Impressions From China

Note: Roger Allnutt, Australian experienced travel writer, the columnist for CNTO Sydney’s website was invited by CNTO Sydney to attend the 2010 China International Travel Mart and do FAM trips in Wuzhen and Hainan Island, China.

I have been travelling to China over a number of years and am always surprised by the changes that have occurred. The improvement in the infrastructure of roads and transport hubs and new hotels is quite amazing and the number of cars is now staggering – unfortunately the driving skills leave a lot to be desired. On a recent trip to Shanghai and Hainan Island, a tropical holiday island, I noted various impressions.

Food

One of the pleasures of visit China is the vast selection of food and dining experiences. Each region has its own specialties and can range from spicy (Sichuan) to bland (Cantonese).

A popular way to eat, especially for the visitor in a tour group not conversant with the dishes is to have a banquet where up to a dozen different dishes are provided. These can range from small entrees of diced vegetables, fungi (there are an amazing range of mushrooms etc in China) followed by dishes featuring pork, chicken, fish, crustaceans, duck and vegetables. Rice, either steamed or fried plus a clear soup usually end the meal. Dumplings and a sticky rice sweet also feature.

setting for a banquet, many dishes to come

To my taste the cooking of some regions is often oily and I find that I can only take banquets infrequently. I try and find somewhere where a plate of rice, vegetables and some meat with spices is freshly cooked on a wok and this suffices for a quick meal.

I still cannot adjust my stomach to Chinese food at breakfast and fortunately most hotels that are used by tour groups have ‘Western’ offerings for breakfast. I find I welcome fresh fruit, eggs and toast for breakfast.

Language

One difficulty for many Australian tourists is a lack of any Chinese language for conversation. They rely on guides who can speak Mandarin or other Chinese languages or converse with them in English. At larger hotels reception staff usually have good English skills and this makes it easier for the traveller.

I have found that learning a few Chinese words helps enormously and this, together with a friendly smile and some gesticulating usually works wonders and is all part of the fun of travel.

Sometimes a misunderstanding can lead to an unexpected outcome. I was taking breakfast and was asked on arrival at the restaurant whether I wanted tea or coffee. I replied that I would like something ‘later’. I was surprised on returning to my table with juice and fruit to find a lovely cup of caffe latte waiting for me – a misinterpretation of what I had said but it certainly showed initiative. The latte was delicious.

Photography

Despite the number of Western tourists in China they can still be a source of curiosity for the local population. Those with fair hair tend to stand out in a country where nearly everyone has black hair.

I have a shaved head and grey/white beard which is definitely not a common combination in China. One many occasions people come up wanting to take my photo or to include me in group photos. Very flattering for someone in the grandfather class. Recently on a hot summer’s day I was resting on the wall along the Bund in Shanghai and a couple of camera toting locals asked to take my photo; within minutes there was a line of people waiting their turn – perhaps they thought I was someone famous!

Again a friendly smile does wonders for relations between China and Australia as everyone is always interested to know which country you come from.

Signs

I would hate to have to translate English into Chinese but the often rather literal translations from Chinese to English can lead to some amusing signs. Toor for tour, loung for lounge, and , where a long word doesn’t quite fit on a line running the last letter or two round to the next line. I liked phrases like ‘please speed down’.

On Hainan Island which because of its tropical climate attracts many tourists from Russia the signs were in Chinese, English and Russian Cyrillic script.

At Wuzhen I saw a special box (like a bird cage) for waste batteries.

receptacle for waste batteries

Driving

One ‘negative’ in China when travelling by bus or car is the very ordinary driving skills of the local population. Cars, trucks, buses, motor bikes and other forms of transport seem to drive with little regard for other drivers weaving all over the road (often coming on the wrong side) and ignoring any kind of give way or stop signs. For pedestrians zebra crossings on the road appear to be only ‘precautionary’ for drivers.

Airlines

In recent months I have flown with a number of different Chinese airlines both internationally from Sydney and internally within China. The crew have invariably been friendly and efficient and had good English skills. China Southern and the private airline Juneyao were excellent.

Most still have not upgraded to individual screens for each passenger and I found that the selection on the music channels was poor – I like listening to classical music and this was rarely included. I’ll have to take an IPod.

Related posts:

1. China International Travel Mart 2010 (CITM)
2. Hainan Island Trip