China has developed as a leading destination not only for leisure travelers but also for business travelers. People from different parts of the globe are frequenting the country. There was a time when visiting China was nearly impossible. But now, things have become slightly easy and convenient.
US citizens visiting China for the first time are little apprehensive as there are many things, which have to be taken into consideration. China is a large country and for a first-time visitor deciding everything is quite an uphill task. There are innumerable destinations to explore in the various provinces in the country. The biggest barrier in visiting China is the language problem. Inspite of the issues, the numbers of travelers to the country are on the constant rise.
Geographical location of China
Located in East Asia, China lies to the west of Pacific Ocean. The countries, which can be regarded as neighbors of China, include Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Russia, India, Nepal, Mongolia etc. Distance between China and US has been found to be 14719.06 kilometers or 9146 miles or 7947.65 nautical miles.
There are five time zones in China. However, it uses GMT +8.00 as standard time zone, which is also referred to as Beijing Time. While the minimum time difference is 13 hours, the maximum difference is 18 hours.
Best time to visit China
Business travelers might need to visit China at any time of the year. However, if you are planning to visit China for travel and tourism purpose, you must go at the time when the weather conditions are suitable. It is interesting to see that just like USA, there are different kinds of climates in China. This is because of the varying geological environments and vast lands in the country. Different parts of China have different kinds of climatic and weather conditions. The scenic beauty of the country also changes as per the changing seasons and climates. April-May and September-October are the peak months for tourism in the country.
Fall is regarded as the best season for traveling to China. During this time, the weather is pleasant – it is neither hot nor cold. Rainfall is also scanty or almost nil. You can pack light for traveling during this time. Adventure travelers can also carry on with hiking and trekking without any tension of rainfall and other climatic disasters.
It is recommended to avoid traveling to China during National Day Holiday. This period is also known as Golden Week and lasts from 1st-7th October. It is also good to avoid traveling to the country between end January and early February as it is the time for China Lunar New Year Festival. Demands of tickets are extremely high at this time of the year.
China visa for getting entry in the country
US citizens intending to visit China need China visa for getting entry into the country. Depending on the purpose of visit, suitable visas will be issued to the candidates. Initially getting a Chinese visa was quite a hassle, but now it has become quite convenient and easy. Understand the documents that you need to furnish for each kind of visa and fill up the application form without any errors. The visa application form can be submitted in the Chinese embassy or consulate. Visa expedite agencies can also help in this matter. There are some areas in China for visiting which you do not need a visa. Visa requirements and regulations keep on changing from time to time for better security and other reasons. Thus, it is important to know the latest developments and make arrangements likewise.
Getting to China from USA – notable entry cities of the country
The main entry cities which through US travelers can get into China include Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Guangzhou. However, now there are many direct flights between China and USA, which reach to other cities in China as well. Thus, American travelers and tourists have more options laid in front of them for reaching China conveniently. Direct flights between the countries saves time and energy of the travelers to quite an extent. There are innumerable daily flights between the two countries.
Top destinations which US travelers must visit in China
China is a country, which is completely different from the Western world and this is what fascinates the American tourists and travelers. Right from landscape features to cultures, customs, history, cuisine – everything in China is unique. Exploring the whole country at one go is not possible. Infact the first time visitors are confused as what they should see and visit and what they should ignore. Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and Hong Kong are the leading destinations, which one must visit during first time China visit. These are classic destinations, where you can see the amalgamation of the old with the new. Apart from these destinations, the other places which can be included in China trip are Chengdu, Guilin, Tibet and Zhangjiajie. Various kinds of travel package tours with travel agencies are also available where leading destinations in the country are covered.
