Going to China for 2 months! Options

[xconnieLOOHOOx07]

UGH. I'm going to Japan first for about 3 days, then off to China-land for roughly a hellish 2 months. Coming back the week before school starts...

(I leave next Tuesday.)

GAHHHH!!!! What should I bring besides the essentials (toothbrush, toothpaste, clothing, etc.)?? What should I NOT bring??

Also, does anybody have a rough idea of what most of the urban cities look like today? I haven't been there in 5 years...and China has changed alot in 5 years...

How are airplanes? GAWD...I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION! But...still. How are the airplanes...? I heard that some have SHOWERS...n stuff. What's there to do on airplanes? Plus, how long do you think I'll have to stay on an airplane to get to Japan? To China from Japan?

DO THEY SPEAK *PROPER* ENGLISH IN CHINA?? (Not ENGRISH!)

Somebody tell me if China's status on communism...I mean, I know they're still Communist, but it doesn't really seem that way from what I saw online (only for the urban areas, not for the poor & rural areas)...hmmmM...

[Nicolatofu]

Well, seems like you'll have a long flight, so be sure to bring things to keep you occupied. OH and don't forget a camera

I suppose airplans that have longer to travel on might have showers.. usually they play movies that you can watch and they also have radio channels... none that impress me, though.

I'm sure there are people who can speak english there, but considering that isn't their primary language, I'm certain a lot of them have an accent.

[cherry_toothpast...]

wow that's kinda weird.

i live in japan, and i'm going to visit china this summer. i'm not staying that long though, only for a week.

ANYWAY, i've never been to china before. but for japan, you should be more specific of where you're going. if you're going to tokyo, it's very, very crowded.

you can't expect people in japan and china to have perfect english either.

bring whatever you bring on usual holidays. japan has really weird and unpredictable weather, especially in june. some days it's really, really hot, and on other days it's rainy. it's always humid though.

for the plane ride, it depends on where you live. if you live in america, it's a pretty long flight to japan. take something that'll keep you busy. the flight from japan to china isn't that long though.

hope that helps.

[liSerS x3]

well, the flight to china does take a long time. and umm, i haven't seen any planes with showers. it's usually around 20-24 hours for the flight leaving from the U.S. i'm not sure how long it will take from japan. i'm assuming a few hours?

not that many poeple speak english there. or at least the people i know there don't speak english. like i just go to china to visit my relatives. i'm sure that there are people you can find that speak english.

china doesn't really seem that communist either. the government really doesn't control that much. like you can't elect your own leaders and stuff, but there's really nothing else besides that.

there's nothing i can think of that you shouldn't bring. just don't bring the stuff that you can't bring onto airplanes. make sure you have no aerosol spray cans like hairspray. i've gotten that taken away at an aiport before. and umm, of course, don't bring weapons.

haha, enough rambling already.

[cocoalightning27]

Been to China 4 times.....Take this advice seriously....BRING A FAN AND AND AN UMBRELLA....you'll need the fan....it's gonna be about 100 degrees F

....lets hope where you are will have Air conditioning...if it's in the
Countryside...prolly not....and the umbrella....you're gonna get killed by the sun if you don't bring one...

for the plane rides....bring a book or something to keep you busy...I usually just sleep. I estimate about 20 hours on an airplane to China or Japan...and about 2 hours to get to japan from China


and where I went...srry...but they do speak engrish...IT"S UNDERSTANDABLE THOUGH

Gah Have fun!!!!! Bring Cb back lots and lots of Pirated DVD"S!.......j/k

[sweetxsimplicity]

Wow, why is everyone going to China? My cousin's going to China this week and next week, and my friend is going to China next next week.

[lilliannnn]

i've been to china too, but not for about 5-6 years.
it's gonna be HOT! and the plane ride there was 24-29 hours (no lie)
it was pretty crowded, so i'm sure its even more crowded now.
HAVE FUN!

[aera]

im going to japan!

well... china's gonna be reallyyyyyy hot. bring one of those electric fans with you.

[gigiopolis]

What should you bring? Um...I don't know. Something to entertain yourself with? But if you want any electronic stuff...get it in China. It's cheaper.

The urban cities in China look like...um, the urban cities in any other country, like the United States. Hong Kong reminds me, in many ways, of New York. Big urban cities are all alike.

Airplanes don't have showers. There are small, cramped toilets on airplanes. Um...yeah. To Japan it'll take...10 hours ish, depending on where you live. Japan to China...again, depends where you're going...A plane ride from Vancouver to Hong Kong takes around 14 hours, so yeah, you could calculate and estimate from that.

No, most people don't speak PROPER English in China (if you mean unaccented, perfect grammar and stuff) but it depends where you're going. If you're going to an urban area, most people will know English well enough for you to understand.

[xconnieLOOHOOx07]

how many pairs of each clothing item should I bring?

[gigiopolis]

I usually bring...10-20 tops, 3-5 pairs of pants, 10+ pairs of socks...Yeah. You're living there for 2 months, I mean.

[demolished]

bring laptop w/ you so you dont forget us.
pictures .. if you miss someone badly..

