EXPECTATIONS & FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS DOCUMENT
 Professor Chris A. Carr, 2011
Establishing International Supply Chains
BUS 304
Orfalea College of Business
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
March 15/16, 2012 – March 24, 2012
(TENTATIVE DATES OF THE FIELD TRIP TO SHANGHAI)
Instructor: Professor Chris A. Carr, JD
Faculty Bio: http://www.cob.calpoly.edu/faculty/chris-carr/
Office: 412 Orfalea College of Business (Building 03)
Office Hours: To be determined
Office Phone: (805) 756-2657
Email: ccarr@calpoly.edu
© Chris A. Carr 2011, All Rights Reserved
Do not quote, cite, reproduce or otherwise infringe on this copyright without written permission from Chris Carr.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (“FAQs”)
COURSE AND TRIP EXPECTATIONS .................................................................................................................5
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WHAT’S THE FIRST THING I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS TRIP AND COURSE? ........................................5
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE EXPECTATIONS YOU HAVE FOR ME ON THIS TRIP?............5
CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL CAUSE MY GRADE TO
TAKE A HIT AND/OR RESULT IN ME BEING SENT HOME? ................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
WHEN WE ARE ON-THE-ROAD WHEN DOES CLASS BEGIN AND END, AND HOW DOES THIS AFFECT MY
OWN RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE GOOD, SAFE DECISIONS? ........................................................................ 5
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS RE: PRE-DEPARTURE SESSIONS DURING FALL, WINTER AND SPRING
QUARTERS? ......................................................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
SAFETY ....................................................................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
6.
I AM CONCERNED THAT ABOUT SAFETY. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE? ....... ERROR!
BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
SOME TRIP DETAILS AND LOGISTICAL ISSUES .............................................................................................5
7.
WHAT WILL THE SIZE OF THIS YEAR’S TRIP BE, AND WHO HAS PRIORITY TO TAKE THE COURSE AND
PARTICIPATE IN THE TRIP?................................................................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
8.
WHY DO YOU RUN THIS COURSE AND TRIP THROUGH CAL POLY CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE)?
ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
9.
WHY DO WE LEAVE SO SOON AFTER GRADUATION? ......................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
10.
CAN MY SPOUSE, PARTNER, GIRLFRIEND OR BOYFRIEND COME WITH ME ON THE TRIP? .....................5
11.
THE DATES OF THE TRIP DON’T WORK FOR ME. CAN I ARRIVE OR LEAVE AT A DIFFERENT TIME?
CAN I SHADOW THE TRIP AND ITINERARY IF I DON’T WISH TO GO WITH THE GROUP?.............. ERROR!
BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
12.
CAN I EXTEND MY TRIP? ................................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
13.
ON LAST DAY OF THE COURSE AND TRIP, HOW DO STUDENTS GET TO THE AIRPORT IF THEY NEED TO
FLY HOME OR SOMEWHERE ELSE? .................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
DOCUMENTS ............................................................................................................................................................6
14.
WHAT ID SHOULD WE BRING BEYOND OUR PASSPORT?...........................................................................6
FLIGHT & PACKING ................................................................................................................................................6
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DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GETTING TO LAX OR SFO FROM SLO TO FLY TO
CHINA, AND WHAT ABOUT PARKING AT THE AIRPORT? ................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
WHAT IS THE DRESS CODE FOR THE FLIGHT TO AND FROM CHINA? ......................................................6
HOW MUCH LUGGAGE SHOULD I BRING TO CHINA? ............................................................................
SHOULD WE ALSO BRING A CARRY-ON BACKPACK? ...................................................................................6
I HEARD THAT ONE TIME ON THIS TRIP A STUDENT’S SUITCASE WAS LOST BY THE AIRLINE. IS THAT
TRUE? ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
IS THERE A LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF GOODS WE CAN TAKE IN AND OUT OF THE US AND CHINA?
ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
I PLAN TO BUY COUNTERFEIT ITEMS AND BRING THEM BACK TO THE STATES. CAN I DO THIS? ..........7
WHAT IF WE WANT TO SHIP ITEMS HOME FROM CHINA? ........................................................................7
WHAT FORM OF CURRENCY SHOULD WE BRING? .....................................................................................8
HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I BRING? .....................................................................................................8
WHAT IS THE CHEAPEST WAY TO GET YOUR HANDS ON LOCAL CURRENCY (RMB) IN CHINA?.............8
HOW SHOULD I CARRY AROUND MY PASSPORT AND VALUABLES IN CHINA?...........................................8
WWW.SKYPE.COM TO CALL HOME FROM CHINA?...................................................................................... 9
CAN I USE MY CELL PHONE IN CHINA? ....................................................................................................9
© Chris Carr 2010, All Rights Reserved
Do not quote, cite, reproduce or otherwise infringe on this copyright without written permission from the authors.
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IS THERE A CHARGE TO ACCESS THE INTERNET FROM OUR HOTEL ROOMS? AND WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE CHARGES RE: MY HOTEL ROOM THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR? ...................................................... 9
WHAT ABOUT BLOW DRYERS, IRONS AND IRONING BOARDS IN THE HOTEL ROOMS? ALSO, WHAT
ABOUT CONVERTERS AND PLUG-INS FOR ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICE WE BRING? ................................... 9
SHOULD I BRING MY I-POD, I-PHONE OR THE LIKE? ............................................................................. 10
SHOULD I BRING AN UMBRELLA? ............................................................................................................ 10
SHOULD I BRING AN ALARM CLOCK? ....................................................................................................... 10
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I BRING WITH ME?................................................................................................. 10
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE AIRLINE LIQUID AND GEL RULES?......................................... 11
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ILLEGAL DRUGS, MATERIALS, AND/OR BANNED ITEMS (E.G.,
RELIGIOUS MATERIALS) IN CHINA?......................................................................................................... 11
IN-COUNTRY QUESTIONS .................................................................................................................................. 11
36.
THERE IS A COMPANY IN THE AREAS OF CHINA WE WILL VISIT THAT I WOULD LIKE US TO VISIT AND I
HAVE A LEAD INTO THAT FIRM. I ALSO HAVE A CONTACT THAT MIGHT HELP US PULL TOGETHER AN
INTERESTING PRE-DEPARTURE SESSION DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR. I AM ALSO INTERESTED IN
MAKING MY OWN BLOG POST FOR THE CENTRAL BLOG. HOW SHOULD I PROCEED? ................. ERROR!
BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
37.
WHAT WILL THE TEMPERATURE/CLIMATE/HUMIDITY BE LIKE IN CHINA IN JUNE?.......................... 11
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WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PACE OF THIS TRIP? HOW ACTIVE IS THE TRIP? .................. 11
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WHAT IS THE DRESS CODE FOR FIRM AND FACTORY VISITS? WHAT ABOUT DURING OUR OFF-TIME? 12
40.
WILL THERE BE TIME FOR ME TO GO OUT AND EXPLORE ON MY OWN? ............................................... 12
41.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FOOD AND MEALS ON THIS TRIP?.......................................... 12
42.
WILL WE EAT ANY FACTORY FOOD IN CHINA? ................................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
43.
HOW MANY MEALS SHOULD I EXPECT TO PLAN FOR DURING MY OFF-TIME, AND HOW MUCH WILL IT
COST ME? .................................................................................................................................................. 13
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WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MY ROOM KEY IN CHINA?.............................................................. 13
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WHAT ARE THE BUSES LIKE? AND HOW MUCH TIME WILL WE SPEND ON THE BUS? ........................... 13
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DO I NEED TO KNOW MANDARIN FOR THIS TRIP? ................................................................................. 13
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ROOMMATES FOR THE HOTEL – HOW/WHEN DO WE SET THOSE UP? WHAT ABOUT A CENTRAL
LOCATION FOR EVERYONE TO MEET EACH DAY WHILE WE ARE ON THE ROAD? ... ERROR! BOOKMARK
NOT DEFINED.
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HOW WILL LAUNDRY WORK ON THE TRIP IF I NEED SOME LAUNDRY DONE?....................................... 13
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WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT TAKING PICTURES ON THE TRIP?........................................................... 13
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WHAT IF I MISS THE BUS, TRAIN OR PLANE ON PART OF THE TRIP AS WE VISIT FIRMS AND/OR MOVE
FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION? ............................................................................................................. 14
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I HEAR THE TRAFFIC IS CRAZY IN CHINA. IS THAT TRUE? WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT? .. 14
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WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT TIPPING? HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT? ......................................................... 14
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WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BARGAINING AND NEGOTIATING IN CHINA? ............................... 14
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WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAXIS IN CHINA? ........................................................................... 14
55.
SHOULD I BRING MY OWN BUSINESS CARDS? .......................................................................................... 15
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CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME BUSINESS ETIQUETTE TIPS FOR THE TRIP? .................................................... 15
MORE ABOUT ASSIGNMENTS ........................................................................................................................... 17
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TEAMS/GROUPS – HOW/WHEN DO WE FORM THEM?...................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
IN GENERAL, HOW WILL THE ON-THE-ROAD ASSIGNMENTS AND/OR FIRM VISITS WORK? .................. 17
MORE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE STUDENT TEAMS, HOW WILL THE ON-THE-ROAD TEAM BRIEFINGS
AND DEBRIEFINGS WORK FOR COMPANY VISITS? .............................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
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LAPTOPS: SHOULD WE BRING ONE? WHO SHOULD BRING AND WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW? ......... 17
61.
