China
Country Overview
China is home to great diversity and natural beauty and of the world’s oldest civilizations. China lies across the majority of Eastern Asia and has enormous influence on its neighbors; many of its customs, writing systems, and religion have been adopted by neighboring Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. The official name of China has changed with each dynasty but since 1949 it has become more closely associated with a communist political system, the People’s Republic of China, as opposed to the previous monarchy.
From the Yangtze River to Mount Huangshan, there are 27 scenic destinations on the UNESCO list of national world heritage sites. Beijing is the capital city of China and is recognized as the educational, cultural, and political center. It is specifically famous as for its temples, gates, art treasures and well-established universities. While Shanghai is the largest center of commerce and finance in mainland China, it is understood to be a more relaxed city with more activities for a younger population. It remains a tourist destination renowned for historical landmarks such as the Bund and the City God Temple.
Culture
While Chinese culture is warm and welcoming to foreigners, there are many differences between Western and Eastern cultures. China is very connected with ancestry and tradition, yet it is home to a booming economy constantly in search of innovation. The Chinese value physical and mental fitness. This can be witnessed in local parks where the elderly practice Tai Chi and locals organize formal board game competitions. Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympic Games, which offered another outlet for locals to express their passion for sports. Many actually believe soccer to have originated in China, but other popular sports include badminton, golf, and martial arts.
Travel Tips
City buses tend to be very convenient and inexpensive in China. In Beijing, for example, there are buses everywhere and you can expect to spend about 1 to 3 RMB per trip. Your fare is paid to a ticket conductor when you are already on the bus, not at the moment you board.
Restaurants are also a unique experience. Besides the obvious difference of using chopsticks, all restaurant meals are shared with your party as opposed to having your own individual meal. There is no tax, no tipping, and no splitting the bill in restaurants. One person in your party should volunteer to take the bill as a Chinese custom strongly discourages “paying your part”. Although many locals do drink the tap water, we recommend that you drink bottled or boiled water only, which is available everywhere.
A fun fact for women is that you might consider buying a parasol. Most ladies in China carry parasols to protect their skin from the intense sun (not to mention that pale skin is considered fashionable).
Regular European (two-pronged) and Australian (triangular-pronged) outlets are what you can expect with 220 voltages so be sure to bring an adapter and converter or buy one locally.
Although China has a relatively low crime rate, petty crime such as pick pocketing is common, especially in tourist destinations. It is important to watch your wallet and purse, especially in crowded places such as train and bus stations, shopping malls and tourist sites. Another potential threat are con artists who may approach you on the street and offer to bring you to places for cheap shopping or exchange local currency for US dollars at a better rate. Often, these con artistes work in groups be careful to treat being approached in the street with caution.
