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OCR for page 7
2. Preparing for the Trip
Living in China is a challenging, unique experience, and it is prudent
to prepare as thoroughly as possible for what must be regarded as a
great adventure. No single source can provide complete advice; the
pages that follow address common questions and offer tips gleaned
from reports and conversations with individuals who have lived in
China since the reopening of academic institutions to Americans in
1979. The observations and suggestions included here emphasize the
mundane and difficult sides of life in China, but that is only because
no special advice is needed to enhance the exhilaration of living there-
the rewards of friendship, the benefits of travel, the satisfaction of
professional achievement are part of every experience. And if life in
China can be frustrating at times, it can also be great fun. It is hoped
that the insights of others will help you avoid mistakes, minimize dif-
ficulties, and take maximum advantage of the opportunity to live and
work in China.
ARRANGING TO LEAVE THE UNITED STATES
Sponsoring organizations in the United States or China generally pro-
vide detailed information on travel arrangements, visas, shipping pro-
cedures, methods of payment while abroad, and regulations and
procedures governing specific cases. Because there is constant change
in regulations, services, and procedures, you should seek specific in-
formation on these matters from your sponsor. The following require-
ments and procedures were in effect in the autumn of 1986; they should
be read as a general guide of what to expect as a long-term resident
rather than as a prescription relevant to every case.
7
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8 CHINA BOUND
PASSPORTS AND VISAS Passports and visas are required for travel
to China. U.S. citizens who do- not hold a valid passport should apply
for one through their local passport office, which is located in the post
office in smaller cities. You should allow at least six weeks' turnaround
time for receipt of your passport.
Visas may be obtained from the Embassy of the People's Republic of
China in Washington, D.C., or from one of the Chinese Consulates in
San Francisco, New York, Houston, and Chicago (addresses and tele-
phone numbers are included below). You can ask your sponsor for a
visa form; some large travel agencies keep them in stock as well. The
application must be filled out in duplicate and mailed with the pass-
port, two passport photos, and a $7 visa fee (for each applicant) to the
nearest embassy or consulate. (If you want express mail service, include
a self-addressed express mail label along with the proper postage.) If
you have severe time constraints, ask the embassy or consulate for
advice on expediting the process.
When you fill out the visa application, include the exact dates (if you
know them) of your entry into and exit from China; if you do not know
them, estimate as closely as you can. The visa will be stamped in the
passport and returned, usually in 10 days to 2 weeks. Issuance of a visa
hinges on your Chinese host unit's approval and its transmission of
information to the appropriate consulate or to the embassy in the United
States. Students' and researchers' visas are approved by the institution
in China with which they will be affiliated. Teachers' visas are approved.
by the State Education Commission, the Foreign Experts Bureau, the
ministry responsible for particular institutions, or the foreign affairs
office of the provincial government depending on the hiring unit.
When you apply for the visa, send as much supporting evidence as
you can—including copies of contracts, letters of acceptance, or other
documents—to prove that you are expected in China. Sometimes a visa
approval is sent from China to a consulate other than the one to which
the visa application was mailed; if delays occur, it is wise to check on
this possibility. Be sure also to check the time span of your visa; if it
expires while you are in China, it is your responsibility to have it re-
newed, with the help of your host unit. At the moment, only single-
entry visas to China are issued; negotiations are under way, however,
to issue multiple-entry visas to Americans going to China and to Chinese
coming to the United States. There have been reports of visas issued
at the point of entry into China, but relying on such a procedure seems
risky for the long-term visitor. Visas also can be secured in Hong Kong
through one of the larger travel agencies. (No transit visa for Hong
Kong is needed if you plan to stop over there.)
If you plan to travel through Japan, you will not need a transit visa
if your stay is less than 24 hours and is confined to Narita Airport. If
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PREPARING FOR THE TRIP 9
you will be leaving Narita Airport, transit visas for 72 hours or less
usually can be obtained at the airport, but the wait is generally long.
The transit visa is good for up to two weeks in Japan. Before leaving
the United States, it is wise to apply in advance for a Japanese tourist
visa; they can be obtained at the nearest Japanese Consulate and are
good for four years and multiple entries. You can also apply to the
Japanese Embassy in Beijing for a visa should you want to visit Japan
after your arrival in China. Many American residents in China travel
to Japan for medical or dental care or for recreation, shopping, or
research. For the addresses of the nearest Japanese Consulate, write or
call:
Embassy of Japan
2514 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202-234-2266)
Listed below are the PRC government offices in the United States:
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
2300 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Commercial: 202-328-2520
Visas: 202-328-2517
Telex: 440038 PRC UI
Commercial: 440673
Consulate General of the People's Republic of China
104 S. Michigan Avenue
Suite 1200
Chicago, IL 60603
Administration: 312-346-0287
Consulate General of the People's Republic of China
3417 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, TX 77006
Commercial: 713-524-4064
Visas: 713-524-4311
Telex: 762173 chinconsul hou
Consulate General of the People's Republic of China
520 12th Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Commercial: 212-564-1139
Visas: 212-279-0885
Telex: 429134 cgcny
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10 CHINA BOUND
Consulate General of the People's Republic of China
1450 Laguna Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94115
Commercial: 415-563-4858
Visas: 415-563-4857
Telex: 340515 chimission Ho
INVITING RELATIVES TO CHINA The host unit or its parent
organization (for example, the State Education Commission, the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences, or the Chinese Academy~of Sciences) issues
the approval for a visitor's visa. Because the host organization must
clear the dates with the China Travel Service and then communicate
its approval to issue the visa to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in
the United States, the process can be complicated and time consuming.
