I'm considering going to China for the 2008 Olympics
 

China has been on my list of 'must do before I die' since I was a kid. The fears of the massive language difference has been one of the reasons I keep putting it off and it feels like the time where there would be the most English spoken.

It is looking a bit of a pain finding out much details about the games and any tours organised to go there or anything. Has anyone been to Beijing and can give any tips about managing with the language difference and the like and perhaps recommend a hotel?

Are you going to shoot content there?

ill go for sure

i want to go too...

that would be a bad idea

not unless I wish to get to know their legal system more than I wish to

China is a fantastic place to visit, and even more to make deals considering all the international trade it has with northamerica

sarah,

I was in Beijing for two weeks this past March, and will be going back to China for 6 weeks this summer. Beijing is a great city with lots to do and see. The language barrier is a bit of a problem but not insurmountable. Many speak decent english and there are "touristy" areas where most people speak good english.

You want to stay in the Lido district. It is very western, and although I did not stay there, the Holiday Inn Lido is a nice westernized oasis. Also a good jumping off point when you feel adventurous.

Feel free to email me or catch me on ICQ if you have any questions.

Sinclair

I've not been there but If you have the chance to go, do it!

I'm sure it's worth it the culture by itself is interesting and with the Olympics happening there should be even better.

I have heard that since they won the Olympic bid the officals in the city have been sent on courses to learn English.

Oddly, one of my concerns with the language barrier is getting from the airport to the hotel. What would you say is the best way to do that?


I thought it would be sort of neat to go to the 2008 Olympics since the 2012 is in London so I would have been to two back to back one being in my town.

China's also on my "places to visit" too.....good luck :thumbsup

i wanna go there to see the 3 gorges dam

i wanna go there to see the 3 gorges dam

The entire city is abuzz with preparations for the games. Definetly not as big an issue as you think. The biggest factor for me was eating in non-western resturants.

I would check with your hotel, they often have a taxi service available. You can also print the street address of your hotel in chinese and take it with you. Show it to the cab driver and you will be fine. There are 3 different types of cabs, all based on price. 1.20, 1.60 and 2 kuai(RMB). Typically the 1.60 and the 2 kuai cabs are the best. The price will be easily identifiable on the side of the cab.

Hope that helps.

Sinclair

That reminds me of those Americans you see in Rome and Paris, eating Big Macs at the McDonalds :disgust

wont that be packed???????

I avoid fast food places, etc when I travel to a different country but in a place such as China there is something to be said for being in a more Western hotel with enough English speaking staff. You just don't have to spend most of your time there.

probably but perhaps not being the only American/British person around or one of very few isn't that bad a thing either

I know it sounds a bit gay - but Im going to make a point of not going - they need to improve their human/animal rights record a lot before I support them.

Are they going to miss me? - of course not - but at least I can feel good about myself.

lol - sometimes its hard being so damn good :)

thats where the money is son

Yeah, I know and I know I should have that in mind but I very much want to see the country and I also I feel the more closed the society remains to outsiders the longer such conditions will remain.

you are right on point sarah. they value the tourist dollar a great deal. change must come from the inside. as you see more tourism and exchange of ideas with the west things will open up.

it's an amazing country, i cant waqit to see more of it. be sure to make time for all the sites, there is a lot to see in beijing. the great wall, the forbidden city, white cloud temple, the lamasary...the list goes on.

good stuff Sarah will send you over a sexyads tshirt if you wear it to the Olympics :thumbsup

One of the places on my to see list

For the London one I would..China might be questionable for anything adult related ..lol

werent you broke, asking for donations couple months ago?

#1 My husband died, which is what you are reffering to, on Novemeber 24, 2004. So, it wasn't exactly last month and as the olympics are in 2008 I think that gives me a bit of time to save.

#2 I never asked for donations. People arranged things for me while I was doing the things I needed to do. All money that was donated to me was used to pay for a funeral and to fly my family in. This has been well documented in the past and I really see no reason why I should have to talk about my husband's death every time I dare to mention anything good that might happen in my life.

#3 Exactly what buisness of yours are my finances a year and a half on from the death of my husband?

Must be depressing to be get off by being a misery vulcher.

I'd like to go there:)