1) Bargaining in the markets and with taxi drivers naturally falls on the fingers. The main thing to know is that the Chinese show numbers differently than the Europeans - they show numbers from 1 to 9 on the fingers of one hand, not two.
2) At bus stations and railway stations often nobody speaks English. It is better to write in advance on a piece of paper the name of the destination and the desired time period of departure, this is done using an Internet translator or dictionary. Just get in line at the cashier and hold out a piece of paper. The exact time and price will be shown to you on a computer screen or written on a piece of paper. Of course, they will also be on the ticket - everything is in Chinese:
In this case, March 7, 14 at 15-40, seat 3, bus number K0935, price 17 yuan, goes to Mengla city
The most important words:
Today is 今天
Tomorrow - 明天
day - 天 (order execution time 1 day) or 日 (day of the month)
month - 月
year - 年
morning - 上午
noon - 中午
evening - 黄昏
and cities: Guangzhou (广州), Shenzhen (深圳), Hong Kong (香港), Guilin (桂林), Kunming (昆明), Beijing (北京), Shanghai (上海)
3) In China, there is censorship on the Internet, to the point that messages in in social networks undergo manual moderation!
Facebook and You tube are banned and unavailable, RenRen is used instead of the first, instead of the second Youku. They use the network and WeChat for instant messages. While Google is available, Baidu is far more popular. Vkontakte works without problems.
4) Almost all public toilets will not have the usual toilet bowl. Instead, there will be a floor-standing toilet, familiar to many from our school toilets. You should also carry toilet paper with you. But tourist toilets have a star rating like hotels.
By the way, you should also carry a supply of napkins with you. They are not available in cafes and restaurants, or they are sold for a fee.
5) 4 - purely unhappy, it comes to the point that houses do not have 4 floors.
8 is a lucky number. Phones of large companies often end in eight.
The main Chinese color is red.
6) Chinese is the name of a large group of languages, often mutually incomprehensible. Each city can have its own dialect. The government is trying to lead a campaign to popularize common language- Mandarin or Mandarin. In Hong Kong, Macau, Canton (Guangzhou) and overseas diasporas, the overwhelming majority of the population speaks Cantonese. One good thing is that all dialects use the same hieroglyphs, which, by the way, are partially used in Japanese as well. So the spelling of the words is the same. If true, there are difficulties with the presence of two notation systems: traditional Chinese characters and simplified Chinese characters. If you do not plan to read ancient texts, the latter will be enough for everyday needs.
All this works until you find yourself in areas with Tibetan and Mongolian scripts, Thai-Lao, Burmese or Arabic languages. In addition, in some villages, many people cannot read.
7) The most ridiculous application for the phone is Waygo, which can translate inscriptions on the fly, without the Internet using a camera.
Google maps help you avoid getting lost, and the navigation mode can guide you optimal route on ground transport and say which bus to go where, although the Internet is required.
A SIM card can be purchased with a passport. Mobile Internet very expensive: 300 MB for 96 RMB per month.
Hotels can be booked on booking, but local players give better prices, it is worth comparing on RoomGuru
8) A couple of years ago, there were a lot of counterfeit 100 yuan bills in the south of China. Until now, in any store, such bills are carefully checked. Crooks can try to replace your real bill and return the counterfeit to you, they say best protection from this, jam a corner or fold it so that crooks would not have the opportunity to repeat the same thing with a fake quickly.
For the same reason, when paying in a taxi, transport cards are handed over in a case - there is no possibility of a quick change to another card with a zero balance.
9) By the way, about transport. Buses are entered through the front door. Payment at the entrance either by a transport card, or in cash without deposit in a special box. The fare can be fixed or staggered. For example 1 or 2 yuan in Kunming depending on the type of bus. The exact value can be seen on the money drawer, though in Chinese: 一 元 (one yuan) or 二元 (two yuan). While in Hong Kong, you need to check the fare from stop to stop in advance at a stop, or if you use a transport card, do not forget to re-lean it at the exit, otherwise the maximum fare will be charged.
In addition, transport cards can often be used to pay in stores and to enter museums and parks (for example, at 7-11 and McDonald's in Hong Kong)
10) It is very expensive to wash things in hotels. Street laundries are not easy to find, but dry cleaners can sometimes be found. For urgent orders there is usually a double mark-up. You can also stay in an apartment - there is almost always a washing machine, and powder can be bought at the nearest store.