Some Americans have secured Chinese tourist visas for individual travel
in Hong Kong within a few days. See p. 41 for the address of the Hong
Kong branch of the China Travel Service. If the wait for a visa seems
unduly long, the invited party should call the Chinese Embassy in
Washington, D.C. (202-328-25171.
Once your relative is in China, you are responsible for securing hous-
ing, which can be a problem, especially during the busy tourist season
(from May through October). Some hotels will allow you to put up a
cot or an extra bed for a small daily fee. Students in dormitories have
also been able to make either formal or informal arrangements for
housing guests for short periods. In addition to housing, you and your
host institution will be responsible for arranging travel for your visitor
within China. Arrangements for spouses and children planning to ac-
company researchers and teachers to China are discussed in detail in
Chapter 3.
IMMUNIZATIONS China currently does not require immuniza-
tions unless a traveler enters from an area known to have cholera or
yellow fever. But recently, the Chinese press has carried articles stating
that more attention will be paid to the health of those entering China
and that an international health card with a record of basic immuni-
zations is useful for those who plan to stay in China a year or longer.
There are a number of immunizations that are recommended or that
should be considered, in consultation with your personal physician,
depending on your health history, the length of your stay in China, and
where you will be living and traveling. Some of these are discussed
below. Useful information about relevant immunizations, diseases, and
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PREPARING FOR THE TRIP 11
prevention can be found in Healt1? Information for International Travel,
available for $4.50 from:
Superintendent of Documents
U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, DC 20402
(202-783-3238)
(When ordering, refer to publication no. HHS 86-8280.) For information
on health conditions in developing countries, contact
International Travel Clinic
Johns Hopkins University Hampton House
624 N. Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21205
(301 -955-8931)
Tetanus remains a problem in China, and physicians usually rec-
ommend the complete series of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DPT)
vaccine and a booster dose (given every 10 years) for anyone over the
age of 7. Children under seven should have the number of doses ap-
propriate for their age. Typhoid vaccinations are recommended for
travelers who will be living away from the usual tourist areas, in places
where water or food sources may be contaminated and where typhoid
is known to be endemic. In addition, because poliomyelitis is endemic
in all developing countries, travelers who have completed the primary
series of polio vaccinations should consult their physician for advice
on supplementary doses. Measles, mumps, and rubella also are not
controlled in developing countries. In particular, pregnant travelers
should be immunized against rubella.
Viral hepatitis, type A, is widespread in China but does not present
a particular threat to those who stay along the normal tourist routes.
Nevertheless, you should consult your physician about the advisability
of receiving immune globulin as prophylaxis for this type of hepatitis.
Immune globulin is effective only for three to six months and is not
available in China to renew your protection. Some long-term residents
bring in the serum and arrange to store it in China. In deciding whether
to obtain hepatitis A vaccine and/or chloroquine medicine for ma-
laria, which still occurs in some areas you should discuss your life-
style and the extent of your planned travels with your personal phy-
. .
slclan.
Vaccination against Japanese encephalitis is strongly advised al-
though not required. The disease, which can cause serious brain damage
and even death, is transmitted by mosquitoes and occurs mainly from
June through September in rural Asian areas, although there have been
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12 CHINA BOUND
cases in urban centers. There is no risk during the winter in temperate
areas of China. All travelers to China, but especially those individuals
who will be living or traveling for prolonged periods in rural areas,
should take precautions against mosquito bites and consult their phy-
sicians regarding immunization. The Japanese encephalitis vaccine has
been tested in the United States but is available only from specified
Japanese encephalitis investigators. For a list of these
Appendix F. and for further information, contact:
Division of Vector-Borne Viral Diseases
Center for Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control
P.O. Box 2087
Ft. Collins, CO 80522
(303-22 1 -6428)
individuals, see
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing also provides immunizations through a
series of three shots at nominal cost Y15 each.
Although the official Chinese government regulations affecting for-
eign students, researchers, and teachers in China and the health cer-
tificate required from such persons have not yet been changed, the
Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., reports that all Americans who
will be in China for one year or longer are required to be tested for
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) prior to commencing
their program in China. You may be tested in the United States within
two months prior to departure for China and must take a medical
certificate with you stating that you do not have AIDS. It is recom-
mended that you have the test in the United States to facilitate your
entry into China and the commencement of your academic program
there. If you are planning to be in China less than one year, you do not
need to be tested for AIDS. However, if you originally plan to be in
China less than one year and then extend your stay beyond a year, you
will have to be tested for AIDS in China.
Since no official regulations about the AIDS testing have yet been
published in English, officials of the Chinese Embassy caution that the
above are only general guidelines. You should check with the Chinese
Embassy or Consulates about updated information on AIDS testing
needed for China as you prepare for your trip.
MEDICAL INSURANCE Travelers are strongly advised to retain
their existing insurance policies; they should also discuss with their
insurance companies how much coverage they will have abroad and
how to apply for reimbursement of services rendered in China. Most
Chinese health administrators will not be familiar with long, compli-
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PREPARING FOR THE TRIP 13
cased insurance forms, and direct billing of insurance companies is
unlikely. It is therefore a matter of some importance to clarify the
procedures to be followed before you leave the United States.
Those who cannot maintain coverage through their home institutions
should consider two insurance programs for which the National As-
sociation for Foreign Student Affairs acts as a policyholder.
Individuals under the age of 65 who meet the following criteria are
eligible for coverage from Hinchcliff International, Inc.: (1) they must
be engaged full time in international educational activities, (2) they
must be temporarily outside their home country or country of regular
domicile as a nonresident alien, and (3) they may not be applicants for
permanent residency status in the country they are visiting. Eligible
dependents with a similar visa or passport who accompany the major
policyholder include spouses under the age of 65 and unmarried chil-
dren under the age of 19 who are chiefly dependent on the major pol-
icyholder for support and maintenance. Further information and
application forms can be obtained from:
Hinchcliff International, Inc.
