摘要：If you are not familiar with China, you might feel a bit anxious before coming here, especially if it's your first time in China.
If you are not familiar with China, you might feel a bit anxious before coming here, especially if it's your first time in China. I'll tell you some things you must know before coming to China. Knowing them will make your trip to China more enjoyable.
如果你对中国不太熟悉，来中国之前可能会感到有点焦虑，尤其是如果你是第一次来中国。我会告诉你来中国前必须知道的一些事情。了解这些会让你的中国之行更加愉快。
1. Download Mobile Applications.
1.下载移动应用
Downloading commonly used mobile apps on your phone in advance can be more convenient. Most of these apps have corresponding English versions. If the language displayed is Chinese when you open it, you can switch the language to English in the settings.
提前在手机上下载常用的移动应用会更加方便。这些应用大多有英文版本。如果打开后显示的是中文，你可以在设置中将语言切换为英文。
Baidu Map/Gaode Map: For querying real-time public transportation information
百度地图/高德地图：用于查询实时公共交通信息。
Alipay/WeChat: After linking your bank card, you can use online payments
支付宝/微信：绑定银行卡后，即可使用在线支付。
Didi: Similar to Uber, it is mainly used for hailing taxis.
滴滴出行：类似于Uber，主要用于叫出租车。
2. Free WiFi is Everywhere.
2.免费Wi-Fi随处可见
In China, shopping malls, restaurants, and even bubble tea shops often provide free WiFi for customers. The password is usually posted in a noticeable place on the wall.
在中国，商场、餐厅，甚至是奶茶店通常都会为顾客提供免费Wi-Fi。密码通常会张贴在墙上显眼的位置。
I want to remind you not to do any mobile transactions when you are connected to public Wi-Fi. This way, you can protect your money.
连接公共Wi-Fi时，请不要进行任何移动交易，以保护你的资金安全。
3. Get a Chinese Phone Card
3.办理中国电话卡
Foreign mobile phone cards can't be used in China unless international roaming is activated, but international roaming fees are quite expensive. In this case, you can consider getting a Chinese phone card.
除非开通国际漫游，否则外国手机卡在中国无法使用，但国际漫游费用相当昂贵。你可以考虑办理一张中国电话卡。There are three 3 mainstream operators in China: China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. Just take your valid passport and visa to the business offices of these three operators. The staff there will guide you in filling out the information and activating the phone card.
中国有三大主流运营商：中国移动、中国联通和中国电信。只需携带有效护照和签证前往这三家运营商的营业厅，工作人员会指导你填写信息并激活电话卡。
If your phone supports E-SIM cards, you can also activate this kind of virtual SIM card. It's cheaper than a physical SIM card, and you can use foreign apps normally without needing a VPN. However, you can't make calls or send text messages with it, and its internet speed is slower than that of a physical SIM card.
如果手机支持E-SIM卡，你也可以激活这种虚拟SIM卡。它比实体SIM卡便宜，而且无需VPN就可以正常使用国外应用。不过，你无法用它打电话或发短信，其网速也比实体SIM卡慢。
4. You Can Go to Many Places By Train.
4.乘火车出行很方便
China's railways are well-developed. It takes only 4 hours to travel from Beijing to Shanghai. The departure and arrival times are punctual, and the journey is not easily affected by weather conditions.
中国的铁路系统非常发达。从北京到上海只需4小时。火车的出发和到达时间都很准时，行程也不易受天气影响。
Before entering the railway station, you are required to go through a security check, which may take a bit of time. Please arrive at the station at least one hour in advance to avoid any delays to your journey. If you bring drinking water, you may be asked by the staff to take a sip.
进入火车站前，你需要通过安检，这可能需要一些时间。请至少提前一小时到达车站，以免耽误行程。如果你携带饮用水，工作人员可能会让你喝一口。
When checking in for the train, you must go through the manual ticket-checking channel, which is usually located on both sides of the ticket gate. Your passport can be scanned only there.
