Visiting or living in another country is always a difficult experience. From greetings to where to put the toilet paper (or even where to get the toilet paper), food shopping to apartment hunting there’s a wealth of information that we’d like to know NOW.

Now there’s a way. Send us an email with your question and if we choose your question our resident experts will answer it for you. Drop us a line at cs@eChinacities.com. Don’t worry, help is on the way.

---

Questions:

1-5    6-10    11-15     16-20    21-25    26-30    31-35    36-40 

41.  I've been looking for a new computer, and I've noticed the same computer with the same specs are more expensive here than compared to the US. I thought that everything was made here, so shouldn’t it be cheaper? I've also been developing this fear of poor quality products. Is that just a phase?

42.  I am a college student in the US, although I am Chinese but I do not know anything in writing or speaking Chinese. Is there a summer program (3-4 weeks) in Beijing that I can attend in 2009?

43.  I will be traveling to the Yiwu Market place in March. I am from the United States. Will I need an interpreter with me or do most of the businessmen speak English?

44.  Where is the second new Tesco store in Guangzhou?

45.  I've read that you can deal with visa situation. I've got "F" visa till 2009.10.29, but I need to leave China every 30 days. Is it possible to change it? And how much does it cost?

---

I've been looking for a new computer, and I've noticed the same computer with the same specs are more expensive here than compared to the US. I thought that everything was made here, so shouldn’t it be cheaper? I've also been developing this fear of poor quality products. Is that just a phase?

Great question. When I moved here I was definitely expecting electronics to be cheaper - it's all made here right? Unfortunately, it's a bit more complicated than that. The products are made here but they're sold by foreign companies and are thus subject to import taxes. The taxes are levied to make domestic products (as in products from Chinese companies) more competitive. For added irony it seems that computers manufactured in China are not subject to export tax which makes it cheaper to buy a Chinese made foreign-brand computer abroad than it does here. Hong Kong is a duty-free port so it may be cheaper to buy your computer there.

If you're concerned about buying fake goods in China - a totally realistic concern - the best thing is to find a place your friends have used before where they've had good experiences and maybe developed a relationship with the sellers. Sadly, computers and other electronics seem increasingly shoddy no matter who's selling them - the age of planned obsolescence has truly arrived - no matter whether you buy a Chinese or foreign computer the manufacturer is expecting you to only be using it for two years before getting a new one.

I am a college student in the US, although I am Chinese but I do not know anything in writing or speaking Chinese. Is there a summer program (3-4 weeks) in Beijing that I can attend in 2009?

There are a variety of options for short-term summer language programs in Beijing. You can go to a university program at the Beijing Language and Culture University (this link for a Word document version of their summer schedule) or the University of International Relations, or other local universities. Or go the private language center route (check this site for more info, too). For a short period of time a university is probably going to provide more help in terms of visa and lodging – if you’re interested in the differences between private centers and public universities read this article.

Peking University, Tsinghua University, and the Beijing Language and Culture University all offer summer programs in conjunction with American universities. They’re more expensive but the teacher-student ratio is much better and the programs are more intensive. Check with your college and with those institutions to see if you can attend one of their programs. Good luck!

I will be traveling to the Yiwu Market place in March. I am from the United States. Will I need an interpreter with me or do most of the businessmen speak English?

English levels, and the willingness to speak English, will vary greatly. An interpreter is definitely advised. Keep in mind that while many Chinese honestly feel they can’t speak English they may understand it quite well so don’t say anything out loud you wouldn’t want someone hearing.

Read this article more information on how to best work with an interpreter. If you search our classifieds for ‘Yiwu’ you will find links to interpreters who may be able to help you. Good luck.

Where is the second new Tesco store in Guangzhou?

Although it’s not listed on their website the new second Tesco store in Guangzhou has opened. In Chinese Tesco is called Lè gòu (乐购).

The address of the new store:
285 Zhongshan Liu Lu.
Yuexiu District
Tel: 020-88909878.

The address in Chinese is: 越秀区中山六路285-287号

The first Tesco Shengdi store in Guangzhou:

B1 Jiarun Plaza
1419 Guangzhou Avenue North
Baiyun District
Tel: 020-87270188

In Chinese: 白云区广州大道北1419号佳润广场负一层

I've read that you can deal with visa situation. I've got "F" visa till 2009.10.29, but I need to leave China every 30 days. Is it possible to change it? And how much does it cost?

China visa regulations are often changing, and as a result, it is impossible to speak about them with absolute certainty. If you’re working in China or planning on staying for a while you should try to get a one-year Z visa through your employer or a visa service. These services may also be able to help you get a multiple entry F visa that does not require you to keep leaving the country but I don’t know if they will be able to do so until your current visa expires. Check the classifieds for numbers of services or try to use one recommended by a friend as they are not always totally legit.

 

Warning：The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.