120 S. Cayuga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607-272-5057)
Full-time students under the age of 40 who are actively engaged in
international educational activities outside their home country can write
for information and applications to:
Marsh & McLennan Group Associates
Accident and Sickness Department
121 1 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
(2 1 2-997-8 1 1 6)
MONEY, BANKING, AND CREDIT CARDS Americans who will
be paid by U.S. sources while in China can receive money directly in
two ways:
1. Money can be deposited in a designated account in a U.S. bank
that has an international division with correspondent relations with
China (many major banks in large cities offer this service); funds can
then be wired to a Chinese bank account as needed.
2. Money can be wired directly to a Chinese bank account.
Fund transfers to China for the most part are now routine, but before
your departure you should clarify with the U.S. bank how these trans-
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14 CHINA BOUND
actions are managed. Anyone who plans to stay in China longer than
a few months should open a U.S. dollar bank account with the Bank
of China.
Banking regulations vary from place to place, and policies change
constantly. The following information is only a guide to a variety of
current situations. Most long-term residents advise that you carry a
good supply of traveler's checks. All the major brands are honored, but
American Express traveler's checks can be purchased at designated
branches of the Bank of China in 20 cities. In addition, the company
has an office in Beijing (in the lobby of the Beijing-Toronto Hotel) and
will arrange for reimbursement for lost checks within a few days in
major cities. Traveler's checks offer a slightly higher rate of exchange
than cash, and they can be converted at any Bank of China service desk
located in airports, major hotels, and stores that serve foreigners. A
1 percent service fee is charged for cashing traveler's checks.
Because payroll and third-party checks cannot be cashed under any
circumstances and personal or bank checks take at least one month to
clear, obtaining cash in China can sometimes present problems. Res-
idents of Beijing, Nanjing, and Shanghai report that by far the most
useful method of obtaining cash is to write a personal check on a U.S.
bank account and then guarantee it with an American Express card.
According to American Express officials, at designated branches of the
Bank of China in 42 cities, you may write a personal check for up to
Y500 with an American Express green card and Y2,000 with a gold
card. (The official exchange rate in January 1987 was Y3.71 to US$1.00.)
Residents of other cities, however, advise different arrangements, for
example, international money orders. Unfortunately, there are no
standard banking regulations in China, and what may be true in one
city may not hold in another. For instance, a teacher in Jinan states
that the American Express card cannot be used there and instead ad-
vises travelers to obtain money from home through international money
orders, which can be cashed immediately. In other areas of China,
however, international money orders may take a month to clear. And
a teacher in Guangzhou reports that Visa is accepted there for cashing
checks but that American Express is not.
Although American Express international offices in the United States
report that regulations and services are constantly in flux as new agree-
ments are signed with China, at this writing, within a 21-day period,
you can cash up to a total of US$1,000 with an American Express green
card and up to US$2,000 with a gold card. As cash, you must receive
foreign exchange certificates, which can be reconverted to dollars at
your point of exit if accompanied by all of your exchange memos. Also,
Visa and MasterCard will provide cash advances of up to US$350 in
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PREPARING FOR THE TRIP 15
major cities at designated Bank of China service counters (the service
charge is 4 percent).
Credit cards can be used for some purchases, but policies are changing
because of fraudulent use of the cards and it is unwise to count on using
them for major payments. American Express advises that only major
hotels, retail stores (such as Friendship Stores and other stores catering
to foreigners), and restaurants authorized by the Bank of China will
accept credit cards. It is safest to convert money at a Bank of China
counter before making purchases.
To help you plan your finances, Appendix G includes sample prices
for hotels, food, services, transportation, clothing, and medical care.
For further information on currency and banking, see Chapter 6.
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS On the final leg of your flight into China,
you will be given a customs declaration form on which you must list
any cameras, tape recorders, valuable jewelry, or typewriters being
brought into the country and the amount of currency and traveler's
checks on your person. The form will be checked at the customs desk—
at the baggage claim area in most airports and you will be given a
copy, which must be presented each time you leave the country. If you
cannot prove that you are taking out all that you declared upon entry,
you will be assessed a fairly stiff fine. If you lose any of the declared
items while in China, notify your host unit immediately.
Foreigners entering China may bring up to four bottles of liquor, 600
cigarettes, an unlimited supply of medicine for personal use (be sure
that it is carried in its original labeled container), personal effects, and
an unlimited amount of currency and traveler's checks. There are no
restrictions on still cameras, 8mm cameras, or film, but professional
film and video equipment may not be brought in or taken out of China
without special permission. Appendix H lists items that can be taxed
upon entry into China if they are not for personal use.
Americans going to Shanghai should note that the U.S. Consulate
General there has received frequent complaints that Chinese customs
officials in Shanghai routinely assess and collect unusually high cus-
toms duties, particularly for supplies forwarded as unaccompanied bag-
gage or sent through the international mail. Shanghai customs has
published a pamphlet that lists prohibited and restricted items and
gives some ballpark duty figures. Although this information cannot be
taken to be definitive, it does give prospective American residents an
idea of potential customs hassles. If you are going to live in the Shanghai
consular district, which includes the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, and
Zhejiang, you should request a copy of this pamphlet from your Chinese
host as you prepare to leave the United States.
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16 CHINA BOUND
According to the pamphlet,
· Articles prohibited entry include not only the usual firearms, wire-
less transmitters, drugs, plants, contaminated foodstuffs, and Chinese
currency but also, and much more ambiguously, "publications, pho-
tographs, tapes, records and any other material harmful to Chinese
politics, economy, culture or morals."
o Certain articles are allowed entry only in restricted quantity: wrist
watches, pocket watches, and bicycles at one per person; cameras, ra-
dios, and sewing machines at one per family.
