Chinese Travel Archives - British Panda

Study, Travel and Business Between China and the West Made Easy

admin — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 05:26:59 +0000

In an increasingly interconnected world, bridging cultural and linguistic gaps is more essential than ever. BritishPanda.co.uk is a leading service provider dedicated to fostering understanding and collaboration between China and the UK. Whether you’re a Chinese student, a tourist, a business person visiting the EU, UK or USA, or a Western business person sourcing in China, BritishPanda.co.uk offers tailored services to meet your specific needs.

For Chinese Students

For Chinese students aiming to study in the UK, BritishPanda.co.uk provides a wealth of resources to ensure a smooth transition. The website offers comprehensive guides on the UK education system, including application procedures, scholarship opportunities, and tips for academic success. Additionally, students can find information on cultural acclimatisation, helping them adapt to a new environment with ease.

You’ll also enjoy copywriting and proofreading services, ensuring your university work excels.

From English teaching to visa assistance to finding suitable accommodation, BritishPanda.co.uk is a one-stop-shop for students seeking a fulfilling and successful academic journey in the UK.

For Chinese Tourists Visiting the UK

Tourists from China visiting the UK can benefit immensely from the extensive travel guides available on BritishPanda.co.uk. The website covers everything from must-visit landmarks and hidden gems to culinary adventures and shopping tips. Detailed itineraries cater to various interests and durations of stay, ensuring that every tourist can make the most of their visit. The platform also provides practical advice on navigating public transport, understanding cultural nuances, and even learning basic English phrases, making travel both enjoyable and stress-free.

For Business People Visiting the UK

Business people from China visiting the UK will find BritishPanda.co.uk an invaluable resource for establishing successful business operations. The website offers insights into the UK business environment, including legal requirements, business etiquette, and networking opportunities. With guides on setting up meetings, finding local partners, and understanding market trends, business travellers can efficiently navigate the complexities of the UK market. Additionally, BritishPanda.co.uk provides resources for managing logistics, such as finding suitable office spaces and accommodation, ensuring a seamless business experience.

For Western Business People Sourcing in China

Western business people looking to source products or establish operations in China can rely on BritishPanda.co.uk for expert guidance. The website offers detailed information on the Chinese business landscape, including market entry strategies, regulatory compliance, and cultural considerations. Practical tips on negotiation tactics, supply chain management, and building local partnerships are readily available, helping businesses overcome potential challenges. Furthermore, BritishPanda.co.uk connects Western businesses with reliable local service providers, ensuring efficient and successful business dealings in China.

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BritishPanda.co.uk stands out as a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to bridge the gap between China and the UK. Offering tailored information, and practical advice, as well as products and services for Chinese students, tourists, business people visiting the UK, and Western business people sourcing in China. BritishPanda.co.uk facilitates smoother transitions, deeper cultural understanding, and more successful business ventures.

Explore BritishPanda.co.uk today and discover how it can support your journey in navigating the complexities of cross-cultural interactions and international business.

For more informative, insightful and fun content, subscribe to British Panda here!

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Help! – My WeChat Pay Doesn’t Work – Error Message

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 02:59:38 +0000

You’ve configured your WeChat Pay and it seems to work in most places. In particular, it works fine in more established venues, shops, restaurants, cafes, hotels, etcetera. However, when paying at more peripheral businesses, or with smaller vendors like street sellers, the payment seems to start going through, but then an error message is thrown up. Ahhh!

Fear not! It seems that to use WeChat Pay with some smaller merchants, you need to update your personal details to include your ID information (Passport in the case of us foreigners) and your cellphone (mobile) number.

Just follow these steps…

1: Click on “Me” and then “Services”

2: Select “Wallet”

This will take you to WeChat Pay…

3: Touch “ID Info”

This will take you to the ID page (believe it or not).

4: Identity Information Page

This page enables you to select “Personal Information” or “Replacement of real name”. We want to select the first option.

5: ID Info Page A

This is the all-important page where we update our information.

The drop-downs are: Gender; Country; and the dates are passport validity dates.

6: ID Info Page B

Scroll down the same page and you should update your cellphone number.

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Three Times Humour Did Not Translate Well in China

admin — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 05:55:52 +0000

Chinese people certainly have a sense of humour. But like most regions of the world, they have their own take on what’s funny and what’s not. In China, slapstick and double entendre have their place, but political satire is a “no-no”, publicly. Pan-language humour is easy to get lost in, and in China, dry sarcasm can sometimes be taken literally, depending on who you are exchanging it with.

Having taught at a Chinese university, developed a circle of local Chinese friends, and I am fostering a relationship with a local female, it’s apparent that most humour is universal. However, the following scenarios are three outright “humour fails” I uncomfortably endured in my first year in China:

1: Where Can I Buy These?

Within a food hall set on university grounds in Zhejiang province, students were handing out narcotics-awareness literature. The pamphlets featured images of illegal drugs, with bullet points highlighting the health and legal implications of why you should not touch them, plus some information on health contacts. On being handed one, I browsed through the printout enthusiastically, pretending it was a menu. Showing interest in the contents, I exclaimed to the group in Chinese, “Awesome! Where can buy these?”

Straight away, a member of the group began talking to me quickly in a heated fashion. I stated in Chinese that I was joking, and thankfully another member of her entourage reiterated my comments back to her and she disengaged from me and continued handing out her anti-drugs literature.

2: New Wife

I was in a Wenzhou suburb, near the University Town, dining in a locals’ local restaurant. There are very few foreigners living in the entire city, let alone the suburb we were dining in. Naturally, I was the only foreigner in the restaurant, and therefore, heads were turning. The staff were friendly, yet inquisitive. So one waitress; a personable, 50-something local lady, asked if I was my girlfriend’s husband, to which I replied “Ta shi wo xing de lao por”, or “she’s my new wife”. After two bottles of the local beer, it seemed an amusing thing to say. “NEW wife?”, she asked. She then began a semi-confusing rant about foreigners coming to China for wives. No number of stating “wo zai kai wan xiao” (I’m joking), would initially pacify her.

3: He Looks Like a Sweaty Toad

Tip of the day: Just don’t joke about the Chinese leadership. It’s not like poking fun or deriding Boris, Liz, et al.

Alighting a subway train, a huge poster of a prominent Chinese political figure adorned the adjacent wall. In fairness, it wasn’t a flattering photograph. So speaking my mind, I observingly asserted that he looked like a sweating toad. Not terribly loudly, but loud enough for my girlfriend to stop me, and in all seriousness, she grabbed my collars and pulled me up to her face. Slowly, in an ominous monotonal voice, she said, “Shut… up. Do that again, and we’re going home”. As the sobering reality of her reaction sank in, I realised that perhaps it wasn’t a great idea to publicly deride Chinese leaders, or drink two beers before going out. Double Deer is an extremely good local beer. Double “Oh Dear” the following day it seems.

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