Terrifying!
I’ve been living in Shanghai for 6 months now and I fully intend to stay. I’ve never experienced the situations you mentioned, but I often overhear French tourists talking: the Chinese spit on the ground, they’re hypocritical, etc. I went to university in Strasbourg and then Paris, and I saw way more spit on the sidewalks there than here. The vast majority of Chinese people I know are extremely courteous, and you can build very strong friendships with them. But first, you have to stay humble, listen, and learn. I completely understand why a horde of loud, never-satisfied French tourists would get what they deserve. Plus, it seems like you took a "budget" trip since you had to wash your clothes in a laundromat. The price of dry cleaning in hotels is absolutely negligible compared to France, even in high-end hotels! As for your opinion on the food, complain to your travel agency, but don’t insult the Chinese. Finally, don’t be surprised if you got jostled in the most tourist-infested places. You won’t be going back to China? I hope you’re right...
Good evening,
Well said, I completely agree with your analysis. Indeed, we traveled alone in China (just like in every other country in the world) and were pleasantly surprised compared to everything we’d heard or read. I noticed that the Chinese only stand out for their rudeness when they travel in "large" groups—they want to see everything, take photos of everything, get the best spots in front of monuments, etc. Exactly like all tourists worldwide who travel in groups and have to rush because their time is limited!!!!!!!
See you around,
Best regards
Exactly, "may God hear you."
Since 2000, I’ve been visiting Asia every two years. I avoid tourists (especially the French)! Because they’re rarely happy with their lot—always complaining about flight delays, the food, the prices, etc., etc...
I also spend two weeks a year in France. For the same quality as in China, I have to pay double, and French courtesy isn’t always up to par!
This past month in China (September 2018), I had deep and friendly connections.
My laundry at the hotel was always done for free!
I stayed in "truly charming" hotels where I was ALWAYS warmly welcomed! Clean rooms of at least 30 m² for around 50 €.
So, back to northern China in 2020.
And I’m leaving this discussion because, for me,
I love this thread.
We're told that the younger generation is correcting their elders' tendency to cut in line, but we're also told that the Chinese are courteous and respectful.
Go figure...
So what exactly are the young people correcting, then? 😇
It's obvious that the Chinese don't have the same upbringing as Western countries (I wouldn't even dare compare to Scandinavian countries), and naturally, some of their behaviors can seem shocking (the opposite is probably true too). We can understand these differences, but that doesn't mean we should deny them...
Terrifying!
I’ve been living in Shanghai for six months now and plan to stay. I’ve never experienced the situations you’re talking about, but I often overhear French tourists saying things like Chinese people spit on the ground, are hypocritical, etc. I went to university in Strasbourg and then Paris, and I saw way more spit on the sidewalks there than here. The vast majority of Chinese people I know are extremely courteous, and you can build really strong friendships with them. But first, you have to stay humble, listen, and learn. I totally get why a horde of loud, never-satisfied French tourists would get what they deserve. Plus, it sounds like you took a "budget" trip since you had to do your laundry at a laundromat. The cost of dry cleaning in hotels here is absolutely negligible compared to France, even in high-end hotels! As for your opinion on the food, complain to your travel agent, but don’t insult the Chinese. And don’t be surprised if you got jostled in the most tourist-infested places. You won’t be going back to China? God willing...
Who said anything about a budget trip?
Did I insult anyone?
I’m glad to see I’m not the only one with positive feelings about China and the Chinese. Personally, I feel very much at ease there, having no issues with relationships even though I don’t speak Chinese yet. Just learning to say hello, thank you, and goodbye is enough to trigger friendly smiles.
But I wanted to correct you on the idea that China was never colonized by Europeans. Whoa! You should urgently read Alain Peyrefitte’s excellent book *The Immobile Empire*. Not only did we colonize it, but alongside our British friends, we killed, looted, raped, and burned everything that didn’t even resist us. Below, I’ve included a link to Victor Hugo’s letter of outrage on the subject. We introduced opium to better enslave them. Yet the Chinese don’t hold it against us—probably because they read Victor Hugo’s letter in school and are also taught that the France of Human Rights and General de Gaulle was the first to recognize the existence of Communist China, liberated from the yoke of the West.
I invite Ericdu38 to come to Shanghai alone with his family and stroll around the streets near the Bund. He won’t see people in a hurry but busy, won’t be jostled or stared at like an alien. He can have his laundry washed and ironed for just a few euros. With the *Routard* guide, he’ll discover the city’s many parks where people sing, dance, or practice Tai Chi in a calm that doesn’t exist in Paris. He can obviously explore the countless restaurants serving dishes from all over China and even find excellent fries and remarkable Burgundy snails.
Here’s a summary of Alain Peyrefitte’s book:
The Immobile Empire or The Clash of Worlds
Did you know that during the French Revolution, the British sent an expedition of five ships and seven hundred men to the Chinese Empire to "open it up" to them? That they, though only eight million strong, intended to negotiate proudly as equals with a country of three hundred thirty million—the third of humanity? That China, considering itself "the only civilization under Heaven," brutally rejected all their demands? That it treated their envoys like high-ranking prisoners? That they were subjected—from Macao to Tartary, through the rituals of the Court and the surprises of the City, among celestial bureaucrats and missionary-hostages—to a true initiatory journey? That this historic opportunity was a missed encounter?
The reader will embark on a double initiatory journey with them: into the depths of the Middle Empire, enclosed in a frozen perfection, but also into the British Empire, driven by its rise; toward the identity of the Far East, as well as that of the Far West; toward the essence of dirigisme and that of liberalism.
Lord Macartney’s mission in a China at its peak highlights the clash of two cultures: the brilliant Chinese civilization, over forty centuries old, and the young Western civilization, propelled by the combined effects of intellectual, scientific, technological, commercial, maritime, agronomic, industrial, and financial revolutions. A second mission, in 1816, led by Lord Amherst, received an even more humiliating welcome. To access China, the British decided to use force: this was the dishonorable Opium War. A refined society collapsed under the weight of its isolation and immobility. This dramatic sequence sheds new light on the dual enigma of "development" and "underdevelopment."
We’re told that the younger generation is correcting their elders’ tendency to cut in line, but we’re also told that the Chinese are courteous and respectful.
Go figure...
Congrats, you’ve just discovered the principle of a forum, where different people can have different experiences and feelings 👏😄. So they exchange, compare their opinions. It’s a bit shocking at first, but you get used to it.
Yeah, the whole point of a forum is that you can read all sorts of opinions—even completely opposite ones. You just have to know how to separate the wheat from the chaff.
