Family travel tips - Tips for Traveling with Children in Beijing
Do not drink water straight from the tap, drink only boiled or bottled water.
Chinese Restaurants set their tables with chopsticks, not knives and forks. Bring a fork if you or your kids
may need one.
Before leaving home make sure that you have adequate health insurance, as treatment at local hospitals
and foreign-owned clinics can be expensive and China does not have reciprocal health-care arrangements
with other countries.
It is advisable to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, which are quite common in China.
Don't forget to bring the medicines you and your child need. If someone in your family is prone to asthma,
bring plenty of medication and inhalers with you.
Pack antibacterial wet wipes for kids and anything else that will help them keep their hands clean is important.
In general, public toilets are typically of the squat variety and are usually extremely malodorous. You will
need to bring your own tissue paper as it is seldom available. Take advantage of the facilities in top-end
hotels and restaurants.
Finding your child's favorite snacks such as fruit leathers and Cheerios may be difficult and expensive in
Beijing. Bring packaged food snacks along with you from home.
Most top-end hotels and many of the city’s classier restaurants will add a 10% to 15% service charge to your
bill. But tip is neither customary nor expected in China. The listed price or the price bargained for is the price
you pay, although there is no reason not to reward extraordinary service.
English is not widely spoken in Beijing, so in case you and your child get separated, it is vital to make sure
they have a note of your hotel address and telephone number written in Chinese, which they must keep with
them at all times. The child also should be prepared with what to say and do if this situation occurs.
- Drinking Water
Do not drink water straight from the tap, drink only boiled or bottled water.
- Eating with chopsticks
Chinese Restaurants set their tables with chopsticks, not knives and forks. Bring a fork if you or your kids
may need one.
- Health and Medicine Tips
Before leaving home make sure that you have adequate health insurance, as treatment at local hospitals
and foreign-owned clinics can be expensive and China does not have reciprocal health-care arrangements
with other countries.
It is advisable to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, which are quite common in China.
Don't forget to bring the medicines you and your child need. If someone in your family is prone to asthma,
bring plenty of medication and inhalers with you.
- Hygiene Tips
Pack antibacterial wet wipes for kids and anything else that will help them keep their hands clean is important.
- Public Toilets
In general, public toilets are typically of the squat variety and are usually extremely malodorous. You will
need to bring your own tissue paper as it is seldom available. Take advantage of the facilities in top-end
hotels and restaurants.
- Snacks
Finding your child's favorite snacks such as fruit leathers and Cheerios may be difficult and expensive in
Beijing. Bring packaged food snacks along with you from home.
- Tipping (xiaofei, 小费)
Most top-end hotels and many of the city’s classier restaurants will add a 10% to 15% service charge to your
bill. But tip is neither customary nor expected in China. The listed price or the price bargained for is the price
you pay, although there is no reason not to reward extraordinary service.
- Your Contact information in Chinese
English is not widely spoken in Beijing, so in case you and your child get separated, it is vital to make sure
they have a note of your hotel address and telephone number written in Chinese, which they must keep with
them at all times. The child also should be prepared with what to say and do if this situation occurs.
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| Meiguoxing.com, Your Ultimate Guide to Beijing, China |
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