I just came back from China yesterday. I went to Yunnan province, and community there uses Mandarin as their mother tongue. China really gives me a new experience! It is really nice there, I love it. But before you go to China, I think you should know a certain things.
1) Its really hard there to find one who can speak English. Just make sure you planned your trip well and very detail. So then, is will be easier for you to ask and understand them just in any case.
2) If you dont speak Mandarin, download any apps that can help you to communicate with local there. For me, I use Google translate and its really helps me to read the menu, signboard and even instruction on the back of the ticket or food.
3) Download any VPN apps before you go to China. There is a lot such as Hexatech (I use this for my Iphone), expressVPN and many more. So then you can continue using your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and even Google in China. China blocked all of this apps. Just install VPN, and you can use your social media as usual.
4) Google Maps is not working well there, eventhough you already have your VPN connected. I only used Google maps just to know more about the bus station only, other than that its is useless. Just try "maps.me", or Baidu maps only for people who know to read Chinese character, or just try any other apps that recomended by anyone in the internet. There is someone who recommended OsmAnd map, but I never try it because we found it on our second last day there.
We used Google Maps there, but we lost for more than 2 hours 😂 and end up we just ask around until finally the policeman there help us to get to the bus station. So, you can see yourself how unfunction Google Maps there hahaha.
5) If you try to book anything in China, put every single letter just like in your passport. If you fail to do that, you have to book your ticket again there and cancel your ticket that you already booked before.
I booked my train ticket with my old passport, and then I renew my passport just before I got into China. I even bring my old passport and show them, but they still insist that I have to cancel my old booking and I have to book a new train ticket to Lijiang. I asked for reason, they just say because that passport is already unused so they cannot accept it.
I also use my old passport to booked a ticket flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kunming, but I have no problem with that even I got my new passport. International flight and domestic train, how is it 😏
6) Halal food in Kunming and Lijiang is not a problem. You can see many restaurants that have حلال sign in front of their restaurant or Arabic writing and even a picture of a mosque. InsyaAllah muslim can eat there safely.
This is halal sign there, sometime its write in Arabic version and sometime in Chinese version. So you have to see remember both of them :
7) Bring your passport anywhere you go. There is always someone who want to check your passport there. I never experienced such thing in another country haha. Before you go to jail, bring your passport with you.
8) Try to avoid bring anything that have potential to cause a flammable eventhough 1% like spray deodorant 😂 Before you going to take a subway of ride a train, they will scanned all of our things. They will take it, before you open it hahaha.
9) Make sure you have exactly the amount for the bus fare. Otherwise, you will pay more than you should.
10) This is plug in China, make sure bring your adapter if you use other than this three.
12) They dont have internet simcard only. There is a Big 3 mobile carriers in China.
- China Mobile
- China Unicom
- China Telecom
But, only China Unicom that works with international mobile phone. So you dont have any other choices other than China Unicom. Dont forget to bring your passport if you want to purchase one!
I have a picture of plan that China Unicom offers. Click "Travelogue to Kunming" and you can see the plan there.
For now, maybe thats all. If you have anything to ask, ust leave your comment below, I'll try my best to answer you question. Thank you for reading!
Other : Things that you have to know before you go to China.
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