Going to China?

  If you are going to china, then you are in for an interesting time! Depending on the purpose of your travels, you will experience different things about china. For example, if you are a business person looking to develop your business in china, you may find it a paper factory of duplication and hard times, but if you go as a tourist you may enjoy the culture of the elders and get a giggle from the attempts of modern society to westernize their society. 

 I just came from wandering through southern china for the previous three months, and look forward to going again soon in the future.

 I landed in shanghai at pudong airport, went through medical (IR scanned for extra heat) and hand in form, go to immigration, get my passport and visa checked. Then collect bags and go through a non-existent border control (walk through a gate). Then was in china. It was simple and I had a harder time travelling in north america, going to china.

 The first day of your travels should be planned out - Suggest you use google earth to track your path by adding maps for the subway lines, a general idea where things are. Shanghai is a fairly large city, with about 20 million people (including migrant workers). Something to remember, shanghai is the name of the area, there are little villages or districts which are throughout shanghai area which is a total of 6,340.5 square kilometers. Determine what route is best to get from the airport to your hotel or hostel. The maglev train is not bad if you want to be simple though it can be costly(40 rmb/5.87cdn/3.81eur) and take more time, depend on your final destination. Depending on your arrival a bus maybe a good option at about 12 rmb, but you have to figure out which bus to take, and where your stop is. There is no guarantee that you will find an english speaker at this point. For about 120 rmb you can take a taxi to your shelter, but if he or she can get away with it, they may attempt to charge you a higher price.

 When you go to china, people will tend to see you as a big ball of money. The average yearly income of people in shanghai is 5,596 rmb or 820.60 cdn/534.25eur. So really you are, because even if you have 1000 dollars in your pocket, you have more money then a majority of the population. This is a result from the currency exchange value of the rmb to foreign currencies, which is 6+ times over. This includes your purchasing power, which for you can be a great benefit, especially because the cost of living is so low, in comparison to places in north america and europe.  Unfortunately, with this wide gap between the haves and the have-nots (this time you are the haves), this tends in societies to caused people to turn to crime or to attempt to exploit your ignorance for their benefit. As a foreigner you can almost guarantee that people will attempt to add up to 80% more to the cost of products and services. They believe that they can get away with it, and often work together to scam the foreigner. So what can you do? Learn to bargain! Learn the actual value of things in china, so they do not rob you blind. (even though the robbing will only be 10 rmb, or 5 rmb, they will try it. Even if they agree with your price, make sure they give change - best to count out in coins! At most markets they will have a calculator that you can punch numbers into.

Price for a bottle of coke (600ml - yes, not 591ml!) about 1.50 rmb in a grocery store (Not allowed to bargain here). In a cheap restaurant 3-5rmb. In an medium level restaurant 25-45 rmb, and in an expensive restaurant 80 rmb. A five star hotel averages at 35 rmb.
special note: coke in china has no fuzzy and is a weak taste. (as chinese prefer teas)

 Learning some mandarin can surely help, but remember depending where you go in china, they may not speak mandarin. Or if they do, their dilect may not make sense to you, and to them, they will not understand you.

Useful words:
Ni Hao ma (knee how ma?) - Hello
Xie Xie (she she) - Thank you
Xao xin (shao shin) - caution/beware
bing - cold - no cold beverages in winter (who would need that?)
marlboro-io (Marlboro) -evil cigarettes: 14.50 rmb average, 8 rmb is decent too - though watch out for fake cigarettes - non of the flavour, non of the nicotine.

 Food in china is absolutely wonderful. Get away from eating fake vegetables from greenhouses, to eating freshly picked and hopefully clean environments. If you are not a coward in china, you will enjoy some of the most yummy food you will have in life. It is a good to not ask what is in the food, just try it and enjoy it - later you may be upset with the reality, but at the moment, it will taste divine!
 I did not think a cup full of eyes with coconut milk would be appealing, but as it turns out I drank my fill! I saw foreigners going into western restaurants such as mcdonald's and kfc(chinese health officials report that the reusing of the oil causes cancer) but I never did this. I did go to a pizza restaurant from england or spain, but to me that is foreign too. Also on occasion found an indian food restaurant, as indian food is also very good. Really, you will have no problem finding what you will want to eat, there are many many restaurants in shanghai! Check out, http://www.sherpa.com.cn/, for a list of restaurants that can be delivered to your door.
 A note about restaurants: They generally close at 9pm, as the chinese people leave to go to the bars and ktv clubs or home to sleep.

Zongzi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zongzi). Meat or vegetables coated in Sticky rice and compressed with a lotus leaf. The ultimate convince food. Eat hot or cold.

 Chopsticks, you will be expected to not know how, but if you have practiced a little, it will go along way to impress your hosts!

 Chinese people, are warm, gentle and thoughtful people in general. Some of the most generous people, I have found in china, but I have also met some people who are attempting to gain a leg up in life by some dishonest and highly capitalistic practice, to even being aggressive to you.Many people will approach you for money, but if you give you can not guarantee you are helping them. There are many organized scammers on the street of shanghai, wishing to get hold of your ball of money. But do not let them bother you, if you truly a pity a person, you may give, but if others see you, many people will flock to you, to ask for money. Children will try to rob you, especially in areas with many tourists. It is best to avoid these areas and explore the parks of shanghai, which can tell you alot about chinese culture, more so then the cities and the tourist spots.

  In general, if you are open minded and able to adapt to change, you will find china a fantastic place to explore and maybe even to live. If you are not open minded, and do not adapt, you will be happy when your trip is over.