Eight China Business Travel Tips.
The Dragon Business Network Blog did a post, entitled, "7 Tips for Business Travel to China." Believing both that one was missing and that eight is a lucky number, I added one more.
Here are the original seven:
- Bring an unlocked mobile phone
- Take taxis everywhere
- Use Mguanxi to get around the city
- Program 962288 into your phone, in Shanghai
- Register with Ctrip
- Know that some hotels cater to the domestic market, not foreigners
- Treat yourself to a tailor-made suit
Is Ctrip necessarily better than elong?
For more on the seven, I urge you to read the full post here.
And now for the eight tip. Enjoy yourself at least a bit. If at all possible, spend a few hours taking in some of the tourist sites. Walk around the city in which you find yourself. Enjoy the food. Get out of your hotel.
What else?
Comments (17)
Read through and enter the discussion by using the form at the endElka International - September 1, 2010 9:44 AM
Nice info, Thank you
Carey Chambers - September 1, 2010 5:49 PM
I would suggest hiring a car and driver. It can save you a lot of grief. When you choose your local mobile number, don't pick one that ends in 4 (unlucky). A cure for jetlag would be nice, if anyone knows one. Thank you for the link, Dan.
AC - September 1, 2010 7:54 PM
1. Anyone know how the prepaid SIM will work with real name registration (introduced yesterday)? Do they still sell these everywhere? Are they still easy for foreigners to buy?
7. Do not buy a 700 rmb "bespoke" suit and a fake Rolex unless you intend to look like a clown.
Dean - September 1, 2010 8:43 PM
Good advice Dan. Personally I use elong but that's mainly because I found them first about 6 years ago and have never had any issues with them.
author wanglili - September 1, 2010 10:01 PM
at least learn Chinese culture such as Art of War or Historical Records..or LaoZi...ZhuangZi..a little bit.
Bob Walsh - September 2, 2010 12:38 AM
1. Blackberry with flat rate data roaming. God help you if you use ATT data on your iphone in China.
2. I recommend TrainCN or Timetable apps for train scheds, These are updated regularly.
3. I have used Sinohotel.com for several years to book here, there, and everywhere, especially if I'm going to a strange city and I would not like the visited company to make hotel reservations.
4. Have started to use the newer Chinese business hotels, like Hanting, and find them clean and well-run, and cheap as hell.
Tony - September 2, 2010 2:57 AM
No, don't take taxi everywhere.
In Shanghai and Beijing, the subway is a good option at various times, obviously not during peak hours. Some major roads of SH and BJ are nearly always gridlocked from 8am to 8pm as bottleneck builds up. Subways, while can be uncomfortable at times, will get you to your destination on time.
Blame it on city planning that hasn't kept pace with new vehicle registration.
Timothy - September 2, 2010 7:29 AM
Agree with Tony on the subway advice, at least in SH and BJ. Fast and clean.
Re: Jetlag: what works for me is to skip the wines (and saki - if you are like me and fly on Japanese airlines) entirely and force myself to sleep, or at least rest, for as much of the flight as is humanly possible. Noise-reduction headphones are mandatory. Don't watch the shitty movies, don't read, and don't schedule your time and preparations so that you are forced to work for the whole flight. Most airlines have seats that lay flat, so take advantage of that. If your company only pays for economy - spend your own money to upgrade. Life is too short for long-haul flights in economy.
When in China, always fly business/first class - the price difference is negligible and the whole traveling experience is much better.
You can get an outstanding tailor-made suit for 3000-4000 rmb in Shanghai that is every bit as nice as anything you'll find in Saville Row for $2000. Well worth it if suits are your thing. But you'll need at least 2 fittings and a week or so for completion.
Agree with Dan about enjoying yourself. I'm a nature boy, so I try to get away from the teeming masses. Beijing has awesome hiking, biking, climbing, and horseback riding within a few hours of the CBD. Shanghai has Suzhou's gardens and canals, and is a hop, skip, and jump from Hangzhou. Almost every business destination has great destinations within a couple hours that allow you to re-charge your batteries.
Michael Z - September 3, 2010 8:50 AM
Good post Dan. I would add:
-Take the time to actually sit down and talk to the people around you. Speak to people, listen. You will learn a lot about the Chinese culture, mindset, folkways etc. You'll be suprised at how open most people are even when the questions may seem "sensitive" to you.
-Get out of the cities. They often represent the best of China's progress but they are also in some ways deceiving. Go see the hundreds of millions of people who don't live in the Tier 1 and 2 cities. Again, what you will learn will pay benefits later.
-If you are a 58 year old engineer from Bavaria it's unseemly and kind of creepy for you to be hanging out at Suzie Wong's in Beijing
ramie - September 14, 2010 2:52 AM
These are great tips, but I wish more people would contribute even more tips. I'm going to China for the first time and will be travelling around for three months, so I need all the tips i can get.
avadar - September 15, 2010 7:06 PM
I’ve recently started a blog, the information you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
avadar Elahud - September 19, 2010 12:46 AM
Great tips. You should run one on engaging in tourism while in China for business.
Nelly - October 19, 2010 5:13 AM
Excellent information for all... I just love to travel whether for business of for pleasure. My utmost obsession is traveling. I have no big savings because of that obsession. Every year I always set a date for it and it is just fulfilling on my part to do what I love doing. Most of the time I travel alone and it turned me into an independent woman. China is a great place for that.
Lisa Jane Murray - November 3, 2010 5:57 AM
Id add that it is a good idea to call and confirm your reservation. I travel back and forth and I have a bad experience with last minute bookings so now I prefer to be on the safe side. As for the rest of the tips, number 2 is my favorite- I just love the fact that you can take a taxi everywhere
huang - November 28, 2010 9:52 PM
These are actually some pretty good tips. Thanks.
Albert Z. - February 23, 2011 2:14 AM
There's a lot of helpful information here. Nice to get this from someone who travels so much.
Joy Russell - July 7, 2011 3:21 AM
Thanks for these useful tips! They're definitely applicable in enjoying business trips....