China is the world’s most populous country but for some reason a lot of the big name travellers seem to avoid it. And even if they do head there, they seem to go to places like Beijing and Shanghai. But that’s not really China now is it? Both those cities are globalised now, and even have street signs and maps in English. It’s time for the truth on how to really visit China- get off the beaten track!!

For the basis of this article I’m talking about mainland China except Tibet. To me that is the real China. So just fornow let’s leave Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan out of this. To all intensive purposes they are separate countries in their own right. Shanghai and Beijing are great cities – don’t get me wrong but they are just not Chinese enough to get a real flavour for this country. The reason is they have street signs and maps written in English. They have Italian restaurants. They have American restaurants. For a start if you see a McDonalds then you are not in the real China. To see what this ancient country is all about you need to head way off the beaten track and out into the glorious countryside.

Unless you have visited a village with a name you can’t pronounce and nobody has ever heard of, eaten food you have never seen or even have a clue what it is, find yourself miles from any city you have heard of, are the only foreigner in sight, and can only see Chinese writing, then basically you haven’t yet seen China!

Get yourself off the beaten track in order to see the real China. Here are a few things you will do that proves you have really seen China:

1. Nobody speaks a word of English (or even Chinese – only local dialect is used).

2. You cannot understand the bus timetable and end up in the wrong village.

3. You see more chickens than cars in the village you are in.

4. There are no computers, mobile phones or internet anywhere.

5. Nothing on sign posts is written in any language other than Chinese.

6. You don’t have a clue what was in the food you just ate!

So that’s a decent guide folks – if you’ve seen and ticked those six then you really have done China. If not, please check it out, but don’t forget to avoid those major cities particularly Beijing and Shanghai! Get away from those two and your travel possibilities becomes extreme, endless and unrivalled. China is a whole new world to discover!