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Gwilym James

Gwilym James

Executive Producer at ChinesePod
You probably recognize Gwilym as one of the co-hosts of ChinesePod. Gwilym hails from the U.K. but has lived in Taiwan since 2012. His interests include keeping abreast of technology news, going to the cinema, and playing with his lovely cats.
Gwilym James

Latest posts by Gwilym James (see all)

Customs When Visiting a Chinese Family

Customs When Visiting a Chinese Family

In order to get the most out of visiting a Chinese family, the first thing you want to do is bring a digital translator. Next, observe the local customs, and then prepare some good questions to ask. You should then have a valuable inter-cultural encounter, providing a deeper insight into Chinese culture and local life. 

When entering the house you should..

Offer your gifts, which will probably be taken away or placed on a table unopened, as it is the Chinese custom. Fruit is very popular, although confectionery or souvenir products from your country would also be welcomed. 

Source: www.thechineseculturecorner

Greet all members of the household (start with the seniors, if possible, then proceed down the social scale; children would normally be expected to greet you rather than the other way round), or as many as you can see from the door. A simple hello in English, or ‘’Ni hao’’ would suffice.

Take your shoes off and change them for a pair a pair of slippers that is waiting for you by the door.

Once inside the house…

Once you are inside the house you will usually be asked to sit down. If you have any belongings such as a bag or coat that you wish to take off they will usually be given a seat too. Placing bags on the floor is a huge no – no (the floor is considered unclean, though it seems fine from a Western perspective) and coat racks are uncommon in China.

Source: www.thoughco

You will then be offered something to eat and drink. Plain hot water is widely popular, especially in poorer households, where all water is boiled. The alternative is usually Chinese tea of some sort. The first food offered will most likely be fruit, with peanuts and candy if it’s a festive time of the year. Accept the food/drink, or put them down on a table in front of you if you don’t want to have them immediately.

Then the conversation begins… Your host will try to keep you entertained and ask you a few questions first. Then it is your chance to reciprocate.

Now that you have read this blog be sure to check out some of our other blog posts, such as ‘Learn Mandarin Chinese: 5 Reasons Why’ and ‘5 Great Wall Hikes For Every Beijing Tourist’

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Gwilym James

Gwilym James

Executive Producer at ChinesePod
You probably recognize Gwilym as one of the co-hosts of ChinesePod. Gwilym hails from the U.K. but has lived in Taiwan since 2012. His interests include keeping abreast of technology news, going to the cinema, and playing with his lovely cats.
Gwilym James

Latest posts by Gwilym James (see all)

Traveling During China’s Golden Week

Traveling During China’s Golden Week

In 2016 an estimated 589 million Chinese traveled for Golden Week. This reflects an increase of 50 million travelers each year for the previous 3 years in a row. Chinese residents have incorporated travel as a main event of this holiday since it provides a full week of holiday to visit friends, family and loved ones. Here are some times/videos to help you as you travel through China during Golden Week. Be sure to download your lessons!  

If you do decide to travel, it would be best to arrive and leave outside of the Golden Week dates. The holiday starts abruptly, and it’s only on the first and last days of the week that their infrastructure struggles. If you do decide to travel on those days expect to find people camped outside bus station, and sitting on the roof of trains.

Source: www.scmp.com

However, before you leave home, get a great guide book and buy street maps in a bookstore or online for cities that you wish to explore.  Unfortunately, tourism maps are hardly ever scalable or easy to follow, with almost half of the streets not there, names unclear. Lonely Planet is a great guide book it has great logistics info on almost anywhere you want to go, while DK Eyewitness guides are better known for their color pictorials of everything there is to see.

Personal sanitation is also important while travelling to China. Since you are a tourist, you are mixing with dozens of countries on six continents, not just Asians. So bringing your own alcohol – based wet wipes for water – free hand sanitation. Also you should never drink tap water! Bottled water is everywhere and cheap at the corner convenience stores.

Source: www.quora.com

Another thing that you should bring is your own toilet tissue, as you will rarely find a public toilet supplied with it. It is best that you always carry in your purse, camera bag or backpack. Small travel sized packs (wet toilet wipes and dry tissue) are available in many places. You may also want to use little packs of alcohol wet wipes to go over places your body will touch.

