Any advice for a group of 16-year-olds going to China?

[Mellowfruitfulness]

It's a week-long school trip, going to Beijing and Xi'an.

They're going to see The Forbidden City, an ecological village, the Terracotta Army, some hutongs, Tiananmen Square ...

What's polite/impolite? How should they greet adults? What should they avoid? What are public toilets like? What are the overnight trains like? etc

Would also read the Foreign Office's advice on China.

Theft of UK passports is certainly not unknown, these children must be careful with their possessions generally.

No such thing as health and safety, if there is a hole in the road for instance you are expected to see it. Toilets can be basic outside of hotels to say the very least. I hope these children are staying in decent accommodation.

People do spit in public, this is normal behaviour.

What happens in shops? Can you pick things up and take them to the counter, or do you need to wait to be served? And what are the prices like?

'nihow' = hello
toilets not very nice.

shops vary, most staff very helpful and will always try to help you when you go in. Very cheap prices but a lot of tat/fake stuff

ni hao - pronounced as mumoverseas says - for 'hello', and xiexie, pronounced 'shieshie' for thank you.

Always remember to be polite and respectful to anyone older than them.

This site might be useful

Take biscuits / crisps so you can pig out in your room. If any of them are veggie be prepared to stick to chips and white rice.

The toilets were awful when I went 9 years ago, think 'festival' level of hygiene . I went to India once and they were just squat loos but all lovely and clean and didn't smell. Mind you the Olympic tourism may mean the public loo's are better these days.

Everyone was very nice in China. Forbidden City & Teraccotta Army are amazing.

I was only there for a week but even in that time I sussed out how to read bits of Chinese writing, it's quite logical once you recognise a few symbols.

Thanks for your help. That's a great link, BecauseImWorth It.

Take toilet paper and baby wipes .... Toilets can be dire! Take biscuits and snacks as Chinese food is very very different!

Where's the best place to change money? I thought we'd go to the post office. And would £100 be enough, do you think?

Take immodium...

Thanks all.

We're very excited. Not long now ...