A living information
Climate: the United States most of the area is located in warm temperate and subtropical, moderate climate, abundant rainfall, due to the vast range of local, diverse terrain, so the complexity of climate change, something quite different. In which the Northeast and Great Lakes region has a continental climate, similar to northern China, long winter and cold and dry, warm summers, small temperature difference between day and night; the southeastern and Gulf Coast areas subtropical climate, sometimes there will be showers, but immediately Once the storm; spring and summer high temperatures in central inland areas, larger temperature difference between the cold and rainy winter, hot and dry summers; temperate maritime climate along the western section of the North Pacific zone, the southern Mediterranean climate, especially in California to the sun brilliant, known; Hawaii annual ambient temperature in 25-32 degree time, is a famous resort.
Time difference: the US east and west mainland area larger span, both east and west coasts difference of four hours, depending on the destination your time to local time as soon as possible after arrival.
Voltage: United States uses 110 volts, the voltage 50HZ security, and therefore not suitable for Chinese electrical appliances. Power plug and domestic different, it is recommended to carry a transformer and converter plug.
Tel: American country code 001, a total of 10 local telephone number. No long-distance charges in the US home to the United States, Canada region to make calls, but you may incur high international long distance calls when dialed Chinese numbers. China to call, dialing the following order: 011 (International Code) +86 (China code) + area code + phone number. For international roaming, please exit the front-owned communications company in advance to apply for international roaming services, and to advance understanding of related costs. To call the police, call 911 alarm.
Drinking water: American tap water is safe to drink, but the hot tap water undrinkable.
Shopping: American shops and restaurants, the hotel marked prices are excluding sales tax rates, an additional payment of your state sales tax (checkout Sales Tax). Including state sales tax and local taxes are two kinds of different tax rates across the states, please Chinese citizen when shopping in advance to understand clearly. Tour tickets, public transportation and medical expenses without paying taxes.
Second, rituals
Chinese citizens should do as the Romans after the United States, some general understanding of American life etiquette is necessary in order to help their faster integration into American life, but also avoid various occasions, made inappropriate behavior, make yourself or embarrassment.
Daily communication: Americans from an early age to develop the habit of talking to be polite. In daily life , and even at home parents, brothers and sisters to speak, will also use the "Please" (please) and "I am sorry" (Sorry) and other honorific. Strangers meet on the road, also met with a smile, say hello "How are you" . Americans do not like to get too close when chatting, keeping each other at arm's length. Most Americans first met to be friendly handshake, hug only between family members and friends, kissing is limited to between relatives and lovers. Most Americans like other people by their first name, even in a business setting, but also on the case between subordinates. But others do not schematic you address him by name before the insurance practice is called as a certain Mr. / Ms.
Privacy: Americans pay attention to personal privacy, and American exchanges should be avoided with the Americans talk about sensitive topics, such as political affiliation, religion, homosexuality, race, abortion, criticized the US government and individuals patriotic or not, also Do not ask the other side of the family, age, marital, property, salary and other personal issues.
Private Property Protection: US law, private property ( Private Property) sacrosanct, especially private residence. Unauthorized access to someone's private residence (trespass) is an infringement. US single-family residential (single house) was built mostly street, sidewalk next to the front yard of the house, the yard full of flowers and fruit, even if the owner is no security fence, and do not go into picking flowers or fruit.
Dress custom: American dress casual, casual reflects the personality style, but it is focusing on grooming, dressing occasion to see. Has a variety of clothing to wear in public, most of the time prefer to wear T-shirts, jackets, jeans, sweatshirt, sneakers. In the formal social occasion dress is very focused. Note also invited to attend the relevant provisions clothing invitations on. Work, dinner, attended the ceremony, meetings and other occasions, usually a formal dress in female dress is appropriate, and the high-heeled shoes; men should be the tie and dark suit. Funeral should be black or plain clothes; in the office should avoid wearing jeans; enter churches and other places, to avoid the scantily clad.
