184 CultureShock! China
as soon as the airplane lands and is still taxiing, someone will
pop out of their seat and open the luggage compartment to
make sure that they have their bags and are ready to get off
first. Inevitably, the airline steward or stewardess will have to
unbuckle themselves and stagger down the aisle holding onto
the backs of seats to chastise the person, close the luggage
compartment and restore order.
As soon as the wheels touch the ground, you will hear
beeps and chirps as phones are turned on and people begin
sms-ing and calling others to let them know that they have
arrived. Immediately after the plane stops at the gate, people
will jump up and rush to collect their luggage with lots of
pushing and shoving to gain the best position to be the first
off the plane. If you are someone bothered by this kind of
behaviour, the best strategy is to accept you will be one of the
last off the plane, stay seated, and wait until the masses have
cleared before getting your luggage and disembarking.Hotels
In China, it is possible to find a number of unique beds to
sleep in, from ancient monasteries nestled in the shadow of
a sacred mountain like Sichuan’s Emei Shan, to a recliner in
Shanghai’s Xiao Nan Guo spa. The sophistication of hotels in
China has grown with its appeal as an international business
and tourism destination. Most of the global five-star hotel
brands are found in China’s major cities. There are additional
regional groups like the Shangri-la and Banyan Tree which
offer the finest in Asian hospitality.A Variety of Hotels
In the past, staying in anything less than an international five-star
hotel meant staying at an over-rated state-run hotel. That is no
longer the case. There are a number of modern budget chains
that have built a national presence across China, including the Jin
Jiang Inn, Motel 168, Motel 268 and Home Inn. There are also a
number of boutique hotels which have opened on the top end of
the scale, and youth hostels and independently run backpacker
lodges on the other end.