Business Card

Tip: When you give business cards or pictures, always use both of your hands. When you receive business cards or pictures, always receive them with both of your hands and be sure to look at the card/picture while you are in front of your guest. Sometimes the English translation will be on the back, so take a look. If it is all in Chinese, ask your translator to translate for you, especially the given name. He will also spend some time looking at your card and may try and pronounce your name. Never write on the card in front of the person who gave it to you. 

You will notice in China that a persons family name is always listed before his given name. For example, the name Huang Shao Qiang would be Mr. Huang. It is also becoming quite common to find English names on the cards, especially in Guangzhou, Shanghai & Beijing, which makes it very easy!

Credit Cards & Bargaining

Credit cards are still gaining ground in China with Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club being the most common. Credit cards can be used in most mid- to top-range hotels, Friendship Stores and department stores. In Guangzhou I can pay for airline tickets using my U.S. credit card.

Bargaining is definitely OK. You can bargain in shops and street stalls but usually not in large stores or restaurants (unless they offer you a discount, then you know to bargain). If you do bargain, start at about 50% of the original price, and you''ll be shocked at how many times you''ll get it for that.

If you are from the U.S., most prices will be quite acceptable. Try bargaining for fun, but don''t take it too seriously, especially if you are at a street vendor.

Important note: If you go to a street vendor, the prices are geared more towards the local Chinese consumer (unless you are on Sha Mian Island) and not the foreigner who makes 10 times the average Chinese customer. Besides, you are bound to see the same exact item 10 or more times during your trip! Patience goes a long way here in China.

About Changing Money and Credit Cards - There is counterfeit money everywhere, so no matter what anyone tells you always change money at a bank. I want to mention that you should always carry small change with you, especially if you are taking a taxi. Before you leave your hotel, get 200 or 300rmb in small notes (5s, 10s, 20s and 50s) to pay for the taxis and small purchases on the streets. The driver will not have to give you back change larger than a 5rmb note. Many counterfeit bills will be 10s, 20s and 50s. If you happen to give the driver a 100rmb note, watch him like a hawk, as he will find a way to return a fake bill because they get them all the time. Of course not everyone is like this, and it varies from place to place, but you must always keep this in mind. One day you will give the cashier a 100rmb note to buy some cookies at 7-11 and you will be told that your bill is counterfeit, and you''ll wonder for hours how you got a fake note! Now you know. And if you try to check its authenticity at a Bank of China branch, it will be confiscated and will not be replaced.

I get fake money at least once a week, and my delivery drivers constantly have to return fake money to the tourists who do not know how to check.

If you are in Hong Kong, never change money in a hotel, as there are many exchange booths outside with great rates. In China, though, banks are the safest and have the best rates.

I have used my ATM card and credit cards quite often in Guangzhou. Make sure that your credit cards are programmed and your PIN is verified by your credit card company so that you can use it at an ATM machine for cash withdrawals. Do not wait until you travel to try the cash withdrawal card. Try taking out $20 at home before traveling abroad. The White Swan, China Hotel and Garden Hotel all have ATM machines that I have used successfully for cash withdrawals. They are usually on 24 hours a day and are quite convenient. If you do not have a credit card with a PIN, you can go to a Bank of China branch and get a cash advance using your credit card. You can even get a lot of RMB depending on the type of card you have but remember the credit card Companies will charge you quite high interest if not paid in full upon your return. I''m sure most credit card companies charge over 20% for cash advances so don''t use it unless absolutely necessary.

Be very careful with your PIN numbers. Never give them out, and cover your fingers when you punch in the numbers. If you are using a phone card outside your room, be very careful to cover your fingers as you punch the numbers. I have had my phone cards tapped into, and I don''t know how it was done. After the first time, I covered my fingers as I punched the digits, and it was stolen again. Be very careful.

If you do change money in China then a quick conversion example would be: $1 = 8 RMB. For example, if you give $100 U.S. dollars to exchange, you will receive 800 RMB. Conversion rates change so check with banks for current rates of exchange.