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safelee
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Can you tell me about China?

Hi, I am planning to visit China in the early new year. I am a single guy, 56 years old, Australian, and will only have 4 weeks holiday to spend there.

Where I should visit? Is it safe to travel alone? I cannot speak Mandarin and can only speak English, will I have trouble getting around
your beautiful country?. Will I need a guide or a translator to travel with me? Please help

Lee

2009-11-23 06:41 PM

lovelylife
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have a good journey

you can visit Beijing、Shanghai、Xi'an and so on.
your travel will be great.
it is not necessary to find a translator,because Now China is Becoming a opening-up country
many chines can know what you say in english ,especially in those big cities.

have a good journey

2009-11-24 11:10 AM

xilaren
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QUOTE:

Originally posted by lovelylife at 2009-11-24 11:10
you can visit Beijing、Shanghai、Xi'an and so on.
your travel will be great.
it is not necessary to find a translator,because Now China is Becoming a opening-up country
many chines can know what ...

I do not agree with you.You need a translator in china because only a small number of chinese can speak english.
The first time I visited China I felt like a small child who is always following his mother holding her by her skirt.
I was always accompanied .Just for the first time it is necessary to have an escort with you or an interpreter.

2009-11-24 05:24 PM

safelee
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Thank you

Thank you for your quick reply, I cant wait to visit and explore. I do plan to get into the country and not spend much time in the cities, will this make a difference in wanting an interpreter?

thank you for reading this

Lee

2009-11-24 05:42 PM

safelee
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now I am confused and need a third persons opinion, lol, and if I do decide to hire a guide should I get one from each area that I travel or one that I can learn to trust? I appreciate your comments
Lee

2009-11-24 07:10 PM

xilaren
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QUOTE:

Originally posted by safelee at 2009-11-24 17:42
Thank you for your quick reply, I cant wait to visit and explore. I do plan to get into the country and not spend much time in the cities, will this make a difference in wanting an interpreter?

...

No it does n't.How will you communicate with the people in the countryside?You need an interpreter.

2009-11-24 07:36 PM

xilaren
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QUOTE:

Originally posted by safelee at 2009-11-24 19:10
now I am confused and need a third persons opinion, lol, and if I do decide to hire a guide should I get one from each area that I travel or one that I can learn to trust? I appreciate your comme ...

do trust my opinion.I have got the experience

2009-11-24 07:37 PM

xqxing888
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hi

I think it is necessary for you to have a guider if it is your first time to visit china , china is big , and maybe
occur many different things , if you visit nanjing , I can help you , for free : ) , as you know most of chinese are kind .

2009-11-24 08:14 PM

seneca (seneca)
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QUOTE:

For guys like you the ideal way of getting around China is by joining a tour group.

Your questions sound very superficial; to answer you one needs to know a bit about you. But if you have never travelled abroad on your own then China is not for you. That's why I suggest you buy a package.

That will guarantee you get fun for your yuan,and you won't have to worry about language issues.

2009-11-24 09:12 PM

alkutboys
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2009-11-24 11:08 PM

#10

alkutboys
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QUOTE:

Originally posted by safelee at 2009-11-23 18:41
Hi, I am planning to visit China in the early new year. I am a single guy, 56 years old, Australian, and will only have 4 weeks holiday to spend there.

Where I should visit? Is it safe to trave ...

assalamu alaikum(It means hellow in my native language)

First welcome to china. I am uyghur from xinjiang ,and a university student in Beijing now. I am a native speeker in uyghur and good at chinese, I can communicate in english ,but not frequent .If you will come to china, I want to help you as much as possible, I think you may visit to Beijing, Shanghai ,Xinjiang Uygur Autonomic regeon and so on

2009-11-24 11:43 PM

#11

NYChinatown ( 陳青龍也是不知死)
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you need to hook things up...

QUOTE:

Originally posted by safelee at 2009-11-23 05:41
Hi, I am planning to visit China in the early new year. I am a single guy, 56 years old, Australian, and will only have 4 weeks holiday to spend there.

Where I should visit? Is it safe to trave ...

PRC is just as vast as your country but we do chinese not so much 'bout the international language (we're just not there yet or never be)...my best advice to you is to kno someone's like Xilaren or Seneca with plenty knowledge of china...and ME? oh gosh long story not now, OK

*need someone's with the walk the walk talk the talk then you wont run into you kno what (yeah i'm famous for confusin people)

2009-11-25 12:23 AM

#12

simon0108
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Hello, I am Chinese,and I'm now living in Beijing. The following items are my opinions:
1. If you would like to visit some Chinese charecterized cities,such as Beijing,Hangzhou,Xian'an,etc.I do believe Language will be a problem for you.
2. If you would like to visit countryside, I advise you taking a translater with you. Oterwise,I think you can learn to know some Chinese people in different areas. They could give you some advice, when you are in different areas, because Chinese Culture varies from place to place.

