Montythemoth
Australia
superkt13
Illinois
i kind of agree with wigmore- there’s always unheathly options. you can find oreos and western junk food if you look
and they have mcdonalds and kfc’s
but for main meals they eat alot of noodles and rice, and hardley any sugar at all
I went there with a box of granola bars, thinking id get sick of always eating noodles, but i didnt at all,
i went there for jut over a month, and i was never hungry (i was fed a lot, they;re big on being polite by offering to give you lots of food )
i had some “candy” often too, and i still lost about 10 pounds
I think, if you eat what most chinese people eat, you’ll probally loose weight
steven02345
Sterling
Food is generally healthy there unless you decide to do the KFC thing (yes, you get pizza hut (which oddly enough tastes better there) and all the western franchises. You can eat in native places and there the food (I’m a vegetarian) was healthy and tasty (but I like Chineese food.).
There are a number of cultural mores to follow that would help you fit in better. Those links that wigmore gave you is a good start here are a few more I learnt in my visit there:
Never leave your chop sticks (or fork) in the food / rice in particular when eating. You usually get a stand that you can rest your chopsticks on. It considered an insult or has something to do with death (I don’t remember the reason but it was important to my chineese host).
When giving something to someone give with both hands (this rule applies to something as small as a bussiness card too).
Good luck on your trip I wish I was going to China :) .
brainheil
Portland
the reason is because your chopsticks sticking up out of a bowl of rice looks like incense sticks sticking out of an offering bowl—something offered when praying for the dead. it’s considered a bad omen/luck, so people like you to avoid it.
Montythemoth
Australia
thanks for the tips – I do not want to insinuate death with my chopsticks and would not have known that! Thanks – the two hand thing too… ! Thanks a lot
Ujwala Prabhu
Dhaka
Most Chinese food is healthy and there is a great variety. I miss the food as most countries have adapted this cuisine to local tastes.
A good thing would be to learn a smattering of Mandarin. It will help you get around a bit in the beginning. And they really appreciate the effort made by foreigners to learn their language. You could make a start online at http://www.chinesepod.com . they’re providing a 100 basic lessons for free and there is a forum too where you could learn more.
Since food was at the top of your list. :D You could read up more about the regional cuisine and learn a few names in mandarin so that you can order easily at a restaurant. My husband and I were fans of Cantonese, Sichuan and Hunan cusine. The later two being fairly spicy.
We loved our stay in Shanghai and would love to go back! I hope you enjoy your stay in China.
Montythemoth
Australia
Thankyou so much. I have just signed up to that website to learn some basic – I would not have even thought to do that, greatly appreciated!
I am a fan of the spicy food so will start looking into cuisine aswell. It is so lovely getting help from strangers – really appreciate it.
Ujwala Prabhu
Dhaka
You are welcome. your q and the replies have me decided on coming here to ask for advice before setting out on my next holiday :D
Montythemoth
Australia
absolutely! What a great way to do it – ask people who are passionate about the places – they’d be able to tell you much better than a travel agent!
Jimba
0 places
How much you expand and the food you eat is tied up with what youre doing? As a student you will probably eat at the cafe and wonder why you have come all the way to China to eat sweat n sour pork? If you are working then you will probably have more fiscal leverage to choose the restaurants you like and/or purchase the groceries agreeable with you. If I can offer any tips on etiquette it would be to keep an open mind and let cultural disparities slide off your back until you understand the whys and the hows. The big two tips I wish I was told are these two little gems: 1) ALWAYS ALWAYS carry with you a packet of tissues… you never know when you will need to squat (literally); 2). Get out there and meet people, put yourself out of your comfort zone and do not be afraid to approach expats and locals alike. China can be a lonely place if you are involute. GOODLUCK!!!
meganeleanor
Washington State
China is awesome. I only got to go to mainland China for one day since the majority of my trip was in Hong Kong (which is VERY different from the rest of China.) I would definitely make an effort to go to Hong Kong though, it’s awesome.
I did learn a few things while in HK. One that more or less might be a culture shock was their view of manners. Reaching across the table, burping, picking their nose or a wedgie and staring are culturally accepted.
I agree with everyone else about food. They have just about every fast food place the US has. Who wants to eat American food when you’re abroad anyways? (You will get hungry for a hamburger eventually though, especially if you are moving there.) If you want more random info check out my blog, meganincentralia.blogspot.com. I put up lots of updates while I was in Hong Kong this July.
