Will there be problems communicating in English or Chinese with an accent?
Staff in big cities and popular tourist spots can mostly handle basic English, but once you leave first-tier cities, the prevalence of English drops noticeably, especially in small restaurants, county towns, and rural areas. Practical tips: save the names of destinations and key needs on your phone and display them in Chinese, make good use of translation apps for conversation and photo features, and ask hotel receptionists to write down addresses for you. When traveling with older family members, speaking the local dialect can actually be a plus.
Staff in big cities and popular tourist areas can mostly handle basic English, but once you leave first-tier cities, the prevalence of English decreases significantly, especially in small restaurants, county towns, and rural areas. Practical tips: save the name of your destination and key needs on your phone in Chinese, make good use of translation apps for conversation and photo features, and ask the hotel front desk to write down the address. When traveling with elderly family members, being able to speak local dialects is actually a bonus.