Planning a Yangtze River Cruise? What You Need to Know Before You Go
Photo credit: L. Tripoli.
From the list of things I wish I knew before I got to China are these Chongqing travel tips. Headed to Chongqing for a Yangtze River cruise, on my first visit to China, I am not really sure what to expect: will the place be ultra-modern and highly organized like the Beijing Olympics? Or will I be experiencing old-world ways in a rather urban context?
As my trip turns out, I experience a mix of old and new. Here is what I wish I had known before boarding my flight to Chongqing.
Photo credit: L. Tripoli.
Chongqing Travel Tip #1: If You Don’t Use Chopsticks, Bring Your Own Fork
I see chopsticks and the occasional spoon at various dining establishments in China but never any other utensils. If you are uncomfortable using chopsticks, consider bringing along your own fork (just be certain to anticipate encounters with the friendly Transportation Security Administration folks). I did not bring my own fork, but if I had, I would have checked it in luggage.
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Chongqing Travel Tip #2: Stash a Roll of Toilet Paper in Your Bag, Too
It seemed archaic to throw some rolls of toilet paper into my bag, but I am glad I did. Although the hotels and the cruise ship I was staying on all supplied this necessity, the public restrooms I visited did not. I was grateful to have planned ahead on this one.
Photo credit: L. Tripoli.
Chongqing Travel Tip #3: Practice Your Restroom Technique
Something to consider as well: while, again, hotels and my cruise ship offered the standard throne-style Western toilet, public places often featured squat toilets. Let’s just say that squatting and urinating without getting one’s clothes wet or falling over onto the floor is harder than it should be. Consider bringing backup clothing (socks, tights, undies) just in case.
Photo credit: L. Tripoli.
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Chongqing Travel Tip #4: Bring an Umbrella, a Rain Hat, and Rain Gear
Misty rain accompanied me for a good part of my journey. While hotels sometimes provide access to umbrellas, it’s nice to have one of your own that’s in perfect working order. A rain hat and rain gear can also go a long way toward deterring any traveler crankiness on what would otherwise be an extraordinary day.
Photo credit: L. Tripoli.
Chongqing Travel Tip #5: Wear Sensible Shoes and Pay Attention
Surfaces seem to be very slippery, a sometimes unhealthful combination of stone and rain. While marble or stone sidewalks look very pretty, they become awfully slick in the presence of precipitation. I never appreciated the United States’ Americans with Disabilities Act more than I did when I was in China. I wish, overall, there were more railings and safety markings there.
Upping the challenge are a number of odd surfaces indoors as well: little lips that one can wipe out on if they are not noticed before stepping from a hallway into a bathroom, or multiple small steps proceeding from a hotel room’s entrance to its sleeping area. A Chinese-American I meet on my travels explains that these odd angles are meant to keep evil spirits at bay. The bad spirits apparently are around but have trouble transcending uneven surfaces. As do I.
My personal preference in practical footwear trends toward Clarks.
Photo credit: L. Tripoli.
Chongqing Travel Tip #6: Bring Cash
So much in Chongqing is written in Chinese that I cannot really tell whether ATMs are around or not, but I do not see any on my trip. Not every place is as credit-card friendly as it is in the United States, and street vendors and their ilk most definitely are not. As much as I personally embrace a cashless society and have pretty much found one when traveling elsewhere, a paucity of cash got between me and the better time I could have had were my pockets full of some Chinese currency.
The spa on the cruise ship I was on did not take credit cards (instead, I had to rush upstairs to the ship’s main desk to pay by card in what was a bit of a hassle), nor did the ship’s onboard stores.
Get some Chinese yuan (also known as RMB, for renminbi) before you go.
Chongqing Travel Tip #7: Bring an Adapter
Outlets are different in China. I see three-pronged angled plus as well as ones for round pins. In sum, they do not look like the ones at home. I pick up a Lenmar adapter at JFK airport and it does the trick. Although the adapter gets a little bit warm sometimes, my phone and notebook computer do not. Take caution: your experience may, of course, vary. Just plan ahead for how you will charge your electronic gear.
Other than that, have fun! A future post will address tech tips.
—Lori Tripoli
Disclosure: Ctrip sponsored the writer’s journey.