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Before I traveled to China with my two sisters in 2007 I did a lot of research about what to expect. Of course, all the research in the world will not totally prepare you for such an adventure, but it helps.

We traveled with a tour group, which is a good idea for your first trip. None of us spoke Mandarin and our Chinese guide informed us that although Chinese children are required to study English, the fact is that only about 2% of the Chinese population speaks English.

As a group we stayed only in 5-star hotels, some of which were not the same 5-star standard we would find in the US, but all had the same basic amenities to which we are accustomed. We brought international adapters so we could charge our cameras, but ultimately found we didn't need them. Another key piece of information someone neglected to tell us was that if you want working electricity in your room, you must keep the hotel keycard in the slot near the door.

The one thing that can be easily found out about China, but which bears repeating, is don't drink tap water. The hotel staff may claim it is safe, but they put bottled water in your bathroom for a reason; use it for drinking and brushing your teeth.

Just like our itinerary was well-planned by the tour company and by the Chinese government, our meals were also planned. Breakfast was a buffet at the hotel with familiar choices like omelets, pancakes and cereal. But lunch and dinner were served to us without the benefit of menus; whatever was placed in front of us is what we ate and most of the time we had no idea what it was.

Even when the dishes were labeled, such as with the occasional buffet, we still had difficulty. Names tended to be poetic, but without a single identifying word as a clue. Things like "Golden Squares Tied With Gilt Chains" and "Rising Sun Over Waving Willows" sounded very Zen but what exactly was it? The tastes, textures and aromas were quite different than we were used to. Anything that had a head in life was served with that head intact. Except maybe for the fish balls. And while we did have a wonderful Peking Duck dinner one night, we never encountered one noodle dish while in China.

If you are a non-smoker, be aware that China is a country of smokers. We encountered people smoking in restaurants, in historic sites, even in elevators. Some people complained about it, but when you are a visitor in another country, it is always best to defer to their customs and habits. You'll just have to grin and bear it.

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