What to expect when traveling alone in China

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Eager to see what's left of old China before "modernization" bulldozes everything off, I spent about a year and half travling there, alone.

Quite a few things for me to get used to. The first was lack of punctuality. There is no 100km per hour even on a well-paved road in good weather. Average speed of 50km per hour is more of the norm. Bus drivers, unless under contract with an agency, would stop every now and then to fetch more passengers for extra money. For those who are used to the two-seconds-rule, I suggest they stay away from the front row seats.

It's a mistake, I think, to expect travel nice and cheap in China (even if you go backpacking, or stay overnight at local homes) considering the still low living standards in this vast country.

Travel books would talk about local food and water safey. But toilets seldom get mentioned. It can be a problem in many rural areas. So be prepared if it's just a bunker in the ground.

I have seen a lone Chinese traveler getting pushed in to a bus in a small town in Gansu. It would not have happened had he traveled in a team. But that's about it.

Smoking is everywhere. One Englishman declared it a communist thing (along with famed drinking habit of Russians), but I have my reservations about that theory. Spitting and loud sound of throat-cleaning are also common habits among Chinese men.

English signs and instructions are not very helpful, nor are those in Chinese. You should ask at least two people about directions, just to be sure.

If you accept this imperfect country being part of this imperfect world. China has quite a few things to offer inquisitive travelers, particularly those who take interest in history, anthropology, art, and dramatically diverse landscape.

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