First Spring Festival In China- What to do?

[scoopneals]

EDIT: On page 2, I wrote a detail explanation of my trip! Please Enjoy

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Hello,

The Spring Festival will be here soon, and my city will be emptied of all its college students... which is lame, because I'm basically still a college student. I'm an English teacher at a University about an hour West of Xi'An in Shaanxi. It will be a little lonely around here, so I'm trying to go somewhere else for the holiday. I'm even thinking going as far as other countries that don't require visas.

Does anyone have any good ideas of where to go/what to do that won't be too expensive? Any suggestions on the best times to travel?

Some details: I'm single, 23 years old, and have intermediate level Mandarin.

Thanks!

[aroberts42]

Thailand seems to be a big destination this year. It's cheap once you get there and don't need a visa. Air tickets can be a little pricey though.

[anonymoose]

I went travelling in Yunnan during the winter holiday in 2007. In spite of that time of year being the peak travelling season, in fact, Yunnan was relatively quiet. The other advantage is that in Xishuangbanna (in the south of Yunnan), the weather is actually still warm enough to be outside in a T-shirt which makes a nice change from the rest of China. Of course, it depends on what you are interested in. If you want to go and party, then maybe it is not the place for you, but if you like beautiful scenerey, temples and other things of cultural interest, then Yunnan is a great place to go. Not only that, but it is quite different from the rest of China due to its rich mix of ethnic minorities. Specifically, I went to Kunming (as it was en route), Xishuangbanna, Dali and Lijiang. I've heard that Shangrila is also beautiful, but alas, I didn't have time to go there. If I have a chance, I would love to go back and explore some of the more remote villages.

[imron]

I second Xishuangbanna during the winter break.

[Lu]

I haven't been to Xishuangbanna, but I third Yunnan during winter. Alternatively, if you can, try getting invited to a friend's or aquiantance's home for new year, that really is the best way to celebrate it.

[liuzhou]

I usually just hibernate.

[gougou]

Alternatively, if you can, try getting invited to a friend's or aquiantance's home for new year, that really is the best way to celebrate it.

Hmm, I don't think I'd necessarily call it the best way. This may give you the most insight into how Chinese celebrate Chinese New Year, but I've passed some pretty dull moments spending New Year at friends' places.

Of course, it all comes down to what your friends and their families are like, so maybe you'll be lucky!

[liuzhou]

Indeed.;

I can't think of a worse way of spending Spring Festival than with a Chinese family. I've been there and done it.

Basically it consists of eating a fine meal and watching boring television with the extended family.

Next day we eat the same leftovers for lunch then head to Uncle Liu's for dinner where exactly the same people as yesterday eat exactly the same meal again and watch the repeats of yesterday's television. If you are really unlucky some neighbours will drop in to gawk at the tame laowai they have heard rumours about. If you are really unlucky, they will have brought some home brew rice liquor to ruin your holiday.

Next day we eat the same leftovers for lunch then head to Aunty Chen's for dinner where exactly the same people as yesterday eat exactly the same meal again and watch the repeats of yesterday's television. If you are really unlucky some neighbours will drop in to gawk at the tame laowai they have heard rumours about. If you are really unlucky, they will have brought some home brew rice liquor to ruin your holiday.

Next day we eat the same leftovers for lunch then head to Cousin Mo's for dinner where exactly the same people as yesterday eat exactly the same meal again and watch the repeats of yesterday's television. If you are really unlucky some neighbours will drop in to gawk at the tame laowai they have heard rumours about. If you are really unlucky, they will have brought some home brew rice liquor to ruin your holiday.

For 15 friggin' days.

[Guest realmayo]

Sounds like Christmas in the UK except for the laowai gawking. And the 15 days.

[scoopneals]

Haha this is great... Thanks for all the answers. I was talking to my buddy about going home with him, he lives in a small city in Hebei... but the more I think about it, I'm not sure that I want to be freezing aside from sitting on a khan for 4 weeks.

I imagine they don't speak Mandarin in Yunan.... right? Any recommended places that speak standard Mandarin (or at least close to standard)?

[liuzhou]

I imagine they don't speak Mandarin in Yunan.... right?

Wrong. Most people do unless you are in the depths of the countryside..

[scoopneals]

Ah! Legit. I should have looked at Wikipedia before I posted

Definitely considering Yunan! Thank you!

I'm trying to stay for cheap... have any of you ever used couchsurf before? And was it a good experience? If not, know another way to stay there for cheap?

[imron]

Yunnan is generally cheap for backpacking.

[gougou]

have any of you ever used couchsurf before?

I've never surfed in China, but we've hosted a lot in Beijing, and I haven't heard about a single bad experience in China from our surfers. So if you can find somebody, go for it!

Note that it's not the best time though, as most Chinese will be going home for the holidays, where most likely they won't be able to host. You might have more luck with the foreign crowd, but even they might be traveling.

[Meng Lelan]

Basically it consists of eating a fine meal and watching boring television with the extended family.

Holidays in the US are like that too.

[scoopneals]

Yunnan is generally cheap for backpacking.

OK - I think I'm convinced, Yunan sounds like the place for me. However, I've never been backpacking before... are we talking like... just show up, and I'll be able to find a hostel? 10 yuan a night? 20 yuan a night? Buy a sleeping bag?

[Lu]

That's possible (although 20 yuan might be a bit too low an estimate), but you can also look online a bit for hostels and call ahead. Or you can go with one of the hotel folk who show up at the train or bus station and see what they have to offer. Even the cheapest zhaodaisuo generally have blankets, but if you want to go for something that cheap it can be worthwhile to bring your own sheet, as that will be cleaner.

[liuzhou]

Holidays in the US are like that too.

Holidays are like that all over the world.

[liuzhou]

I spent my first Spring Festival in Yunnan, but that was about 20 years ago. It was ¥10 a night then. I doubt it'll be that cheap today, but still reasonable.

Check out things like the Lonely Planet website for destinations and accommodation. Dali and Lijiang are the two favourites, although Lijiang is pretty fake. The original old town was destroyed in an earthquake and rebuilt as a "tourist destination".

"Shangrila" is a totally fake, Communist Party built tourist trap full of Chinese tourists who have been told it's real.

The place I liked best was Dehong county. Like Xishuangbanna but without the Chinese tourist groups everywhere. No real infrastructure then or now, but real. But then I have a strong aversion to tourism management. In Dehong, I just went wandering and ended up in great minority villages and had a memorable conversation with a very cynical monk on the Burmese border.

Ruili was insane. Drugs, guns, whores, rare gems and total lawlessness. I loved it. AIDS capital of China. But great Burmese food if you can find it.

Never bought a sleeping bag though.

[frankwall]

I also heard from somebody that Wuhan is interesting and worth checking out. From where you are, it could be relatively cheap to get there.