china has reopened for tourism recently and in case you are wondering, maybe best for visiting family for now, it's a level 3 travel advisory. i only bring you deals, i cannot decide whether one should go or not.
Saudia Airlines (formerly known as Saudia Arabian Airlines via Booking.com have round trip airfares travelling from Washington DC (IAD) to Beijing China (PKX) for $853, making 1 stop in Riyahd. This airfare includes a personal item, a carry-on bag and 2 free checked bags.
Travel Availability:
Departs IAD: Sept 25, 27; Oct 11, 18, 25; Nov 1, 8, 29
Returns: Oct 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 29-30; Nov 1, 5-6, 8, 12-13, 15; Dec 3-4, 6, 10-11, 13, 17-18
To book this deal, use dates and book flights with
Booking.com [booking.com].
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Disclaimer: List price is an estimate and subject to fluctuate based on air carrier/hotel location, flight times/season or travel dates.
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There are hundreds of thousands of foreigners visiting or living in China at any given time, you will not get detained for being a certain citizen unless you break the law. You won't get detained for existing on Chinese soil
However, there are some legitimate concerns for certain types of people even if they don't break Chinese laws:
If you or your family are political activists, are outspoken on some Chinese-related political issue in the media/social media, have access to potentially sensitive government information or work in a senitive govt position, run some type of business in an important industry or an industry under scrutiny, and/or be in the wrong place while visiting during a time of bad relations, then there is a small but not insignificant possibility that you may be detained.
Businessmen around the world have been curtailing travel to China after China detained and/or imprisoned Japanese, European, Canadian, and American businessmen in the last few years under extremely vague charges.
It's above average by world standards, but you're not safer in China than in Japan or most of Northern Europe. And the idea that China is drug free is absolutely laughable.
Be it homicide or violent crimes in general, in no world is China merely "above average," with the only safer ones being the likes of San Marino, Andora, Monaco, Luxembourg, Singapore, Macao, none of which are in "Northern Europe" except Luxembourg.
Also, whilst China isn't drug free, its drug use/abuse rate is FAR LOWER than most countries, including Japan or "Northern Europe."
But what am I saying? Don't let facts get in the way of your BS.
This is a deals site, not a politics forum. This thread is reminding me of the Egyptian thread after the Egyptian revolution, when people said the round trip deal was actually a one way ticket. But at least that was funny! Well, I went to Egypt in 2016 on a cheap flight scared to death and my plane was filled with Egyptian families. Everyone looked completely normal and no one was freaked out. They just looked like normal people going about their daily lives. Which is what you'll see if you go to Beijing. The capital city of 1.4 billion people. A sprawling metropolis. From what I remember, people are super friendly and will try to give directions to foreigners even if they don't speak English, so I don't know why people are hurling insults back and forth and being rude on the internet.
For people who clicked on this deal who want to go to Beijing for the first time. Other than the Forbidden City, there are a number of local attractions, like Jingshan (where the last Ming Emperor hanged himself), Beihai, a giant lake with water sports, the Temple of Heaven, Yiheyuan the Summer Palace, St. Joseph's Church at Wangfujing, the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. Here's something salty, Yuanmingyuan the ruins where a bunch of European drug dealers burnt down a palace. Qianmen. Universal Studios.
You can also take a pretty fast train to Xi'an, although I went on a sleeper train years ago and that was fun.
For snacks, I recommend the Beibingyang brand. Everyone thinks I'm old school but I really like to eat their milky double popsicles and drink the Orangina like soda. I also like Qoo brand apple juice, which is owned by Coca cola. You can also get Lays chips in a number of flavors not available here. Also weird Cheetos. This is going to age me, but when I was growing up everyone collected pogs that came in bags of Cheetos. You ate the Cheetos to get the pogs. The KFCs are much cleaner with better food. You can get taro flavored pies at McDonald's. The Starbucks are idiotically expensive for the income level. The Pizza Huts are all fancy with fancy tea desserts for like $3. Basically Beijing is awash in American brands and people love them or there wouldn't be a market. And then there's the Chinese food. Dumplings, hot pot, jianbing, Peking duck, street food, mall food, fancy restaurants, family style restaurants, breakfast food, buns of all shapes and sizes, glutinous rice cakes, vegetarian places, bakeries, etc.
Also tried to find T Square using google maps, couldn't find it. Yes, I am American and traveled numerous countries so I use google maps and translator extensively but be aware it will be limited there. Yes, I felt safe there but be aware of scams. Saw many western restaurants and stores in the main city but what's the point of traveling there if its the exact same thing as home.
I've been following their economic news and just be aware that their economy is being wreaked. Their manufacturing are moving overseas to Vietnam and India and the citizens are in deeper debt than us. So deals can be had. And do what the locals do. If the restaurant is empty but nexr door is packed. Go to the busy one. There is usually a reason.
