Here are some more specific questions;

What're some of the better chinese beers/liquor, considering I'll be on a bit of a budget?

Are there some areas that I really shouldn't be in? I haven't traveled much outside of the west (south africa was with expat friends so that was diff) and have heard some places an american tourist is just begging to get mugged.


How strict are the laws concerning speech? I'm not going to be protesting/demonstrating, but is talking about current events in the "privacy" of a dorm room a bad idea? Should I just assume i'm being listened to at all times? Are Americans/Westerners going to be hassled/detained for talking about politics over dinner and drinks?

continuing...

Beijing I take it has a much tamer nightlife than shanghai, but there has got to be an area/street with some bars and clubs with a younger crowd. Any suggestions? Is karaoke as big in China as in Japan?

If tipping isn't customary, is there another way to show gratitude for good service?

Can I really smoke anywhere indoors?

I'm sure I'll get a little tired of the urban landscape at some point, but seeing as how I've got work daily, are there sights out of town to visit via bus/train that wouldn't take a full night away?

First off, you'll like the drinking situation. No one asks for ID. No one cares. There is no open container law, no drunkenness law (Your mileage may very with the Chinese police if you get out hand, though). I remember carousing through Beijing buying beers from vendors as I pleased.

I would NOT recommend trying any sort of alcoholic beverage in China stronger than beer. The local liquor (called baijuu or something similar) has the taste and effect of drain cleaner/nail polish remover. Chinese beer however is excellent. Tsingtao is a good brand, and far and away one of the one the most popular. I didn't get a chance to sample anything smaller-scale but I'd, again, exercise your caution with that.

Certain joints will offer to booze you for free or for a flat-rate; BEWARE. These drinks are usually adulterated for more volume or flat-out not intended for human consumption.

Eh. Not too much else to say. If you have any questions specifically for me I'll be refreshing now and then.

I would NOT recommend

Also, you can smoke anywhere the hell you want, except the subway or where signs are posted. Think 1930s America.

>>291027
Thanks for the info, sounds like you had a good time. I'll watch out for the hard stuff, though I don't plan on getting roaring drunk often (waking up walletless in an alley/Chinese police station doesn't sound appealing, and I'd like to think I'm being a decent rep for 'murika).

What would you say about using the internet/4chan while in country? Could I get in trouble for accessing "objectionable" content?

Did you try 1000 year egg? (The blue ones)

>>291039

If you haven't been following Chinese news lately, they've had a real axe to grind with foreign lawbreakers. I would be very cautious with anything you access online, and not take any unnecessary risks with the law. The Chinese government has been making examples out of foreigners lately, and is hellbent on demonstrating the validity of their sovereignty. Consider many crimes here that would warrant a few years in prison, easily warrant a lifetime at a hard labor camp or execution.

How's about the ladies? I'm going to be there for a while, and being a red blooded young American, I'm going to want to find some new friends.

>>291046
OP here, I'm curious also. I'm hoping speaking a bit will be a huge asset towards this end. Has the novelty of westerners worn off in the last few years with the increased openness/tourism? Obviously if you can't pull tail back home it won't make much difference abroad, but are Chinese women (university students, not escorts) as open as Japanese/westerners?

Keep in mind I'm not a weeaboo and I keep myself in good shape/groomed.

pic somewhat related.

Beijing is the "hardest" place to get a girl in China but it's still damn easy. If you can't you're doing something wrong. Be aware though that Chinese girls are... intense. I was taken to a girls parent's house for dinner as a first date once. You'd think girls in Beijing and Shanghai would be more "westernised" (read open to casual relationships) but it's not the case at all.

Forgot to add, being able to speak Chinese is a massive boon. Unless you have an absolutely hideous face you should have no issues getting some. More Chinesey bars are definately better though. Play some dice with a group of hotties! Make them laugh! Get all their numbers

>>291043
Maybe you've heard something I haven't.

What foreigners have been made examples out of except for African drug dealers, one British Muslim drug dealer and a Chinese-Australian from Rio Tinto? (And that's probably related to the Chinese pissed off that they made a bad business decision by refusing to pay as much for iron ore as Korean and Japanese companies - only for the price to then shoot up after the sale).

Surely none of this is relevant to a dude who is planning a trip to party it up for a few weeks? Unless he's planning to smuggle a bunch of drugs in with him or piss off a state corporation while he's there?

>>291063

It's nothing to worry about. When I visited Beijing the other week, they were checking all the Chinese for bombs and weapons, and waving all the white tourists right on in - no checks needed.

>>291048
the girl in your pic is Korean, Jessica from SNSD. Here's some more and it's moving, woooow.

>>291051

Anyone know what the attitudes are in China around casual sex, dating expectations, how big of a deal it really is to meet the parents, etc?

Try the dog.

I'm living in Beijing righ now and i've been here for the past 2 years.

Girls are ridiculously easy in China overall for a white guy. Anyone saying they're conservative hasn't been to the right places. I have a long-term girlfriend but when any of my idiot friends go to a club they usually end up at least making out with someone and more than 50% of the time end up bringing a girl home. Also Beijing has tonnes of nightlife. And you can smoke absolutely everywhere.
And no, no one is going to come to arrest you for going on 4chan lol.

>>291172

So effectively, no difference, except I'll be the foreigner with the hot accent.

OP again. Is it true that there is a growing culture of anti-western sentiment among chinese youth/males that is reactionary towards idolization of the west? I've read a bit about a growing sense of nationalism and anti-americanism due to our support of Taiwan and general notions of american "imperialism". Do I need to worry about catching shit from said people? Should I leave the F22 raptor tee at home?

>>291160
what's it taste like

For the girls, it depends entirely on what you want to get- the subset of girls that go to bars here are basically the equivalent of sorority sluts in the US. They are into casual dating/casual sex, or for being a summer girlfriend.
There are plenty of more conservative girls around, but they'll be more difficult (if you want to try), but they will expect more of a commitment, and monogamy. So if you just want some summer tail, stick to the bars, and stick to the girls who are in it for the fun, and don't expect you to still call/not find another girlfriend once your are back in the States. 8 weeks usually means bars, not finding a future wife, so just make sure she knows that too.

Or else you'll end up like me, feeling like a bastard for not "taking responsibility" once you've done the deed....

San Lu Tun'r is the bar street, couple of clubs around there, Chinadoll, Lantern and some shittier ones.
Workers stadium, right near the bar street has 2 big clubs, vix and mix or some shit, then some more on the otherside, including one of beijings only gay clubs Destination, Banana and some others.
Houhai (lake) has loads of bars, in summer theres couches out everywhere, big on hookahs, theres a few clubs but not big ones.

Harbin is the nicest beer in my opinion, but tsingtao is fine, snow isnt. Baijiu is awesome, dont let the negative sentiment here deter you.
You are also pretty safe everywhere, but dont be stupid.

Freespeech is bleh, you dont need to be totally paranoid but i wouldnt talk about the government negatively over drinks or dinner.

Chinese girls in general are very prude, bed by 10 pm etc, but theres plenty of clubs full of STD ridden sluts.
You are probably safer with one of the many russian girls although they might expect paying afterwards.

If you really, really want to show gratitude you can offer a gift of money (still tricky), otherwise just leave a pack of cigs with the bill or something