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Tips for Recruitment Trip to
China
CAPS-I Conference, May 2, 2011
Nancy Fan
Covered Topics
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Demographics
Chinese Languages
Cultural Information
Education in China
Travel tips in China
Marketing
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Population
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Big city or small city in
Chinese people’s eyes…
“Wealthy Areas”
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Most wealthy provinces
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Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu
Capital cities: Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing
Other major cities: Ningbo, Suzhou
Capital cities of inland provinces
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Wuhan, Chengdu, Harbin
Yangze River Delta (Golden Triangle)
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Shanghai, northern Zhejiang, southern Jiangsu
Peal River Delta
City / Province Names
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Bei Jing – North Capital
Nan Jing – South Capital
Shang Hai – Above Sea
Guang Dong (East Expanse)
Chinese Languages
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Oral
• Mandarin (textbook language,
most provinces, Taiwan)
• Cantonese (Guangdong,
Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau)
• Other dialects (Wu, Minnan)
Written
• Simplified Chinese (textbook
language)
• Traditional Chinese (Hong
Kong, Guangdong, Taiwan)
Cultural Information
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Chinese Names
• Family name first
• 2,3,4 characters
• Meaning of name
• When is inappropriate to call first name?
Chinese Family Structure
• One child
Gifts
China Education System
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Elementary School
Grades 1 – 6
Middle School
Grades 7 – 9
Zhong Kao
High School
Grades 10 – 12
Gao Kao
• 9 years free compulsory
education
• Standard textbooks
• Exam-oriented teaching
• Schools are ranked
• Public vs. private
Gao Kao - the National University Entrance
Examination
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3 day intense exam in June
Mandatory subjects (Chinese,
Math, English) plus one other
chosen subject
Fierce competition due to
limited university space
Risky application process
Why Study in the West?
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• Avoid Gao Kao
• Higher chance of entering better
university
• Happy learning
• Study English
• Better career prospect
• Uncertainty about China’s future
economy and political environment
Transportation
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Plane
High Speed Train
• Beijing – Tianjin
• Nanjing – Shanghai
Taxi
• Usually safe, organized, “taxi” sign on top
• Few taxi drivers speak English
Subway
• Convenient in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai
• Avoid bad weather or rush hours
www.ctrip.com
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Book domestic flights
Check train schedules
Book hotels
• non-smoking room, non-smoking treatment,
non-smoking floor
• Close to subway
Other Travel Tips
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Currency
Renminbi(RMB) / Yuan, credit card, Bank of
China
Telecommunication
Blackberry, iPhone, local cell phone, local
calling card/plan
Internet
Facebook, gmail
Food / Drinks
Dinning culture
Medical Emergencies
Support and Assistance
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Canadian Trade Commissioner Offices
Virtual Trade Commissioner Website
Lists of hotels, interpreter/translation services,
medical facilities for foreign patients
Canadian Embassy and Consulate Offices
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Hong
Kong
Trade Offices
Alberta in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong
Fairs
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 Mega vs. agency based
 Important to have materials in Chinese
 Print and distribute promotional
materials in China
 EduGlobal Communications
Online shipping and tracking system
Gloria Sun,
gloria.sun@eduglobal.com
Chinese Agents
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License from the state Ministry of Education
Branches or sub-agents?
Many host own fairs at no charge
Print and translate publications
Arrange agent visits
- Maximize time
- Be aware of long weekends in April and October
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Thank You!
Xie Xie
谢谢！
Good luck for your next China trip!