No, I Won’t Be Going Back to China (page 11 of 13)

I haven’t been to India even though I have wealthy friends there!!! So visiting a country like India in a Mercedes isn’t my thing. Too bad, but traveling alone, it’s just not safe enough for me—I always travel solo.

Between 1990 and 2020, during MY TRAVELS IN September, I never experienced temperatures above 30°C. Today, everything’s changed!!!!!

I’ve visited at least thirty countries alone with my Defender and five more renting a 4x4. No issues except for a minor one in France and another in Italy!!!!!

All of Asia is safer than Europe WHEN TRAVELING ALONE.

In India, you often need to have strong nerves and be used to traveling... (scams, harassment are commonplace!)

I can confirm that...🙁 Just in transit at Delhi airport recently! Your nerves can really be put to the test...

I won’t be going back for any other reason, but largely because of the growth in tourism for Chinese visitors—I imagine too many crowds, queues, and above all being "forced" to go to the "must-see" spots and not being able to go where I really want.

Yes, that’s a bit of a concern for me too. Just look up the on-site programs to see what I mean. Everything is meticulously organized and timed. The ideal would be to rent and drive a vehicle to go wherever we please, but apparently, that’s very difficult. In Zhangye in Gansu, for example, you can’t stray from the tourist route to hike in the "Rainbow Mountains." In the dunes at Dunhuang, there are even traffic signs for camels! Still, I think there must be places where you can walk or move around freely, like in Sichuan and Yunnan, which are more frequented by foreign tourists. Anyway, we’ll see—we’re going back this autumn. Despite a few concerns, the strong desire to revisit this fascinating country (at least for me) wins out.

In Zhangye, Gansu, for example, you can’t just wander off the tourist trail to hike in the "Rainbow Mountains." In the dunes at Dunhuang, there are even traffic signs for camels!

That’s exactly the kind of issue I want to avoid. On VF, most trips stick to a set itinerary. But traveling like that, I feel like I’d end up at Disneyland! (I’m probably exaggerating a little.) Personally, I like to go wherever I please, and I don’t want to find myself in the same situation as my first trip.

I still think there must be places where you can walk or move around freely, like in Sichuan and Yunnan, which are more popular with foreign tourists.

It’s probably possible, but you’ve got to be careful...

"I wouldn’t go back for any other reason, but largely because of the tourism development aimed at Chinese visitors—I imagine too many crowds, queues, and especially feeling 'forced' to go to the 'must-see' spots instead of where I really want to go."

Well, turns out I’m not the only one who doesn’t want to return somewhere! But after thinking it over, I think I *will* go back to China—just not on an organized trip, and probably far from the big cities. I haven’t decided anything yet. I’m also considering traveling from Hong Kong to northern Vietnam by bike, naturally passing through China. Two different projects.

I was also thinking of connecting northern Vietnam from Hong Kong by bike, naturally passing through China

The situation for foreign tourists in China has surely changed a lot, but I still recommend being cautious... Do your research beforehand (but where and how?) When I was in Yangshuo in 1986, this small town was already very touristy. Yangshuo was on the list of authorized cities. It's even where I met the most foreigners: Europeans, Americans, Australians, etc. You could rent bikes there! Which I did to explore the surrounding villages... I didn't go 50 km—just about ten at most. At a fork in the road, I had the choice between two directions and picked the wrong one. Both directions were written (like everywhere!) in Chinese. No prohibition signs. Nothing. I rode 1 or 2 km and ended up in a large village. I stopped there to have lunch at a roadside eatery... A Chinese hotpot—I think I even ate dog. They were selling them (in wire cages) everywhere. I paid and was about to leave on my bike... That's when my troubles started. I was stopped by a plainclothes cop (who spoke perfect English). I had to follow him to the police station... I had to wait for the "big boss" to arrive, who didn't speak a word of English... Translation: You entered a "restricted area" illegally—this is a serious offense... The interrogation (always the same stupid questions like "Did you come here by bus or by bike!") lasted at least 4 hours! In short, I spent the day at the station, they confiscated my bike, and I had to pay a fine. The legal amount ranged (for example) from 10 to 50 RMB. I had to pay the maximum amount!

Back in the 80s, there were no mobile phones. I might have to stop regularly along the way to fire up the translator 🤔🤔. It reminds me that I wrote to the Chinese embassy twice a few months ago and I’m still waiting!!!

After a little stint in jail, it could be part of the travel experience 😄

After a little stint in jail, it can become part of the travel experience

If I hadn’t been able to pay the fine right away, I’m sure I would’ve ended up there!

Great story, but that was 40 years ago. You even said it yourself—things have changed, and nowhere more so than in China!

