You can talk about China for a long time and a lot. He is different. And he is different. What to be prepared for and what to take into account when planning the first trip to this country, we will tell in this article.
I want to go to China!
Internet
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The Internet in China is a test. Firstly, the speed of the Internet connection is very slow. Secondly, in most of China, Google services are not available, including Gmail, Maps, Photos, Drive, Play, etc.; Accordingly, YouTube is also blocked. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are also banned. There is no access to Dropbox and Flickr. You can not go to many Western news resources, such as Reuters, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. It saves that Yandex, VKontakte and Skype still work.
The problem is partially solved by the use of VPN services. You can get around the Great Chinese Firewall by installing one of the following programs on the phone or laptop:
- Astrill VPN – the service can be used for free for a week;
- ExpressVPN-the easiest (the interface consists of a single button!);
- Tunnelbear – stable, efficient, unpretentious;
- Hidemyass-the logo depicts a donkey detective, this says it all (a great sense of humor for developers);
- Vyprvpn – Creators claim that this is the fastest VPN.
The Great Chinese Firewall or the Golden Shield does not cover Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Cellular communication
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Be prepared for the fact that without a Chinese SIM card it will have to be difficult. For example, many free Wi-Fi access points can request verification by SMS messages. However, SMS are not accepted for numbers belonging to operators of other countries.
There are only three cellular operators in China: China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile. Their branded departments, where SIM cards are sold, can be found in any city or China province. The cost of a SIM card depends on the set of services provided in the kit, as well as on the numbers of the number. The numbers 7 and 8 are considered happy in China, as they are consonant with the words “happiness” and “wealth”. Therefore, numbers with them are more expensive than the rest. Rooms with numbers 4 or 14 will cost cheaper than the rest, since these numbers are considered unhappy because of the consonance with the word “death”.
If you need to call another country, add two zeros in front of the phone number. The presence of roaming is better to clarify when buying a SIM card. If this option is not turned on initially, then it will be possible to connect it only through the support service, which is quite problematic if you do not speak Chinese.
Read about how to significantly save in international negotiations here.
Public transport
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In all major cities of China, there is a single map for travel by public transport (metro, buses, trams, ferries). The difference from our “three” is that it can be paid in 7-Eleven and Family Mart stores, as well as in McDonalds, Starbucks, etc. It is very convenient. Trips on such a card are much cheaper than on one -time tickets. Before leaving, the card can be handed over, and the remaining money will be returned to you.
Road movement
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Be careful when crossing roads. In China, a kind of driving culture, which can be characterized as complete chaos. And even Zebra does not guarantee you complete safety. In addition, in China, cars are allowed to turn right into the red light of the traffic light. 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 morally prepared for the fact that in China they smoke everywhere. In restaurants and bars, in manicure salons, in hairdressers. Even in elevators.
Buying products
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A 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 for 1 jin.
Buying gifts
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It is possible and necessary to bargain in China. Thus, it will be possible to buy a thing you like 40-50% cheaper. This is especially true for street merchants. In general, do not buy souvenirs in China in the markets or in shops. Prices in such places, as a rule, are shamelessly overstated. Especially for tea. If you are not ready to waste time and bargain to hoarse, visit network supermarkets, where all prices are fixed and no one will deceive you.
A 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 for 1 jin.
Student tickets
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When buying input tickets to museums, always present a student ticket to get a discount. Small trick: if you are not a student for a long time, try to present any other document under the guise of a student, where there is your photograph – right, working pass or library card. Since the level of ownership of the Russian (like any other foreign language) is low in China, 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 sites. There you can find more profitable offers compared to Western ones.
Food in restaurants
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When ordering food in restaurants, keep in mind that there are big portions in China. Often, portions per one may be enough for two. If you are not a fan of acute, ask for food to be made “not spicy” (in Chinese it sounds like “bu la”).
In addition, always require disposable sticks. And one more important point: in many restaurants, napkins are provided for a separate (small) fee.
Photo on the preview: Nahorski Pavel / Shutterstock.com
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