We can talk a lot about China for a long time. He is different. And he is also different. We will tell you in this article what to be prepared for and what to consider when planning your first trip to this country.
Internet
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The Internet in China is a challenge. Firstly, the internet connection speed is very slow. Secondly, Google services are not available in most of China, including Gmail, Maps, Photos, Drive, Play, etc.; YouTube is blocked accordingly. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are also banned. No access to Dropbox or Flickr. You cannot access many Western news resources, such as Reuters, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. It helps that Yandex, VKontakte and Skype still work.
The problem is partially solved by using VPN services. You can bypass the Great Firewall of China by installing one of the following programs on your phone or laptop:
- Astrill VPN – the service can be used for free for a week;
- ExpressVPN is the simplest (the interface consists of one single button!);
- TunnelBear – stable, efficient, unpretentious;
- HideMyAss – the logo depicts a detective donkey, that says it all (the developers have an excellent sense of humor);
- VyprVPN – the creators claim that this is the fastest VPN.
The Great Firewall of China or the Golden Shield does not cover Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Cellular
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Be prepared for the fact that without a Chinese SIM card it will be difficult. For example, many free Wi-Fi hotspots may require verification via SMS. However, SMS messages to numbers belonging to operators in other countries are not accepted.
There are only three cellular operators in China: China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile. Their branded branches, where SIM cards are sold, can be found in any city or province in China. The cost of a SIM card depends on the set of services provided in the kit, as well as on the digits of the number. The numbers 7 and 8 are considered lucky in China, as they are consonant with the words “happiness” and “wealth.” Therefore, rooms with them are more expensive than others. Numbers with numbers 4 or 14 will be cheaper than others, since these numbers are considered unlucky due to their consonance with the word “death”.
If you need to call another country, you should add two zeros before the phone number. It is better to check the availability of roaming when purchasing a SIM card. If this option is not enabled initially, then you can activate it only through the support service, which is quite problematic if you do not speak Chinese.
Read about how to save significantly on international negotiations here.
Public transport
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In all major cities of China there is a single card for travel on public transport (metro, buses, trams, ferries). The difference from our “Troika” is that it can be used to pay at 7-Eleven and Family Mart stores, as well as at McDonalds, Starbucks, etc. It is very comfortable. Traveling with such a card is much cheaper than using one-time tickets. Before departure, you can return the card, and the remaining money in your account will be returned to you.
Traffic
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Be careful when crossing roads. China has a peculiar driving culture that can be described as complete chaos. And even the zebra crossing does not guarantee you complete safety. In addition, in China, cars are allowed to turn right at red traffic lights. Pay attention to how the locals behave, and remember that it is better to cross the road in a crowd of people.
Smoking
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Be mentally prepared for the fact that smoking is everywhere in China. In restaurants and bars, in nail salons, in hairdressers. Even in elevators.
Grocery shopping
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The unit of weight in China is jin. 1 jin = 0.5 kg. The price of products (vegetables, fruits, etc.) in stores and markets is indicated exactly for 1 jin.
Buying gifts
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Bargaining in China is possible and necessary. This way you can buy the item you like for 40-50% cheaper. This is especially true for street vendors. In general, do not buy souvenirs in China at markets or shops. Prices in such places are usually outrageously inflated. Especially for tea. If you are not ready to waste time and bargain until you are hoarse, visit chain supermarkets, where all prices are fixed and no one will deceive you.
The unit of weight in China is jin. 1 jin = 0.5 kg. The price of products (vegetables, fruits, etc.) in stores and markets is indicated exactly for 1 jin.
Student card discounts
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When purchasing museum admission tickets, always present your student ID to receive a discount. A little trick: if you have not been a student for a long time, try presenting any other document under the guise of a student document that contains your photograph – a license, a work pass or a library card. Since the level of proficiency in Russian (as well as any other foreign language) in China is low, there is a chance to get a ticket at a discount.
Chinese sites
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To buy tickets for trains and buses around the country, try using Chinese websites. You can find better deals there compared to Western ones.
Food in restaurants
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When ordering food in restaurants, keep in mind that portions are large in China. Often, a portion for one can be quite enough for two. If you are not a fan of spicy food, ask for your food to be made “not spicy” (in Chinese it sounds like “bu la”).
Also, always ask for disposable chopsticks. And one more important point: in many restaurants, napkins are provided for an additional (small) fee.
Preview photo: Nahorski Pavel/Shutterstock.com
