China has a lot of beautiful places which are worth a visit but sometimes you may be looking for something new and adventurous. With a multiple entry visa you are able to discover all the amazing countries around China like Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and lots more. All these countries are just a 3-5 hour flight away, which include beautiful islands with amazing beaches to relax. If its winter in China you just get on the next plane to Bangkok, like I did.
One of my amazing experiences in China was sitting with a couple of friends having a BBQ in December even though it was super cold. We were having some beers and were enjoying our holidays, but we wanted to escape the winter and wanted something new. From nowhere, we had this idea to book a flight to Bangkok. So we started searching for flights, one of the websites I recommend is www.skyscanner.com, it is easy to find a cheap flight to another country around China, and of course we did find one for the very NEXT day. We booked the flights and everyone went home to pack for the next day’s flight to Bangkok. We didn’t worry about booking a hostel as we knew we will find something cheap and nice when we arrive. We spent 4 days sightseeing and crazy partying in Bangkok. It was the first time that I went for such a spontaneous trip but it was amazing and when you are in China EVERYTHING is possible!
For example, when I decided to stay after my studies in China for an internship, the government changed their regulations and it was not possible anymore for me to apply for a new visa in Hong Kong, which would be for me the easiest way because I was living in Guangzhou. I was told that the only option I have is to go back to Germany to apply for a new visa, but I didn’t want to spend my money for an expensive flight back to Germany as I will be going anyway 6 months later. I found another solution which was way cheaper. I decided to go to Malaysia as it is pretty close to China and the flight tickets were really cheap.
So I went to Kuala Lumpur to apply for my visa in the Chinese consulate and I had to wait 4 days, I decided to stay these 4 days on an island near Kuala Lumpur, which I could reach by bus and ferry. It was my first time in Malaysia, so I was really happy that I could get to know a new country, save money and solve my visa problems at the same time.
If you are working in China and you have like 2 weeks holidays you can do really nice and cheap (compared to Europe) trips. Especially when you are in the south of China everything is pretty close. You can take a 3 hours flight to Thailand and in Thailand you can get around really cheap with buses and trains. You are able to take buses and ferries to the beautiful islands in Thailand and then go by bus to Malaysia, as these countries are really small compared to China, and visit the capital Kuala Lumpur for sightseeing and Malaysia´s islands to relax. When you are in Malaysia you can take a bus to Singapore (but I recommend to stay in Singapore like 3 days, as this country is really expensive compared to Thailand and Malaysia.)
As you can see you have many options to come around when you are in China with the right visa. It is very cheap to travel and create amazing memories.
If you want to have an adventure like this, then apply now for an internship and discover new worlds during your holidays 🙂
Trip to Fushan
For last week’s Saturday Event the InternChina crew decided to walk up Fushan.
Fushan Mountain is one of the highlights of Qingdao. The whole mountain range is about 5 km long and the highest peak is perfectly embedded into the city. With a height of 384 meters it is not as exhausting as Laoshan to walk up but the lack of roads leading to the top makes it a great adventure! And Fushan is famous for its marvellous natural scenery.
Our small group of three people met Saturday afternoon to start the hiking trip. Since lots of people who had recently walked up Fushan gave me advice about where to start and where to go, I was quite confident that we would find the right way. But as soon as we got there it seemed to be a little more complicated.
We started our tour by finding our way around a locked fence with a red flag on top of it, walked up a few stairs and that was it. There was no obvious path that lead to the viewing platform, from which, I was told, the courageous ones could start their climb up to the final top of Fushan. Instead we were standing in the middle of pine trees and bushes with only a one foot wide path to follow.
After more than half an hour of following the path it suddenly stopped and instead of the viewing platform we were standing in the middle of graves. The ground was heaped up all around us with yellow squares and gifts for the dead in front of it. This was definitely not the right way. But as none of us wanted to turn around and go back to where we started, we decided to continue on our path. And after a one-hour walk through pine trees and high bushes we finally crossed the promised walking path right where it ended and the climb up to the peak began.
And the last bit of the hiking trip up Fushan was the best. Instead of walking you actually have to climb up big stones to get to the top. We started with the lowest peak but it was not enough, hence we continued to find our way over stones and through wild bushes to the highest Peak of Fushan. The wind was quite strong on that day but even though we made it to the top. At the end of our trip we were rewarded with a beautiful pre-sunset and a great view over the city. And our Tsingtao beer never tasted as good as it did after climbing up Fushan.
Do you want to climb up Fushan with us? Join us for an internship in China and Apply Now!…. Next time we will take the straight forward route!
With May Fourth Square, Marina City, Qingdao’s Old Town, Ba Da Guan district and the shopping streets Part one of places to show your friends during their visit in Qingdao was all about Qingdao’s Culture and nice places where you can spend all your money on beautiful things. But Qingdao has a lot more to offer. With its location surrounded by the sea and mountains you and your friends should definitely escape the city for some days to discover the nice area around Qingdao.
Fushan
Qingdao is located right on the base of Fushan. A mountain range with an area of 7.5 square kilometres. The main and highest peak is in Qingdao with a height of 384 meters. There are no roads but instead natural trails, meadows and pine trees that guarantee a nice hiking tour to the top. Once you made your way up you will be rewarded with a great view over the city of Qingdao, the sea and the beautiful costal area. Best time to go is definitely in the evening to watch the sunset on top of the city. There is even a little shack shop run by a friendly elderly couple selling snickers and beer… amazing.
Laoshan
Bigger, further away and with lots of culture to offer, you should take a whole day to experience Laoshan. It is the highest costal mountain in China with the peak reaching 1132 meters. But Laoshan has more to offer than just a long hiking tour with a marvellous natural scenery of seas and waterfalls. It is said to be one of the birth places of Taoism and thus a mountain of high significance for the Chinese culture. With lots of Taoist temples and nunneries Mount Laoshan offers more cultural experiences than one could possibly place on one day.
Qingdao’s beaches
After hiking up two mountains it might be nice to grant your visitors a little rest. Best way to relax in Qingdao is definitely a day at the beach. Since Qingdao has 6 bathing beaches the decision which one to show is not that easy. One of my favourite beaches is Shilaoren beach. It is the biggest beach and outside of the city center. The second one that should not be missed is bathing beach number 2 next to the Ba Da Guan District.
Best way to discover both, spend the day at Shi Lao Ren beach and watch the sunset near bathing beach No 1.
Coffee Street
In case that is a little too much nature for your friends, take them out for a drink to Minjiang Er Lu – Coffee Street.
With comfy kitsch coffee places next to Italian restaurants and wine bars the coffee street will be the perfect place for your friends to relax after hiking up two hills and discovering Qingdao’s seaside.
Would you like to explore Qingdao as good as Sandra did? Then apply now for an internship in this beautiful city!