March 1, 2007
It depends on what part(s) of China you will be visiting, but the most general advice I can give to anyone is, “Learn Chinese!” It’s really hard to get by in most parts of the country without speaking their language (or having a local friend to translate for you).
Using Skype (an internationally popular instant messenger program) is a great way to make new Chinese friends before you get there. In case you’re concerned at all about hygiene, I’ll warn you that bathrooms in China almost never have toilet paper, soap, or paper towels, so it’s a good idea to bring enough from home to hold you over until you can get to a store. In general, always carry tissues & soap if you care to wipe & wash.
Smokers light up EVERYWHERE, including on public transportation and in restaurants. It is against the rules on busses and trains, but they do it anyway and none of the natives complain – they just sit quietly suffering. I managed to enforce the no smoking rule on one 4-hour bus ride and also in some train cars, but I wouldn’t necessarily advise other tourists to do the same.
Between November and March, you will want to bring plenty of warm clothing (unless you’ll be in southern China) because it might be hard to find clothing your size in stores and the Chinese typically do not use heat. If it’s cold outside, it will be cold inside too – in homes, apartments, stores, schools, and restaurants alike.
It’s a good idea to get maps from home to bring because it’s not always easy to find them in China and even less likely to find them printed in English there. You can find some for free in the Chinese Consulate where you’ll get your visa and you can buy others at bookstores. AAA doesn’t carry any maps for Asia – bummer!
People’s Bank (and I’m sure others) has a checking account with 3 free foreign-bank-ATM transactions per month, so you might check the policy with your banks or open an account at People’s to ensure you’ll be able to access your money while abroad. And of course take note of your card’s logos so you can spot them by the ATMs in China. Credit cards are not accepted in all areas, so cash is necessary. Besides, credit card companies will invariably charge a few % for $/RMB exchange.
Lastly... Water is always served hot in China unless requested otherwise, so be careful taking that first sip. I’ve been to Beijing, Xi’an, Wuhan, Wangqiao, & ShenZhen and might be able to provide additional info or suggestions for visiting those places upon request. Happy travels!
Using Skype (an internationally popular instant messenger program) is a great way to make new Chinese friends before you get there. In case you’re concerned at all about hygiene, I’ll warn you that bathrooms in China almost never have toilet paper, soap, or paper towels, so it’s a good idea to bring enough from home to hold you over until you can get to a store. In general, always carry tissues & soap if you care to wipe & wash.
Smokers light up EVERYWHERE, including on public transportation and in restaurants. It is against the rules on busses and trains, but they do it anyway and none of the natives complain – they just sit quietly suffering. I managed to enforce the no smoking rule on one 4-hour bus ride and also in some train cars, but I wouldn’t necessarily advise other tourists to do the same.
Between November and March, you will want to bring plenty of warm clothing (unless you’ll be in southern China) because it might be hard to find clothing your size in stores and the Chinese typically do not use heat. If it’s cold outside, it will be cold inside too – in homes, apartments, stores, schools, and restaurants alike.
It’s a good idea to get maps from home to bring because it’s not always easy to find them in China and even less likely to find them printed in English there. You can find some for free in the Chinese Consulate where you’ll get your visa and you can buy others at bookstores. AAA doesn’t carry any maps for Asia – bummer!
People’s Bank (and I’m sure others) has a checking account with 3 free foreign-bank-ATM transactions per month, so you might check the policy with your banks or open an account at People’s to ensure you’ll be able to access your money while abroad. And of course take note of your card’s logos so you can spot them by the ATMs in China. Credit cards are not accepted in all areas, so cash is necessary. Besides, credit card companies will invariably charge a few % for $/RMB exchange.
Lastly... Water is always served hot in China unless requested otherwise, so be careful taking that first sip. I’ve been to Beijing, Xi’an, Wuhan, Wangqiao, & ShenZhen and might be able to provide additional info or suggestions for visiting those places upon request. Happy travels!
my first meal in China (Hongxing...
Chinese taxi in Beijing
Wan, Xiaozhe Cao, Evans, & a Wan...
Evans using spotlight for warmth...
Professors Liu & Evans teaching ...
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