hong kong + china 08?

Question

My partner and I are travelling to China and Hong Kong in May 08. We are after any helpful hints or tips about these places. We will be visiting Xian and Beijing in China.

Answer 1

Have a great trip. I could give you hundreds of tips and places to go and things to see but you can find better in guidebooks and websites. All I can tell you is that you will enjoy every minute of it if you go with an open mind and an open heart. Bring your smile too. A smile will open doors and make people return the smile. Believe me! In more than 20 years and numerous trips to China, I never experienced any problem, with pick-pockets or otherwise. Only friendly people who respected me and treated me like a long-lost relative! Yes, it may be a personal experience and only one among millions, but it says a lot!

I can also add that I had stuff stolen from me in Spain, France, the UK, the USA, and Canada where I live. Never in HK or China. I can also say that I have been scared for my life in many Western countries around the world (including and particularly the USA, Canada, France, etc.). I never felt threatened in most of Asia, in China, and let alone in HK!

So, first advice: get the Lonely Planet guidebook, and the accompanying phrasebook, and start planning. If you need specific advice, shoot your questions here and lots of nice folks will be pleased to help you. You'll probably get a few nasty answers. Some will be funny, others plain stupid, racist, ignorant, and bigot...

Answer 2

Hire a guide and driver don't go on group tours! It's very cheap and worth it. You will see and learn so much more that way. In Beijing ask to go to the dirt market and the silk market and have fun doing some serious bartering. Make sure you give yourselves lots of time at the forbidden city it is huge! Also make sure you have some Beijing duck and hot pot, they are famous for it. Get foot rubs, they are cheap and you will need it after all the walking. In Xian rent a two person bike and ride around the city wall. Walk through the Muslim district it was one of my favorite places. Try the Yang Rou Pao Muo it is their special dish, you tear bread up into small pieces and put it in a lamb soup. When you stop for meals ask your guide to eat with you, you will really get to know them and they can tell you what you are eating. Don't be afraid to ask your guides about their lives and homes they love telling their story and you learn so much more about the people. Try all the food, I had some of my best meals in china and don't eat in the Hotels the food is expensive and not very good. Carry toilet paper with you, there won't be any in the public toilets. Bring business cards with you to give to the people you meet, you will be surprised how many will write you. And finally get up early and watch people do Tai chi in the parks.

Answer 3

Hong Kong is possibly the final buying place interior the international with sensible costs, multiple kinds and supreme provider. In Hong Kong, buying isn't purely the act of buying for team yet a sort of interest, a lifestyle. travellers can contently relish the buying atmosphere and journey the form tide. oftentimes conversing, the 1st 3 buys are outfits, cosmetics and electric home equipment. the main significant buying factors are regular and Causway Bay on Hong Kong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon. budget buying could be chanced on interior the Temple street marketplace, Tung Chois marketplace and Stanley marketplace.

Answer 4

Yeah, HK/China certainly has some pickpockets, but it is no worse than any other cities. Make sure you know where all your belongings are at all time and don't put your wallet in your back pockets, especially on crowded buses and subways.

HK is very safe even at night and truly a city that doesn't sleep. MTR doesn't stop running till past midnight and then you can catch a taxi or overnight buses back to your hotel. Just use common sense and you will be ok. Have fun!

Answer 5

Hi there, some of the above answers are partially correct and WRONG!

Hong Kong and China do have pick pocket, mind your wallet and don't put it in your back pocket. Also, don't leave your bags unattended for even a second. Their hands are faster than your eyes.

Also, photo copy your passport and any other travel documents for extra copies just in case you lose them. HK/China isn't as bad as you think and mostly the streets are safe but still, be careful!

Answer 6

I live in Shanghai. Bring your boots as the spit here is ankle deep. Don't pay more than one third of the asking price from street vendors. Carry a pocket full of toilet paper (if it is supplied someone will steal it) and be prepared to squat over open pits in Xian. Be careful what you eat and don't eat raw veggies even if they are washed cause the water is not clean. There are a lot of fake bills here so only get your money from a bank and try not to use 100 RMB notes. I came here with an open mind and heart. Luckily I also had open eyes to see the truth. You will get some bad answers here including YKphils: all my Chinese friends and family tell me stories of how they were ripped off or had their belongings stolen. Beware of taxi drivers telling you that the money you just gave them is fake, they take the good stuff and give you a fake then tell you that you gave them the fake one. Initial each note, then you will know.

Answer 7

Disclaimer: there is rarely any pic pocket in Hong Kong since Hong Kong has one of the highest per capita in Asia. It is very safe walking on the street in Hong Kong. Here are couple websites where you can find more information about Hong Kong and China:

http://www.discoverasia.org/
http://discoverhongkong.com/eng/index.jsp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing

Answer 8

Hong Kong has many pic-pokets, be where. Beijing probably does too so stay out of crowded areas, when I went to Beijing I encountered no big problems, same with Xi'an. If you are white you are top target number 1 for...
1)Chinese people to practice English on you.
2) get hit up by people to buy their stuff, for expensive prices
3) PIC-POCKET

i didn't have much problems in Xi'an or Beijing when i went there this summer, but i am Chinese...LOL.