在火车检票时，你必须通过人工检票通道，这通常位于检票口的两侧。只有在那里才能扫描你的护照。
5. Do Not Drink Tap Water Directly.
5.不要直接饮用自来水
In China, tap water is generally considered impure, and drinking it raw can easily cause discomfort. However, people will boil the tap water before drinking it, as high temperatures can kill bacteria.
在中国，自来水通常被认为不纯净，直接饮用可能会引起不适。不过，人们会在饮用前将自来水烧开，因为高温可以杀死细菌。
When traveling in China, you can purchase bottled mineral water at stores for only CNY2, which is very cheap.
建议：在中国旅行时，你可以在商店购买瓶装矿泉水，价格仅为2元人民币，非常便宜。
6. Hotels Provide Toiletries.
6.酒店提供洗漱用品
In most hotels in the Chinese mainland, you can find one-time-use toiletries like slippers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and combs in the room. If you don't see them, you can ask the staff.
在中国大陆的大多数酒店，你可以在房间内找到一次性洗漱用品，如拖鞋、牙膏、牙刷和梳子。如果看不到，可以询问工作人员。
7. Chinese Food is Delicious.
7.中国美食很美味
How could you visit China without tasting its unique local cuisines? Chinese food is so tempting. Every province has its delicious dishes. Once you try them, you won't forget them.
来到中国怎能不品尝其独特的当地美食？中国菜非常诱人。每个省份都有自己的美味菜肴，一旦尝试，你就会难以忘怀。
8. Pay Attention to Table Manners.
8.注意餐桌礼仪
Chinese people place great emphasis on table manners, particularly when using chopsticks, as there are many taboos to observe. During meals, you should avoid sticking chopsticks upright into a bowl filled with rice, as this gesture resembles rituals of offering sacrifices to the deceased and is considered inauspicious.
中国人非常注重餐桌礼仪，尤其是使用筷子时，有很多禁忌需要注意。在用餐时，避免将筷子直插在盛满米饭的碗中，因为这种姿势类似于祭祀死者的仪式，被认为是不吉利的。
Similarly, tapping chopsticks against bowls or plates is discouraged, as this action evokes associations with the act of begging and is viewed as impolite and uncultured.
同样，不要用筷子敲打碗或盘子，这种行为会让人联想到乞讨，被视为不礼貌和缺乏教养。
9. Be Careful of Travel Traps.
9.小心旅游陷阱
When you're walking on the street, you might meet some friendly Chinese people. They speak good English and offer to take you shopping. But be careful! The prices at the places they take you to are usually much higher than normal. So, don't trust anyone who talks to you on the street. Also, avoid taking taxis that say they use the meter. They might charge you more than you should pay.
当你走在街上时，可能会遇到一些友好的中国人。他们英语说得很好，主动提出带你去购物。但要小心！他们带你去的地方价格通常比正常高出很多。所以，不要相信在街上和你搭话的人。另外，避免乘坐声称使用计价器的出租车。他们可能会向你收取高于正常的价格。
10. Be Cautious of Food Allergens.
10.注意食物过敏源
If you are allergic to peanuts and gluten, you'd better not easily try bread, cakes, biscuits, and other foods with gluten. Soy sauce also has gluten in it. And lots of Chinese dishes use this seasoning.
如果你对花生和麸质过敏，最好不要轻易尝试含有麸质的面包、蛋糕、饼干等食物。酱油中也含有麸质，许多中国菜会使用这种调味料。
Peanuts are often used in main dishes to add texture, like Kung Pao Chicken. If you are not sure whether there are allergens in the Chinese food you are going to try, you can ask the waiter.
花生常被用于主菜中以增加口感，比如宫保鸡丁。如果你不确定即将尝试的中国菜中是否含有过敏源，可以向服务员询问。
11. You Can Bargain.
11.可以讨价还价
Some small shop owners might raise the prices of goods when they see that you are a foreigner. At this point, you can negotiate with them to buy the items you like at a price you can accept.
一些小店主看到你是外国人时，可能会提高商品价格。此时，你可以与他们协商，以你能够接受的价格购买你想要的商品。
You can compliment the owner on their good looks, or say that the same item is sold at a lower price elsewhere, and you are considering buying it from there.
