Wenzhou Travel Forum

I may be working in Wenzhou. How do the locals accept foreigners. Do they see dollar signs when they look at them? How is the food? Can I drink the water? Are there any people that speak English?

I have worked all over China during the past 20 years and I found the Chinese very gracious people. They will treat you the well and try to anticipate your every need. Some things to know:
You should try to know which hotels are in the area and try to get a western oriented hotel if you are a beginner in China.
Chinese cities are safer than US cities, but stay out of the dark alleys and don't go into places you wouldn't go into at home.
Chinese cook their food well and can't understand why we eat bloody meat, so you can eat nearly everything and not worry. Stay away from uncooked food and fruit that is not peeled. Remember green salad is a killer, not the meat.
Don't drink the tap water and wash your tooth brush in hot water, or the boiled water they leave in the rooms in many hotels.
Try all of the food no matter how different. You will find some real gems that you just can't get at home.
Chinese are very friendly. Smile and try to communicate with everyone.
They do not see you as a dollar sign.
Many people speak English, you will find some when you least expect it.
In general, enjoy the country, the people and the food and you will have a great time. I always did, and I learned to love rice porridge with preserved eggs and duck tongues.

gaolei's reply is very good. I second everything he said.

Wenzhou is a very prosperous city, and people from Wenzhou are known among Chinese as commercially savvy. I think it is an excellent place to be based to get to know 'the real China'. Great for you!

Just don't marry the first girl you shag there and all will be fine.

Good luck!

You will be the object of intense curiosity and the subject of much kindness and generosity.
The food is fabulous. Depending on where you are, water can be a concern including the water used to clean vegetables. Even the most humble hotel or hostel will provide super hot water in a thermos to your room. I drank this regularly over two months of travel without any problems.

On the other hand, if you are offended by people trying to charge you more for services or items of purchase because of your race or origins, then you will probably come to think that many Chinese merchants and hustlers do see you as a potential gold mine. The communist government set the example when foreigner tourists were first recognized as a great source of income. Since capitalism has hit the streets, this example has been followed as it is in most parts of the world although in China it does seem more grievous because some Chinese businesses (for example, hotels) and individual street merchants will often quote outrageous prices and stick to them despite all sales resistance. (I guess that they are rewarded often enough with this tactic, to persist using it, but it may be a cultural thing.) This is true even if you speak Chinese and know the actual market price. My son, who lives in China, complains that when he traveled with a group of Chinese friends at times hotels would quote one hotel price before they saw that he was with the group and then want to raise the price after seeing his face. More commonly you will find that outrageous prices will drop rapidly with a simple refusal to purchase. (Actually you must show a little interest but an absolute refusal to pay anything close to the first asking price.)

When do you know that you have reached the bottom of the market prices? --- No one comes up to you after you have made a purchase willing to sell you more of the same item for the same or a lower price.

Few people speak English, but surprising a lot can write it. I remember numerous times when someone would take pity on me at say a bus station and come up and ask, "Can I help you?" This seemed to be about all they could say in English, but when we got to the window that would write out in perfect English the translation of what the teller said.

Melos, good comments! This brings up a few points I learned. Everything in China is negotiable even things you would never consider like hotel prices. I compared prices of rooms with a Chinese friends in the same hotel and found I was paying more. I said, how did you get a lower price and they said we asked for a discount. Chinese always ask for a discount, so the room, meals and laundry can be discounted if you just ask. It is built into the price.

Second point, Look at my Shanghai page for pointers on how to bargain for better prices in the markets. I don't like bargaining, but my method works and I don't have to exert myself to get a reasonable price. One thing, I look at the person's circumstances when I bargain. If I am dealing with a real poor woman with kids, I don't care if I beat her out of 50 cents. I can afford it and she can't. It is important to help the poor people in the world to get a better life for their kids.