Some cautions on travel in Beijing
Published 9:00 pm Saturday, February 17, 2007
By Christina Harper / Special to The Herald
If you are bothered by smoking or smog, Beijing and most of China might not be for you. There is talk of the government passing temporary laws on spitting and smog to ensure a clean Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Be careful with food. What you order at a Chinese restaurant here is very different in China. Be aware that food can be spicy and there may be hidden meats, such as eel, involved. We found them in scrambled eggs.
When in doubt, ask the hotel concierge to write down what you want and show it to your waiter. Also, carry a card from your hotel so that you can show it to a taxi driver to get you back.
Do not drink the water from the faucet, no matter what hotel you stay in. Don’t even sing in the shower. Ice cubes in drinks are OK in some places but say no just to be safe. Brush your teeth with bottled water.
Although most people say that you don’t tip in China, it’s still nice to try. Waiters generally don’t take a tip. Some taxi drivers will, some won’t, but we made the Hutong pedicab drivers take a tip.
When you arrive at the airport in Beijing you will likely be approached by men saying they are taxi drivers. Don’t fall for it. Make your way outside the airport to the spot where people line up for taxis. Help is there in the form of uniformed men keeping order.
Keep in mind that Beijing has a population of 15 million people. There is little personal space. People don’t bump into each other and say “excuse me.” Nor do they wait till you get out of the elevator before they get in.
