If you’ve read my previous blog, you know my next trip was going to be really far. And I don’t mean “Bratislava from Košice” kind of far. I mean China. That far. I had never flown that far in my life. Never even been that far from home. And let me tell you – it was worth every bit of it.
But wait – how did I end up there? How did this whole thing even start? And why the heck did I decide to go?
It was early September 2024. I had just finished summer, passed my final exams in May, worked my butt off all summer long, my bank account was smiling, and my brain… completely fried. I needed to get away. So I texted my usual travel buddy Rolo (you can find him on Instagram HERE) that I’d found cheap tickets to Istanbul.
Originally, I wanted to go solo – to some Arab country. But my parents gave me a solid NO. So we said: alright, back to basics – a classic Istanbul weekend. We’ve done it before – 3 to 5 days, walk the city, eat kebabs, admire some mosques, maybe even grab a fake Rolex.
Istanbul didn’t work out, but then came an offer you can’t refuse – China.
Rolo’s first reply kind of killed the vibe. He texted me saying he couldn’t really travel right now. Why? I won’t get into the details. Let’s just say – he couldn’t. Alright.
So I started looking up some solo destinations in Europe – maybe Portugal, maybe Greece. I was already getting used to the idea of a chill solo trip. Just me, my backpack, and some sun.
Then, 2 to 4 days later, out of nowhere, I got this message from Rolo:
“Hey Hugi, I found some amazing tickets to Shanghai. Wanna go to China?”
And I’m like: “Bro, you couldn’t even go to Istanbul…”
But hey – as Peter Pellegrini (Slovak PM) once said:
“What we scratch together, is what we have.”
So we started looking into it – checking the dates, the prices, and the most important question: How do you even get into China?
Step one: visas. (Yup, at that time, we still needed them.)
And that’s where it all began. Maybe you know, maybe you don’t – but if you want to visit a country that requires a visa, you first need booked flights and accommodation.
And that’s just the beginning… more on that in a second.
From Shanghai to the Great Wall of China
Once we agreed we were going to China, the next question was: What exactly do we want to see there? And of course – the Great Wall of China came to mind right away. I mean, if you’re flying halfway across the world, why wouldn’t you want to see one of the most iconic landmarks on Earth?
But here’s where it got tricky. The Wall doesn’t even go near Shanghai. The most accessible parts are actually near Beijing, the capital. So we launched a little investigation: how do we get to Beijing?
And guess what – we found the perfect flight deal. On the site Pelikán, there was a round-trip ticket to Beijing for just €399, including 20 kg of luggage. Jackpot.
We felt instantly relieved. No time to waste – we booked it right away. And here’s the funny part: the website had an option to apply an ISIC card – a student ID that gives you discounts in various places.
Now technically, I wasn’t a student anymore (it was already September, summer break was over). But I thought – why not try it anyway, just for fun?
And guess what? It worked. I got €25 off just like that. Tell me – who wouldn’t take that?
How it worked – before the visa rules changed
When we set off on our Chinese adventure in September 2024, the rules were completely different.
Slovak citizens still needed a visa to enter China.
Our routine looked something like this:
- Flight tickets + hotel bookings – without those, there was no chance of getting a visa.
- Fill out the online application through COVA (China’s official visa platform), where we had to include:
- length of stay (from – to),
- cities we planned to visit,
- passport details,
- purpose of visit (e.g. tourism),
- contact info for the hotel or host.
After submitting the application, we paid the fee, booked an appointment at the Chinese consulate, and waited. Usually, you could pick up your visa within a few days – and that’s exactly how we did it.
Without this step, there’s no way they’d let us in.
🆕 No More Visas – Effective from November 2024
As of November 8, 2024, things have changed dramatically:
Slovak citizens no longer need a visa to enter China! You just need to meet a few conditions:
- Allowed purposes of stay: tourism, business, family visit, or transit
- Maximum stay: 15 days
No need to apply for a visa in advance, send any forms, or visit the consulate.
Upon arrival, you’ll face the usual customs questions – be ready to show proof of travel purpose, itinerary, accommodation, and possibly a few supporting documents.
This visa-free entry is valid until December 31, 2025 – making the journey to China for Slovaks smoother than ever. No more border hassle.
