Quick Mini-Breaks in China – Part 2

China Health Insurance offers a few more suggestions on where to get away to for a quick break in China.

For expats living and working in China, life can be stressful. Long hours, a difficult local language, unfamiliar culture and other challenges all take their toll. But, China as a country still has countless cities, towns, villages and wilderness that are absolutely beautiful and incredibly interesting, and make for a perfect short getaway to clear your head.

Here are three more destinations China Health Insurance suggests you consider for a much needed mini-break.

Hangzhou

Shanghainese locals constantly extoll the beauty of their small neighbor to the west. Hangzhou is certainly beautiful, but from an expat’s perspective the beauty may lie more in simply escaping Shanghai, China’s biggest city, than in the privilege of seeing the fabled “heaven on earth” that is West Lake.

Without a doubt, the views along the West Lake promenades are pretty, but the surrounding city is hardly an escape into the countryside. Instead, what appeals to many foreigners in Hangzhou is the opportunity to be anonymous. This can mean meandering through the city’s tree-lined avenues, visiting the “ancient” street with its touristy tea shops, or checking out one of Hangzhou’s numerous temples dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Most expats will enjoy this opportunity to simply be a tourist, for a change.

Since everything in Hangzhou seems to center around the lake and its tributaries, a great way to see Hangzhou from the waterline up is to take a water taxi. These shuttle boat rides take about half an hour and provide great views of the city.

Finally, traveling anytime outside of peak tourist seasons can yield some great deals on luxury hotels that are far cheaper than those in nearby Shanghai. This means that a weekend spent sleeping late and lounging around a pool is also a fantastic, affordable option.

Getting to Hangzhou from Shanghai should only be done by high-speed train. It is fast, convenient, comfortable and inexpensive, and actually a fun experience in itself. From other nearby locations, a bus or regular train is required.

Lhasa

At the opposite corner of China lies our next suggested mini-break location: Lhasa. While attempting to cover all of Tibet in a few days or a week is impossible, Lhasa provides a perfect hub for getting to know the unique culture and people of the region.

A trip to Lhasa is as much an education as it is a vacation. Leaving politics aside, seeing Lhasa should always start with a visit to Potala Palace, the traditional home of the Dalai Lama. Accepting that nearly every aspect of life in Tibet is focused around Buddhism is critical to come to grasping the way of life in this autonomous region of China.

After Potala Palace, taking in the age and scale of the rest of Tibet’s buildings, temples and holy sights becomes much easier. Also, understanding the devout Buddhist beliefs practiced by almost all locals also makes it easier to see how so much of the population seems to be so happy despite having little materially. The pace of life is typically slow throughout Tibet, so travel can be tricky, but be sure to spend some time outside the city.

Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, there is no direction out of Lhasa that won’t yield astounding vistas. Hiring a driver for the day is an easy and affordable way to get to some excellent hiking spots as well as to see some of the countryside. Day or overnight excursions are also available, and many have options for homestays to really get a feel for this disappearing rustic culture. Otherwise, there are plenty of other accommodations ranging from hostels to five star resorts in and around Lhasa.

A stay in Lhasa, and Tibet in general, should be thoroughly planned and researched, as some nationalities have specific entry restrictions, and because there is so much geographical area to cover. But, even if visiting just for a few days, it is a trip that will be remembered for a lifetime; just don’t forget your camera!

Getting to Lhasa will require flying, since just about the only other option is a 44 hour long (one way) train ride from Chengdu, the nearest major city.

Sanya

If Tibet seems like too much to undertake on a quick mini-break, then perhaps Hainan Island is a better option. Billed as “China’s Hawaii,” the nickname is a bit of an overstatement but Sanya does have some genuinely beautiful beaches; you just have to know where to look. For this reason alone, it makes a great quick trip destination for anyone near an airport with a few free days.

To begin with, skip Haikou; its location facing the mainland means it has no decent sand beaches. It is much better to fly directly into Sanya, and costs just a bit more than transferring through Haikou. Leaving the airport, it becomes immediately evident in Sanya that you are in the tropics; flowers, warm sunshine, clean air, and sea breezes abound.

Staying in Sanya town provides access to average priced, average quality hotels, but a rather unimpressive beach. For the nicest beach in the area, head to Yalong Bay. The sand is soft and clean and the water is clear and beautiful, and the farther east you go the less crowded it gets.

There are plenty of ultra-luxury hotels around Yalong Bay, but prices are quite expensive. In low season, some of these hotels do offer lower rates, but be aware that there is not much in the way of restaurants and nightlife in this area yet. For this reason, many expats decide to stay in Sanya town and take a 20 to 30 minute taxi or bus ride to Yalong for the day.

An option for anyone wanting some waves is Dadonghai. Closer to Sanya town, this beach has even hosted pro surfing events in recent years, and when the swell is up it can be a great option for some watersports (though the surf can be erratic and unreliable). It’s not quite Hawaii, but Sanya does provide a great mini-break option for anyone needing some sun, surf, and relaxation.

Next time we consider three more great mini-break destinations in China: Lijiang, Hongcun and Shanghai. You can check out Part 1 of our guide here.