Tour-WelcomeApr 15th, 2008 - 15:33:23

It will be a great idea to go to China an meet with the locals. There are many people that have only the image of the situation behind the iron curtain. It will be an eye opening experience. Do not be overwhelmed to find people are free to speak, in English in most cases. You might think that are plain cloth police but they are ordinary local people.

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Arthur Borges (Zhengzhou, China)Apr 19th, 2008 - 18:45:52

I've been living in China for five years now and teaching English to university sophomores. They're the nicest, most inspiring kids I've taught in my life.

No, it's not difficult to travel on your own: get a copy of the Lonely Planet guide for China, buy your ticket and go. If you have cold feet, book your ticket to Hong Kong and spend a week there: no visa needed and you can get your China visa there in 24 hours (or same day service at a marked-up fee).

Take trains: even 'soft bed' (1st class sleepers) are cheap and it's a great way to meet people. The LP guide will set you straight on prices, hotels, restaurants and night life.

Though you should take normal precautions in big cities, the Chinese are basically extremely curious, helpful and endearing people -- if I have to sum them up in a nutshell, it's a nation of 1.3 billion Italians.

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Arthur Borges (again)Apr 19th, 2008 - 18:48:08

Dear 'Tour-Welcome'

Like most countries, China does have plainclothes officers, but lemme put it this way: like in the UK, most uniformed officers are unarmed.

Got it?

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LeighApr 21st, 2008 - 16:03:21

I am puzzled why the world applies different standards to developed and developing countries.

The US invaded Iraq, and at the last count, was responsible for the displacement of 2 million iraqi refugees and the death of 300,000 Iraqi civilians. Yet, there has never been a debate on whether it is moral to visit the US or not.

The Chinese authorities had to quell a riot in their country and bring order to the region to protect civilians and property, yet some feel that this action was inappropriate and visits to China should be subject to moral scrutiny.

I think that this is a prejudiced view, if not subjective double standards.

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Arthur BorgesJun 21st, 2008 - 17:49:21

It's naive to compare what China actually is by the standards of what the USA (or West in general) should be.

It's a real hoot to think that when the Chinese first saw gunpowder, the first and only idea that ever came to their minds for several centuries was that it would add a few extra thrills to a good Saturday night party while the first thing Westeners pretty instantly noticed about it was its ability to massacre on a more industrial scale -- and since then Westerners have been trashing the Chinese for being so aggressive.

Odd, I find.

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