But when it comes to an objective fact, it’s more unsettling. Do Chinese people really tend to scam, as you’ve described, or are they polite and courteous, as others claim?
Well, everyone’s got a story about some Chinese person spitting, scamming, or yelling, and I’ve got to say I’ll never believe anyone who claims they’ve never seen it. That said, the question remains: can we generally think of this as a trend, or is it actually really rare behavior that the rest of the population condemns?
I’ve only been to China four times, and for me, the reality falls somewhere in between—but more toward one side than the other. Still, I’d happily go back, especially since, as Xagga pointed out, it’s a cheap destination. Even if I do prefer Japan, where the question above doesn’t even come up.
Sorry, but living in Shanghai for 6 months doesn’t mean you know China. It’s like living in NYC for 6 months and claiming you know the US, or spending a little time in Paris and boasting that you know Europe (which, by the way, many Chinese people actually do...).
We’ll see what you say in 6 years. I spent 3 years in Shanghai and have been in Shenzhen for 2 years now. Shanghai isn’t China. The people there are much more refined, international, open-minded, and educated. Shanghai has its own history and culture, shaped by outside influences and a certain art of living. Other Chinese people are almost ashamed of it, while Shanghai locals are proud of it. You’ll see—once you leave Shanghai and speak Chinese with the general population, you’ll find that most Chinese people *hate* Shanghai locals because they’re different, and it touches a nerve... They’ll call them arrogant, pretentious, effeminate... when really, they’re just cleaner, more open-minded, and better educated.
I can tell you that outside Shanghai, you’re dealing with proud rustics who spit everywhere, aren’t always honest, and are very nationalistic. And let’s not even talk about the mediocre service, which reflects the lack of respect given to anyone outside their inner circle.
Just last Friday, I was at the counter topping up my metro pass. I’d barely handed my card to the clerk when a woman—who couldn’t have been 40—suddenly appeared out of nowhere, shoved me aside without a second thought, and slapped her card down, telling the employee, "Add 50." And there wasn’t even a line—just her and me. This is typical, everyday behavior: rude, pushy, *I’m paying so I get priority*. Yeah, well, I’m paying too, and the clerk had already started helping me, so I think you can wait 40 seconds.
I see a lot of well-meaning folks painting a picture of younger generations calling out their elders for bad manners. Open your eyes—it’s nonsense. This only happens because you’re a foreigner and it’s obvious you don’t live here. 90% of the time, people will walk all over you without hesitation, no matter their age, especially if they think they’re richer than you (a pretty relative criterion, but hey, it makes them feel good, so let’s not bruise their new-money pride).
Anyway, I’m pretty amused reading all these comments from people who’ve only seen China through a tourist’s eyes, yet feel qualified to defend the country wholeheartedly when they barely know it... and who don’t seem any more legitimate than the person who started this thread to judge the country, despite what they might think. Why start off so aggressively when your experience is just as relative as theirs?
Believe me, no Chinese person would bother defending your country the way you’re defending theirs. And when you’re treated well as a tourist, just remember—it’s all a commercial facade, a community reflex drilled into them by local propaganda. They’re constantly fed the idea that they must show foreigners their best face because the authorities know you don’t catch flies with vinegar, and you don’t spit on a smiling face—even if everything they do is designed to swindle you and subtly assert dominance over anything that moves.
So I’ll say it again: I agree with the person who opened this topic. While Chinese people can be endearing and friendly, it’s undeniable that they’re also disrespectful, rude, and selfish—borderline egotistical. Not to mention their questionable hygiene standards.
As for the argument that "China is so far away, so it’s different"—sorry, but NO. Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Mexico, and Australia are also far away, and yet they manage to be polite and respectful. The current behavior of Chinese people isn’t the result of some cultural difference—it’s the legacy of communism, which wiped out culture, and the worship of money, which erases respect for others. And let’s be honest: if they wanted to change, they could, but they seem pretty happy with themselves, so don’t hold your breath.
We introduced opium there to better enslave them. But the Chinese don’t hold it against us.
Two sentences, two mistakes and oversimplifications.
It wasn’t to enslave China that the British forcibly introduced opium—produced in their Indian colony—into China, but to restore a trade balance that had become catastrophically lopsided. China was exporting a lot of goods (especially porcelain, silk, and tea) and importing almost nothing, accumulating an ever-growing share of Europe’s silver reserves as the silver mines in Mexico and Peru were running dry.
Chinese government propaganda never misses a chance to harp on the humiliations suffered in the 19th century. Western visitors usually don’t notice, since this internal propaganda is never translated. Besides, it doesn’t seem to resonate with the Chinese either—across all social classes, they have an idealized vision of France, full of romance and luxury (how many times have I heard the cliché 法国人很浪漫 = the French are so romantic!).
On another note, the summary of Alain Peyrefitte’s excellent book is strangely off-base compared to the actual text. While this encounter was indeed a missed opportunity (the word the author uses), it was because the British sought purely commercial relations, whereas the Chinese saw the mission as recognition of the vassalage of those distant foreigners. The Macartney mission was doomed to fail due to this mutual misunderstanding.
Sorry, but living in Shanghai for six months doesn’t mean you know China. It’s like living in NYC for six months and claiming you know the US, or spending a little time in Paris and boasting that you know Europe (which, by the way, many Chinese people actually do...).
We’ll see what you say in six years. I spent three years in Shanghai and have been in Shenzhen for two. Shanghai isn’t China. The people there are much more refined, international, open-minded, and educated. Shanghai has its own history and culture, shaped by outside influences and a certain way of life. Other Chinese people are almost ashamed of it, while Shanghai locals are proud. You’ll see—once you leave Shanghai and speak Chinese to the general population, most Chinese people *hate* Shanghai locals because they’re different. It brings out a certain complex in them... They’ll call them arrogant, pretentious, effeminate... when really, they’re just cleaner, more open, and better educated.
I can tell you that outside Shanghai, you’re dealing with proud, rough people who *want* to be that way. They spit everywhere, aren’t always honest, and are very nationalistic. And don’t even get me started on the mediocre service—it’s a reflection of the lack of respect given to anyone outside their inner circle.
Just last Friday, I was at the counter topping up my metro pass. I’d barely handed my card to the clerk when a woman—maybe not even 40—shoved me aside without a second thought and slapped her card down, telling the employee, "Add 50." And there wasn’t even a line—just her and me. That’s typical daily behavior here: rude, pushy, *I’m paying so I’m right.* Yeah, well, so am I, and the employee had already started helping me, so maybe you could wait 40 seconds.
