When I came to China there were a few things that I found different from back in the UK. Here I tell you some everyday differences so when you come to China you don't make the same mistakes I did. Do you agree? Did I miss any out? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Make sure you keep up to date with my videos and hit that subscribe button for more China-related content, ru-vid.com Check out some of my other China videos here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QxPKTLu15qM.html
This was a very helpful video! Thanks! Here's a tip, instead of carrying the typical hand sanitizer I carry a 60ml spray bottle filled with 70% rubbing alcohol (aka Isopropyl alcohol). This solution cost less, uses less plastic, and rubbing alcohol doesn't leave a sticky feel on your hands. 💡
Very good tip on the ATM. I myself left without my card once. I had to come back during bank hours to retrieve my card. Although there were some difficulties due to language different but they were very helpful. One the tap water, Chinese are customed to drinking hot water. Therefore, having drinkable tab water may not be their interest. In addition, Chinese don't drink cold water neither. You can find cold soda or juice at 7/11 but not cold bottle water. Only room temperature water.
Thanks! I'm pleased you got it back - we had to get a new one unfortunately! oh I know they don't drink it here but in the UK you can drink the tap water so its good for foreigners to know. I've bought cold bottled water in 7/11 before but you are right the Chinese don't like things really cold. Even in a restaurant you have to specify 'cold' even for beer!
In general, there is no need to worry about the forgotten bank card at the ATM, because the machine never fully ejects the card, and if the card is not taken away in less than a minute, it swallows the card again. Besides, the machine also has its own security camera, so if someone behind you in the queue really takes the card, he/she will be found.
My husband has forgotten his card but he managed to get a new one without any trouble. I have heard of instances where people have forgotten their card and the person behind has taken the rest of their money but this is very rare.
Nico I think in China it’s hard to get away with because of the government control on people and facial recognition. Criminals always get caught they don’t have anywhere to hide Lol
Oh yeah I know, when you fist come though it is a little strange as you are unsure what is happening. After the first few times you learn the phrase in Chinese haha
You are so... true about the credit card things, I'm a overseas living Chinese, last time I went back to China, and I forgot my credit card after a withdraw, I realized that the day after when I needed my credit card for an other use. Fortunately, I went back to the bank, and got it back. Love your video Nico, you guys do a great job, thumbs up and scribed.
One of the things that shocked me most about China was (is) their potty training. The kids wearing slits in their pants. And kids being held over a bin to do their thing. I don’t know how it is in the big cities but this was my experience in a small district of Nanjing. Also the supermarket, everything is fresh and sometimes alive, it was something to get used to.
These are some really good points!! You are totally right although I had heard of the split pants thing before I came, maybe I will do a video about what shocked me the most about China and I can add it to that one haha
Yes of course! At first though we didn't realise what was going on and didn't know much Chinese so we were a bit confused. Now of course we ask that. I've found it quite difficult to pay on card even on my Union Pay before I got WeChat set up when we tried in a restaurant/shop they were very confused. In England even if I went to buy a drink from the newsagents I would pay on card. I just hope that other countries start using phone pay more as its the most convenient way to pay!
We use visa MasterCard but nobody likes service fee.so mobile payment is welcome. The real big difference is all the prices are even number and tax in. So people won’t get whole bunch annoooooooooying penny everyday. About security check, I totally understand the slogan:一分安检，十分安全 which means it takes one min to have a check but give you 100% safety. There is no doubt you can stay very late at night 23:00 0:00...but in some countries 20:00 only invisible ghost 👻 On streets
I've struggled to pay on card a few times I was so thankful once I got my wechat pay working as its such a convenient way to pay. I agree I have no problem with the security it makes me feel safe. Actually China is one of the safest countries I've been too!
@@Nicofilms we start to do these security job from 2014 after a terrorist attack happened at Yunnan train station. It did work, terrorist attack never success during these years🤣🤣🤣
Another solution for drinkable water is to get a RO tech enabled filter (I don't know what ro stands for, probably reverse something). Some new models having larger capacities come without the water tank which save some space. The major downside is that it needs installation.
Just come across your channel while watching videos about Beijing and China in general. I've been offered a teaching job in Beijing and 🤞 I'll be moving in March 2020. I was wondering where in the UK you're from originally? I'm Welsh but live in Manchester.
Hey! Thats awesome, what school are you coming with? You will love it here, China is amazing and Beijing is really fun! Oh I love Manchester its one of my favourite cities! I'm from Northumberland but I haven't lived there for a long time!
