There’s a whole industry of fake goods in China that lots of visitors to China go wild for when they arrive but there’s a healthy local market for them as well. It goes beyond pirated DVDs and fake Gucci bags (those are the ones the tourists buy). Very few locals will spend money on legal copies of software when copies of everything from Microsoft Windows and Adobe Photoshop are available for install at every cybermarket. There are smart phones on the market that look like iPhones, operate like iPhones and smell like iPhones for a fraction of the cost (just don’t drop it, it will likely shatter and don’t expect and after-sale warranties on fake goods).

As a travel writer, I get asked frequently where to buy the fake goods. The answer is easy to give: every large market in China sells fake products – be it eyeglasses, watches, bags, shoes, clothing or electronics. But I remind visitors that you get what you pay for. People are often surprised when they get home and their watch doesn’t work anymore or their sunglasses don’t actually offer any UV protection whatsoever. The best example comes from my poor husband who bought a “leather” briefcase at the old Xiangyang Market (Shanghai’s famous fake market that’s now been closed and moved). To his credit, he needed a new bag for an upcoming business trip. We lived close by the market so it seemed like a quick and easy option. After an important meeting in Frankfurt, he closed the meeting, grabbed his bag and left the room – with just the handle in hand.

You get what you pay for. If you come to China and do some shopping, it will be tempting to sample some of these fake goods. But don’t pay too much money for them and don’t forget, yi fen qian, yi fen huo.

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Shanghai

In Shanghai you are in total security (as far as can be).
It also feels safer in Shanghai in the streets of Paris. I happened to walk alone at night until 02:00 when I went home without feeling threatened (unlike Paris or we must be careful).

In places hyper tourist or rich shopping malls (Xujiahui) made all the same attention to pickpocket.

Do not follow people you making proposals (of all kinds: Massage, Coffee, DVDs, watches, clothing) in the streets.

Do not be the district Zha’Bei which abritte some marginal populations and habitual criminals.

Beijing (Peking)

Security of another kind in Shanghai for a result probably close. It feels safe differently in Beijing, makes you feel even fliquer (with military parade regularly in small groups in some streets). I do not know if security is also pushing to Shanghai, but it should not be far away.

Shenzhen & Guangzhou (Canton)

Be vigilant and avoid walking alone. It is common for foreigners only be deflected in the streets of these southern cities to be counted. It even happens that we guide you to an ATM to compel you to remove a card with your max …

Isolated provinces

Use extra caution and avoid traveling alone. You are in the midst of population in the best cases are 1000 RMB per month (accommodation and food included). As your watch is over 2 years’ salary and you walk alone, it is logical that some local thugs see you in an easy prey. Do not try, stay sober, courteous, small group and you should expect trouble.

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But opening an account in China you will still some savings in bank charges and get paid in local currency if necessary. This will also allow you to manage withdrawals of large sums easier.

Indeed ticketing are capped at 2000/2500 RMB operation with maximum daily totals approximately RMB 4000/5000 (which usually means you pay 2 times the commission to reach the maximum daily withdrawal since you need 2 operations) .

Rare distributors Modern City Bank allow withdrawal of RMB 4,000 in one transaction. They are very rare (the only one I know is the radius Wine Freshmart Jing An Temple – Metro Line 2 Exit 2).

A transaction will cost you about 2 € + 2.5% of the amount withdrawn. A bank transfer of Euro 3000 will cost about 16 euro fee to the BNP to your account in China. Be sure to indicate “to Exchange RMB” so that your funds arrive in RMB and not Euro. Otherwise they will not be accessible by your Card and China will be converted later …

Opening a bank account for foreigners is a simple formality.

Bank of China – Fill out a form – Submit your passport – Add 11 RMB.

ICBC – Fill out a form – Submit your passport – Add 20 RMB which 15 will be used to create your card.

That’s all. All the formalities take 5 to 10 minutes to break everything.

The alternative: HSBC Bank

France You can open an HSBC account and specify that you want as an account in China. This system will render your money disponnible toll in the Chinese bank HSBC and distributors.

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Currency
Mainland China uses Renminbi, which translates to “the People’s Money”. Other, common, terms for the Renminbi, RMB in shortened form, are yuan, pronounced “you-on”, or kuai, pronounced “kwhy”. It is common to see the Chinese currency noted as “CNY” in foreign exchange bureaus and banks. The abbreviation stands for Chinese Yuan. The symbol is ¥ or 元.

