Understanding Air Travel To China from freeamfva's blog

Understanding Air Travel To China

The vast majority of first-time tourists from Western countries will fly into China, as opposed to overland border crossings. Also, most of these visitors will fly in and out of Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG and SHA), or Hong Kong (HKG) international airports.To get more news about China travel advice, you can visit shine news official website.

Beijing International Capital Airport is by far China’s biggest and busiest airport, serving over 65 million passengers in 2009. Located about 20 miles from the city, it opened in 1999 and got a major facelift and upgrade ahead of the 2008 Olympics.

Note that Shanghai has two international airports (I wonder how many travelers miss their outgoing flights each year): Hongqiao International (SHA) is more efficient and closer to Shanghai than Pudong International (PVG), its more modern and sleeker cousin.

But to boost business investment and tourism, the Chinese government is working hard to increase and upgrade the number of international airports throughout the country. For instance, both Guangzhou (CAN) and Shenzhen (SZX) international airports — located in the south near Hong Kong— see huge volumes of air traffic (but for now mostly serve Asian cities).
5 Tips to Know Before You Fly
Flying domestic in China can be a stressful process if you don’t know what you’re doing. Most travelers enjoy the fast paced travel of the common domestic flights as opposed to the slower option in bullet trains. While China’s bullet train system may be the right fit for certain trips, let’s focus on the efficient domestic flight options. Follow our tips to streamline the experience.

1. Always Plan For Crowds
Arriving early and avoiding national holidays is the best tip to ensure you make your flight on time. The Chinese habit of never forming lines can make airports a stressful place to navigate for foreigners. Give yourself plenty of extra time to avoid any mishaps.

2. Understand & Know The Restrictions
Be sure to examine the flight restrictions online to ensure you bring only what’s allowed to the airport. Lighters, liquids, pets, and even some technological devices are banned on flights in China. Check with your airline to make sure all your goods are in compliance with the rules.

3. Have A VPN (or other way to be able to contact someone for assistance)
Internet access to popular Western sites is limited in China. If you’re worried about letting loved ones know you made your flight, make sure to have a VPN installed on your devices to access the Internet.

4. Be Aware of Cultural Differences
Understand that you are a visitor and expect things to be a little different. From a rice and fish style in-flight meal to the personal space you can expect from your in-flight neighbor, things are sure to vary from what you’re used to. Be ready for the adventure!

5. Avoid Poor Weather
Airlines in China are much more likely to ground flights due to weather than airlines in America. Don’t be surprised if a rainstorm throws off your flight plans. Traveling is all about flexibility and it’s better to be safe than sorry. You can avoid any unnecessary delays by choosing clear weather days for all your flights in China.