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THINK AHEAD. LEARN MANDARIN. Hutong School

www.hutong-school.com Introduction Chapter 1: Before your arrival Chapter 2: How to Survive Your First Week Chapter 3: Get The Most Out Of Your Week Chapter 4: Weekend Guide

Chapter 5:

Scams in Introduction

Chengdu is a metropolis that, like many Chinese cities, seems to have developed and modernized overnight. New metro lines are opening every year, new skyscrapers are constantly being erected, and many new companies and startups are finding their way into the city’s growing economy. As the capital of China’s province, it does not sit on China’s populated East coast, but the city has taken steps to position itself as the primary economic hub for Western China. Everyone who knows at least a little bit about Chengdu will all share the same two initial thoughts of the city: spicy food and pandas. China’s Sichuan Province is the country’s cradle for spicy food, as the cuisine makes liberal use of peppers and garlic, including the uniquely flavored Sichuan pepper. Additionally, Chengdu is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a breeding facility to help spur the population of the endangered giant panda bear. The total number of giant pandas left in the world is estimated at 1,500, with 80 percent located within the Sichuan Province. Outside of these two attractions, Sichuan offers plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in China, while also hosting familiar Western amenities if you ever desire them.

In this e-book we will cover everything from the beginning to the end of your Hutong School adventure. We will walk you through the pre-arrival stage, how to survive your first few days, how to get the most out of each week and what to do at the weekend. This includes, nightlife, cultural activities, weekend getaways and money-saving tips.

Before Your Arrival

China, so you may want to consider stocking up Chapter 1: before coming to Chengdu. It’s always possible to order anything you need from Taobao, but Before Your Arrival only if you set up a bank account during your stay! Women should come prepared with all the Coming to China requires a lot of preparation. feminine hygiene products that they may need Fortunately for you, our team will help with during their stay, particularly for that time of any paperwork required for the visa process. the month. Once that’s been taken care of, it’s time to start packing and getting ready for an It might be a good idea to bring any medication amazing adventure in Chengdu! Here are our you use on a regular basis, especially tips on how to prepare for the Sichuan prescriptions. There are plenty of western capital. pharmacies in Chengdu (as opposed to Traditional Chinese pharmacies), but the language barrier can make it difficult to What to pack? distinguish medicine when you need it quickly.

Clothes Miscellaneous

Chengdu generally has a mild climate and Any traveler will want to snap and remember experiences all four seasons. Summers are their journey to China. If your phone’s camera is hot and very humid, winters are cold and not enough, you may consider bringing a overcast, spring is warm and autumns are separate camera with enough batteries and SD cool but comfortable. Make sure you pack cards to capture every cool place you come the right clothes for the season(s) you'll across. You never know where your weekend spend in Chengdu. It’s always worth bringing trips might take you! an umbrella with you, especially in the warmer months when the rainfall is Streaming junkies may want to consider concentrated. building up a library of shows and movies before leaving home. Many Western streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video Toiletries and Medicine are unavailable in China and don’t function when they detect a VPN is being used. Chengdu is a large, international modern city However, China has its own streaming so foreigners should be able to find most of providers (Youku) that have a respectable the toiletries and medicines they need. collection of Western shows and Hollywood Deodorants are not very common in movies. Before Your Arrival

However...

That being said, our best advice is to pack light. Chengdu (and China) is a developed city with many great shopping centers and markets where you can buy all necessities. You may want to consider bringing only the essentials and then buying anything else you need once you get here. You will probably find many things cheaper to buy here than in Western countries! Regardless, you’ll inevitably buy gifts, snacks, souvenirs, etc. that you’ll want to take home, so be sure to not to completely fill up your luggage.

What to Install?

We can’t stress this enough, but subscribing to a VPN service before you arrive in China will save you a lot of trouble. Internet in China is heavily controlled and the country blocks every website with information that could be damaging to society. Almost all Western social media sites, Google services, and VPN websites themselves are impossible to access. So, if you’re looking to send a Facebook message, share your travel photos on Instagram, or chat with your friends on WhatsApp, get that VPN software installed and working before coming to Chengdu! Before Your Arrival

Apps

The next step in your preparation for the Middle Kingdom is installing certain apps on your phone or tablet, especially if you have an Android device that uses Google Play Store. Here are some apps that expats in Chengdu can’t live without!

