Has anyone been to China?

[golfgal]

DS13's band will be going to China April 2007 and I am considering being a chaperone. Has anyone been to China? How is the food? I am not a very adventurous eater and this would be a consideration. The information says that we would have a "American" buffet for breakfast but nothing specific for other meals. I can't eat seafood (allergy). How does the "Chinese" food in the US compare?

 

[ReggieB]

My sister-in-law is Chinese Singaporean (as is her family) She was very disappointed in the food, she was expecting it to be fantastic but it wasn't at all. She grew up and lives in Singapore (she lived in UK for 10 years or so) just so you have some frame of reference for her Chinese food expertize!! I do wonder if the food you get as a tourist perhaps is catering more to the western taste, so might not be very authentic. But if you are worried about too much exotic food, you probably wont have to worry. As a side note I have found that the US Chinese food is different to the UK Chinese food, and my SIL says they are both different to what she grew up on.

 

[Freyja]

I have travelled to 4 chinese cities. Beijing, Xian, Kunming and Xi Shuan Ban Na. I found the food to be excellent everywhere except in Xian where it was terrible. Having said that, I also should add that I am an adventurous eater. We ate at our hotels, in fancy restaurants, low class restaurants and out in the streets in markets. So, just about everywhere. The ingredients allways seemed to be very fresh and I liked eating in the streets, since I could see the food being prepared.

I would reccomend staying away from the American breakfast. We were offered this option and quickly decided to eat chinese instead. Lets just say that the chinese should rather focus on making their own traditional dishes than experimenting with american food. Our toast the first morning was dry, the butter was "green" (as it hadn´t been stored in a fridge) and so on.

China is a wonderful country to visit. I would definately go if I was in your position. It is a great experience. The people are extremely nice and helpful and the country is beautiful. I haven´t been there since 1997 so I guess a lot has changed. The country was just starting its transition when we were there.

Hope you go. Have fun!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Where in China is he going? DH goes to China two or three times a year for business. He goes to Shanghai. I'll ask him about the food when he gets home tomorrow.

 

[rhanditresmom]

Well, I grew up in China (Macau, actually)...so I have kind of a biased view. I think the Chinese food there is exceptionally good. Of course, I am more partial to Cantonese food, as I lived in the Southern section of China. If you are not an adventurous eater this might be a little hard for you. Chinese food is not bad, just presented a little differently than food here in the US. Where in China are you all going? Most large cities have Western food...ie: McDonalds, etc. Shanghi is VERY westernized.

It'll be a cool trip!

 

[jimmalru80]

Let's see?... Heading clockwise from Canada....Mexico, Norway...China!! Went there last August. Loved the acrobats.


Can't say I've ever been to the "real" China.

 

[figment52]

I've been to China twice in the last three years and had no problem with the food. I found the western buffets at breakfast to be as good or better than buffets in the States. We did not eat from any street carts, were actually advised against it by the tour company.

We went to Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Guangzhou. Also went to Hong Kong. I would go back in a heartbeat.

 

[jennobrn01]

We were in Beijing and Kunming. We never had a problem with any of the food. Yet, I was in my first trimester and battling morning sickness , so we were cautious. Enjoy your trip. It was an enlightening experience.

 

[siouxi31]

I'm not an adventurous eater either. When dining in Shanghai and Shenzhen, I stuck with the vegetable dishes which were terrific. At the hotel, there was a breakfast buffet and there were some exotic fruits and yogurt which I had for breakfast.
I agree with not eating Western style while you're there. It's just not their bag and much less enjoyable than the native food.

 

[scarlett873]

Let's see?... Heading clockwise from Canada....Mexico, Norway...China!! Went there last August. Loved the acrobats.


Can't say I've ever been to the "real" China.

I must say that I had to read your post several times before I "got" it! I kept thinking...clockwise around the globe wouldn't go Canada, Mexico, Norway, China...lol

We are planning to adopt a baby girl from China very soon and I am terrified about going over there...I've never been outside of the US...except on a cruise to Mexico. I'm very worried about the food as I am a chicken fingers kind of gal. But I have found lots and lots of reassurance about the variety of foods available to us over in China through a China Adoption message board that I belong to as well as adoption journals from parents who have blogged about their experiences over there!

Given the chance to go somewhere like China...I would take it in a heartbeat! Even if I am a big chicken about it...lol...the way I see it...there's always a McDonald's nearby!

 

[Micheme]

I've been to China.

It depends on where you will be. Will you be in a big city like Bejing or Shanghai (you'll found out a whole new meaning of the word BIG if you visit those cities) or a small area.

We were in Hefei, Anhui and it was an adventure. I ate NO meat in china, just my personal choice. I am not a big meat eater as it is and didn't want to get sickly on my adoption trip. My dh ate EVERYTHING and loved it, and he didn't get sick nor did anyone in our group. I barely ate the first 4 days and lived on crackers and Snickers i had brought from home.

