China Travel Forum

[Martin]

10 days Shanghai Could'nt pass it up. What should I expect weatherwise? What is acceptable dress? Shorts ok? We'll be on a tour bus doing major highlights. First night in Beijing we're on our own staying at New Otani. Suggestions for dinner? Does anyone know the dress code for the evenings on the Cruise? Where is best place to change money and is cash or credit card better? Is there a departure tax? We have one night each in Wuhan at the Holiday Inn Riverside and in Shanghai at the REgal East Asia Hotel--suggestions for dinner? Do we take a taxi? What about tipping practices?

[Carl]

Better you exchange your TCs at a bank like Bank of China.The hotels offer very less rates. Payment through Credit card is practised only in top end hotels but not everywhere.
At every airport, if you are flying doemstically or internatinally, you have to pay airport tax.
Tipping is not required and not expected but you may offer if you wish.
Since English is not spoken,get the name of the place written in Chinese from your hotel and take a taxi and show that chit to the taxi driver who will take you to the desired destination. Remember that your hotel has two names--one English name the other Chinese name.So have hotel card with you always so that you can return to hotel safely by a taxi.Of course you can also take metro trains wherever possible.