玩轉中國的20條小貼士(上)

Travel in China can rattle even veteran travelers. This is understandable. China is a huge country with enough languages and dialects to leave even many native Chinese flummoxed at the thought of communicating away from home.

在中國旅行有時連使資深的旅行者也會煩惱，這完全可以理解。中國是一個大國，有太多的語言和方言，甚至有許多中國人在想到出門會遇到的溝通困難時也會感到頭疼。

But traveling here isn't scary, and it's not unmanageable. Traveling for the past few years from my home base in Shanghai, I've picked up a lot of tips --both from my own experiences and from others -- that make life on the road in China a little bit easier and a lot more rewarding.

但是在中國旅行並不可怕，也並非是無法掌控的。在過去幾年裏我以上海爲基地外出旅行時得到了許多經驗——它們有些來自於我自身的體驗，有些來自別人，這些經驗使我在中國的旅行變得更爲方便和愉悅。

1. Score extra beds the easy way

1，要加牀的簡便辦法

Chinese hotels aren't too fussy when it comes to matching the number of beds to the number of people, particularly when the extra bodies are children. For families, this can save a lot of cash. Rather than needing two rooms, a family of four can get cozy in a twin room, where both beds are the same size as a regular double bed.

在中國的旅館裏，人們對於客房裏的牀位數和人數是否對應並不很在乎，尤其是當多出來的人是兒童的時候。對於舉家出遊的遊客來說這能省下不少的錢，一個四人家庭可以不用開兩個房間而舒服地住在一個雙牀房間裏，而牀的尺寸有時相當於標準的雙人大牀。

2. Follow proper currency protocol

2，遵循恰當的貨幣使用規則

Don't insult a Shanghai taxi driver by burdening him with small change, such as 1 yuan or 5 jiao notes. He likes the jingle of coins. Conversely, in northern and western China, expect market vendors to reject coins outright. They only like paper money no matter how small the denomination.

在上海用硬幣付給出租車司機沒關係，如一元或五毛的硬幣等，他們喜歡叮叮噹噹的硬幣。相反，在中國的北部和西部，市場上的小販會直接了當地拒絕接受硬幣，他們只接受紙幣，不管幣值小到怎樣的程度。

3. Use the best language app for travelers

3，使用最好的遊客語言軟件

Pleco is the best Chinese language app for travelers. The basic dictionary app is free. It costs US$14.95 to buy the optical character recognition function (compatible with the iPhone 4 or 5 camera). Point the iPhone at a Chinese menu and get an instant translation.

Pleco是最佳的供遊客使用的語言軟件，這個軟件的基礎版是免費的，但購買光學漢字辨識功能需要付14.95美元（與iPhone4或5的攝像頭兼容）。只要把iPhone對準中文菜單就能得到即時的翻譯。

4. Customize your gifts

4，定製禮品

Have fine items made by hand and to order -- a neon sign of your name, pair of riding boots, set of sheets, oak cabinet, silk quilt or cashmere coat. China is the land of possibilities. If you can dream it, someone can make it.

你可以買到精緻的手工製品，還可以定製有你名字的霓虹燈、馬靴、成套的牀單、橡樹櫥櫃、絲綢被子或羊絨大衣等。中國是一塊充滿可能性的土地，只要你夢想得到，就有人做得出來。

The Shandong Juancheng Neon-Plasma Tech company make customized neon signs in one week and will ship anywhere.

山東鄄城霓虹-等離子技術公司可以在一週之內製出你定製的霓虹燈，並能將貨物發送到任何地方。該公司的網址：

5. Use the best guides to offbeat China

5，使用最好的導遊書來尋找不一樣的玩法

China Little T(r)ips is a series of guides for those who want to get off the well-worn tourist path in China, but don't have the inside knowledge or the language skills to do so.

中國小貼士（China Little T(r)ips）是一套系列導遊書，適合那些既想避開遊客氾濫的景點，但又對中國的內情和語言瞭解不多的遊客。

These guides to Inner Mongolia, Gansu and soon Sichuan and Qinghai contain detailed itineraries, maps and language cards specific for each stage of the trip. Inner Mongolia Guide RMB 78 (US$12.50), ebook RMB 45 (US$7),

這套導遊書裏的內蒙古、甘肅和即將出版的四川青海部分有詳盡的行程安排，地圖和爲旅途各階段特別製作的語言卡。內蒙古部分的導遊書售價爲78元，電子版爲45元，網址：。

6. Order rice the right way

6，要米飯的正確方法

Rice is rarely served during a meal in Chinese restaurants, being seen as a cheap way to fill up at the end if needed. Anyone wanting rice with his or her meal should make it clear to the waiter by saying: mifan (rice) mashang (straight away).

在中國的餐館裏不太會主動供應米飯，米飯被看做是在用餐結束時的一種廉價的填肚子方式。任何人需要米飯要對服務員說清楚，可以這樣說：我要米飯，馬上上來。

7. Toilet paper reminder

7，關於廁紙

Toilet tissue is rarely found in public restrooms in China. Carry your own supplies.

在中國的公共廁所裏很少提供廁紙，你需要自己帶好以備不時之需。

8. Sidestep difficult breakfasts

8，解決早餐難題

Outside of large cities and internationally branded hotels, Chinese hotel breakfasts cater exclusively to the local market. This is no issue for anyone fond of congee and pickles, but can be an unimaginable hurdle for children or picky eaters. Bring a box of their favorite cereal and a few small cartons of milk and everyone starts the day happy. Most hotels don't mind.

除了大城市和國際品牌的酒店，中國旅館裏的早餐食品往往只針對本地客人的喜好。這對於喜歡吃稀飯鹹菜的人來說不成問題，但是對孩子和挑食的旅客來說卻是很大的麻煩。帶一盒他們喜歡吃的麥片和盒裝牛奶，大多數旅館對此並不介意。

9. Don't worry -- it's safe

9 不用擔心，中國很安全。

China is nowhere near as terrifying as many guidebooks would have you believe. Yes, the traffic is chaotic and the air could be better -- much better -- but China is one of the safest countries in the world for female travelers, solo travelers and families.

中國一點也不像許多導遊書上說得那樣可怕。確實，交通是很混亂，空氣也不太好，但是對於女性遊客，單身遊客和家庭遊客來說，中國是世界上最安全的國家。

10. Give -- and get -- instant gratification

10，給予——和得到——的滿足

Those traveling in rural China often wish to give a small gift to locals they meet, but are unsure of what might be considered appropriate. A portrait delivered instantly on a Polaroid camera is a much-appreciated, on-the-spot gift. Fujifilm Instax Mini 7 Polaroid camera retails for around RMB 400 (US$62) from large electronics retailers.

在中國農村旅行的遊客常常希望送一點小禮物給遇到的當地人，但不知道送什麼禮物才合適。人們很喜歡寶麗來立拍得拍攝的照片，可以把它作爲當場可以送出去的禮物。在大型的電氣零售店裏，富士Instax Mini 7 寶麗來相機的售價大約爲400元人民幣。