10 Tips for Business Travel in China

When you’re going to China to meet potential suppliers or scout out regions for sourcing opportunities, there’s a lot you need to keep in mind. To make your job easier, I’ve compiled 10 things you should keep in mind when heading to China. 

1. Be prepared for new things. Between food and business there are many small differences between Chinese culture and what you may be used to. As purchasing agents you will likely have lunch or dinner with suppliers. Most likely they will take you to a private room in the restaurant to a large round table (the head of the table is the seat facing the door from the back of the room). They will have many different dishes brought in that are the delicacies of the area, so be open and try everything. Another suggestion is don’t ask what it is, as you might like the taste, but not like what it is.
2. Learn a little of the local language. Even just learning some basic greetings in the local dialect goes a long way in relationship-building with Asian suppliers.
3. Learn about the culture differences. The Chinese are a gracious people and will understand that you don’t know everything about their culture and may make minor mistakes. As a former Marine I don’t like when other men touch me, but in China you will see men holding hands or putting their arms around each other much more often than you do here. They won’t expect you to hold hands, but they may touch your arm or shoulder.
4. Slow down. When talking to Chinese suppliers, it makes sense to talk slowly and repeat things as necessary. While that may seem like common sense, in the heat of a meeting when you’re describing complex components or processes, you can tend to forget this and sometimes politeness may not permit the supplier to interrupt.
5. Take a translator. If you can manage it, it’s best to take a translator. While some companies will have people that speak your language, it is nice to have someone who can translate for you with your interests in mind. This will ensure your meaning gets across in the way you want.
6. Think about medicine and insurance. Take along your own medicine and get worldwide insurance if you’re going to be traveling to China frequently. There are some different types of insurance, but in case your in an accident you will be cared for well.
7. Understand travel time. If you have multiple sites to visit in a short period, make sure you understand the time required for travel in the specific region. Going from one side of Shanghai to the other takes about two hours on a good day so you need to factor that in. Also if going from one city to another that are close think about using the trains because they are more predictable than automotive traffic. A hotel concierge can arrange it for you and will save you time and aggravation.
8. Get a local phone while you’re there. There are a couple specific tips here:
   1. Get a local China sim card which will require bringing an unlocked phone from the U.S. or you can just buy one there.
   2. Program the hotel’s Concierge into your phone when in doubt you can call them for help.
   3. Use this phone to call back to the states. In most cases it is much cheaper than your work cell, or the hotel phone.
9. Negotiate everywhere. I have found that most Chinese suppliers will not provide you with their best price up front. Ask for a breakdown and work the cost, you will be happy you did. 
10. Relax. When you are a long way from home on a hectic business trip, the stress can add up, which can negatively impact your performance. If you’re like me and work all day from the time you get up until you lay down, it’s important to try to relax when you can and not let the cumulative effects of a stressful trip take their toll.

I know there are many other things you should do, so if you have any others or want to talk about anything specific let me know with a comment below.