China., Culture shock to the EXTREME. Options

[KayleighKins]

So I'm going to China in 6 days and I was wondering if anyone had ever been to China, or was from there. I'd like to have some tips, or whatever, to make my whole trip a little smoother.

Is there anything I should pack that I might desperately need? Is there anything I might need to remember, culturally wise (taboos to thank yous)? Is there a phrase I should learn quickly?

You know where I'm going with this.

I'm going to/on:
. SHANGHAI
. YICHANG
. THREE GORGES DAM SITE
. SHENNONG STREAM or DANING RIVER
. WANXIAN / SHIBAOZHAI / FENGDU
. XI'AN
. BEIJING

I dunno if that helps with the tip giving, but it won't hurt :D

....Oh, and any items of clothing I should have? I'm from Florida, so cold to me is 70s. I already went to a bunch of travel sites and whatever, but I trust you guys with your insider views :D

[secretwish]

BRING SUNTAN LOTION !
its hot as hell there & the sun burnnss.

the driving there IS insane. the drivers get annoyed easily if your in there way. oh & btw, if you want to take taxis, its cheaper to take those carriage/bicycle ride thingies, but only take them if your destination is nearby.

don't drink bubbletea there. it taste worse than the ones in the US. bleh.

buy those mosquito bite ointments because you might get alot of those bites.

and at some restaurants, if you use/open the napkin packets they give out, it costs money. ROFL. but thats only some restaurants.

i never got diarhea when i was there this year. the food is almost the same as the chinese food here. BUT if you don't know wtf the food is, don't eat it. you might think its chicken but it might as well be goat or something disgusting.

if you need to bring a cellphone charger, i think you need the china outlet plugs because their different from the US. the outlet holes there are round and here...is, well, rectangular i think. lol.

yeah, i hope these tips help. i still love china anyways.