@@Nicofilms I've lived in Manchester for nearly a decade and I love it here but I'm after something new. It's at a training centre teaching adults. I got lucky because adult jobs are to find but I think me having a Trinity CertTESOL has helped me plus my teaching practice is with immigrants (e.g. refugees and asylum seekers). We'll have to meet up sometime when I get to Beijing.
@@sianlamrick8850 Yeh well China will certainly be something new. It's good to get out of your comfort zone and Beijing is an awesome city! That's so cool and you are right I know hardly anyone thats teaching adults so you got lucky. Yeah of course, keep in touch and let me know when you arrive. If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask!
'liked' Thank you for the video. 4:02 Liked your "see ya" gesture. :) Are there handles on the walls of the stalls to help people get up or squat? Some people may not be able to squat, or get up without support. I have read that squatting is good for bowel movement. There is a kind of low stool that can be bought in the US which allows putting the feet on it while sitting on the Western toilet, so that you get similar benefits as squatting. I don't know if I am allowed to include a URL, so those who are interested can search for "Want Better Bowel Movements? Squat, Don’t Sit!" I don't know how accurate this is, but I have heard that homes south of Wuhan don't have heating. People may use portable heaters. I used to think that Chinese people drink hot water for some TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) related reason.
haha thanks! In some places but in most there is nothing to help you get back up which can be difficult. I don't mind it, once you get used to it I think its better, especially in public places. Yes I imagine this is true, when I lived in Nanjing we didn't have heating and it got very cold in the winter we had an A/C unit which we could switch to hot. Here in Beijing we luckily do. That is also true. Hot water is better for digestion and cures everything pretty much in China.
We live in the West and found it really disconcerting that people can buy guns off the internet. Not until recently, there were no heavy security guards (only an old guy with a stick) in the school yard. Many people were put off by the A.I. face scanning systems in China, but we already have non A.I. cameras everywhere here in the United States.
In Australia it’s cash first then the card pops out at the end of the transaction with ATMs. I guess the UK is doing it right with the card popping out first before the cash
Chinese always boil water not because of safety concern. Chinese body temperature tends to be lower than westerners. We prefer warm water to keep body warm, that is also philosophy of good health.
i noticed that in some countries' ATM such as Malaysia adopt the same way as UK: card pop first and then the cash. here is my way deal with it in china: 1. get the cash without cards, but a verification code send by ATM on a phone; 2. donot use ATM 😂, cannot remember last time use cash.
haha good advice! If you are just visiting or just arrived in China these may not work though. You can't pay with wechat yet and cards aren't really used here and some people's phone won't work to get a code. I know what you mean though I very rarely get cash!
Other country is not lack in security. I think it is just China has more people. I.e. Beijing has the same population as Canada, and Shanghai has a little bit less than Australia, and that is excluding visiting workers. So if something happened in train station it is going to cause stampede. There is an event in China which a delayed ship caused 16 person to die in the 90s, because everyone is trying to get on. Other event of 40 death was caused by terrist attacking using knifes I think.
Yeah this is a good point it certainly does have a lot more people. I think it makes total sense especially in a train or metro station for instance. I do find it a bit odd when you go to a gallery, a building or I've even had it done on the beach where you have to scan your bags and go through the scanner as this only really happens in airports and some clubs in the UK so it's very different.
Even the beggars are going cashless. It was a bit unusual to see at first, but all the beggars I see no have a QR code on display next to their coin pot. Don't expect restaurants in the countryside, or small cities, to be open after 8pm. Don't expect to get anything done between 11.45 and 2.30. Everyone dissapears for lunch, and the mid day nap. Don't expect no smoking. Smoking is still a massive part of social culture in China.
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I like to drink my water cold so I boil it, leave it to cool, filter it - then its ready to drink as soon as I want it straight from the filter. If i filtered it then boiled it I would then have to put it into another container which was both boiled and filtered water to drink it.
@@Nicofilms I have to point out that if you are using Brita, it is not recommended to do so. Brita specifically says to not filter hot water. Brita filters do not filter contaminants well to start with and some trapped contaminants may dissolve in hot water. Ref. here: www.quora.com/Can-hot-water-damage-Brita-Filters
@@Nicofilms You're welcome but Nico you don't have to thank me. Your videos are more than enough for me to appreciate, so there's no need for gratitude.
Hi ,This is Mandy from jilin province chnagchun city ,v future English training center , do u know anyone who wants work in China we r looking for some teachers ,i wish u can reply me back
For the past 20 years I've always been throughing toilet papers into the toilet in China every time. Both at home and in public toilets....Well, never got into Trouble, hahaha
I don’t like to share food as well though I am chinese. I felt very awkward when eating outside with colleagues back to those years when I lived in China.
