Tips for China Visit

[furcafe]

I would have to partially disagree w/this statement. I was just in Shanghai in October & used plenty of taxis & none of the drivers expected tips. In fact, 1 driver actually refused a tip, indicating that it was a minor insult to his work ethic.

I also wouldn't generalize that *most* Chinese tip, even the young folks. If they do, it's usually just to round up to an even #, etc., i.e., "European"-style & not the customary U.S. 10-20%. That said, tip if you want as most of the drivers indeed work hard for their money.

A lot of good advice there, only you DO tip in China today. Most Americans go by the old school teaching that no tip is needed for Chinese. But most Chinese today do tip, especially the younger ones. Taxi drivers earn very little, if at all, and most of them run the business by commisions they make so do tip them. Mostof them can't afford insurance for their vehicles for when they broke down, most of them have to scrap their funitures or whatever they have at home to get the vehicle repaired. So give them a break.
Have fun.

 

[furcafe]

Pollution is a sad fact of life in all the big Chinese cities (well, actually even the small ones are pretty big by American standards), but it's a very big country & geography dictates that the weather & light conditions in Beijing will differ considerably from Shenzhen/HK (kind of like the difference between Detroit & New Orleans).

I go to Shenzhen (near Hong Kong) a couple a times a year and the pollution in China in the major cities is real bummer. You will be fighting constant overcast skies and the brown haze. Or perhaps that is just a Shenzhen thing but my colleagues at work who have been to the other cities have reported similar situation in their visits to Tianjin which is near Beijing.

 

[furcafe]

There are probably plenty of Northern Chinese-style restaurants in Taipei or Los Angeles, or Shanghai or HK for that matter, that are the equal of anything in Beijing, although they may be less "authentic" depending on the availability of ingredients. There are many sources of halaal food (@ least meat) as there's been a large Muslim community, both ethnic Chinese converts & Uighurs, etc., in Beijing & the surrounding area since @ least the Yuan era.

Raid, you must eat lots of proper Chinese food while you're there. Nothing outside of Beijing can offer Beijing (Peking) cuisine as good as the capital itself. I don't know if there are available sources of halal food in that part of China though.

Clarence

 

[furcafe]

I would agree w/the other respondents that you should err on the short side (personally, I would choose a 50 & a 25-28 or just a 35). I'm not sure you would get any use out of a short tele, so why bother carrying the extra weight? As to speed, the faster the better, as you can always stop down if it's too bright (or use slower film) but can't make a slow lens faster! 😛

Hi,
I am sure that some people here could advise me on what type of equipment is best suited for a short trip to Beijing. In particular, do I need a fast lens for the Forbidden City or is available light sufficient for max aperture 2.0~4.0?
My favorite travel gear usually includes a Canon P plus Bessa T plus a 50mm/2 lens plus a short tele, such as the Leitz Elmarit 90mm/2.8, plus a wideangle lens such as the CV 25mm/4 lens. This set is very light and manageable for long walks.

 

[wtl]

I would have to partially disagree w/this statement. I was just in Shanghai in October & used plenty of taxis & none of the drivers expected tips. In fact, 1 driver actually refused a tip, indicating that it was a minor insult to his work ethic.

I also wouldn't generalize that *most* Chinese tip, even the young folks. If they do, it's usually just to round up to an even #, etc., i.e., "European"-style & not the customary U.S. 10-20%. That said, tip if you want as most of the drivers indeed work hard for their money.

Interesting. Different people got different experiences.

I grew up and lived In Beijing and Shanghai (as well as other southern parts of China) only until a few years ago when I came to US. My brother still lives in Beijing with his family and my parents are currently visiting. Never knew anyone who was offended when others give tips. Yes, Chinese, culturally speaking, are very prided people so when you hand over the money with your nose toward sky, your money will most likely be refused.

But what do I know?

What I do know is that people, especially the ones in service sectors and the laborers from the countryside, are extremely poor. Struggling in their everyday life to bring food to the dinner table for their families. So be gental while you have a few pennies left in the pocket.

 

[raid]

Thanks to everybody. Wow! I did not expect such a collection of useful insider tips and advices on photography gear. Ipromise to post some of the better photos here when I return from the trip in June.

 

[Nick R.]

You might want to follow this pnet thread or contact the poster: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00GC30&unified_p=1

 

[jan normandale]

Hi,
I am sure that some people here could advise me on what type of equipment is best suited for a short trip to Beijing. In particular, do I need a fast lens for the Forbidden City or is available light sufficient for max aperture 2.0~4.0?
My favorite travel gear usually includes a Canon P plus Bessa T plus a 50mm/2 lens plus a short tele, such as the Leitz Elmarit 90mm/2.8, plus a wideangle lens such as the CV 25mm/4 lens. This set is very light and manageable for long walks.

that should work well for you good luck!

 

[furcafe]

It wasn't like the guy was really offended when I offered the tip (& I certainly didn't have my nose in the air), it was more of a "don't worry about it, I'm doing fine" attitude.

You're absolutely right about the economic status of people in the service sector, & I wasn't trying to discourage anyone from tipping if they wanted to. Also, practices could vary by locality (I haven't been in Beijing in 6 years). I was just stating my impression that folks in Shanghai didn't automatically *expect* to get tips for just doing their jobs (like they would in the U.S.). FWIW, my Shanghainese relatives take the hard-line attitude that if you tip for anything other than extraordinary service, you're just a soft-hearted sucker & will surely get taken.

