What is it useful to know for the 1st time visitor in China?

In September 2012 Karen Patrick walked part of the Great Wall of China for Dementia Care.
 

Her story is related in her book 'Scaling the Dragon's Back' which is available from Amazon for Kindle, Barnes and Noble for Nook, on Kobo and for all other formats from www.theendlessbookcase.co.uk

Karen's book is sold in support of Dementia Care.  
   

As I found when I visited China for the first time in 2012 it can be a disorientating and confusing experience for westerners. I found China a fascinating place but visiting is  a complete culture shock.  In this blog I pass on the knowledge I picked up to help you get the maximum experience from your visit.

Getting around

Always carry a card with the address of your hotel or destination clearly written in Chinese to show to taxi drivers or when asking to be pointed in the right direction.  Contrary to what you might imagine English is not always spoken and apart from in Beijing (I did not visit Shanghai so cannot comment) all signs are written in Chinese characters only. 

Communicating

Learn a few words of Mandarin as many as you can, just 'hello' (Nǐ Hǎo 你好) and thank you (xie xie 谢谢) goes a long way.  In the countryside and among the old, I found English is not spoken, so a few words can be useful.  Even in Beijing I found that English was not widely spoken.   Knowledge of some Chinese words was appreciated if the broad smiles I received with my clumsy attempts at the language were anything to go by.

Keep an open mind 

Chinese culture, traditions and way of life are different from those in the west not wrong, just different, in many ways very different.  Be open minded and accepting of different ways of doing things.  Expect spitting and ‘windy pants’ the crotch less pants worn by small children under five so they can wee wherever, including in the street and on the metro.

Going to the toilet

Toilets, which I write about in some detail in my ebook. Let me tell you toilets in China are usually found in a disgusting state; they are yucky and smelly.  You will learn to be quick and to hold your breath, or try to for the duration of your visit.  You will squat even where there is a toilet bowl as opposed to a hole!

Unless in a hotel do not flush toilet paper down the toilet the sewage system is unable to cope with it.  Instead you will find a bin (usually plastic) next to the toilet in which to place the paper.

Always carry tissues with you as more often than not you will find there is no toilet paper.  Also, carry antiseptic hand gel to use to clean your hands as invariably there will be no hand towels or hot air dryers to dry wet hands.

Quenching your thirst

Do not drink the tap water always use bolted water even for cleaning your teeth.  You will find it useful to carry a bottle of water around with you to drink to relieve the dry throat and unpleasant taste left in the mouth from the polluted air.

Eating Out

If you can master the use of chopsticks so you don’t go hungry.  The restaurants I visited during my stay did not have knives and forks.  If you find that you just cannot use chopsticks carry a plastic fork.  If you can master the use of chopsticks this will impress the Chinese who regard being able to eat with chopsticks as quite a skill.

Be sure to bargain

Bargain when shopping, it is expected.  Never pay the first price asked, bargaining is a game, you should expect with haggling to pay 70% less than the original asking price.

Photos

Particularly outside of the cities be prepared to have your picture taken, especially if you have blond hair.  Westerners in much of China are still something of a novelty.  Do not be surprised when a Chinese wants to be in a scenic photo you are taking, best to humour them if this is the case, taking another photo for your memory when they have walked on.

If you have visited China is there anything I have missed that the first time visitor would find helpful?

For first time visitors did you find this article helpful?

Other blogs about China that you may find of interest:

 

Reviews for my ebook 'Scaling The Dragon's Back' at http://kephr.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/reviews-for-scaling-dragons-back.html

My personal reflections of visiting China http://kephr.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/personal-reflections-on-visiting-china.html

25 years on Tiananmen Square remembered  http://kephr.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/tiananmen-square-remembered-25-years-on.html 
 
Seeing the awesome Terracotta Army in situ http://kephr.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/post-trek-completing-my-visit-to-china.html
 

Beguiled and bewildered in Beijing ttps://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8372057388663582475#editor/target=post;postID=7240659667143912295;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=6;src=link