You will enjoy your trip, I'm sure, but you should get yourself prepared for anything unpredictable.However bad or good things might happen to you, they could help you learn more about China, just enjoy the time on the road is enouph.

2009-11-25 12:34 AM

#13

NYChinatown ( 陳青龍也是不知死)
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are you suggesting somethin here...

QUOTE:

Originally posted by simon0108 at 2009-11-24 11:34
Hello, I am Chinese,and I'm now living in Beijing. The following items are my opinions:
1. If you would like to visit some Chinese charecterized cities,such as Beijing,Hangzhou,Xian'an,etc.I do be ...

are you sayin get a DVD about china and pop-it-in the DVD player instead of so much hassles...i hear you tho not sure 'bout SAFELEE

2009-11-25 12:45 AM

#14

1584austin ((Chao ren) 超人)
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ANSWER

QUOTE:

Look at it this way

I am English
I have spent much time in China, on business. Southern China!!
I speak a little Mandarin
I have an English/Mandarin/Pin yin electronic translator.
I am planning for the first time next year to take a week to visit The Great Wall & Xi an, after my business is dealt with.
I will take someone with me to translate when needed
Even though many hotels/ restuarants have some English speaking staff.
Example TAXI DRIVERS outside Major Cities will not speak English !! That's enough to cause you problems.
Do YOUR SELF a favour take an interpretor.
Look in the Forum find someone and take her/him with you from start to finish

Chao ren

[ Last edited by 1584austin at 2009-11-25 03:59 AM ]

2009-11-25 03:48 AM

#15

safelee
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Thank you. I have travelled the world many times and have been stuck in some very remote places. Mainly Africa and central Europe, but never Asia,
This is why I ask the questions. I love to learn about different cultures and believe that you do not understand a country until you meet the people. This is why I want to get away from the city and out into the country. I understand that there are always good and bad people, My concerns are getting to and from places and finding hotels etc for a place to stay and rest. I would like the chance to talk to people, to tell them about me and learn about them. I hope that I have explained that properly and I really thank you all for your advice. I will find a guide, Some one told me to contact a University and request a student as a guide as this is a very popular idea and helps the student make money. any suggestions?

my very best regrads Lee

2009-11-25 04:46 AM

#16

1584austin ((Chao ren) 超人)
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Plenty are asking for work on the Forum

QUOTE:

Originally posted by safelee at 2009-11-25 04:46
Thank you. I have travelled the world many times and have been stuck in some very remote places. Mainly Africa and central Europe, but never Asia,
This is why I ask the questions. I love to learn ...

Just make sure you agree the exact days you want to someone and what RMB they expect. Vet all possible guides, dont get me wrong and no Chinese person will hate me for saying this, but it is well known there are gold diggers about..... and pay day by day !!!! enought said?
Use a safe if sharing a room!!!

See the Great Wall in BJ & go to Xi an.

I wait you pic's and will post mine after October 2010

send me a PM if you want further info !!

2009-11-25 05:11 AM

#17

safelee
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I will take all of your advice and focus on hiring a guide to travel with me. I think that is the safest option. i will strat looking at the end of December for the right person. wish me luck

2009-11-25 07:29 PM

#18

krejados
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I have to tell you: you will absolutely LOVE China! I've been there twice and plan to go again, this time to stay and teach. The people are friendly and helpful, the country is beautiful... please pardon my gushing! May I give you some helpful hints?
First: learn basic courtesy phrases: hello - ni hao (pronounced knee how), thank you - xiexie (pronounced she-ay she-ay), may I ask - qing wen (ching wen). There are several website that can help you learn these basic phrases, just shop around.
Next: visit www.hostelworld.com for accommodations. There you will find quality lodging for a good price, and most often you will have internet access, bike rentals, laundry facilities, close proximity to everything worth seeing in whatever town you're in. Best of all, the staff members speak very good English, and are very helpful. I would recommend that you read the reviews before booking, as some hostels are better than others. (one thing to look for: 24 hour hot water!)
I would love to help you more. Maybe you could pose questions to aftiemema on google's mail.

2009-11-27 04:14 PM

#19

monfucious
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first of all..good luck to you for finding out a decent guide,
secondly,have a nice trip in china.
yea, countryside is the original features of a culture.

2009-11-30 11:27 AM

#20

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