Top 10 Tips for Business Travel in China
When you’re going to China to meet potential suppliers or scout out regions for sourcing
opportunities, there’s a lot you need to keep in mind. To make your job easier, I’ve compiled
10 things you should keep in mind when heading to China.
1. Get a local China sim card which will require bringing an unlocked phone from the U.S. or
you can just buy one there.
2. Program the hotel’s Concierge into your phone when in doubt you can call them for help.
3. Use this phone to call back to the states. In most cases it is much cheaper than your work
cell, or the hotel phone.
When you’re going to China to meet potential suppliers or scout out regions for sourcing
opportunities, there’s a lot you need to keep in mind. To make your job easier, I’ve compiled
10 things you should keep in mind when heading to China.
- Be prepared for new things. Between food and business there are many small
differences between Chinese culture and what you may be used to. As purchasing
agents you will likely have lunch or dinner with suppliers. Most likely they will take you to
a private room in the restaurant to a large round table (the head of the table is the seat
facing the door from the back of the room). They will have many different dishes
brought in that are the delicacies of the area, so be open and try everything. Another
suggestion is don’t ask what it is, as you might like the taste, but not like what it is.
- Learn a little of the local language. Even just learning some basic greetings in the local
dialect goes a long way in relationship-building with Asian suppliers.
- Learn about the culture differences. The Chinese are a gracious people and will
understand that you don’t know everything about their culture and may make minor
mistakes. In China you will see men holding hands or putting their arms around each
other much more often than you do here. They won’t expect you to hold hands, but they
may touch your arm or shoulder.
- Slow down. When talking to Chinese suppliers, it makes sense to talk slowly and repeat
things as necessary. While that may seem like common sense, in the heat of a meeting
when you’re describing complex components or processes, you can tend to forget this
and sometimes politeness may not permit the supplier to interrupt.
- Take a translator. If you can manage it, it’s best to take a translator. While some
companies will have people that speak your language, it is nice to have someone who
can translate for you with your interests in mind. This will ensure your meaning gets
across in the way you want.
- Think about medicine and insurance. Consult a travel medical professional for the
proper inoculations. China is a big country; you’ll need different shots depending on
your travel itinerary. It’s also recommended bringing a handy medical kit with you
including some over the counter medications – just in case. Often the Chinese
equivalents of Western over the counter medications can be hard to come by. It’s
always best to keep the medication in labelled packaging or bottles. Take along your
own medicine and get worldwide insurance if you’re going to be traveling to China
frequently. There are some different types of insurance, but in case you are in an
accident you will be cared for well.
- Understand travel time. If you have multiple sites to visit in a short period, make sure
you understand the time required for travel in the specific region. Going from one side
of Shanghai to the other takes about two hours on a good day so you need to factor
that in. Also if going from one city to another that are close think about using the trains
because they are more predictable than automotive traffic. A hotel concierge can
arrange it for you and will save you time and aggravation.
- Get a local phone while you’re there. There are a couple specific tips here:
1. Get a local China sim card which will require bringing an unlocked phone from the U.S. or
you can just buy one there.
2. Program the hotel’s Concierge into your phone when in doubt you can call them for help.
3. Use this phone to call back to the states. In most cases it is much cheaper than your work
cell, or the hotel phone.
- Negotiate everywhere. I have found that most Chinese suppliers will not provide you with
their best price up front. Ask for a breakdown and work the cost, you will be happy you
did.
- Relax. When you are a long way from home on a hectic business trip, the stress can
add up, which can negatively impact your performance. If you’re like me and work all
day from the time you get up until you lay down, it’s important to try to relax when you
can and not let the cumulative effects of a stressful trip take their toll.
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