I see all these well-meaning people painting a picture of a new generation calling out the older one for bad manners. Open your eyes—it’s nonsense. This only happens because you’re a foreigner and it’s obvious you don’t live here. 90% of the time, people will walk all over you without a second thought, no matter their age, and *especially* if they think they’re richer than you (a pretty relative criterion, but hey, it makes them feel good, so let’s not bruise their new-money pride).
Anyway, I’m kind of amused reading all these comments from people who’ve only seen China through a tourist’s eyes, defending the country wholeheartedly when they barely know it... and who don’t seem any more qualified than the person who started this thread to judge the place, despite what they might think. Why start off so harshly when your experience is often just as relative as theirs?
Believe me, no Chinese person would bother defending your country the way you’re defending theirs. And when you’re treated well as a tourist, just remember—it’s all a commercial facade, a community reflex drilled into them by local propaganda. They’re constantly fed the idea that they *have* to show foreigners their best side because it serves the authorities’ strategy. You don’t catch flies with vinegar, and you don’t spit on a smiling face—even if everything they do is designed to swindle you and subtly assert dominance over anything that moves.
So I’ll say it again: I agree with the person who opened this topic. While Chinese people can be endearing and friendly, it’s undeniable that they’re also disrespectful, rude, and selfish—borderline egotistical. Not to mention their questionable hygiene standards.
As for the argument that "China’s on the other side of the world, so it’s different"—sorry, but no. Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Mexico, and Australia are also far away, and that doesn’t stop them from being polite and respectful. The current behavior of Chinese people isn’t the result of some cultural difference—it’s communism, which wiped out culture, and a worship of money, which strips away respect for others. And let’s be real: if they wanted to change, they could. But they seem pretty happy with themselves, so don’t hold your breath.
Good evening,
I read your account, and since you live there, of course your experience is different from ours—we only spent a month as tourists, visiting six provinces.
It’s true that we loved China. It was a beautiful trip with so many incredible things to see. We didn’t see Chinese people the way they’re often described.
We loved how they danced, sang, did group exercises, and played music in all the parks we visited—there are so many! To us, it seemed peaceful, and it looked like people were happy doing things together.
But I’m not disputing your experience—after all, you deal with them all year round.
That said, we’ve also been to the countries you mentioned (except Japan), staying two months in each.
I don’t share your opinion.
In Vietnam and Thailand, everyone’s a "salesperson"—they grab you constantly to sell you something, won’t let go, and if you look at a shirt, they’ll force you to check out pants or something else. At restaurants, the second you sit down, they shove the menu at you and expect you to order immediately, without giving you time to figure it out.
Like I said in an earlier post, in those two countries, we didn’t even get a hint of passing friendship. They smile and quote you prices four times higher, but the second you walk away without buying, their faces change—like emojis: smile, no smile. We were even told that French people are cheap because we wouldn’t buy everything they offered at whatever price!!!
Mexico, which we loved (we have a soft spot for South American countries), is very dirty. Dead animals and trash line the roads. It’s noisy day and night—you can’t sleep without earplugs—but the people are cheerful and charming.
As for Australia, a very expensive country, I can’t really speak to the people in small or big cities—they’re indifferent, like you don’t even exist. But we loved driving thousands of kilometers through the empty bush and seeing kangaroos and wallabies.
So in conclusion, every country—and everyone—has its flaws. Nothing’s perfect.
Just one small question out of curiosity: Why do you keep living in a country that clashes so much with our French values and upbringing?
Well, to each their own... We spent as much time as you did in the countries you mentioned, except for Vietnam where we only stayed for 2 weeks, and we had a completely different experience! In every country, we didn’t encounter any harassment or forced sales—almost always great interactions. And aside from certain areas of Mexico City, Mexico left a much stronger impression on us with its beauty and diversity than with its dirt.
To be honest, we weren’t expecting to love Vietnam much because we’d heard mixed reviews back in France. But all my foreign colleagues based in Shenzhen, like me, came back raving about it, especially about the "warm and human" contact with people, which is a nice change from the latent aggression we deal with daily here. And we totally agreed with that!
As for why we live in China, it’s purely professional reasons. But the current stint is almost over—YES!! And this experience in Guangdong will at least have the merit of showing us just how deep the gap is between Shanghai and the rest of the country. For us, it’s clear: in the future, we won’t accept a job in China unless it’s in Shanghai. Because while all the little quirks I described in my previous post were kind of amusing when we were based in Shanghai and just visiting other regions for a week or two, it’s a lot less fun when they become your daily reality.
It’s a shame to leave a country like China feeling that—for now (and likely for a long time to come)—only a bubble of 20 million people meets the standard, but that’s our experience, and unfortunately, we don’t see much changing that impression.
To each their own, I guess! We’ve spent as much time as you in the countries you mentioned—except Vietnam, where we only stayed for two weeks—and our experience was completely different. In every country, we didn’t face any harassment or aggressive sales, and we almost always had great interactions. Aside from certain areas of Mexico City, Mexico left a much stronger impression on us for its beauty and diversity than for its dirtiness.
Honestly, we weren’t expecting to love Vietnam much since we’d heard mixed reviews back in France. But all my foreign colleagues based in Shenzhen like me came back raving about it, especially about the "warm and human" connections with people, which is a nice change from the everyday latent aggression here. And we totally agreed with that!
As for why we live in China, it’s purely for work. But our current stint is almost over—YES!! At least this experience in Guangdong has shown us just how deep the gap is between Shanghai and the rest of the country. For us, it’s clear: in the future, we won’t accept a job in China unless it’s in Shanghai. Because while all the little quirks I described in my previous post were kind of amusing when we were based in Shanghai and visiting other regions for a week or two, they’re a lot less fun when they become your daily reality.
It’s too bad to leave a country like China feeling that—for now, and likely for a long time—only a 20-million-person bubble is up to par. But that’s our experience, and unfortunately, we don’t see much changing that.
Hello,
Thanks for answering my somewhat nosy question—actually, I should’ve guessed it was work keeping you there.
But I’m going to push my luck and ask if there are any beautiful places to visit in the province where you live, whether monuments or nature?
We’ve visited the following places and their surroundings, seeing everything there was to see: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Kunming, Lijiang, Shanghai. We were amazed by: Beijing and its grand historical monuments, the Great Wall, the giant Buddha of Leshan, the Stone Forest (so impressive!), a day on the Li River, Dragon Mountain up to 5,000 m, the Terracotta Army, etc...
Could you tell me, if it’s not too much trouble, which other provinces still have really beautiful sites?
Thanks in advance.
Best regards,
No problem!