Hopefully you will have interpreters and they can help you order things. Just don't eat from street vendors and you might want to eat a lot at your hotel (especially if it caters to foreigners) or ask the hotel staff where a reputable and clean place to eat is. I was also told to have a Chinese beer everyday and that helped a lot of people not get ill. Oh and DON'T drink the water, only bottled water even to brush your teeth.

Beijing and Shanghai were great... they have Mcdonalds (taste exactly the same ... except the sundaes) and starbucks (at the forbidden palace) !!!! We had a 24 hr noodle place just down the street and it was fabulous. No one spoke english so we just pointed at the pictures on the wall and they were so great. Mmmmm and you must try Chinese coke (the drink) we got addicted to it and had withdrawl when we came back, don't know what they add to it but wow it was good.

The people are great and so friendly. You will have a great time.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to pm me. I can't wait to go back it was a truly amazing trip.

 

[golfgal]

Ok, you made me more comfortable with possibly going. It looks like the trip is mostly to Beijing and Shanghai with some side trips here and there. They say we will stay at 4 and 5 star hotels. The will do a performance at the Great Wall, too. If nothing else, there is McDonalds .

 

[Freyja]

I see a lot has changes since we were there. Back in 1997 we found one fast food chain and only in 1 place. In other words, we found 1 Mc Donalds in Beijing and nothing else remotely familiar in any other city we visited. However, the Sheraton in Xian carried american snacks and they were actually our lifesavers while there. We didn´t stay at the hotel, but still went there everynight to stock up on something "edible".

 

[Chicago526]

I went to China in 1998, traveled to Beijing, Xian, and Hong Kong. Breakfast at the hotel was a mix of what we are used to in America and what the locals eat. The rest of the meals were packaged in with the tour and mainly at government run/inspected restaurants (the goverment guarantees a certain level of sanitation, they have forks available, that kind of thing). For lunch and dinner, well, think Chinesse take-out from an average American Chinesse restaurant, and you'll have an idea of what you'll be eating while you're there. There were at least 6 dishes to choose from, at least one was vegitarian, the rest chicken or portk (never saw any beef, can't remember if fish was offered but I doubt it). The food was okay, hot, plenty of it, and none of us got sick. That's about all I can say about it. But I'm also spoiled, we have a FANTASTIC Chinesse restaurant in my area that I eat at 2x a month. It's so good that you'll see a lot of Asian patrons there, and the line is out the door most nights.

When we got to Hong Kong, we made a point to go to Hard Rock Cafe. Let me tell you, a hamburger never tasted so good after 6 days of non-stop Chinesse food! And I like Chinesse food to begin with!

 

[palmtreegirl]

My parents and their friends went to China last year and they loved it. They came home raving about everything, including the food but especially the people.

 

[Deb in IA]

Yes, twice, in 2000 and in 2002. We were in Shanghai and Bejing.

We took our kids in 2000. They were 8 and 4 at the time, and did great!

China has become much, much more 'westernized' in the last few years . . . you can find McDonalds, Pizza Hut, KFC, etc. just about anywhere, if you want. But I would really encourage you to try the local cuisine . . . it's a chance to try things that you won't get anywhere else in the world!!! (And no, I am NOT talking about eating cats and dogs, either, as some people around here think that's all Chinese people eat )

If you have allergies, bring your meds. I'll warn you; the air quality is very bad in the bigger cities (Shanghai and Beijing). China does not have air quality and polution control standards that we have here. Be prepared for wheezing and buring eyes.

Also, be ready for huge masses of people everywhere. Think of lower Manhattan in rush hour . . . then multiply that by 10. All the time. It is just amazing how many people there are there!!!

But yes, for the most part, everyone is friendly and gracious. However, being an emerging country, you probably will see lots of peddlers, who can be aggressive sometimes. Just smile and keep saying NO and shaking your head. Even with that, there is little crime, such as pickpockets or muggings . . . but you should exercise general tourist caution.

And finally, if you go to any markets, you WILL have to barter. That is an art form. You can generally knock off 1/3 to 1/2 of the asking price. The trick is to offer about half or less of what they want, then go back and forth. It is helpful to say things like "I can get this for half of what you want from that guy over there!!" After a while, you and the merchant can settle on a mutually agreeable price. And it takes twice as long to go shopping there, because of this.


Have fun!!!!

 

[golfgal]

The air pollution is good to know, DS has asthma. Now I think I "HAVE" to go, just in case he needs medical attention while there . The pictures from the travel company are amazing. I hope they have room for me as a chaperone!

 

[figment52]

I've been to China.

We were in Hefei, Anhui and it was an adventure. I ate NO meat in china, just my personal choice. I am not a big meat eater as it is and didn't want to get sickly on my adoption trip. My dh ate EVERYTHING and loved it, and he didn't get sick nor did anyone in our group. I barely ate the first 4 days and lived on crackers and Snickers i had brought from home.

.

Everytime I see that picture in your sig I have wanted to ask if you daughter is from China. I just wanted to say she is beautiful. But I may be slightly biased, I have two nieces from China and I think they are beautiful.