WHAT IS THE GAME PLAN FOR SUBMITTING PICTURES TO THE ORFALEA COLLEGE GRADUATE
PROGRAMS OFFICE DURING AND AFTER THE TRIP? ........................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
62.
WHAT TYPE OF GIFTS SHOULD WE BRING FOR THE EXECUTIVES WE WILL MEET ON THE TRIP?ERROR!
BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
MEDICAL RESTRICTIONS, HEALTH & SAFETY ........................................................................................... 18
© Chris Carr 2010, All Rights Reserved
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63.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MEDICAL AND DISEASE ISSUES IN CHINA? ANY SHOTS I NEED TO
GET BEFORE I GO? WHAT ABOUT THE AVIAN FLU ISSUE? ..................................................................... 18
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SHOULD WE BRING MOTION SICKNESS PILLS FOR THE PLANE, BUS, TRAIN, ETC.? ............................... 18
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WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS OF TOILETS IN CHINA? ........................................................................... 19
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WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TOILETS AND TOILET PAPER IN CHINA? ................... ERROR!
BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
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I AM ALLERGIC TO MOSQUITO BITES. WHAT WILL THE MOSQUITO SITUATION BE LIKE? .......... ERROR!
BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
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WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF TAP WATER IN CHINA, AND IS BOTTLED DRINKING WATER AVAILABLE? ... 19
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WHAT ARE SOME SPECIFIC CONCERNS THAT WOMEN NEED TO BE AWARE OF IN CHINA? .................. 19
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I DON’T DRINK ALCOHOL OR LIKE TO DRINK ALCOHOL. WHAT DO/SHOULD I DO AT ANY EVENT
WHERE THERE IS ALCOHOL AND TOASTING? ................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
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I DO LIKE TO DRINK ALCOHOL. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW? ........ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
72.
I DON’T LIKE SMOKE OR SMOKING. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW? ........................................................ 19
73.
I AM ALLERGIC TO MSG AND I HEAR IT’S USED IN COOKING CHINESE FOOD. WHAT SHOULD I DO
ABOUT THIS? ............................................................................................................................................ 12
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I AM A VEGETARIAN. ANY TIPS YOU CAN PASS ALONG TO ME?......... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
75.
I HAVE ASTHMA. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW? ...................................................................................... 20
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I HAVE [FILL IN THE BLANK PHYSICAL AILMENT]. WHAT IF I HAVE A FLARE UP ON THE TRIP AND
NEED TO GO TO A HOSPITAL? .................................................................................................................. 20
77.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICAN’S WITH DISABILITY ACT AND THOSE ISSUES AS
APPLIED TO THIS TRIP? ............................................................................................................................ 22
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GENERAL SAFETY DISCUSSION AND OTHER SAFETY TIPS? ............... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
OTHER ...................................................................................................................................................................... 22
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HOW MIGHT I MARKET THIS TRIP AND EXPERIENCE ON MY RESUME OR IN A JOB INTERVIEW? ......... 22
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WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GREAT WALL? ................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
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CAN YOU RECOMMEND SOME ITEMS TO DROP INTO MY FINAL CHECKLIST FOR THE TRIP? ...... ERROR!
BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
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WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TRIP? FOR INSTANCE, THINGS LIKE RELIGION AND
THE “THREE T’S” – TAIWAN, TIANANMEN AND TIBET? ....................................................................... 23
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION ...................................................................................................... 25
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EMERGENCY CONTACT/INFORMATION WHILE IN CHINA? ................................................................ 25
OTHER QUESTIONS? ................................................................................................................................ 26
© Chris Carr 2010, All Rights Reserved
Do not quote, cite, reproduce or otherwise infringe on this copyright without written permission from the authors.
4
Course and Trip Expectations
1. What’s the first thing I should know about this course and trip?
First, I expect you to take the course and trip seriously, prepare, work hard and act professionally at all times. The field
trip to Shanghai is like a real world business trip.
Second, places like China (and India) are the future. You need to see and experience such emerging markets. This
course helps you get started on that journey.
Third, Shanghai is am amazing city. It is modern and very big. It has all the pros and cons of a major city. Like any
major city, it is safe so long as you use good judgment, common sense, stay aware of your surroundings, etc.
Finally, while we work hard and will be busy during our time in Shanghai, there will also be ample time for you to
explore and have fun during your off-the-clock time.
2. What else can you tell me about the expectations you have for me on this trip?
How foreigners see China often has as much to do with their own character and their own prejudices as it does with the
reality on the ground. For every fact that is true about China, the opposite is almost always true as well, somewhere in
the country. You will be amazed on this trip when you see some of your classmates pick out and focus on the very
things that confirm their own biases and prejudices about life, business and the world, while time and time again they
will ignore the pieces of data that contradict those beliefs. People are lazy when they do this. Don’t fall into that trap.
Also, this trip and course do not require you to be or become a Panda Hugger or a Dragon Slayer, but you must be
engaged on the trip at all times and exhibit and maintain a positive attitude and influence on the trip.
3. When we are on-the-road when does class begin and end, and how does this affect my own
responsibility to make good, safe decisions?
Each day in China class will begin when we meet at or leave the hotel for the planned activity, firm visit, etc., and it will
end when our planned activities and firm visits are completed (could be late afternoon or early evening, etc.). We will
plan on announcing at the end of each day (or event) when the class is over for the day. At that point, you are “off the
clock” and what you do, how you do it, when you do it, etc., is up to you and you alone will be responsible (and legally
liable) for the consequences of the decisions you make/don’t make.
Please do not do something stupid on the trip that embarrasses you, your family, your classmates, the USA, Cal Poly
and/or the Orfalea College. Even though you will be in China, and part of it may at times seem like a “vacation”
because you are no longer in the USA, please remember that you are in an academic program and course, that you are
still a student of Cal Poly, and that you are expected to behave in the same manner as you would if you were at school in
California.
Finally, always let other people in the group know where you are going while you are off-the-clock.
Some Trip Details and Logistical Issues
4. Can my spouse, partner, girlfriend or boyfriend come with on the trip?
No. Nor can they shadow our trip and itinerary. There is no room, and I want you to focus to maximize your learning
experience. Use this time and experience to invest in yourself, not another person.
© Chris Carr 2010, All Rights Reserved
Do not quote, cite, reproduce or otherwise infringe on this copyright without written permission from the authors.
5
Documents
5. What ID should we bring beyond our passport?
A student ID or a driver’s license may be wise to bring. This is because a student ID may help you get into a museum
during your off the clock time at the cheaper student rate (if offered). Whether you also bring credit cards and an ATM
card is up to you (see below discussion on this).
Flight & Packing
6. What is the dress code for the flight to and from China?
This is your off-the-clock time, where we can’t control what you wear, but I still suggest that for the flight you be
relaxed, comfortable and to please reflect well on Cal Poly and the Orfalea College. A nice pair of jeans and nice shirt
will work. There is no need to go formal on the plane flight over. Your Professor will likely wear nice blue jeans, a nice
shirt and decent pair of tennis shoes on the plane.
7. How much luggage should I bring to China? Should we also bring a carry-on of some sort?
Travel light!! I repeat – TRAVEL LIGHT!! We will only be there for five days! I suggest you check one bag and bring
a carry on.
Be sure to check with the airline you fly on, via its website as to what its bag and weight limitations are. For example,
for Chinese domestic flights, each person is usually allowed only 44 pounds of checked baggage. If you violate this “44
pound rule” on the domestic flight(s) in China (that is, if your checked suitcase weighs more than this), the airline may
charge you for the extra weight and you pay that cost; we/Cal Poly do not.
Also, bring travel-sized everything (shampoo, deodorant, vitamins, toothpaste, lotion, etc.) and avoid tons of adapters
and chargers. A simple razor is much better than an electric shaver.
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Other:
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Never put anything of value (e.g., laptop, cell phone, jewelry, money, passport, valuable electronics, cameras, etc.) in
your checked luggage. The risk of theft of such items on any flight, domestic or international, is substantial.
Moreover, airlines don’t cover such loss, nor will your Emergency Travel Insurance.
If you do find something stolen, report it immediately to the airline and to the local airport police. In fact, most
travel insurance policies require that you do this in order to submit a claim under the policy.
Mark your bag with colorful string or ribbon (that won’t get caught in a conveyor belt) so that it can be spotted
easily on a crowded carousel. This also lessens the chance that someone will walk off with your bag, either
intentionally or by accident.
8. I heard that one time on one of your MBA trips to China a student’s suitcase was lost by the
airline. Is that true?
