China – What Is Good to Know

I had found many other facts which surprised me because I travelled to někoho, kdo byl v China for the first time. I knew the four and fourteen are unlucky numbers. If you read the number four in the third tone instead of the fourth it means “death, die”. I would never guess how much it means for them. There often were missing rooms of the number and sometimes even floors that would be otherwise of the unlucky number. It means that you have the fifth floor button right after the third floor in an elevator. Thirteenth floor was followed by fifteenth and so on. Many people don’t even dare to have a phone number containing a four. Some of my friends even told me they managed to get for free a number which had couple of fours in it.

„Now you shouldn’t...“ Many other advices followed this beginning phrase like: “Now you shouldn’t eat mutton. People don’t eat it in this season.” “Now you shouldn’t drink cool water. It is not healthy for you.” “Now you shouldn’t wear just a T-shirt!” These are often advices based on Chinese medicine and its understanding of human body in different seasons of the year. Later I learned it is better not to oppose these advices. Many really are, in some respects, helpful. Green tea cools body down. I am not sure about the claim that dog meat warms up. I rather did not try it out...

I have also learned that you sometimes don’t find what you look for (in a country where you can buy almost anything). For instance, it is very difficult to come by deodorants. Yes, you right. And when you find such it is usually vey expensive. It may also happen they wont let you in the subway. You go through airport-level security checks when entering the subway. Once staff discovers you carry a thing with a picture of a flame on it then consider it gone (in case you are capable of hiding it somewhere on your body). Some other things for hygiene are also hard to come by. Ladies must know the only razors available are for men. And you need to examine creams you buy.

I o jiné věci může být tlačenice – kupříkladu o lístky na vlak. Pokud budete chtít jet rychlovlakem, nejspíš vás žádné větší problémy nečekají, ale většinu lístků je nutné kupovat včas, tedy několik dní dopředu. Zvykla jsem si, že na nádraží procházíte mnoha kontrolami a bez lístku zakoupeného jen a jen na vaše jméno a pas vás tam nepustí vůbec.

There are many things that would be a pleasant surprise for you. Rice is so delicious you even wouldn’t mind to eat it every time. And you will even miss it when back home. The same goes for noodles. Everyone chooses the one he likes. Fruits is everywhere and at every corner there is a stand where they make something yummy for you. Online shopping works also great. Often it takes only hours for your order to reach you. As for eating outside – there are restaurants where you can eat for as few as forty crowns. Everywhere they give you hot water for free. You still can have something warm to drink and all you need to do is to take a mug and couple of tealeaves with.

Everyone would be surprised or shocked over different things. I just hope there would be only pleasant surprises waiting for you in China. And that you will enjoy your journey!

Text and photo: Hana Bašová