Dining Etiquette: United States lot of variety of restaurants, both McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Subway, Wendy 'S and other fast-food restaurant, there are many steakhouse and restaurant. Western at a formal dinner, pay attention to the outermost utensils should first be started using a knife and fork. Food with a fork pressed, cut into small pieces and then put in the mouth; at the dinner table, we take turns taking food, male guests should be invited female guests beside him to take, or ask whether she is willing to let you take a number of generations, if necessary when something that should be passed behind the others; eat food and not say anything when soup, coffee small spoon is used to stir milk and sugar, remember not to drink coffee with a spoon; do not at the table made on the teeth, sneezing, blowing your nose, coughing, hiccups and other indecent behavior.
Gift : Americans are unpopular send gift , not necessarily the guest home with a gift, nor gifts alone when other guests are not gifts. For gifts, gifts can be a bottle of wine, a bouquet of flowers to the hostess, a book, a bottle of wine or a small potted plant, is very popular with owners welcome. Americans like friendship full of gifts, exquisite gift packaging, gift-giving purpose must be clear, even to give gifts to friends and relatives have to attach a gift card, otherwise baffling. Cakes, pastries, chocolates, local handicrafts, books, etc., can be used as gift; visit patients in general should send flowers; in public affairs can not send expensive gifts in order to avoid suspicion of bribery; official gifts gifts can be calendars, pens, hardcover diaries and other stationery. Generally not publicly gifts, conference gifts evacuation at the end of the meeting. Receive gifts, invited to dinner, after receiving help people, we must write a letter to thank. In addition to the agreement who treat outside, usually went to the restaurant dining, all share the bill.
Tipping: US service sector workers are tips for a living. In the United States by boat or train to cope with tip, but by bus and aircraft do not have to pay; porters at the station or on the pier to cope with a tip, but not have to pay tip the waiter when accessing the luggage; in a hotel to help you with your luggage or clean room staff to cope with a tip in restaurants serving a meal to give you tips to deal with staff, foreman not have to pay for; to ride taxi drivers cope with the tip of barbers and beauticians payable to the tip, but the salesman and launderette staff do not have to pay. Dining tip of meals is generally 15% -20%. Within the hotel porter tips about US $ 0.5 / piece, bedside tip of $ 1-2. Tipping taxi is about 10%. When the trunk to put luggage, each piece of luggage also need to tip.
Smoking: Americans pay great attention to civility in public. Must be careful not to smoke everywhere after the United States. Smoking in no-smoking areas, are caught will be fined. Minors under the age of 18 is illegal to smoke, buy cigarettes to minors can be fined or even imprisoned. On the plane and public transport it is strictly forbidden to smoke. In some states, some distance away from the building are not allowed to smoke outdoors, it can be determined by observing other people. Before smoking ask the people around whether the mind, rather than point the smoke to move around, Americans often leave again after sucking in a fixed position smoking area. Sucking can not just throw cigarette butts on the ground, should be snuffed after throwing ashes in the barrel, otherwise they will be fined, go to jail even cause a fire.
Stay at the hotel: Please keep quiet stay at the hotel, do not make much noise in the lobby. Formalities at the front desk should pay attention to baggage security. Hotel rooms are usually divided into smoking and non-smoking room, please explain in advance as necessary, if not allowed to smoke in the smoking room, will be heavy fines. United States attaches great importance to environmental protection, generally do not provide toothpaste, toothbrushes, slippers, hotel supplies, please bring your own. Do not attempt to take away the room non-disposable items, please buy if you want a souvenir to the hotel; Pay TV please use caution, generate their own expense; Please note that the hotel business card carry when they go out to prepare for lost use; do not wash after dry clothes hanging on a window or balcony, the balcony and do not drinking.
Leader, tour guide and driver service: in the United States are very strict requirements for drivers, working hours per day shall not exceed 10 hours, or they will be fined, guests are asked to understand. If the guide and driver requirements for additional services to be in agreement with it and be extra tip. Please established practice and travel company provides every day to tip tour guides and drivers.
