Date: 2-4 July, 2008

Place: Guangzhou (Canton), China

Title: "Encouraging SME Innovation and Growth: Increasing Capital Access"

Click on the links below for more information on:

 Practical information
 Did you know that?
 Tips


PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Telephone/Fax Numbers
For international long-distance calls from outside China Mainland, you have to dial: +86 (country code) + 20 (area code) + telephone number.

Currency
The Chinese currency is the renminbi (abbreviated to RMB Ren Min Bi literally people's currency in Chinese) or Yuan, which is divided into Jiao and Fen.

Road names
In order to help you find your destinations easily, the official website of Guangzhou provides a table with road names spelled in Chinese, Pinying and English. (Pinyin is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization in use).
 Please see the website tips section.

Food
Trying Yue Cai (Cantonese Cuisine), one of eight Chinese famous cuisines, is definitely a must in Guangzhou. For the most up-to-date listings on all of Guangzhou's nightspots, pick up a copy of "that's PRD" magazine upon your arrival in Guangzhou (the PRD stands for Pearl River Delta).
This English language publication includes extensive reviews of nightclubs, bars, restaurants and other activities available in Guangzhou, as well as articles, news about coming events and classified advertisements.


Toilet paper
The most precious commodity is to have toilet paper with you wherever you travel in China.
It is generally known that most restaurants and even hospitals, do not provide toilet papers.

Shopping
Theme: Clothes
Address: Beijing street
This street has absolutely everything; cheap clothes, good food and even a little history. There is a display of the original road from the song dynasty (960 - 1279 A.D).
You can find everything, trendy women and men fashions, children clothing, sport stores and many shoe and purse stores.
There are also some book stores and superstore/department stores just off the street. Not to mention the infamous fake watch stalls, where you can be hounded by sellers on the street (a little annoying). 
We would suggest you to not spend more than 100 yuan for most things there, just be ready to bargain because they really put up the prices for foreigners often more than triple what a local would pay.
Directions: metro: get off at gongyuanxian station and head out exit C, walk straight for 2 short blocks.

Nightlife
Bar Street is a place in the Fangcun District of Guangzhou across the Pearl River.
There, you can find many modern bars, karaoke clubs and good restaurants, some of which have seafood, hotpot or barbecue.
The bars typically offer different kinds of beer to drink.
Directions: Metro Fangcun.

Credit Card and ATM
Although cash is more popular, the credit card becomes more and more acceptable in China. Now there are seven main foreign credit cards available in China, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, JCB, Federal and Million.
Credit cards can be used for withdrawing money, shopping and other transactions in most major Chinese cities, but generally unacceptable in rural out-of-the-way areas.
If the symbols and logos of your credit card are shown on the ATMs, then it can be used to withdraw money. We remind you to keep the receipt.


DID YOU KNOW THAT...?

Guangzhou's famous nickname - "Yangcheng" (meaning ram city) and "Suicheng" (ear city) come from a delightful legend. It is said that around the loth century BC, five immortals riding rams with rice stalks in their mouths flew to Guangzhou. These immortals gave the rice to peasants and prayed that there would be bumper harvests. The immortals flew away and left the five rams behind, now turned into stones.

According to historians, the cultures of China's hinterland and of the Western societies all first emerged in Guangzhou and the city manages to maintain its own unique traditional culture despite the rapid move towards.


TIPS

 Appearence

- Women should avoid high heels and short sleeved blouses.
- Subtle, neutral colours should be worn by both men and women.

 Behaviour

- You don't have to pay tips in Guangzhou, don't be offended if they refuse it.    
- Always arrive on time or early if you are the guest.
- Do not discuss business at meals.  
-  Never place your chopsticks straight up in your bowl.
- Do not eat all of your meal.
- The most acceptable gift is a banquet.

Gift giving is a very delicate issue in China see the:
 International business gift giving. 


 Communications

- Bowing or nodding is the common greeting.
- Introductions are formal. Use formal titles.   
- The decision making process is slow. Many Chinese will want to consult with the stars or wait for a lucky day before they make a decision. 
- Allow the Chinese to leave a meeting first.