OK, I've had enough champagne and good Thai food in me tonight to try and explain Mandarin in 25 words or less.

Mandarin has four tones. If you use the common syllable "ma", the four tones will yield four different meanings: Ma1 is "mother", so if you double it "mama" you get mama. Ma2 means "to feel numb". Ma3 means "horse". Ma4 means "to scold". So, it is ESSENTIAL to get the tones right. Everything else falls to a secondary degree of importance.

Chinese is pretty easy as far as grammar goes. There is no tense, so you just add an adverb: "I go today" "I go tomorrow" " I go yesterday". The word order is the same as English: subject, verb, object. So, "I love you" comes out in the same order, "wo ai ni".

The sounds are pretty simple too. consonant-vowel-consonant being the most complex sound in one syllable. Most thoughts in modern Chinese are expressed as two syllable combinations, so "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is only four syllables in Chinese - one syllable for each of the words above.

So, master the tones and everything else is pretty simple. [NB: do NOT try to learn the written language!].

If you have mastered the tones, the next important thing is to make sure you have the vowels correctly. "fan" is "rice", "food"; whereas "fun" is "horse dung". Make sure you get your vowels clearly pronounced.

There are plenty of websites online where you can get a feeling for the tones. One I found by googling is:

www.csulb.edu/~txie/ccol/content.htm

There's also an excellent series called the "In Flight" series with an accompanying disk for the slim textbook. The series has Mandarin and has all the Mandarin language you will ever need for a short trip. (I learnt some Czech by using the Czech language book in this series). You can probably get it on Amazon.com or overstock.com.

Hope this is not coming across as being too bubbly and incoherent.

Chinese is in the Sino-Tibetan or Sino-Thai family of languages versus German or French which is in the Indo-European family of languages - but for THAT discussion you need to furnish me with another glass of champagne.

Just kidding! Have a great trip!

As far as it being safe, supposedly, the only thing you have to be worried about are the pickpockets. SO many people carrying their money in those little "pouches" under their shirt or pants.

Another thing to watch out for are the scam artists. These people seem to be everywhere in China nowadays! They come up to you and strike a conversation with you, speaking pretty good English, acting VERY friendly, maybe even offering to help you find something since you're a tourist, and before you know it, they're trying to sell you something! Usually it's a painting or some tea or some other "authentic" Chinese item. Anyone know why there are so many of these guys??

Everybody's experience will be different. And I'm sure China is no exception when people say they're not fond of Americans. But I've never heard of it being so bad to the point where it's not safe. I have heard all the stories of Americans being treated rudely when they're shopping, as well as the numerous stories of Americans being charged different prices than the locals when it comes to shopping, visiting tourist spots (Great Wall, Forbidden City, etc.) and even eating at certain restaurants.

rkkwan - Please advise on how I can get cheaper flights internally in China, particularly on the PEK/XIY/SHA/PEK route. I'd love to spend less if I can. Due to work schedules, I usually need to plan in advance rather than walk-up. Appreciate your suggestions - thanks!

My husband and I just returned from our first trip to China. We found the Chinese people to be extremely friendly and welcoming.
We enjoyed the following cities in the order listed: Beijing, Xian, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai. Beijing offered wonderful cultural and historic sites; Xian-terra cotta warriors a must see; Hangzhou and Suzhou beautiful water towns; Shanghai-modern city, lots of shopping, great architecture, more westernized.
As mentioned above, the Chinese people were so gracious and welcoming. We hired a driver/guide for each city and even though we don't speak any Chinese were able to get along fine.
I am glad that your friend has not dissuaded you. I think that you will enjoy your visit to this very beautful country. Happy trails!
CJ

Lia - Those are routes with very high frequencies. To get the best prices, wait until you get to the departure city. Or spend a little more and get them all after arriving in Beijing. Getting the tickets here will cost you a lot more (double or slightly more than double).

I did not think I would get much info out of this thread.....WRONG, I have recieved my itineary, language skills and safety tips.

Easytraveler thank you thank you! What great info. I am still a little confused by the tones but that is the part I am having trouble with, the tones. But I think with practice and those In Flight series I may be able to get along. You hsould have seen my kids looking at me while I am trying to practice the tones. Also on the learning of the writing forget it to hard.

So I am thinking I can do day trips to Hangzhou and Suxhou from Shanghai? By the way how is the food?

I am going to try and get the drivers that are guides you all have told me about and stay at the St. Regis in Bejing and Westin in Shanghai right?

Again thank you for the fun conversations and I wish you all a very Happy Thansgiving!

By the way any suggestions on airlines over there. I again will use my points if I can. Thanks

Daytrip from Shanghai - Suzhou yes, Hangzhou no. Should spend at least a night there. Distance is longer, trains are less frequent (if you're taking the train).

Domestic airlines - doesn't matter. Whichever flies your route with the cheapest seats at that time.

As far as bringing the kids are concerned, ours were fine with the jet lag travelling to China; coming back to California was a little harder for all of us. We met another family and travelled as a pack of 10 for a while and this was great for the kids. They had kids to play with and therefore were less prone to antagonize their siblings. Surprisingly, it didn't pose much of a problem trying to get cabs, invariably by the time one cab had stopped for us and we got one car loaded, another cab was pulling up. We hiked for 5 hours on the great wall and had to drive 6 hours round trip for this adventure, it was one of the trip hightlights and definitely easier because we had another family.

My kids are picky eaters and so some meals were just plain rice and a simple meat, others were just bread and fruit (and I must admit we had KFC and pizza a couple of times). But we had a good selection of breakfast foods at the hotel so we usually started off well. We did eat street food and drank only bottled or boiled water. I brought a lot of the no-wash hand sanitizer stuff (purell) and baby wipes. Public bathrooms can be an adventure.

The kids had a great time--but I would love to go back when they're older (and yes, shop!).

Hi, Momof5!

Here's some more language help for you!

"Learn Chinese in 5 minutes

OK read the English meanings and then OUTLOUD say the Chinese words..

(You MUST read them out loud or it doesn't make as much sense)..

1) That's not right.....Sum Ting Wong

2) Are you harboring a fugitive.....Hu Yu Hai Ding

3) See me ASAP.....Kum Hia Nao

4) Stupid Man.....Dum Fuk

5) Small horse.....Tai Ni Po Ni

6) Did you go to the beach?.....Wai Yu So Tan

7) I bumped into a coffee table.....Ai Bang Mai Fa Kin Ni

8) I think you need a face lift.....Chin Tu Fat

9) It's very dark in here.....Wai So Dim

10) I thought you were on a diet.....Wai Yu Mun Ching

11) This is a tow away zone.....No Pak King

12) Staying out of sight.....Lei Ying Lo

13) He's cleaning his automobile.....Wa Shing Ka

14) Your body odor is offensive.....Yu Stin Ki Pu

15) Great.....Fa Kin Su Pah

Ok, Momof5, You're all ready for China now!

Have a great trip!

easytraveler - Yu So Fun Ni

Oops sorry I misspelled it!

Yu So Fa Ni

Easytraveler you made my night! I was going to take it sooo serious until I read the first one and then just laughed all the way through. Thank you!