- Important phrases to learn by heart: “meiyou” (haven’t) and “bu zhi dao” (don’t know), “bu yao” (don’t want) and “ting bu dong” (don’t understand). And of course it won’t hurt to know words like “ni hao” (hello) and “xie xie” (thank you).
- Patience! Don’t be disheartened if things don’t go as fast and the way you want them to. Queues can be long and when you get to the front, the stressed lady may just say “meiyou” and push you to the side, so you can start queuing again. Communication might require a big portion of creativity and tolerance as well as time. Products might have to be bargained for and different foods tasted rather than asked about too much.
- China is huge. Don’t underestimate its size when planning a trip. It’s best to leave some room for spontaneous changes. Getting train tickets can be difficult at times and you might be too worn out to travel on another long distance bus. Take your time, go slowly and try and explore the Chinese countryside too. The cities have a lot to offer, but they will zap your energy without you even noticing.
- Don’t be put off by the Chinese table manners. Allowed are (in most cheap eating places): spitting, talking on the phone, throwing bones to the floor, talking loudly, shoveling food into your mouth at fast speed and smoking. And beware, Chinese never hang around once they have eaten.
- There is always hot water in flasks available where ever you go in China, even on trains.
- Public toilets in China are often out of this world!
- Tipping is not (really) allowed. Often, the waitress will hand you the money back, embarrassed, if you try to tip her/him.
- There is no such concept as privacy. At least not the way we are used to. Personal questions will be thrown your way shamelessly, you might be stared at (always friendly) and photographed endlessly.
- Find the child in you and join the Chinese. They are a nation of fun loving, easily excitable, often laughing people. If they seem unfriendly at first, they are actually mostly not, they are just worried about the language barrier or don’t know how to handle a “long nose”.
- Last but not least, if you don’t feel comfortable to organize your first China trip by yourself (or you don’t have time to do so), you can always go through a competent agency. At the Outside Inn we have worked with Sabine from Munich and can only recommend her China tours sincerely.
