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China is, for most Americans, an exotic and mysterious destination. The language is enormously difficult for most westerns to learn, the food is extremely different, the culture, even the religions are very unfamiliar. For those who are adventurous, it is an amazing opportunity to see something completely different. But even for those who are not so adventurous there are opportunities that should be well within their comfort zone, such as the shopping district in Shanghai (which feels a lot like New York City!).

In terms of land area, China is as large as the US (slightly smaller actually, when you include Alaska in your comparison), and has just as much variation in climate and landscape: arid deserts, boreal forests, broad plains, tall mountains, sub-tropical islands, so if you have particular seasonal or landscape interests, such as skiing or boating or mountain climbing, you can easily find a location in China that will support it. Getting there may be more difficult however, as remote areas are often off-limits to foreigners for political reasons, particularly Tibet.

Chinese currency is easy to deal with - the main unit is the RMB (renminbi), also called the yuan. 1 RMB = 10 jiao = 100 fen, but you will probably not encounter the fen unless you travel to very remote areas. Most things are priced in whole units of RMB, which comes in both coins and bank notes. The exchange rate against the US dollar remains favorable, and travelers will find things to be much cheaper there than in the US - bottled water, for example, runs 3 RMB, about 40 cents. A big mac runs generally 11 RMB, about $1.50. Yes, in the big cities you will find MacDonalds, and KFC, and Pizza Hut and all the other American fast food. If you move into the small towns and villages, however, you will be forced to eat local cuisine. If you are allergic to, or dislike, seafood, you will need to be especially careful as in many parts of China shrimp, scallops, and other items of seafood are put into a great many dishes, especially from Shanghai on south. Mostly you will need at least a moderate sense of adventure to eat at a bona fide Chinese restaurant, and to really maximize the enjoyment, you'll want to have a trusted guide or translator to help you out. Pork is extremely common, as is shrimp and fish, but the methods of preparation will be very different from anything you are used to. Many other familiar meats are readily available - chicken, duck, beef, while more exotic

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