Travel Guides & Tips in this video
Eoin and Aisling spent 45 days traveling across China. They had doubts before they went, and found a country quite different from the one shown in the media. Their honest opinions describe friendly people, efficient transport and costs that were lower than they expected. They visited big cities and natural landscapes such as Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, and they met with a lot of unexpected kindness along the way. The video explains what China was really like for them and encourages viewers to go and see it for themselves.
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45 days across China
This video follows Eoin and Aisling on a 45-day trip across China, and it sets out to correct the picture many people have of the country. They describe the trip from their own point of view, concentrating on what stood out and what they learned. They give honest opinions on the people, the public transport, the cost of living and the places worth visiting. They talk about the kindness of strangers, such as the man in Xi'an who paid for their bike rentals, and about the emotional moments of the trip, from their first day in Shanghai to their encounter with giant pandas.
Getting around, paying and eating
They stress how easy public transport is, the metro in particular, which runs all the time and is simple to use as a foreigner, though rush hour can be crowded. For longer distances they used the train network, which is cheap for getting between cities, and they advise booking well ahead, especially for the seats you prefer. Food and accommodation are affordable too. Their average spend for two people was $80 a day, and they suggest booking a place close to a metro station. They also describe how convenient mobile payment apps such as WeChat and Alipay are in daily life. They sum up the experience as balanced and authentic, covering both the challenges and the rewards of the trip, and hope it persuades viewers to consider visiting a country that is often misunderstood. Street food and local restaurants gave them tasty and cheap meals, and they encourage visitors to eat where locals eat.
Language, timing and favorite places
On language, they say the barrier is smaller than people expect, and they explain how they managed to talk with locals despite their limited Mandarin. They recommend April or May for comfortable weather and fewer crowds. Their favorite places are Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Chongqing, Hangzhou and Changsha, each of which gave them a different mix of culture and scenery. The video is full of personal stories and emotional moments, along with practical tips for anyone planning a trip.
Sponsor segment and overall impression
The video also includes a sponsored segment for Level8 suitcases, which covers their practicality and convenience for travel. Overall, Eoin and Aisling say China showed them beauty, variety and a warmth they had not expected. The experience made them rethink their own assumptions, and they hope viewers will do the same. They believe the trip will interest both experienced travelers and anyone planning a first visit to China.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What was your overall impression of the Chinese people?
- A: I was wrong about them. They were friendly and welcoming, and that completely went against what I expected.
- Q: How expensive was traveling around China?
- A: Our daily average spend for two people was $80, which I think is pretty good considering everything.
- Q: What was your favorite moment in China?
- A: Seeing the giant pandas was incredible. It was an amazing experience, maybe not just in China but over the past couple of years of traveling. It was unreal.
- Q: What's the best way to get around Chinese cities?
- A: The metro is by far the best way to get around. The trains run all the time and are easy to use as a foreigner.
- Q: What's the best time to visit China?
- A: I would say April was a beautiful time to visit, or maybe slightly later, closer to May. Summer is crazy hot and crowded.
