China

Pros: Very dynamic country. A lot of history but a lot of change.
Cons: You need to be able to speak a little Mandarin if you want to get around on your own.

First of all, for those of you contemplating a first time visit to China - you'll enjoy yourself best if you do some research prior to coming. Invest in a Lonely Planet guide and after reading about the many places you can visit, determine what you think...

Pros: Lots to see for everyone
Cons: Tedious, expensive to travel around, discriminate pricing, large

Obviously, China is huge, and the extent of my travels are limited to the Eastern Half, in a "travel for as little as possible" mode. So, please understand that my opinions are limited to my own personal experiences, and yours may differ based...

Pros: We made it home.
Cons: Being zero-class citizens

October 1st is Chinese National Day (Guo qing jie). Millions of Chinese take this opportunity to travel to see relatives and loved ones - similar to the millions of Americans taking to planes, trains and automobiles around Thanksgiving. On one such...

Pros: Friendly people, genuine atmosphere
Cons: Waking up at 5am to get on the bus to leave

If you are interested in visiting Tibet, but don't have the money, patience, or time, consider a trip to Langmusi. Langmusi is in the north-west corner of Sichuan province and is at 3000 feet elevation. The population of then town is mostly ethnic...

Pros: a city to visit
Cons: just for fun

Review Topic:  Sights & Attractions


In times gone by, sail-powered junks made their way slowly across the mouth of the Pearl River to Macau from Hong Kong, a journey that took a day or more. Contemporary visitors...

Pros: Great soup, good show, lots of movement, and cheap
Cons: You have to be patient because there is limited English

Kunming, in SW China, is famous for a soup called "across the bridge noodle soup". The "across the bridge noodle soup" restaurant of choice for my money is the Yunnan Flavour Restaurant but beware not the one in...

Pros: Modern City with all the benifits without being overly Western
Cons: Not many

When I was in China, I went to Chengdu three times and I must say it is a great place to spend a few days. Most people spend a little time in Chengdu if they are going to Tibet. So if you are in Chengdu for a few days here a few things I would suggest...

Pros: Surprisingly safer and more organised than imagined
Cons: Quirky travel agents make it difficult to buy in-country

Getting air tickets in (Southern)China is more difficult than I thought - although other travellers said that they had simply followed Lonely Planet's advice and gone to the appropriate airline ticket office. I had Chinese friends who ‘helped’ me but...

Pros: Historical and busy
Cons: Uncomfortable weather

When I visited Changsha in the spring, it was still very cold and wet. However, I found this city in Hunan province to be fascinating. We visited a museum that housed ancient mummies and tombs, as well as an embroidery museum. I have heard this city...

Pros: endless things to see, cheap cost of living, rich cultural history, safe, generally friendly population
Cons: significant pollution/smog in the industrialized regions, restrictive political/media climate, high petty crime, difficult language

I studied in China for a semester in the fall of 2007 and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I was lucky enough to stay in Hangzhou, a beautiful lakeside city about two hours from Shanghai. Other Chinese cities, like Beijing, are little on the gritty ...

Pros: shopping
Cons: people

I went to China early this year. Let's talk about Shenzhen. It is very close to Hong Kong. You can take a bus or train and it gets you to the border. At the border you can exchange your currency right there also. Or if you are coming from Hong Kong ...

Pros: Culturally rich, friendly people, beautiful locations
Cons: Toilets are holes, trash lines some streets, foreigners (especially Americans) charged more

It's no tranquil woodland retreat and kung fu fights aren't commonplace on city streets, but mainland China is everything that lovers of the Eastern Hemisphere might have dreamed.

After a five month stay, I had a chance to see many cities...

Pros: Breathtaking beauty, delicious food, relaxing
Cons: none to speak of

This is going to be a very long review, so please bear with me!

Sailing up the Yangtze river, several things make an almost immediate impression. The great role this river plays in commerce and transportation and the extensive area of land it...

Pros: Food, History, and the People
Cons: 12+ hour flight

Review Topic:  Sights & AttractionsReview Topic:  Sights & Attractions If you have any desire to visit China, DO IT! The food is wonderful, especially the noodles, the attractions are amazing and everything is very ...

Pros: better rates
Cons: possible rip-off

One of the best ways to make your money go farther in China is to exchange money on the black market where you will receive a rate 5-15% higher than what is offered by the state-controlled banks. Most guidebooks recommend staying away from the black...