Chinese Learning Apps Getting around in Chengdu

Pleco: The absolute best smart phone Apple Maps: detailed and accurate app to find dictionary for Chinese. Very quick and easy your way through the city. Does not require a to look up words in Chinese using English, VPN. , or characters. The dictionary is free, and is offline. Google Maps: a decent option if you’re a Google loyalist, but you will need VPN. ChinesePod: from newbie level to advanced, ChinesePod offers over 3500 China Trains: helps you plan your journey from podcasts and videos about all kinds of A to B and shows the availability of tickets. situations. : clean and easy-to-use app Google Translate: now comes with an that brings you from one metro station to offline dictionary for Chinese, so you won’t another need VPN.

WayGo: visual translator that reads Chinese characters and translates them into English. Pleco can also do this. Before Your Arrival

Keeping in Touch

WeChat: one of the most important apps in China. Set yours up before coming to China. You can’t live in Chengdu without having WeChat. WeChat is primarily used as a messaging app, but also Alipay: If you sign up for a Chinese functions as social media, calling, payment, news bank account, link your bank card source, scanner, translator and much more. to this app and it will serve as an electronic form of payment. Nearly every shop, store, restaurant, bar, etc. around the city will accept WeChat’s electronic pay or Alipay. You will quickly find that it is super convenient to be cash-free.

饿了么 Eleme ( ) / Sherpa’s: These two apps are essential for food delivery. Numerous restaurants are represented on these two apps, meaning you can get many different types of cuisines delivered to your door. Eleme is cheaper of the two, though it's only available in Chinese. Sherpa’s is available English, but the delivery charge is usually slightly higher.

Other Didi: The Uber of China. Didi actually bought out Uber China and merged it with their technology. Didi is a ridesharing app that is very convenient, especially if you’re uncomfortable hailing a taxi or if the metro is closed.

DianPing: For those that can recognize Chinese characters, this app is basically China’s version of Yelp & TripAdvisor.

Aiyiqi & Tencent Video: These video streaming services are Chinese alternatives to Netflix and Amazon prime. Both feature a decent range of Western tv shows and films, although some foreign titles are partially censored. How to Survive Your First Week

Chapter 2: How to Survive Your First Week

Registration

After a long flight and taxi ride you’ll probably be ready to go to your accommodation and rest. However, everyone arriving in China must register their residency at a police station. Try not to stress about this though, as a Hutong School staff member will help you with registration. Just don’t make any immediate plans for the moment you arrive Transportation Card in Chengdu!

You will want to get a Chengdu Transportation Smart card: the Tianfu Tong card. These can be bought at any subway station and let you pay for the metro and buses easily. Alternatively, if you have a Chinese bank account you can use your contactless card or Alipay to pay for transportation fares.

Sim Card

Next up, you will want to get yourself a sim card. China is mobile mad. The smart phone has become an extension of the Chinese person’s arm. There are three carriers in China from who you can get a sim card and all offer relatively similar deals and packages: China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom. Most new users will need to pay a sim card deposit of 50- 100 RMB. SIM cards can be bought at kiosks in the airport, shortly after you step off the plane. Additionally, a Hutong School employee may be able to help you obtain one. How to Survive Your First Week

Dos & Dont's

Do: Explore Chinese Cuisine

If you think that your home country has authentic Chinese food, then think again. Real Chinese cuisine is very different from what you’ve eaten in the past. Even if you consider yourself a dumpling and Kung Pao chicken connoisseur, you’ll want to try out the full range of authentic cuisine that Chengdu has to offer.

Don’t: Go crazy on the street food

While we know that it smells absolutely divine, it might be wise to stay off the street food for your first week to give your stomach time to adapt to the local Chinese cuisine. Even veteran expats sometimes struggle to handle the street food, and it’s always a risk ordering seafood skewers from a guy running a barbecue stand in the middle of the street. However, street food is still an exciting and tasty part of Chinese cuisine. Once you get used to proper restaurants and grocery store food, you should definitely give street food a go!