Third, public order:
America is a diverse and open country, please respect the cultural habits of different racial and ethnic groups (such as dress, language, behavior, etc.);
Please do not spitting in public places, litter and cigarette butts and other debris;
Public should not be loud noise, a call should not yell in public places, especially in enclosed cabin space, restaurants, museums and so on. When the theater to watch the show, please turn off your phone or muted, do not send text messages or using a mobile phone camera at the show, because the light phone screen will affect the others watch the show;
Comity of women, children and the elderly;
On the left side of the rolling escalator should give people a hurry;
Moderate alcohol consumption, not to drink and noisy;
Not in the street, the number of people walking on the corridor side by side, do not eat while walking on a street or public place;
When the door opened, and there are such people, waiting for the door to be pulled;
Please line up things, by the order of the queue waiting outside the window from a distance. Do not jump the queue Gasser, if not comply with the order could lead to unnecessary disputes.
Love flowers and trees, do not litter;
Fourth, the Embassy and Consulate
September 2, 2014, Foreign Ministry consular protection and global emergency service call center was officially opened for the overseas Chinese citizens to open "12308" 24 consular protection hotline to provide emergency consular protection guidance for Chinese citizens overseas and in case of emergency advisory services, if necessary, to coordinate the relevant embassies to follow up and provide protection collar common sense and consular documents consulting services to Chinese citizens. Overseas Chinese citizens under normal circumstances, please dial "10 + 0086 + 12308" (alternate number: 0086-10-59913991); parts of the country outside of Beijing, please call: 010-12308,010-59913991. Such as help people affected by emergencies encountered personal safety and other violations abroad, after dialing the number you can press "0" and then "9" directly to human services. Chinese citizens can seek assistance and consulates in the United States to the United States for an accident. You may apply to the librarian in charge of consular protection consulate by telephone 24 hours to explain the situation and to solicit comments and suggestions Note: according to their own state to state and the consular district divided contact the appropriate embassy or consulate general in order to avoid unnecessary waste of time.
Embassy and consulates under the jurisdiction of the consular district and contact details are as follows:
Chinese Embassy in the United States district includes: Washington, DC, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming , Nebraska.
Paul Collar Line: 202-495-2266 (work hours) 202-669-8024 (non-working hours, only emergency services).
Embassy Address: 3505 International's Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Embassy visa office address: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007
URL: http://www.china-embassy.org/chn/
Chinese Consulate General in New York, including the collar region : New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
Paul Collar Line: 212-244-9392 revolutions 1504 (working hours) 212-244-9392 revolutions 1000 (from work and holidays) If you have questions visas, notary certification, please call the Automated Telephone: 212-868-2074 and artificial Tel: 212-868-2078 (Monday to Friday 14: 00-16: 30).
Consulate General in New York Address: 520 12th Ave, NEW YORK, NY 10036
URL: http://www.nyconsulate.prchina.org/chn/
Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco collar area include : Alaska, Northern California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington State.
Paul Collar Line: 415-852-5924 (work hours), 415-216-8525 (non-working hours).
Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco Address: 1450 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
URL: http://www.chinaconsulatesf.org/chn/
Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles collar area include : Arizona, Southern California, New Mexico, Hawaii, the Pacific Islands (Mariana Islands).
Paul Collar Line: 213-807-8008 (work hours); 213-798-3471 (non-working hours).
Documents Tel: 213-201-1765
Consulate General in Los Angeles Address: 443 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, CA 90020
URL: http://losangeles.china-consulate.org/chn/
Chinese Consulate General in Chicago collar region include : Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, Colorado.
Paul Collar Line: 312-805-9838.
Chinese Consulate General in Chicago Address: 100 West Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60610
URL: http://www.chinaconsulatechicago.org/chn/
Chinese Consulate General in Houston collar area include: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Puerto Rico.
Paul Collar Line: 713-521-9215 or 713-302-8655
Chinese Consulate General in Houston Address: 13 3417 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006
URL: http://houston.china-consulate.org/chn/