· Listed rates of duty are high: 20 percent for grains, flours, medical
equipment, scientific instruments, and electronic calculators; 50 per-
cent for medicines, home and office equipment, tape recorders, tools,
televisions, sports equipment, and musical instruments; 100 percent or
higher (lSO or 200 percent) for all other items.
In addition, some advice for minimizing customs problems includes
the following:
o Bring in as accompanied baggage as many personal supplies as
possible since personally accompanied baggage usually receives the
most favorable treatment by Chinese customs officials.
o Heavy books and other professional supplies are best shipped sep-
arately; your Chinese host institution should be requested to handle
customs clearance as part of its support for your activities in China.
o You should be prepared to encounter what you might judge to be
arbitrary and excessive customs duties levied on any packages sent by
international mail.
Some Americans who will be in China for extended periods of time
have requested information about bringing their pets. Personnel at the
Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., have stated that although bring-
ing animals into China is not prohibited, it is unwise to do so. Chinese
customs officers are extremely strict about quarantining animals, and
often this results in the animal being quarantined for about as long as
the American remains in China.
When you leave the United States, be sure to register with U.S. cus-
toms officials any cameras or other equipment subject to duty that you
are taking with you to China. Save the receipts to present upon reentry
into the United States so that you are not taxed on items made in Asia
that you bought prior to departure. A useful booklet, Customs Hints for
Returning U.S. Citizens: Know Before You Go, is available free of charge
from the:
U.S. Customs Service
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20229
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PREPARING FOR THE TRIP 17
and from most travel agents. Travelers returning to the United States
from China can bring back, duty free, purchases of up to US$400 per
person; an additional US$1,000 worth of goods will be taxed at a rate
of 10 percent. Regular duty charges, which are considerably higher,
apply to purchases exceeding the initial US$1,400. Special rates and
exemptions are given to Americans who live abroad for over one year.
If you have a letter of invitation or appointment stating that you will
be residing in China for one year or longer, be certain to show it to
U.S. customs officials on your return to the United States.
BAGGAGE AND SHIPPING PROCEDURES It is best to "travel
light" if you wish to avoid excess baggage charges. Passengers flying
to China are allowed two pieces of luggage, neither of which may exceed
62 inches (adding all three linear dimensions); both pieces together
may not exceed 106 inches. The Civil Aviation Administration of China
(CAAC), the Chinese national carrier, calculates limits by weight; econ-
omy-class passengers are allowed two bags, which may not exceed a
total of 44 pounds (or 20 kilograms). In addition, travel agents advise
that carry-on allowances are becoming stricter on all airlines.
Baggage allowances for traveling within Asia, including China, are
also calculated by weight; the 44-pound limit applies in most countries.
Thus, it is possible that if you travel within China, or if you stop in
Hong Kong or Tokyo or Shanghai, for example, before going on to your
final destination in China, you may be charged for excess baggage
weight even though you stayed within the limit on your U.S. carrier.
Excess baggage charges for groups are levied on the entire group.
For long-term stays, items may be shipped ahead by mail (allow two
to three months for sea mail) in care of the foreign affairs office of your
host institution. However, used clothing, even for personal use, cannot
be sent through the mails. (See Appendix H for current regulations
governing articles sent into China.) Of particular note are the special
book rates that apply to China—check with your local post office for
details. One returned scholar reports that the U.S. Postal Service will
supply used post office bags that can be filled with boxed printed matter
(15 pounds minimum, per bag 66 pounds maximum); the bags go by
surface mail (six to eight weeks in transit) for 43 cents a pound. Several
airlines will accept large parcels as air freight; check with the cargo
division of the airlines for details. (It is best to schedule air shipments
after your own arrival in China so you can pick them up and clear them
through customs.)
INCOME TAXES WHILE ABROAD In the summer of 1986, the tax
agreement between the United- States and the People's Republic of
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30 CHINA BOUND
by the original sales slip and some stores will buy back Western-made
appliances as well. Unfortunately, however, used appliances are not for
sale to foreigners.
OFFICE SUPPLIES, TYPEWRITERS, PERSONAL COMPUTERS
For the most reliable, worry-free typing, you should take a standard
manual typewriter with extra ribbons. High-quality, manual Chinese
typewriters are expensive at Y300. Typewriter repair shops for manual
models are relatively easy to find, and they also sell standard ribbons.
Some Americans recommend battery-powered portable typewriters,
but they caution that some brands require special paper that is not
always available in China. A teacher recommends taking a typewriter
with a carriage at least 105 characters wide for typing stencil blanks.
And one researcher writes that he has been quite pleased with the
operation of all his equipment; a battery-operated computer and printer
that uses a battery-replacement transformer with a 220/110 Franzus
50-watt transformer (which, by the way, should not be left plugged in
too long), as well as a 220-volt battery recharger that offers a constant
electrical current. Zenith and Hewlett-Packard are popular models of
battery-operated computers. Long-lasting alkaline batteries are not al-
ways available, though, and if you expect to rely on battery power, you
should take a good supply with you.
Erratic supplies of electricity and servicing problems are two diffi-
culties electric typewriter and computer owners frequently face. One
scientist writes, "Microcomputers are adversely affected by the power
supply problem, and their use requires considerable patience and effort.
For example, a set of data may have to be entered several times since
each time the electricity is interrupted, all information which has been
entered but not yet stored is wiped out. Furthermore, computer hard-
ware in general does not last as long as it does with normal usage in
the United States since the large voltage fluctuations frequently burn
or damage the computer circuits." Some teachers report, however, that
an electric typewriter operated with a large Chinese-made transformer
works quite well.