While slightly less appealing than other types of street food options in terms of smell, stinky tofu is still a must try Chinese delicacy and an experience in itself. You’ll find this infamous fermented tofu dish at night markets, roadside stands or outside metro stations and is recognizable by its strong odor. How to Survive Your First Week

Do: Watch out for the traffic Do: Get Lost

While Chengdu is relatively orderly, many Whenever you have some free time, put on foreigners are still shocked by the driving. Don’t your walking shoes and try to explore your expect traffic rules to always be obeyed like in local area. You may find yourself coming across Europe or the US. Cars will always take priority hidden gems such as a quiet park or your new over pedestrians on the road so you should favourite restaurant! adapt to their driving behavior and look both ways when crossing the street. Cars will often Do: Get used to stares not stop at zebra crossings or for green lights, so always be wary of your surroundings. In Chinese people have no shame in staring at China, cars in the right-hand lane can turn in foreigners or taking pictures of them! Please regardless of whether the light is green or not, do not be offended. This is quite normal and so watch out for this when crossing at a corner. you will likely find yourself quickly getting used to it.

Do: Memorize important Chinese characters

Try to memorize some basic characters that can help you in day-to-day life. This includes characters commonly found on restaurant menus. This will help you out big time in your first week eating out in China.

Chicken jīròu Beef niúròu Pork zhūròu Rice mĭfàn Fried rice chăofàn Seafood hăixiān Noodles miàn Vegetables shūcài Tofu dòufù Get the Most Out of Your Week

Chapter 3: Get the Most Out of Your Week!

Food Chengdu’s Sichuan province is famous for its bold flavors and spicy cuisine. Most Sichuan dishes cannot do without the (in)famous Sichuan pepper, the primary culprit for most of the dishes’ heat. Fear not – if your stomach can’t handle the heat, there will always be plenty of milder options at every restaurant. Chengdu is a massive city with plenty of choice. Here are a few of our favorites! Chinese Laomatou Hot Pot: If you’ve ever had Fondue, then Hot Pot should be quite familiar. You’re seated around a copper pot filled with boiling broth, traditionally of the spicy variety while in Sichuan. The menu is loaded with raw ingredients, which are delivered to your table after you make your selections. Food is placed into the broth and cooks in several minutes. Laomatou is very well-known and a popular spot, so expect queues if you didn’t make a reservation.

Address: 29 Yulin Zhong Lu

Zhuanzhuan Mo: Staple, classic Sichuan dishes. Zhuanzhuan Mo’s renowned dish includes the whole roasted rabbit, a tender meat with a crispy skin, seasoned with Sichuan peppers. If you’re not into experimental flavors, they have plenty of more familiar options.

Address: Unit 7, Block 1, Keyuan Street, Get the Most Out of Your Week

Peter’s Tex-Mex Grill: You’re not in the American Southwest, but this is as close as you’ll come to it! You’ll find your regular Mexican options of tacos, burritos, quesadillas in addition to a few other western comforts like burgers and pizza.

Address: No. 12 Tongzilin East Road

Grandma’s Kitchen: American food with a diverse menu. It’s a great place to go on a late weekend morning, as they offer a 35 RMB brunch. They also have some English Chen Mapo Doufu: You’ve probably heard of newspapers within the restaurant for your tofu before, but Sichuan is unique for its leisure! “Mapo Doufu”, a unique tofu served in a spicy, oily, red sauce. Minced meat is added with Address: 22 Renmin Nan Lu other ingredients, sometimes vegetables, onions, or chestnuts. GILIS Restaurant and Bar: Classic Western options including pizza, steaks, risotto, and Address: 197 Xi Yu Long Lu salads. The service is very good and the staff are very friendly. All the food goes very well familiar Ming Ting Fan Dian: A “comfort food” beer or wine. restaurant for locals. A non-expensive option to try local dishes. Menu includes options like Address: No. 9-9 Tongzilin South Road pork belly steamed in lotus leaves, pork ribs, green chili rabbit, and more. As it is a popular lunch time destination, it can get crowded during peak afternoon hours.

Address: WaiCaoJia Alley Market

Western

Ponti’s Ristorante: As the title might suggest, you’ll find Italian food here. If you’re craving some steak and wine, or pizza, pasta, and salads, it might be worth eating here during your stay in Chengdu!

Address: No. 88 Century City Boulevard Get the Most Out of Your Week

Useful Chinese Words and Phrases to Order Food

Here are some useful phrases to help you order food in a Chinese restaurant:

⼏个⼈？ How many people? Jǐgèrén? 可以点菜了吗？ Are you ready to order? Kěyǐ diǎn cài le ma? 我们要点菜。 Yes, we are ready to order. Wǒmen yào diǎn cài. 我要 I would like… Wǒ yào… ... 我要这个 I will have this. Wǒ yào zhègè. 是我的 This is for me Shì wǒde. 请给我买单 Could I have the bill? Qǐng gěi wǒ mǎidān. 多少钱？ How much is it? Duōshǎo qián?

