Counterfeit Bills

Very few Chinese will accept a Y50 or Y100 note without first checking to see if it’s a fake. Many shopkeepers will run notes under an ultraviolet light looking for signs of counterfeiting; visually checking for forged notes is hard unless you are very familiar with bills, but be aware that street vendors may try to dump forged notes on you in large-denomination change.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are more readily accepted in Shanghai than in other parts of China. Most tourist hotels will accept major credit cards (with a 4% processing charge) such as Visa, Amex, MasterCard, Diners and JCB, as will banks, upper-end restaurants and tourist-related shops. Credit hasn’t caught on among most Chinese, and most local credit cards are in fact debit cards. Always carry enough cash (for buying train tickets and just in case).

Check to see if your credit-card company charges a foreign transaction fee (usually between 1% and 3%) for purchases in China.

The following are emergency contact numbers in case you lose your card.

American Express ( 6279 8082; 9am-noon & 1-5.30pm) Out of business hours, call the 24-hour refund line ( 852-2811 6122) in Hong Kong.

MasterCard ( 108-00-110 7309)

Visa ( 108-00-110 2911)

Tipping

Tipping is generally not expected, although staff are becoming used to it in fancy restaurants, where most people round up the bill. In general there is no need to tip if a service charge has already been added. Hotel porters may expect a tip; taxi drivers do not.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14