Eco-friendly travel gadgets are becoming more and more popular among avid travelers. Knowing that traveling affects the environment, many people are looking to minimize their impact. One way to do this without sacrificing any preferences or luxuries is eco-friendly travel gear.

Alternative energy use items are particularly useful in China as there are not cafés around every corner for you to charge your electronics in and when there are outlets they are not compatible with Western plugs. In addition, because water quality is very low, people are forced to buy a large amount of bottled water.

When I first arrived in Beijing, my hotel did not have a plug adapter and neither did I so if my computer or cell phone ran out of electricity, I had to find a Western café and pay for drinks I didn’t actually want in order to charge my electronics. Plus, lugging around my chargers with me all day weighed down my already heavy backpack. An all-purpose charger, especially one that I didn’t need to go to a store to use, would have been much more convenient.

Wary of the water in rural Guizhou? A travel-sized Steripen will come in handy when your last water bottle has run out. (Photo: Steripen.com)

Today there is a growing number of eco-friendly travel products ranging from practical to outrageous in both function and price. There are cell phones made from recycled water bottles, biodegradable external hard drives, solar-powered media players, speakers make from recycled cardboard, shake flashlights, wind-up radios, luggage made from recycled materials, and much more. However, many of these items carry a hefty price tag, and although a biodegradable laptop sounds great, paying $2000 for it does not.

Through a bit of research, I have found some of the most useful items for eco-friendly traveling in China:

1. USB or solar-powered electronic charger: $60. This can charge almost any electronic item so you don’t have to bring a whole slew of other chargers or buy a plug adapter which is otherwise necessary when traveling to China.
2. Water-powered digital alarm clock: $16. This would be great if you are camping or traveling to a remote village such as Yubeng, Yunnan.
3. USB rechargeable battery: $16.65 for two AA batteries. These would help you avoid a situation of having your non-rechargeable AA batteries die in a remote place where you cannot buy replacements.
4. Water-purifying pen: $60. This pen allows you to drink tap water safely so you can avoid purchasing bottled water everywhere you go.

Travel gear and gadget companies are continually coming up with innovative products to lessen our environmental impact while traveling. If you wish to lessen the impact of your travels, you may want to consider these products when planning your trip to China or anywhere else.

According to a recent Los Angeles Times article, China’s Three Gorges Dam, the country’s “largest construction project since the Great Wall,” is showing signs of strain. A summer of record-breaking rains and floodwaters has “severely tested the project’s capacity to control the surging Yangtze, the world’s third-longest river.”

Photo: www.lovelovechina.com

Given these conditions, a concerned traveler recently asked us if it would be safe to embark on a Yangtze River cruise in 2-3 weeks. We consulted our local partner in Yichang, where the cruises are run, to get the most up-to-date advice.

The verdict? Our partner gave travelers the green light.  Noting that flooding in the area has gradually subsided, our partner said that cruise operations have returned to normal. In 2-3 weeks’ time, travelers should have no problem embarking on a cruise.

That being said, we advise travelers to stay current on the latest information regarding travel conditions in China. Watch this space for any new developments.

Have a question about travel in China? Email us or send us a tweet.

You’re in China! As part of your off-the-beaten-path, bespoke experience to the Middle Kingdom, you are taking a 12 (or 15, 18, 24, 36…) hour train ride from point A to point B, with children in tow. You’re looking forward to the scenery on the way, experiencing a local and authentic mode of transportation, and the adventure that awaits once you get off at your destination.

But before then, what about the train ride itself? Scenery whizzing by can only keep children occupied for so long. It is only a matter of time before the eternal question “are we there yet?” is asked, children get cranky, bored, or worse, and parents/guardians become exhausted with the prospect of entertaining the young ones for what is already a tiring journey.

WildChina offers the following tips for making your train trip an enjoyable one:

1. Bring a Kindle (or a similar reading device): An electronic reader will not only be lighter in your bag, but also afford you literature options for each member of the family. You can each take turns reading a different book on the train.

2. Make Chinese vocabulary flash cards and practice your survival Chinese on the train: One of the best ways to prepare for your trip is to practice a few key phrases that will make getting around small villagers and remote sites that much easier. Phrases such as “zhe ge duo shao qian?” (How much is this?), “_____ zai na li?” (Where is ____?) and “Ni ke yi bang zhu wo ma?” (Can you help me?) are good ones to learn. Making this into a game will get the kids excited about using their new language skills on the trip.

3. Go for a meal in the dining car: While this might require a translator, a great place to people watch (and get an introduction to Chinese food, if you’ve just arrived in the country) is the dining car. The food won’t be as good as you might get in a famed Chinese restaurant, but it’s a good taste (literally) of staple Chinese dishes. And, who knows – you may make a friend or two along the way. The kids won’t mind being up and about after sitting down, either.

4. Bring lots of snacks: Don’t disregard the previous point of advice, as a solid meal and cultural interactions are always a welcome part of train travel. However, kids often get hungry at any time of day, and Chinese snacks offered on the train – such as dried fish, preserved eggs/meat, and rice crackers – may not be what they’re used to. Additionally, they are usually sold at much higher prices than they would be on the street. Our advice? Stock up on peanut butter, bread, jam, and other family favorites before you board the train. These are quite easily found in larger cities, even in local supermarkets.

Want more travel tips? Email us at info@wildchina.com.