If you are vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, and you want to make it clear that you don’t eat a specific ingredient, have a look at the following words and phrases:

我吃素 I am vegetarian. Wǒ chīsù 我不吃任何⾁类 I don’t eat meat. Wǒ bùchī rènhé ròulèi 我是佛教徒 I am Buddhist. Wǒ shì fójiàotú 我不能吃 I cannot eat… Wǒ bùnéng chī…

I do not eat fish, milk, cheese, butter, eggs, honey, chicken stock, meat broth, fish stock, fish sauce, or lard.

Wǒ bùchī yú, niúnǎi, nǎilào, huángyóu, jīdàn, fēngmì, jītāng, ròutāng, yútāng, yújiàng, zhūyóu. 我不吃⻥，⽜奶，奶酪，⻩油，鸡蛋，蜂蜜，鸡汤，⾁汤，⻥汤，⻥酱，猪油 Get the Most Out of Your Week

Shopping Wuhou Temple Side Streets – Tibetan Expats in Chengdu will be able to find whatever Block: The side streets surrounding the they are looking for, whether it be clothes, well-known Wuhou Temple are influenced electronics, cosmetics, stationary or anything by the Tibetans, who sell traditional arts & else. International brands such as H&M and crafts and religious items related to their ZARA can be found in high streets and malls culture. Many Tibetans actually live in this across the city. Clothes markets are a great district of the city, meaning everything for place to grab some bargains and perhaps even sale is authentic! Making a visit here would some fake designer brands. be a great way to learn about Tibetan people and culture. Shoppers looking for something specific might want to try going to specialized shopping Address: Around the Wuhou Memorial centers which only trade in one specific thing, Temple such as glasses, shoes or computer parts. If you sign up for a Chinese bank card, you can Xingzhongxing Commercial Market: One of even try using one of China’s popular e- Chengdu’s “fake markets” for clothing. You’ll commerce outlets, such as Taobao or find three floors of knock off brands, or you Jingdong. can get your size measured and create your own clothes. While Chengdu doesn’t have a single, large shopping area such as Road in Address: No. 139 Lu , there are still a few significant spots that you might want to check out!

Jinli Street: A better option if you’re looking for souvenir items: shops here sell traditional art, calligraphy paintings, clay figurines, Sichuan snacks, and much more. Historical buildings from the of the 1300s and onward can be seen everywhere, giving a very classic feeling to the area.

Address: 231 Wuhou Temple Main Street Get the Most Out of Your Week

Made in China

China is famous for its fake markets. There are several places around the city where you can bargain your way to a great deal on a pair of fake Nike trainers or a Chanel bag. Try the Lotus Wholesale Market or one of many other great shopping areas and put your haggling skills to the test! If you are successful you should be able to get at least 30% of the original price, depending on what the item is.

A few tips on bargaining

• Don’t be rude. When you are not happy with Chinese phrases that you can use: the stated price, smile and walk away. They will follow asking what you are willing to pay. • Zhège duōshăoqián? (How much is this?) From then on it should be easy to get your desired price. Remember to state the • Nǐ kěyǐ gěi wǒ piányì yìdiǎn ma? (Can you minimum price you are willing to pay and work give me a discount?) your way up to reach a common ground. • Taì guì le (This is too expensive) • Go with your friends and try to get a better deal when buying multiple items Get the Most Out of Your Week

Culture

Pandas. Chengdu, and Sichuan as a whole, is famous for being the last remaining sanctuary for the giant panda bear. The city is perhaps most famous for the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. While the attraction is absolutely worth a visit, there’s still plenty of cultural and historical locations to see.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Chengdu Teddy Bear Museum Breeding: For reference, we’ll start with this, If the pandas weren’t enough for you, then as it’s the most famous attraction within the check out Chengdu’s unique Teddy Bear city. This habitat for Panda bears is relatively Museum! Here you can witness Chinese close to the city center, only 10 km from the stories and myths that are recreated in scenes downtown area. Visiting the research base is using teddy bears. It’s absolutely worth the 60 one of the best and easiest ways to see a yuan entrance fee. panda from up close! Get the Most Out of Your Week

Culture

Chengdu Botanical Garden: Escape Chengdu’s concrete jungle and visit the Botanical Garden in Chengdu for a breath of fresh air. The garden has received the nickname of “Embodied Treasures in a Green Sea” due to the 2,000 unique plant species found within.