You seem to have already covered the main classics, but here are some suggestions:
If you haven’t already explored around Beijing, Pingyao and Chengde should appeal to you, as well as the Yungang Caves, not far from Datong.
On the coast, facing Taiwan, Fujian with its Hakka country (visit the tulou) and landscapes between sea and mountains.
Further inland, the Zhangjiajie site, which inspired the landscapes of *Avatar*. They built a glass pedestrian bridge spanning a gorge. It’s impressive but always packed. And honestly, the crowd’s behavior really ruins the visit.
Around Chengdu, have you seen the pandas and Jiuzhaigou National Park? The latter offers beautiful landscapes, but you’ll need to plan your visit carefully due to the park’s national status and its constraints.
Further north, you could visit Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang, which feels much more like Central Asia than China (for the latter, be aware that the region isn’t always open to foreigners—it’s a bit of a gamble).
Finally, around Shanghai, if you haven’t already: Hangzhou and especially part of Anhui (Tunxi, sunrise in the Huang Shan mountains, and old water towns like Hongcun and Xidi). They’re packed too, but it doesn’t necessarily ruin the visit—especially if you go on a weekday, outside of Chinese holidays.
Of course, there’s also Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. I haven’t been to Taiwan, but I’ve only heard good things: friendly and welcoming people happy to see tourists, a unique culture and vibe, a mix of old Chinese culture and Japanese respect. And Tibet if you have the means—though it’s not always open to foreigners, and you’ll need a mandatory (and expensive) guide/spy from an agency, all at your own expense.
No problem!
Indeed, you seem to have done the main classics. But here are some suggestions:
If you haven't already done so around Beijing, Pingyao and Chengde should appeal to you, as well as the Yungang Caves, not far from Datong.
On the coast, facing Taiwan, Fujian with its Hakka country (visit the tulou) and landscapes between sea and mountains.
Further inland, the Zhangjiajie site, which inspired the landscapes of Avatar. They built a glass pedestrian bridge that crosses a gorge. Impressive but always packed. And honestly, the crowd's behavior really ruins the visit there too.
Around Chengdu, have you seen the pandas and Jiuzhaigou National Park? The latter offers beautiful landscapes, but you need to plan your visit carefully due to quite a few constraints related to its national park status.
Further north, you could visit Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang, which feels much more like Central Asia than China (for the latter, be aware that the region isn't always open to foreigners—it's hit or miss).
Finally, great spots around Shanghai if you haven't already done them: Hangzhou and especially part of Anhui (Tunxi, sunrise in the Huang Shan mountains, and old water towns like Hongcun and Xidi. Also packed, but it doesn’t necessarily ruin the visit this time, especially if you go on a weekday outside Chinese holidays).
Of course, there’s also Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. I haven’t been to Taiwan, but I’ve only heard good things: open and welcoming people who are happy to see tourists, a unique culture and atmosphere, a mix of old Chinese culture and Japanese influence. And Tibet if you can afford it, though it’s not always open to foreigners, and you’re required to have a guide/spy and an agency—all at your own expense.
Thank you so much for your quick response. This is really helpful (we’ve already been to Hong Kong and Macau), as we’re considering going back to China, and your insights will help me plan an itinerary and refine it with travel guides and websites. But nothing beats firsthand experience from someone who lives there.
See you later,
Best regards
A little anecdote on a bus: now that smoking is banned in public places, I don’t think tobacco consumption has really decreased. So, on the bus I boarded in a small town deep in Yunnan, all the men were smoking. My Chinese is way too weak to give a speech, but silent gestures can be surprisingly powerful. So when I walked past the smokers, I simply pointed to the shiny new no-smoking sticker above their heads. They either put out their cigarettes or tossed them out the window if they were by it. And lots of little smiles bloomed on the faces of the other passengers who hadn’t dared to say anything.
In which other provinces can you still find very beautiful sites?
Hi Anna,
For my very first trip to China, I explored the Chinese part of the Silk Road in September 2018, including the provinces of Xinjiang (officially an autonomous region), Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Shaanxi.
My top cultural sites:
- The Mogao Caves in Dunhuang (northern Gansu).
- Majishan, south of Tianshui (Gansu).
- Qutan Si Monastery (southeast of Xining, Qinghai).
- The Binglingsi Caves (southern Gansu).
- The Gansu Provincial Museum in Lanzhou (Gansu).
- Ta'er Si Monastery (near Xining, Qinghai), despite heavy Han crowds.
- The Qing village of Dangjiacun.
- The Confucian Temple in Hancheng.
My top natural sites:
- The Karakoram Highway, between Tashkorgan and Kashgar,
- The Danxia landforms northwest of Zhangye, packed with people but well-organized.
- The natural setting of Binglingsi (Gansu), with its cliffs along the Huang He (Yellow River).
- Mount Huashan,
- The Tianshan Canyon, north of Kuqa (Xinjiang).
I’m currently planning a trip to Japan with my two kids.
Before going any further, my main question is about the budget. While flights are pretty straightforward—just compare prices—when it comes to daily expenses, I have no idea what to expect.
We’re thinking of traveling between mid-July (around the 19th, give or take 2-3 days) and mid-August (returning by August 20th at the latest).
Duration: 15 days (though we could stretch it by 2-3 days if it makes sense price-wise).
Family of 4, including two kids aged 9 and 12.
Before we had kids, we used to travel pretty "rough" and book things on the spot (we often took basic flights), but this time, it might be trickier. That said, we’re not looking for luxury—just somewhere decent to sleep and shower so we can save money for as many activities and sightseeing as possible.
For those who’ve recently had a family trip like this or are familiar with Japan, I’d love any advice—especially what a reasonable daily budget might look like (or at least the absolute minimum to make the trip feasible).
Thanks in advance!
P.S.: I’ll admit I struggled a bit with the categories, so if this post needs to be moved, no problem! ;-)
Hi,
My departure is coming up soon—two months backpacking in Taiwan, so much to discover! I’d love to hear about your travel experiences.
My main interests are meeting people, understanding how things work, hiking, and nature in general. I’ve also done a lot of reading about Taiwan’s complex situation.
I do stone sculpture.
I also want to visit Orchid Island for its history.
Marie
I’m starting to think about a trip to Japan, though I haven’t yet decided on the exact duration or itinerary, and I have a few questions for those who know the country well or have traveled there recently.
First, about getting around: what do you think are the most economical and reliable ways to travel across Japan and move between cities? I’m thinking of trains, overnight buses, domestic flights, regional passes, etc. I’m not necessarily looking for the fastest option, but rather a good balance between cost, simplicity, and reliability.