Despite officially being part of China, Hong Kong still uses the Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) and Macau uses the pataca (M$ or ptca). Both the HK$ and the M$ have exchange rates that are more or less equivalent to the RMB. Note that RMB can’t be used in Hong Kong or Macau so you’ll need to exchange money once you’re in these areas if your travel includes these places. Read more about going to Hong Kong and Macau.

DenominationsNotes Coins US$ Equivalent
(1USD = 7.75RMB as of Feb 07)
100 - $12.90
50 - $6.45
20 - $2.58
10 - $1.29
5 - $0.65
2 - $0.26
1 1 $0.13
0.5 (5 jiao) 0.5 (5 jiao) $0.06
0.2 (2 jiao) - $0.03
0.1 (1 jiao) 0.1 (1 jiao) $0.01
- 0.05 (5 fen) $0.01
- 0.02 (2 fen) $0.003
- 0.01 (1 fen) $0.001

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The course may be short (few weeks) or long (1 term to 2 years). In general the long courses begin in September and February. Groups of levels are then formed.

You can also integrate the normal curriculum of these schools (taught in Chinese), provided they have the level and qualifications required.

Some scholarships may also be granted you.

Center for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (info on scholarships from the Chinese government): http://french.hanban.edu.cn/

Universities in Shanghai

Fudan:
http://www.fudan.edu.cn/
Learn Mandarin 10,500 RMB per semester.

Tongji:
http://www.istju.com/

Jiaotong:
http://www.sie.sjtu.edu.cn/
Learn Mandarin 9100 RMB per semester.

Shanghai University:
http://www.shu.edu.cn/

Shanghai University – College of International Exchange:
http://www.shu.edu.cn/cie/

Nanjing University

Nanjing Normal University:
http://www.njnu.edu.cn/

Hohai University:
http://www.hhu.edu.cn/

Peking University

Beijing Normal University:
http://www.bnu.edu.cn/

Beijing Language University:
http://www.blcu.edu.cn/

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With just over 1.3 billion people (1,330,044,605 as of mid-2008), China is the world’s largest and most populous country.

As the world’s population is approximately 6.7 billion, China represents a full 20% of the world’s population so one in every five people on the planet is a resident of China.

China’s population growth has been somewhat slowed by the one child policy, in effect since 1979.

As recently as 1950, China’s population was a mere 563 million. The population grew dramatically through the following decades to one billion in the early 1980s.

China’s total fertility rate is 1.7, which means that, on average, each woman gives birth to 1.7 children throughout her life. The necessary total fertility rate for a stable population is 2.1; nonetheless, China’s population is expected to grow over the next few decades. This can be attributed to immigration and a decrease in infant mortality and a decrease in death rate as national health improves.

By the late 2010s, China’s population is expected to reach 1.4 billion. Around 2030, China’s population is anticipated to peak and then slowly start dropping.

In the next few decades, India, the world’s second most populous country is expected to surpass China in population. By 2040, India’s population is expected to be 1.52 billion; that same year, China’s will be 1.45 billion and India will become the world’s most populous country. As of 2005, India has a total fertility rate of 2.8, well above replacement value, so it is growing much more quickly than China.

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Taxis are a good, inexpensive, easy way to get around in Chinese cities – and frankly sometimes to get between them – as long as you know a few guidelines so you won’t be caught off-guard. Read on so you’ll be prepared to use this convenient way to get yourself around in China.
Before You Flag – What to Have With You:

Assuming you don’t speak Mandarin, it is essential that you have your destination written down in Chinese. Sound complicated? It isn’t.

First, most large hotels have a convenient “taxi card” for you to take with you as you step out the door. These cards have the hotel (so you can get back) written on one side and usually 10-15 tourist destinations on the other side. If the card doesn’t have where you want to go, simply ask the concierge to write it down for you.

Even if your hotel doesn’t have a pre-printed taxi card, staff will be happy to write down your destination for you to give the driver.
What to Expect Inside the Taxi:

Taxis, of course, vary from city to city, but in most cases, they are clean and the seats are covered in white cloth, usually hiding the seatbelts in the back. Many Chinese hop in front with the driver – it is not unusual.

The driver will expect all persons to enter from the passenger side, therefore the driver’s side back door may be locked.
Conversing with the Driver:

The driver won’t expect you to speak fluently but a friendly ni hao, “nee how”, meaning “hello” is always nice. Don’t be surprised if the driver looks at your destination written down and hands it back to you with silence or merely a nod.
Paying the Fare:

It’s best to keep small bills with you for taxi fares as many drivers won’t have change for the large bills (100rmb) you’ll get out of an ATM. For instance, the base fare in Shanghai is a mere 11rmb (US$ 1.15) and that gets you quite far.

