1. Plan your trip in advance and secure a visa. China requires all visitors to have a valid visa with them upon entering the country including travel dates, travel itinerary and your passport. Plan for this at least 2 months in advance to ensure you have everything you need to enter the country.

2. Try to learn some basic mandarin and common phrases. Although English, especially in major cities, is becoming increasingly more used by the locals, it will be especially difficult to find your way around more rural areas if you cannot speak any mandarin. Not only will it help you immensely for travelling, but the locals will also love you for putting in the effort to learn their language!

3. Purchase a VPN before going into China. Censorship is huge in China and many of your favourite websites such as Youtube, Facebook and Instagram are all blocked there! Grabbing a VPN will go a long way in helping you reconnect with the outside world.

4. Bring your own napkins, toilet paper and sanitiser. Some parts of China are especially dirty and even have toilets that do not have toilet paper for you to use! It is therefore extremely advantageous to always have spare toilet paper and hand sanitiser on you wherever you go to ensure that your hands are always clean and free from germs.

5. Bargain for everything! Nothing in China has a set price. Unless you are in a shopping centre looking for designer brands, there is always a high chance that shop owners will cut their prices down if you just convince them to. The experience is not only extremely fun and different to shopping at home, but an assertive personality can land you some products for almost 80% off their original price! If they refuse to go any lower, just walk away and there is almost a guarantee that they will come running after you.

6. Air pollution is a huge problem in China. If you feel you that you may experience some breathing issues while travelling there, avoid major cities or wear a breathing mask.

7. Tap water in China is not safe for drinking! Either boil all your water before drinking it or avoid it altogether and stick with bottled water!