I also have a question about the return ticket. Since I don’t yet know how long I’ll stay in Japan—or even if I’ll return directly to France (I might continue to another Asian country)—is it mandatory to have a return or exit ticket before entering Japan? Would a ticket to another Asian country suffice?
Regarding accommodation, I usually prefer staying in youth hostels rather than hotels. Are hostels easy to find all over Japan, including outside Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka? And what’s the average budget per night for something clean and well-located?
Finally, I’d like to get an idea of the overall budget for the trip. Is Japan still relatively affordable when traveling simply, or do expenses add up quickly? I’m mainly thinking about:
transportation between cities;
local transportation;
youth hostels;
food;
potential domestic flights.
My plan is to travel fairly freely, without necessarily booking everything in advance, so I can adjust my itinerary or stay longer in places I like.
If anyone has traveled this way in Japan, I’d love to hear about your experiences, tips, and maybe an idea of the daily budget to expect.
Hi there,
I’m planning my trip for May. Here’s my itinerary for 4.5 days in Seoul:
May 5: afternoon at Mangwon Market, Mangridan-gil, Han River
May 6: Gyeongbokgung, Tongin Market & Seochon, Bukchon, Insadong, Jogyesa Temple, and Ikseon-dong
May 7: Namdaemun Market, Deoksugung Palace, stroll along Cheonggyecheon, Seoullo 7017, Hongdae
May 8:Changdeokgung + Changgyeonggung, Gwangjang Market, Jongmyo Shrine, Jongno Boulevard for the big parade
May 9:Morning in Gangnam, Bongeunsa, Namsangol Hanok Village, N Seoul Tower Plaza
What do you think of this itinerary? Is there anything I should add, remove, or swap out? I tried to keep travel time to a minimum, but I might be missing something. I’d love to hear all your thoughts—thanks!
Philippe
According to my calculations, I’ll be in Zhangjiajie on Monday, November 16th. I adjusted my itinerary to avoid the weekend.
I’m wondering:
1- Do I need to book the park entrance in advance (like, is there a visitor limit?)
2- I plan to take the elevator and maybe a cable car (I’ll walk the rest—I’m in good shape). Should I book those too, or can I sort it out when I arrive?
3- On Wednesday, November 18th, I’m aiming for Tianmen Mountain. Same question—do I need to reserve? I read it’s under construction right now. And apparently, it’s line C.
3 bis - Also, is it possible to go all the way to the top by bus only, without the cable car, and finish on foot?
Hi everyone, I’m preparing for a one-month trip in October. I’m traveling solo and would love to explore the countryside, but I’m also wondering if there are any themed urban hikes or walks. In Japan, I did some themed city tours, especially by bike.
Thanks for any tips you can share!
Marie
Hi,
Our trip is planned for 20 days in Japan next April. We have a free subscription that would allow us to use 35 GB (I’m a bit confused), but we also need to be able to make phone calls with a French couple traveling with us for a few days, and that seems impossible due to cost... Any solutions for using GPS while keeping those 35 GB? Used to traveling in Southeast Asia, we usually rely on local SIM cards. Is it easy to do the same in Japan?
Thanks for your help!
Best,
Tialou
I’m looking for advice from seasoned travelers about a roughly one-month trip to Japan.
From late October to late November 2026.
We often travel in Southeast Asia but have never been to Japan.
Based on what I’ve read, I’d love to hear your thoughts on:
- Is traveling day-to-day, without booking hotels or trains in advance, possible in Japan?
(I’ve read many travel journals and blogs that say everything was booked way in advance… but that’s not how we usually travel.)
- Will the Japan Rail Pass be worth it for us?
(According to an old simulator, I’m looking at around 400 € for trains compared to 570 € for the JRP.)
Here’s our rough itinerary (which may change):
- Arrival Osaka: 3 nights with Nara
- Hiroshima and Miyajima Island: 3 nights
- Kurashiki or Naoshima: 2 nights
- Himeji: 1 night
- Kyoto: 4 nights
- Kanazawa: 2 nights
- Takayama and Shirakawa-go: 3 nights
- Around Mount Fuji: 3 nights
- Tokyo with Nikko: 6 nights (no theme parks)
Departure from Tokyo
I’m currently in the process of booking my hotels.
I have a question about these two apps. I’m planning to use trips.com to book my trains (if I understood correctly, that’s the best way to do it).
Is there any advantage to booking hotels with trips.com, or can I keep using Booking? (I’m used to the interface.) My hidden question is whether it’ll work smoothly when I’m there (for new bookings or retrieving the ones I’ve already made).
I’ve booked my flight ticket to China, arriving in Hong Kong and departing from Chongqing.
I have 27 nights there.
Here’s my draft itinerary:
Hong Kong arrival (minimum 3 nights + 1 night for Macau)
Shenzhen (1 night – immigration, day and night city visit)
Guangzhou (2 nights – 2 days of sightseeing)
Yangshuo (3 nights – 2 full days)
Passing through Guilin (0 nights – 1 day)
Longsheng or Longji Rice Terraces Green (2 nights)
Sanjiang (1 night)
Kunming (1 night)
Dali (2 nights – 1 day of sightseeing)
Lijiang (2 nights – 1 day of sightseeing)
Shangri-La (1 night)
Chengdu (2 nights – 1 full day for Buddha)
Zhangjiajie (4 nights – 4 days)
Chongqing (2 nights)
I have an efficient travel style (I wake up very early and generally move quickly).
I don’t want to see the Stone Forest in Kunming because it looks too much like the Tsingy in Madagascar.
What do you think?
Thanks for any kind of feedback.
Hi,
July 2026: I’m writing to you from Dali.
First, I got scammed on Booking—AI-retouched photos. No tourists at this hotel (Yishanju Designer Hotel), and the reality was horrible: dirty, with a disgusting breakfast. It’s better to use Trip.com here.
Next, the old town was an infernal cacophony, packed with tourists who shoved past without a care. Some vendors harassed you to buy things. All the stalls sold the same cheap plastic junk or other uninteresting stuff. The beautiful scenery was ruined by vendors lining 100% of the alleys. Impossible to walk, crushing heat, nothing good to eat except fresh fruit. Horrible experience.
Day 2: We went to Cangshan Mountain by cable car—the ride was short and nothing spectacular. We were at 2,600 m.