Despite the problems, Chinese organizations are using computers
more and more, and foreigners also find them useful albeit with the
following cautions: (1) take a surge protector that you are certain can
adjust to 220 volts; (2) take a transformer with the capacity to handle
the voltage of a computer; and (3) take as many kinds of converter plugs
as you can find an international kit is a good idea. In the case of
repairs, you should not count on help unless you live in a city with
special repair shops or where representatives of your particular com-
puter's company are in residence, although repair service may be fairly
OCR for page 31
PREPARING FOR THE TRIP 31
readily available if your Chinese host unit deals frequently with im-
ported computers.
When asked what items they recommend for an academic visit to
China, most respondents mention office supplies correction fluid, car-
bon paper, manila file folders, tape, paper clips, a good pencil shar-
pener, book mailers for mailing small items home, colored pencils,
magic markers, good-quality bond typing paper, lined notebook paper,
and gluesticks. Manila envelopes, file cards, and boxes usually can be
found at stationery stores in China. Desk lamps also are sold, but some
travelers prefer to take their folding high-intensity lamps with them
from home.
RADIOS AND TAPE RECORDERS A small AM/FM shortwave tran-
sistor radio is useful for language practice and for news from outside
China. Beijing Radio offers a special Chinese-English program (for
schedules, see the China Daily); Voice of America (VOA) schedules, which
change four times a year, can be obtained from the U.S. Embassy. China
Daily, the English-language newspaper available in most major Chinese
cities, offers useful information about television and radio broadcasts
in Chinese.
If you buy a shortwave radio, be sure that the shortwave bands go
at least to 23 KHz to tune in VOA and U.S. Armed Forces programs.
Small transistor radios can be purchased in China and are adequate
for local stations, but they are not powerful enough to bring in broad-
casts from outside the country. Most foreign-made radios and tape
recorders can now be repaired in Beijing and Shanghai. Imported and
Chinese-made cassette recorders also can be purchased now in China,
but they are expensive. Blank cassette tapes are easy to buy, but they
are not of the best quality; taking a supply with you is worth the trouble,
especially if you will be studying the language, since most language
schools do not have good language laboratory facilities. In most cities
you can purchase recorded music, mainly classical Chinese and Western
selections, but Chinese pop music is available, too. Most foreigners take
their favorite music with them, wish they had brought more, and find
that these tapes make fine gifts for Chinese friends and teachers when
they leave.
CAMERAS AND FILM Color film is easier to buy in China now
than it was a few years ago, but recent experience shows that it is still
a good idea to take most film with you. Travelers to major tourist cities,
like Xi'an, have been surprised to find that color film is unavailable
even in tourist hotels. Both Kodak and Fuji film are available in major
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32 CHINA BOUND
cities, but in general print film is easier to buy than slide film. Disk
film is not yet for sale in most cities although Guangzhou's Friendship
Store does carry it. Some hotels even carry Polaroid film. Film prices
in China are about the same as they are in the United States. Black-
and-white film is easily purchased and processed, and many hotels now
offer color film processing services. The Jianguo in Beijing has one-day
service, and the Friendship Hotel develops film reasonably (Y14 for 24
color prints, Y21 for 36 color prints, and Y7.50 for 36 color slides). Be
sure to tell the service personnel that you want your slides mounted.
The quality of processing generally is reliable, and most long-term
residents feel that it is safer to process exposed film than to carry it
through airport inspections or to store it in extreme temperatures.
Prepaid Kodachrome film cannot be developed in China, but it can be
sent out to Hong Kong or Australia. Some post offices provide film
mailers, and there have been few reported problems sending film out
of China. Videocassettes are a special case, however, and cannot be
taken in or out of the country without inspection and special permis-
sion. (See the earlier section on customs regulations for cameras and
film.) If you go to Hong Kong during your stay in China to purchase
photographic equipment, be sure to check with your host unit about
customs regulations.
The U.S. Embassy issues the following advice about taking pictures:
refrain from photographing airports, bridges, harbors, military facili-
ties, soldiers, policemen, and wall posters. And always ask permission
before taking a direct picture of an individual taking pictures without
asking permission is discourteous and has led to some incidents in
which film has been confiscated. It should be noted, however, that
Chinese parents seem very receptive to having their children photo-
graphed if you ask politely.
BICYCLES If you are traveling to China by way of Hong Kong, you
can purchase a bicycle there and take it with you. But if you decide to
leave the bike in China when you depart, you will have to pay import
duty. In China bicycles are still relatively expensive, and choices are
limited to the heavy Huffy type. Opinions about the relative merits of
different brands vary—ask your Chinese and foreign friends for advice
before you buy. If you purchase your bicycle in a local shop, you will
need a letter of permission from your host unit because bicycles are
rationed. A new bicycle now costs from Y180 to Y200; prices for a used
bicycle in good condition begin around Y80. All bicycles must be reg-
istered again, ask your host unit for guidance. Although foreigners
routinely sell bikes among themselves, this practice is illegal; bicycles
in good condition should be resold only to the local Friendship Store
for at least half the purchase price.
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PREPARING FOR THE TRIP 33
Used bicycle shops are fairly common in larger cities, and bicycle
repair shops can be found in every neighborhood. Repairs are inex-
pensive: a complete overhaul may cost as little as Y10. Check any new
or used bike carefully, however, before leaving the shop, and buy a bike
light and reflecting tape for the front and back fenders for safety. Many
riders carry repair kits with lockwashers of various sizes and other
tools for repairs on the road. Theft is not uncommon in China; so you
should keep your bike locked and park it in one of the many bicycle
parking lots when shopping.
If your stay in China will be relatively short, you might want to rent
a bicycle. In Beijing the rental shop is just opposite the Friendship
Store; personnel at tourist hotels or local China International Travel
Service offices can provide information on rentals in other areas.