I know a guy who left France and is now in Afghanistan. He got chased and spent a few days in jail in Iran—he was in a sensitive area. And this happened recently

China is always amazing. I’ve been there 3 times for a month each. Everywhere, the welcome you get is something you won’t find in Switzerland or France. Tibet is just incredible! Condition: avoid tourist hotels.

And I’m thinking of going back in 2027 to northern China.

I know a guy who left France and is now in Afghanistan, who got chased and spent a few days in jail in Iran. He was in a sensitive area. And this is recent

No connection whatsoever.

What you said matches exactly what I experienced during my trips to China. But I didn’t have the words to express it or the courage to say it—otherwise, it might’ve sounded like propaganda, haha.

Besides, I also ran into some downsides while traveling in China. Oh well, that’s just how travel goes—and life in general—ups and downs..😛

Absolutely. By the way, it did feel tough at times, but overall, I wasn’t traumatized since I’m going back in a few weeks! Also, a quick question: I’ll be there during the May 1st holidays, and I know the Chinese travel a lot during this "bridge" period. But is it really necessary to book everything in advance—for example, the Hangzhou -> Shanghai trip on the afternoon of May 2nd (train or bus)? Or even Tangkou -> Hangzhou on the morning of April 30th (by bus, I think)? Thanks.

The south: Fascinating: Tibet and the southern minorities. The west: the big cities.

I’m totally lost with your take on the cardinal directions. Since the comment about the big cities in the west has already been made (:-)), I’ll just react to the Tibet part. If Tibet is in the south, where should we place Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan?

No region in China is tropical, always pleasant temperatures

The climate in Xishuangbanna (Yunnan) is considered tropical. The same goes for Hainan, if I’m not mistaken (though I’ve never been there and can’t speak from experience).

Both directions were written (as everywhere!) in Chinese.

For all we know, it might have said "restricted area" :-)

I think there are plenty of countries where you’d run into trouble if you wander into a "restricted area." And in some, if you get off with just a fine, you can probably consider yourself lucky. I’m not sure what 50 RMB was worth in 1986. My first thought is that it wasn’t much (especially for a French person).

Hello Chinevoyages,

When it comes to food, the typical style of each province might not suit you.

Absolutely—I was actually bothered by Eric’s use of the term "Chinese cuisine." You just can’t compare what you eat in Beijing, Guangdong, or Hunan. To me, it’s as inconsistent as lumping together dishes as different as choucroute, cassoulet, potée auvergnate, quenelle sauce Nantua, or marouflette au maroilles under the single label "French cuisine" :-) For example, while Hunan cuisine is extremely spicy, that’s not the case with what you’ll find in Beijing.

By the way, the phrase "a bowl of rice and hundreds of gugus" is brilliant, but I’m wondering what "gugus" are

Since I see no one’s answered you yet, I’ll come to the rescue. *Gugus* is a slang, somewhat derogatory term for a person who’s grotesque (or even comical).

The south: Fascinating—the Tibet and the southern minorities. The west: the big cities.

I’m completely lost with your take on the cardinal directions. Since the comment about the big cities in the west has already been made (:-)), I’ll only react to Tibet. If it’s in the south, where should we place Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan?

No region in China is tropical, always pleasant temperatures

The climate in Xishuangbanna (in Yunnan) is considered tropical. The same goes for Hainan, if I’m not mistaken (though I’ve never been there and can’t speak from experience)

For me, everything south of Chongqing is southern China. I’ve visited all the regions in this south—three times in 10 years. Always in September, always with pleasant temperatures. Even cooking in Sichuan. The first time was in 2004. And roaming around with my Defender in about twenty countries (in Asia). John

Where did you buy your Defender? And is it easy to cross borders into China’s neighboring countries?

I sold the Defender. It had over 500,000 km and no issues at all. Yes, in some countries like Iran, you have to leave a bank guarantee at the border so you don’t sell the vehicle. China was trickier if you’re not in a group. And I always traveled solo. So for trips to China, I’d rent a 4x4 with a driver. In theory, it wasn’t too expensive, but for a permit, Beijing asked me for $2000 with no guarantee I’d be able to cross the Torugart Pass without problems. And that’s that

I’m totally lost with your take on the cardinal directions.

Uh... Me too

The climate in Xishuangbanna (Yunnan) is considered tropical. The same goes for Hainan, if I’m not mistaken (though I’ve never been there and can’t speak from experience).

I went to Hainan about twenty years ago. It *is* a tropical island—overrated in some spots, but it’s really nice to relax there for a few days after a long trip around China...

Despite its "flaws," I find China fascinating, and we’re happily heading back this autumn. For the first time, we’ll take advantage of the 30-day "visa-free" stay, which will take us to Gansu, a small part of Yunnan, and—hopefully—a few days in Zhangjiajie Park.