Many people dream of traveling to China, but not everyone is ready for the unpleasant surprises that this country can present.

Many people dream about a trip to China, but not everyone likes this country. In today’s material, we will not talk about the beauty of China and other attractions. Many travel bloggers and travel agencies have dealt with this for a long time. The article will focus on the shortcomings of this country. But, to somehow stick to the balance, at the end we advise what to bring from China to yourself or friends as a gift.



Not everyone knows that China is the only time zone. And the problem of many tourist places arises because of this. It's too early for the sun to set. I mean, you're used to calculating time in one way, but it turns out that many of the museums you wanted to visit will close much earlier.



For example, in Beijing in the summer it is dark at eight o’clock in the evening. And if we talk about Shanghai, it is even worse - at six it begins to darken, and by seven the city plunges into darkness. More precisely, it is illuminated by many lights, but this does not solve the above problem.

This is another story to be prepared for. You will be shown hundreds of times the beauty of cities in photos and pictures. But there is a huge chance that you will never see them live. Instead, the sky will be covered with gray clouds, which smoothly turn into the same color asphalt. Well, the desired beauty is hidden in the fog.



Of course, local officials are trying to solve this problem: green spaces, the development of the subway, restrictions on the number of cars, restrictions on factories and factories. But still keep in mind the simple truth: in the summer without a mask you can still endure, in the winter it will be just necessary.

China is a totalitarian state where big brother knows what every citizen is doing. The locals even find pros in this. For example, they often say that only stupid and desperate people decide on crimes here. Cameras are literally everywhere, and not simple cameras, but those that recognize faces and transmit information about who and where moved.

The Chinese do not use cash, which causes problems for foreigners. The fact is that purchases are often paid using QR codes in the local social network WeChat (a kind of analogue of Facebook). About one in four terminals count as a Visa or Mastercard card. It is difficult for foreigners to buy water.



On the other hand, the country has problems with the Internet. That is, for locals they are not, because 4G is almost everywhere. It would seem, buy a Chinese SIM and use (by the way, when buying a SIM card, you need to leave fingerprints along with the money for the start package), but this does not solve the problem.

In China, Google and all programs that depend on it are blocked. Locals have their counterparts, and tourists have to get out. Many install up to a dozen different VPNs before traveling. It would seem that why so much, but in the end will work no more than two of them.



Returning to fingerprints, this procedure also awaits tourists. You have to pass it to get out of the airport. In general, it turns out that the inhabitants of China give their data to the state voluntarily-forced to get at least some comfort.

This is something you will have to get used to or you will not last long in this country. The smell of China is very specific, but the most interesting thing is that no one tries to describe it. And the reason is pretty simple - you've never felt anything like this before. It is especially intense in catering places, but if they are budget - be prepared to feel all the "charms" doubly.

Even snacks bought as souvenirs on arrival home smell again remind of their homeland. Locals often carry food with them, which makes it seem that they stink. But they're used to it, and it won't be easy for you.



Speaking of food... This is another point that not everyone can handle. It is clear that local tastes are specific. But if a person has health problems, finding something here that will not be bad is very difficult. One friend of mine, who almost everything causes allergies, and even diabetes, told an interesting story.

She suffered for a long time because of the local food. I finally found some chicken soup and started eating it. At this point, however, I encountered local friendship. The fact is that often the Chinese do not understand what personal space is. So he goes up to my friend, who eats soup, a woman, and starts talking. The friend does not understand anything, so decides to continue the meal. Then she is simply thrown into the plate a huge spoon of some fatty sauce.



I didn't even get angry here. It is clear that the Chinese woman wanted to do the best, but in the end simply ruined the lunch, because my friend could not eat the resulting dish. This is what China can be so unexpected.

As promised, a few words talk about souvenirs that you need to bring with you. First of all, I want to remember about silk. Everyone knows that the silk industry has been developing here for over 5,000 years. So buy yourself a scarf or even a silk painting.



Tea and service for this drink. Another integral part of the culture of a great country. Services here are made of porcelain or clay. They look like real works of art. So, if you think about what to bring from China, choose a set. You can regularly remember your adventures while drinking seagulls at home.

jade It's another symbol of China. This gemstone has been valued here for thousands of years. They say that it brings a lot of positive energy and other benefits to the house. But even if you do not believe in such statements, you need to admit that jade jewelry is just beautiful.



China loves the game very much. majong. You may have heard of it, because there are many online variations of this entertainment. So you can buy a set for this game as a souvenir, especially if your friends like to gather and spend time playing board games.

The answer to the question of what to bring from China is quite banal. K dragon In China are treated with great respect, so that figurines of these creatures, made of various materials, can be found for every taste and purse. But it will be a great decoration for your interior.



Whether you go to China or not is up to you. It is quite possible that your experience will be filled with purely positive emotions, and everything we have described will not offend you. Anyway, we want to have a great time!