It is no secret that China is a fascinating country known for its culture, nature, and exotic food. Modern Chinese culture is tied to history, but at the same time is full of new and amazing things. Therefore, those who want to get closer to the traditions and history of the Celestial Empire can organize a trip to this country that will carry them through time and history. This paper focuses on a proposal to travel to China, one of the most exciting countries, attracting travelers worldwide.
China is one of the largest countries in terms of territory and population. It is located in the eastern part of the Eurasian continent and occupies an area of approximately 9.6 million km2 with about 1,413,659,000 people (Feuerwerker et al., 2023). That includes the residents of mainland China – the population of 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and military personnel, except for Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan residents.
China is a modern example of a socialist republic ruled by a single communist party. China is a great world power that has achieved significant economic success, attracting the world community’s attention. At the same time, China is in “relative isolation from the outside world,” which allows the country to preserve its traditional cultural heritage (Feuerwerker et al., 2023, para. 7). However, within the country, there is cultural and religious diversity, for example, among the major religions are Buddhism, Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, and the traditional Chinese religion – Taoism.
Mandarin is considered the official language in China, but due to its large territory and population, there are many dialects. The standard greeting in China concerning strangers sounds like “Ni hao?”. Based on the well-known taboos in the country, one should mention that in China, when presenting a gift, a person should give several ones, and it is not advisable to wear a green hat, lose a temper, shout on New Year’s Day, and much more. Moreover, the Celestial Empire is known for its delightful national costumes, elements of which are used by designers around the world.
Traditionally, late spring and autumn are considered the most favorable time to travel to China. The prices for hotels change in different cities, and the season can affect the price; costs may rise on weekends and holidays. A visa is required for a visit to China, and a visa is optional for short-term trips to Hong Kong and Macau. Mandatory vaccination is not required to visit the PRC; it is recommended to get vaccinated against hepatitis A, typhoid fever, diphtheria, and tetanus.
Travelers can explore monuments and natural wonders like the Great Wall of China, the Potala Palace, the Terracotta Army, the Leshan Giant Buddha, the Shaolin Temple, the Forbidden City, and much more. Moreover, China is famous for its traditional festivals and holidays, like the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is similar to American Thanksgiving and takes place on September 29 are at t (Cindy, 2022). Although this is a family holiday, there are performances with traditional songs and dances on city streets, decorated with lanterns.
Starting the trip from Chengdu, tourists can visit the Sichuan Culture Opera Show. It is a traditional performance that shows the diversity of Chinese culture through fire, light, costumes, and masks (Explore China, n.d.). Once in Chengdu, people can visit the Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to get acquainted with the traditional Chinese animals. After that, tourists can head to Beijing, the capital of China, where most of the mass cultural events occur. A trip between cities by train, in general, will cost 350 to 800 yen, but tourists can take advantage of air travel, which costs at least $205 (Explore China, n.d.).
In Beijing, tradition is mixed with modernity, which is why the city has many tourist spots day and night. From 9 to October 31, the Beijing Pop Festival is held here (Beijing Pop Festival, n.d.). Tourists can get acquainted with modern Chinese music and see how the Chinese youth live. C-pop (Chinese popular music) is currently actively developing and gaining popularity worldwide. Moreover, in Beijing, it is worth visiting the Beijing Golden Mask Dynasty Show. It will impress tourists with its costumes, traditional Chinese dances and music, and special effects (Explore China, n.d.). On October 23, there is another traditional holiday, the Double Ninth Festival. On this day, all the streets are decorated with chrysanthemums, and people dance traditional dances, drinking Chrysanthemum wine and eating Five-Color Cake (Pang, 2023). It is believed that by celebrating the Double Ninth, people can protect themselves from evil.
Flight and accommodation in China will be the most expensive elements of the journey. However, tickets to the Sichuan Culture Opera Show start at $34, while pandas can be seen for $10 (Explore China, n.d.). The prices in Beijing differ slightly; for example, admission to the Beijing Pop Festival costs 80-150 yuan ($12-23) (Beijing Pop Festival, n.d.). For a visit to the Beijing Golden Mask Dynasty Show, one needs to pay $50, but the spectacular performance fully pays for the costs (Explore China, n.d.). Moreover, participation in traditional celebrations is completely free. However, tourists will want to buy souvenirs from their trip, so having some pocket money is highly recommended. Therefore, the trip to China can cost from $1,000, depending on travel preferences.
In conclusion, China is one of the most amazing and unusual countries with a rich history and culture. Ideally, a trip to China should be planned in spring or autumn, and the prices for tickets and hotel accommodation depend on the season and location. Travelers can see many exciting places and visit world-famous festivals like Chinese New Year. It will take at least $300 a week to stay in China, based on the cost of shopping.
References
Beijing Pop Festival. (n.d.). Web.
Cindy (2022). Mid-Autumn Festival (Mooncake Festival): Greetings, Traditions, Food, Stories…China highlights. Web.
Explore China. (n.d.). Tripadvisor. Web.
Feuerwerker, A., Wilbur, M. C., & Chen, C.-S. (2023). China. Britannica. Web.
Pang, K. (2023). The Double Ninth Festival. China highlights. Web.