My plan was to see Erhai Lake. Unfortunately, I followed the advice of an AI chatbot: take the boat at Langkan Dock. The Didi dropped us off in the nearest area, which was full of charming little alleys but packed with Chinese tourists. The three-wheeled yellow cabs zoomed through the narrow streets, forcing you to hug the walls, on top of the scooters and other pedestrians to deal with. Crossing the neighborhood was hellish and suffocating. Once out, we hit the "corniche," which was also packed with Chinese tourists. The lake’s edge was all pebbles, and everyone was standing around taking photos. I was with my 5-year-old son. I would’ve liked to sit down and let him play with stones by the water, but it was clear we didn’t belong. They were even shoving each other for a shot! There were no boats in sight. In short, we’d had enough, and there was nothing interesting there either.
On the way back, we had to cross that maze again under the scorching sun. My son was braver than me—I even had a little dizzy spell from all the chaos. Add to that Dali’s altitude (2,200 m), so altitude insomnia, fatigue, and vulnerability during the day...
The restaurants weren’t inviting—the staff served sticky rice in a little bucket. The dishes were wrapped, and you had to figure it out yourself. After that, they ignored you completely, even if you were the only tourist.
On the 3rd day, it was time to leave for Shaxi. I hope to see beautiful villages. But honestly, I’m exhausted by this atmosphere where everything is complicated, communication is never smooth, noise is everywhere, and the behavior of some Chinese people is abusive...
Silver lining: not a drop of rain in 4 days and blue skies.
I couldn’t visit the villages in southern Yunnan because of rain and storms there...
But I was expecting to see a few more tourists.
For April or May 2027, we’d like to find a student guide if possible to show us the best spots and services and guide us around the country for 2-3 weeks on our first trip there.
We’re missing key info to plan this trip, especially recommendations from people who’ve enjoyed places that aren’t necessarily touristy but more intimate.
Thanks in advance
Next year, we’re celebrating 20 years of marriage (and travel 🙂), and we’re looking for something new, pretty legendary, and something the teens will enjoy too.
The family council has settled on Japan for now. And it’d have to be a summer trip—no choice there.
The catch: I keep reading that August isn’t the right season for southern Japan. It’s hot, humid, and there’s a risk of typhoons… Okay, but what does that *actually* mean in practice? Are there any travelers who’ve been there during this time? Is it *that* unbearable?
We’re pretty familiar with Southeast Asia—last year, we dealt with scorching heat in Vietnam and insane humidity, plus a typhoon we experienced from a distance, and visiting Angkor in the blazing sun. Is it worse than that?
Hey there,
In the sea of VPNs, I'm looking for one to use in China for just a month (free or paid). Which one should I pick? All the ones I've found are for several months or even a year.
Hi,
I’ve always been used to exchanging my money (€) in town no matter the country (with a "mini exchange" at the airport if needed).
I can’t find any recent posts on this topic from the last few years.
Does anyone have any insights on this? Intrinsic benefits, best places to exchange, etc.?
I arrive at Tokyo Haneda on a Friday around 12:30 PM, and my first night is very close to Shinjuku.
Thanks.
Here are some tips from our 6-week trip (summer 2026) to China, Vietnam, and Cambodia. We traveled as a family of four with two kids aged 15 and 12.
I hope these notes help other travelers!
CHINA
General
You’ll need to download and set up a few apps:
- Alipay and WeChat for payments (I didn’t withdraw a single bill the entire trip)
- Didi for taxis
- Amap = Chinese Maps (works great, especially for subways)
- A translation app (we used Papago, but it sometimes gave weird results)
- Google Lens for translating menus or signs—super handy.
- HelloRide for bikes
- Gemini and ChatGPT for everything: understanding daily life, enhancing visits, checking the weather, finding things.
- HomeExchange if you want to lower travel costs (few listings in Asia except in big cities, often expats)
- Trip.com is very useful, even essential, for trains, domestic flights, and hotels. Like Booking.com, the more you book with them, the more perks you get. So I’d even suggest checking flight tickets on this site, even if it’s a bit pricier. However, buying train tickets is complicated because (1) they only open 15 days in advance, and (2) they sell out fast. Trip.com just promises to buy them as soon as they’re available but doesn’t always succeed. It’s stressful and might force you to change your plans, especially if you’re aiming for a sleeper car and there are no seats left. Watch out for station names—many cities have multiple stations, including a high-speed rail one outside the city.
For internet, we got the Asia plan from Holafly. It worked but seemed much slower than Chinese internet. I regretted not buying a Chinese SIM card because without internet in China, everything is VERY complicated (money, transport, etc.).
For the firewall, we used ExpressVPN, but it wasn’t always reliable. A bit disappointing. Ask ChatGPT for tips with screenshots to improve the settings.
Since we only had one SIM card with internet, we couldn’t rent shared bikes. If I were to do it again, I’d get a SIM for each person, even the kids, because distances in cities are huge. We walked *a lot*. Same goes for buses—it’s tricky with just one internet connection. Better to have a phone per person with internet.
Book your visits as far in advance as possible—they often sell out.
Watch out for power banks: if they don’t explicitly say "3C," they’ll confiscate it. Even if there’s a little airplane logo.
Shanghai
In the evening, the streets leading to the Bund from the metro were so crowded that police were out in force blocking roads. Arrive early. We went around the north side.
Suzhou
Be careful—there are two stations (common in China), and the high-speed rail one is 45–50 minutes from the old town.
The Humble Administrator’s Garden was *packed*—we don’t recommend it. It turned into a marathon day from Shanghai (almost 4 hours from our hotel to the garden).
Beijing
Forbidden City: Don’t go—I know it’s a shame, but it’s too crowded. I couldn’t buy tickets on the official site because of the kids’ passports. We ended up with a guided tour, the only way to get in (tickets sell out fast). The visit was disappointing—bad guide *and* massive crowds. You’ll queue a lot to enter and see certain areas. You’ll be checked often, so pack your bags carefully.
Great Wall at Mutianyu: Crowded. Two hours by bus, and even though we arrived early, people were already leaving! I really think the best option is to leave your big bags in Beijing and stay overnight near the Wall. That way, you’ll have it to yourself a bit more. For transport: get off at Tiananmen Square metro and look for buses with official guides in bright yellow-green vests. No need to buy tickets online—they made me cancel mine to rebook on the spot. Buses leave when full. Note: the cable car and chairlift are separate—if you want to go up one side and down the other, you’ll need different tickets. The endless queue for the toboggan ride put us off.
Quick tip: Incredible swimming spot in Beijing—on the north shore of Houhai Lake, you can swim by crossing the barrier. We did it twice with about ten other people. Bring a swimsuit!
Shapotou Desert
Amazing, but it gets *very* hot in the afternoon. We had a tent (not an air-conditioned bungalow), which was unbearable during the day. We hung out in the restaurant.