I.D. PHOTOS When you register with the local public security bu-
reau, you must provide passport-sized photos for library cards, swim-
ming passes, and diplomas. You can take along 10 or more extra copies
of photos or have them done in China (the turnaround time is about
two days).
READING MATERIAL If you will be living in Beijing, you will find
a good selection of reading matter in the stores catering to foreigners.
Most of the paperback books are Penguin publications. Western news-
papers and magazines are usually on sale within a week of publication;
the Asian Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune, Time, News-
wee1<, Reader's Digest, and Far Eastern Economic Review are the most
popular. There are also more Chinese novels and poetry in translation
now than in years past. Some familiarity with Chinese classical and
popular writing is both informative and educational; it also provides
a rich source of conversation with Chinese colleagues and friends.
One important publication for the foreign community is the China
Daily, which is published in English, distributed free in some hotels,
and sold for Y0.10 in certain stores. Unlike most other publications in
China, the China Daily notes restaurant specials and art exhibits; pro-
vides local entertainment schedules; reviews current theatre, opera,
and films; lists Radio Beijing and TV programs; publishes daily ex-
change rates; and provides minimal coverage of Chinese and world
news. The editorial section, in particular, is invaluable to the non-
Chinese speaker because major pieces from the Chinese press are often
translated there.
GAMES -Board games can be fun for relaxation with friends, both
Chinese and foreign; and word games like Scrabble and Password pro-
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34 CHINA BOUND
vice novel ways of teaching English. Puzzles too can be useful for long
winter Sundays and they make thoughtful gifts for Chinese friends
with families when you leave. If you are taking children with you, it is
a good idea to pack their favorite toys and a few special decorations
and treats for American holidays.
GIFTS Anticipating what kinds of gifts you should take is a problem
for the prospective China traveler. Gifts to Chinese colleagues and friends,
and to those who help out along the way drivers, for example must
be chosen and given with care. Too lavish a gift will create embar-
rassment, and yet the days when a supply of ballpoint pens would
suffice for any occasion are over. Chinese ballpoint pens now are quite
inexpensive and of good quality. Many of your Chinese acquaintances
will have been abroad and have accumulated some of the trinkets that
were once deemed satisfactory gifts. As one student warns, beware of
underestimating the sophistication of your Chinese friends. Well-chosen
books and scholarly materials are always appropriate for advisers and
academic colleagues. Scholars also appreciate Chinese calligraphy
manuals, which are expensive in Chinese terms. Tapes of Western clas-
sical music are easier to buy in China now than they once were, but
they are still a good gift. And art books and colorful calendars with
scenes of U.S. life also are appropriate presents, as are English dic-
tionaries and study guides and tapes for learning English.
One researcher took a beautifully printed greeting from the president
of his university to his Chinese hosts, who enjoyed the calligraphy.
Others have presented digital clocks, solar-powered calculators, and
cooking aids (for example, can openers and potato peelers). If you are
invited to a home for dinner, you might take along some imported candy
or wine, or cookies in a decorative tin, all of which can be found in
Friendship Stores and hotels. According to Chinese sources, it is ap-
propriate to present gifts to the women and children of the family on
these occasions. Selections of stamps and intricate jigsaw puzzles are
popular gifts for children. You should not be surprised, however, if the
recipient does not open the gift immediately; it is customary to wait
until later.
A banquet is still an excellent way to repay hospitality you might
ask your colleagues to suggest favorite restaurants. (One American cou-
ple who favored a particular crispy duck restaurant in Beijing discov-
ered from a close Chinese friend that such food was not considered
proper banquet fare; they chose a seafood place instead.) Invite a few
good friends and helpful colleagues, and try to encourage a relaxed
atmosphere; the formal banquet is no longer considered an enjoyable
means to meet with friends. Banquets can be expensive Y50 or more
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PREPARING FOR THE TRIP 35
per person in most good restaurants. An alternative might be to invite
friends out for lunch for example, to a local restaurant or the coffee
shop of one of the hotels.
As "normal" relations with Chinese friends become ever more pos-
sible, traditional boundaries blur and reticence lessens. Today you can
simply ask a trusted Chinese friend for advice about gifts. Your Chinese
acquaintances, in turn, may well let you know directly what they want
or need. But if some of the mystery has gone out of gift giving in China,
courtesy demands that you remain sensitive nonetheless to the obli-
gations and implications of a gift in that culture.
WHAT TO TAKE FOR PROFESSIONAL LIFE
BOOKS Most scholars with experience in China advise you to take
any and all printed materials that are essential for your research and
writing, including reference works. Even dictionaries published in China
are sometimes hard to obtain, so be certain to take along the ones you
need. Publishing is active in China, but new publications are often sold
out soon after they reach the stores. It is also unwise to rely on library
holdings or on access to them; even major secondary works in your
field simply may not be available.
Experienced bibliophiles have discovered that you can now order
directly from publishers based in China or visit their distribution cen-
ters to obtain books. And out-of-print books and back issues of journals
sometimes can be found in used bookstores. Used bookstores in out-of-
the-way spots may be virtual treasure troves. Bookstores in the newly
renovated antique district in Beijing, Liulichang, often are a good source
of books on early China. When you travel around the country, be sure
to explore local bookstores; some cities such as Xi 'an and Lanzhou, for
example, have stores devoted to ancient history, stocking items that
are hard to find in the larger cities. Ask your Chinese colleagues for
advice, and offer to share your finds with them. Many scholars report
that they have borrowed books from Chinese academics who have better
private collections in their field than some libraries. In any case, if you
see a book that you need, don't wait buy it immediately.
