China

[tcjsavannah]

So work is taking my wife and I to China for two weeks (one week in Beijing, one week in Shanghai) in late July/early August.

Anyone ever been? Any tips or things we should remember? The only out-of-US place I've been before is Canada, so I don't have much experience to draw on...

[The Lost Manatee]

First thing to do is make sure that you have a valid passport and visa. Without that your trip isn't going to happen.
Second, be prepared for lots of noise, pollution and crowds.
Third, take the time to learn the proper way to behave so that you aren't an ugly American.
Fourth, be prepared for lots of fun, China is a wonderfully interesting place to visit and the people are generally very nice to Americans.
Fifth, if you are flying in coach on a US flagged airline, drugs to kill the pain from the terribly crowded seating.
Sixth, if you can arrange it, try breaking up the trip with a stop in Hong Kong or Toyko on the way there or back.
Seventh, have more fun.
Eighth, take the time to explore and see the hidden gems that China has to offer. Also take some time to meet the people.
Ninth, DON'T DRINK THE WATER!
Tenth, Have fun!

[creeky]

Closest I have been is to Hong Kong - I guess is now CHina, but wasnt when I was there...

get used to eating rice

[tcjsavannah]

Ninth, DON'T DRINK THE WATER!

Yeah, this is the one piece of advice my wife and I seem to keep getting. Even to the extreme of using bottled water to brush our teeth at night and gargle with.

We are going with a sponsored tour (It's us, my school's collegiate volleyball squad and a few parents) so we are going to have our own chartered bus to take us to the different sites. I'm really looking forward to it.

Thanks for the tips!