Yolanda‘s Favourite

Things to buy in China:
Tea: China is the home of tea. Tea is divided into green, black, perfumed, white and Wulong tea. Longjing (green tea) and Biluochun (green tea), are famous throughout the world.
Silk:  Chinese silk is famous in the world for its magnificent quality, color and variety. Representative samples are brocade from Hangzhou, Sichuan brocade from Chengdu, the fine, tough silk and pure silk crepe from Suzhou and tussah silk from Dandong.

Liquors and Wines: Chinese wines have developed since ancient times in their special way and have won many worldwide awards. Famous liquors include Maotai from Guizhou, Fen and Zhuyeqing from Shanxi, Wuliangye, Jiannanchun and Luzhou Laojiao from Sichuan, Gujing tribute liquor from Anhui, Yanghe Daqu from Jiangsu and Dong Liquor from Guizhou. Fruit wines include gold medal brandy, red grape wine and Weimeisi from Yantai, China red grape wine from Beijing, Shacheng white grape wine form Hebei, Minquan white grape wine from Henan. Yellow rice wines include rice wine from Shaoxing, sinking-in-jar wine from Longyan and sealed jar wine from Danyang. Yanjing and Qingdao are two famous brands of the many varieties of fine beers available in China.  

Traditional Chinese medicine: The body of knowledge that makes up traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been accumulated over thousands of years. A lot of herbal and other drugs are being used for their high curative efficacy, and those with a high tonic value are favorites with the Chinese.

About tipping
Tipping or gratuities are not common practice in most sectors of Chinese life, although it has become the norm to tip the tour guide and driver, hotel bellboy in recognition of their good service. It is not customary to leave tips at local restaurants. Of course you don’t have to.  However, anything you do give will be much appreciated.

Time to enjoy your China tours
China is a year-round destination, the months of May, September, and October are the best months for travel anywhere in the country. In the north, the winters are cold, and summers warm, with moist monsoon air streams making it hot . June through August is a good time to visit central and northern China. Spring and autumn are the best months for travel in Southern China. The months of March and April are the lower-priced shoulder season; while the lowest price, off-season travel, is from November through the winter months. This is when adventuresome travellers are rewarded with unbelievably low prices and far fewer fellow tourists.
 
Where to enjoy your China travel?
This vastness not only adds to the excitement of planning a trip to the country, but also to the dilemma of which cities and regions to visit first. When planning a trip to China, it is recommended that you don’t try to see “everything” in one start-to-finish, whirlwind trip. Sure, you’ll come home with some great pictures, but if you want to fully experience the country, allow enough time to really experience it. China is definitely the kind of place you will want to visit more than once. It is best to visit the major sites and cities on the first trip, at a relaxed pace, then plan to explore the country region by region on subsequent trips when you can experience all the different ethnic minority cultures and archaeological wonders. Keep in mind that China is a land of extreme climatic variations.  For example during February you can travel the southern coast and enjoy tropical fruits, sunbathe on the beaches of Hainan Island or visit the Flower Festival in Guangdong. At the same time, in the north, Harbin is dazzling travellers at the annual Ice Sculpture Festival with giant ice pagodas, ice palaces, and cleverly sculpted panda bears.

Advices for packing :
The passport with all necessary visas
International Airline tickets
Wallet & Credit cards & Traveler’s checks
Your medical record & First-aid kit & Medicines & Vitamins
Clothes suitable for the season (please check the weather of your destination before you come) & Comfortable shoes
The Dress standard for most places in China would best be described as “smart casual”, if your tour involves some formal occasions, then a set of formal suits would be recommended.
Raincoat and/or umbrella
Hat, Sunglasses & Sunscreen, depending on the season and your destination
Insect repellent. Especially for summer months and for travelers who is going to visit rural areas.
If you wear glasses, we suggest you bring two pairs with you in case that you lose one pair.
Bottled water: if you don’t think you can agree with the drinks in China so fast, especially when you bring your children with you, we suggest you bring some homemade bottles of water for the previous several-day consumption.
Address and telephone number list on a sheet.
Converter (power adaptor) if you have one or it is necessary for you to have one.