Experienced Sinologists are encouraged to supplement the story in the comments. Indicate your travel experience or life in the country.
You can talk about China for a long time and a lot. He is different. And he is also different. What to be prepared for and what to consider when planning your first trip to this country, we will tell you in this article.
Internet
Photo: Shutterstock.com
The internet in China is a test. First, the internet connection speed is very slow. Secondly, in most of China, Google services are not available, including Gmail, Maps, Photos, Drive, Play, etc .; YouTube is accordingly blocked. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are also banned. No access to Dropbox or Flickr. Many Western news sources such as Reuters, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg are also not allowed. It saves that Yandex, Vkontakte and Skype still work.
The problem is partially solved by using VPN services. You can bypass the Great Chinese Firewall 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 a single button!);
- TunnelBear - stable, efficient, unpretentious;
- HideMyAss - a detective donkey is depicted on the logo, that says it all (the developers have a great sense of humor);
- VyprVPN - The creators claim to be the fastest VPN.
The great Chinese firewall or "Golden Shield" does not cover, and.
cellular
Photo: Pixabay.com
Be prepared for the fact that it will be hard without a Chinese SIM card. For example, many free Wi-Fi hotspots can request verification via SMS. However, SMS to numbers belonging to operators in other countries are not accepted.
There are only three mobile 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 of 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. 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 cost less than the others, since these numbers are considered unlucky due to their consonance with the word "death".
If you need to call another country, you must add two zeros in front of the phone number. It is better to check the presence of roaming when buying a SIM card. If this option is not enabled initially, then it will be possible to connect it only through the support service, which is rather problematic if you do not speak Chinese.
Read about how to significantly save money on international negotiations.
Public transport
Photo: Shutterstock.com
In all major cities in China, there is a single map for travel by 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 single tickets. Before departure, the card can be returned and the money remaining on the account will be returned to you.
Road traffic
Photo: xuanhuongho / Shutterstock.com
Be careful when crossing roads. China has a kind of driving culture that can be described as complete chaos. And even "zebra" does not guarantee you complete safety. In addition, in China, cars are allowed to turn right at a red light. Pay attention to how the locals behave, and remember that it is better to cross the road in a crowd of people.
Smoking
Photo: Vadim Petrakov / Shutterstock.com
Be mentally prepared for the fact that people smoke everywhere in China. In restaurants and bars, in nail salons, in hairdressing salons. Even in elevators.
Buying groceries
Photo: vichie81 / Shutterstock.com
Buying gifts
Photo: Marisa Estivill / Shutterstock.com
Bargaining in China is possible and necessary. Thus, it will be possible to buy the thing 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 tend to be overpriced. 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 for sure.
The unit of weight in China is jin. 1 jin = 0.5 kg. The price of food (vegetables, fruits, etc.) in shops and markets is indicated exactly for 1 jin.
Student card discounts
Photo: ostill / Shutterstock.com
At the time of buying entrance tickets always present your student ID to museums to get a discount. A little trick: if you have not been a student for a long time, try to show under the guise of a student any other document that contains your photo - a license, a work pass or a library card. Since the level of proficiency in Russian (like any other foreign language) in China is not high, there is a chance to get a ticket at a discount.
China and now a socialist state East Asia... It ranks third in the world, second only to Russia and Canada, in terms of its territory. A people with a peculiar mentality and customs. With all that said, we recommend that you learn more about the peculiarities and traditions of China before you set off on your trip.
Climate and weather in China
Located on an area of 9.6 million square meters. km of our planet, China summarizes seven climatic zones - from subtropical in the southeast to sharply continental in the northwest. At the same time, there may be - 40 in one part of the republic and +40 in the opposite.
China is characterized, first of all, by monsoon rains and a pronounced change of seasons. In winter, China will greet you with regular northern winds with light rainfall, and in summer - heavy rains with frequent southerly winds.
Seasoned visitors to China advise newcomers to tourists to visit the Middle Kingdom in spring and autumn, given that in the hot summer, hotels in China are overflowing with tourists.
However, no matter when you decide to visit China, stock up on an umbrella, bring warm and comfortable clothes with you if you suddenly decide to go to the mountains and take comfortable walking shoes.