Now that you have read this blog be sure to check out some of our other blog posts, such as ‘Learn Mandarin Chinese: 5 Reasons Why’ and ‘5 Great Wall Hikes For Every Beijing Tourist’

Happy Golden Week! We’re are celebrating China’s annual seven day holiday which includes national day and the mid-autumn festival by offering 3 months premium subscription for $35 or 1 year premium subscription for $139 using promo code GOLDENWEEK! Click here!

 

Gwilym James

Gwilym James

Executive Producer at ChinesePod
You probably recognize Gwilym as one of the co-hosts of ChinesePod. Gwilym hails from the U.K. but has lived in Taiwan since 2012. His interests include keeping abreast of technology news, going to the cinema, and playing with his lovely cats.
Gwilym James

Latest posts by Gwilym James (see all)

What is China’s Golden Week

What is China’s Golden Week

Many countries have a day or days set aside every year to celebrate workers. In china three days of paid holiday are given, and the surrounding weekends are re-arranged so that workers in Chinese companies always have seven continuous days of holiday. These national holidays were first started by the government for the PRC’s National Day in 1999 and are primarily intended to help expand the domestic tourism market and improve the national standard of living, as well as allowing people to make long-distance family visits. The Golden Weeks are consequently periods of greatly heightened travel activity.  –Source wikipedia

Golden Week is the 2nd largest holiday after the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated in either January or February which is set around Chinese New year. The date moves each year depending on the lunar cycle. National Day, which is part of Golden Week begins October 1st and ends on October 7th. During this time warehouse, office, and factory workers are given vacation at the same time so that the office and factory can close down completely. These weeks make headlines due to the large crowds of people that accompany them.

Source: www.tripsavvy.com

Last year, 6 million Chinese tourists traveled abroad hitting the rails, roads and airports during Golden Week and spent 13 billion US dollars. With this in mind, you’ll probably want to consider a few things if you’re considering taking a trip to China during this time. -Source tripsavvy.com

Shopping During Golden Week

There’s a saying around here: “Everything in China is negotiable.” Shopping, buying, and selling, they’re all games. The seller plays and the buyer plays. Most of the time it is an amiable game, though sometimes tempers flare. But have no fear, in the tourist-trade, everyone’s out to make a deal and you just have to learn the rules. -Source https://www.tripsavvy.com

Nothing opens the door for you like a Ni hao ma?, (How are you?) or a Duo shao qian?(How much?). Don’t worry, you will not be plunged headfirst into a Chinese conversation. Nothing is bought or sold without the ubiquitous large-format calculator coming out so that everyone can easily view just exactly what digits are being discussed.

Source: www.straitstimes.com/

Once you have found a suitable venue, such as an open air market, be sure to take a good look around before you get engaged in any negotiating. Doing this will enable you to get a clearer picture of how things work. Pay attention to prices, and do some mental price comparisons as you walk around.

Before you approach a vendor, it’s sensible to make sure that you are carrying some small denomination currency and you have a good idea of how much cash you have on you. If the vendor catches sight of a high denomination note, you can expect the price to rise accordingly.

Once you have had a look around and sorted out your money, you should try to mentally come up with a rough figure for how much you are prepared to spend. You may have to be a little bit flexible, but it’s best to go in with a clear idea in your head so you can be assertive and get the negotiating off to a strong start. -Source https://www.wikihow.com

Getting ready for the weekend

Source: www.travelchinaguide.com

Making weekend plans, arranging transportation, or making restaurant reservations?

It would be best to Book your flight/ train tickets and hotel rooms in advance. There may be more discounts for flights tickets if one books earlier. For trains in China, the tickets are available 60 days prior to departure. The thing is the train tickets may be booked up in a matter of minutes once available, so it is best to be prepared. Hotel rooms in hot travel destinations are also in demand. In case there is no place to stay; one should book them in advance as well. If one happens to book rooms upon arrival, try looking at some business hotels.

Now that you have read this blog be sure to check out some of our other blog posts, such as ‘Learn Mandarin Chinese: 5 Reasons Why’ and ‘5 Great Wall Hikes For Every Beijing Tourist’

 

 

Gwilym James

Gwilym James

Executive Producer at ChinesePod
You probably recognize Gwilym as one of the co-hosts of ChinesePod. Gwilym hails from the U.K. but has lived in Taiwan since 2012. His interests include keeping abreast of technology news, going to the cinema, and playing with his lovely cats.
Gwilym James

Latest posts by Gwilym James (see all)

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