Bargaining

This is a way of life in Beijing. Unless you shop in a shopping mall where high-end prices match those anywhere in the world, prices everywhere else can be negotiated, especially in markets.

Bargaining takes practice but the simple rule is to this: Whatever price you are told, offer 10 percent of it and smile. The seller will use a calculator so you just punch in your price. Go up gradually and figure to pay about 30 percent of the original asking price. Remember most of the products you are bargaining for are fake, no matter what you are told.

Keep smiling and don’t lose your cool. If the seller won’t budge, walk away, and generally you’ll be dragged back, often literally amid shouts of "OK OK OK!” And another tip: don’t change your price after you have agreed, or all hell will break loose and you’ll get a public tongue-lashing second to none.

Nightlife

There are thousands of bars and clubs in Beijing, but the best area for newcomers is the Houhai Bar Area, which is usually open until 2am. It’s a lake surrounded by some of the most interesting and colorful watering holes you’re likely to see anywhere. You can literally sit on the street, on a comfortable sofa, have a drink, listen to a band and watch bicycles, pedestrians and street antics against the backdrop of a lake. Its well known by all taxi drivers.

Another good area is Sanlitun. Sanlitun Nanjie (South Street) and Sanlitun Beijie (North Street) are located in the embassy district in eastern Beijing. Sanlitun is a favorite of Westerners due to the American- and European-influenced bars. Music, girls, cheap drinks and kitsch. It’s been recently renovated and stays open till 4am. Play nice.

Language

With the Olympics looming learning English has become an obsession for most Beijingers. From taxi drivers to police, they all know a few basic words. All major signs are in English and Chinese. Most higher-end restaurants have English on the menu and all transport and other public facilities have English announcements and signs. Tour operators and hotels also speak English. If you really get stuck ask a young Beijinger as all students learn English in schools and university.

When all else fails use the Chaoyang Translation Service. Simply dial 9602008 and speak to the translator in English then hand the phone to the Chinese person. This service will operate 24 hours a day during the Olympics. I’ve used it — it works. There will also be 74 000 volunteers around the city (dressed in blue) able to point you in the right direction.

Toilets

China follows the eastern pattern of squat toilets. Public toilets are all squat variety and have been revamped for the Games although some of them are still a nightmare. Keep a small packet of tissues with you as these toilets seldom have toilet paper. Most hotel toilets are of the western variety.

Food

It's common knowledge that Chinese food offers the widest variety of cuisine in the world. There are no threats of bird flu or other dangers, as far as food is concerned, in Beijing right now. Simple rule if you’re eating local is to eat where the crowds are. While it may be uncomfortable because of the noise and bright lights, you’ll know the food is good.

Many restaurants have English translations on the menu. For those that don’t, look for something you fancy in a picture on the wall or on someone else's plate and ask for that. After all it’s a new experience right!

In order to "respect the dining customs of different countries" dog meat been ordered off the menus of the 112 specially designated Olympic restaurants. While dog meat is available in Beijing, the general rule is that if you don’t ask for it you won't get it served.

Eating Chinese food in China is way different from eating the same food at home. It’s tastier and can be addictive here. Try hot-pot (a kind of meat fondue), roast duck and the Sichuan cuisine (spicy deluxe).

If you get cold feet, there are countless MacDonald’s, KFCs and Pizza Huts to help you make it through the night. Ask your hotel staff for good restaurants around where you’re staying.

Water

You cannot drink the tap water. Repeat; do not drink the tap water! Most restaurants will offer you hot water when you sit down. That’s OK to drink, otherwise do not drink anything that has not come out of a bottle, preferably sealed, or one of the large water coolers. Carry bottled water with you — it's cheap (¥2) and available literally everywhere.

Olympic Mascots

You will be seeing a lot of the five Fuwa or Olympics mascots. They are inspired by four of China's most popular animals — the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow — and the Olympic Flame.

Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name — a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow. Placed together, Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni — they read "Welcome to Beijing."

Lucky 8

Eight is a lucky number to Chinese. The reason is that in Cantonese (South China) the word for 'get rich' is fa, which sounds like ba (eight). For this reason the Olympic opening ceremony will start at 8pm on the 8th day of the 8th month 2008. Can’t get luckier than that!

Beijing’s Olympic Organizing Committee’s website is http://en.beijing2008.cn/ for more information on the 2008 Games.