The Bad News: Yes, it happened. Her suitcase was lost on the flight over from LAX to Hong Kong. Two years ago
we also had three people whose suitcases got lost for a ½ day on the way from the US to China Here is something to
keep in mind:
In domestic and international business you need to pack and plan appropriately. As some point in your business career
this will happen to you and the way you plan for it is to make that sure in your carry-on you have what you need to get
you through at least one day after you arrive – e.g., extra underpants, clean shirt, etc. Don’t pack something in the
© Chris Carr 2010, All Rights Reserved
Do not quote, cite, reproduce or otherwise infringe on this copyright without written permission from the authors.
6
luggage you check that you absolutely MUST have the next day and/or cannot buy the next day in the country you are
traveling to -- put that in your carry-on!
And for the big people out there, whether you are made up of fat or muscle, if you wear anything bigger then an XL in
the US, then you are out of luck. An XXL in China is an L in the states. Good luck finding XXXL in China.
The Good News: In her case they found her luggage, but she did not get it for 2 days. She was not a happy camper.
Yet, she received this same advice as you and she did not comply, so she had nobody to blame but herself. Don’t let this
happen to you. Please plan accordingly.
9. I plan to buy counterfeit items and bring them back to the states. Can I do this?
Oh, great. Another flip-flopping American. This is not a very well thought out plan and thing to do for several reasons.
One, it raises an ethical issue. I.e., do you want to be yet another American that bitches and moans about piracy in the
world and you then go out and buy your own knockoffs? Don’t lecture the Chinese on such an issue if you do this.
Second, you will find that when they see you engage in such conduct, you lose the moral high ground with them on
other issues such as protecting the environment, sustainability, quality assurance of goods exported out of China, etc.
Third, have you thought about what you will do if/when US Customs looks through your bags and detains and/or fines
you for trying to bring such fake products into the country? Note that if that occurs, we won’t wait for you at the
airport and you are completely on your own re: paying the fine.
10. What if we want to ship items home from China?
This can be tricky. FedEx or UPS or DHL have express services from certain Chinese cities such as Shanghai to the
U.S. but they have no convenient retail outlets you can find and get to with ease to send items back home. AND IT IS
VERY EXPENSIVE TO DO THIS.
Thus, one option is the Chinese post office. But you will need to buy and use their shipping boxes. The lines are also
usually long, so if you can consolidate items into a box with one of your classmates that is a good idea and may help you
save time. The post office will generally, but not always, provide sealing tapes when you buy boxes from them.
But here is the best advice:
It may be easier for you to just buy an extra piece of luggage while you are there (luggage in China is cheap and you will
have the opportunity to buy some) and pay the airline for the extra weight and freight to check it on your flight home.
Regarding how much this costs, it will be up to you to look into and take care of.
Another idea, and the one I sometimes personally follow, is to pack/use a bigger suitcase to travel to China, don’t pack it
full, and that way when you return to the US you have a larger suitcase with room to pack the gifts your purchased.
Note, though, that bringing a larger suitcase to China means you have to lug it around.
And remember: anything “imported” into the U.S. is also subject to customs duties!!
Again, please be sure to review the following US Department of State/US Customs link re: what you can/cannot bring
in and out of China – there are some items that appear that might surprise you.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html
Also remember that customs will sometimes open what you ship back from China, so see and re-read question above re:
fake merchandise if you have the grand idea that you can “beat the system” and try to avoid customs by mailing or
shipping back from China to the US the illegal item in question.
© Chris Carr 2010, All Rights Reserved
Do not quote, cite, reproduce or otherwise infringe on this copyright without written permission from the authors.
7
11. What form of currency should we bring?
Cash in king in China. Traveler’s checks (American Express) may be the safest thing, and I would be sure to bring some
of them with you. Shanghai is also a modern city where you can have access to ATMs and many places (but not all of
them) take Western credit cards.
If you bring cash bring larger bills, e.g., $50s and $100’s, as they are better and easier to exchange. ALSO, BRING
BILLS WITH YOU THAT ARE NEWER AND IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE – IF YOU BRING BEAT UP, OLD
WORN OUT US DOLLARS, THE HOTELS AND BANKS WON’T TAKE THEM.
If you do bring an ATM or credit card, be sure to contact your bank and credit card companies before you
leave telling them you may incur expense/charges in China, so that when you get to China they work!
Finally, below is a good quote and warning from one of my MBA students on a recent trip that had his cell phone and
$$ stolen while dancing at a club the very last night during his “off the clock” time while we were in China:
“My incident: I had my wallet and cell phone pick-pocketed on the final night … Since it had been the
final day of shopping, I unfortunately had a relatively large amount of cash in my wallet ($250 US). And
my cell phone ran me over $400 to replace back in the US. Lesson to be learned: Have a second wallet for
going out in higher risk areas and only bring what you NEED when you do so. The pros will lift things off
you in a second. I was on a dance floor in a club … the one place you let your guard down about people
bumping up against you. I felt it get taken and by the time I turned around I was looking at 300 dancing
strangers ... Nothing could be done.”
12. How much money should I bring?
This is up to you to study and decide, and will be determined by how much you spend during your off the clock time,
how much you shop, how much you eat and where during your off the clock time. Figure out what is the worst case
scenario for how much you will spend during the five days were are on the ground in Shanghai and plan accordingly.
Note: Make sure you can pay for basic medical needs/a basic doctor’s office visit up front if you come down with
something while were are in Shanghai, as the health services in China work mostly on a pay up front system. These
visits are often not terribly expensive by US standards -- $50 to $100 USD, including the medicine/drugs they may give
you. You then need to be sure and take/keep the receipts and pursue reimbursement via the Emergency Travel
Insurance that is purchased for you (see Information Booklet for more information on this insurance).
13. What is the cheapest way to get your hands on local currency (RMB) in China?
You can exchange your USD for RMB at the hotel we stay at, or go to a local and nearby Chinese bank (one should be
close by the hotel). The rate at the local bank may be a bit better, but if so, it is usually not that much better of a rate.
You can explore this when you get there and decide accordingly. Note that hotels in China usually only let you exchange
$200 to $300 USD per day.
14. How should I carry around my passport and valuables in China?
This is up to you to study and decide what you are comfortable with. There are different schools of thought on this.
One way, and the approach I often use, is to try and keep what I can in the hotel safe in my hotel room. This usually
means my passport and most of my money and most of my traveler’s checks. Another approach is to carry one’s
valuables outside the hotel using a pouch around the neck or a money belt. Again, you will have to decide what you are
comfortable with. At a minimum I also suggest you keep a copy of your passport and visa on you at all times.
Whichever approach you use, I strongly suggest that you also scan your passport, ATM cards, credit cards and the like
(back and front) that you will take to China. Then, email the scan to yourself! Then if these documents are lost or
stolen you will have access to the needed information. You might also make copies of your important travel documents
and keep one set at home in the US with a friend or family.
© Chris Carr 2010, All Rights Reserved
Do not quote, cite, reproduce or otherwise infringe on this copyright without written permission from the authors.
8
Other:
The Chinese are usually friendly and curious when they encounter a large group of foreigners (yes, we are foreigners in
China). Always, always exercise caution and pay attention to your surroundings. Theft can easily occur on the subway
due to tight fit, trains, train stations, shopping areas, etc.
Be aware of pickpockets and thieves. Since there is little personal space in China, you should always guard your valuables
in a crowd. Passports are generally safer in your hotel safe than carrying them in a backpack where someone can come
up, slit open the backpack with a blade, and take out whatever they can grab without you knowing it.
You might also use your driver's license to the extent possible for identification. This will reduce the chance of losing or
having your original passport stolen (e.g., you hand your passport to a vendor in a store and he/she takes off with it).
It's much easier to replace a driver's license than a passport.
Never trust any stranger with your passport, wallet, or luggage!!
Losing your passport is a very bad news indeed, in China. Getting a new one takes time and money. If you lose your
passport, you should certainly have some ID card with your photo as many embassies require this before issuing a new
passport. Some embassies will accept a driver's license, but others will not - an expired passport, if you have one, may
save the day.
15.
www.skype.com to call home from China?
This can allow you to call home for pennies per minute. See the Skype website, sign up, and fund your account for
$10.00 USD and you are ready to go! Note the for Skype you may need a laptop to use it (check into this) and if so you
would need to bring your laptop with you to China. The hotels we stay at provide access the Internet from your room
and that cost item is covered in the course fee.
16. Can I use my cell phone in China?
Possibly, but unlikely. Cell phones may work in China if yours is tri-band. The rates will be expensive though. If your
phone is GSM, tri-band, and unlocked (one that can accept other carrier’s SIM cards), you can buy a prepaid phone card
and have a Chinese phone number.
17. Is there a charge to access the Internet from our hotel rooms? And what are some of the charges
re: my hotel room that I am responsible for?
That cost of Internet access from our hotel rooms is included in the course fee for the trip.
However, there may be other charges related to using the hotel such as the room phone, room service, movies, room
damage, any drink or food or soda you get from the bar in the hotel or room itself, lost room keys, missing hangers or
towels (yes, in China, unlike the US they charge you for these if they are missing from the room upon checkout,) which
is at your own expense.
18. What about blow dryers, irons and ironing boards in the hotel rooms?
converters and plug-ins for any electronic device we bring?
