Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
often a television set (but with only Chinese-speaking channels). These hotels are inexpensive and the best
value option for travelers who want private accommodation.
One thing to keep in mind is that hotels advertising breakfast rarely serve a Western-style or continental
breakfast. You should expect dumplings, steamed bread, various vegetables, rice, congee, and warm water.
In Hong Kong, hotel prices will be much higher than on mainland China. A single room in a hotel starts
around $33 USD and goes as high as $70 USD per night. I don't find hotels very affordable there and prefer
to stay in a private room in a hostel, where prices are lower.
Apartment Rentals
Because of the abundance of cheap accommodations throughout China and Hong Kong, you don't find
many people listing rooms or apartments for these areas, and oftentimes when you do, they aren't offering
a great deal. For example, a 2014 search on Airbnb, the largest of the apartment rental sites, had only 449
listings for Beijing. In contrast, New York City has over 15,000 listings. Hong Kong, which is a lot more
Westernized than mainland China, had 1,140 listings. HomeAway has 670 listings in
all
of China. In short,
relative to its population size, apartment rentals haven't caught on yet, and you'll face limited options.
Typically, you can find rooms in apartments from $27 USD per night. That will get you a bed and your
own room in someone else's apartment. Keep in mind that in the really large cities, rooms can be very, very
far from the city center and attractions. Luxury apartments cost around $100 USD per night.
I personally find hotels and hostels such great value in China that given the limited options you have,
I would avoid using the rental websites. The exception is Hong Kong, where the abundance of listings and
high hotel prices make rental apartment prices competitive.
Chris Bush Walker from Aussie on the Road (aussieontheroad .com) urges caution when using these
websites: “Often, Airbnb is used by Chinese hotels or apartment managers to advertise their apartments.
Don't expect a B&B-style service—it's usually just an apartment with little or no contact with the 'host.'”
Hospitality Exchange
Hospitality exchanges are really big in China; the Couchsurfing network has more than 250,000 members
in the country. Though Chinese citizens are often reluctant to house foreigners, especially in rural areas, you
won't have a problem in larger cities. Most hosts are international citizens living in the country.
FOOD
Chinese food isn't what we are used to in the West. There's no sesame chicken, crab rangoon, fortune cook-
ies, or General Tso. We have a highly Westernized version of what Chinese food really is. In fact, Chinese
people are quite perplexed by what we call “Chinese food.” In China, food is less fried, contains more ran-
dom parts of the animal (there's a good chance your chicken soup will have an entire chicken in it!), and is
often a lot spicier. Be prepared for the difference. If you expect the same as you get in the West, you'll be
very, very disappointed. Chinese food elicits a love it or hate it reaction from travelers.
But the food in China is its own kind of delicious. For breakfast, locals tend to eat either a noodle soup, a
thin rice porridge, or steamed buns. Lunches and dinners consist of shared plates with everyone getting their
own bowl of rice. (This is generally how food is eaten throughout Asia. The idea of the individual meals is
not common in this region. Everyone shares a bunch of dishes and then splits the bill.)
And a great thing about all this delicious food? It's cheap! A meal from a street vendor usually goes for
$1-2 USD. For this you might get noodles, rice, pork buns, or a soup. The street stalls in China are similar
