Plug and voltage
China dey run on 220V at 50Hz, so check say your charger write "100-240V" before you plug am. Most laptop and phone charger dey support am; some hair dryer and shaver no dey.
China get three plug types: Type A (two flat pin, like US), Type C (two round pin, like Europe), and Type I (two angled flat pin). Universal travel adapter go cover all three. Carry one good adapter instead of plenty cheap ones.
Language basics
English rare outside big hotel and airport. Small words go carry you far:
- Ni hao (nee-how) - hello
- Xie xie (sshyeh-sshyeh) - thank you
- Duo shao qian? - how much?
- Bu yao - I no want am
Download offline translator (Google Translate offline Chinese pack, or Pleco) and learn to show your destination written for Chinese character to taxi driver.
Packing
- Cash and your passport - you need ID to buy train ticket and check into hotel.
- Tissue packet - plenty public toilet no get any, and most na squat-style.
- Comfortable shoe - Great Wall, Forbidden City and Xi'an Terracotta Army go make you waka well.
- Reusable water bottle - hot-water dispenser dey everywhere.
Connectivity and payments
China dey block Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and plenty Western site behind di Great Firewall. Importantly, daily life dey run on WeChat and Alipay - both now dey let foreign card link, and na how you go pay for almost everything, from street food to metro. Set dem up before you fly.
Quick tips
- Book train early. High-speed rail (di G-trains) between Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an dey fast and cheap, but seat go finish around holiday.
- Carry your passport everywhere - hotel and some attraction go check am.
- Bargain for market, never for mall or shop wit fixed price.
- Tap water no drinkable - buy bottled or boil am.
- Avoid Golden Week (first week of October) and Chinese New Year if you no like crowd.
- Tipping no dey expected - e even fit cause confusion.
- Download maps offline - Apple Maps and Amap dey work; Google Maps no dey.
- Keep small notes ready for taxi and market.
Stay connected for China
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