Also, what about
Some of you have asked whether our hotels in China have blow dryers. Usually they do. If they do not you can likely
walk down the street and buy one for about $10 USD.
No hotels carry curling irons.
Hotels in China like the ones we will stay at generally do NOT have irons or ironing boards in the room (but do NOT
pack an ironing board with you!). Usually the front desk or housekeeping may have one you can borrow. To save on
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9
space, rather than bring an iron with me to China, I often hang my shirt in the shower, turn the shower on hot for 5
minutes and while I shower to save energy, and try to steam the shirt a bit in order to take out the wrinkles. It does the
trick.
Note that outlets in the US are 110 volts. In China they are generally 220 volts. To operate these types of
electrical devices, for example, you will need an adapter and a converter. Most of the converters in these devices are now
equipped to handle any voltage, but will likely still need a plug adapter. In China, the outlets/plugs are generally of two
types: regular (with two prongs) and “other” (with three prongs). See below for a picture. Thus, before we leave
you may want to try to buy adapters for each type of outlet/plug.
China Plug Adapters and Outlet Shapes: Outlets in China generally accept 2 types of plugs.
Two round pins
Three round pins arranged in a triangle
19. Should I bring my I-pod, I-phone or the like?
Yes. Great idea. Perfect for down time in the airport, bus, train, etc. But guard it well, as I-pods and these types of
electronics are a prime target of thieves in China.
20. Should I bring an umbrella?
No. Just buy one in Shanghai for super cheap in the unlikely event it rains while we are there in March. Don’t waste
valuable packing space by including an umbrella.
21. Should I bring an alarm clock?
No. Save on packing space! The hotels have wake up calls. You can also use your watch or cell phone for your own
alarm clock if you wish. Pack light!!
22. What else should I bring with me?
A. A small notepad and pen. You can use this to take notes during company visits (also a sign of respect to your
hosts/speaker), take notes while we hold on-the-road class sessions, and give directions to you while driving on the bus,
etc.
B. Other possible items (but if you bring, pack travel size, not regular size!):
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Anti-diarrhea medicine
Imodium
Cipro (check with your doctor on this one; prescription may be needed)
Deodorant
Dental floss
Mouthwash
Aspirin, if you prefer it to Tylenol, as it can be hard to come by in other than minuscule doses.
Some snacks or energy bars for the plane ride over or our bus rides to firms
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10

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Common medicines in America, such as Sudafed, Pepto Bismol (not that you need it), Imodium (ditto), Tylenol or
Motrin and Tums are not common in China
For ladies, personal hygiene products (see FAQ below re: special issues for women in China)
If you take prescription drugs, as noted earlier, you may want to bring a copy of the prescription or keep the drug in
a bottle with printed drug information
You should also always have a small packet of toilette paper handy (some public restrooms in China do NOT
provide toilet paper!!)
Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat or cap are also a good idea to bring
It’s also a good idea to bring sandals for the shower, hand sanitizer, extra underwear, and, of course, a camera and a
comfortable pair of walking shoes for your off the clock time!
There is no need to bring a towel, but bringing a small hand towel to carry in your book bag is probably a good idea.
Also, you may want to bring your tour guide/travel book (so you can check out possible places to visit in a city during
your off the clock time) and a hard copy of the Course Syllabus!
23. What do I need to know about the airline liquid and gel rules?
REMEMBER THE AIRLINE RULES ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO BRING CERTAIN LIQUIDS, GELS OR PERFUMES
ON THE PLANE IN YOUR CARRY ON. YOU CAN/SHOULD CHECK THE AIRLINE’S WEBSITE AND/OR THE USA
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (“TSA”) WEB SITE (WWW.TSA.GOV) FOR THESE RULES
AND/OR ANY BAGGAGE WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS YOU MAY BE CONCERNED ABOUT.
ALSO REMEMBER THAT FOR ANY LIQUIDS OR GELS YOU BRING IN YOUR CARRY ON, YOU NEED TO HAVE
THEM IN A PLASTIC BAG OR THEY WILL MAKE YOU THROW THEM AWAY!!
24. What do I need to know about illegal drugs, materials, and/or banned items (e.g., religious
materials) in China?
Don’t botch this or even get close to the line. China is not LA, and you are not Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, or Charlie
Sheen.
While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ
significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S.
law. Persons violating Chinese laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.
China has very strict laws on drugs: possession or use of illegal substance is punishable by death. There is no such thing
as recreational use of marijuana; it’s illegal in China. One may not bring adult materials into China. Also, if you peruse
religious books or artifacts, bring one personal copy and not a boxful.
In-Country Questions
25. What will the temperature/climate/humidity be like in China in March?
Be sure to research these details on the internet on your own, but the weather in Shanghai in March is usually on the
chilly side (can even get really cold at times).
I would be sure to bring a medium thickness jacket with you to stay warm in Shanghai while we are there.
Like I said, March can be chilly in Shanghai, especially in the evenings.
26. What do I need to know about the pace of this trip? How active is the trip?
Our pace during the days we visit firms and factories is pretty fast. We have a lot to see and do! You will still have
ample free time to explore, slow down and decompress.
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11
27. What is the dress code for firm and factory visits? What about during our off-time?
First, for this trip please bring or go out and buy a nice Cal Poly polo shirt. The color is not important. You can/will
wear that to, for example, our factory visits (see below). We will also have you wear that for some of our group photos
on the trip.
FACTORY VISITS: For these visits you/we can get away with a more casual look; e.g., for men a nice pair of khaki
pants, a nice polo shirt, etc., and there is no need to wear jacket and tie. For women, the same.
FIRM VISITS: For these visits business casual and comfortable walking shoes will work (note that here “business
casual” is defined for men as a nice pair of slacks or khakis or dress pants, dress shirt, decent looking shoes, a tie and a
light and breathable sport jacket; ladies, you should consider wearing a light business suit, e.g., a dress jacket and pair of
slacks that match it and then pack two shirts that coordinate).
A two shirts/dress supply should be more than enough in this regard as the hotel will have a laundry service if you need
it. We want you to look nice, respectable and professional but there is also no need to have a fashion show on the road - nobody, yes nobody, will notice or care that you have worn the same shirt or pants or dress or tie three times.
No open-toed shoes inside a firm or factory visit!
Note: If someone shows up dressed inappropriately for a firm or factory visit, I will ask them to change or stay
in the hotel, bus and/or lobby of the building the firm or factory is located in, and they will not join us.
Off-Time: During your off-time shorts and sandals or open toed shoes are OK, but NOT while visiting firms or
factories. During your off-time, avoid wearing anything that can be interpreted as pornographic or religious, as it can be
confiscated (and cause airport delays). Also, stay away from big American flags or bald eagle on the shirt or F.C.U.K. tshirts.
Ladies, please recognize that China is a more modest society and you should dress accordingly!
28. Will there be time for me to go out and explore on my own?
Yes! See also the tentative trip schedule in the Syllabus for where the pockets of free time appear.
29. What do I need to know about the food and meals on this trip?
Our hotels will serve both a Chinese and Western breakfast. For our scheduled lunches, some may be Chinese, others
Western. Your dinners are on your own during your free time so what you eat will be up to you and Shanghai has
unlimited excellent choices from all regions of the world! Finally, note that if you ask for a glass of water to drink at a
restaurant in China, you will most likely get a glass of hot water! This is, after all, a tea drinking society and culture.
30. I am allergic to MSG and I hear it’s used in cooking Chinese food. Or, I am a vegetarian. What
should I do about this?
This should not be a problem for our scheduled meals. For those meals we can work with the places we eat to get you a
dish with no MSG or a vegetarian dish. But here is the deal to be aware of re: this unique request (for China) – please be
patient. This means that in a country of 1.3 billion people, if you are one of the ten people in the country who does not
like MSG (or one of the few vegetarians), it’s highly likely you will need to wait on your dish and it will come after the
other students get theirs. Don’t make an impatient American face or sigh re: the delay; buck up, and deal with the delay
in getting your food. Again, if this is a health concern issue for you, we assume you will identify this issue in the
application and medical form when you apply/fill out the paperwork with Cal Poly Continuing Education. For your offthe-clock meals, this will be your issue to manage and to do so I suggest you bring a translation book or have such an
application downloaded on your phone so you can communicated with the waiter if he/she does not speak English!
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12
Note also that being a vegetarian in China may be technically easy, but socially difficult. When people eat out together or
at home, they share from the main dishes, and many of those dishes will have at least small bits of meat, so dietary
restrictions can cause social awkwardness.
31. How many meals should I expect to plan for during my off-time, and how much will it cost me?
For your off-the-clock time and meals, see your Syllabus. We estimate that it will cost you no more than $75 USD for
these meals, provided you do not need to eat at every Outback Steakhouse or California Pizza Kitchen you see in
Shanghai.
32. What do I need to know about my room key in China?
Your room key in China often has the name of the hotel on it in English and Mandarin and you can show this to your
taxi driver to get back to you hotel. HOWEVER, to be safe, also always, always, always carry with you a business card
from the hotel we are staying in (you can get one at the front desk when we check in). Carry it with you at all times!!