Periodicals in Chinese may be ordered at the post office. A useful
guide, arranged by subject, to newspapers and periodicals published
in China is available from:
China International Book Trading Corporation (Guoji Shudian)
P.O. Box 2820
Beijing, China
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36 CHINA BOUND
(See also later sections on access to materials and the post office in
Chapters 4 and 6, respectively, for the accepted wisdom about obtaining
materials while in China.)
As you prepare for your journey, you should understand that in China
you will almost certainly be asked to speak, either formally or infor-
mally, about the latest developments in your field. Take along any
references that might be useful to you in answering what may well be
quite wide-ranging questions. There is also a great deal of curiosity
about U.S. life in general, and you must be prepared to talk knowl-
edgeably about a variety of topics from current slang and films to the
intricate workings of the U.S. Congress. An almanac, according to one
teacher, was "worth its weight in gold—we used ours every day"; a
good paperback English dictionary and thesaurus are handy and make
appropriate gifts for Chinese friends when you leave. In addition, the
press and cultural section of the U.S. Embassy has a library that can
be tapped, but its holdings are limited.
A standard survey of Chinese history, guidebooks that describe your
particular city, and up-to-date tourist handbooks are all important
references. Kaplan and Sobin's Encyclopedia oiChina Today is useful,
as is The China Guidebook by Kaplan, Sobin, and de Keijzer. Brian
Schwartz's China Offt1~e Beaten Tracic is a favorite of adventurous types-
likewise, China A Travel Survival Kit, by Alan Samagalski and Michael
Buckley. The more detailed and scholarly Nagel's Encyclopedic Guide
to China offers historical information and is well worth the price ($65)
in the opinion of some academic tourists. Many of these guidebooks
are now on sale in hotels and Friendship Stores in Beijing; see also
Appendix L for complete publishing details. The non-China specialist
also might find that a subscription to the China Daily for a few months
before departure will be good preparation for current events in China
(both political and cultural); it can be ordered from:
China Daily
U.S. Distributor
15 Mercer Street
New York, NY 10013
(212-219-0130)
EQUIPMENT Duplicating facilities are limited in China, and if
gathering and copying materials is essential for your work, you may
want to take a portable copier with a heavy-duty transformer. A tape
recorder can be an important aid to research as well. Calculators are
fairly easy to buy in China, but do not expect to find computers and
software in your host institution. Instead, write ahead for information
on what is available, and take your own software. Fortran is still the
most common language. (See also the section above on office supplies
and machines.)
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PREPARING FOR THE TRIP 37
Most returned scientists report that they took with them to China
almost all of their basic equipment. For instance, a biologist writes:
"Only basic research needs were offered for use . . . an office/laboratory
was provided, but all necessary research equipment, including micro-
scope, handling utensils, plastic petri dishes, vials, and cups, was brought
with me as baggage. If unusual items were needed, requests were usu-
ally forthcoming but often not very promptly, and the delays sometimes
outlasted the need." Another scientist warns colleagues preparing for
a China trip that simple household materials such as Clorox necessary
for research work are not available. It is critically important that you
list all of your project needs well in advance when writing to your host
unit and that you ask to be notified if specific items are not on hand.
Be sure to specify the quantities you need; most Chinese scientists do
not use disposable equipment and may not have adequate supplies-
for instance, of laboratory glassware in stock.
A geologist who needed detailed maps for his project found that some
maps were not open to scrutiny by foreigners. He recommends that
anyone who needs maps for a project find out not only what is available
but also what can be used. A scientist who needed a particular chemical
to perform an experiment had serious problems having it sent from his
university lab in the United States to his Chinese unit. His experience
suggests that prior arrangements for obtaining these items be made
with your home institution before you leave. If you send equipment
ahead, send it in care of your host unit's foreign affairs office. Some
airlines offer nonstop parcel service between a few major U.S. cities
and Beijing and Shanghai.
If you plan to use audiovisual equipment in China, write ahead to
your hosts to let them know exactly what you need. Some organizations
have overhead projectors, but you should bring your own transpar-
encies and marking pens. Most also have slide projectors' although
screens apparently are scarcer and quite often the projectors are not
in working order. One returned scholar observed that the slide projec-
tors in his relatively affluent Beijing institution "must have come with
Marco Polo."
With equipment, then, as with all other aspects of life in China, you
can only try to plan ahead and then be patient when it fails to work
and grateful when it does. In such matters, a sense of humor is always
invaluable.
OTHER SCHOLARLY MATERIALS You should be prepared to
submit to your colleagues a detailed research proposal (ideally, in Chinese)
soon after your arrival in China. Researchers and graduate students
also suggest that you take an updated resume, offprints of your pub-
lications and books, and copies of major papers.
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38 CHINA BOUND
If you plan to lecture, you might wish to prepare outlines or abstracts
for handouts. If you will be working with interpreters, a dictionary that
specializes in the technical terminology of your discipline can be of
great use. Business cards printed, if possible, in both Chinese and Eng-
lish are also convenient; they can be made inexpensively in China or
in Hong Kong.
TEACHING AIDS The teachers surveyed for this handbook had
taught a variety of subjects in China, and they all strongly urged pro-
spective teachers to take with them as many books and materials as
possible because there is a serious shortage of English-language text-
books in China. (Teachers of such courses as law and management in
particular said there were few if any pertinent books available.) Even
university libraries were not too useful, according to these teachers;
many of the books in the libraries on the subject matter they taught
were outdated and badly organized. Another drawback mentioned was
the closed stack policy of most university libraries in China; students
are not able to browse among the books to see what would be of interest.
These teachers did find that some department libraries contained ex-
cellent books, but even in these there were sometimes problems in
arranging access for the students. It is probably best to take some of
the most highly used and regarded books in your field with you; you
can then donate them to your Chinese host institution upon departure.
If you will be teaching English, you should also obtain information
about the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and take
TOEFL books and tapes with you.
