10 reasons you MUST visit China
The last time I went back to my homeland (the UK) was over the summer. Seeing friends and family always makes for an exciting and fun few weeks. Beers with the brother, a roast dinner at Gran’s house and a variety of birthday celebrations are all reminders that things back home are just the same as always. One thing is different though, and that thing is me. I have been living in a country that most of my friends and family simply can’t relate to. Most expats and world travelers will know this all too well. Sitting on the plane on the way home you mentally prepare yourself for the bombardment of questions waiting for you upon arrival, particularly the one that has kept you away for so long, 「What is so good about China?」 After the collective months of practice answering this question, I feel like I am somewhat qualified in handling the response. But I don’t just want to talk about what’s good about China, I want to convince you to visit. So without further ado I present to you the「10 Reasons You MUST Visit China」.
1. History
Be you a historian, archaeologist or even just a regular Joe, you’re bound to leave China feeling like you』ve gained a little from its historical background. 「China has a 5,000 year history」 is a statement you are bound to hear more than once over the course of your stay, although it really shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Chinese are tremendously proud of their history and to be fair, they have every right to be. The longer you stay, the more you』ll learn and that is the first reason you MUST visit China.
Terracotta Warriors – Qin Dynasty – 210 BC
Confucian Temple – Zhou Dynasty - 478 BC
National Palace Museum – Tang Dynasty - 785 AD
2. Food
The amount of dishes and variety of food in China is nothing shy of mind blowing.Take a country larger than the entirety of Europe with a long history and then add 1.4 billion people to the equation and the math is self-explanatory. The Chinese are extremely passionate about their food and the culture that goes with it. Even business is done round the dinner table and it’s easy to see why. The food in China is delicious. No one can accurately measure the amount of dishes available throughout the country but I think it’s fair to say that if one had the passion and ambition, they would be able to eat something different each and every day for the duration of their life. There are 8 main varieties of cuisine in China, differentiated by their geological location. Come and have a taste and let your palate dictate that you MUST visit China.
Shandong Province – Lu Cai
(Salty and crispy and favoring seafood.)
Guangdong Province – Yue Cai
(Usually quite sweet in flavor. Often braising and stewing with sauces.)
Sichuan Province – Chuan Cai
(Spicy and numbing. Plenty of chili, garlic and ginger are used.)
Fujian Province – Min Cai
(Light food often with a sweet and sour flavor.)
Jiangsu Province – Su Cai
(Fresh, salty and sweet. Su Cai hasa variety of delicious soups.)
Hunan Province – Xiang Cai
(Slightly spicy. Sauteing, stir-frying, and steaming are common)
Anhui Province – Hui Cai
(Rather oily. Often uses wild and natural ingredients.)
Zhejiang Province – Zhe Cai
(Soft and warming. Fish and bamboo shoots are common ingredients.)
3. The Great Wall
不到長城非好漢(bu dao changcheng fei haohan). This could be roughly translated as 「those that do not visit the great wall are not true men」.Although the phrase is used more in regard to those overcoming difficulties to reach their goal, a trip to China isn’t complete without a visit to the Great Wall. It’s over 20,000 kilometers long, regarded as a wonder of the world and began construction back in the 7th century BC. A construction project as large as this ought to be on everyone’s bucket list and is another great reason you MUST visit China.
The Great Wall
4. Diversity
Something people often overlook is the diversity in China. The native Chinese people themselves can be divided into 56 different ethnicities. The climate and terrain also differs vastly across the country. Head west and climb the mountains in Tibet, go trekking in the jungles of Hainan or sandboarding in the dunes of the Gobi desert. China has so much more than the generic, high-rise, smog-filled cities we are so used to seeing in the media. The exploring opportunities are endless, which is why you MUST visit China.
Gobi Desert
Sanya Beaches
Hainan Rainforest
Tibetan Mountains
Harbin Ice World
5. Language
It is generally accepted that there are 10 major dialect groups within the Chinese language. However, within each of these dialects there can be dozens of 『accents』 making conversation a bit of a struggle for even the most fluent of speakers. This is why a push for a 『standard Mandarin』 has been encouraged and now all schools teach the language. The popularity of Mandarin outside of China is also on the rise. Mandarin is now a recognized language of Singapore and is also spoken widely in Malaysia and Thailand. As business makes more of a shift towards the east, sereval western countries are currently deciding whether or not to make Mandarin a compulsory subject in schools. What is certain is that Mandarin Chinese is on the rise which means getting a head start and studying early is one of the most important reasons you MUST visit China.
Character Evolution
6. Massage
Traditional Chinese medicine is overflowing with mystery and charm. The concepts of balancing the chi and ancient practice of cupping are still widely regarded as just a few of the vital ways to remain strong and healthy. Some of these practices have been criticized as placebo, but for the most part, the importance lies in how the treatment makes you feel mentally. The Chinese massage is generally considered as one of the most revitalizing and strengthening in the world. You only need to try once to realize there is nothing fabricated about this ancient technique. You will at times feel like the victim of a violent assault. They will bend you, stretch you and beat you (don’t be afraid, it’s not really painful) but by the time it comes to leaving, you』ll barely notice your feet touch the ground as will feel lighter than ever before. We believe this sensation will be enough to restore your faith in the art of Chinese medicine for good which is why you MUST visit China.
Chinese Massage
7. Culture
Chinese culture is completely unique. Although many western standards of living have already been introduced in to Chinese society, the culture still remains as strong and distinctive as ever. Reading and researching any culture is simply non-comparable to living amongst the real thing. Paper-cutting, calligraphy and even the zodiac all hold a profound and deep individual meaning that are just waiting to be explored. Hands down a reason you MUST visit China.
Paper-cutting
Zodiac
Medicine
Calligraphy
Opera
8. Pandas
Perhaps the most famous nativeanimal to China is the giant panda. The 大熊貓 or 『large bear cat』 is extremely endangered and only 2,000 are thought to live in the wild. These mysterious but gentle creatures are now protected as an endangered animal by the Chinese government and a huge amount of money and effort has been funded in to preserving their existence. One of the most popular places to seethe giant panda is the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding andvisitors are given the rare opportunity to see baby pandas or even hug one fora fairly steep but worthwhile donation. The work at the Chengdu Research Baseof Giant Panda Breeding is nothing far from astounding and the interest and tourism surrounding the panda is essential for their survival. A reason you MUST visit China.
Hugging a Panda
Pandas in Chengdu
9. Unique Scenery
Think China and you』ll probably conjure the image of a toxic environment with dirty rivers and smog coated cities. While this is a still a problem in certain areas of China, the media often forget to report of the huge on going effort being made to clean up the environment. The 8,000,000,000 yuan each year in funding for clean energy and vigorous reforestation programs are seldom mentioned. Nevertheless, China still hosts a variety of natural beauty and scenery that would make even the most dedicated of outdoor explorers stand in awe. Come and see it for yourself.
Zhangjiajie
Jiuzhaigou
Lijiang River
Plank Walk on Huashan
Yuanyang Rice Terraces
10. To See It for Yourself
You』ve probably heard a lot about China recently and this trend is only set to continue. The bucket list potential alone makes it one of the most amazing places you』ll ever see. Hugging a panda in Chengdu, gently cruising the Lijiang river on a bamboo boat, ascending the Great Wall to its many peaks, plank walking along Huashan and learning kungfu at the Shaolin temple are just to name a few. We know that you won’t regret your many adventures in China and guarantee that Connect Education can make this opportunity a reality. On a leaving note, have a look at the video below 『China in Colors』 before you sign up and visit China.
Your adventure starts here