Traveling to China - Advice?

[JohnnyB]

If you plan on going to a fake market in Shanghai or Beijing you should download something like the Shanghai Fake Market app. It will tell you the prices you should be able to get for most things as well as give you reasonable advice about bargaining.

I would also get an app for tracking air quality. There are a number of these for both iPhone and Android. They will give you an idea of what you may expect in large cities for air quality. Beijing has had horrendous air quality over the last year with the AQI getting as high as 900 (30 times recommended levels). If you plan to do a lot of activity outside you may want to bring a mask.

There are also apps for the subway system in Shanghai and Beijing so that you can have a convenient map with you if you travel this way, though in truth you may prefer to take a taxi just for how it will allow you to view the city. There is lots of interesting architecture and impressive views to take in.

In Beijing and Shanghai you will find that it is not so tough to get around without Chinese. The foreign populations in these two cities are huge and in many of the places you are likely to be staying or eating you will find people have enough English for you to get by. If you're dining on the lower end however or more local style people won't speak much English, but most places have menus with pictures.

Be cautious about what you eat while you're here. The crazy inflation has lead to many pressures on people resulting in all kinds of questionable food practices and ingredients. I used to be comfortable eating in lots of different places in Shanghai and enjoyed street side stalls often, but I virtually never do anymore because of all the nasty stuff that has become more and more common (from serving cat meat to cooking with second hand oil fished out of sewers and drains). Food and drink are unreliable here and there is little to protect consumers, so it is worth being cautious. Hell, Shanghai has had 7000 dead pigs pulled out of the river that supplies 25% of our water here in the last week and the count is still going up.

In tourist areas it is common to encounter very friendly people who 'just want to practice their English' or some such thing and will offer to show you around or have dinner. These people are almost always scam artists who are employed to bring tourist business to restaurants or tea houses which will then charge the tourist many, many times the value of what they have been served. Don't trust these people at all. A good friend of mine who lives near People's Square here in Shanghai used to take it as a civic duty to inform tourists he saw being duped of what was going on until a number of guys found him in his neighborhood and explained to him that they knew where he lived and that he needed to stop interfering. The police supported these guys when he went to them about it in his neighborhood.

The recommendation about carrying wet naps or tissues with you wherever you go is excellent. If you do not, it is likely you will regret it at some point on your trip.

Getting to some places outside of the big cities could be interesting for you. Yangshuo, or somewhere else in Guilin province or in Yunnan province down in the southwest would show you some very beautiful sides of China. A trip to Huangshan would also be worthwhile and is only about 5 hours from Shanghai by bus. It is like being in a classical Chinese water color mountain landscape. Closer to Shanghai you could also make an overnight trip to Moganshan. Or stay a couple of nights. It's a beautiful place not too far from the city that you could recognize scenery from as it is where the bamboo forest fight scene in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was filmed.

Anyways, do bring some stuff like Pepto with you and exercise caution about where and what you eat and drink so that you don't end up losing days of potential fun on account of having China-belly. There will still be much for you to enjoy.

Finally, don't be afraid to assert yourself. People will try to cut in front of you in lines or push past you frequently. There is nothing wrong with getting a shoulder/elbow in or otherwise using your hand to gently guide someone out of your way if need be.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

There is nothing wrong with getting a shoulder/elbow in or otherwise using your hand to gently guide someone out of your way if need be.

[GomerPile]

Taking advantage of a 10hr layover in Guangzhou and getting a transit VISA. Basically I want to take public transit somewhere, eat some good cheap eats and buy a cheap gizmo. I've traveled enough to be aware of the scams etc etc.

So - Any suggestions on an area of the city to head to?

[Wormius]

Other notes from my experiences there:

On restrooms - find any North American chain restaurant, the restrooms are excellent and usually well-maintained.

On being a pedestrian - Watch yourself. You are at the bottom of a long totem pole. Cross streets with the herd and be vigilant. You'll usually be safe, but drivers will want to cut it close.

[Harju]

Its been mentioned but it cannot be emphasized enough that you should not go to any tea ceremonies with the young woman or guys that ask you. If someone suggests going somewhere for coffee or drink or something to eat, you choose the place. They will probably decide they have something else to do.
My favourite is a day hike on the Great Wall (it truly is great).
For the Great Wall avoid any of cheap tours as they are shopping tours where you will be expected to spend as much time in shops as at the wall. There is a greatwallforum.com that used to have all the latest information. Haven't visited it lately though.

[Badabing]

Few areas to consider would be the Haizhu District, Tianhe District, Beijing Pedestrian Street, and Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street.

The Haizhu and Tianhe districts are both quite developed - good for sightseeing, good if you want to go to supertall building observation decks (Canton Tower is in the Haizhu district), but definitely not good for cheap stuff.

Beijing and Shangxiajiu are both recommended areas for me. Both relatively short walking streets with markets that are quite bustling.

Beijing Street is more touristy, similar to Times Square. Lots of big screens and flashing lights, popular area for foreigners, with a lot of knockoff goods that are slightly overpriced.

Shangxiajiu Street is similar to Beijing Street in that it's a walking street with lots of knockoffs, but that's about the end of the similarities. Much more authentic, lots of locals, not a whole lot of English. Slightly cramped, but definitely an interesting experience in my opinion.

All of these areas are pretty easy to reach via the metro system. Chinese metro systems are stupidly efficient and effective.

[worth]

Wangfujing: scorpions on a stick. Delicious. Seriously.
http://strattondelany.tumblr.com/pos...-a-delicacy-in

[normtwofinger]

The Simatai portion of the wall is crazy. I felt like an 80 year old man due to the elevation and smog poisoning the few days before.

Be prepared to cough up a lung in Beijing. Smog is insane. But you'll fit right in spitting on the streets with everyone else.

[Knalus]

An interesting place in Guangzhou is Shamian island. Funny when you realize it's like a reverse chinatown in a chinese city.