Because of the shortage of books, some teachers reported photo-
copying or dittoing articles from books they had brought to give to
their students, but this is usually difficult. Duplicating facilities are
limited at most institutions; some only have mimeograph machines,
and photocopiers are scarcer still- a major university may have only
one copier to serve an entire campus while smaller institutions may
have none at all. Even if your institution has a copier you may have to
pay for copying yourself. There is also no guarantee the copier will
work reliably; repairing copiers is even more difficult in China than in
the United States.
In sum, you should not count on duplicating large or even small
volumes of materials in China. If you plan to use unbound materials,
you should either take multiple copies with you or plan to have them
copied at a hotel or neighborhood copy shop at a cost of from Y0.15 to
Y0.50 per page.
If you plan to use audiovisual aids, be sure to read the preceding
sections on equipment and review the customs regulations on video-
tapes and films. Some institutions do have overhead projectors, but
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PREPARING FOR THE TRIP 39
teachers have found that at times their classes were so large, it was not
practical to use transparencies as a teaching aid. Slide projectors are
fairly common and teachers do recommend taking slides to use in clas-
ses. Also, reel-to-reel tape recorders are frequently available. Cassette
recorders are becoming more and more common, but high-quality tapes
are still not on the market. Some teachers found that they could arrange
for films and videotapes to be shown, but if the department for which
they work does not have the necessary equipment, it may be charged
for the use of such equipment. Also, the equipment and rooms for view-
ing must be reserved in advance, and in some cases, tapes must be
submitted to institution authorities one week in advance of the showing
to be reviewed.
The following information on videocassette recorders (VCRs) in China
and VCR tapes to be taken into China was received from the U.S.
Embassy in Beijing. Multistandard VCRs are widely available but fre-
quently are standard play (fast speed) only. Persons taking NTSC ex-
tended or long play tapes to China may have difficulty. VHS is the most
common format used, although many institutions also have 3/-inch U-
matic or Beta formats. Equipment must be 200 volts, 50 cycles; 120-
volt transformers are available in China but are expensive. The more
serious consideration concerns cycles: electricity in China is 50 cycles
as opposed to 60 cycles in the United States. Therefore, unless a player
is rated 50 cYcles. it will not operate oronerlY. Americans planning to
.
. . . . . . . . ~ . . . .
take videocassettes to China are advised to inform their institutions
early on and to inquire what sort of equipment is available. Moreover,
Chinese customs usually wants to examine all videotapes being taken
into the country and may retain tapes at the port of entry. It is best
not to take tapes into China that might be considered pornographic or
politically sensitive.
Most returned teachers recommended that you write ahead to your
host unit for details on their particular arrangements. In addition, you
can talk with returned teachers and possibly even consider taking your
own equipment, such as a slide projector with transformers, if you think
it worth the effort. If you plan to donate equipment to your Chinese
institution when you leave, be certain when you arrive to have your
unit register it with Chinese customs officials as a duty-free educational
item.
Teachers who have taught in China offer a number of ideas for pro-
viding students with course materials. (Books available in China can
of course be used, but you will probably want to supplement them with
U.S. materials.) You may apply to certain U.S. or community funding
agencies that offer grants for books; or, if you have been awarded a
Fulbright scholarship' you will be given a book allowance with which
to purchase materials. Some teachers have typed course assignments
on ditto masters and made direct transfer stencils of materials which
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40 CHINA BOUND
were then duplicated in China. Duplicated articles about current events
from The New Yore< Times, Newsweelc, Foreign Affairs, and other peri-
odicals are avidly read by students and are a good form of language
instruction because of their sophisticated vocabulary. You may also
want to clip articles of current interest from magazines and newspapers
to use as the basis for class discussions. Chinese students, however, are
accustomed to the lack of textbooks; they take meticulous notes during
class; and if lectures are concise and well constructed, they can manage
quite well without textbooks, although they often use their own ref-
erence books in Chinese to supplement English lecture notes.
It is very likely that during your stay in China someone will ask you
to give a talk about American culture. Consequently, you may want to
bring slides and photographs showing various aspects of life in the
United States—for example, shots of supermarkets, airports, subways,
family life, holiday celebrations, city street scenes, farms, parks, schools,
and the like can be of great interest to Chinese students who have had
little opportunity to glimpse everyday life abroad. Returned teachers
also stress balancing "the good and the bad" when discussing life in
the United States.
Information about higher education in the United States is always
welcome in China, and your hosts and students will appreciate any
catalogs, course syllabi, or descriptive material that you can share with
them. The U.S. government has placed collections of educational ref-
erence materials at 18 sites in China; the locations of these collections
and the list of their materials are in Appendix K. U.S. colleges and
universities have been requested to send their catalogs to these sites.
Finally, in terms of what books to take to China, returned teachers
recommend the following: as many basic reference books as possible,
several good dictionaries and encyclopedias, your favorite books at
various levels on the subject matter you will be teaching, anthologies
of American and British literature, Bartlett's Quotations, references on
American culture, a copy of the U.S. Constitution, novels, a good atlas,
standard grammar books, maps of the United States and the world in
English, and a world almanac. As one teacher put it, "I can't think of
anything not to take, except maybe pornographic literature. That is
frowned upon, but the Chinese are remarkably open about what you
bring for your own reading or for sharing with Chinese friends."
In addition to the guidebooks on China mentioned earlier, an excel-
lent preparation specifically for teaching in China is a recently pub-
lished book by two Americans, Tani Barlow and Donald Lowe, who
taught literature and history in Shanghai from 1981 to 1982. Their
thoughtful and detailed account, Chinese Reflections: American Teach-
ing in the People's Republic, is well worth reading. (See Appendix L for
publication information.)
Representative terms from entire chapter:
host institution
