Dealing with altitude in China

Coming to high altitudes? Then take care, as coming up to the high parts of Yunnan, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu or the TAR may cause you a few headaches.

The best way is to take it slowly. But sometimes if you are travelling, you might fly from sea level to more than 3300m in a day. Over 2500m, many people will experience some form of altitude sickness, or at least have a little adjustment period.

What to expect? Headaches, feeling sick, feeling tired.

What can you do? Oxygen in canisters might help. Resting and drinking lots of fluids is what you should do. If after a day you are still feeling bad, consider taking Diamox or the Tibetan herbs like Hong Jian Tian (rhodiola). Or if symptoms persist, consult a healthcare professional and consider going to lower ground.