[aznxdreamer]

bring your own toilet paper because you have to pay for them when you use the public bathroooms...yeah it sucks. and its really smelly, not just the bathrooms so you might wanna bring some kinda towel to hold over your nose to filter the air hah. and i hate the plane ride. its like..15 hours of sitting there and listening to a loud hum. never heard of showers on a plane. i would enver use them. im going to china in july. i go there about every year to visit family.

ther emight be random crazy hobos walking around the city trying to sell stuff and you'll most likely get grabbed by an insane fast talking hobo thats trying to sell you little necklace things that look like they'll break if you try to put them on. just ignore them.

fyi...the sky is kinda grey during all hours because of the pollution.

[azn_r4pf4n]

Well, seems like you'll have a long flight, so be sure to bring things to keep you occupied. OH and don't forget a camera

i agree with that. Cameras... oh boy, there's lots of good pics to take there. suzhou gardens, old ancient cities, and if u can, get a good shot of nightlife pictures. I heard night time looks great in HK. Night-time pics look great if ur going to take pictures of urban parts of china.

[Tung]

wow your one lucky person. cherish every momemnt you are there. china is a great place !!

[Paradox of Life]

^Yeah. China and Japan are awesome places. Why are you worrying so much? It's going to be a blast. Pack money of course, a few books, your CD player or a portable DVD player if you have it. It's going to be a hella long trip (takes 30 hours to get to Vietnam, I know that ). Bring sleeping pills maybe because of the jet lag. You know a lot more than me because you've been there before.
You're so lucky your parents even let you go to China. You sound like you're stressed out. CHILLAX.

Most likely they'll speak engrish because I mean, what do you expect? Chinese people having american accents?

[*salcha*]

CHINA! I've been to China:

TO BRING:
1. sunscreen (YES, I got sunburnt)
2. shorts
3. t-shirts
4. tank tops
5. loose clothing
6. insect repellent (you'll love me forever)
7. a camera
8. a book for the plane ride there
9. a body that's in shape if you plan to climb the great wall of china.

NOT TO BRING
1. heavy clothing

Annnnd, I'm going back to Taiwan in two day, so the weather and all is the same.

[Where We Are]

the plane trip takes 13 hours not 20 O.o

Urban life is pretty good in China. You'll probably see a lot of skyscraper construction in the cities. Beijing is currently transforming itself to better accomadate its 2008 Olympics. Maybe the taxi drivers will know some English? They didn't last year..but you never know, China is changing faster and faster these days.

[whomps]

I haven't been to China in uh.. 3 years. I stayed for about 2 months also. I liked it.. You should uh, bring a lot of money because there's going to be tons of cheap crap to buy. Seriously, life isn't like.. super hard in China. It was fun.

What part of China are you staying in ?

[highly_evolved]

japans a sauna right now.

no airplanes do not have showers

Japan is ugly in some places but nice in others - roppongi is brilliant at the moment
you dont get carded in japan
thers nothin to do in japan except go clubbing
bring money

China is actually a really nice place

[xconnieLOOHOOx07]

Places where I'm going:

-Beijing
-Chongqing (staying here the longest...my parents are currently thinking about 4 weeks)
-Smaller cities around Chongqing

NO, my parents are too stubborn to go to Shanghai, Hong Kong, or Taiwan. X(

Well...at least I get to sweat out all of my "troubles" in the hot land of the Sichaun province...

[sammi rules you]

you can't expect people in japan and china to have perfect english either. 

have you always lived there? if so, it seems like you speak better english than some of the english-speaking people on here..

however, she's right, these people don't speak english normally so i doubt it's going to sound perfect. going to a country is for the experience of the other country, not to go and act like you're still in america.

why are you so hesitant to go? i would love to go to china and japan. it would be such a different atmosphere..plus their style is so different from ours. i would love the experience and to see how people live in other cultures.

[llpurpleskyll]

well i think your questions have all been answered...anyhow just a warning..its going to be REALLY REALLY REALLY hot there ^_^

[gigiopolis]

DON'T FORGET YOUR INSECT REPELLENT.

My brother's working in China for the summer and he's gotten 40 mosquito bites in his sleep, even with the windows closed.

[JlIaTMK]

Okay, I don't think you should worry too much about all the other stuff after your second paragraph.

But, bring.... what you feel like bringing will satisfy you for 2 months.
That is a long time.

Hm, have fun though. I mean, what, you live here anyways.

[soulless727]

purple ponies (self deleted 12/30/06)

[*iNyCxShoRT*]

Bring some money, you might wanna buy all those suveniers (sp?) yeah bring all those pjs, toothbrush, toothpaste, you know all those things.

[PinkTrash]

I was at China like 2 months ago.. I really didnt have to bring much because my aunties and uncles provided all. I didnt even bring much clothes; just a few pair of outfits, i just bought A LOT of clothes there.
fashion loverr? china is so the place for you. Cheap, stylish clothes; i was so addicted..

[JlIaTMK]

sounds like fun!! wish i could go. just remember to bring your bible and book of mormon (if your cool and a mormon like me), a lap top...umm other cool stuff....that are so cool i dont knwo of....yeah...a camera of course so you can show us all!

