tongether

Check in: 10/18 5:00PM
Check out: 10/21 6:30AM

$XX/person/night

Airbnb Stay Page

Hongcun Sanlitang Inn

Check in: 10/21 3:00PM
Check out 10/23 8:00AM

$XX/person/night

Daily breakfast included

Sanlitang Inn Website

Check in: 10/23 7:00PM
Check out: 10/24 6:30AM

$XX/person/night

Breakfast Included

Check in: 10/24 3:00 PM
Check out: 10/26 8:00 AM

$130/person/night

Daily Breakfast Included

Huangshan Hotel Info

Passport

Friendly reminder that your Passport must be valid at least 6 months prior to expiration date at the time of travel!

Visas

A China Visa is required for our trip. Detailed Visa information can be found at the link below; however, we have previously worked with a travel agency in Oakland Chinatown that is swift, well priced, and very experienced. If you have a valid U.S. Passport, it should cost ~$200 or less to obtain the Visa. Contact them for specific documents to bring in your personal case. They will take China approved photos at their location. Save yourself 2 trips to the China Consulate in SF and call our homegirl Vivian!

Ask for Vivian, or "Jeremy's Mom"
J&V Travel Services
320 10th St, Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 893-4888
Open M-Sa call for specific hours

As much as we love an unplugged vacation, there are very practical matters of finding directions and translating characters in a rural part of the country that, quite frankly, we can't handle on our own at this scale! (Of course, we expect that there may also be work emergencies that need attending to.)

Voice, Internet & Wifi

Please look into international data plan options with your current carrier (normally around $10-15 per day), and/or bringing an unlocked smartphone to purchase a sim card and data plan upon arrival. (Note: The latter option is heavily subject to scams, even at "reputable" establishments such as the airport. Do your due diligence!).

Wifi is widely available at hotels, restaurants, corner stores, bars, and tourist destinations. However, the connectivity in more rural areas such as Huangshan and Hongcun may be very poor.

Censorship & VPN Workarounds

Due to heavy censorship by the Chinese government, services such as Google (all google products), Facebook (including Instagram), Twitter, Reddit, and many Western news sources are restricted. If you cannot live without access to these services, please consider a VPN service such as NordVPN.

More information on using NordVPN as a workaround in China

Sign up for NordVPN with our unique referral link

WeChat for Communication

In China, WeChat is the ubiquitous identification + communication + wallet app. Since much of Chinese life revolves around scanning QR codes, exchanging red packets (i.e. transferring money), and even hailing rides from this app, we highly recommend downloading it for an enhanced cultural experience. Add us to your friends!

Note on WeChat Wallet: The Wallet feature is not available by default to U.S. users. If you do not have a Chinese bank issued credit card, you will not be able to link your credit card as an autopay/autoload option. In this case, you will have to simply load it with red envelopes/cash exchange with a Chinese bank account holder. (See Currency & Cash for more information)

Skype

Good old fashioned Skype will be the preferred and most reliable option for longer international calls. In case you want to make a work call, or check in with the kids, you may want to make sure that you have sufficient funds in your Skype account as a backup to WeChat.

Translation Apps

While you will be surrounded by Chinese Americans who can at least not get you lost, you may find it useful to download the Pleco app for quick and reliable translations. This will come in handy if you are trying to pick up a few quick phrases, or communicate with a local.

Pleco Translation App

Apple Maps is the only English based map available (as there is no Google Maps). We encourage you to take screenshots of your local area whenever you have internet access so that you don't get lost. We will provide more specific contact and location details when we convene.

To Shanghai Pudong Airport

Flights

Shanghai Airport to Shanghai City

Taxi/Kuaidi (Uber equivalent) or Subway

Shanghai City to Shanghai Hongqiao Station

Subway

Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Huangshan Station

Bullet Train (4.5 Hrs)

Huangshan Station to Hongcun Village

Local Tour Bus (1 Hr)

Hongcun Village to Huangshan Mountain

Local Tour Bus (1 Hr)

Huangshan Mountain to Huangshan Station

Local Tour Bus

Huangshan Station to Any Other Destination

Bullet Train

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DiDi

Didi is basically your Lyft/Uber equivalent. There is an English version that will allow you to use U.S. based phone numbers and credit cards, BUT you need to have internet access in order to use this service.

DiDi English Version on iTunes

$1 USD ~= ¥6.5 RMB

WeChat wallet is not enabled for US accounts and credit cards; however, you can enable it to hold some cash if you receive a red packet. Therefore, one way to load up your WeChat is by requesting that a Chinese person transfer you a bunch of red packets. Since we are Chinese people with Chinese bank accounts, let us know if you require assistance.

Read about WeChat Wallet workaround for non Chinese bank account holders

We aim to pre-purchase the majority of transportation and accommodation bookings, so personal spending will largely be for meals, personal shopping, and additional excursions. In Shanghai, credit cards are widely accepted; however, in the more rural Huangshan and Hongcun areas, cash and WeChat will be your only options.