The paid activities are fun, except the camels—they look sad. The real highlight is the evening and sunset. The only downside: you can’t explore the desert alone or far—they don’t rent 4x4s, for example.
We stayed at "The Desert Camping Hotel of the Proprietress of Shapotou." They were lovely.
Zhongwei
Gaomiao Temple and its underground: Fun and short—you’ll see quirky Buddhist hell paintings.
Xi’an
Terracotta Army: We took a Didi because for four people, a car was almost the same price as four shuttle tickets. It was packed—chaotic to see properly.
We visited the halls in order: 3, 2, then 1—a good choice.
Hua Shan Mountains: Left before sunrise to arrive when the ticket office opened (7 AM, I think). We were shocked to see so many people already coming down.
45 minutes by bus to the west cable car, then 15 minutes up.
We did the west, south, east, central, then north peaks (in that order) before taking the other cable car down (you can buy the ticket at the top). A beautiful day.
In the city, check out...
Chengdu
Panda Research Center: Like Hua Shan, plan to arrive when the ticket office opens. Already *tons* of people, and it moves fast to see the big pandas before their nap. Have them drop you at the west entrance (not south), or you’ll have to walk uphill.
Leshan Giant Buddha: Interesting. The trip is a bit long (metro, then train, then city bus, then shuttle on-site). We didn’t take the boat option but walked. In the end, you only spend a few minutes at the Buddha’s feet, but it’s a nice day out.
Hotel tip: Panda Enjoy Home Hotel Apartments (Chengdu East Railway Station Dongda Road Branch). The view is insane, and the neighborhood is super convenient and nice. 646 CNY for 2 nights.
Swimming: The municipal pool is an interesting experience, but don’t expect to swim—no one does. Everyone just splashes around where they can stand. The hours are a bit odd, with a break in the late afternoon.
Kunming
The bike path along Dian Lake is pretty and often well-protected from cars. But like everywhere in China, it’s *packed*. Not much to say about visits—the flower market is a wholesale market, not very interesting. The ethnic minorities museum closed right in front of us.
All the big malls are good for shopping.
Dali
We thought we could bike around the lake in two days. Wrong on two counts: First, the lake’s edge is blocked to traffic and reserved for bikes (or tourist mini-buses). So you’re stuck on the main road, which never gives you a view of the lake, with all the trucks and cars. Doing 120 km like that wouldn’t make sense, in our opinion. The rice fields around are nice but not as impressive as elsewhere, so Dali isn’t worth it for that.
The old town, all restored, is pretty but *packed*—thousands of people, especially in the evening.
Hekou (Vietnam border)
Comfortable train from Kunming. In the parking lot, a bus (not well-marked, but Didi is an option) takes you to the border in 15–20 minutes. Short wait at both border posts. Fun to see the two lampposts near the border line: the Chinese one is new, modern, with a surveillance camera (of course), while the Vietnamese one is old and a bit rusty.
VIETNAM
General:
- You’ll need the Grab app for taxis
- Very disappointed with 12Go—it doesn’t show all buses, never connects you with the company, and refuses refunds. Try booking directly with companies like FUTA Bus instead.
- Credit cards are often accepted (supermarkets and modern stores), otherwise, you’ll need cash
Lao Cai
2 km between the border and the train station.
The sleeper bus to Hanoi with Sao Viet is well-organized—it works.
Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum closes early (10:30 AM, I think).
Women’s Museum: Very good, not too long
Temple of Literature: Beautiful, fairly quick
This is where you should buy souvenirs, clothes, and knockoffs—the prices are reasonable, and the sellers are nicer than elsewhere. We recommend Cho Dong Xuan.
Tu Long Bay
We did 2 days, 1 night (so really 24 hours on the boat) with Parfum d’Automne (French-speaking agency), which put us on a Cycad Cruise boat. Cost: 300 € per person—expensive, but it was amazing, super luxurious, and the buffet meals were delicious. We don’t regret the splurge. The only downside: no swimming in the bay (but there’s a pool on the boat). To swim, you’d need a 3-day, 2-night trip to an area not protected by the maritime park.
Phong Nha
If you didn’t do the northern mountains due to time or weather (like us), Phong Nha is a great stop for a motorbike ride. It’s beautiful, especially the mountains west of the city toward the caves.
There are two (small) swimming spots at the Botanic Garden—a pleasant 45-minute walk without stops.
Hotel tip: Sunbeam Village (very friendly, pool, breakfast by the river, motorbike rentals)
Da Nang
Hotel tip: Meridians by Hsuite—you’ll have the beach almost to yourself. You’ll still need to walk 15–20 minutes to the hyper-touristy area if you want to rent surfboards (150–200k VND per hour).
The beach is beautiful, and the water is 30°C—great for a break on a long trip, especially since all transport goes through Da Nang.
Hoi An
45 minutes from Da Nang, so it’s easy to visit in a day, especially since the city isn’t that big and it’s *very* hot.
Cooking class: MS Hanh cooking class—great (the market tour is a bit useless). We don’t recommend the "basket boat" tour—it’s a bit sad on a big brown pond with elderly guides.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ben Thanh Market is a nightmare: starting prices are exorbitant, and the vendors are aggressive. Don’t go.
The War Remnants Museum can be really tough for kids.
Can Tho
Avoid this city. We made the mistake of going to see the floating market—don’t.
Chau Doc
No Grab in the city, but regular taxis.
One day is enough if you go early to the forest and the mountain in the late afternoon.
250k VND per person for the forest and its canals (45 minutes by motorbike)
The sunset at Victoria Nui Sam can be magnificent if the clouds cooperate.
Cheap and good restaurant: Quan Nem Nuong Sau Hiep
Hotel tip: Homestay Khoa (2,250,000 VND for 3 nights)—adorable hostess, full of tips, clean rooms.
The speedboat to Cambodia is more comfortable than a bus. Book with Hangchau a few days in advance—payment in cash on the day (1,640,000 đ).
CAMBODIA
General:
- Issues with the "Bakong Tourists" app—we had to go to a big bank to load money onto it. We barely used it afterward.
Phnom Penh
For us, a day and a half is enough if you want to spend more time elsewhere.
Markets close early (around 6 PM) and are less interesting than in Hanoi, for example.
The Royal Palace has a break from 11 AM to 2 PM, but there aren’t many people in the afternoon.
Siem Reap
Trip with Capitol company—the bus is basic but cheap. Departs at 10:15 AM, 7-hour ride.
Angkor entrance fee: 62 USD per person for a 3-day pass. Tickets are picked up at Angkor Enterprise.
Renting two 125cc motorbikes: 10 USD each, plus 7 USD for gas.
