In China, several sites we take for granted in the rest of the world are complete inaccessible:  Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are all blocked from within China.  But does this mean they are missing out?  Check out this infographic showing all the neat social networks in China and judge for yourself:

No matter what SIM card you get, make sure it’s the right size if you have an iPhone 4, as the iPhone 4 and 4S both require micro-SIM sized cards.  Alternately, you can Google how to cut down a standard SIM card to fit a micro-SIM slot.

If your phone is locked, none of this will work until it is jailbroken, and then unlocked. You can do this yourself by reading up on the Web.  Otherwise, you can easily go to any electronics market in China to have your iPhone jailbroken and unlocked for you for a fee. Be aware that Apple does not support unlocking your phone,  and doing so may void your warranty.

These are just some of the steps you can take to get your iPhone ready for a trip with you to China.  Once you have all of that done, start looking for apps that will be useful to you while you are there.  There are plenty of apps that can help you recognize Chinese characters (useful in translating information on signs) and find good places to dine, or where to catch public transportation.

We hope this article has been useful.  Please leave us comments if you have additional suggestions.

The music and market culture of minor villages is what really caught my attention though. handmade dolls that would rival any thousand dollar piece at a shop sold for less than a days ration yet they wouldn’t accept any more than the price. The families that would open their home to you, a complete stranger other than a small greeting earlier, and share a meal with you took my heart away. I tried to stay away from the modernized world while I was there because while I’m sure it is amazing; it was China’s roots that I wanted to see. Where the people came from and how some were trying to preserve that. Mentioning the last statement in one of the small villages will get you instant approval from just about everyone. It was unbelievable just how intriguing they were to me and how intrigued they were by me. A constant curiosity by the kids greets you every where. I’m truly looking forward to going again.

Take a few steps off the beaten path and journey further away from civilization in China and you will be greeted by magnificence.

The Chinese language is among the world’s most difficult to learn to use with any degree of proficiency, despite the fact that it is spoken by more people than any of the other languages in the infographic below.  Basically, if you are going to China and you want to be able to communicate with Chinese people in their own language, you will need, according to this info, more than one year of practice to get that good at it. Better start learning now!

Otherwise, you can always pick a country with an easier language to visit from the graphic below.  Of course you would be missing out on some truly amazing stuff.  Here goes:

You can learn even more about China on Satellite Television Channels in your area.

• The Bund in Shanghai is an elegant stroll along the Huangpu River.  It is constructed of colonial style architecture that stands out against the skyscrapers.
• Caohai Lake in the Guizhou is where many people experience China’s varied life of birds in a fun way.
• In the Changbai Mountains is an important nature preserve which is home to the rare Siberian Tiger.
• Confucius Mansion remains the site of what once was home to nearly eighty generations of the great sage’s family.
• The Forbidden City in Beijing was once the center of the Chinese imperial world and was off limits to the public, but can now be enjoyed by all.
• Great Wall of China — need I say more?  This is a famous destination in China that most people are well aware of, but its beauty never fails to inspire.
• In Guangzhou, Guangdong, the finest of the classic Cantonese breakfast dim sum can be enjoyed.
• At Mount Heng is a temple that clings to a precipice and some grottoes containing Buddhist statuary — you know it as the The Hanging Temple.
• Datong, in Shanxi, is a renowned Buddhist location for the famous Yungang Grottoes nearby.
• Hong Kong, as a city, and especially the skyline of Hong Kong Island from Tsim Sha Tsui, is one of the most beautiful scenes in all of China.
• The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival features ice and snow sculptures, life sized buildings and castles, and ethereal lighting for an otherworldly experience.

Do yourself a favor and plan a trip today, and if you need help locking down your home while you are away, consider a home security system.

If you’re worried about getting to the destination and not knowing enough history or getting confused, don’t stress.  A museum was built on the site promptly after it was discovered and there is plenty of helpful information to guide you along the way.  The life size terracotta figures of both warriors and horses are arranged in various battle formations and are replicas of what the Emperor’s imperial guard looked like during that era.  Covering over 16,000 square meters, the museum is divided into three sections, each containing a variety of different figures, horses and chariots and a command center of forces for the deepest protection.  Each of these sections, No. 3 Pit, No. 2 Pit and No. 1 Pit were opened at different times in the history of the museum since they were discovered and analyzed subsequently.  The No. 1 Pit is the largest and contains column after column of glorious soldiers backed by war chariots to fend off evil spirits.

I was stunned to learn that there are over 7,000 figures total and even weapons were uncovered.  It sounds like such an astonishing number but it has even more of an impact when seen in person.  You will be amazed at the detail that went into each and every piece and the stature of these warriors makes them seem intimidating even when made out of terracotta.  I couldn’t help but wonder how many peasants and slaves must have contributed to the design and construction of this army and how much time it would take to make this sort of thing a reality for the Emperor.  Not only was he trying to succeed in the after life, but he was showing his status and power in this life, something that still amazes us to this day.  If you are touring through China, you must make this a must see destination since I have yet to encounter another sight with more historic intimidation and power.