You won’t need to bargain and the driver will use the meter. If the driver doesn’t use the meter, you should insist that he stop (see below for vocabulary) and get another taxi.
Do I Tip the Driver?:

Happily, no! Tipping is generally not something you need to worry about in China. Taxi drivers certainly don’t expect it and wouldn’t know what you were intending. They’d probably get out of the car to hand you back your change.
Get and Keep the Receipt:

After you pay the fare, wait for the receipt to print and take it with you. This has the taxi’s number so if you have any complaints, or happen to forget something in the car, you can call the central number to report it. This can be convenient for forgotten purchases in the trunk.
Taxi Vocabulary:
Ni qu na li? (pronounced nee chew nah lee?) Where are you going?
Wo qu … (pronounced woh chew …) I am going to …
Zhe li hao de (pronounced juh lee how duh) Stopping here is fine.
Ting! Stop!
You guai (pronounced yoh gwai) Turn right.
Zuo guai (pronounced zoh gwai) Turn left.
Yi zhi zuo (pronounced ee zheh zoh) Go straight.
Xian jin (pronounced shen jeen) I pay with cash.
Xie xie (pronounced shay shay) Thank you.
Zai jian (pronounced zye jee-ahn) Good bye.

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Obstacles to Buying a Train Ticket

But the first step in all of this is booking a ticket and here is where China is lagging behind the rest of the world. First, the only way to book a train ticket is for you, or someone on your behalf, to go physically to the station from which you’re departing and buy you a ticket.

Second, train seats aren’t released very far in advance and there’s really no telling when seats go on sale. Generally, you can buy tickets two weeks prior to your departure date. But if you’re thinking about booking now for next year, forget it.

This is all rather a pain, especially if you’re backpacking through China around Chinese New Year and you want to make sure you get that soft sleeper from Beijing to Shanghai for the twelve-hour trip.

Overcoming the Train Ticket Obstacles

Obviously, if you’ve got the time, you can go to the station yourself and book your tickets. But if you can’t, then agents can act on your behalf.

If you’re not physically in China, find yourself a good travel agent in China to book things for you. A Chinese agent will be cheaper than your agent back home and probably a little more flexible. Of course there will likely be a nominal fee on top of the ticket price, but this is worth the peace-of-mind as well as the time saved.

Your agent can courier you the tickets to wherever you are but the thing to do is just to have them hold on to the tickets until you arrive in China and then have them sent to wherever you’re staying.

Another way to go about booking tickets without your physical presence is to ask your hotel concierge to do it. Even if you’re at a small inn without a concierge, they will likely be able to help you out. Again, especially for that small inn with no official concierge, you can probably talk them into going for you for a small fee.

The Joy of Train Travel

Now sit back with a good book or just watch the stretch of humanity go by your window. One of the luxuries of train travel is that it allows you to see just what lays in between the cities of millions that dot the country.

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Congratulations! You’ve decided to avoid traffic, go green and take the subway. You might be a little daunted but don’t be, take your time and follow these easy directions and hopefully you’ll get wherever you need to go with ease and aplomb.

Now that you’ve found the station, the first thing you need to do is buy a ticket. Luckily, signs are in Chinese and English. In most stations, the ticket area is easy to find, but if not, just look up and follow the signs to the ticket area.

Be aware! Subways are places where pick-pockets hang out. Keep valuables like wallets and cell phones safe.

Step 2: Use the Machine

Step 3: Approach the Ticket Window

If you completed Step 2, then you can skip to Step 4. If you had trouble with the ticket machine (sometimes they’re all out of order at the same time), then you’ll need to buy your ticket at the window.

Don’t expect a “how can I help you?” from the teller; they might not even look up. Just shout the name of the station to which you’re going and indicate the number of tickets you need. There will be a simple exchange of money and tickets and off you go to the entrance gate.

Step 4: Enter the Ticketed Area

You’ll have to have a ticket to enter the platform. The entry will be marked with signs so follow these to enter the platform. The entry gate will have a scanner over which you’ll pass your ticket or a slot through which you’ll give your ticket (be sure to pick it up when it pops out.

If you’ve got a stroller with you that won’t fit through the gate, find a subway staff member to let you into a gate. If there aren’t any around, just find a gate (they’re usually unlocked) and let yourself through.

Step 5: Go to the Platform