| Laws & Customs In China: What should a tourist know? | |
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| Nov 7, 2007 12:15 |   |
| guest33109 | I'm considering a trip to visit China after many years of admiring it's land and culture from a distance. I am applying for my passport, and need to know everything I can about China's current laws & customs so I can have a good visit with a warm welcome back to China should I visit again. Thanks for any and all help. |
| Nov 7, 2007 19:51 | #1 |
 | GUEST33109 , Welcome to China! There are some "travel essentials" at this website. I have browsed some of the inforfation. Very useful, you can have a try. Here is the link: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/ Below the item "Pre-Trip Planning" is "Customs Declaration". Have a good trip! |
| Nov 7, 2007 20:08 | #2 |
| GUEST65156 | As a tourist, you shouldn't need to know about any laws - just stay out of trouble and you'll be fine. As for customs, well they vary hugely from region to region, but unless you are invited as a guest to someone's home, then you really don't need to worry. Just abide by the usual rules of travel anywhere - don't take photos of people without their permission, don't believe anything anyone says if they are trying to sell you something or are offering a service (they will want paying), don't believe anyone who approaches you saying they are an English student and they want to practice their English (the truth is they are a sales person and after 10 minutes or so will try to sell you something, or will distract your attention while someone else robs you). Learn how to recognise fake money because it is everywhere, and foreigners are the obvious people to give it to. When you hand over a 100 or 50 yuan note to a shop keeper or in a restaurant, make sure they don't switch it for a fake one and then try to return it to you. If someone such as a waiter or waitress in a restaurant insists on taking it away to be checked, then make a note of the last 4 digits of the serial number. People will try to switch it all the time. Be alert for pick pockets. Never fall asleep on a train or a bus if you are travelling alone. If you do, you will wake up without your belongings! There are many professional thieves who work on the trains and buses. They have drugs which they will spray under your nose once you are asleep to ensure you don't wake up while they go through your pockets. All this sounds terrible, but it is a fascinating country with many kind and welcoming people. The undesirable ones are in the minority, but unfortunately, they are the ones you are most likely to meet. The Chinese people are generally shy with strangers, so if they approach you be cautious. However, if you approach them, then most are very happy to talk to you or help you. Always bargain hard. As a foreigner you will already be offered a price about 200% of that offered to a local, so halve everything as a starting point. Learn these phrases "Bu yong" (Boo-yong = Don't need), and "tai gui le" (Tai-gway-ler = too expensive). The best way to travel around China is by train. Always do long journeys (more than 6 hours) overnight by sleeper train, and travel in HARD BED class. The beds are not actually hard at all, and this class is reasonably safe as you will share a cabin with 5 other people (just pray you don't get a loud snorer!). Never travel in hard seat class (they really are hard!), and only travel in soft seat class if you want to be really uncomfortable and get your belongings stolen. Soft bed class is the same price as a plane, and you'll be stuck with boring business men who have no interest in conversation. Hope that helps? |
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