| NANNING CENTRAL |
|
Nanning's main language is a Cantonese dialect they call "Nanning Hua". Most residents can also speak
Mandarin since that is the national language of China. If you don't know Mandarin or Cantonese it is very
important to have an interpreter tag along with you. If you are interested in learning either before you go
to Nanning I have a few links to Mandarin and Cantonese language websites on my link page you should
check out, and there are lots of books and language related software available on the internet as well.
Know the exchange rate and only use the Bank of China to exchange money. You will be approached by
people in the airports and on the street to exchange currency, but DO NOT USE THEM!! China has a big
counterfeit problem so only exchange at the Bank of China. (See more about this below). Keep your
receipts so you can exchange back into dollars if you need to. They use the Yuan Renminbi or Kuai
(dollars), and Jiao/Mao/Fen (cents). I take a small calculator with me so that I can quickly figure the rate
when I exchange currency at the bank.
Tip: If you do take a calculator make sure it is kept in some sort of plastic wrap because the humidity will
make it useless.
Credit cards
Credit cards can be used in China but please take notes here. This is best explained by my good friend
Frank U. who is more descriptive than I and offers some good advice:
"To use credit cards, debit cards or ATM cards in China banks, it is a good idea for the foreigner to advise
their bank of the trip to China, because nowadays when banks in the USA receive a charge from overseas,
they will automatically "freeze" the card thinking that it is a fraudulent one. The person could be in
China, make one charge and for the second onwards, his card will be declined, unless he calls the bank
from overseas and OK's it with them. So, suggest you contact your bank credit card division and advise
them of your travel dates.
Credit cards, debit cards, ATM's work at the Bank of China. It will depend on a little logo painted on the
back (reverse side) of the card. If you are lucky to have the logos of "PLUS", "STAR" or INTERLINK",
then your credit, debit or ATM card will work, if not, it will not.
Another thing, in the USA most banks use a four number format for PIN numbers. In China, they use a 6
numbers format. So, if using the USA credit card, when prompted for the PIN number, you enter the four
numbers, if not accepted, then enter two zeroes followed by the PIN number.
One important note here...Once the machine has finished the transaction and your card is returned, you
must remove it from the machine slot immediately, because after a few seconds, if it is not, the machine
will assume you left and forgot to pick up the card, and it will move back into the machine. Same thing
with the money if it doesn't drop into a tray, if it is for the money the same as for the card, the money if
not removed immediately will move back into the machine. So, do not try to light a cigarette before
getting the money and the card as you may loose both!"
Travelers Checks
I have used travelers checks in the past and had no problem but lately I have been hearing reports just the
opposite. The Bank of China has been giving people hassles over their signatures. The signature they
present to the bank must match exactly to the signature already on the check. In other words both
signatures have to be mirror images. Now you and I know this is not always possible. When I sign my
name on something it usually looks about the same as I always sign it but might have some minute
variation. And so because of these "minute variations" in peoples signatures the bank will not accept the
travelers check. To get past this I suggest cashing them at your hotel or trying the Agricultural Bank of
China who doesn't seem to have this ridiculous problem.
Finally, when you do make purchases remember the Chinese are hagglers. About the only places where
the prices are fixed and not negotiable are the large department stores. Everywhere else, especially the
street vendors, the prices can be talked down. Let your Chinese guide do this for you. They know how to
do it.
China so you won't have problems when you use or exchange for them. When you buy something say, in a
department store, and you see a price tag such as: 5.95, this is pronounced (wu kuai jiu mao wu)
BE CAREFUL OF COUNTERFEIT NOTES:
How to tell if Chinese paper currency is a forgery or good quickly. They all have photos of Mao. If you go
to the collar and throat area of the photo of Mao, if running your finger over it you feel smooth flat paper,
then is a counterfeit. If it feels rough to the touch, then it is a good bill. I now do that with any bill above
20 RMB (20, 50 and 100 RMB) given to me. This trick was shown by an officer of the Bank of China to
my good friend Frank U.