Monetary unit of the Chinese people's republic- yuan. In common use banknotes are 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan, there are also 10 and 50 fen, and also coins 1, 2 and 5 fen and 1 yuan. One dollar USD = 7.5 yuan.
The pioneering tourist has a question: how much money do you need to take with you? There is an answer! If you are traveling from a tour operator, then the main expenses, as a rule - breakfast, dinner and accommodation, are already included in the price of the tour. The rest of the costs - travel (3-10 yuan at a time), favorite street food (from 10 to 20 yuan), drinks (on average 4-20 yuan), seafood (60 yuan) and more - depend on your choice, on average from 50 to 100 RMB per day. If you are not limited in finances, then we advise you to take with a margin, at the rate of 100 dollars. USA for one day, in the case when flights and accommodation have already been paid for.
All cash payments in China are made in local currency. You can exchange funds either in the main branches of the national bank, or in hotels (you can have a passport with you to travel abroad). In hotels, money will be exchanged for you exactly at the official exchange rate. We recommend keeping the receipt for currency exchange until the end of the trip. If the time of your vacation in China has come to an end, and you have not fully spent the yuan you have, you can exchange them back for the cash currency that you need, upon presentation of a certificate confirming the exchange of foreign funds for Chinese yuan. The certificate is valid for 6 months. The exchange is carried out at the branch of the state bank at the international airport.
Not to worry about the exchange Money on the territory of a foreign country, tourists in China are advised to transfer the required amount in advance into the required currency. The ideal ratio is 60% in yuan and 40% in US dollars.
A lot of important tips for tourists in China, which relate to the choice of food and water. The food in China is very varied and exotic. However, it does not always have a high level of clean cooking. Therefore, in China, tourists are advised to visit proven Chinese restaurants, which your guide will tell you about, or to eat at the hotel.
Tourists are advised to use bottled water for drinking, or from thermos that are located in hotel complexes.
Due to the unusual and specific food, gastric disorders are common among tourists, so be sure to take the necessary medications with you.
Another feature of Chinese catering that a tourist in China should know about is that the concept of "portion" does not exist, hence the advice: do not panic, but knowing that they are big enough here and you can order for one, but you can eat two.
Due to the busy traffic here, our tips for tourists to use by public transport in China. In addition, international driving licenses are not valid here, so car rental here is only possible with a driver.
Metro is the cheapest and safe transport... At the entrance to the metro, you need to select a station and the machine will indicate the required amount for travel. Keep the ticket until the end of the trip. The metro runs frequently and clearly, in contrast to land transport that can get caught in rush hour traffic jams.
Buses tend to be overcrowded and less comfortable. Although traveling with this particular transport, you will see China as it is, as the locals see it. If this is the purpose of your visit, we advise you to travel by bus.
Taxis are comfortable and affordable transport in the big cities of China. They are waiting for you at the hotels, they can be called by phone or caught on the street. Payment is made by meter and the cost of 1 km ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 yuan. In the dark, the tariff can be increased. If you are visiting China for the first time, we recommend using these types of transport.
What to bring a tourist from China
China will greet you with a large selection of different goods and souvenirs. However, we advise you to bring from the Middle Kingdom, something that will transmit the atmosphere of the culture of a mysterious country for a long time. Of the Far East... Take with you beautiful china, cups, chopsticks, fan, scroll cases, jewelry boxes. China is also known for its excellent tea and silk.
In state stores and shops, the cost of goods is fixed, but do not forget to bargain in the markets.
As a rule, antiques are sold in state stores, but they are expensive. The markets will most likely offer a fake, if you are not an expert, it is safe to say that you will not notice it. Recommendations - don't take risks.
The selection of souvenirs in China is very large, although these are not always high-quality goods.
- photography is prohibited in temples;
- if you carry valuable things with you, be careful, there is a problem of petty theft in China. Identity documents can also be of value to thieves;
- Bring cash with you. You can pay with a credit card mainly in Beijing, banks and large department stores; for Russian speaking tourists
Before traveling to any country, tourists are asked typical questions about how much money to take with them, whether vaccinations are needed, whether to take medicines, etc. And if with European countries everything is more or less clear, then the distant and mysterious China raises many times more questions.
