Amazon.com: Customer reviews: China Survival Guide: How To Avoid Travel Troubles and Mortifying Mishaps, Revised Edition

Top positive review

We survived! Thanks to this book!

Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2018

At first I wasn't sure about buying this as it wasn't a "typical" travel guide. I'm so glad I read the reviews and went ahead and bought it. It was PERFECT to use on our trip to Beijing. It gave us all the practical knowledge that we needed to navigate what is an entirely different culture than here in the US. We had an amazing time there most likely because we knew what to expect about a lot of things ahead of time. If you are traveling to China this is a must buy. You can get a lot of travel info on the internet but this was "real life" information.

6 people found this helpful

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Erika

Almost good until the writer mentioned the local women as Minorities

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2019

I was somewhat enjoying this book until I reached page 154 and the writer described the local DAI women as Minorites. Are you fn kidding me? Local women in China a minority I think he meant his American girls were the minority. I just cant deal with privalaged racists. Embarrassing

2 people found this helpful

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MCS

We survived! Thanks to this book!

Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2018

Verified Purchase

6 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

fantastic！

Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2017

Verified Purchase

this should be the first guide book you read on China. I've traveled abroad extensively, I wish I could have had a guide like this for every place I've been. You can read where to go and what to see books to your hearts content, but none of that matters if you can't get there or are injured or get too sick to enjoy yourself. I truly recommend this as your *first* book in planning any trips to China. Use the other ones to fill in the blanks.

4 people found this helpful

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Excellent information about traveling to China!!

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2016

Verified Purchase

It was a joy to read this book. I only wished I had know and read about it before my first visit. I laughed several times as I read it remembering some of the troubles that I had during that trip. As they had said in the book, even with these problems, it is still an amazing place to visit. I picked up many pointers that will help me enjoy my next trip even more than the last one. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge of traveling to this wonderful country.

5 people found this helpful

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Erika

Almost good until the writer mentioned the local women as Minorities

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2019

Verified Purchase

2 people found this helpful

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SL Sandlin

Invaluable book to help one become familiar with a wonderful nation and people.

Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2018

Verified Purchase

Invaluable book to help one become familiar with a wonderful nation and people. The language guide is simple to follow and the stories keep one entertained while learning. This book certainly takes the mystery out of travel to China. Written by two people intimate with China and America that share impactful, and sometimes humorous, stories to help bring clarity to what travel in China is like.

One person found this helpful

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DPlumb22

Preparing for our first trip to China

Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2019

Verified Purchase

Well written, and very informational on lots of the things to expect and experience. They really focus on major differences between the cultures and how to adjust and enjoy the time. Learned a great deal, and have recommended to many of the families traveling in our group. Will read again to brush up right before the trip and take it along with us for reference also. Highly recommended.

One person found this helpful

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Denise K

An anecdotal guide for the casual traveler

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2014

Verified Purchase

I am traveling to China for the first time in a few months, and I wanted a book that would help educate me about the customs and culture, and also what differences to anticipate from American culture. This book delivered exactly what I was looking for. I learned some important bits of information, and it all meshed with what other people and other resources have told me. I know other reviewers tired of the authors' various anecdotes, but I enjoyed reading them, and I felt like they gave me a more personalized perspective. The only thing I can't confirm at this point is how useful and relevant the advice will be once I'm actually there, but if it varies greatly from my expectations, I'll be sure to update this review! At this point, I'd definitely recommend it to anyone traveling to Middle Kingdom for the first time.

2 people found this helpful

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wsmrer

A Pleasing Work

Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2013

Verified Purchase

A pleasing work, the writing style is a bit down home and rambling at times but it does prepare a first time traveler for the rough side of what could happen in a new land but always in a gentle and understanding manner. Unlike Troost's sour little book, Lost on Planet China, you will not feel they are out to get you and take you and spit on you while doing it. You will see the Chinese as real people doing their thing and certainly kind and considerate, if you fall within their personal jurisdiction, and sound reasons for cultural differences that mark the land.

Much is about the authors' experiences while traveling again and again to the Middle Kingdom, and they conclude with a list of must see recommendations and a fine section on reference work if you wish to go on and understand more about past and present China.

If there is a weakness in the work it is the one they warn about in their introduction, last years much less last months notations are already out-of-date. China is in a constant state of flux, things they mention as problems for the traveler have often been dealt with for example ATM machines now accepting foreign cards and a button for instructions in English even in small towns, but because this is China you may need to use the cash deposit machine next over for withdrawal if the ATM rejects your card and forget about reading the web edition of the New York Times, it has fallen off the screen in 2013 after a critical series on leaders' accumulated wealth.

Currently still available in Hong Kong, however.

2 people found this helpful

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Birgitta

Great Guide!!!

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2013

Verified Purchase

The title literally is one of the MOST important tips in the book. The "non-taxi" taxis at the airport industry is no joke. Even if you've read this book and don't have your wits about you due to a long flight, you will be taken. They are THAT good and they will overcharge you beyond belief.

Beyond that, this book is just small enough to continue to refer to if you need to during your travels. The cultural observations were dead on. It should have been passed out among some of my allegedly culturally conscious colleagues. I was able to navigate social situations a lot easier because I was more sensitive to everyday behaviors and customs. (i.e., Staring is not considered rude.--->2nd most important tip for non-Anglo looking people).

Even as much as urban China changes, the book is still up to date.

4 people found this helpful

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microtute

Nice quick overview

Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2009

Verified Purchase

I am ethnic Chinese but do not speak or read Chinese. However I was raised with Chinese sensibilities so the subtleties of the culture were already ingrained in me. I went to Shanghai,Hangzhou, Xi'an and Wuhan. I traveled with a friend from China who now lives in the US. There are some good tips especially about etiquette in the book but there are others that are missing. Some tips may be dated because the pace of change in China is so fast. Foremost is that you don't need to bring US $100 bills. There are Bank of China ATMs with English menus everywhere that work fine and have much more security features than in the US. At Shanghai airport, there is a currency exchange machine that sucks your money in and dispenses RMB but that is the only place I used dollars. You need RMB for everything because the only places that accept US credit cards are hotels. The other cards you see people using in store are debit cards that require PIN numbers and they only accept debit cards from Chinese banks. You should warn your bank that you will be in China so they don't freeze your cards. Bring a couple of cards because they will be refused sporadically. Hotels charge 8% service charge to exchange money which is pretty steep so go to the ATM.
Make sure you write down the taxi driver's cabby license number so you can report him if necessary. We were taken for a ride (over an hour)in Xi'an to drive up the fare from the airport and we were terrified that he would drop us by the side of the empty highway at 10pm.
The biggest problem when using the squat potties is the stray puddles of urine. I don't know how women wear sandals! You have to roll up your pants and swing your handbag across your back so it doesn't touch the floor. Most places do have Western style toilets but you have to wait.
I did not see any diet drinks anywhere so you have to drink bottled water. The juices are less sweet than in the US but you have to be sure to ask for cold otherwise you will be given room temp.
Anything that is imported is the same or more expensive than in the US. Japanese snacks like Pocky are the same price. My friend's suitcase was filled with Lancome cosmetics for her cousin so that is a good gift for hosts. People are very conscious of real brand names and will pay through the nose at the Nike or Adidas store.
Lastly, most of the tourists you will see are Chinese, not Western. There is a vast middle and upper and even uber class. Tourist sites are geared to the Chinese not Westerners. There was a Porsche dealer in every city we visited. In August2009, the ten story Superbrands Mall in Shanghai Pudong was packed to the rafters with people shopping at Western priced stores. Malls in the US are half empty.

121 people found this helpful

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