Have you been to China?

Question

I've been longing to visit Beijing for quite some years.
But I haven't got the chance. What is your impression of China? Have you ever tried Chinese food?

Answer 1

I went to China year before last (I'm from NZ). It was one of the best experiences of my life. I was there three weeks, most of the time in Shanghai but I caught the overnight train up to Beijing and stayed there five days. I went there by myself and it was just so cool. I was surprised by how familiar it felt even though it so very different from what I know. As a female traveling alone I can say I didn't feel unsafe once. I got to climb the Great Wall and did the Forbidden city, summer palace etc; all organized through the awesome (and very cheap) hostel I stayed at. I enjoyed my time in Shanghai more. It was more 'user friendly' I think. I don't speak a word of Chinese and I got by just fine. The food was awesome. I have a few acquaintances there that had me in the right restaurants and they blew my mind (I work as a chef). I tried a few street food stalls but after seeing a guy drop food on the ground then wipe it off with a dirty old rag and putting it back on the stall I steered clear. Just writing this makes me pine to go back, especially to taste some of the food again. Drop me a line if you want more info on anything I did. You should go, I know I had just the best time there.

Answer 2

China is a world of its own and is rich with modern and ancient creations as well as natural wonders. To see the man-made creations, visit the cities along the coasts. To see the natural wonders, visit the inland places.
Chinese food is a category of its own, also. There are the typical Cantonese cuisines, and Shanghai, Beijing, Hunan, Szechuan... etc.

Answer 3

I have never visited Beijing I heard its a very interesting city. Do alittle reading up on the city and culture first. I love chinese food actually its one of my favourite.

I'm presently planning a trip for early December. So i'll be paying close attention to your answers.

Answer 4

yes, I was raised in China.

If you are going to Beijing, the only advice I can give you is, do not buy stuff from people on the street. go to a shop where they put price tag on the product.

and be aware of the huge population... espiecially if you are going around the olypics(can't remember how to spell this)

and yes, communication can be a problem. good luck.

Answer 5

YES, I just got home today from travelling in China for 3 weeks...I have travelled as a backpacker in many other Asian countries before, but China is without doubt the most complicated country to travel on your own...people don´t speak any English and it´s very tricky to get around..in Beijing there are only 2 metrolines and taking a taxi you encounter loads of difficulties...
1.of course taxi drivers don´t speak English at all (learn some basic Chinese and buy a phase book, in just 3 weeks I learnt quite some Chinese, just because of necessity!!)
2. they can´t read directions in English either, so you need the direction written in Chinese characters(ask your receptionist to write it down for you before leaving, once in the street it can take you a long time to find anyone who can read the Roman alphabet, a great idea as well is to buy a Chinese phone, so the receptionist can explain the directions to the taxidriver)
3.don´t expect them to know the direction, that´s NOT their job, you´ll have to guide them!! (make sure you´ve got a good map, both in English as in Chinese)
4. some of them will get angry with you when you don´t give clear directions!!! so don´t be surprised when this happens!
5. if there´s no taximeter ALWAYS negotiate the price before getting in the taxi, but even like this some will try to get more money as agreed once there; always refuse to pay more than the agreed price and if necessary threaten to take a picture of their license number and to go to the police (this is a standard phrase in most phrase books)
6 most taxis don´t have belts and the traffic is crazy, even just entering in a taxi can be dangerous because of all the bikers
7 a lot of times you´ll find taxidrivers who refuse to take you (I don´t know why, but it happened all the time)
8 always doublecheck if the taxidriver has understood you, otherwise they might take you to the other side of the city..

Then communicating with Chinese is extremely difficult, because;
1. 99% of the Chinese don´t speak any English, I stayed at a 4 star hotel in Beijing and most receptionists didn´t speak any English, if you need help, your best bet is to appraoch a young person, who might be a student and speak decent English..
2. IF they speak English, they will always repeat your question making a very difficult face but not saying which part they didn´t understand
3. they will always answer you with both yes and no, I guess the yes just means that they are listening..
4. if they can´t help you, they will just say "no", but this doesn´t always mean they are no alternatives...they just don´t know how to let you know..

These 2 things apart, I had an AMAZING time in China (Beijing, Xián, Chongqing, Yangtze, Wushan, Wuhan, Shanghai) I think it´s IMpossible to NOT be impressed by China...(history,culture,arts and crafts,music,acrobats,face changing opera,architecture, its peopel and their way of living etc) and of course it´s a shopping paradise..(the tips most touristic guides give "offer half of the initial price" SUCKS, because at some places especially in Beiijng selllers are shameless and ask 10 times more than the real price!! I ended up paying just 10 % of the initial price loads of times!!! they are great actors, and will try to make you feel ashamed saying you´re breaking their hearts, bla, bla, bla..just laugh with them and ALWAYS walk away before buying anything because in 90% of the cases they´ll call you back and lower the price more)

What else? the food..the food is not the Chinese food you know from the USA/Europe and they will bring the rice as the last plate, since it is considered a cheap filler, I have had great food and not so great food, lot of times the cheap places were better!! so you just have to try!!! (don´t be surprised to find dogmeat on the menu!!!)

The more in the south you go the cheaper things get, but the beds seem to get harder and it´s harder to find a "normal toilet" (not just a hole)

Hope I was of any help and hope you have a great time!!

Ah, most youth hostals are great, English speaking staff, free internet and pick ups from the railway station, nice common areas,and cheap excursions, all things you WON´T find at 4 star hotels!!!
PS Two places you must go to in Beijing ; the teahouse Laoshe and the massage centre Body(next to the also very nice restaurant Alfa) !! You can mail me for further information if you want: [e-mail]

Answer 6

I've never been to China but it's on my to do list.

As far as Chinese food, the fast food take out version is NOT chinese food. You need to go to your chinatown (here in NYC we have two, one in downtown Manhattan and one in Flushing) and go to the places that are not on the tourist map. I have eaten REAL cantonese food and I'm telling you, it's DELICIOUS

Answer 7

i have never visited to china
but i heared alot of about china and chinese dishes
ummm yummy chinese dishes... I LOVE CHINESE DISHES
well its a very interesting for the visitors

Answer 8

i love north chinese food. i have never been there and i think it would be fun and i thinkthe people probably are very nice but now with all the problems here at home with the paint and the toys and the food stuff they are sending us i am not sure you can comforatbale eat there.

Answer 9

i went to chengdu and then on to tibet. chinese restaurants are popular around the world you know... you can find one in your town wherever you live. china is not so free and easy to get around