How We Did It (Back When Visas Were Still Required)
At that time, we used the COVA portal (cova.mfa.gov.cn), where you:
- register,
- fill in your travel details,
- upload your passport,
- pay the application fee, and
- wait for approval.
When Online Isn’t Enough – The Visa Marathon to Bratislava
One major downside of the whole process? You couldn’t complete it entirely online. Even though we had carefully filled out everything through the COVA website, we still had to print it out and bring it in person to the Chinese Embassy in Bratislava. And that only during very specific office hours – which seem designed for people who live in the capital… not for us from Eastern Slovakia.
So what did that look like for us, folks from Poľov? Alarm at 4 AM, jump in the car, coffee in hand, and drive across the whole country. The goal? Make it to the embassy during their opening hours and submit all the documents we had prepped in advance – including our passport and the printed visa application.
We were joined by another traveler – Rolo’s sister – so now there were three of us planning a China trip. We aimed for the turn of September and October, an ideal time when it’s not too hot but not too cold either.
We arrived at the embassy, slightly stressed (as usual), and went in to submit the papers. And then – the hiccup. We had everything – except for one thing that no one had ever mentioned: a printed copy of the passport.
Classic. Nothing about it online, nothing in the email, nothing in the application – but of course, they asked for it. So… cue a little panic.
When Your Photo Fails at the Consulate and You Can’t Stop Laughing
So, we had a good laugh at the Chinese consulate. No printed copy of the passport? No problem – we photocopied it there for a few cents. The issue? It came out completely black, like we were ghosts from the afterlife. When we handed it over, we couldn’t stop laughing – like, this is how we’re going to China? There were cameras watching us, but at that point, we didn’t care. It was a stand-up show, for free.
Then suddenly, the consulate worker looked at us and said: “Something’s not right.” We were like, what now…? And then she said: “The photo’s not acceptable – it needs a white background.”
Well, we thought it was white. We took the picture against a wall at home. But apparently, it wasn’t white enough. So, if you’re applying for a Chinese visa, I highly recommend using a tool like Remove.bg to clean up the background and make it a nice, crisp white. Otherwise, you’ll look like you’re applying from a haunted house.
Then they asked for our passports – and told us they’d keep them. Just like that. When we asked when we’d get them back, they said a week later, or a few days, depending on processing time. We had submitted everything on a Monday, so we had to go back the next Monday. Another round trip to Bratislava. Across Slovakia’s wonderful highways. Classic.
When we got there, everything went smoothly. They returned our passports, and inside was a glued-in Chinese sticker– the visa. It looked like something between a national ID card and an invitation to a Huawei job interview. All Chinese characters, a photo, and a few random details. Like a passport – but in Mandarin. And let me tell you – it was totally wild. If you’ve ever had a similar visa, you know exactly what I mean.
The Start of the China Adventure
After two round trips to Bratislava just for the visa, we finally set off on our journey to China. From Budapest Airport, we flew to the city of Shenzhen (some people call it Kanton, but that’s a bit mixed up), where we had a short layover – only about an hour and a half. Online check-in wasn’t available, so we had to do everything at the counter – but it all went smoothly, including baggage check and getting our boarding passes.
The flight was seriously long – at least eight, maybe even nine hours. But I have to admit, the food on board was surprisingly good – we got both breakfast and lunch, and even a free drink. That’s more luxury than I get in my kitchen on a Sunday. When we landed in Shenzhen early in the morning, we were greeted at passport control with the usual flood of questions – where are you going, how long are you staying, what do you want to see? We showed our passports, and everything went fine. Though I did wonder to myself – which date actually counts as our entry date if we flew overnight?
Luckily, we made it in time for our connecting domestic flight to Beijing, which took about three hours – kind of like flying from Dublin to Košice. And guess what? We got another meal. After landing in Beijing, we headed for the metro, where we used a special app for public transport for the first time – but I’ll tell you more about that later. We made it to our hotel, which was part of a well-known international chain, so we could enjoy some multicultural breakfast and a bit less cultural shock overall.
What you’ll need for China, which apps will save your life, and how we survived our first day with jet lag – I’ll tell you all about that in the next part. So don’t forget to click follow on Instagram and sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss a thing!
Cross your boundaries – that’s where the treasure you’re seeking is hidden.
Flying Easterner
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