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Q: For long-term expats: Does travelling inside China still excite you?
There are many places I haven't been to yet in China (mostly western part of the country) though during my first year I went crazy with excitement and did trips to Guilin/Yangshuo/Yunnan/Hangzhou etc etc. Now I've been here for a while though I've lost an appetite for it all. Mainly due to the fact it's usually more of the same - a refurbished temple, overpriced entrance fees, swarms of people.... I'm looking at Korea/Japan/other nearby countries for fresh excitement now.
11 years 5 weeks ago in Transport & Travel - China
After two years, I would say yes. There is still a lot of small China Mobile shops I haven't seen.
I must admit, when there is something on TV from other cities in any province, I often think. "looks just like right outside"
Not really. For me, China is not a particularly travel friendly country...at least not compared to my experience in south east Asia. I still enjoy working here but when I get time off I immediately think outside of China.
The best places to see are off the beaten path. And I will never get tired of traveling around like that. The big tourist areas tend to be disappointing and overcrowded.
But I dont travel nearly as much as I did when I first got here. Mostly that is due to work, but since I haven't tried very hard to take the time, so I would have to say that it doesn't excite me as much as it used to.
Most of it, not really. There are still a few sights I'd like to see before I leave, just because they're so famous; I'd feel ridiculous if I'd lived here for so long and not seen them.
One place I have particularly fond memories of and would return to in a heatbeat is Guizhou province. Beautiful and mostly untouched by tourism (which incidentally makes it one of China's poorest areas).
Depends where.
I have been all over the East coast and the South, so those areas are not so exciting anymore. However, I would really like to now visit the Norther region, Western and Central.
i would like to visit the western parts before they get to dangerous from muslim border disputes or destroyed by factories moving west for cheaper labor and creating pollution, not sure western china will be appealing in 20 years.
I'm still excited about going to Shanghai one of these days equally as I was when I first went to Hong Kong and Macau!
Yeah it really does excite me because I don't get to do it enough. It's a remedy for curing Bad China Days and all the negativity that builds up from being stuck in a smoggy city, chained to a desk 5 days a week.
Nope I don't get excited about traveling in China anymore. I still need to check out some places in China and I hope I get the chance to.
My main focus on traveling now is countries outside of China. Plenty of cheap places outside of China like Vietnam or the Phillipines that will give you a really different experience.
Well all of this is mighty disheartening. I've barely seen any of China yet.
Hopefully Xi'an and Mount Hua live up to my expectations!
Airport -College-Airport repeat yearly as I have been doing for the past 3 years
Why would I want to stand on packed smoky trains trying to avoid the noodle lady only to get of at a derivative city to look at a generic temple which cost more to enter because I get a foreign discount.
China just leaves me cold and disinterested. Just take the money and run
The problem I have, is that the only real opportunity for me to travel inside China is during one of the public holidays....because otherwise, if I'm in China, then I'm working. Joining the crowds during one of the golden weeks or even during a smaller holiday just isn't my idea of fun or exciting. Like others, when the opportunity arises, I'm typically looking to travel some place outside of China.
In 4 years, I've traveled to a whole bunch of cities in China, but I still get excited about travel-- anywhere. I doubt that will ever stop. Every city has something distinct about it. With a little prior planning, I always manage to travel economically and have good experiences. I also love testing my Chinese to find my way. However, I usually do a little prior research and booking or else you can easily fall into tourist traps or get ripped off and this affects your enjoyment of travel. It's like a game; even if I get stung a little on something, it niggles me for days.
I particularly like to take short trips into the countryside in south Anhui. Another thing, it's surprisingly enjoyable showing new laowai around you own city. It's like a new travel experience every time.
