This text was originally written for VoyageForum. I republishing it here with a few small changes shape.
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Having just finished my studies, and after briefly visiting the Norway and the Italy (one week each), I undertook the largest part of my series of travel : a month in China. I went solo, but for my first trip to Asia, I take advantage of knowing several students (Chinese and french) on-site (in Beijing and Xi' year to be precise) to facilitate acclimation and possibly, discover things that would pass unnoticed to the tourist 'lambda '..
The decor being asked, Here is a summary of my journey :
– Beijing (4-11 November)
– Shenyang (12-13 Nov)
– Dandong (14-15 Nov)
– Shanghai (15-21 Nov)
– XI'An (22-28 Nov)
– Guilin + Yangshuo (28 Nov-3 dec)
– Hong Kong (4-5 Dec)
I structure my story in chronological order, but by adding time to other anecdotes that have marked me, personal reflections or tips that I consider useful to other travelers, especially if it is as for me from the first contact with China.
Chapter 0 : The preparations...
The first step was the purchase of a tourist guide (the Lonely Planet in this case) and the selection of the route.
Then, I begin to search the prices on airline tickets. I finally find an offer to 550€ for a Paris CDG - Beijing via Frankfurt and a Hong Kong - Paris via Munich return, with Lufthansa.
Tip : some booking sites, as Opodo, to buy at once several trips even if the cities of departure and/or arrival are different. Prices are generally more interesting than buying travel separately.
To fine-tune my itinerary, I provides information on Chinese train schedules (http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/) and rates of domestic flights on CTrip and eLong ; I find a Dalian-Shanghai to env. 38€ and a Xi' year-Guilin for env. 60€ (instead of €160 at the normal rate), all on eLong.
On the side of health, I did vaccinate against hepatitis A and typhoid fever (These two vaccines are not mandatory but recommended, about €90 both) at the Institut Pasteur de Lille (by appointment). A doctor determines your route if additional immunizations are required (Malaria including).
Side administrative, my passport application (86€ at the normal rate) has been processed in a week for mayor of Grenoble (the time can be much longer), and I made my application for a visa in Action Visas a month prior to departure (100 EUR in any – their costs are in my case be less than the cost of two trips to the nearest Consulate).