Then, if you get lost, you can show that card to the taxi driver and/or ask for assistance to return to the hotel. Business
cards tend to have better maps and directions to the hotel on them than room keys.
Also note that if you lose your room key in China or do not turn it in upon check out, most hotels will bill you for the
new one. You pay that extra charge. This is very different than in the US.
33. What are the buses like? And how much time will we spend on the bus?
We use standard tour buses of good quality. They are also air conditioned. Some days we spend a lot of time driving
around from one visit to the next; others days not as much. It is hit and miss. Go with the flow. Shanghai is a big
place. We have lots to see! This is also how large groups of people get around in China. Traffic is also often bad in the
cities such as Shanghai. So please get yourself ready for this.
34. Do I need to know Mandarin for this trip?
No. If/when this is an issue we will have a translator with us.
35. How will laundry work on the trip if I need some laundry done?
If you need this, the hotel we will stay at will have a laundry service. It is not cheap to use this, but it is also not Europe
type prices.
36. What should we do about taking pictures on the trip?
Always ask for permission before taking pictures inside factories, firms or stores. It’s always better to be safe than sorry
or offensive. This is especially the case when we visit a factory. If someone in a uniform ever comes up to you and asks
you to stop taking a picture, please obey his/her order.
Usually a group picture or two is always taken with the head of the organization at the end of the visit.
Note that when we visit a factory, you should NOT show emotions of sorrow or pity. This is offensive to factory
workers. Your doing so can be interpreted by them as you thinking you are somehow better than them or above them.
One way to think about this is that if you were that poor soul on the factory line and some schmuck Westerner walked
by you with such a look, would you be offended? I suspect you would be.
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13
37. What if I miss the plane or bus on part of the trip as we fly out or visit firms and/or move from
location to location?
Uh, you’re kidding, right? We won’t wait for you and you are on your own (at your expense) to get to the next location
(or return to the hotel). Further, students are expected to make EACH session/firm/factory visit. If you stay out late
and go clubbing on your off-time, that’s your call, but we expect you to drag your butt out of bed each morning to
timely make and attend breakfast and each event/activity we have scheduled and be engaged at each event. If you miss
scheduled events or are half asleep or hung-over during a company visit your grade will reflect that. And as also earlier
noted, if someone shows up dressed inappropriately for a firm or factory visit, we will ask them to stay in the hotel, bus
and/or lobby of the building the firm or factory is located in, and they will not join us.
38. I hear the traffic can be crazy in China. Is that true? What do I need to know about it?
Yes, it’s true. In short, cars and buses and motorcycles in China will not stop for you. Never, ever, ever step out in
front of a car or bus or motorcycle in China – they will not stop and you will be killed or injured. In China, the only
traffic law they follow is “Red = stop, Green = GO”, and everything else is up in the air. Cars passing your car can
happen, to your right, your left, or even above you. Road rage in the US will seem like small talk in China. And for the
millions of bikers, they don’t even follow the “Red & Green” rule.
39. What do we do about tipping? How do we handle that?
Unless you request special or unique services, you should not expect to tip anyone during your trip in China. There is
no need to tip the waiter, waitress, tax driver, etc. Yes, China is very different form the US in this regard. For the
unique occasion where we do need to tip (e.g., bus drivers, some of our local hosts, etc.) we have built that into the trip
price.
That said, if a hotel staff member helps you with your bags I would encourage you to give them a few $$ RMB; it need
not be nearly as much as you would tip a staff member at a decent hotel in the US. Many such hotel workers come from
poor areas in China and they are working hard to try to move up and improve their lives.
40. What do I need to know about bargaining and negotiating in China?
In China, most everything is negotiable. Large stores and shopping malls may not allow for or do bargaining, but it is an
expected occurrence everywhere else. When bargaining, you can cut the originally quoted price down by at least half, if
not more, depending on how well you bargain. The key is not to show too much interest and walk away when the
salesperson does not meet your price. He or she will most likely call you back and sell at the price you offer. If not, you
can always find what you want to buy someplace else.
41. What do I need to know about taxis in China?
A lot!! Do not give taxi drivers big bills when you pay the taxi fare – there is a risk if you do so that they will
give you counterfeit bills back. In fact, for this same reason never pay using a big $$ bill in China.
Also, never get into an unmarked car/taxi in China. Always look for and use marked cabs. Sometimes it can also be
hard to get a cab in China, especially when it is raining.
Sometimes your taxi driver in China will drive around because he legitimately does not know where the place is that you
want to go. This is because many of the drivers are from the poor cities of China, are recent hires, and do not know the
city well. Unlike many US cities, taxi drivers in China are not required to memorize the street names and take and pass
an exam about the city and its addresses. Other times they may be trying to rip you off by feigning they are lost. It is up
to you to learn and figure out what is happening in your case.
For directions, when giving those to your cab driver, you may also want to think of landmarks and not street names and
numbers. China has never been very big on precise addresses and this is one reason that the domestic postal system is
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14
fairly unreliable. Where else in the world does a major avenue change names every few blocks or you can be driving on
a street that just ends facing a brick wall or building?
Always make sure to look in the taxi to make sure you grabbed everything when you exit the cab (e.g.,
shopping, wallet, camera, phone, etc.), or it is gone forever!!!
Finally, as earlier noted a room key in China often has the name of the hotel on it in English. But to be safe, also always
carry with you a business card from the hotel we are staying in (you can get one at the front desk when we check in).
Carry it with you at all time!! Then, if you get lost, you can show that card to the taxi driver and/or ask for assistance to
return to the hotel. Said hotel business cards also often have directions to the hotel on them.
42. Should I bring my own business cards?
Yes! Business cards are a HUGELY big deal in China. And present your card with two hands, and ensure that your
name is facing the recipient. When receiving a business card, examine it for a few seconds; then carefully place it into
your card case or wallet (NOT your shirt or jacket pocket as that is considered rude!!). After looking at the card, try to
make a gesture acknowledging the impressive position of the person with whom you are dealing.
Having your own business cards handy will also save you from being embarrassed when someone asks you for one
(especially since you are a business student) and help you make a good impression and keep in contact with the people
and students you meet (and help them more easily contact you); it’s all a part of starting to implement Chinese guanxi.
My own experience is that when one gives you a business card and you have nothing to give them in return, it can make
you feel awkward. Again, this is up to you re: how you want to handle it.
The nice thing about business cards is that you today you can get them made on the cheap. If you bring them, in terms
of the number to bring that will depend on how social and outgoing you are – 50 to 100 should be a safe number.
43. Can you give me a few business etiquette tips for the trip?
Sure. The following resource has some good tips:
Good Business Requires Good Manners in China
(Source: http://www.rotaryeclubone.org/articles/good_bus_china.htm)
Many people are doing business in China, or plan to do so in the future. Others wish to visit China for a holiday
experience.
Rotary eClub One President Chris Joscelyne was the joint-founder of Easy FM. This popular radio service, developed
in conjunction with Radio Beijing (China Radio International) provides English language music programs to listeners
in Beijing and other cities across China.
As a regular visitor to China, Chris learned that good business in China requires good manners, so he studied etiquette
from a Chinese perspective. His Chinese business colleagues have always appreciated his sensitivity to local customs
and protocols.
Here is a summary of some basic suggestions from Chris regarding etiquette. These are practical ideas that are useful
for anyone visiting China, whether it is for business or for a vacation.
Most people in China should be addressed with a title and their last name. If a person does not have a professional
title, use “Mr.”, “Madam”, “Miss”, plus the family name. Do not use their given name unless you are invited to do so.
A married Chinese woman usually retains her maiden name. She will use her husband's last name on occasions for
formal addressing only.
Being late for an appointment is considered a serious insult in Chinese business culture. Always allow sufficient travel
time so that you will arrive at the agreed time for a meeting.
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15
Acknowledge the most senior person in a group first, even if a more junior person is standing closer to you in the
group.
If you visit a school, or other workplace, you may be greeted with applause as a sign of welcome. In turn, you should
respond by applauding back.
You may be asked intrusive questions concerning your age, income, and marital status. If you don't want to reveal this
information, remain polite and give an unspecific answer. Don't express irritation with the questioner.
There is no need to avoid mentioning Taiwan. If the subject comes up, never refer to this island as 'The Republic of
China' or 'Nationalist China.' The correct term is 'Taiwan.'
Refrain from using terms such as 'Red China', 'Mainland China,' and 'Communist China.' Just say 'China.'
Avoid making expansive gestures. The Chinese do not use their hands when speaking, and will only become annoyed
with a speaker who does. Use your whole hand rather than your index finger to point.
The Chinese are very keen about exchanging business cards, so be sure to take a plentiful supply. Present your card
with two hands, and ensure that your name is facing the recipient. When receiving a business card, examine it for a few
seconds; then carefully place it into your card case or wallet.
Wear conservative suits or dresses. A blouse or other kind of top should have a high neckline. Choose subdued,
neutral colors and keep jewelry to an absolute minimum.
Because of the emphasis on conservative modest dress in Chinese business culture, flat shoes or very low heels are the
main footwear options for women. High heels are acceptable only at a formal evening reception.
