Travelling in China During the May Holiday

Now, don’t get me wrong, teaching abroad in China is all about broadening your career path and growing as a person… but you can’t deny that travel is a huge plus. With English 1, most of your time off will fall during public holidays. So, what is it really like to travel in a country as vast and heavily populated as China? Here are a few tips to help you conquer travel in China during the May Holiday.

It’s China. But don’t let that deter you! I went to Beijing, the country’s capital, and even I was able to avoid crowds at times. Most of the masses gather at major tourist attractions and the transportation hubs around those sights.

The line to enter the subway at rush hour.

You can alleviate this by getting up early! If you're planning a big trip like the Great Wall, opt for a morning tour. By the afternoon, it will be packed, but your morning will be a breeze. At the end of the day, it’s not a deal breaker. Getting to experience authentic China undeniably outweighs dealing with the crowds.

One positive aspect of travelling in China during a big holiday is the opportunity to experience things that you normally wouldn't during the off-season. For example, every spring, Yuyuantan Park hosts a Cherry Blossom Festival. It's a stunning time to take in the beauty of the cherry blossom trees. You can stroll around and take photos, enjoy a guided boat tour on the lake, and vendors sell food and ice cream shaped like cherry blossoms. It's a unique experience you would miss out on if you weren’t travelling during the May Holiday.

And if parks aren't your thing, you can walk down any street in the evening and find a group of performers doing colourful, traditional Chinese dances. In a nutshell, because it is a time of celebration, there is always something interesting happening around every corner.

Street performers outside The Place shopping mall.

If the logistics of travel freak you out like they do me, plan ahead! You can design your itinerary to accommodate things like large crowds, lulls in transportation, or anything that might give you anxiety during your trip. I even went so far as to perform a dry run of the path from my apartment to the airport, located two hours away in another city. If it helps relieve some stress, do it.

If you're heading to a popular tourist area, go in the morning; then, in the afternoon and evening when the crowds are heavy, plan to venture away from those spots.

Pro tip: The locals are friendly and willing to answer questions! And in big cities like Beijing, many people do speak English, so don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

In case you didn’t know, China is huge. Not just in rural areas, but also in urban centres spread far and wide. It can take hours just to get from one end of the city to the other. So, unless you're willing to spend a pretty penny on a taxi every time, you'll be walking to and from bus stops, subway stations, and your final destinations. This means bringing your walking shoes and a box of plasters in case of blisters.

And let’s not forget, it’s May, which means it’s hot. Stay hydrated, and make sure to bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen with you everywhere. The last thing you want is to come home with a sunburn and blisters, so travel smart.