Definitely not in restaurants. I have been on some tours where they have said 'we do except tips' but I think they largely work with a western demographic which would be why.
Drink hot water is a part of Chinese culture, not just because of the tap water is dirty. Because Chinese people know that hot water is much better than cold because of healthy. Most of the Chinese girls like to drink hot water especially during the period time.
wait, actually you can and you should flush the used paper. It's the way how we do in in China. I know that in Taiwan they dont flush the papers but we do in mainland China.
I'm always wondering how westerners adapt to this Chinese food sharing habit when everyone stick their chopsticks into every dish ( especially hotpot) . 😂😂Do they find it gross or do they fit right in? 😁
Nico Your vlog is very good！i like it！Welcome to Sichuan！Sichuan have many delicious food，beautiful scenery→natural。My English is not good，so sorry😭…I only use brief sentences chat with you😅
It's disturbing that they use metal detector checks in so many cases. In Western countries it works perfectly without them. It shows a general distrust against each other, and the willingness to quickly give up freedom in exchange for alleged safety. Sad.
That's an interesting take on it. To be honest I actually don't mind and feel like it should be used in other countries as it makes me feel quite safe. You could take anything on the London underground and no one would know, this way everyone is safe.
Squat Toilet: I don't like it but still fine as its local custom. Bring your own toilet paper: it's ok once you get used to it. Toilet paper to the bin: WTF!!? I still think it is disgusting and feel fxxking awful even if I worked in China for almost 10 years!
fardin jan Not in China Lol, they use toilet paper but older generations that grew up in poverty and through the cultural revolution etc. such as my grandma are cheap and steal the toilet paper hence why local councils and facilities no longer supply toilet paper because there’s people that steal it.
Security Scan is harmful for health for the radio active. It is one important reason I never take metro/subway and always ride my motorcycle. But in China, it does not matter how much your bike is , the government regulates that your bike is allowed to use only 13 years and then it is forced to discard.They write down this in your motorcycles certificate in the excuse for public transport security and environmental concern. It is ridiculous and no respect to private property.
@@user-nr1gc1xn8b haha maybe. I have a lot of people who are learning English actually say I am very easy to understand. It takes time and practice but watching things is a good way to learn.
Nico, I can see both of your hands and you are not holding a selfie stick... do you have someone following you around, videoing you even in the toilet? Hahaha. Seriously, how did you film without holding a selfie stick?
@@Nicofilms -- Thanks Nico for your reply. Your take on the differences are correct except one. 1:02 (I like your expression of horror here. lol very funny.) You said, "Don't throw your toilet tissue down the toilet, this sewage system cannot handle it here." I think you should do more research on that one... ask the Chinese. If the toilet paper is soft as tissue is, it is OK. But if you use paper as tough as paper bags, of course, it can't (I think this applies to all sewage system across the world). Can't imagine 1.4 billion people don't throw their toilet tissues down the toilet... there would be millions and millions of clog sewage pipes everyday. Doesn't make sense. Even assuming 1% don't cooperate in this, that is 14 million people. The Chinese are not stupid to design such a system, don't you think? The piping sizes are quite standard throughout the world.
@@jameskoh2945 Thanks for your insight but I have done my research. It is even written into my housing contract that I can't put toilet paper down the toilet as it will clog the toilet. My friend didn't know this and then had to pay for a plumber to unblock her toilet as she had been putting toilet paper down the toilet. It also might depend on if your house is a new house or an older house, but I wouldn't want to risk it. All public toilets have bins also for this reason and many even have signs to say put your paper in the bin. Piping sizes are different all over the world and you can't put your paper down the toilet in many countries.
@@Nicofilms -- Thank you very much for your sharing. I can't imagine not throwing toilet paper down the toilet because that is what I have been doing all my life (in my country at least). If not for your sharing and warning, I think I would have done the same thing if I were in China. Thanks for sharing and have a nice time in China.
@@jameskoh2945 I know I'm the same! It's hard to change habits of a lifetime which is why I thought best not to catch other people out. Before we came to China we were in South America and it was the same here you couldn't flush the toilet paper so we were kind of used to it. Now when I go back to the UK I look for the bin to put my tissue in then I remember haha Where are you from?
@@Nicofilms I visited Vladivostok and Kamchatka during the golden week. it's very fast to get the 2 cities above. both are amazing destinations. I recommend you to visit there because of the cheap flying tickets and relatively short flying time.