Tickets and visas
The most convenient way to get to China from Russia is by plane. From Moscow to Beijing are carried out regular flights without transfers lasting about seven and a half hours. The cost of economy class round-trip tickets per person is about 20 750-0_bgblur_000 rubles. Flights to Hong Kong are also made from Moscow, and the travel time is ten hours. Direct flights have been established between the Chinese capital and such Russian cities like Irkutsk, Novosibirsk and Vladivostok. From these Siberian cities, you can also get to the less popular Dalian, Shenyang and Urumqi. In addition, two trains run from Moscow to Beijing every week - one via Zabaikalsk and the other via Ulan Bator. Get to China by railroad can be done in about six days. As for the CIS countries, as of the beginning of 2750-0_bgblur_014, there were no direct flights to China from Belarus and Ukraine - many airlines carry tourists with one or two transfers via Dubai, Astana, Rome, Istanbul.
Russian citizens can rest in China without a visa only in Hong Kong, provided that their stay there does not exceed 14 calendar days. To visit the rest of China, you need to apply for a visa by submitting documents to the embassy in Moscow or the consulate in Irkutsk, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk or St. Petersburg. The average visa processing time is one week, but documents can be processed even faster upon presentation of an air ticket and paying an additional commission. It should be borne in mind that the package of documents is quite extensive and they are very attentive to their verification. However, there are a number of indulgences - for example, tourists who go to bask in the sun on the island of Hainan as part of tourist group, a visa is not needed for up to 14 days. In Macau, a visa can be issued at the border, and in Beijing, Dalian, Shanghai and a number of other cities, Russians can transit without a visa for up to 72 hours. However, on the first day of stay, the tourist must register with the local police.
Health and safety
In addition to buying tours and applying for visas, many tourists who are going to China are seriously wondering about the necessary vaccinations, and especially after some time ago in the Middle Kingdom there was an acute issue of the bird flu epidemic. As of spring 2750-0_bgblur_014, there was no mandatory vaccination required to visit China. However, doctors advise to get vaccinated against typhoid fever, hepatitis A, tetanus and diphtheria. In addition, those who enter China from regions with cases of "yellow fever" need a certificate that confirms the appropriate vaccination.
Regardless of the vaccinations made, in China it is recommended to follow some safety rules so as not to jeopardize your health. The first of these rules concerns drinking water. In China, drinking tap water is strongly discouraged. Worth or buy bottled drinking water or use an electric kettle or a thermos that is in every, even the most budget one, Chinese hotel... As for the quality of food, then, as experienced travelers in the Middle Kingdom say, the most delicious food here can be treated not in tourist areas, but in those places where excursions do not lead and where the locals eat. More often than not, such establishments turn out to be small, not too tidy cafes by the road. It is obvious that the sanitary condition of such establishments is not always at the proper level. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid such places, and if you really want something exotic, then experienced travelers advise in such cases not to neglect the local strong alcohol "for disinfection." More traditional advice is to take from home necessary medications just in case. Special restrictions on import medicines in China, not if these drugs are not narcotic or psychotropic.
Especially carefully you should collect your first-aid kit for people suffering from diseases of the lungs, respiratory organs and different kinds allergies. The fact is that in China they do not particularly care about the environment and even outside the city the air cannot be called clean and fresh. As for big cities, the sky is often covered with smog, and the smell of burning is clearly felt on the streets - which is why many Chinese wear special masks that cover their mouth and nose, or simply tie half of their face with a scarf. It should be added that in China, smoking is allowed almost everywhere - this cannot but please smokers, but it gives little pleasure to the rest, and especially to those suffering from pulmonary diseases.
As far as safety is concerned, the advice here is pretty familiar and traditional. Valuables and money should not be left in bags and suitcases, but in safes in the room or at the hotel reception. Before traveling to China, it is recommended to make copies of your foreign passport and write down the telephone number of the Russian consulate in case of unforeseen situations. In the event of a domestic conflict situation, for example, with controllers in transport, one should say the word "budun", which means "I do not understand." This often helps, and tourists are left alone even if they did something wrong.