After a long day of battling sub-zero temperatures, icy cold winds and more snow, it is hard for China’s northern residents to imagine that spring is not too far away. However, now is the time to begin planning trips around China in March, April, and May. During these months, a gorgeous variety of flowers and plants spring up all over China.

Beautiful rapeseed fields in Guizhou (Source: denniscox.net)

WildChina has compiled our list of favorite destinations to see delightful arrays of flora this spring in the Middle Kingdom:

Yunnan: In Yunnan, visitors delight in the natural variety and diversity that the province has to offer. Beautiful rhododendrons, azaleas, and irises line the paths of the Mt. Kawagebo area national parks.

Guangxi/Guizhou: In the spring, Guizhou and Guangxi’s terraced rice fields are absolutely stunning. Sparkling in the morning sun and evening sunset, these terraced marvels are a must-see for those traveling to southern China.

Guizhou: Venture to Guizhou to see its incredible yellow rapeseed fields grow when the weather warms up. These natural marvels are wonderful to witness during some of the most pleasant months of the year.

Want more information on experiencing China’s springtime flora? Contact WildChina’s Director of Private Journeys, Barbara Henderson, at barbara.henderson@wildchina.com.

The Year of the Tiger is less than a month away – it occurs on February 14th – and there will be numerous celebrations across China to ring in the new year.

At such a festive time for Chinese citizens, travel and safety naturally becomes a much greater concern. Large numbers of travelers, crowded attractions and fully booked modes of transportation can increase the risk of theft and physical harm.

Here are three ways to keep yourself happy and safe during Chinese New Year:

1. Be careful of fireworks. Fireworks are traditionally set off during the Chinese New Year. While fireworks are festive and fun to watch, be cautious, especially in large crowds. Opt to watch from afar rather than close up, and make sure you have some space around you to move away if these displays go awry.
2. Streamline and reduce travel. Travel will inevitably be more stressful during this time, so make sure that your plans don’t involve lots of short stopovers, inconvenient connections or tight turnaround. Try to streamline your trip so that you can enjoy a certain area for a longer amount of time.
3. Choose appropriate transportation options for you and your family. Are you claustrophobic? Do you have small children? Are you traveling with grandparents? If so, trains and busses are not appropriate modes of transportation for you during CNY. Planes and private cars are better suited to your needs. Those taking trains and busses should expect cramped conditions; on the upside, they are cheap and reliable.

Want more tips on travel during Chinese New Year? Send us a tweet @WildChina.

When traveling to Shanxi Province (not to be confused with its neighbor, Shaanxi Province) this autumn and winter, the words “wool,” “fleece,” and “long underwear” quickly come to mind. Though Shanxi is located southwest of Beijing, Shanxi is in fact already much colder at this time of year than the Northern Capital. How, then, do visitors enjoy a trip to this province during the colder months?

Not to be deterred by weather, WildChina’s Alex G. set out to find ways to enjoy this compellingly historical province even in down-jacket-season. The secret? Shanxi’s fantastic local selection of specialty noodles. As wheat is one of Shanxi’s main crops, a wide range of noodle dishes are enjoyed here. Thick or thin, round or flat, pulled or sliced, these noodles can please, and warm, any visitor in this ancient cultural hub. The following dishes are some of the author’s favorites, which travelers can find in local restaurants or neighborhood street corners:

1.  Kao Lao Lao: Kao Lao Lao refers to short and hollow cylindrical noodles that are crafted from buckwheat. Known for its unique, honeycomb-like shape – the noodles are all connected – Kao Lao Lao is first steamed and is then stir-fried with a variety of sauces.

A traditional Shanxi buckwheat noodle dish, served with meat and spices

2.  Dao Xiao Mian: These “shaved noodles,” sliced from a ball of dough and then immediately boiled, are chewy, hearty, and taste great in any soup or sauce.

3. Mao Er Duo: As one might imagine, “cat’s ears” are small, curled, and resemble their Italian cousin orrechiete. They are often served with meat and vegetables.

4. Jiu Pian Er: To prepare this noodle dish, one simply pulls off small bits of dough from a large coil of dough and tosses them into boiling water. The result? Bite-sized morsels of wheat-y goodness.

Shanxi’s many types of noodles are traditionally served with a tomato and egg or spicy meat sauce (which vaguely resembles what might be the Chinese version of Bolognese). However, there are many more combinations of vegetables, meat and tofu that the province’s noodle chefs pair with their delectable wheat creations. No matter what type of noodle dish you choose, be sure to add a little extra flavor with another prevalent local specialty: Shanxi vinegar!

Chinese New Year is fast approaching, and while it’s one of our favorite times of year, it can also be an overwhelming time to travel. With a majority of Chinese citizens off of work and traveling with or to see their families, it takes a bit of planning and preparation to make sure your holiday goes smoothly. Yet despite the extra effort, this is one of the most vibrant and exciting times to travel in China, especially if you like to watch fireworks and eat dumplings.

• Stay off the rails. If at all possible, try not to travel by train during peak holiday weeks in China. This is by far the most popular method of travel, and the word “crowded” takes on an entirely new dimension of meaning when we consider train stations during Chinese New Year.
• Bring earplugs. Fireworks going off everywhere and at all hours can make getting your zzz’s in a bit hard. Packing earplugs will make it that much easier to get a good night’s sleep when you’ve had enough of the festivities.

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