China Country Guide with Packing List

FACTS, FIGURES, AND A GENERAL OVERVIEWÂ

C H I N A YOUR COUNTRY GUIDE

GLOBAL AUTISM PROJECT

SKILLCORPS

E X P E C T A T I O N S

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WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE? The four seasons are distinct in Nanjing, with hot summers and cold winters. The spring is warm and humid, and the rainy season falls on June and July.Though considered a southern city in China, Nanjing is cold in winter with occasional snow. The average annual temperature is 16 °C (61 °F).

Nanchang has a sub-tropical monsoon climate.

There are both abundant sunshine and rainfall.

The highest temperature in summer can reach 40C(104F) or above. Winter weather in Nanchang is quite cold and dry, with the lowest temperature at -10C (14F). Summer and winter is longer.

Capital City Beijing Population 1,379,302,771 (July 2017) Largest population in the World Major Religions Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%, folk religion 21.9%, Hindu < 0.1%, Jewish < 0.1%, other 0.7% (includes Daoist (Taoist)), unaffiliated 52.2% Official Language (s) Standard Chinese or Mandarin

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T H E

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Political/ social climate President Xi Jinping came to power in 2012-3 as the hand-picked heir of predecessor Hu Jintao, and is expected to lead China for the next decade.

How will we get around?

Public Transportation and infrastructure is highly developed in most Urban areas in China (including Nanchang). During your time with you expect to use a variety of modes of transportation including buses, trains, metros, and taxis. During excursions outside of Nanchang, expect to ride the local high speed train knowned locally as the 特快（te kuai).

Generally, most taxi drivers charge by meter. For long-distance travels, they may ask for a flat rate which can be flexibly negotiated based on the distance.

CALENDAR January 01, 2018 New Year's Day January 24, 2018 Laba Festival February 15, 2018 Spring Festival Eve February 16, 2018 Spring Festival March 02, 2018 Lantern Festival March 18, 2018 Spring/Blue Dragon Festivall April 05, 2018 Qing Ming Festiva May 01, 2018 May Day June 18, 2018 Dragon Boat Festival August 17, 2018 Double Seventh Festival August 25, 2018 Ghost Festival September 24, 2018 Mid-Autumn Festival October 01, 2018 National Day October 17, 2018 The Double Ninth Festival

GOOGLE FOR THE EXCHANGE RATE, IT CHANGES DAILY!

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Accessing cash Wire transfer, atms, banks, currency exchanges are readily accessible throughout the country. Also, Chinese banking pins are six digits long instead of the four digits common in many western nations. Although you should be able to get away with imputing two zeros before your regular four digit Pin. In rare circumstances, you may have to temporarily change your pin beforehand.

(Please note that renminbi is generally difficult and expensive to exchange back to U.S dollars so only exchange the approximate amount that you need and keep the rest as a souvenir ) Most major western Credit Cards are accepted in China such as Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover, JCB, and Diners Club are accepted in Urban areas.

Daily expenses

National Currency | Renminbi or Yuan

Expenses will vary depending on individual and situational needs but here is a sample budget for a typical working day at the partner site. We will leave budgeting for souvenirs and gifts up to your discretion.

Small meal 82.41¥ (13.00 $) Bottle of water 3.74 ¥ (0.59 $) Taxi 19.02 ¥. (3.00 $)

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Will I be able to use my cell phone?

The short answer is yes but there are a couple of things that you need to know if you plan on bringing and using your mobile phone in the country. First, make sure that your phone is compatible and is covered by an international plan, otherwise you may be charged exorbitantly high roaming and usage fees by your domestic service provider or possibly not be able to use your phone at all.

How do I avoid incurring high roaming fees?

If you have not purchased an international plan, you can can purchase a local SIM card from the following retailers once you've landed in China: China Telecom, China Mobile, or China Unicom for around 100-200 RMB. Internet access Internet is available all throughout although not all content is accessible. Wi-Fi connections are available in hotels in urban cities and tourist cities. Outside of the hotels, popular restaurants and cafés also provide free Wi-Fi for customers. Outlets operate under tight control. Access to foreign news is restricted. Many websites are blocked including Facebook, Google, and gmail.

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What do people wear in China?

Although there is no official dress code in China, great attention is paid to etiquette. Therefore, for all formal and professional occasions it is advisable to stick to business casual attire. Some more formal occasions such as banquets or special dinners may require you to dress more formally. Also it may be appropriate to wear red the "lucky color" during important Chinese festivals and ceremonies (such as the Chinese New Year).

Please consider keeping knees and shoulders covered when possible.

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LGBTQ+ TRAVELERS What is the legal status of the LGBTQ+ community in China?

Attitudes toward LGBT rights haven’t been shaped by propaganda but by foreign media, particularly Western TV and Japanese manga, and a growing, increasingly open LGBT community. LGBT people have become increasingly visible over the last decade and a half.

Same-sex relationships have been legal in China since 1997. Additionally, in 2001, homosexuality was declassified as a mental illness. However, China possesses no laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination. Same-sex couples are unable to marry or adopt, and households headed by such couples are ineligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.

Will I be safe traveling to Kenya?

SkillCorps teams are incredibly diverse- we're very grateful for that! Members of our own staff identify as LGBTQ as well. However, for your safety, please exercise caution and avoid sharing overly intimate or personal details while abroad. You may decide to use discretion when disclosing your orientation. Our team will stick together!

Autism In China At present China still has no data related to children with autism, and is without a practical method for preliminary screening and effective intervention measures. There's a massive shortage of clinicians and teachers and, therefore, and extreme lack of services for children with autism.

WHEN

YOU

TRAVEL, REMEMBER A

THAT

FOREIGN

COUNTRY

IS

DESIGNED MAKE

NOT

TO

YOU

COMFORTABLE. IS

DESIGNED

MAKE

ITS

TO

OWN

PEOPLE COMFORTABLE.

CLIFTON FADIMAN

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M A P S ,

P H R A S E S ,

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M O R E

IMPORTANT PHRASES Yes/no 是/否 Shì/fǒu

Thank you Xièxiè

No meat 不要⾁ Méiyǒu ròu

Hello 你好 nǐ hǎo

Where is the bathroom? 洗⼿ 在 ⾥？ xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?

No milk 不要⽜奶 Méiyǒu niúnǎi

Goodbye 再 zàijiàn

Check, please

No wheat/no flour 不要⼩麦/⾯粉 Méiyǒu xiǎomài/miànfěn

My name is... 我的名字是... wǒ de míngzì shì...

Vegetarian 我吃素 Wo3chi1sù

Qǐng jiǎnchá

Have you heard of autism? 你有没有听 ⾃ 症？ nǐ yǒu méiyǒu tīng shuōguò zì bì zhèng?

W H A T

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O T H E R S T H I N K ?

"China was absolutely stunning.

Such an incredible place and entirely different to anywhere else in the world. Being disconnected from my normal habits, like facebook and google was actually refreshing."Â -Â Jennifer

"The food was surprising every single day and unbelievably delicious. The Chinese culture is very food focused and I loved that!

"What an incredible place! The tea was the highlight of my entire trip. Smelling the leaves then drinking the tea -amazing!

- Natalie

- Aliie

"We got to see so much in such a short amount of time. The architecture took my breath away.

- Anna

"I can't say enough about this experience.

In addition to the work, full cultural immersion was a huge part of SkillCorps.

- Nick

"Definitely take some time to go for hot pot dinner! It's such an experience. Another favorite was the city light show in Nanchang. They're famous for this it was like nothing I'd ever seen.

- Sam

COPYRIGHT GLOBAL AUTISM PROJECT | 2018