Acceptable gifts to present to Chinese business colleagues include handicrafts, or an illustrated book from your own
town or state. Be sure to take three or four spare items with you, so that you can reciprocate if it happens that you are
presented with a gift.
Do not give anything that is obviously expensive, so that the Chinese will not feel obliged to reciprocate. A book of
pictures of the region where you live is always a safe gift.
If you wrap your gifts, take some wrapping paper and sticky tape in your luggage. Chinese customs and the airlines
have required me to unwrap gifts, tearing the wrapping. It's easier to wrap gifts in your hotel room.
If possible, wrap your gifts in red paper, or gold, as each is considered a lucky color. Plain red paper is one of the few
“safe” choices since a variety of meanings, many of which are negative, are attributed to colors in Chinese culture.
Never wrap a gift in white, black, yellow or blue paper.
During a meal, expressing enthusiasm about the food you are eating is a welcome and usually expected topic of
conversation.
It is not uncommon for a host to order enough food for eight people at a table of five. He or she loses face if there are
not plenty of leftovers at the end of a meal. Rice, considered by many Chinese to be filler, is generally not served until
the end of a meal. However, if your host asks you if you would like rice earlier in the meal as a dish accompaniment, it
is fine to say "yes please", especially if the food is very spicy.
Leaving your plate empty when you have finished eating is perceived to mean that you were not given enough food ... a
terrible insult. On the other hand, leaving a food offering untouched will also give offence. Even if you find a dish
unappealing, try a small portion for the sake of politeness.
Seeds and bones are placed on the table or in a dish reserved for this purpose. Never place these objects in your eating
bowl.
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16
Placing your chopsticks parallel on top of your bowl is believed to bring bad luck.
Many Chinese business people live a long distance from where they work. If you are hosting an evening banquet or
dinner, do not plan a late finish. Your guests will appreciate an early conclusion so their homeward travel will be easy.
Do not be dismayed if your Chinese business contacts appear slow to accept your overtures of friendship. Chinese are
formal and careful at the start of a new relationship. However, as time passes and mutual trust develops, a worthwhile
and long-term friendship can evolve. Such friendships are real and of lasting value.
More About Firm/Factory Visits and Assignments
44. In general, how will factory and firm visits work?
One of the worst ways we can make an impression on a firm or factory and not get invited back is if the group shows up
unprepared re: what that company does, insightful questions to ask, etc.
Also, be fair to the firms we visit. Put yourselves in their shoes. Don’t expect them to tell you all their inner workings
and secrets. Firms are often limited in what they can publicly say. As the Chinese proverb notes:
“Don’t listen to what you are told, but listen to the gaps in between, to what you are not told.”
It is your job to ask the questions it takes to get the answers you want, but as part of that you need be use or develop the
ability to hear and read between the lines of what they are telling you and/or to have the good judgment to find the
opportunity to ask your question off-line and out of the public eye and ear. This is a critical life skill in business.
45. Laptops: Should we bring one? Who should bring and what else should I know?
This is up to you. You don’t need a laptop on the trip, per se, and you do not need to have one with your for any of our
company visits.
That said, you may want to bring one for personal use (e.g., movies on the plane, bus, listen to music, check emails,
Skype your family back home, etc.). If you bring one, I recommend that one of the two roommates assigned to a hotel
room bring a laptop for both to use. So that you can travel light, I would NOT recommend that both roommates bring
separate laptops, but that is your call to make. Once the roommate and team lists are locked down, you will need to
touch base with each other to decide if you will bring one and if so who will bring it, pack and carry it, etc.
**** As an FYI, our tour coordinator in China for one of our MBA trips was recently on another trip in China and her
laptop, which was packed in the bag she checked (not her carry-on), was stolen while going through the airport in Hong
Kong. Theft happens everywhere in airports, not just China, but it's probably a good idea to pack any laptop or
cameras or cell phones you bring in your carry-on or backpack, not in the suitcase you check.
As another FYI – re: laptop security in our hotel in my own case I (Professor Carr) usually leave my laptop on the
desk in my room. So far so good, but this is probably not the safest strategy. How you handle this is up to you.
There is really no reason to bring your laptop with you outside of the hotel itself and you should never leave your laptop
(or camera) on the seats of the bus while we visit companies or while you are eating in a restaurant.
And remember that to charge your laptop’s battery, you will need an appropriate adapter. Outlets in the US are 110
volts. In China they are generally 220 volts. Also, in China, the outlets/plugs are generally of two types: regular (with
two prongs) and “other” (with three prongs). Thus, before we leave you may want to try to buy adapters for each type
of outlet/plug. See also the earlier FAQ for related comment on converters and outlets, and accompanying picture.
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17
Medical Restrictions, Health & Safety
46. What do I need to know about medical and disease issues in China? Any shots I need to get
before I go?
Per our emails to you, our informal discussions, status reports, and most importantly, the “legal paperwork” (Risk and
Release Agreement) each of you will fill out when you apply for the trip, it’s up to each of you as individuals to decide
what medical prevention steps you wish to take before you leave for China. I am not a medical professional and cannot
provide you with medical advice.
Thus, to that end, per the paperwork you fill out and submit when you apply for the course, you are directed to monitor
the WHO, US Embassy in China (see, e.g., their link on Travel Advisories), the Center for Disease Control, US State
Department, etc. websites and/or work with your medical doctor and/or the health clinic on campus re: how you wish
to proceed on the medical front. However, you may want to bring some common medicines like Tylenol, Pepto Bismol,
Sudafed, Imodium, Cipro (obtain by prescription) and others just in case, as these medicines are not readily available in
China. If you take prescription drugs, be sure to bring a copy of the prescription or keep the drug in a bottle with
printed drug information.
There are no required shots or immunizations to enter and travel in China that I am aware of, although I have known
some who travel to China who get a Hepatitis B and C shot before they leave the US. Shanghai is not a “risky” place
from a health standpoint, in my view, but this is just that – my own view and sample size of one.
So again, how you proceed and whether the steps you take are prudent or financial overkill is up to you to work with a
medical professional to decide.
If you take a prescription medicine, it is not required but you may want to get a letter from your medical doctor
explaining what the medicine is and what it is for or keep the drug in a bottle with printed drug information. It's not
unusual for the Custom's personnel searching your bags to be suspicious and inquire. Having a letter available might
speed you through and avoid such delays.
Other:
Travel healthy: Once on the road (or in the air), take all precautions that will keep you from that running nose (or
tummy!), dizzy body temperatures, giddy hangovers etc.
Precautions: The best thumb rule is to be a careful about food and water. Eating raw salads and fried food from a
street-side vendor is a no-no. If the temptation is soaring, go to a clean restaurant that you can trust. Eat balanced and
healthy meals. Keep popping those friendly multi-vitamins.
Water has to be from a reliably clean source. Also check for proper tamper evidence on the bottled water before
purchasing. Always carry a water bottle with you - this will save you from dehydration too.
If you fall ill on the trip or while traveling, see the doctor. Tell yourself that this too shall pass!
47. Should we bring motion sickness pills for the plane or bus?
Motion sickness should not a problem in general. If you get motion sickness easily, to be “safe” you may want to bring
motion sickness pills for the bus. The plane ride should not be a problem.
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18
48. What are the conditions of toilets in China?
This is less of an issue in a major city like Shanghai, but still some bathrooms are “squattees”, so be prepared! Straight
up … by “Western” standards the condition of toilettes in China can sometimes be pretty bad in terms of cleanliness in
such places as shopping markets, restaurants, clubs, maybe even some of the factories we will visit, etc., and often in
these places you are expected to bring and use your own toilet paper.
Thus, be ready for this and always have/keep a small packet of toilette paper on or near you just in case!!
Re: the condition of toilettes in our hotel rooms, those are just fine and are in good shape by Western standards.
Note that in some places I have been in while travelling in China, you put the toilette paper in the trash, not
the toilette. Hotels vary in this regard.
49. What is the quality of tap water in China, and is bottled drinking water available?
The quality of tap water is not good or dependable in China (and since the custom is to not drink cold water this is a low
priority in China). Drink hot tea or readily available bottled water.
The quality and quantity of bottled drinking water is usually not a problem in a modern city like Shanghai. It is very
important that you stay hydrated during the trip and get enough sleep. Note that if you ask for a glass of water to drink
at a restaurant in China, you will most likely get a glass of hot water. This is a country where hot tea makes the world go
round. Also, if you don’t drink enough water and eat enough fruit, expect to become constipated.
50. What are some specific concerns that women need to be aware of in China?
This is less of an issue in a major and modern city like Shanghai, but you should assume that personal hygiene products
that are available with ease at home are generally not as convenient to access and/or if they are accessible those brands
will be very different from the products in the US.
For example many Chinese stores do not sell tampons, they only sell pads. So if you are not a pad girl, you should bring
your own tampons. While access is getting better (e.g., if you can find a large shopping mall), it is often still a hassle.
Also, per other sections of this FAQ document, remember there is sometimes the issue of squat toilets and the hassle of
bringing tissue or toilette paper with you that you need to be aware of. Please plan accordingly.
