A Personal Guide On Traveling In China

1. Traveling in China
旅行在中国
Authored By: Lucas Blaustein 罗宝亮

2. 中国欢迎你 [Welcome to China]
● China is the world's most populous nation, with over 1.3 billion people.
● It is the third biggest nation by territory.
● The Chinese economy is the world's second largest and growing.
● It has the oldest culture in the world - China is a civilization state.
● It is composed of 92% ethnic Han Chinese.
● Only 590,000 foreigners live and work in China.

3. 打包 dă bāo Pack Bag
1. 1 Roll of Toilet Paper
● Toilet paper is not present in most
washrooms.
● You need one roll to get to China.
● You can buy more in China.
2. Medicine (unopened)
● Cold & Flu Medicine / Pain Reliever
/ Stomach
● Everyone gets sick in China.
● Buying medicine in China is difficult.
3. 2 Packages of Baby Wipes
● The cloth helps get the dirt off your
hands.
● It's better than hand sanitizer.
● You can buy more in China.

4. cont'd.
4. Deodorant 8. Cash to Exchange at Airport
● It's a foreign concept. Gasp now. ● All purchases in China use cash.
● Most ATM cards work in China,
5. Good Walking Shoes but you will still need cash to
● If you have big feet, finding make your initial purchases.
footwear in China is hard. ● Your bank may even have a
partnership with a Chinese
6. Comfortable Clothing company that will wave ATM
● China is hot! fees. i.e. Bank of America is
partnered with China
7. A Security Belt Construction Bank.
● China is very safe, but all
foreigners are required by law to
carry their passport. You need
someplace safe to store it.

5. cont'd.
9. A Guidebook 11. Laptop
● Eyewitness Guides and Lonely ● Bring a case.
Planet are the best.
● Lonely Planet makes city 12. Smartphone / iPhone
guidebooks. ● Download Pleco, it's a free
● Guidebooks are nearly Chinese dictionary.
impossible to find in China - ● Add on all the free word banks.
don't leave yours on the plane Then purchase the optical
from Korea like I did! character recognizer.
● This allows you to hold your
10. Wall Socket Converter phone's camera up to Chinese
● China has similar voltage. characters for immediate
● Check your device, but most translation. It will save you much
appliances will work with a indigestion in restaurants.
simple wall plug converter.

6. cont'd.
If traveling extensively:
13. Wet Weather Wear ● hand washable clothing
● A jacket will suffice. ● an excellent backpack
● Umbrella vendors appear the (I recommend Pacsafe)
second it rains. (It's magical.) ● small local gifts for new foreign friends
● vacuum bags
14. Personal Items
● This includes a favorite teddy
bear, prescription medication,
contact solution and lenses,
glasses, etc.

7. Do's and Don'ts of packing:
● Do make a list.
● Don't bring an extra bag for
gifts. Buy one there.
● Do check everything twice.
● Don't pack more than you alone
can carry.
● Do bring a nice dress or suit.
● Don't wear it everyday.
● Do buy a phone in China.
● Don't use your domestic phone
in China.
● Do ask friends for advice.
● Don't listen to everything they
say.

8. 吃饭 chī fàn Eat

9. Wash Everything Do Not Refuse Food
It is customary to wash your China has suffered famines
plate, chopsticks, and glass every year for nearly two
with hot tea when offered. thousand years until the
mid-20th century.
Wash every piece of
produce like your life Food isn't just something
depended on it. Don't buy you put in your mouth, it is
produce whose skin cannot culturally ingrained
be removed. sustenance. It matters.
A lot.

10. Eat At Established Restaurants No Open Alcohol
When traveling alone or with other Bars and Clubs add dangerous
foreigners look for places that have concoctions to mixed drinks. Stick
lots of people. Follow your to local beer.
guidebook.
Vegetarians Beware
The Chinese populace is generally
the best gauge of food safety. China is not vegetarian friendly.
When you don't have food you
Do Not Trust American learn how to cook something like
Food Chains bamboo.
McDonald's of China has had
widespread issues with food safety.
Do not think hamburger equals
safe!

11. Recommended dishes:
1. Sweet and Sour Pork
táng cù lǐ jǐ 糖醋里脊
2. Kungpao Chicken
gōng bǎo jī dīng 宫宝鸡丁
3. Dumplings and Steamed Buns
jiǎo zǐ / bāo zi 饺子／包子
4. Fried Duck 5. Hot Pot
kǎo yā 烤鸭 huǒ guō 火锅

12. 旅行 lǚ xíng Travel

13. Train huǒ chē 火车 Taxi dǎ dí 打的
Tickets are hard to come by. Buy in Taxi drivers will try to rip you off. Tell
advance. them to use the meter.
Sleeper cabins are a good way to Negotiate beforehand, and always
spend the night and save on a hotel pay the negotiated amount.
cost. Get the middle bunk.
Hotel jiǔ diàn 酒店
Plane fēi jī 飞机 Hostels are the best place to stay in
China. Every hostel is state
Plane tickets are cheaper in China. sponsored. Chinese hostels are often
Check local sites like elong.cn for 4 star hotels.
good deals.
Join Hosteling International,
discounts are often given.

14. 文化 wén huà Culture
Hello nǐ hǎo 你好
The Chinese are a very polite people.
Always be respectful.
You will be regularly greeted by
China is American deficient.
strangers. They may ask you if you've
eaten, this is not an invitation to eat,
You will be regarded as an
but an expression of concern for your example of your nation, its
well-being. culture, and its people - in
this age of growing
Bargain kǎn jià 砍价 strategic distrust,
be a good ambassador.
Bargain when you can. The item is
worth 10% of the quoted price, start
there. But, you cannot bargain
everywhere.

15. But Most Importantly, HAVE FUN!
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