Veteran traveler “Luxury Huafan,” who loves traveling, has spent nearly two months on the road every year since age 28 and has explored all of China’s provinces and over ten countries in 14 years. What kind of health precautions should you take during your trip?
Take anti-altitude sickness medication in advance
Bring sunglasses and down jackets
Places such as Qinghai, Guizhou, Tibet, and Shangri-La in Yunnan are mostly above 2,000 meters in altitude and are considered highland areas. Most people will experience varying degrees of altitude sickness when visiting these regions. It is recommended to take medications such as Rhodiola rosea about a week before departure, which can effectively reduce altitude sickness.
If your itinerary includes mountain climbing, it’s best to prepare some oxygen for emergencies. It’s important to note that strenuous exercise should be avoided in highland areas. Try to slow down your daily pace, eat more liquid food and less dry food, and get plenty of bed rest.
The sunlight in highland areas is glaring, especially around snowy mountains, which can easily damage your eyes. This is where sunglasses come in handy. Special attention should also be paid to keeping warm, as temperatures fluctuate greatly between day and night in the highlands. A windbreaker can protect against rain and wind, and you should also bring a down jacket and down vest, as it may snow on the mountains. If you sweat, make sure your inner clothing is completely dry or change into dry clothes before putting on your outerwear, otherwise you may easily catch a cold.
Special reminder: If you’re camping outdoors, always choose an open area and never camp in the woods. The highlands are already oxygen-deficient, and trees compete with humans for oxygen at night, worsening altitude sickness. Many travelers have never woken up after falling asleep.
Pad your shoes with a sanitary pad
Carry some fruit candies in your pocket
Cities such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Guizhou, and Enshi are all mountainous areas. The air is humid here and there are many mosquitoes. It’s recommended to wear long sleeves and long pants, and bring mosquito repellents like essential balm and wind oil.
Before heading into the mountains, check the weather in advance and dress accordingly. Pack lightly to reduce the load. Wear flat shoes such as sneakers, travel shoes, or hiking shoes, and for long hikes, it’s best to wear high-top hiking shoes. Remember to stuff a thickened sanitary pad in your shoes; it can absorb foot sweat and prevent pain in the soles of your feet.
Climbing is physically demanding, and many people experience low blood sugar. Carry some fruit candies in your pocket and suck on one when you feel weak or dizzy—it’ll help quickly. When sweating heavily, you lose a lot of electrolytes, so it’s best to prepare homemade sugar-salt water before climbing. Boil water the day before, add a bit of salt and sugar—about 2–3 grams per bottle of mineral water, just enough for a slight sweet-salty taste.
Special reminder: Sprains and scrapes are common while climbing, so it’s best to bring red flower oil, band-aids, Bactroban, and Haidikuaifu just in case.
Carry multivitamins with you
The oilier the lip balm and skin cream, the better
Early autumn is dry, and the climate in northwestern regions like Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, and Xinjiang is even drier. When visiting these places, be sure to supplement your vitamins and drink plenty of water—eat at least 1–2 fruits a day. If you find it troublesome, bring a bottle of multivitamins or vitamin C and take one a day.
In these areas, aside from having a dry mouth and throat, your lips and skin can easily peel and crack. Lip balm is essential, and skincare creams and face masks are also must-haves. Remember, the oilier the lip balm and skin cream, the better. You can also bring a small bottle of olive oil, which is easily absorbed by the skin and very moisturizing.
Special reminder: When staying in accommodations, place a basin of water in the room or sprinkle some water on the floor to increase humidity and make it more comfortable.
Carry extra bottled water
Chew on nuts to prevent motion sickness from bumpy rides
In October, grasslands gradually turn from emerald green to shades of red and gold—a dazzling sight. Hebei’s Chengde and Fengning, as well as Inner Mongolia, all have grasslands on the Bashang Plateau. At over 1,000 meters in elevation, the sudden rise in altitude combined with bumpy rides can easily cause motion sickness. Chewing on some nuts can help you feel more comfortable. The drinking water on the grasslands often has high salinity and alkalinity, which first-time visitors may find hard to adjust to, so it’s wise to carry some bottled water. Don’t rush to try local specialties either.
Special reminder: During this season, mornings and evenings on the grassland are very cold, so be sure to bring autumn clothing, sweaters, and outerwear to avoid catching a cold.
Seafood must be thoroughly steamed
Dip it in vinegar and have some garlic
Qingdao, Dalian, Qinhuangdao, Penglai, Xiamen, Sanya, and Beihai are all famous coastal cities and popular tourist destinations. The northern coasts are quite cold now, so it’s best to avoid swimming in the sea to prevent cramps and accidents. The southern coasts have strong ultraviolet rays, so it’s advisable to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 25 or higher.
Coastal cities offer plenty of seafood, which must be thoroughly steamed. Before eating, chew a few raw garlic cloves and dip the seafood in aged vinegar to disinfect, kill bacteria, and prevent diarrhea.
Special reminder: Both seafood and tropical fruits can easily cause diarrhea and allergies. Be sure to pack anti-diarrheal and antihistamine medications in your bag before you go.