How do I spend RMB in China?

I know 100 rmb is about $13, but it is worth much more, right? So 100 rmb in China could buy much more than $13 could in USA. I'm going to China this summer as a tourist and I need some tips on how to spend money. Many people I know have been ripped off. Thank you!|||1. Other than Hong Kong, China is not a good price to shop for Western brand name stuffs. It is silly to shop brands as Levis, LV or any other brand stuffs there. If you found it to be cheaper than your local shop, be aware of fake items. Paying fake item price for fake item is a different story. HK is a different story as it is a tax free port that a lot of these are really cheapper there, but just make sure you are buying from authorized stores.





2. China is cheap for labor, but not for the material. So anything that takes a lot of labor, it is the best with China. Things I love are sculptures made of wood or stone. The price tag in store sometime can inflated for 20 times (For stores in Beijing even it is inside a 5 star hotel. Eventually, I negotiate off 95%.). Just be careful for not to break anything.





3. Food in Guangzhou airport is a rip off (at least for the time I went.) suggest Don't buy anything there.





4. Food in local restaurant for Chinese food are usually good price vs US. The upper scale restaurant can be as expensive as US especially in Shanghai, but I usually said they worth the price. Some local restaurant usually is cheap. Unlike US, Tipping is NOT something you must do. But I like to give out some tip that made the waiter really happy. (You are really tipping for the service instead of by rule that you need to tip.)





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To prevent rip off, you really need a local guide to help. If you known well about the price of things you want to buy, you may get it cheaper in China, but someone known well locally may get them even cheaper.|||Most products cost the same in China as they do elsewhere. Nike and Reebok products cost the same in Beijing as they do in London and Tokyo. A Volkwagen or Buick costs the same in Shanghai as it does in Vancouver or Chicago. Chinese air and train ticket prices are based on mileage and cost the same as in other countries. Food at good restaurants is priced accordingly in China. Dinner for 2 at an upscale restaurant can easily cost 300 to 500 yuan (US$43 to US$70) in China's major cities.|||Depends where you are going. Life and daily living in the bigger cities is very expensive. Life in the small rural areas is very cheap. I live in a very small city for chinese standards ( about 50,000 people) and life here is very cheap.


1 bottle water = 1rmb


1 bottle beer = 5 rmb


Hotel room in the best hotel in town = 148 rmb per night


Rent nicest appt. in town 1000 rmb per month includes water , tv, electricity 3br 2b 135 square meters


taxi = 3 rmb all around town


eat local food 1 meal 20 rmb or less


eat nice restaurant 1 meal 100 rmb





Big cities are much higher priced.|||There are a few things to know about shopping in China.





1. Know what the prices are for the same product in your home country. If you are looking for something very specific, then know the price ranges.





2. Know what you are willing to pay and don't budge from it. If you end up paying that price, then be happy with it . . . don't complain about it, even if you find out that your friend got it for half the price.





3. The seller will want to get as much as they can and the buyer wants to pay as little as they can. That's the name of the game. The seller will never sell to you without making a profit, so no matter how much theatrical declarations of "You're killing me with this price" should make you feel guilty.





4. Always be prepared to walk away. If you are not willing to pay what is being asked, then walk. If the seller doesn't call you back, then you know you reached their minimum. Move on. You can try again elsewhere.





5. Try not to let the seller initially know which item you are *truly* interested. Look at a variety of items, asking for prices. Then, settle on the one (hopefully that you asked about in the beginning or middle of your questions) and bargain from there.





6. Enjoy the process. If you make it a chore, then it's not fun. Laugh a lot and stay relaxed. It's a vacation.





Enjoy your trip.|||It depends where you are going and what you are buying.





In the larger cities, prices are easily on a par with western countries. In smaller cities, less so. Tourist areas are usually more expensive (as they are anywhere in the world).





Some things are cheap (but you get what you pay for!|||It depends obviously. For all the western brands you are familiar with, pay more. It takes money to send it there. That includes alot of meats.


For locally grown and processed, mabye one half to three quarters of the US. For labor intensive things, much less.





So you go to McDonald...same as the US


Go to a restaurant with US food cooked there...well the food is more but the staff is cheaper...so maybe 75-90 percent here.


Getting a haircut...all local labor...dirt cheap. Less than what you tip your hairdresser here.


Eeat local food in an local restaurant...half or less of what you pay here.|||you need to look around before you'll know what costs what here...





take a couple of spare legs and arms if you go to Beijing, Shanghai, HK or same size place..