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Living Standards of Chinese
China is undergoing remarkable and rapid change. Many of the older people have lived through times of incredible  hardship and famine on a scale that is often not fully appreciated in the west. Now economic prosperity is spreading, but there remain big differences between rural areas and the big cities, and between the Eastern seaboard and deep inland. In some of the more remote regions there are still people who, it has been said ‘cannot even afford themselves’. However, as more areas open to tourism, this introduces change, and the opportunity for improved living standards.
In the cities such as Beijing or Shanghai monthly salaries are increasing steadily – although not yet in line with equivalent western cities they are steadily getting there. This is accelerating with the new prosperity, foreign trade relations and rapidly rising standards of education in major centers.
In the early 1990s China reintroduced the study of English on a reasonable scale, after a long gap. It has taken a while to accelerate and today the ability to speak or understand English is still relatively uncommon. It is largely confined to the under-30s, and requires a University degree to attain any reasonable standard. It is also more common in the larger cities, and unusual in rural areas or smaller towns.
China is a multi-religious country. Taoism, Buddhism, lslamism, Protestantism and Catholicism have all developed quite a following in this country. Freedom of belief is a government policy, and normal religious activities are protected by the constitution.
Chinese currency is called yuan or, more commonly, renminbi (RMB).
Foreign currency (cash or traveler’s checks) may be exchanged for Chinese currency at licensed exchange facilities of the Bank of China and other authorized banks.
Money exchange facilities are available at major airports, hotels, and department stores. Major brands of traveler’ s checks are accepted at such exchange facilities and cash advances against a credit card can be arranged, a service charge is usually added. Consult with your bank before departing the United States to be sure that your brand of check or credit card will be accepted. Major credit cards (American Express, Mastercard and Visa) are accepted by most major hotels and in many well-known restaurants. ATMs compatible with US bankcards are also available throughout Hong Kong and to a limited extent in major Mainland cities such as Shanghai and Beijing.
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