Ask HN: Traveling to China for the first time. Would love some advice
Went for 3 weeks as tourist and after typing this up it looks like I need to make a blog post.<p>For #1, unless something changed they allow chain hotels and some other big chain spots to get through it. I had no problem using any services, google, yahoo, etc at those locations. There was a couple of hotspots we went to where it would block you but I just connected to my work&#x27;s VPN that runs in the States. Hopefully you are not going to China to use the Internet, you can survive without it for 2 weeks.<p>You can download google translate for offline translations. Have used this for Mandarin, Spanish and Italian and works great. One thing to know though is China has lots of different dialects, some of them are similar (like Mexican Spanish vs Puerto Rican Spanish) but others are quite different, to the point of someone that speaks mainland may not be able to communicate with someone from this other village or coastal town. In the big cities you mentioned this should not be a problem (I went all over so had some problems a few times).
Learn things like thank you, water, bathroom, food, train, yes, no and you can survive almost anywhere. Since you are going for work you will probably have other people around you that know the area, language, good spots, places to avoid, etc.<p>Before you go, I would ask your company: is there going to be a translator, driver, guide? Drivers and guides can be had for cheap.<p>---#4---
You can not miss going to a mall there. Hear me out, a mall is like its own self contained city. 5+ stories. Has everything from food, to tech, to salons, clothes, etc and it is absolutely humbling, amazing, wonderful and fun to walk around, window show, or actually shop.<p>The food. I ate better the 3 weeks I was there than anywhere else I have ever been. Go to hot pot (pay by the hour!). Go to dim sum. Eat vendor food. Find a place and have pigeon, real peking duck (where they cut it and serve it at your table for you), and jelly fish.<p>Find a fish &#x2F; sea market. I went to one where quite literally you could not see the ends of the thing from where I was standing because it was so long (and well yes there was smog).<p>If you can find any sort of palace (aka mansion &#x2F; estate) I would highly recommend it.<p>The obvious tourist traps are obvious for a reason, The Great Wall, Forbidden City, etc.<p>--#5--
Unless you get some Yuans from your bank at home don&#x27;t both with conversion services, just go to your bank in China or any ATM. If you use a credit card and they ask you if you want them to change the charge to USD for you the answer is always no (they charge a fee and conversion is not always accurate) - use this anytime abroad. Also make sure your CC has no foreign transaction fees and you call them and your bank to let them know where you will be so they do not block your card.<p>EVERYTHING is negotiable. But be aware once you show the cash or order the item the deal is locked. See something you want to buy? Point to it, and ask &quot;how much?&quot; or just shrug and they will barter with you by trying to speak, (unless you don&#x27;t look like them) then they will write down a number on their hand or a piece of paper. You take the pen, mark thru the number and write your own number. Back and forth until you come to agreement. Circle the number and make sure the seller agrees, then you pay and get your item.<p>Bring a roll of toilet paper with you.<p>Make sure you have all your shots.<p>Do not make yourself a target (ie dont wave money, dont wear shirts that say &quot;im a dumb american&quot;, don&#x27;t walk alone down a dark alley at 3am).<p>Cash (and gold) is king.<p>Keep a copy of your passport back at the hotel. (some say keep the copy on you and real one at hotel but in a pinch your passport is the most powerful document you will ever touch, read the &quot;to whom it may concern&quot; to understand the power of it).<p>Do not use your hands to touch food.<p>If you have a weak stomach I would suggest training yourself by eating raw sushi.<p>Do not ask what you are eating until after you have had 2 bites.<p>Most meals are family style, get over it and enjoy the best way to eat.<p>Hope you like tea. If you pour yourself some make sure to top off your neighbors (don&#x27;t ask, just do).<p>Use chop sticks before you go. They will try to offer you a fork behind your back but show your fearless chop stick skills; even if they are bad.<p>You can STAB and SCOOP with chopsticks, it is kosher I promise.<p>I was told that using your personal cell phone on China Cell was a bad idea as a non-resident by someone I trust. We bought burners at the market outside the airport.<p>Obviously bring a camera and take pictures but don&#x27;t <i>focus</i> on taking pictures.<p>You drink 1 (maaaaaaaybe) 2 beers and thats it.<p>A smile is universal.