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Eating out in China isn’t much of a problem, particularly if you’re willing to eat the local food. Outside of the larger cities, you’re unlikely to find any establishments serving Western food; in these cities, though, you can find some familiar names too. Depending upon how much you’re willing to spend, you can go to virtually any type of restaurant- from a roadside stall (where you order by pointing to what you want) to a plush restaurant in a deluxe hotel (where there will be printed menus and efficient staff). And, of course, there’s a whole range of establishments in between, with various degrees of tourist-friendliness; most mid-range restaurants can be quite good value for money.
While eating out, remember one thing: meals are usually early, and restaurants open for brief periods (breakfast from 6 to 9, lunch from 11 to 2, dinner from 5 to 9), so have your meals early, otherwise you run the risk of being faced by downed shutters.
Beijing and some of the other big cities in China have a fair amount of entertainment to offer- there are bars, tea-houses, karaoke lounges, nightclubs and discotheques, besides cinema (only recommended if you like martial arts movies, as that’s what’s invariably shown), theatre and cultural performances. Most cinema and theatre is totally native – Don’t miss taking in a Chinese opera performance – the elaborate costumes and intriguing plots are fascinating and even if you do not understand a word of what is being said on stage the sheer opulence of it all will floor you.
In village and smaller towns, there’s usually a paucity of entertainment (given the average Chinese villager’s curiosity, a passing tourist is the best form of entertainment!). However, you can sometimes see displays of native performing arts, such as puppetry, song-and-dance routines, jugglery and martial arts.
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