For group meals, we request that each person prepares exact change+tips in cash to expedite the checkout process.

Haggling

Haggling is a way of life, and is expected. If you appear to be a foreigner, you will definitely be given a ridiculously high starting price for any item you ask about. It is crucial that you play along, and it is expected that you respond with exaggerated disbelief. Since many vendors sell similar items, do your due diligence and shop around to see what their lowest rates are. Don't buy the first thing you see for the first price that gets thrown out! Don't feel guilty about this, either! Many people leave great educational opportunities to become vendors because they hear stories about how their friends were able to swindle foreigners into overpaying for their wares. Don't be shy - negotiate!

Shanghai

Comfortable F60s to F70s, mix of Sunny and Cloudy, similar to the Bay Area at this time of year.

Huangshan + Hongcun

Slightly cooler during the daytime with similar sun and clouds; likely to be quite cold (Bay Area cold) as low as F30s to F40s on the mountain at night.

10/8/18 Update: There is a chance of RAIN on 10/22!! Please consider appropriate shoes for this.

Note: Huangshan is shrouded in clouds and fog the majority of the time, with October having the highest incidences of clear skies.

General

- Cash ($50/person/day should be way more than necessary; this is mostly for street shopping/eating)
- Medications
- Toiletries
- Passport & Copies
- Sunglasses
- Charger converter (only if 3 prong)
- Travel toilet paper (also available for purchase)
- Hand sanitizer
- Camera

Shanghai & Hongcun

- Sightseeing attire (similar to Bay Area weather)
- Layered clothing/wind breaker
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Fanny pack/bag/purse
- Night out attire

Hongcun Wedding 

- Qipao if you have one
- Shawls/wraps
- black slacks just in case
- backup dressy outfit in case the rental doesn't suit you
(bonus points if you channel the Met Gala 2015)

Huangshan (pack LIGHT)

- Hiking backpack for 2 days
- Warm layers
- Hand warmers
- Earmuffs
- Beanies/hats
- Swimsuit for hot springs
- Sandals/flip flops
- Baby/cleansing wipes
- Thermos
- Small hand towel
- Lock - If you're in a committed relationship (with someone else, or with yourself), consider bringing a lock to "seal your love" on the rails in Huangshan

To be continued...

Huangshan

Mountain hiking in China is very unique in that it is widely accessible to visitors at all levels of physical fitness and ability. All of the mountain trails have been carved into steps and thus our hike becomes more of a rigorous stair master workout than a rugged and dirty trek. Visitors wear shoes ranging from sandals to high heels, and mostly only Westerners wear legit hiking gear and boots. Nevertheless, it can be quite hard on the knees and lower calves. If you do not feel like climbing thousands of steps, you can choose to pay for two men to carry you up the mountain on a makeshift palanquin. (A widely accepted practice that is not nearly as awkward as it sounds)

Due to deep rooted Buddhist history, the majority of restaurants are vegetarian/vegan friendly.

Restaurant food in China is generally safe. Street stalls and food carts are eat-at-your-own-risk, though, generally safe as well. (Only speaking from experience!)

Local Emergency Contact

Local phone number:

Pickpockets

Remind me to tell you the story of when mama Huang got her iPhone stolen in China. Pickpocketing is very common, but just be vigilant about zipped pockets and purses and you should be ok. It is very easy to get distracted or be squished into a very dense crowd. Remember to keep your most personal and important belongings in a difficult to reach area of your purse. Front facing fanny packs are a great option, as that is a relatively difficult area for pickpockets to reach without your noticing.  

Traffic

One of the biggest safety concerns is motor vehicle accidents. Generally in China, there is no pedestrian right of way. This means that you need to seriously consider congestion and traffic speed if you are looking to cross the road. It is best to cross with a crowd in a predictable and straight line, with conviction. Shanghai is quite international and will not be as disorganized as some other major cities, but it is no exception.

Water

Tap water is NOT safe to drink. If you prefer to bottle your own water, consider a sterilization wand. Otherwise, prepare to drink a lot of bottled water. It is also customary to have a hot water boiler in hotel rooms, as it is very common to drink boiled water. You may also consider boiling water for your thermos (especially on the mountain where it can get quite chilly).

Health Related Emergencies

You will be among family. If you do experience a health-related emergency, trust that we will be able to take you to get care. While most hospitals are government run, it's services are not necessarily free to non-citizens. If you have any cost related concerns, please consider checking with your current health insurance carrier, or the credit card that you booked your trip with, to see what kind of travel benefits are included.

Due to types of activities that we have planned, this trip is ill suited for children. We will not have special accommodations or childcare available.

Squatty Potty

Start exercising those calves with a few chair sits/squats each day! In more remote areas, sometimes the only restroom options are a trough. It is definitely not an easy one to get used to, but when you gotta go, you definitely don't want to be falling in! All of our accommodations will have standard toilets.

Facemasks

Many people will wear facemasks regularly. For some, it may be a protection against harsher air quality. Others may be feeling under the weather and want to prevent spreading germs. It's very common and is no cause for alarm.