Expert travelers share tips for holiday trips: Chewing nuts can prevent motion sickness

Because of work, Changbao International Travel General Manager Qi Pengfei spends 70% of his time on the road every year, having traveled across most parts of China; seasoned traveler “Luxury Flower Rice” is passionate about traveling, spending nearly two months on the road each year since the age of 28, visiting all domestic provinces and cities as well as more than ten countries over 14 years. What exactly should you do for health protection during travel? Today, they offer a healthy travel guide for several popular domestic travel routes.

Places like 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 places. 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 you should avoid strenuous exercise in highland areas, try to slow down your daily pace of life, eat more liquid foods and fewer dry ones, and get plenty of bed rest.

The sunlight in highland areas is glaring, especially around snowy mountains, which can easily burn your eyes—this is where sunglasses come in handy. Special attention should also be paid to keeping warm, as the temperature difference between day and night in highlands is extreme. A windbreaker can protect against both rain and wind, and you should also bring a down jacket and down vest because it may snow on the mountains. If you sweat, make sure your inner clothes are completely dry or change into dry clothes before putting on outerwear; otherwise, you might easily catch a cold.

Special reminder: If you’re camping outdoors, always choose an open area—never camp in the woods. The highlands are already oxygen-deficient, and trees compete with people for oxygen at night, worsening altitude sickness. Many travelers have never woken up after falling asleep.

Chengdu, Chongqing, Guizhou, Enshi, and other places are mountainous regions with humid air and many insects. It’s recommended to wear long sleeves and pants, and bring insect repellents such as essential balm or wind oil.

Before heading into the mountains, check the weather in advance, dress appropriately, travel light to reduce load, and wear flat shoes like sneakers, travel shoes, or outdoor shoes. If you’re hiking, it’s best to wear high-top outdoor shoes. Remember to stuff a thickened sanitary pad in your shoes—it can absorb foot sweat and prevent sore soles.

Climbing consumes a lot of energy, and many people experience low blood sugar. Carry some fruit candies and suck on one when you feel weak or dizzy—it will quickly relieve the symptoms. When sweating heavily, electrolytes are lost significantly, 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 to give it a slightly sweet and salty taste.

Special reminder: Climbing often leads to sprains or scrapes, so it’s best to carry red flower oil, band-aids, Bactroban, and Haidikuaifu just in case.

Early autumn is dry, and the climate in northwestern regions such as Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, and Xinjiang is even dryer. When traveling here, be sure to supplement your vitamin intake and drink plenty of water—you should eat 1–2 fruits every day. If you find it troublesome, you can bring a bottle of composite vitamins or vitamin C and take one daily.

In these areas, aside from experiencing dry mouth and tongue, your lips and skin can easily peel or crack. Lip balm is a must, and skin cream and face masks are also essential. Remember, the oilier your lip balm and skin cream, the better. You can also carry a small bottle of olive oil, which is easily absorbed by the skin and very moisturizing.

Special reminder: When staying overnight, place a basin of water in the room or sprinkle some water on the floor to increase humidity—it will make you feel more comfortable.

Bring extra bottled water

In October, the grasslands gradually turn from emerald green to shades of red and golden yellow—the scenery is dazzlingly beautiful. Hebei’s Chengde and Fengning, along with Inner Mongolia, all have Bashang Grasslands, which are over a thousand meters above sea level. The sudden rise in elevation from the plains to the grasslands, coupled with bumpy car rides, can easily cause motion sickness. Chewing some nuts can help you feel more comfortable. The drinking water on the grasslands often has high levels of salt and alkali, which first-time visitors may find hard to adjust to, so it’s necessary to bring some bottled water. Also, don’t rush to “try” local specialties.

Special reminder: During this season, mornings and evenings on the grasslands are very cold, so be sure to bring autumn clothing, sweaters, and outerwear to prevent catching a cold.

Qingdao, Dalian, Qinhuangdao, Penglai, Xiamen, Sanya, and Beihai are all famous coastal cities and popular tourist destinations. The northern coasts are already cold now, so try not to swim in the sea—it’s easy to cramp and have accidents. The southern coasts have strong ultraviolet rays, so it’s best to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 25 or higher.

Coastal cities have plenty of seafood, which must be steamed thoroughly. Before eating, chew a few cloves of raw garlic and dip it in aged vinegar to disinfect, kill bacteria, and prevent diarrhea.

Special reminder: Both seafood and tropical fruits can easily cause diarrhea and allergies, so be sure to pack anti-diarrheal and antiallergic medications in your bag before you leave.