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during the period when there is a high risk of transmission, normally from June until September. There is almost no risk of malaria in China; only if you visit some of the rural cities of the southern part of China you can best consult your doctor if you need to take some malaria pills.

* Water and food

If you are planning a travel to China you need to be aware about certain precautions for a safe and healthy travel. You can best avoid drinking water from the tap otherwise you have a high risk to get diarrhea or other stomach problems. Most hotels provide bottled water if you want to drink and even to brush your teeth. If you are going to dinner you best order a bottle of water; you can buy at any place where you want to go dinner a bottle of water of well known brands, for example Evian, Perrier, San Pellegrino or some other imported brands of bottled water.

You can also best avoid raw vegetables; it is recommended to search dishes with cooked meals and eat only fruit which you have pealed by yourself. It is best you avoid eating ice-cream, certainly if you want to buy one in the streets. Ice-cream in the important hotels of China is safe. You don't need to be careful to eat in China, most dishes are delicious.

*Money

The currency of China is the Yuan and you can exchange American dollars and Euros in almost any place in China. If you want to have the best rates you can best go to a bank; it is also possible to exchange in the airport or in the hotels but they offer lower rates. Traveler's checks and most credit cards are accepted in most tourist cities.

*Other tips

- Soup is served at the end of the meal and you will notice that many Chinese people are slurping when they eat soup. Slurping soup is a sign of satisfaction and gratitude.

- It is recommended to take toilet paper with you. It is unlikely you may not find toilet paper in hotels in the popular cities of China but it may often happen in a restaurant, public toilets or any other place in China.

- Chinese people use chopsticks when they eat food. They will appreciate if you try to use it too but they will likely ask if you need knife and fork. You may not drop your chopsticks during your meal because it is considered as a bad omen in China.

- It is recommended to avoid personal contact and it's not polite to touch a woman in public.

- You may never shake your hands first; you need to wait until they offer to shake hands.

It is maybe best to read a China Travel Guide before you travel to this wonderful country and you can take it with you if you experience difficulties with Chinese etiquette or you may need some key phrases which you can find in almost any China Travel Guide.

Traveling to China is a wonderful experience. You may enjoy the beautiful buildings, nature, the hospitality of the population, their local customs and it is wonderful to discover a new culture. It is recommended to inform on time about the vaccinations you need, weather circumstances, money issues and all the necessary information for a safe and enjoyable travel.

Learn more about this author, Erik Van Tongerloo.
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