Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in style to those described in the section on Southeast Asia. A full meal in a sit-down restaurant will cost
between $2 USD and $8 USD plus the fee for a bowl of rice and clean bowls (yes, these cost extra!), which
is often around 50 cents. If you stick to the local food, you'll never go broke. You could spend less than $10
for an entire day's worth of food.
As Chris notes, “Like most of Asia, I've found the best local food has invariably been street food.
There's no shortage of stalls selling shao kao (BBQ), jian bing, and all manner of other things. They're
usually clustered around the entrances and exits of schools, so starving students can flood out during their
infrequent breaks for a snack. The visual of a few thousand kids pouring out of a too small gate to swarm
the stalls is something to see, that's for sure.”
In western China, southwestern China, and the interior, food is much cheaper than in the big metropol-
ises (Beijing, Shanghai, etc.), and you can eat for under $5 USD per day; about half the costs of the big
cities.
Depending on where you are in China, the food can be very spicy. Kristin notes, “I'm a big fan of spicy
food and found that in China, even Sichuanese food which is known for its spice, wasn't too overpowering
for me. Usually chili is provided on the side so those who prefer spicier food can add it to soups and noodles.
The owners of the restaurants or street stalls will also usually ask if you want it 'la de' which means 'spicy.'”
For Western food, you can expect to pay much higher prices for food that will be a disappointment com-
pared to home, if you're outside of the more Westernized cities like Hong Kong. A Western-style sandwich
can run about $6 USD, and a cup of coffee can be similarly priced as back home. But again, what's the point
of coming overseas to eat bad versions of what you can get without traveling? While I'm guilty of sneak-
ing Western food when I want the pleasures of home, the Western food in China, especially on the budget
end, just won't be good. The exceptions are Shanghai and Hong Kong, where there is a huge international
food scene. Here you will find excellent food from around the world. Once you get out of the major cities,
Chinese food will pretty much be your only choice, except for an occasional McDonald's or KFC.
Quoting Kristin again: “It's generally best to stick to local foods anywhere in the world when trying to
save money and eat well. I'd say stay away from Western foods or at least be prepared to pay more for
something that will be different from what you're used to at home though it may masquerade as the same
thing. If you're in China, eat Chinese food! It's a great way to better understand a culture. If you're unsure
of what's written on the menu, look at the tables of those around you and indicate you'd like to eat what
they're having.”
Since food is so cheap, there's no need to self-cater or cook your own meals. You are better off eating the
street food and at the restaurants. Moreover, most hostels don't have kitchen facilities for you to use even if
you did go grocery shopping. Therefore, self-catering is not something I recommend.
TRANSPORTATION
China may be a huge country but it's easy and cheap to get from one place to the next (especially if you are
prepared to travel third class). Train and bus are inexpensive, reliable, and run consistently.
Local transport within a city or area costs about 30 cents USD per subway ride or 15-30 cents USD per
bus ride. Taxis charge around $1 USD to start and 30 cents USD per kilometer if they're willing to run their
meter, which is sometimes a battle. Keep in mind that it is rare to find a taxi driver who knows enough Eng-
lish for you to explain where to go. Have your destination written out in Chinese whenever possible.
Apart from bikes, buses are the most common means of getting around in the cities. Service in the major
cities is fairly extensive, buses go to most places and fares are inexpensive but expect buses to be always