Interesting. Different people got different experiences.

I grew up and lived In Beijing and Shanghai (as well as other southern parts of China) only until a few years ago when I came to US. My brother still lives in Beijing with his family and my parents are currently visiting. Never knew anyone who was offended when others give tips. Yes, Chinese, culturally speaking, are very prided people so when you hand over the money with your nose toward sky, your money will most likely be refused.

But what do I know?

What I do know is that people, especially the ones in service sectors and the laborers from the countryside, are extremely poor. Struggling in their everyday life to bring food to the dinner table for their families. So be gental while you have a few pennies left in the pocket.

 

[dostacos]

when my father toured China, he found a huge bundle of chop stix really cheap. All the people in his group razed him about buying them, he told them he could not pass up the deal. 😀

The first day on the train, at the first meal the waiter's brought a nasty looking bowl of brown water with a bunch of chops stix in it. They were expected to choose a pair for the meal. 😱

for the rest of the trip at every meal my dad passed out chop stix and when they finished the meal, plop the waiter's dropped them into the bowl. 🙄

This was the late seventies, but forewarned is forearmed......

 

[raid]

You might want to follow this pnet thread or contact the poster: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00GC30&unified_p=1

Nick: Thanks for the tip. There is only one reply posted there, but maybe contacting the poster will give results.

 

[raid]

The talk about pollution in China suggests that I better consider B&W photography and not just color photography. My wife doesn't like B&W photography except for portraits.

 

[raid]

The comment on the need to use a MF camera to catch the details of some architecture has stuck in my mind since yesterday. I may take along my Rolleiflex 2.8D TLR on top of a rangefinder 35mm camera. This way, I have my "50mm lens" in the TLR and I can skip it with 35mm. I have lots of 120 film that must be killed soon. The China trip will be an outlet.

 

[wotalegend]

Think about the weight and bulk of the Rollei. I have a 2.8F and I know the pain. The best MF camera would be a good folder. You'll be doing a lot of walking, and travelling on crowded public transport - everywhere is crowded, seemingly 24/7. Here's a few of mine from 2 years ago. Great memories of a world very different to mine. Sorry, they are all DSLR photos....I am a bit broader minded now, and would love to go back there with an RF this time.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93722541@N00/sets/72057594119988867/

 

[raid]

Think about the weight and bulk of the Rollei. I have a 2.8F and I know the pain. The best MF camera would be a good folder. You'll be doing a lot of walking, and travelling on crowded public transport - everywhere is crowded, seemingly 24/7. Here's a few of mine from 2 years ago. Great memories of a world very different to mine. Sorry, they are all DSLR photos....I am a bit broader minded now, and would love to go back there with an RF this time.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93722541@N00/sets/72057594119988867/

wotalegend: I could pick a MF folder for the reduced weight, but I wonder whether I will get the sharpness. I will wait until I get close to the trip time, and then I will decide.

 

[BrianShaw]

wotalegend: I could pick a MF folder for the reduced weight, but I wonder whether I will get the sharpness. I will wait until I get close to the trip time, and then I will decide.

No, no, Raid... don't wait to decide. I'd suggest that you either decide soon and find out that the camera isn't right for what you want... or don't do it at all! Whatever you take should be a well-known and well-trusted camera and film. Why risk missing great shots or getting less-than-desired results? Rollei isn't really *that* heavy, is it?

 

[BrianShaw]

when my father toured China, he found a huge bundle of chop stix really cheap. All the people in his group razed him about buying them, he told them he could not pass up the deal. 😀

My wife and I were laughed at when in Mexico, as part of our honeymoon cruise, we took a roll of TP with us on a land excursion to some of the Sierra Madre Mountain villages. At the first "rest room" stop the others stopped laughing at us. There are some good tips that nobody should ignore!

 

[raid]

Brian: I don't have to haul many cameras around if I carefully choose the equipment. I agree with you that I better stick with the Rolleilfex TLR since it is my trusted MF camera for many years. The film advance mechanism of the Rolleiflex if very important to me since old folders require that I actually watch the "red window" numbers. This can be very challenging with dim windows and I may have to wear glasses to see the numbers clearly. Maybe if I keep the 35mm equipment to a minimum I can take along the TLR. Final exam week will be over in a week, and then I have some time to start serious planning for the trip.

 

[raid]

Possible [light] Equipment :

Bessa T and Canon P as my cameras.
CV 25mm/4
Canon 35mm/1.8 --> relatively fast
J-3 50mm/1.5 -----> fast lens
(Leitz Elmarit 90mm/2.8

 

[Michiel]

My wife and I were laughed at when in Mexico, as part of our honeymoon cruise, we took a roll of TP with us on a land excursion to some of the Sierra Madre Mountain villages. At the first "rest room" stop the others stopped laughing at us. There are some good tips that nobody should ignore!

Yes! That tip is just as valuable for China. I always carry toilet paper when backpacking, and in China you need it at every public toilet and often in the cheaper hotelrooms and restaurants as well. It never hurts. Buy it locally though, don't bother with carrying it on the plane 🙂

I met some Danish guys in China once, they were there on their first trip. First stop of the train one of them gets off and goes to the public restroom... when he came back Cambodia was missing from their Lonely Planet 😀