During excursions, shopping and walking around the city, you should always have a hotel business card with the address written in Chinese... It is worth remembering and understanding that knowledge of English, French and other European languages will not help when traveling to China. Outside major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, no one here speaks English, even hotel employees in most cases do not understand even a couple of words in English language... Trying to reproduce Chinese names and pronounce phrases on your own will also be useless, since there are many dialects in the country and even local residents do not always understand each other. In addition, each Chinese word can be pronounced with different intonations that change its meaning. It is also not worth waiting for help from taxi drivers in China - outside of big cities, they generally prefer not to mess with incomprehensible foreigners, even if this foreigner shows the hotel business card and the place he needs on the map. That is why it would be better to first get into the car and after that hand out the address to the driver, ignoring his protests and exclamations, politely but insistently demanding to go to the specified address.
What to take with you to China
When going on a trip to a distant and mysterious China, you should take with you such necessary items as sunglasses and sunscreens, a first aid kit with a minimum set of medicines (broad spectrum antibiotics, antipyretic and pain relievers, allergy remedies, for gastrointestinal problems, etc.). and hygiene products, as well as comfortable clothes and shoes and a phrasebook. With its help, you can communicate with the Chinese, showing the necessary hieroglyphs. As for clothes, it is difficult to advise something here, since, for example, most women take with them, even on a week-long vacation, almost their entire wardrobe. The only thing worth remembering is that, even going to hot regions, it will not be superfluous to grab at least one set of warm clothing (windbreaker, jacket, sweatshirt and jeans), a hat and an umbrella. An evening outfit in case of visiting a restaurant with a dress code will not hurt. You also need to take care of comfortable shoes in advance, especially if you are planning long excursions or hikes. It is better to stop the choice on durable sneakers with non-slip and grooved soles.
As for the amount of money required when traveling to China, this moment is very individual. Someone needs $ 50 per day, while for others, $ 5750-0_bgblur_00 will be right next to it. In general, China is considered an inexpensive country, but only if you do not go to museums and do not visit attractions. Here you can live in inexpensive hotels and spend no more than 7 US dollars (about 250 rubles) for lunch, but the main funds will go on excursions. In China, the entrance to the museum costs from 5 to 15 US dollars (180 - 540 rubles), in National parks- 50 dollars (about 1 8750-0_bgblur_00 rubles), and in churches, which are also paid here, - 2 - 10 dollars (72 - 360 rubles). In order to roughly calculate your spending, you should know that a taxi costs 3-10 yuan per trip (17-60 rubles), street baked goods and sweets - 10-20 yuan (59-118 rubles), wine about 20 yuan (118 rubles), beer - 4 - 6 yuan (23 - 35 rubles). All this can be spent about 50 - 1750-0_bgblur_00 yuan per day (approximately 296 - 590 rubles). If there is an opportunity to take more, then with a paid hotel it is worth taking with a margin - at the rate of 1750-0_bgblur_00 US dollars (about 3 6750-0_bgblur_00 rubles) per day. As much as possible, you can take with you up to 3 750-0_bgblur_000 US dollars (approximately 108 750-0_bgblur_000 rudders) without documents and certificates and up to 10 750-0_bgblur_000 dollars (approximately 3 6750-0_bgblur_00 750-0_bgblur_000 rubles) with entry into the declaration. As for the currency that should be taken from Russia to China, it is recommended to transfer the entire amount in dollars or yuan. The ideal option would be to carry 40% of the amount in dollars and 60% of the amount in yuan. By the way, it is worth keeping in mind that currency exchange checks in China are best kept until the end of the trip. In China, you can pay with plastic cards only in shopping centers, hotels, restaurants and boutiques in major cities.
And finally ...
China is truly amazing, unique and amazing the country. However, going here on vacation, you need to be prepared for the fact that this country is strikingly different from Russia and European states... Every day here you will come across things that, to put it mildly, shock a person with a traditional European perception. It is not worth focusing on this and showing local residents your surprise, discontent and similar emotions. We are talking, for example, that the Chinese are very fond of high volume. In China, it is customary to speak loudly, shout, sing, honk and swear. In addition, Chinese citizens often and a lot sing - they do it wherever and whenever they want. Here you can meet the singing residents in shops, in transport, or just on the street. An unpleasant shock can cause untrained tourists and such things as, for example, the absence of the habit of covering your mouth or turning away when coughing and sneezing - this is simply not accepted here. In China, in general, it is very easy to treat any physiological manifestations. An example of this is small children who relieve themselves everywhere and admire their "works". However, if we ignore such things and try not to pay attention, then a trip to China will become one of the most memorable adventures.
