Chinese heart

Before any trip, and specially before such a long one, there are some things to remember:

Visa:
This time I got a six months multiple entry visa, instead of the usual -three months single entry- one. With this I can leave and go back into China as many times as I want, for a total period of six months (a maximum of three months each stay), so, as I will be staying in Guangzhou, I can will be able to go Hong Kong or Macao for a weekend or so, as they are just a couple of hours away by bus.

Airfare:
From Madrid to Beijing, round trip, 680 euros. I've found cheaper before, but it's not bad anyways. Once in Beijing, I will take a train to Guangzhou, 24 hours, which I really enjoy, both because of the many beautiful landscapes that can be seen through the window, and the chance to chat with other passengers. I made this trip about 8 times, and all of them have been great experiences.



Vaccines:
It's important to get the vaccine for the flu, because the virus strains in China may be different than the ones in your country, and it is therefore very easy to fall sick, or even get sick, and after being healed, fall sick again, and again, and again.... not very funny (I had the experience)

Also recommended: Tetanus, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and polio. Anyway, if you plan to just stay on China's East coast, it's mostly big cities (Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou) where the risk of a disease more serious than flu is almost nonexistent (about same as any Spanish city).




Luggage:
Nothing special, anything you would carry when travelling to any other destination. A mosquito net, for example, is a good thing to have, but they are quite hard to find in Spain, and in China you can purchase them anywhere. Clothes, medicines, toiletries things... all you can find easily in any shop.



Jet-lag:
It is definitely worth spending a couple of weeks adjusting yourself, by going to bed sooner and sooner every day, until you get used to sleep closer to the 7-hour time difference (from Spain). Personally, which works better for me is take a thousand naps a day, and spend the adaptation process just sleeping whenever I feel to. Obviously not everyone, can afford to do that (you may have to work, or any fixed schedule), so just take it easy, or maybe use some sleeping pills which can help you go to sleep at 5 pm.



And if you are curious, here there are some photo galleries from previous trips I made to China:

Year 2004: A stretch of the Great Wall at Badaling, Beijing Zoo, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Hainan

Years 2006 and 2007: Pekin, Summer Palace in Beijing, Nanjing, Xian


Welcome to Beijing !!!!!!!!!!!!