Try to go to a cultural village while you’re there. We went to Splendid China in Shenzhen.
onetruetweedle
Kennebunk
I would say you can count on losing weight while you’re in China, no matter how much you eat. It sounds crazy – but in the months I spent in Fuzhou I consistently lost weight both when I stuffed myself and when I starved myself.
If you’d like specific foods you should seek out while you’re there, I’d be glad to help out. There’s a particular few dishes that first-timers MUST experience.
General etiquette tips:
- Never point at a person (or at a thing, sometimes) as it is considered generally rude. I’m not sure about the rules of when it is appropriate to point at things, but just use your judgement.
- Never eat everything you’re served (unless you’re at a restaurant). If you clean off all the food on the table, your host will feel as though they have not provided you with enough.
- Don’t mock friendly guy/guy affection. You may see (generally younger) boys holding hands or doing things people in America would (discriminatively) label gay. In China such actions are totally normal, and you’ll look like an ignorant foreigner if you try to make fun of it.
_
I could probably go on for a while as I remember more and more from recent trips, but those are a few good general pointers.
If you have any questions regarding Mandarin, I’d be glad to help out. Chinese Pod is definitely a good resource to start off with, but after a while you’ll need a tutor to help you with pronunciation one-on-one.
Montythemoth
Australia
Thanks for your great answers! I would love some more info on food !! What are the MUST eats…. is it true that dogs and donkeys and all sorts of animals are included in meals or is that a myth???
I have just started the Chinese Pod thing and am absolutely freaking out about language! How important is the tonal thing – I can’t seem to repeat and learn words let alone add the tone without sounding like an extra for Monkey Magic… haha it is very challenging!
onetruetweedle
Kennebunk
For the most part the wacky foods are a myth. Every once in a while you may happen upon dog being served, but never in a nice restaurant. Generally the pets and rodents are served by the folks that troll the sidewalks with wagons of seemingly delicious meat. I’d suggest avoiding them.
The oddest thing I’ve seen served at a nice restaurant was chicken feet. But, honestly, they aren’t that bad. Try everything once – that’s a good standard to live by.
_
Try to get Kung Pao chicken. It is delicious, and generally every tourist or foreigner gets a chance to try it while they are in China. It gives an accurate sense of Sichuan cuisine, although it isn’t very spicy compared to other Sichuan dishes. It is cooked in several different ways, but I have yet to taste Kung Pao I didn’t like.
I’m a bit foggy on the name of this next dish, but if you have any translator or native with you (or even if you just have a picture menu), you’ll be able to spot it. Basically it is a heaping serving of diced apples (or sweet potatoes) with molten sugar poured over them. You grab a piece of the fruit and quickly dip it in an accompanying bowl of water. The sugar instantly crystallizes, making the whole thing taste like some sort of candy. But watch out – it is still deadly hot inside! This is also a personal favorite…I’m sorry that I can’t come up with a name – I didn’t have too much time out and about during my most recent trip.
I’ll let you know as I remember more.
_
Wow, this comment is long. Haha, I hope I’m not boring you.
Learning the tones is tough. Give yourself some time. It took me a few months to feel comfortable with my pronunciation, and it took me the better part of a year after that to acquire pronunciation that satisfied my tutor. Learning with Chinese Pod can be tough – I’d strongly suggest that upon arriving in Beijing you track down a copy of “Chinese Made Easier” by Martin Symonds, published by Shaanxi Normal University Press. That series (five books in total) was absolutely instrumental in my learning of Mandarin. It does a fantastic job of introducing characters and getting you familiar with them very quickly.
If you can’t wait until you go to China to get the series, you can order the first book here: http://www.chinesemall.com/chmaea2edvo1.html
It costs $24 per book from that site, compared to roughly $7 in China. Ack, sorry. But do yourself a favor and get your hands on a copy ASAP.
onetruetweedle
Kennebunk
Oh, and I wish I could say that tones aren’t very important…but they are the most important thing of all.
Just an example here, using the word “Ba”.
neutral: a particle indicating a suggestion
first: eight
second: to pull out
third: (uh-oh, I don’t remember)
fourth: father
That may sound horribly intimidating, but that’s the example my teacher first gave me – and it stuck with me. Tones are important, and it is easy to get lazy with them.
For me personally it helped to make the motion of the tone with my hand while I spoke. Yes, I looked like a total idiot, but it was extremely effective. Having my tonal inflection follow the path of my hand made the pronunciation much easier…maybe I’m just crazy, but it is worth a shot. :)
Don’t stress out too much. You’ll get there.