This is a deals site, not a politics forum. This thread is reminding me of the Egyptian thread after the Egyptian revolution, when people said the round trip deal was actually a one way ticket. But at least that was funny! Well, I went to Egypt in 2016 on a cheap flight scared to death and my plane was filled with Egyptian families. Everyone looked completely normal and no one was freaked out. They just looked like normal people going about their daily lives. Which is what you'll see if you go to Beijing. The capital city of 1.4 billion people. A sprawling metropolis. From what I remember, people are super friendly and will try to give directions to foreigners even if they don't speak English, so I don't know why people are hurling insults back and forth and being rude on the internet.
For people who clicked on this deal who want to go to Beijing for the first time. Other than the Forbidden City, there are a number of local attractions, like Jingshan (where the last Ming Emperor hanged himself), Beihai, a giant lake with water sports, the Temple of Heaven, Yiheyuan the Summer Palace, St. Joseph's Church at Wangfujing, the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. Here's something salty, Yuanmingyuan the ruins where a bunch of European drug dealers burnt down a palace. Qianmen. Universal Studios.
You can also take a pretty fast train to Xi'an, although I went on a sleeper train years ago and that was fun.
For snacks, I recommend the Beibingyang brand. Everyone thinks I'm old school but I really like to eat their milky double popsicles and drink the Orangina like soda. I also like Qoo brand apple juice, which is owned by Coca cola. You can also get Lays chips in a number of flavors not available here. Also weird Cheetos. This is going to age me, but when I was growing up everyone collected pogs that came in bags of Cheetos. You ate the Cheetos to get the pogs. The KFCs are much cleaner with better food. You can get taro flavored pies at McDonald's. The Starbucks are idiotically expensive for the income level. The Pizza Huts are all fancy with fancy tea desserts for like $3. Basically Beijing is awash in American brands and people love them or there wouldn't be a market. And then there's the Chinese food. Dumplings, hot pot, jianbing, Peking duck, street food, mall food, fancy restaurants, family style restaurants, breakfast food, buns of all shapes and sizes, glutinous rice cakes, vegetarian places, bakeries, etc.
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gun and drug free country
China is pretty much a first world country, at least in all the major cities. Laws are enforced, public safety is all-encompassing, and people are (mostly) civilized by Western standards besides maybe some cultural differences. You're probably safer out there (even as a tourist) than you would be in most US cities. Traffic is still pretty nuts in the way that pedestrians yield to cars and scooters, but honestly it makes more sense that way since pedestrians take that entitlement way too far out here.
There are hundreds of thousands of foreigners visiting or living in China at any given time, you will not get detained for being a certain citizen unless you break the law. You won't get detained for existing on Chinese soil
It's above average by world standards, but you're not safer in China than in Japan or most of Northern Europe. And the idea that China is drug free is absolutely laughable.
China is pretty much a first world country, at least in all the major cities. Laws are enforced, public safety is all-encompassing, and people are (mostly) civilized by Western standards besides maybe some cultural differences. You're probably safer out there (even as a tourist) than you would be in most US cities. Traffic is still pretty nuts in the way that pedestrians yield to cars and scooters, but honestly it makes more sense that way since pedestrians take that entitlement way too far out here.
There are hundreds of thousands of foreigners visiting or living in China at any given time, you will not get detained for being a certain citizen unless you break the law. You won't get detained for existing on Chinese soil
There is some trolling going on, or maybe just outright ignorance, but it is not propaganda to ask stupid and asinine questions. Propaganda is calling China "pretty much" a First World country. The term has a very specific meaning and misapplying it misleads people to consider China as something that it is clearly not. I don't think it's healthy to get into politics so that's where I'll leave it. I strongly recommend *at least* reading the Wiki definition of what "first world" means. Also remember, just because you don't like the definition of a term, doesn't mean you get to redefine it to mean something else.
China is a *WONDERFUL* place to visit for a foreigner. The country is incredibly diverse in terms of people, language, food, scenery, etc. The people are warm and friendly - especially to non-Asian foreigners. While a lot of historical sites were damaged after the country's liberation, the rebuilding has been done to a very high quality level and it's impressive to witness the grand buildings and artifacts spanning thousands of years of history.
The big-four major cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou are very modernized by Western standards, with gleaming buildings, expertly planned districts connected by well-designed/maintained streets, and a highly efficient public transportation system. The numerous shopping plazas and malls are filled with international brand names with price tags that will cause tourists to recoil. It will be abundantly clear that China has made immense economic strides and as a result created a large population of incredibly wealthy people with high living standards.
When visiting another person's home, or a foreign country, you obey their house rules. If you don't like their rules, don't go. Don't visit someone's house and complain loudly at the dinner table that you had to take off your shoes. This is true for China, just as it is true for Mexico, and the US. Don't be stupid, don't go to China with a sense of superiority or entitlement. Be a good guest.
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