112 CultureShock! China
help with this type of service for uninsured people; you are
left to hope for the best care possible from local facilities.Other Health Concerns
Before coming to China, you should check with your doctor to
understand your country’s immunisation recommendations
for China. At a minimum, you should be current with courses
of diphtheria and tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Japanese
B encephalitis and polio.
The major health issue encountered by expatriates in
China is food poisoning. Although food preparation standards
are improving in major cities, the sanitary condition of
Chinese kitchens and hygienic training of its staff is dismal by
global standards. Unless you are at a trusted restaurant, it is
best to assure that all vegetables and meats are well cooked,
to drink boiled water or open bottled water yourself and to
avoid eating the rinds or skins of fruit.
Given the prevalence of hepatitis and China’s rapid spread
of AIDS, it is important to practise safe sex. Awareness is still
low as to how these diseases are spread among the bulk of
the population.MONEY AND BANKING
China is still a cash society. It is normal to see people bringing
significant amounts of money to banks and government
offices by the bagful. Use of personal checks is relatively
unheard of. ATMs are abundant although not interconnected
and inter-bank fund transfers are used regularly. Credit cards
are a new concept but accepted in some restaurants and
department stores. Debit cards have been around a little over
five years and are more widely used.Local Currency
China’s local currency is called Renminbi (RMB), which literally
means ‘the people’s money’. The basic unit is the yuan, also
called the kuai. One yuan = 100 fen = 10 jiao, which is also
referred to as mao. Notes come in 2 mao, 5 mao, and in 1, 2, 5,
10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan denominations.