Sanxingdui Museum: If you’re a history buff, Zhaojue Temple: Located in a northern suburb this might be your first stop in Chengdu. of the city, the Zhaojue temple is coined as Contained inside are cultural relics and ancient the first Buddhist Monastery in Sichuan. discoveries from the nearby “Three-Star Piles” Although natural disasters and wars have archeological site. The unearthing changed caused the temple to undergo renovations people’s understanding of the ancient history over the years, it remains an important site and culture of Sichuan culture. for Buddhists all across the world.

Get the Most Out of Your Week

Entertainment

In addition to the long list of great sights and attractions in Chengdu, there are plenty of other ways to have fun with the friends you will make here.

KTV

By far the most popular form of entertainment in China. Karaoke bars can be found on almost any major road throughout Chengdu. Unlike karaoke bars back in the West, in Chinese KTVs you will have your own private room in which to relax with your friends. Even the most inexperienced singers will find something that takes their fancy, as most KTVs offer a wide selection of Mandarin, Cantonese and Western songs.

Cinemas

There are countless cinemas in Chengdu, all of which show a mixture of both Chinese and foreign films. These are a great place to escape the rain or relax after a hard day in class or on the job. Most shopping centers have a large cinema on their top floor. The majority of films are shown with both Chinese and English subtitles. If you have access to a Chinese bank card, consider booking cinema tickets with an app such as WeChat or Baidu, as you could save around 40%.

Escape Rooms

These challenge rooms have become a phenomenon in China over the past few years. They vary in complexity and quality, but many offer impressive themed rooms and puzzles. Some puzzles may involve the use of Mandarin so consider bringing a friend who can at least speak a few words. Get the Most Out of Your Week

Chapter 4: Weekend Guide

You’ve toiled away the whole week and now the weekend is here. It’s time to let off some steam. Chengdu is teeming with things to do at the weekend. From the traditional Chinese sites to the Western inspired clubs and bars round, Chengdu has something to suit everyone’s taste. If you need a break from city, Chengdu’s central location within the country makes it easy to travel by air to anywhere you may want to visit.

Nightlife

Chengdu has a growing, vibrant nightlife scene, especially in the south part of the city. The university areas tend to be the rowdiest sections on weekend nights, but there are plenty of smaller dive bars scattered around, filled with both Chinese and expats. No matter how hard you party, Chengdu is safe at night. Drink up, be safe, and have fun!

Drinking

The Beer Nest: The Beer Nest prides itself Little Bar and New Little Bar: The original on its large selection of, you guessed it, Little Bar served as a stage for central beer. This getaway is operated by a China’s rock music scene, hosting live bands Belgian brewer, and has grown quite and musicians on weekend nights. After popular with the young Western crowd years of growing its audience, the original and their Chinese friends. In addition to venue was no longer large enough to host their beer selection, they boast a their events, and so the New Little Bar was respectable collection of wines, whiskeys, opened to alleviate the crowds. Expect an cocktails and other non-alcholic entrance fee for nights with rambunctious beverages. performances.

Address: No. 34 Jinxiu Lu Address: No. 87-5 Fangqin Road Weekend Guide

Machu Picchu Bar and New Machu Picchu Bar: Similar to Little Bar and New Little Bar, ownership decided to open a new venue due to the tremendous success of the original location. The newer location is double the size of its predecessor, and hosts regular live music nights. Beer prices range from 15 RMB for Chinese brands to 50 RMB for European imports.

Address: No. 1 Yulin Bejie

Dancing

Jellyfish LKF: One of the most popular Lan Kwai Fong (LKF): For those who have nightclubs located in the very entrance of the partied in Hong Kong before, LKF may LKF district, Jellyfish offers a vibrant party seem like a familiar name. LKF Chengdu is atmosphere with a normal mix of both the flagship mainland Chinese project of its foreigners and Chinese. Jellyfish commonly Hong Kong parent company. It is located in hosts some awesome international DJs and the heart of Chengdu and operates as an is sure to offer you an energetic weekend entertainment, nightlife district for many of experience. Chengdu’s nightclubs and trendy bars.

