Beijing Travel Forum

This summer I'm trying to decide where I'd like to travel next, and I've boiled it down to two options: China or India.
I left college to write and save some money to travel, so I'm planning on staying in either one for about a month and a half, before I enroll back in school. I figured I'd see what you guys had to say. I'm only 21, and I've decide to step up the travels this time around in a place where I don't speak the local language.
Here's the considerations I'm giving 'em:

1. I like cheap traveling, which is good because I don't have much money. I'm ok with hotels if they're relatively cheap, but I usually stay in hostels so I can meet folks easier. I'm worried the prices in Beijing may be too high when I get there, since I'll be there from around the very beginning of July to the middle of August. Does anyone know the price ranges going on over there now?

2. If I go to China, I'll probably just stay in Beijing. In India, I'd probably travel around. Don't know why-- just figure if it's Beijing, I'd like to get to know it well. My thoughts on this city are the language and the pollution. I figure I can get by with a very elementary grasp of China ('Hello!' and 'Where the hell am I right now?'), but I thought I'd double-check on the other, though it seems people who travel there enjoy it enough to overlook this one fault.

3. The culture. Really, I think I'd be equally happy in either area, so that's a mute point and about equal.

4. Possibly teaching English. Now, I don't speak Chinese, but I know others who have done freelance stuff with individuals wanting to practice English. It'd be great to get a little cash while there so I don't go broke, but I'm curious about working restrictions and actual availability of something of that nature.

My initial plan was to stay a few weeks in Beijing, then catch a plane out of China and spend a few more in India, yet I'm thinking that's gonna turn out to be more than I can afford. On the other hand, I don't really know the rates of the flights in China. In either case, I think it's basically these two options.
So, I'd like to hear all of your cases, whether for one or the other, based on what you know about the place specifically.

Thanks!

Hi SkyJoiner - one of your considerations might be weather. July and August are smack in the middle of monsoon season in India. I would not recommend traveling here during that time (you wil get some who disagree with me). India is much nicer at other times of the year. If not for the weather, I would choose India over China (although I haven't been to China yet) just because it is so unbelievably different. It is cheap to travel here (or can be if you are a budget traveler). Most people that you will encounter speak a little or a lot of english or you can communicate through a good game of charades. Working here however would be tough without a work visa. Happy Travels!

Sky, travel within China is indeed cheap compared to us here in the US.
It is one of the least expensive places, other than Thailand, which we have found.
Beijing, due to Olympics however, is likely to have increased *some*...still way cheaper.
Food is readily available from vendors and markets as are inexpensive budget travel hostels and hotels to meet all your needs.

We were there in June and it was hot but gorgeous.
Pollution is definitely a big problem in Beijing but, we've seen worse. Cairo for instance was the worse we've traveled in.
We did not suffer the respiratory problems we did in Egypt.

Language was never a problem for us in China. I wish people would grasp (unless you've been there before it can seem intimidating) how friendly the Chinese people are and how willing to communicate they truly are.
A smile, gestures, pointing, broken English..we never had trouble understanding.
Additionally, there are students and young people all throughout who are quite fluent in English!!! You'll be just fine.

Culture is AMAZING!!! Read up on a lot of the history, take the time to devote to those things you really want to learn about.
I think you're wise to spend quite a bit of time in Beijing. Most people (ourselves included), do a quick stop. It deserves so much more.
Get to know it's history, food, customs, etc.

I'm not sure about the work permits or, requirements. You can probably google that.

Travel throughout China was indeed innexpensive. We averaged about USD $60.00 between cities and got to fly to Xian, Guilin, Shenzhen.
If this is too expensive for you, you can always take the train. This is how the Chinese travel and you can book for just a few dollars.
My suggestion: Try to get to know more of China...travel to different cities as they are so entirely with their own flavor!

Best of travels my friend,
Homer

Great! Thanks you guys. I was worried about the prices for the Olympics, but it does makes sense it'd still be very cheap, and I guess leaving Beijing is a really good suggestion. And I utterly forgot about the monsoon weather. Well, I guess China it is, and I'll try to get a train, or even plane if possible, and explore some. India'll just have to wait another year or two.

Do consider that the Olympic Games in Beijing take place from 8 to 24 August, so the city will be crowded, and in the time before and after the Games many people will travel in China.

Apart from that, I am sick of seeing what is happening in China, with thousands of people getting evicted from their homes every week to make space for the Olympics, and litterally living in the streets. I would rather support the Dalai Lama in Índia.

Well, that's a fair consideration, and one which I've thought about. My concern lay more with the recent Tibetan protests, and of course I'm aware about the role others want China to play in Sudan's conflict. Yet, as far as evictions go, India has also had its fair share of things of that nature in different forms and fashion. All countries have, at different times. And the Olympics are more an actual hindrance to me, since I really just want to visit China in and of itself. As far as China's policies go (thinking of both what you mentioned and in a broader context), there are many of my own nation's policies and foreign affairs I disagree with, yet I still would not discourage anyone of another nationality from visiting and traveling here.
But we'll see. I still have to actually raise the money anyhow.

Oh, I agree with you on that. However, I will be back in the US when you have a new president LOL

Hi, welcome to China.
With reference to your worries, I'd like to share the advice with you.
(1)the accommodation problem:It is true that finding accommodation in Beijing has never been easier – but make sure you are quick! When millions of people will descend on Beijing , and if you want to be well placed to get to the action, book ahead using HiHomeChina.Com.If you are interested in it, please view:http://world.hihomechina.com/beijing
(2)For the language problem: maybe it is not very common for some English-speaking foreigners in China.Our Chinese people have to learn English and now many of them can communicate with foreigners,even good at that. And in fact, you can use the gesture to show your idea. That must be a good time for you to learning.
(3)Try to talk to the young people, because most of the young people can good at English. So maybe you can find the interpreter easily. And some people like to be volunteer, so you can make advertisement on that things.
Good luck to you and hope you can have a good time in China.