8 Ways to Make A Trip to China So Much Easier

The very thought of China can paralyze even veteran travelers. Between the language, the lines, and the logistics—not to mention the sheer size of the country and its population—navigating China can be a challenge. Some travelers may be tempted to fall into the reassuring arms of a group tour, but that’s usually not the best way to experience China, as the typical group-tour itinerary is heavy on polluted cities and tourist traps. Having spent six weeks criss-crossing China—partly with a group (on a Yangtze river cruise), partly with private English-speaking drivers and guides, and mainly on my own with no advance arrangements—I’ve got strategies to share for making a trip to China a lot more easy, fun, and rewarding:

 

1. Plan an itinerary that gets you away from the big cities.

Beijing and Shanghai are fascinating, but for clear skies and charming villages, and to see the old-world China of your romantic…

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