In terms of social limits, there may be fewer issues than you might imagine for women in China, at least in a city like
Shanghai. Many women dress very fashionably, though bare shoulders and a plunging neckline may raise eyebrows or
invite unwanted attention. Crimes against women are also not particularly visible in China; although you should always
pay attention to where you are and have companions when out at night. More remote areas of China are significantly
more conservative than a modern and huge urban area like Shanghai.
51. I don’t like smoke or smoking. What do I need to know?
Well, you are going to need to buck up and be open-minded. Smoking is a different ball game in China. While their
society is changing and the Chinese are starting to pass regulations that ban smoking in public areas, public transport and
indoor work places, they are not yet San Luis Obispo.
This issue will be a good test for whether you can hack (pun intended) international business and the flexibility and
open-mindedness it required. I.e., don’t expect everybody in the world to drink the same Kool-aid you might drink.
You are a guest in their country. Other than perhaps basic respect and courtesy, they don’t owe you anything.
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19
52. I have asthma. What do I need to know?
Pollution in Shanghai when we visit, in March, should not be a major issue or problem.
See also the below email exchange with a former trip student on this issue
>Dear Professor Carr:
I’m not sure whether I noted it on my materials for the China trip but I have asthma. I am under the
impression that it can be very difficult in China, but can non-smoking rooms be arranged where available? My
asthma tends to be aggravated by exposure to smoke. I know it will be impossible to avoid at many times
during the trip and that is something I am just going to have to deal with and I will talk to my doctor about that
fact, but avoiding it whenever reasonably possible would certainly make things much more manageable for me.
Again, I am not asking for anything that is clearly impractical, particularly for a country where I’ve heard
smoking is very prevalent. But I appreciate any help you may be able to offer. How common are non-smoking
rooms in Chinese hotels?
Thank you! --- xxxx
>Dear xxxx:
We will get non smoking rooms in all hotels. Having said that, sometimes re: Chinese hotel rooms that really
means "non smoking" and in other cases one can still smell a whiff of smoke in the room. I think we play this
by ear once there and move you to another room if it's a problem. I don't think it will be, but I can't guarantee
that.
Smoking on the buses we take -- not a problem/no smoking buses.
All else in China -- sorry, you are out of luck so work be sure to with your Doctor on this.
- Professor Carr
53. I have [fill in the blank physical ailment]. What if I have a flare up on the trip and need to go to
a hospital?
Carry any relevant medical information with you in both English and Chinese (you can use Google Translate to do what
you need in this regard). And if you suffer from a medical condition and take medicine for it, bring plenty of your
medicine.
See also the below email exchange from a prior trip that addresses this issue:
>Hi,
I have a question about China and would rather not ask it at the session. I have _________ Disease and if I get
a "flare up" I get really sick. I was in the hospital for it last weekend and am now on stronger medication so I
am hoping this won't happen again, but what are my options in China if it does? I normally am able to bare
through it and have only had a few attacks in the past couple months, but just in case (though I doubt it will
happen, but I haven't really been in a foreign country with different food).
XXXX
>Dear ____:
Regarding medical emergencies, you need to first do some research about the illness.
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20
Then find a friend who can read and type in Chinese/Mandarin (I can help you find someone if you don't
know anyone; you may need to offer to pay them a modest honorarium as a thank you for their time and
work), and download information about the illness and treatment to then bring with you to China. Or, use
Google Translate to do this.
Then, in case you need medical attention in China and the doctor is not familiar with the illness, you can then
show the doctor the information in Chinese and have them work on it. There are hospitals in the major cities
in China, some speak English, but the doctors may not be familiar with the illness. I would also like you to
research in advance and try and find the hospital information and address in English city guides for the cities
we will visit in China.
If something comes up while in China, we will then need to get you, via our bus or taxi, to one of these
hospitals, and the above would help us get you there and maximize your ability to obtain the best treatment.
Finally, please work with your doctor to provide a note to me as part of the application process that he/she
blesses you traveling to China for this trip. Be sure to also get that translated. If your own doctor says that you
should not go, I cannot sign off on your participation. I assume this won't be a problem with your own doctor,
but I want you to get his/her medical input on what to do, how to proceed, etc. as I am not a medical
professional.
- Professor Carr.
Next email from me to student:
>Let me add ...
I think it would be a good idea for your doctor to write up what this disease is, how to treat you if something
comes up, etc.
Then, we need to work on getting you a reliable translator (you may have to pay them) to have that translated
to take with you to China. My concern in using a Cal Poly student and/or Google Translate is that their
translation skills may not be perfect and for this type of issue, and it needs to be right.
And, then you need to do some research, via an English guide or the Internet, etc., on the hospitals in the cities
we will visit so we have those with you in case something comes up and we need to get you there via taxi or
bus.
So, please plan on the above. Let me know if you have questions.
- Professor Carr
And PS:
I should note that most hospitals in China also require you to pay cash upfront for treatment. So take this into
account and plan accordingly. (You will also need to take a look at your insurance policy for the trip to see
what is reimbursed when you get back to the US -- I can give you some general guidance on that, but do make
sure to read your policy closely before you leave and I can give you a copy if you come into my office.)
Finally, I don't know how stress causes your disease to in turn cause problems for you. Our level of travel
stress in China will vary by situation and by person. This is another reason why you need to work closely with
your doctor to address this.
- Professor Carr
>Dear Professor Carr:
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21
I will call him tomorrow. The flares are triggered by stress among things. I am on medicine for it, but it takes a
while to see the effects of the medicine and I just started it. I will look into everything you said and hopefully it
will not be an issue.
Thanks for the info and taking your time in looking into it.
XXXX
54. What do we need to know about American’s With Disability Act and those issues as applied to
this trip?
China does not give a horse’s behind about the ADA, nor is it bound by the ADA or obligated to comply with this piece
of US legislation. Thus, while the ADA precludes requiring those with disabilities from disclosing them, let me be clear
that disabilities not voluntarily disclosed cannot be accommodated on this trip.
Relatedly, if you have special medical needs, or have special medication, medical treatments or accommodations for
disabilities that will be required, we may not be able to advise you if such accommodations are available or in place in
China.
We therefore strongly discourage participation in this trip and course by those whose needs cannot be met, and at a
minimum we will require that you sign a written acknowledgement that these needs cannot be met but that you
nonetheless wish to participate.
Other
55. How might I market this trip and experience on my resume or in a job interview?
See my blog post on this very topic. Go to www.calpolymbatrip.com and use the blog’s search bar to find the April 23,
2007 post, “Blowing Your Own Horn Re: China/India.
See also this email I recently received from one of my former MBA students:
>Hi Chris,
I hope all's well in SLO! I just wanted to let you know that I had an interview last week with [a major
consulting firm] for a Financial Analyst position; it went very well and it looks like I'm getting an offer ... just
waiting on salary details, etc.
The best interview question I received was, "Tell us about Cal Poly's MBA program ... what did you learn?" I
pretty much knocked it out of the park. We talked A LOT about the China trip, and the relationship between
government and business. I think they were pretty impressed, especially when I talked about the trip and
everything we saw and did.
Hopefully I'll have "official" good news sometime next week, but just wanted to give you the update now and
say thanks!
XXXX
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22
56. What else do I need to know about the trip? For instance, things like religion and the “three
T’s” – Taiwan, Tiananmen and Tibet?
Relax and go with the flow. We will have the trip well planned out and the visits set up in advance. Having said, that,
you need to appreciate from the get-go that China is a different beast than the West and if you are a Type A personality
Asia will be a bit of a shock to you.
The following quote from Scott Seligman’s very good book, “Chinese Business Etiquette: A Guide to Protocol Manners, and
Culture in the People’s Republic of China” (at page 89) is, in my view, dead-on and you need to keep it in mind as things get
adjusted once we are in China. Note, though, that the below works both ways and can work to our advantage – during
one recent trip, two on-the-road opportunities came up due to the below approach and nature of guanxi in China that led
us to two additional firm visits where we all learned a great deal!
A Chinese organization will sometimes agree in principle to a meeting but will resist setting a time for
it, or specifying exactly who will attend. This is especially true if the request comes well in advance of
the desired meeting date, or if the meeting is sought on behalf of individuals who have not yet arrived
in China. The PRC is a place where final arrangements are frequently made at the last minute. A
Chinese leader who commits to a specific time weeks in advance of a meeting loses the flexibility to
engage in other, possibly more important, activities that may present themselves in the intervening
period. Then, too, the Chinese feel that until someone actually arrives in town there is no hurry to set
up a meeting time; any of a million things could happen to delay or cancel a trip.
This is why it is often the case that you can arrive in China to find that none of the half dozen
meetings you requested months in advance has in fact yet been set up. The Chinese penchant for lastminute arrangements can be maddening in its uncertainty. The good news is that these things have a
way of working themselves out, and most of the meetings generally wind up getting on the agenda
somehow. The bad news is that the route to getting the meeting pinned down may involve an ulcer
or two on your part.