Remember – having a native speaker correct your pronunciation is imperative after a while. Try to seek someone out either now or as soon as you move out there. Most Chinese folks are more than willing to help out us ignorant foreigners. ;)
_
Again, my comments are far too long. I’m sorry.
Montythemoth
Australia
No! I like the long answers! I am feeding on all this information. I am currently living in small country town with out a bookstore or chinese folk! I appreciate yourlenghty answers!
I am going to try and get my hands on that book you suggested on the net. Yep I am intimidated hearing the four different meanings, but in a good way – its a huge challenge and that’s what I want… it’ll also be a good laugh for me and for native chinese people trying to learn it all I am sure!! Cheers!
onetruetweedle
Kennebunk
I just remembered another etiquette tip I picked up on my most recent trip. Never kneel for any reason. To take pictures, or otherwise. In China kneeling is reserved for either worshipping or showing respect to one’s parents during a particular festival. This /may/ be some sort of local thing, but the more I thought about it the more it seemed to apply everywhere I’ve been. Trust me, you never notice how much you kneel until you’re told to stop doing it. :-p It isn’t a huge deal, just another little thing to become better assimilated.
It is good to hear that you know to laugh at yourself. Too many people (myself included, at times) just get mad or stop speaking altogether after making fools of themselves a few times. Don’t let that happen! If you say a few ridiculous (or, in my case, offensive) things just shake it off – your Chinese friends will certainly do the same.
I’m glad to be of help. Let me know if I can answer anything else. :)
ariamozzafiata
Buddakan NYC
“Thanks for your great answers! I would love some more info on food !! What are the MUST eats…”
A: I posted that and more on this page. Enjoy! (_)
Q: “Is it true that dogs and donkeys and all sorts of animals are included in meals or is that a myth???”
A: For the most part, it’s a silly stereotype. However, is it true that pigs/hogs, cows and all sorts of animals (like rabbit, oyster and crustacean lobster) are included in meals in America, or is that a myth? {hahaha} you get the point. It’s quite silly to make a generalization about a culture / group of people like that.
Q: “How important is the tonal thing…?”
A: Very. It’s fairly simple, though, considering there are only 4 tones in Mandarin Chinese (compared to 6 in Cantonese) and words are usually 1-3 syllables long. Sentences have even less grammatical rules than in English. Chinese is not as difficult as some people make it seem.
“I can’t seem to repeat and learn words let alone add the tone…” You need practice and specialized instruction, preferrably from a native.
Yes, you can. It’s all about the state of mind you’re in. You just need to be motivated. There are only four tones. Once you get them, speaking is a breeze. Words are usually short in Chinese.
ariamozzafiata
Buddakan NYC
1) Is Chinese food generally fattening or healthy?
Well, that really depends on where and what you eat, LOL.
“About.com Chinese Food” features some Healthy Chinese food recipes and calories. Take these examples into consideration for future reference when you go to China.
http://chinesefood.about.com/library/blcaloriecounters.htm
Although this is kind of gross, you should be prepared nonetheless:
Traveler’s Diarrhea – Simple tips for avoiding this common travel illness.
http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa010803a.htm
Also refer to the guides below:
2) Any great tips for stuff to do?
Sure! There are plenty of amazing things to do in China! Use these fantastic guides as references:
- The “DK Eyewitness Travel Guide helps you to get the most out of your trip to China”!
http://us.dk.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780756609191,00.html
DK also offers a “Survival Guide”.
- “Top 10 Beijing” lists top attractions, which includes hotels, museums, restaurants and shops.
http://us.dk.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780756624743,00.html
- “Beijing and Shanghai”, the traditional capital (B) and financial, industrial powerhouse city (S). Detailed with rich photos, illustrations and maps.
http://us.dk.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780756625009,00.html
Go China, featured by About.com
China Travel: What to See in Shanghai
“Discover Shanghai’s top tourist attractions as well as some off-the-beaten path sites.”
http://gochina.about.com/od/whattoseeinshanghai/What_to_See_in_Shanghai.htm
And Hot Attractions:
http://goasia.about.com/od/placestoseeinchina/index_a.htm
3) As far as etiquette goes, it would be best to ask a Chinese person directly and simply immerse yourself in the culture.