你可以夸赞店主长得好看，或者告诉他们同样的商品在别处价格更低，你正在考虑从那里购买。
12. Buy Insurance Before Departure.
12.出发前购买保险
You can never predict what might happen during a trip. If an accident does occur and you haven't purchased insurance, you will have to cover all the medical expenses, which will be a huge burden for you, especially when you are alone in China.
你永远无法预测旅行中会发生什么。如果发生意外且你没有购买保险，你将不得不承担所有的医疗费用，这对你来说将是一个巨大的负担，尤其是当你独自在中国时。
13. Natural Scenery in China is Breathtaking.
13.中国的自然风光令人叹为观止
When you come to China, you should not only visit the rapidly developing metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai to experience their modern vibe with towering skyscrapers, but also appreciate the natural scenery.
来到中国，你不仅要参观北京和上海等快速发展的大都市，体验其现代化的氛围和高耸的摩天大楼，还要欣赏自然风光。
The mountains and waters of Guilin are famous and are known as the "best under heaven." When you travel by train through Yangshuo, the view outside the window is like a beautiful painting. There's also Zhangjiajie, where the Yuanjiajie is the prototype for the Hallelujah Mountain in the movie Avatar, and it is truly spectacular.
桂林的山水非常有名，被誉为“天下第一”。当你乘坐火车经过阳朔时，窗外的景色就像一幅美丽的画卷。还有张家界，那里的袁家界是电影《阿凡达》中哈利路亚山的原型，非常壮观。
14. No Need to Give Tips.
14.无需给小费
China is not like Europe and America, where there is a tipping habit. In the past, people in the service industry didn't expect to receive tips. If you give a tip, it might be misunderstood as a gift or a bribe. When you eat in a restaurant in China, you don't need to leave extra money for the waiter as a tip.
中国不像欧美国家，有给小费的习惯。过去，服务业的人并不期望收到小费。如果你给小费，可能会被误解为礼物或贿赂。在中国餐厅用餐时，你不需要给服务员额外的小费。
15. Squatting Toilets
15.蹲式马桶
Most toilets in China are squatting toilets, and people with mobility issues mainly use toilets with seats. Hotels mainly have toilets with seats, but toilets in shopping malls are squatting toilets.
在中国，大多数厕所都是蹲式的，只有行动不便的人才会使用坐式马桶。酒店主要提供坐式马桶，但商场的厕所大多是蹲式的。
You'd better carry a small pack of tissue paper with you because toilets in China may not provide toilet paper, especially public toilets next to the road.
你最好随身携带一小包面巾纸，因为中国的厕所可能不提供厕纸，尤其是路边的公共厕所。
16. Private Transfer is Convenient.
16.私人接送服务很方便
The private transfer includes a driver and a tour guide. Upon your arrival in China, our enthusiastic tour guide will be waiting for you with a sign bearing your name and will escort you to the hotel, assisting with check-in procedures.
私人接送服务包括司机和导游。你抵达中国后，我们热情的导游会举着写有你名字的牌子在机场等候，并护送你到酒店，协助办理入住手续。
The tour guide will communicate with the driver in advance according to your itinerary to arrange the pick-up times. They will arrive at the hotel punctually to take you to the entrance of the scenic area and return you to the hotel after your visit.
导游会根据你的行程提前与司机沟通，安排接送时间。他们会准时到达酒店，带你前往景区入口，并在你参观结束后将你送回酒店。
With a tour guide by your side, you can communicate smoothly with the locals without needing any translation apps, which greatly improves the efficiency of communication.
有导游在身边，你可以与当地人顺畅沟通，无需使用翻译软件，这大大提高了沟通效率。
17. Choose a Professional Travel Agency.
17.选择专业旅行社
A reliable travel agency has professional travel consultants who will customize your trip according to your needs and provide enthusiastic and patient service.
可靠的旅行社有专业的旅行顾问，会根据你的需求定制行程，提供热情且耐心的服务。
来源：外事商务咨询中心