Address: 1 Shuijin Jie, Lan Kwai Fong, Address: Block 15, LKF, 1 Shuijin Street

Tip Party animals will want to get into Nightlife-related social media groups to keep up with all the latest events. Expect open mic nights, touring bands, themed nights and much more. Chengdu's nightlife has also started to achieve more international acclaim, so don’t be surprised to see top foreign DJs and performers gracing some of Chengdu's higher-end clubs. Weekend Guide

Dancing

LINGO NIGHT CLUB: A unique looking club whose theme blends luxurious art with futuristic technology. LINGO specializes in electronic sounds, presenting a Western-style night club mixing dancing and drinking with lasers and a light show.

Address: 3/F, Block 15, Lan Kwai Fong Chengdu, 1 Shuijin Street

MOOP: Another nightclub situated inside the LKF district, MOOP gathers the business, electronic sound, tide joy, and fashion elements into one venue. Whether you’re looking to dance the night away in a large crowd, or drink alone and meet new friends, MOOP can stimulate your senses in every way imaginable.

Address: B06, Block 6,7,8, Lan Kwai Fong Chengdu, 1 Shuijin Street Weekend Guide Weekend Getaways

Although Chengdu is not that close to China’s popular east coast cities, there are plenty of nearby sites and places worth a visit during your stay in Sichuan. Whether you’re looking for nearby metropolises or traditional Chinese sites, there are several destinations you should check out – including places that are not well known to other foreigners!

What to see: Dujiangyan and its surrounding city is an ancient Chinese irrigation system that provided the city of Chengdu with water for over two millennia. While Chengdu receives part of its water supply from other sources now, the system itself is still in use today for flood control, drainage and crop irrigation. The Anlan Cable Bridge is one of the most magnificent parts of the site, a bridge stretching across the Minjiang River and is the most scenic part of the whole project.

How to get there: Visitors can take a train from the Chengdu Railway Station to Dujiangyan city, only about a 30-minute journey. From the Dujiangyan city station, visitors can take bus 4, 6, 9, 19, or 31 directly to the scenic area. Weekend Guide

Mount Qingcheng What to see: A destination not too far from Dujiangyan, is famous for being one of the birthplaces for , a religious tradition of Chinese origin. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the mountain features 36 different peaks. It is a popular hiking spot, offering many temples and palaces to see along the way.

How to get there: From the Dujiangyan scenic area, take bus no. 101 directly to the mountain area. Budget 80 RMB for an entrance fee, and another 50 RMB if you wish to take a cable car to the top of the mountain.

Jianmen Pass What to see: Jianmen Pass served an old important military purposes, being one of the few main passes into Sichuan Province. It lies in between two mountains, surrounded by steep cliffs, whose peaks look like swords which give the point its name Jianmen Pass (literally Sword Gate Pass). The entire historical site stretches an astonishing 450 kilometers long, with the southern half ending close to Chengdu. Many mountain paths and plank roads were built against the steep mountains to accommodate soldier postings and supply holdings. It’s possible to see much of this by visiting the Jianmen Pass scenic area.

How to get there: From Chengdu, you can take a train to the ancient city of , and transfer to a bus to bring you to the scenic area.

Xinduqiao What to see: Xinduqiao is often dubbed a “photographer’s paradise” due to the beautiful natural landscape, the lack of pollution from a nearby city, and the simple lifestyle of the small village. Xinduqiao is for the super adventurous, as it is quite far from Chengdu and there's no easy route to get there. Xinduqiao lies west of Chengdu, and is situated on the Tibetan plateau, so prepare yourself for a climb in altitude.

How to get there: You’ll need to travel via bus, with a transfer to reach Xinduqiao. From either Chengdu’s Chandianzi Bus Station of New South Gate Bus Station, visitors should take a bus to , about a seven-hour journey. After arriving in Kangding, you will be able to transfer to a bus headed to Xinduqiao, about a two hour ride. Weekend Guide Chengdu on a Budget

While Chengdu may be a large, developed modern city, it is still possible to enjoy yourself on a budget and get by on less than 100 RMB per day. Here are some tips for keeping cost down during your stay here in Chengdu.

Tip 1: Use public transport

While taxis in Chengdu are far cheaper than in the West, public transport will get you to almost any attraction in the city for next to nothing. At of the time of writing, most buses cost 3 RMB or less, no matter the distance, and subway journeys cost a maximum of 10 RMB. Prefer to see more whilst commuting? Try the shared bicycles for only 1-2 CNY per ride! (Ofo/Mobike)

Tip 2: Use your student card

Although many attractions only accept student cards from Chinese universities, it’s always worth showing your card from back home to see if you can get a discount on your entrance ticket. Many sites offer up to half-price for students!

