China Trip 2013: February 2013

Thursday, 28 February 2013

In China, a person aged 14 years and above is considered to be responsible for their actions, and treated as an adult under the law. If detained, a person of this age will be held with adults and be subject to the same conditions and legal processes as adults.

There are strictly enforced laws which prohibit demonstrations without prior approval from the government. If arrested, you could be jailed or deported.

Photography of military or government buildings may result in a penalty. You should seek permission from local authorities before taking photographs.

Homosexual acts are not illegal in China, but you should be aware of local sensitivities.

You should carry evidence of your identity at all times and present it upon demand of police authorities. Your passport or a Chinese residence card is an acceptable form of identity. Failure to carry ID or comply with the registration requirement could result in fines and detention.

Hotels are generally safe. Attendants are on each floor, keeping an eye on the rooms and safeguarding the keys. Dormitories obviously require more care. Don't be overly trusting of your fellow travellers - many of them are considerably less than honest. All hotels have safes and storage areas for valuables - use them. Don't leave anything you can't do without (passport, travellers cheques, money, air tickets etc) lying around in dormitories.

Carry just as much cash as you need and keep the rest in travellers cheques. Always take a money belt for larger sums of cash, along with your passport and credit cards. A worrying trend is the increasing number of reports of foreigners attacked or even killed for their valuables, especially in more rural locations (a Western tourist was killed a few years ago on Moon Hill in popular Yangshuo); so be vigilant at all times. It's always advisable to travel with someone else or in a small group; individual travellers have to accept they are taking a risk.

Pollution & Noise

Pollution is a serious problem in China and can make travel unpleasant for everyone, but especially if you have allergies, skin conditions, or chest, eye, nose and throat problems. According to the World Bank, China has 16 of the world's 20 most polluted cities.

Recently the Chinese government has launched an anti-noise pollution campaign. The government is on a loser with this one, but a number of cities have banned the use of car horns within the city. The Chinese are generally much more tolerant of noise than most foreigners. People watch TV at ear-shattering volumes, drivers lean on the horn, and much of China seems to wake uncomplainingly to the sound of jackhammers and earth-moving vehicles.

Do…

Beckon someone by waving them over to you with your palm down. Don’t point or use your finger (this gesture is used for dogs).

present things to people with both hands, to show that what you’re offering is the fullest extent of yourself

be effusively thankful if someone gives you a gift, then set it aside to open later, to avoid appearing greedy

be prepared for random people approaching to you and asking to practice their English

Keep calm when dealing with officials, especially if tense situations arise. Getting angry or raising your voice will create only an ugly, face-losing situation for all.

touch your glass below that of the eldest person in the group when toasting – the eldest (aka wise one) holds his/her glass highest

fill your companion’s tea cup when it’s empty, especially if your companion is older than you

eat all of the rice in your bowl – some Chinese believe it’s bad luck to leave even a single grain behind

prepare yourself to see animals treated very differently than you’re used to back home

Don’t…

Write anything in red ink unless you’re correcting an exam. Red ink is used for letters of protest.

Give clocks or books as gifts. The phrase ‘to give a clock’ in Mandarin sounds too much like ‘attend a funeral’ and ‘giving a book’ sounds like ‘delivering defeat.’

Make political comments like ‘boy, didn’t Mao kill a lot of people’ unless your new pals take the lead. Many Chinese remain huge Mao fans, as proven daily by the lines at his mausoleum.