Guangzhou is a city that’s full of opportunities. And if what you want is to import furniture and construction hardware from China, you should meet IBMH in Guangzhou. You’ll be surprised by our high-quality service with profits from the very beginning. Located in the south of China, the city is one of the main drivers of economy and industry in the country. Its proximity and perfect location relative to hardware factories is a great business opportunity.
IBMH is made up of a great, multicultural team that lives and works in China. This allows us to be familiar with both cultural and business protocols, meaning we can help you in your dealings with hardware manufacturers. If you’re thinking of coming to meet IBMH in Guangzhou, this survival guide will help you enjoy your trip even more.
First steps in your trip to meet IBMH in Guangzhou
• Your journey to China will start long before you board the plane, with the paperwork to apply for a visa. Without this document, you won’t be able to enter the country. Remember to begin filing well in advance, because bureaucracy takes time.
• When you reach the airport or even during the flight, you will have to fill out an arrival card. You’ll need to give personal information like your name, date of birth, passport number, visa number, purpose of your trip, etc.
• The lines at passport control tend to be very slow, especially if several international flights arrive at the same time, so you’ll have to arm yourself with patience.
Transportation in the city
Once you get through passport control and have collected your luggage, you’ll be one step closer to enjoying Guangzhou. To get to the office of IBMH in Guangzhou, you have three options:
Take a taxi
• At the airport exit as well as in different parts of the city, you will find official taxis.
• The approximate price from the airport to downtown Guangzhou is 150 RMB. We recommend that you negotiate the price or make sure the taximeter is used before getting in. Make sure that both of you are talking about prices in the local currency, Yuan Renminbi (CNY), and not in dollars.
• Taxi drivers usually do not speak English. It’s a good idea to have your destination address written down in Chinese. The trunks of these cars tend to be quite small, so excessive luggage is often a problem.
• NOTE, outside of the airport you will see many cars that will offer to give you a ride. They are not official taxis and their prices can be through the roof, so we advise against using them.
Hire a private taxi
• At the exit of baggage claim, you will see a counter to hire a private taxi. These tend to have more space for your luggage.
• The cars are newer and cleaner.
• Their price for the same trip can be double or more the cost of an official taxi (between 300 and 400 RMB).
Catch the metro
• This is a good idea as long as you don’t try to use it at rush hour, which is from 7 to 9 in the morning or from 5 to 7 in the evening.
• Their facilities are fairly new.
• Safe
• The names of the stations are in Chinese and in English.
The best areas to stay in
Guangzhou is a modern city that is prepared to welcome foreigners. On your business trip, these are some of the best areas to find lodging.
• Tianhe District, which is where IBMH is located in Guangzhou.
• Tiyu Xilu and Zhujiang New Town are very lively areas with many shops where you’ll find everything you need. They are only 4 to 6 metro stops away from the industry fair complex.
• If you prefer to stay in the area around the Pazhou Fair Complex, you’ll find hotels just 10 minutes away. While you will be closer to your work location, you should keep in mind that this area has fewer options to enjoy the city at night.
Recommendations for meals
Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is known for its exquisite cuisine. It includes many of the dishes we eat in Chinese restaurants in the West, although they are not exactly the same since they tend to adapt them to suit our tastes. Cantonese cuisine offers very tasty dishes, such as:
• Wanton Mee (egg noodles in a sort of soup)
• Chow Mein (noodles with vegetables and meat)
• Jiaozi (a sort of dumpling with different fillings)
• Many restaurants have a to-go or take away option in case you’re in a hurry.
However, the city is changing at an incredible pace, and there are an increasing number of fast food chains: Starbucks, McDonalds (with different menus from those in the West, and very spicy), Subway, KFC… If you want some good coffee with a sandwich or pastry, try Pacific Coffee.
Smoking is allowed in most Chinese restaurants, although more and more places are making separate areas for smokers.
Other tips for traveling to the offices of IBMH in Guangzhou
• To get around the city, it isn’t strictly necessary to speak Chinese. But just in case, have an instant translation app installed on your mobile phone. We recommend Instant Translator. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to know the most basic words:
• Hello = Nǐ hǎo
• How are you? = Nǐ hǎo ma?
• Thank you = Xièxiè
• Goodbye = Zàijiàn
• When greeting someone, a handshake is appropriate (no hugging or kisses).
• Never refuse an invitation to have tea at a traditional table in China. It is considered offensive.
• If you go to rural areas in China, it’s possible that the locals will ask to take a photo with you, although this is becoming less common.
More tips to survive in China…
• There is usually Wi-Fi in most places, especially the more modern ones. The only problem is that you will only be able to access Chinese websites. In fact, without a VPN, you could run into problems connecting to social media and other sites.
• We recommend that you always carry cash, since there are still many places that don’t accept foreign credit cards. It’s always best to exchange your currency at the airport. More and more Chinese people are using the application WeChat (comparable to our WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger) to make payments. But this option is only available if you have a Chinese checking account.
• You might need a universal adaptor for electrical outlets, since China has up to 3 different outlet shapes.
• You should know that the Chinese are very strict with their mealtime schedules, and when the time comes, they will put down whatever it is they’re doing to go eat.
• Also, they know that rest is a priority. You might be surprised to see them taking a nap almost anywhere.
