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- Is bike riding a good way of exploring city life in China?
- How do we ensure safety in China?
- How many famous dishes and desserts are on the Chinese menu?
- What services do Chinese hotels offer?
- Is the tap water in Chinese hotels drinkable?
- How do Chinese hotels keep tourists in touch with the outside world?
- Can you give us some tips for shopping in China?
- How should foreigners greet Chinese?
Is bike riding a good way of exploring city life in China?
Like the United States, China is a "nation on wheels" not of automobiles, of course, but of bicycles. Bike riding is, therefore, a good way to explore life in China. Former US President George Bush used to be called "ambassador on the bike" when he served as US liaison officer in Beijing in the 1970s. Bush's biking experience in Beijing may have something to do with his acclaimed knowledge about China.
Here are some tips for biking in China:
1) Ride to the right side of the street; where there are signs for motor and non-motor vehicles, stay in the non-vehicle lane
2) Stop at the line before a red light
3) Carrying a person on the back seat and "hands-free" riding are prohibited. Make a gesture when you want to make a left or right turn
4) Obey instructions by traffic police, and go to the police immediately in the case of an accident
5) Lock your bike during stopovers and leave your bike in a parking lot
6) Try to avert the peak hours of 7:00-8:00 in the morning and 4:00-6:00 in the afternoon when going on a bike tour.
There are many bike rental services in China. Here are the usual procedures:
1) Tourists intending to tour on a bike should go to hotels or travel agencies where bike rentals are available
2) A valid ID, such as a passport, should be presented when renting a bike
3) Rent is calculated on the number of days the bike is used. A deposit is required for each rental
4) Bikes must be returned in good conditions and a refund can be secured with the receipt.
How do we ensure safety in China?
Based on my personal experiences, I recommend the following 20 tips for ensuring safety:
1) Plan ahead
2) Take sufficient money with you, and prepare for all kinds of emergency
3) Take a valid passport and secure a valid visa
4) Insure your life and precious items
5) Check your air tickets and other travel documents
6) Ensure treatment for chronic diseases during the trip
7) Prepare a back-up pair of eye glasses or contact lenses if you wear them
8) Don't take any knife or other sharp tools because they may be confiscated
9) Don't put your home address on the luggage labels lest thieves break in while you are out
10) Tie your luggage tightly to prevent spills
11) Take travelers' checks rather than cash
12) Keep vigilant about your surroundings
13) Keep important phone numbers handy
14) Always lock your room and close windows
15) Don't wear flashy clothes or expensive jewelry
16) Don't lose your keys in public places
17) Bring a map with you when taking a taxi
18) Don't change money with individuals
19) Learn some local expressions, such as greetings
20) Walk in street lamp-lit areas at night.
Above all, of course, it is very important to choose a travel agency and tour guides with a good reputation.
How many famous dishes and desserts are on the Chinese menu?
According to recent calculations, there are 5,000 famous dishes on the Chinese menu. By famous I mean dishes prepared by noted chefs, recorded in history, possessing a reputation and those which have been popular for a long period of time. Home-made dishes are not included.
Imagine how long it takes to taste 5,000 dishes!
There is no data available at the moment regarding the number of desserts. However, an anecdote is illustrative. A Japanese businessman was attending the annual month-long Guangzhou Trade Fair. Each day he went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast and dinner.
"How many kinds of desserts are there in Guangzhou?" he asked the waitress.
"I don't know," she replied.
The Japanese businessman began to eat a dozen different kinds of desserts everyday. But after a month he had not eaten two identical desserts!
You can imagine how many different kinds of desserts that hotel offered, but there is no way of knowing the total number of desserts in Guangzhou and the whole country.
What services do Chinese hotels offer?
Chinese hotels offer internationally standard services. Tourists who have been to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xian note that hotels in these cities match any tourist hotels in New York, London, Paris or Sydney in services and facilities. In a recent poll, many foreign tourists rated very highly services at Chinese hotels.
Take a typical three-star hotel, for example. Services offered by such a hotel will include:
1) All employees wear uniforms which tell of the job and position of the employee
2) All rooms offer room service meals around-the-clock
3) All rooms are equipped with a bathroom with disinfected towels, glasses, soap, bath cream, shampoo, toilet paper, tooth brushes and razors
4) All rooms are air-conditioned, complete with a color TV, telephone, refrigerator and a double curtain
5) The bedroom consists of two single beds, a wardrobe, and a dressing table, with ceiling lamps, bedside lamps and a button for room service
6) The restaurant can hold banquets and includes entertainment facilities such as a bar, ballroom and a karaoke nightclub
7) Post, shops, sauna, fitness, commercial center and beauty parlor are also available
8) Bellboys are available
9) There are attendants for each floor and ushers and waitresses in the restaurant.
10) Internet Access
Is the tap water in Chinese hotels drinkable?
Tap water in China is disinfected and specially treated, but because pipelines are old and water is too hard in some localities, foreigners are not advised to drink tap water. Some five-star hotels, however, may have advanced water-purification facilities and their tap water is marked "Potable." But in most other hotels, don't drink from the tap.
How do Chinese hotels keep tourists in touch with the outside world?
All TV sets in hotel rooms receive international satellite programs, such as CNN, NBC and BBC. You can pick up English and Japanese magazines published in China free of charge at the front desk of the hotel. Newsweek and Time are also available on the newsstand.
You can place international long-distance calls in your room. At the commercial center you can send and receive a telegram, telex or fax. Internet access will also be available from the hotel.
So, wherever you are, modern technology puts you in contact with the rest of the world.
Can you give us some tips for shopping in China?
China is undergoing a transition from a planned to a market economy, and commodities are priced in one of the following three ways. First, fixed prices by the state; second, regulatory prices by the state; and third, market prices. Most of the tourist merchandise falls under the third category of market prices. Therefore, when you go shopping, it pays to visit several shops to get the best price.
Like other countries, China is plagued by shoddy and counterfeited products, especially on street stands. Tourists are advised to make informed choices and shop accompanied by local guides. Also, big department stores and tourist stores designated by the government tend to have better credibility. Also, always ask for a receipt.
If, unfortunately, you have purchased a defective product, you can lodge a complaint with the local consumers' association. The telephone numbers of the associations are listed in local telephone directories. In Beijing, the number is 831-4971.
How should foreigners greet Chinese?
Kissing, whether on the cheeks or on hands, is unacceptable to the Chinese, because it is not their cup of tea. Instead they prefer to shake hands when greeting and meeting. When shaking hands with a Chinese woman, do not hoist it too tightly a light shake of the finger will do the job.
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Besides issuing invitation letter to visitors, China Guide also helps reserve hotel rooms for all guests. Since there is a strong demand for accommodation during the fair, the local hotels often risk an incredible high room rate despite government pricing regulations. Don¡¯t get ripped off by the inflated hotel rate, consult with us now for the proper hotel rate.
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