The countdown has begun, in less then 6 weeks I leave the UK for Shanghai. I went to get my visa back in July in London. It was a pretty simple process, more preparing beforehand then anything. You need fill out the application online at the China Visa Application Center website and print off a copy to take with you. Also you must print and show the visa application centre your flight bookings and hotel bookings aswell as the application form which has some random details you must provide, such as your parents names and date of births. Not sure why they need that. Also you have to take a photo copy of your passport and a passport photo for the application. I arrived at 9am and there was a long cue down the road waiting outside the centre. I thought this is going to be a long wait. In the cue I got speaking with a middle aged women who was telling me all about her travels. Both of us were hoping it wasn’t going to take hours. Once we were in they gave us a numbered ticket and told us to sit. I was number 76 so I wasn’t hopeful that I could get back to work that quick. A chinese man was calling out the names along with the african guy who was greeting us at the entrance. It was quite amusing listening to the african guy screaming “everyone stop panicking, you will get your visa today” as I couldn’t see anyone panicking. The guy got to about number 30 then skipped around 20 numbers so it was looking hopeful after all. After about 45 minutes my number was called. I sat down and gave the women my paperwork. The only thing she questioned was how I would be getting from Chongqing to Hong Kong. I told her I hadn’t booked my travel yet to which she said I must write a statement of how I will travel between the cities. So I wrote that “I will fly from Chongqing to Hong Kong on the 1st of november”. When she read that she said “oh, if you fly you must show proof, but if you take train you must only write”. So she handed me the paper back and I crossed out “fly” and replaced it with “take train” ,funny right no problem now. The visa cost me £130 and 3 days later I went back to pick it up. They gave me a 2 year multiple entry visa, I think this is just the standard visa they give to tourists, which is great because I only intened to be there for 3 weeks but, if I like it I will go back next year to see some more.

I am planning to head north to Beijing after a few nights in Shanghai, of course see the Great Wall and The Forbidden City. Then head back down toward Chongqing the cyberpunk city that apprently has the largest population of people in the world. Im also thinking of visitng Xi’an to see the Terracotta Army and Hunan to see Furong Ancient Town. Theres a few other places I might visit but I will play it by ear. Last stop I will head back to Hong Kong for a couple more days. I enjoyed my week there last time around. If anyone has been to China and has some recommendations I would love to hear them.

After China im not sure where I will head, maybe I will hang about in Asia again for a few months and then go to South America or Australia. I will keep you updated anyways, please like and subscribe.