What to expect on arrival

• English is not widely spoken, even in tourist restaurants and hotels. Should you need assistance at any point your guide will be the best person to help out, so it is advisable to take down his / her number.
  
  
• The population density in China is such that the local people have much less of a regard for personal space than we are used to in the West. Do not feel threatened or intimidated if you are jostled in a queue, instead hold your ground and go with the flow.
  
  
• China’s expanding middle class is now the main source of tourists in China. In some popular locations you will find yourself surrounded by large groups of domestic tourists.
  
  
• The concept of “keeping face” in China is extremely important, and “losing face” in public is unacceptable, and usually ends in a dispute. As they say in China, if you cause someone to lose face you will never get what you want, and may get something you don’t want! If in doubt about a situation please ask your local guide for advice.
  
  
• Government action, weather and local conditions can sometimes disrupt itineraries. It helps to be flexible and patient if such situations arise.
  
  
• Avoid drinking tap water. Most hotels will provide either bottled water or filtered water in the rooms. Bottled water is available everywhere, but to cut down on plastic use we recommend taking your own refillable or filtered bottle and refilling as you go.
  
  
• Use an insect repellent for mosquitoes and be careful to protect yourself against dehydration, heat exhaustion and sunburn.
  
  
• Although foreigners are becoming an increasingly common sight in China, many Chinese are still extremely curious about Westerners. Expect to be stared at, especially in more remote areas of the country. Remember that in China this is not considered to be rude, so be patient with curious locals.

Bamboo’s Top Tips

• Use the free hot water - Throughout China you will notice the locals topping up their green tea flasks and pot noodles with hot water that is provided free of charge in airports, train stations, restaurants and even on-board trains. If you enjoy green tea why not purchase a “jam jar” and some green tea and do as the locals do. Otherwise take along a travel cup and/or small thermos so you can enjoy your favourite drinks on the go. 
  
  
• Coffee drinkers be prepared - Coffee is considered a luxury item, and the price of a cup in an airport often costs more than a meal. If you need a regular caffeine fix after your morning fill at the hotel we recommend taking some sachets of instant coffee from home and a travel cup and/ or small thermos (see above) which can be topped up with hot water as you travel around. If you are buying sachets of instant coffee in China be aware that they often come with milk and lots of sugar mixed in. If you prefer your coffee black, or unsweetened, take a supply from home with you. 

• Keep hydrated! - When coming from a cool climate it is easy to forget that you need to drink a lot more water in a hot climate than you are used to. Dehydration leads to tiredness, so drink plenty of water to maximise the enjoyment of your holiday. 

• Eating out - Outside of the main tourist areas the locals normally enjoy dinner in restaurants between 6-7.30pm. If you arrive at a restaurant much later expect the place to be deserted, and the staff to be packing up for the evening. You will find that very few staff in local restaurants speak any English, and there may only be Chinese menus. If you are happy to eat out early your guide may offer to take you to a restaurant and assist you with ordering. In this instance feel free to tell him / her that you will be happy to make your own way back to your hotel. Lunchtimes provide a great opportunity for eating in the more local restaurants that do not normally cater for Westerners, as your guide will be with you to assist with translating the menu and ordering. 

• Traveling around China - Some of the car and boat journeys in China can be quite long so it is worth being prepared with some snacks, drinks, books and an audio device (with headphones). If you enjoy listening to the same music as your travel companion purchase a headphone splitter before you depart, which connects two headsets or speakers to one device.