Maintain face. Whoever you're doing business with will know that you'll only be in the country for a set period of time and have to make all kind of decisions while you're there; Chinese business people have an uncanny knack of knowing when you're at your most vulnerable (probably when you think the deal is signed, sealed and delivered) and will use this moment to throw a spanner into the works. What is of crucial importance is how you deal with such situations. If you can resist being confrontational and expressing anger about it, focusing instead on the bigger picture, your face-saving attitude will be appreciated and might bring about the resolution you seek.
Have a banquet! If you've spent a substantial (and successful) period of time doing business here, host a banquet, inviting all your newfound colleagues. A China consultant can help you choose a suitable restaurant and dishes. Make sure you pay ahead of time and are at the venue at least half an hour before the banquet. See A Chinese Banquet for more.
Family Travel
Traveling as a family is becoming increasingly popular and can be a thoroughly rewarding experience if you plan your trip well. One of the most important things to think about is balancing your itinerary well so that you're not too rushed and can take in sights that appeal to all the family. While you might be fascinated by Taoist temples and historic monuments, visit more than a few with young kids and you may have a mutiny on board the family ship. The Chinese place great importance on children (even more since the one-child policy went into effect) and traveling as a family unit you will be warmly welcomed everywhere you go. There are some great places to visit as a family, particularly Yangshuo and Hong Kong, and the other cities have attractions kids will love, from movies to theme parks and shows. Each chapter of this guide has a "For Families” section detailing a few good options. Entry into most major sights is half-price for children under 3.9 feet high. If you'd like to go on a tour with other families, there are tour companies that run trips with itineraries which take the needs of the whole family into account (see Specialized Tours).To enjoy some time away from the kids (or vice versa …), international chain hotels often have babysitting facilities, starting from around $30 (US$4) an hour. Baby strollers can be a problem since access to sights, restaurants and hotels isn't always easy and sidewalks can be decidedly uneven. If you're traveling with a baby, you'll find formula, baby food and disposable nappies available at supermarkets.
Adoption
The enormous population, historic preference for boys over girls (see Gender Imbalance), and the one-child policy have all contributed to the large number of orphaned children in China. In 1993 several Western countries signed the Hague Convention on inter-country adoption and, later the same year, China instituted formal regulations to allow foreigners to adopt Chinese babies. Since then over 50,000 babies have been adopted, 80% of them by Americans. The children come from all over the country, but the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou is where many adoptions actually take place. If you would like to adopt a child, www.childrenshopeint.org and www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/adoption offer detailed information on the subject.
Disabled Travelers
Although there are a great number of disabled people in China, provision for the disabled is still very limited. As the country's economy booms, many cities resemble construction sites and there are countless hazards, such as uneven paving, bridges and gaping holes to negotiate. Public transport is seldom wheelchair-friendly. Wheelchairs are available from hospitals and at some tourist locations, but you can't count on these. Ensure that you bring all required specialist equipment and medication with you. Your trip will also be made smoother if you find out as much as possible about where you're going and what the facilities are before your trip. Hong Kong and, to a lesser extent, Macau, offer better provisions for disabled visitors, which are detailed in the tourist office's Hong Kong Access Guide for Disabled Visitors and on the web at www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/travelneeds/disabled.index. Certain hotel chains, including Holiday Inn, the Hyatt, the Sheraton, the Shangri-La and the Marriott, have facilities and rooms suitable for disabled people, although it's worth checking before you book. Listed hotels with rooms suitable for the disabled are marked DA, while those with wheelchair access mention this in the description. Going on an organized trip can alleviate some of the planning, but if you want to go it alone, the following organizations can help:
Mobility International USA (tel.001-541-1343-1284, www.miusa.org)
Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (SATH; 001-212-4477-284, www.sath.org)
Female Travelers
When compared with many other developing countries, travel for women in China presents few problems. Although you may well be stared at, this is invariably more of a curious gaze than an intimidating ogle. Indeed female travelers are more likely to be ignored than hassled. This said, in the far northwest more vigilance is advised and, as with anywhere, you'd be wise to take a few basic precautions, such as avoiding unlit areas late at night. Dress for women is fairly liberal and in the cities mini-skirts and skimpy tops are commonplace, though in rural areas you may feel more comfortable in conservative clothing.
Gay Travelers
Although homosexuality was long regarded a foreign peculiarity it is increasingly prominent in China, and loosely tolerated, if officially denied and illicit. The big cities have gay bars where foreigners may be approached, but be aware that public displays of affection are likely to cause a stir. Check out www.gay.com or www.utopia-asia.com for more on China's gay scene.
Facts & Figures
Electrical Current
Mainland and Macau electricity supply is 220V through flat two-pin and angled flat three-pin plugs, although you'll also find round three-pin sockets! In Hong Kong the voltage is 200V and plugs are of the square three-pin variety (the same as the UK). Thus, a travel adaptor is a good idea.
Time Zone
Remarkable as it seems, all of China follows the same time zone, eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, 16 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time and two hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Weights & Measures
China predominantly uses the metric system, most obvious as kilometers for road distances (one km=0.62 mile). Market goods such as fruit are measured by the jin, which is half a kilogram (1.1 lb) and cloth is measured by the meter (3.28 ft).
Accommodation
At the dawn of modern tourism in China in the 1980s foreigners were only allowed to stay in certain designated hotels, but these days many more options are open, from five-star splendor to five-dollar dorms. However, when compared to some other countries, hotels in China are fairly characterless and functional, although there are more and more exceptions to this, and not just in the luxury bracket (see Escaping the Ordinary).
As in most countries, room rates reflect standards to an extent, but mid-range and budget hotels are generically styled and don't tend to reduce their tariff as they deteriorate. Thus the best value (and keenest staff) are often found in newer lodgings. In terms of customer service, expensive hotels may meet the standards of their Western counterparts, but equally they may not, and in many mid-range hotels you may get the distinct impression that the staff thinks customers should feel privileged for being able to stay! Worse still, in places that see few foreigners, I've witnessed reception staff hiding behind the counter to avoid serving the lao wai (foreigners)! Something to remember every time you check into a hotel is to take one of their business cards, which has the hotel's Chinese name. Then you can go out, explore and get as lost as you like, then just jump in a cab when you want to come home.