By bike, it took me 25 minutes to reach Angkor Wat’s pools. A basic city bike rental was 1 USD per hour.
Short circuit by motorbike (in reverse): 7 hours with stops everywhere.
Grand tour by tuk-tuk: Only 5 temples, 4.5 hours.
If you want to see lots of monkeys, they’re grouped west of Bayon.
For the temples, we asked Gemini (AI) at each stop to point out details that might interest kids (who can get bored with the repetition). It gave fun facts and things to look for—great for the little ones.
Hotel tip: The Five Senses, run by a Frenchman, Bruno, who knows Cambodia inside out and organizes tours.
Restaurant tip: Wild (only spring rolls, but *so* many varieties—delicious and cheap)
Watch out: 1 hour to the airport, 50 km from the city.
Show tip: The Phare Circus
We’re arriving as a group of three in Tokyo on Saturday, October 17th, then heading straight to Kyoto by direct train.
On Sunday and Monday, we’ll explore Kyoto, and in the evening, we’ll take a train to Osaka to spend the night.
On Tuesday, we’ll pick up a rental car at Itami Airport for a 6-day/5-night road trip around Shikoku:
- 2 nights in the Iya Valley
- Thursday morning, we’ll head to Matsuyama for 2 nights.
- Saturday, we’ll visit Mima (town, a few temples + overnight stay) and return on Sunday to drop off the car in Osaka.
We’ll leave very early on Monday the 26th by plane for Aomori in northern Honshu, where we’ll pick up another rental car at the airport for a 5-day/4-night trip:
- Day 1: Tsugaru Peninsula (Takayam Inari, Cape Tappi, Kanita); overnight in Kanita
- Day 2: Ferry transfer to the Mutsu Peninsula (cliffs, Lake Usori); overnight in Shimofuro
- Day 3: Head to the Hakkoda Mountains and onsens galore; overnight TBD
- Day 4: Return the car in Aomori by noon and explore the city before taking the train to Tokyo in the evening
We’ll spend Friday night in Tokyo, wander around on Saturday, and head home on Sunday.
Thoughts on the road feasibility of this trip? We’ll be there right in the middle of Koyo season, so it’ll be busy...
I know it’s a lot of driving, but there are two of us who can take turns. We’re not afraid of driving, even in the mountains and on the left side! Just wondering, are we going to be rushing, or is this manageable? AI says it’s all good, but it’s not the one driving...
Any tips for booking accommodations in the Iya Valley? Not many places have email addresses or websites (I know Booking.com exists, but not all listings are on there... and given the season, I think it’s better to book ahead!). Same question applies for northern Honshu.
For the rental car, I’m thinking of going with Alamo since at least it’s in French and straightforward, but are there any direct rental companies with user-friendly websites (Toyota Rentacar, ugh... 🏴☠️)?
Another question: With so many trains, is it even necessary to book them in advance? Can we just go to the ticket counter and grab seats on the spot?
For paying for the rental car, do we need a credit or debit card?
I booked my trip from May 5 to 26, 2027. I’m starting to plan my itinerary and look for hotels (I know it’s early!). While I’ve found some in Seoul and Busan, I’m noticing that elsewhere—like Yeosu—most hotels aren’t available (on Booking.com, for example, almost all are unavailable). AI tells me not to worry because hotels in South Korea only open bookings 6 months in advance, so it’s normal to see most of them unavailable on booking sites.
Could you confirm this for me and, of course, reassure me (!)? Thanks so much.
philippe
We’re back from a one-month trip to China and wanted to share our itinerary. Hopefully, this can give future travelers some ideas for exploring this beautiful country.
Beijing → Temple of Heaven / Forbidden City
Jinshanling → Great Wall
Zhangjiajie → Tianmen Mountain and Heaven’s Gate
Wulingyuan → Avatar Mountains / sandstone pillars
Fenghuang → riverside houses
Ping’an → terraced rice fields
Tiantouzhai → village / rice terraces
Yangshuo → Li River / karst mountains
Shanghai → skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower
Our travel journal is available on our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos and some travel tips there.
I’m starting to look at neighborhoods in Seoul, and I’m leaning toward staying in a hotel in Insa-Dong—I’ve spotted one really close to Unhyeongung.
Is this a good area—nice and convenient for exploring the city?
Otherwise, I’ve also found another hotel in Yongsan-Gu, right near the station of the same name. Is that station useful for getting around Seoul?
Since I’ll be in South Korea for nearly two months, I plan to spend at least a week in Seoul to recover from jet lag (it takes me a while to adjust...). So, I’d love a neighborhood that’s pleasant and a hotel not too far from a subway station.
Hi there,
I’d like to do this cycling route over 2 or 3 days. I’m struggling to figure out and find a (good) bike rental that lets me start in Onomichi and drop off in Imabari. Can anyone help with great tips for rentals and accommodations along the route? How do I get back to Onomichi afterward?
I’m back with my detailed itinerary for 20 days in South Korea—it’s my first trip to the country. Our idea is to experience a more rural and cultural Korea. Here’s the rough plan: Seoul for 4 nights at the start and 1 night at the end, Gurye for 4 nights, Suncheon for 4 nights, Namhae for 4 nights, and Gyeongju for 2 nights. The goal is to pick a base and explore the surrounding areas. What do you think of this itinerary? Anything you’d change?
thanks
hi everyone, we're heading out for a 12-day trek in the Japanese Alps. We're bringing freeze-dried meals like we always do. We just found out that importing meat is banned, even freeze-dried. Is that true? We already bought them. They're commercially made freeze-dried meals. Online, it's not specified that they have to be "commercially made" because you can make your own freeze-dried food. And since we've heard they're really strict in Japan, can anyone confirm this for us? thanks
Terrifying!
I’ve been living in Shanghai for 6 months now and I fully intend to stay. I’ve never experienced the situations you mentioned, but I often overhear French tourists talking: the Chinese spit on the ground, they’re hypocritical, etc. I went to university in Strasbourg and then Paris, and I saw way more spit on the sidewalks there than here. The vast majority of Chinese people I know are extremely courteous, and you can build very strong friendships with them. But first, you have to stay humble, listen, and learn. I completely understand why a horde of loud, never-satisfied French tourists would get what they deserve. Plus, it seems like you took a "budget" trip since you had to wash your clothes in a laundromat. The price of dry cleaning in hotels is absolutely negligible compared to France, even in high-end hotels! As for your opinion on the food, complain to your travel agency, but don’t insult the Chinese. Finally, don’t be surprised if you got jostled in the most tourist-infested places. You won’t be going back to China? I hope you’re right...