Tip 3: Get to know promoters

You may have heard that foreigners in China can get in to clubs for free and even get drinks on the house. This is often true, so party animals will want to try to meet promoters either at clubs or through social media groups and enquire as to what is available. Don’t expect to get many freebies on a Friday or Saturday, but the rest of the week is fair game as clubs struggle to fill the place.

Tip 4: Eat local food

Chinese food is fresh and comes in all flavors and ways: spicy, salty, sweet, boiled, fried - you can find it all! In additon to the benefits of a savory flavors of Chinese cuisine, food can commonly be found for cheap! It's not uncommon to enjoy a meal for just 15 RMB. If you find the need to budget yourself, choose Chinese restaurants rather than indulging in expensive salads and burgers from the comfortable Western places.

Scams in China Scams in China

Taxis

Like in many countries, there are licensed taxi drivers, and there are unlicensed ones, who dupe clueless targets into thinking they’re taking an approved taxi. Typically, these drivers will hang out around the late-night bars and clubs, looking to lure tipsy party-goers into a quick (but expensive) ride home. Foreigners can be key targets for these drivers.

The best way to spot the fake taxis is to ask how much it will cost. The first yellow flag will be if the driver says a price back to you. All official taxis are metered, so there’s no reason the driver should be negotiating a price, no matter what time of day (or night). These are what are known as 'black taxis'. Though usually safe, it's common for the driver to change the price when you arrive at the destination (“I said 200 RMB, not 20 RMB!”) or they’ll say they understood the negotiated price as being per person (if you’re travelling with friends).

Another trick to keep an eye out for is cars that are similar looking to official taxis, but completely fake, with a fake meter machine. These can be harder to spot if you aren't sure what you are looking for. These taxis won’t attempt to negotiate a price with you, as they’re tricking you into thinking they’re a legitimate, metered taxi ride. Once the ride starts, the driver will start clicking his fake meter machine, raising your ride fare to an extraordinarily high price. If you think you may have got in a fake taxi, keep an eye on the meter. If the fare rises in unevenly, the driver may be scamming you. Often, you can catch the driver manually clicking his machine by listening for a clicking noise as he raises the number on the meter.In this situation, the best solution is to just start yelling at the driver, even in a foreign language. It’s completely illegal for the driver to be using a fake machine, so they'll know they can get in serious trouble. Take a picture of the vehicle’s license plate to scare the driver out of scamming you.

As a general rule, we advise always looking out for regular taxis, which are often parked at designated bays. Scams in China

Counterfeit money

It’s hard enough to spot counterfeit bills from your own country, let alone with a currency you’re unfamiliar with. Merchants are quite aware if you’re handing them a counterfeit bill, as they’re more accustomed to the look and feel of the note. Eventually, you might notice that merchants keep rejecting that one 50 or 100 RMB note. Along the way, you’ve picked up a fake note from some transaction. This typically arises when getting change from single-person merchants, such as taxi drivers and street vendors, when they break your larger bills. You hand them a 100 RMB note, they’ll return a fake 50 RMB note with the additional change they owe you.

The best way to avoid this scam is to only withdraw cash from reputable ATMs around the city. Use your larger notes at established businesses, and keep the smaller notes for the street food vendors and the taxi drivers. Or, even better, open a Chinese bank account and go cash- less!

Being Overcharged

Although not directly a “scam”, it’s worth mentioning. Similar to the fake taxi rides, price gouging is when a shopkeeper tries to quote you on a price that’s higher than what a Chinese person would pay in the shop, just because you have a foreign face. To them, a foreigner might pay the higher price in their home country anyway, so they don’t know the difference here in China. Plus, the foreigner probably doesn’t speak the language enough to question the authenticity of the price. This won’t happen at larger brand stores, where prices are shown directly on the shelf. Don’t sweat paying a little bit higher RMB for items from small shops. The issue starts when you are start paying exponentially higher for something that shouldn’t be so expensive. The best way to combat this is to simply walk out and look for that item somewhere else. Over time, you’ll gain an understanding of how much stuff should cost in China, and you can gauge if you’re getting a fair price or not. Conclusion

CONCLUSION: GO EXPLORE CHINA!

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