You should always pay close attention to hygiene when visiting a foreign country. I recommend taking an
anti-bacterial hand wash with you. One you can use without water. Use it regularly and especially if you
travel anywhere by train.
toilets are only holes in the floor and usually not very clean. And if you look for toilet paper you won't find
any so I suggest taking some with you for your daily excursions into the city. When in restaurants inspect
all eating utensils (bowls, chopsticks, etc.) before you use them. It is not bad manners to send back for
clean ones.
And remember, always use your anti-bacterial hand wash! I can't stress this enough. Lastly never drink
water unless it is bottled or has been boiled (Like for coffee/tea).
Even though China is going through an economic reform and is now seeing more prosperity than it has in
decades this has not always trickled down to the common blue collar type citizen. Especially in Nanning.
The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is still considered one of the poorest regions in China. Because of
this I have a few tips about safety that you need to follow. They are:
1) Use common sense! Never show large amounts of cash or wear expensive jewelry.
2) Keep your money and passport somewhere only you will have access to. For example I wear a waist
wallet. It goes around your waist and is hidden inside your shirt. Only put in your pockets what you can
afford to lose. There are pickpockets!
3) Keep your camera or camcorder in your hand with a strap around your wrist. I use a backpack and keep
mine in there until I want to use it. Grab and run, other than pickpockets, is the main way people will steal
from you.
4) I really hate to say this about children but be very careful if a small child approaches you. They are used
by adults to beg and steal and these children are very good at what they do. Also they might seem to be
alone but they are not believe me with many of their friends watching and waiting.
5) I don't suggest going anywhere alone especially at night. Safety is always better in numbers.
6) Always listen to your Chinese guide because you're on their turf.
Note: If you travel anywhere by train or bus always remember to keep your luggage with you. Luggage
theft is high in China and trains/buses are the primary targets.
Basically China is a safe place to visit. In the past crimes against foreigners were rare but times have
changed so just use common sense and be aware of your surroundings. The Chinese authorities still come
down hard on anyone stealing from or bothering a foreigner but they have to catch them first and that
doesn't always happen.
As I briefly mention on my Guangxi Region page, the weather in Nanning is subtropical being hot and humid
during the summer months through October. And when it rains it rains buckets! Since the humidity is so
high the winter may be colder than you are used to so plan accordingly with the proper clothing. There
seems to be many opinions as to how to dress when in Nanning, so I will tell you how I do it. When I visit in
the summer I wear shorts and jeans for my every day excursions, and then slacks and a nice shirt if I go out
to dinner or attend a banquet. In the winter it's the same except no shorts. Remember you are a foreigner
(waiguoren) so don't worry so much about how you may look because the locals will expect you to dress
differently than them. If you want to dress like them then do it but it's not necessary.
| Nanning Yearly Climate Information |
| Average Maximum and Minimum Temperatures/Average Rainfall |
| Month |
| Average High - F |
| Average Low - F |
| Average High - C |
| Average Low - C |
| Average Rainfall - inch |
| Average Rainfall - mm |
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
June |
July |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 63 |
64 |
70 |
79 |
86 |
89 |
90 |
90 |
88 |
82 |
75 |
67 |
| 50 |
52 |
58 |
66 |
73 |
76 |
78 |
77 |
75 |
68 |
64 |
52 |
| 17 |
18 |
21 |
26 |
30 |
32 |
31 |
32 |
31 |
28 |
24 |
20 |
| 10 |
11 |
15 |
19 |
23 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
24 |
20 |
15 |
11 |
| 1.3 |
1.9 |
2.4 |
3.6 |
7.4 |
9.0 |
8.2 |
8.2 |
4.9 |
3.0 |
1.6 |
1.1 |
| 32.5 |
47.5 |
62.5 |
92.5 |
187.5 |
232.5 |
212.5 |
212.5 |
127.5 |
77.5 |
42.5 |
27.5 |
Since Nanning's climate is sub-tropical the average humidity year round is 90%
I mention this briefly in my Travel Tips page but need to explain more about it here. Even though it may
seem like total chaos there is actually some order to it. Basically the bigger (your vehicle) is, the more right
of way you have. Also they do drive on the right side of the road with bicycles and motorbikes on the far
right. Passing vehicles do it anywhere they want but still usually do it on the left. And most obey traffic
lights but never yield to pedestrians, unless of course it looks like a collision is apparent. BE CAREFULL!!
