Myths busted about traveling to China
China, you surprised me.
You win most enriching destination to date!
I want to start by saying thank you to Travel Age West for the honor of experiencing this enriching destination. I made lifelong memories, and left with eyes open to our world, and a heart full of gratitude.
You can read published articles about our FAM to China here and here.
Now let’s get to it! I came into this experience unsure about what to expect, so I think it’s fitting to bust some myths!
That it would be dirty/smell bad :
My first taste of China was at The Shanghai airport, and it absolutely blew my mind how spotless it was. Not a piece of garbage in site. Once we got to the city of Nanjing, I felt the same. It was a slower paced city, full of nature, history, soul, charm, old and new. There were so many electric cars, it was so quiet. Apart from the occasional squatty potties (thanks, Asia), the hygiene restrictions are actually much stricter than other countries. Out of the week we were there, I only experienced maybe 30 minutes total of areas I didn’t love, but that happens anywhere in the world.
I believe if you don’t have a private guide and driver, yes - you will stumble upon some highly populated, less desirable areas. Because you won’t know where to go! But with the right itinerary, guide, and driver, you’ll see only the best, most charming, and beautiful areas where you’ll leave inspired and connected with the country and its people.
Cyber safety
To preface this, I was not worried about physical safety, which was a correct assumption, as we felt incredibly safe. There’s no pick pocketing like in Europe, and people walk alone at night without issue. In terms of “cyber safety”, you just turn on a secure VPN and you’re good to go. I did a free week trial, or you can pay for this - it basically safeguards your browsing.
That the Internet wouldn’t work or payments were going to be difficult
Google did not work on my computer, but did work on my phone. Instagram and Facebook worked as normal. As far as paying in China, you use an app called AliPay, which allows you to pay securely. I didn’t open bank apps to be extra cautious, and you can always pay with cash if you feel more safe doing so. Far less concern here than I expected.
Unfriendly people due to media portrayals.
The people were SO welcoming. They kept thanking US for visiting their country, which warmed my heart. We felt like celebrities. It was fascinating to see people in awe over what we looked like, wanting to take our photo and say hello. Children under the age of 5 would grab their mom and excitedly point - because they quite possibly have never seen a tourist. They’re so genuine - they don’t want to do or say the wrong thing, so will often wait for you to smile, and once you do - they will beam with joy.
Government
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room! Did I imagine government officials lining the streets and cameras everywhere? A little bit! In my opinion and from my experience, the communist government is an irrelevant component to the travel experience when visiting.
Our local guide in Shanghai was a member of the communist party, and she shared some insights into this, such as property buying restrictions etc. Even though we may not see eye to eye, it was fascinating to learn about how vastly different the Chinese people live their lives. Overall, wow - it sure was way more interesting in real life than in a history book.
I realized that China used to be a HUGE tourist destination 20+ years ago. I hope to see it come back, because my experience was truly special.
And to tie a bow on this - holy smokes, your dollar goes FAR in China. I’m talking 5 star hotels for less than $200/night.
To anyone who is still reading — 300 cool points awarded, you’re a star.
Thank you, TravelAge West Magazine, Travel Weekly, and TravelPulse for this once in a lifetime opportunity. And thank you, Nanjing, for sharing your beauty with us, and for letting us be part of the Nanjing newspaper!
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