Off to China, Any Tips

[ausi ski bum]

I am off to China on business in February, Beijing, Qingdao and a few days free to head somewhere else, maybe Xian.

Any tips and suggestions for a first timer to China. must do's must not do's etc

[BrumbyJack]

Yeah, track down Scottski, he does a lot of business there.

Not sure if he posts here or only on SI.

[Podlettte]

Go to the markets in Shanghai and get yourself Polo ralph lauren in everything shirts, tshirts jumpers etc all fro $7 each in every colour.

A female colleague did this and got 4-5 suits made with skirt, pants and jacket for under $150AUD last year. the "ralph lauren" stuff was roughly $4-$8 each depending on what it was.

[ausi ski bum]

I could use a nice new Suit

[Jahoota]

ask the nearest party official where you can sign up for the falun gong club. You may get all expenses paid trip to somewhere not in the travel brochures.

[Snow Yeti]

Watch for the dodgy's that speak 10 languages to lure you into a bar. They can see foreigners a mile away and will nag you more than you ever wanted. They can tell I'm a westerner too, so be very wary!

Watch your wallet, and passport! Dodgy place

Get some tailored suits if you want them, very cheap, can turn around in 3 days, or more if you pay, but seriously 16 hours to make 2 suits for $200 is really really slave labour.

[popshuvit]

Choose very wisely where you decide to go & eat..

[schnee fraulein]

Get up early and go to a park,it is fascinating people-watching from the ladies dancing to Euro trash disco that I saw in Ditan Park (Beijing) to people rubbing their backs up against tree trunks. If you are lucky you will see older guys practicing calligraphy. It might be a bit cold in February for everyone to be out and about but they are used to it.
If you can - get out to the Great Wall, it is worth it! I was working at the Olympics but squeezed it in one morning and it was AMAZING. I hired a private driver for approx $90 for the car and went to Mutianyu (approx 90mins from Beijing). It does have touristy souvenir stalls at the bottom but it isnt as bad as Badaling and Mutianyu has a very cool toboggan to come down on (I chose to do the forest walk down due to dodgy back probs).
Purchasing fakes - if you are gonna buy handbags for any females in your life, go well-researched with pictures of exact styles otherwise the choices are mindboggling. Dont believe the lighter test (where they hold a lighter up to the bag to prove its leather). Always ask if they have better quality etc. If they take you to a back room, you know that this is better stock. And always always ask for waaaaay less than they quote. I started at 10%!! Some were offended but it is a big game...sometimes tiring...
Oh I could go on and on....and I only went to Beijing for work...not real fun!!

[Snow Yeti]

10% is a good bargain trick. They'll hand you their calculator and show you the price, so you just pu in yours, and play the game. It is tiring as schnee says

If you get tired, just walk away, most of the time they'll chase you to finalise the transaction

[Jahoota]

you've got to haggle properly!