China Business Tips

Traveling to China for business doesn't have to be a hassle! With the right communications tools, and a little bit of know-how, you can make your trip to China smooth, profitable, and fun!

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Dealing with Noise

Traveling and doing business in China can give you a real headache. With more than a billion people in a landmass about the size of America, it's no wonder that China can be incredibly noisy and crowded. Here's a Top Ten list of China at its Noisiest:

10. Honk your horn!
At every intersection, trucks, cars and buses are coming through, and they want you to know it.

9. Step on the brakes!
Since you (somehow) didn't hear the horn, the driver is now stomping on his brakes, which were last repaired when Deng Xiaoping was running the show.

8. We're eating dinner, turn up the TV!
Chinese restaurants (or at least the less-fancy ones) always have a TV blasting out classic Kung-fu series and commercials for vitamin pills.

7. Shouting on your cellphone
Shouting on your cellphone is encouraged. Call your mistress, your child's teacher, your college buddy. Wei!?Wei?!WEI!!??

6. Jackhammers everywhere.
There's a reason they call it a construction boom.

5. Garbage collectors
Garbage collectors, calling out for your old TVs, a/c, computers, etc.

4. HAGGKHHUPP
That's the sound of saliva hitting the pavement.

3. Background music.
The honorary Chinese national anthem is Kenny G's saxophone rendition of the Titanic theme song, "My Heart Will Go On." If you hear it fewer than three times in a day, you're not listening hard enough.

2. K-T-V
An indispensable means of making and reinforcing friendships, Karaoke is one of mankind's loudest ways to spend an evening. A whale of a good time.

1. So. Many. People
This last slot is a grab bag-fill in your own sound effect.

Chinese classical philosophy and poetry places great importance on peaceful contemplation. China has its quiet places, which the savvy traveler finds and cherishes. Remember, real peace comes from within. Still, pack your ear plugs.

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