Culture Shock! : A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette: Beijing [Paperback]

Kay Jones (Author), Anthony Pan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2005

Whether you're conducting business, traveling for pleasure, or even relocating abroad, one mistake with customs or etiquette can leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth. International travelers, now more than ever, are not just individuals from the United States, but ambassadors and impression makers for the country as a whole. Newly updated, redesigned, and resized for maximum shelf appeal for travelers of all ages, Culture Shock! country and city guides make up the most complete reference series for customs and etiquette you can find. These are not just travel guides; these are guides for a way of life.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Newly updated and redesigned in 2005!

About the Author

Jones holds a degree in Chinese studies and French language from the State University of New York at Albany.

Pan was born in China and educated in Hong Kong and the U.S. He completed graduate studies in sociology and East Asian studies at Princeton University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558689435
• ISBN-13: 978-1558689435
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,851,581 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic for professional level use, May 13, 2007

By 

J. Minard "jeff495" (Surf City USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beijing at Your Door: Living in the World's Great Cities (Culture Shock! At Your Door: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette) (Paperback)

This book was written by Kay Jones and her business partner- the top intercultural specialists in North America, IMHO. It is designed for ex-pats and professional users- if you are staying for a few months, if you are relocating to Beijing, or if you have business there often, you will love this. It is not designed for vacationers.

Also, if you are going to the 2008 Olympics and renting a place for a few weeks, get this one. It covers cars, rentals, utilities, food, etiquette, and living arrangements you will encounter.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful even for tourists, May 1, 2007

By 

bensmomma "bensmomma" (Ann Arbor, Michigan) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Culture Shock! : A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette: Beijing (Paperback)

I got "Culture Shock: Beijing" in anticipation of a brief trip to the city combining some teaching with a family vacation. I enjoyed reading about the local culture but did not anticipate that it would be of much practical use, since it seems more geared to Westerners who become permanent or semi-permanent residents of the city. It's not a "traditional" guidebook so if you need the names of hotels or shops, etc., seek elsewhere first.

However, I became very gratified to have read it when the deputy director of the institute where my husband had been teaching invited us to dinner at a restaurant - I knew a lot more about dining etiquette and felt much more at ease. It also came in handy for advice related to haggling for purchases. So, even if you are "just" travelling as a tourist, it's definitely worth it - it's a fun read and you may just get some pointers you can really use.