中国人过中国年的风俗 玩转中国的20条小贴士(上)

玩转中国的20条小贴士(上)  

Travel in China can rattle even veteran travelers. This is understandable. China is a huge country with enough languages and dialects to leave even many native Chinese flummoxed at the thought of municating away from home.
But traveling here isn't scary
and it's not unmanageable. Traveling for the past few years from my home base in Shanghai
I've picked up a lot of tips --both from my own experiences and from others -- that make life on the road in China a little bit easier and a lot more rewarding.
1. Score extra beds the easy way
1，要加牀的简便办法
Chinese hotels aren't too fussy when it es to matching the number of beds to the number of people
particularly when the extra bodies are children. For families
this can save a lot of cash. Rather than needing o rooms
a family of four can get cozy in a in room
where both beds are the same size as a regular double bed.
2. Follow proper currency protocol
Don't insult a Shanghai taxi driver by burdening him with small change
such as 1 yuan or 5 jiao notes. He likes the jingle of coins. Conversely
in northern and western China
expect market vendors to reject coins outright. They only like paper money no matter how small the denomination.
3. Use the best language app for travelers
Pleco is the best Chinese language app for travelers. The basic dictionary app is free. It costs US$14.95 to buy the optical character recognition function (patible with the iPhone 4 or 5 camera). Point the iPhone at a Chinese menu and get an instant translation.
4. Customize your gifts
Have fine items made by hand and to order -- a neon sign of your name
pair of riding boots
set of sheets
oak cabi
silk quilt or cashmere coat. China is the land of possibilities. If you can dream it
someone can make it.
The Shandong Juancheng Neon-Plasma Tech pany make customized neon signs in one week and will ship anywhere.
5. Use the best guides to offbeat China
China Little T(r)ips is a series of guides for those who want to get off the well-worn tourist path in China
but don't have the inside knowledge or the language skills to do so.
These guides to Inner Mongolia
Gansu and soon Sichuan and Qinghai contain detailed itineraries
maps and language cards specific for each stage of the trip. Inner Mongolia Guide RMB 78 (US$12.50)
ebook RMB 45 (US$7)

6. Order rice the right way
Rice is rarely served during a meal in Chinese restaurants
being seen as a cheap way to fill up at the end if needed. Anyone wanting rice with his or her meal should make it clear to the waiter by saying: mifan (rice) mashang (straight away).
7. Toilet paper reminder
Toilet tissue is rarely found in public restrooms in China. Carry your own supplies.
8. Sidestep difficult breakfasts
Outside of large cities and internationally branded hotels
Chinese hotel breakfasts cater exclusively to the local market. This is no issue for anyone fond of congee and pickles
but can be an unimaginable hurdle for children or picky eaters. Bring a box of their favorite cereal and a few small cartons of milk and everyone starts the day happy. Most hotels don't mind.
9. Don't worry -- it's safe
China is nowhere near as terrifying as many guidebooks would have you believe. Yes
the traffic is chaotic and the air could be better -- much better -- but China is one of the safest countries in the world for female travelers
solo travelers and families.
10. Give -- and get -- instant gratification
Those traveling in rural China often wish to give a small gift to locals they meet
but are unsure of what might be considered appropriate. A portrait delivered instantly on a Polaroid camera is a much-appreciated
on-the-spot gift. Fujifilm Instax Mini 7 Polaroid camera retails for around RMB 400 (US$62) from large electronics retailers.