extract valuables even from zipped pockets on buses and trams, as Peter Thorpe of Staffs, UK discovered recently in Prague. He points out in The Times that you should be wary while waiting in addition to when aboard as thieves may note the location of valuables before boarding.
Safety should be high on the priorities list, even if it hammers the budget.
Moral: Official taxis and better quality hotel rooms will help preserve your valuables and more...

Generally:

1) Low Profile: Wear minimum jewellery, casual clothes, and keep cameras inside a discrete bag. Try to relax and look like you belong there.

2) Danger Zones: Be particularly aware of your safety in crowded areas such as local festivals, markets, crowded tourist sites, railway and bus stations, and of course, on trains and buses. Sometimes it pays to go first class or hire a guide.

3) Stash your Cash: Avoid wallets or purses. Keep enough money for your immediate needs in your (button down/zippered?) pocket, and the rest hidden on your body or, better, inside a *locked bag in a safety deposit box. Have different forms of funds in different places. Remember your air ticket and films are valuable too.
*a little lockable bag, deposited at reception instead of the ubiquitous brown envelope provided in many lower class establishments, will discourage the hotel receptionist from checking on your stash later, or using your credit cards to buy himself a new hi-fi system, or from removing the bottom traveller's checks.

4) Wild Cards:
ATMs:
- Ensure no one can see your credit card code number when you key it into an ATM [bank cash machine], or you may find a bogeyman has memorised it and will later steal your card and buy himself some new toys with it.
- If your card doesn't reappear from the ATM, check that there isn't a tiny foil loop blocking its exit - a device known as the Lebanese loop that allows the thief to retrieve your card later.
The latest scam involves thieves putting a thin, clear, rigid plastic sleeve into the ATM card slot. When you insert your card, the machine can't read the strip, so it keeps asking you to re-enter your PIN number.
Meanwhile, someone behind you watches as you tap in your number. Eventually you give up, thinking the machine has swallowed your card and you walk away. The thieves then remove the plastic sleeve complete with card, and empty your account.
The way to avoid this is to run your finger along the card slot before you put your card in. The sleeve has a couple of tiny prongs that the thieves need to get the sleeve out of the slot, and you'll be able to feel them.
General:
- France is currently No.1 for credit card fraud on British travellers. USA is at No 2, Spain at No 3.
- Keep the card in sight at all times, even in shops/restaurants if possible. On-the-spot card cloning is rampant. Destroy any carbon copies.
- Sign your card immediately you receive it.
- Destroy/shred statements/documents that contain your personal details/account details - don't put them in the dustbin.
- Keep receipts and check transactions regularly.


5) It's your Bag: Never let go of your shoulder bag. When walking, it goes across your body, resting in front of you, or under your armpit, but not over your shoulder. When sitting, take it off by all means, but put your arm or leg through the strap. The same goes for your camera. When sleeping in a bus, train or vulnerable room, lock your bags up, and then lock them to something immovable. Bag snatchers are not uncommon in Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and Greece, in addition to more obvious places like Turkey, Peru, Brazil, Jamaica.
*a light bike chain & lock can be handy if doing a lot of train time. On trains make sure you can see your bag the whole time, especially when approaching a station, or have it locked down.
* some backpackers put light chicken wire inside their packs to protect against slash & grab razor merchants found in South America

6) Speak the Language: Apart from making life easier, a small grasp of the language will also help you to develop protective relationships, to earn a degree of respect from lightweight thieves, and to slip into the background more easily. It's smart to read up on local culture and traditions too.

7) Safety in Numbers: Go in pairs if possible. If not, be wary but not paranoid, of friendly local people. Most of the time they will be genuine.



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