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China Bound, Revised A Guide to Academic Life and Work in the PRC (1994) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix O: Packing it in: Preparing for Fieldwork in the PRC
Pages 227-232

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From page 227...
... The microfiltration systems manufactured by the Katadyn Corporation enjoy World Health Organization and International Red Cross approval but are relatively expensive (individual units cost about $250 and larger filters for base camps Preprinted from China Exchange News, Spring 1992 227
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From page 228...
... In such cases, primary considerations include whether or not base camps can be established near main transportation arteries, the number of people participating in the fieldwork, and cost, because such "convenience foods" are vastly more expensive than locally available supplies. While small camp stoves that burn bottled butane are convenient they should be avoided in China since they cannot be transported by air (intrepid but uninformed mountaineering expeditions regularly have their bottled fuel confiscated by Chinese airport authorities, much to their chagrin)
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From page 229...
... To be sure, many, if not most, Chinese drivers are competent, cooperative people; however, the choice of who will drive should not be taken lightly and Western researchers should always reserve the right to demand a substitute driver in the event of "irreconcilable differences." Since there are no car and truck rental agencies per se in China, most foreign fieldworkers will enter into a contractual arrangement for the use of vehicles with a local governmental organ (generally the Foreign Affairs Office of the county or district-level People's Government) or branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
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From page 230...
... This machine, which rides like a buckboard and is invariably too hot or too cold because of improper ventilation, is also extremely reliable and simple to prepare. Many fieldworkers find that a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Beijing Jeep are a winning combination for field parties of six to eight people since the Land Cruiser's relative comfort and superior visibility make it a natural for transporting people while the smaller jeep can be used to haul luggage and equipment and carry out reconnaissance, often at a lower per-kilometer charge.
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From page 231...
... Chinese authors themselves must have maps approved by the National Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (Guojia Cehuiju) before they can be published, indicating that maps are very special, closely controlled items in China.
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From page 232...
... have begun to augment, if not replace, more traditional compass-based orienteering techniques in the field. While GPS continues to be a relatively expensive technology, prices are rapidly dropping; some systems (such as the AccuNav by Eagle)
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Key Terms

  • field vehicles
  • base camps
  • toyota land
  • land cruiser
  • beijing jeep

  • locally available
  • water potable
  • daily fee
  • relatively expensive
  • foreign researchers

  • stomach cramps
  • aviation fuel
  • russian gaz
  • bottled butane
  • western researchers

  • readily accessible
  • local governmental
  • somewhat superior
  • burn bottled
  • units cost

  • rendered unpotable
  • water purifiers
  • chinese customs
  • contractual arrangement
  • jeep supplemented

  • settled populations
  • gaz jeep
  • cooperative people
  • rapidly dropping
  • gps technology


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