This is also why meetings with high-ranking business people or government officials in China are
almost never pinned down until the day before, or even the day of the event. Such meetings also have
a way of occurring on the very last day of a foreign delegation’s visit. I’ve often suspected that
keeping these audiences indefinite until the last moment serves a number of purposes: It creates
suspense and a feeling of gratitude toward the host organization on the part of foreign guests, who
perceive the hosts as coming through at the last minute for them. It’s also a form of manipulation; a
way of rewarding foreigners for doing something the Chinese desire them to do. And they aren’t
above doing this to extremely high-ranking guests, including foreign ministers and corporate CEO’s.
Finally, below are excerpts from two wonderful posts on a blog written by an American friend of mine who has lived in
Asia for 20 plus years.
[General]
“[Though they have moved Westward] … the Chinese are still generally shy about public discussions of sex and public
displays of affection. Hugging someone or asking about sensitive issues might evoke giggling or laughter. The Chinese
often respond to social discomfort by laughing.
Do not take their seeming amusement as encouragement. They are telling you they don’t feel comfortable, so don’t
keep pushing. The Chinese have long memories and it could cause them to avoid certain kinds of contact with you in
the future.
Other conversational minefields:
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23
– While it is common to talk about a person’s background or family in China, it is rare to hear someone discuss their
spouse or significant other. It is entirely possible that you will attend several social gatherings over several months and
not know that your colleague is married or in a relationship.
– Salary and money issues are usually off-limits. The Chinese seem to feel no fear about asking about a person’s wages
or the cost of something they own or wear, but it is best to avoid the subject in young relationships. Normal salaries
where I live in China can be between $200-600 a month, so don’t put colleagues or friends in a position to be
embarrassed when compared to you or the west.
– Don’t ask a woman in her late twenties if she is married. It is a cultural expectation that they will be married by that
time, so you could really embarrass her. And don’t expect them to understand why many Americans practice serial
monogamy before settling down. Many Chinese have had only one mate since junior high school or college.
-- Stay away from religion and politics in dialogue. Most Chinese have no concept of religion, though many are quite
superstitious, and the wrong politics can end your advancement in a job setting or worse. It will be a long time before
you get anything but party-line answers to questions on Tibet, Tiananmen, Taiwan and so on. Many will not answer
you because they just don’t have a lot to share. The news is controlled and bringing up a topic like the role of the new
Pope might get you blank stares–like I did when I mentioned it in class as a daily news item. Because of the longstanding rift with the Vatican, Chinese news devoted a total of seventeen seconds of national television to Pope John
Paul II’s death.
-- Put a muzzle on your need to spread the word for any religious or political views. It is against the law. And you
should be spending your time learning about the culture you want them to replace before you preach about
yours. The climate is changing but don’t push the river.
DO ask about holidays, customs, history and business. And when you do, listen and learn. You are not going to
change mindsets by being argumentative. Find out more about how and why the Chinese think the way they do
before you attempt to change it. Where some westerners enjoy a lively debate or discussion it may seem to some
Chinese that you are angry or oppositional and that will drop you several rungs down the ladder of esteem.
Don’t be “a crane standing among chickens.” There is much to enjoy in interpersonal exchanges if you are open and
receptive.
[Creativity and Innovation]
Chinese approaches to problem solving can frustrate the newcomer especially if he/she is called on to lead a team of
Chinese nationals. When Chinese students and business managers run up against an obstacle they often just yield to it.
If the Great Wall were encountered by a group of Chinese collegians they would starve to death while forming
committees on how to scale it, hurdle it, live on the student side of it or while waiting for their envoy, sent to fetch a
projector so they could do a PowerPoint presentation on alternatives, to return. The Wall must have been more to
keep Chinese in than Mongols out because when Ghengis Khan encountered it as an obstacle to the siege of Beijing
he used the simplest of solutions: He went around it.
In an article in The Economists View I found this: “… Harry Shum, a Carnegie Mellon-trained computer engineer …
said: ‘A Chinese journalist once asked me, ‘…what is the difference between China and the U.S.’ I joked, ‘… the
difference between China high-tech and American high-tech is only three months - if you don’t count creativity.’”
The Chinese, and Japanese, are masters of the knock-off and can often de-bug new inventions faster than the original
designers. But, the Chinese, who believe that that the proverbial nail that stands above the others is struck down, are
not yet keen innovators.
Mind you, that is not all bad: Sony was created on the West’s sale of the transistor to Japan. They magnified our
creative tremor into a multi-billion dollar tsunami of electronics products.
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24
The Chinese educational system is the precursor for this seeming national inventor’s block. Chinese methodology
often instructs students in classrooms deliberately shorted of resources in order to foster group cooperation, sharing
and cohesiveness, not individual imagination.
One group of educators from South Carolina reported on a visit to China and mused over how they ordinarily would
expect to “… see a classroom that invites children to choose what they want to do, and to work individually in
centers, using materials in individualistic and creative ways. Here we saw evidence that teachers expected conformity
and a willingness to work toward the completion of a task the chosen by the teacher rather than the child. These
contrasting instructional styles highlight an important difference between the Eastern culture that expects citizens to
adapt to their environment and Western ones where the social system stresses freedom, self-expression, and self
determination.”
And the Chinese style of University teaching is a true marvel: If they banned PowerPoint in Chinese Colleges half of
my colleagues would be stuck dumb. They would panic at the thought of delivering a lecture that diverged from main
topic headings and bullet points. The only thing worse would be to have to spontaneously entertain questions from
the class. Of course the class would be just as terrified about having to invent queries; hence, foreign teachers who
teach without clear guides evident to students may be regarded as unorganized or inept.
A government sponsored study done in 2000 showed that only 14.9 percent Chinese youth polled believed they had
creative ability; so, do not be surprised when students, friends or co-workers balk at having to tackle a problem
without a clear solution. Do not be shocked when they hover around you for answers to difficult problems.
The survey mentioned above also indicated that 60 percent of the youngsters polled recognized the importance of
creativity and 65.3 percent have curiosity about the world around them. Consequently, the government is studying
ways to break the PowerPoint habit and circumvent the wall. When they do, the economic race will really be on.
Now, if we could just get American kids to do math ….”
Emergency Contact Information
57. Emergency Contact/Information While in China?
You should carry the below with you and/or email it to yourself, so you can access it at all times while in Shanghia.
Professor Carr:
Professor Carr will have a cell phone in China for emergency contact at +86-__________[TBD]. You cannot text
message to this phone from the US (only China). You also cannot call him from the US this phone (only China).
Professor Carr will periodically check his email while in China (ccarr@calpoly.edu) and that will probably be the best
way to reach him from the US while we are in China. Also, before we leave we will confirm for you the hotel we will
stay at in Shanghai.
US Consulate in Shanghai:
US Consulate in Shanghai
American Citizen Services
Westgate Mall
1038 West Nanjing Road, 8th Floor
Tel: (86-21) 3217-4650 Fax: (86-21) 6217-2071
Regular Hours: 8:30am-11:30am and 1:30pm-3:30pm Monday to Friday. Closed on Tuesday afternoons
After Hours Emergencies: (86-21) 6433-3936
E-mail: ShanghaiACS@state.gov
Website: http://shanghai.usembassy-china.org.cn/
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25
Shanghai Hospitals:

Guang Ci (Rui Jing) Hospital
197 Ruijin #2 Road
200025 Shanghai China
Local name: 上海市区
Phone 1: +86 (21) 64 37 87 00 Ext 66801
Phone 2: +86 (21) 64 37 00 45

Changning Clinic (listed on the Consulate’s web site)
1139 Xian Xia Road, Shanghai
Tel: 5133 1900
長寧診所
1139仙俠路，上海

Minhang Clinic (listed on the Consulate’s web site)
Shanghai Racquet Club, Ground Floor, Clubhouse, 555 Jin Feng Road
Tel: 2201 0995
閔杭診所
上海球拍俱樂部地下會所、555金峰路

Shanghai East International Medical Center (listed on the Consulate’s web site)
551 South Pu Dong Road, Pudong
Tel: 5879 9999
上海東方國際醫療中心
南浦東路551號,浦東

The First People’s Hospital, International Medical Care Center (listed on the Consulate’s web site)
585 Jiu Long Road (near the Bund)
Tel: 6324 3852 (24 hours)
第一人民醫院國際醫療保健中心
585玖龍路(近外灘)]

Pudong Clinic (listed on the Consulate’s web site)
POS Plaza, B1-F, 1600 Century Ave
Tel: 6876 0409 or 6876 0447
24 hr Dental Emergency: 13162001688
浦東診所
POS廣場，B1-F, 1600世紀大街

Global Health: Primary Care Facility (listed in Travel Book)
Shanghai Kerry Center, 1515 West Nan Jing Road, Room 301
Tel: 5298 6339
全球衛生:基層醫療設施.
上海克里中心、南京路以西1515、301室

Shanghai United Family Hospital and Clinics (listed in Travel Book)
1111 Xian Xia Xi Lu, Chang Ning District, Shanghai 200336
上海聯合家庭醫院及診所
58. Other questions?
Email or ask Professor Carr.
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26