Hm....
and why would they need to bring a bible out of all things?

What would happen, if say, they are Buddhist?
Blah, I despise when people speak of such.

[DaTru KataLYST]

sounds like fun!! wish i could go. just remember to bring your bible and book of mormon (if your cool and a mormon like me), a lap top...umm other cool stuff....that are so cool i dont knwo of....yeah...a camera of course so you can show us all!

Direct missionary work/preaching is still illegal in China.

Church organizations use indirect means by offering to be schoolteachers in China, though.

[bonluvdan]

you seems dislike China. :/

and well in china, they speak madarin. not many ppl can speak proper english. as the education and economic problem, blah blah blah



edit// if you want to buy things, remember to BARGAIN.

most important. BARGAIN!!!!!!!!!

you can save a lot of money

[glitzygurl]

ok. one thing. i've lived in hong kong here for around 7 years. be very very very very very very very very careful. people in mainland china are... freaky at times. but my family members are all living in china so emm... yeah. i don't think they speak english well. pretty weird english really. the flight's like 10 hours maybe? i remember last time i went from china to the states was like almost a year. really really long time. airplanes don't have showers by the way. china from japan's only around 3 hours. but it depends on where you're going from. china's really big. if you're going from beijing it takes a shorter time. from hong kong then it's a longer time. the cities are ok. not bad i would say. just be careful of its dirtiness. and it's also waaaaaaaaaay hot now. and a lot of rain this year. it's really surprising for us. i'm also moving to beijing this august. blah. i hate that. new school, new everything. anyway. have fun ok? i think just be careful of pick pockets. not i've been pick pocketed, but my dad almost was once. anyway, you'll have fun. i asure that.

[glitzygurl]

one more thing, don't bring around too much money around. and also if you're bringing really expensive stuff, put it somewhere safe. i'm sure you don't really need that but well... i'm just over-cautious. lol.

[aznxdreamer]

^ dont double post please. just edit the first one.

bring a hat so you dont get sunburnt even though the sun is hidden by the grey pollutioness. X_x and beware of the bathrooms.

[jue]

my parents just went to china last year; it took them 12 hours to get there? im not sure. and i havent been in china since i was 4. and im 13 now. so i odnt know much.

[gelionie]

Oh... don't worry about China.

Umm... hardly anyone can speak proper English, but most are quite friendly as long as you don't offend them.

Err... and China is not really communist that much anymore, it's more like socialist only.

It's not that scary as you think... the urban areas are pretty advanced, except the air pollution is quite bad.


//edit: AH!! Beware of pickpockets. There are quite a lot, especially in big cities.

Also when you buy things (not in chain stores or big stores) such as souvenirs, DO remember that you can argue with them the price. The price they set is ALWAYS a lot higher. Buy things at the lowest price you can get.

[SMUSHiENESS]

Wow your lucky, Ive never gone to china my entire life. I would brong OFF if i were you, i heard there are alot of flies.

[MeLoNiSyUmMy]

oh hey, i mchinese too. i went to hong kong for 3 weeks and then beijing for a week and thento this relaly poor area..if you've got air conditioning, then you'll be happy. YAY! bubt since i went to where my dad use to live when he was a kid, there wasnt any air conditioning. and their showers were..just..ew. BRING RAMPONS IF TAHTS WTA YOU USE. for some reason..tampons dont even exist in china. and the airplanes are ok. you might get air sick or something..it depends..what air line are you flying on? ive been on like..every airline possible. bring an extra jacket becuase no matter waht the temperature is from your departure, the sirplane thats 15 hours will be cold!! cold!!!!!! and no, the blankets dont help. just get plenty of rest on the plane. ahh, i wish i were going back this year.

[angel-roh]

Wow... China seems like it's a popular places to go this summer. So many people are going to China. Wow... what about Korea? Japan? France? United Kingdom?? How about them? And I don't hear Hawaii lol.


Anyways, my friends who are Chinese told me that they suck at speaking English.. some try to speak it, but their accent is so bad that you can't hardly understand. But there is this one place where lots of people speak English really well because the owner of the cafe is born in New York and speaks English fluently. But I don't know the name of the cafe. does anyone know?

[cherry_toothpast...]

have you always lived there? if so, it seems like you speak better english than some of the english-speaking people on here..

however, she's right, these people don't speak english normally so i doubt it's going to sound perfect. going to a country is for the experience of the other country, not to go and act like you're still in america.

why are you so hesitant to go? i would love to go to china and japan. it would be such a different atmosphere..plus their style is so different from ours. i would love the experience and to see how people live in other cultures.

actually i've been living here for most of my life. i'm not japanese though, i'm peruvian/canadian, lol.

[rAwritsgWeg]

ur so lucky i wish i could go either there or japan

[midnitexrose]

lol i was hoping to go back to hong kong. but that'll be next year. sigh. i probably gonna go to japan too.

[swe3ttemptasian]

Well it all depends on the airlines. I've never heard of showers on the plane.. but the one I was on to Vietnam had TV's at every seat.. so we were able to watch tons of movies.. it also had tv shows and radio