You can also discover more by reading independently. Here are some great starters:
Chinese Dining Customs, Table Etiquette
Explore Chinese dining customs, including table settings, seating arrangements, the use of chopsticks, and what to expect at a banquet.
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/foodetiquette/Chinese_Dining_Customs_Table_Etiquette.htm
Including: Practical tips, superstitions, and why it’s bad luck to turn over a fish.
Chinese Table Manners aka “You Ignorant Pig You!”
http://www.foodster.net/2004/11/chinese_table_m.html
And an Official Guide to Traditional Dining Etiquette, Directly from China!
http://china.org.cn/english/culture/106719.htm
I’m sure you will enjoy all of the resources I mentioned earlier. Have lots of fun in China! I did! I plan to go back to Shanghai, too!
Truly,
Aria
P.S., Karaoke is huge in China! You have to try it once you’re there!
Montythemoth
Australia
What a champion! Thanks so much for all this valuable info and links I am definitely going to check them all out.
Can’t wait to do the karaoke… actually i was thinking the other day, (I’m going to China to teach english) maybe I can take my students to a Karaoke Bar to get them to sing songs that are in “english” as a fun teaching method!! You inspired that thought in me!
muddart
Charlottesville
Sorry, I don’t have time to read all the other answers before replying so sorry for any duplication.
There are both fattening and non-fattening choices in China. Often food can be swimming in oil, so that may sometimes make it more fattening. Also, there are a number of deep fried dishes which will tend to be more fattening.
The thing you might find different depending on where you are is that you get more exercise through just daily activities. People tend to walk more places, or take their bikes. So, I never “worked out” or dieted while I lived there, but stayed in shape nonetheless.
Some cultural Dos and Don’ts:
- Don’t stick chopsticks straight down into your rice, this implies death. You can however lay them across the top of your rice bowl.
- Don’t pick up food off the table if you drop it. It’s the equivalent of picking it up off the floor in Chinese society (and picking it up off the floor is the equivalent of picking it out of the toilet).
- Don’t be surprised by slurping noises at the table. This is not considered impolite in most circles.
- Don’t ever write someone’s name in red, and avoid writing notes to people in red. The reason for this is the mortuary records are written in red, and putting someone’s name in red is thus like saying you wish they were dead.
- Do give people “face”—don’t insist that they give you an explanation for everything. Allow people to be vague if they want to. China is a place where it’s much better to say “It’s not convenient for me to have dinner with you” rather than explaining why. Explaining why implies that you don’t consider the person a good friend. Good friends do not need to give explanations (there are some exceptions to this)
- if you invite someone to a meal, do pay for it. Generally people do not “go dutch”. It is customary to fight over the bill, and to not give up without a fight. If you invited you should put up a very big fight and use the fact that you invited as part of your argument for you paying. But do give in sometimes to give “face” to the other person.
- I did read the comment about “Culture Shock China”. Just my two cents, but this was my least favorite culture shock book. I think it was because the way it talked about China would not be sensitive to Mainland Chinese reading it. I read it before China, but didn’t want to take it with me because I didn’t want English speaking Chinese friends to browse through my shelf and read it. The book I loved was: “Encountering Chinese: A Guide for Americans” available at http://www.interculturalpress.com. Also available at the same source is “Turning Bricks into Jade” which is also excellent. These are probably both available at Amazon as well. They were both written by both American and Chinese anthropologist authors (multiple authors for each).
Another book which I find particularly enlightening is: “The Chinese Have a Word for It” which is available at Amazon (search on the title). It lists hundreds of Chinese words that have special cultural meaning to Chinese people. There is a page long explanation of what the word means in Chinese culture, and why it’s so important. For instance, it helped me a lot in understanding the Chinese view of “face” (rather than understanding it only from an American perspective).
That’s all I have for now. Hope this helps.
muddart
Charlottesville
Addendum: I just noticed you were from Australia, so thought I’d better add a little note about the book I recommended. Still think the book “Encountering Chinese” could be helpful because although it was written to be targeted towards Americans in China, many of the issues brought up apply to any Western culture vs. Eastern culture. I’ve recommended it to other non-Americans who found it helpful. I think even one of them was an Aussie. As I mentioned it was written by two anthropologists, one American and one Chinese, so it’s not as culturally biased as some other resources I’ve read. Yet, it is not academic, but really written for the average person going to China.
Montythemoth
Australia
Thanks so much for your replies – yes am Aussie but would imagine similar info if not same would apply – am looking into getting this book – really appreciate your advice
