<p>Call me old-fashioned, but I’m having trouble with the idea that a website called “Lush Beijing” is a good resource for information on maximizing the value of a trip to China!</p>
<p>New China ID, new China.</p>
<p>Yes, idad. Sorry about that. Hopefully sj can make up her own mind. For the curious, the site gives a great picture of ex-pat student life in Beijing. </p>
<p>Your D only visits Buddhist temples, I’m sure, but my son learned how the underground economy works in China. Plus, he learned the ins and outs of starting up a business as a newly minted gwai loh. Plus he learned which bars to avoid. Plus he learned how not to offend the Chinese students, mafia and police. And he visited all sorts of temples and shrines. And he learned the language.</p>
<p>I lived in Asia for two years and I thought he sorted himself splendidly.</p>
<p>I don’t recall saying anything about your son.</p>
<p>I did take a look at the website you linked and didn’t see anything particularly in-depth in the FAQs. Pretty basic stuff like bring chapstick and tylenol for all the hangovers you’ll be getting in China and what bars to visit to get laid.</p>
<p>I’m sure there are better resources for helping Americans navigate the pitfalls of life in China. I know that my daughter and her friends hung out with students from the Academy of Traditional Medicine in Beijing. The med students enjoyed showing the Americans the Beijing nightlife and practicing their English. They were also living with Chinese families, some in new highrise apartments, some in hutongs.</p>
<p>I’m sure that your son relied more heavily on his Chinese friends more than a bar’s website for most of what he has learned.</p>
<p>My daughter is probably going to study in China next year, so this thread is of interest to me. </p>
<p><a href=“http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6127980.stm[/url]”>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6127980.stm</a></p>
<p>I just saw this article about the high incidence of rabies in China. The phrase “one dog policy” is funny, but the fact that over 300 people died of rabies in just one month is very frightening.</p>
<p>I went by myself (two-ish years ago) when I was 15 for a month to study at a Univ. Didn’t know a single person there and was only semi-fluent. I survived well 
and had a blast. It’s totally safe. If he’s staying in a large city, so many people will speak at least a little English he won’t have a problem with language.</p>
<p>Although there are a few minor things:
- Don’t drink the tap water.
- Never ride in a “black” taxi (self-employed taxi drivers without a company)
- Since he’s probably not Chinese, or look Chinese, street vendors will increase prices whenever he tries to go shopping. So always bargain by cutting prices in half (at least).</p>
<p>I hope he has fun!</p>
<p>Make sure to buy good medical evacuation insurance. Make sure your child has a flu shot. There should not be any issue with malaria in the winter, but the respiratory situation can be tough if your child is predisposed to asthma. My daughter just returned from a short trip to Beijing, everyone came back with a cough…The coal burning makes the air particulate-rich…AND…must bring Tamiflu as well (for bird flu). Don’t expect it will be available if needed.</p>
<p>Last summer a friend’s daughter was in a small city outside of Shanghai…got very sick with a GI thing. Fortunately, another friend who is a nurse happened to be in Shanghai, was able to get the girl medical attention at a good clinic with English speaking doctors. What a local family would do for medical care and what you might feel comfortable with are perhaps 2 different things. </p>
<p>That said, my own triannual China trips have been disease free for many years, and each trip brings some new happily experienced adventure!!</p>
<p>We have found this company to be quite good for medical help in Asia: <a href=“http://www.internationalsos.com/buymembership/#[/url]”>http://www.internationalsos.com/buymembership/#</a></p>
<p>I’m sure your physician or group travel nurse has already recommended the medications to take along, but we always take antibiotics, antidiarrheal medication (as well as chewable Pepto-Bismol), and a basic first aid kit.</p>
<p>As far as the water goes, not drinking it extends to brushing one’s teeth, keeping one’s mouth closed in the shower, and not eating things (like fresh vegetables) washed or rinsed off in the water. It is a good idea to bring some disposable chop sticks as well for the more out of the way restaurants (the cleaning varies from place-to-place). </p>
<p>Depending on where one travels, the air quality, while never good in the cities, can be particularly bad in the winter. People still burn a great deal of soft coal for heat. If one has a tendency toward respiratory problems, a little preparation is a good idea for that as well.</p>