One of China’s biggest setbacks when it comes to visiting it is probably the language. Tourists from the Western Civilization have a hard time understanding a word, let alone ask for instructions. However, there are some bilingual signs that might help you on your trip. Sadly, most of these signs are so badly translated that you can hardly understand them.

Following these bad translations, Beijing authorities have decided to revised all the menus in the city so that tourist won’t find items such as “virgin chicken” (a young chicken dish) or “burnt lion’s head” (Chinese-style pork meatballs). Restaurants will have to choose from the 2,753 proposed names for dishes and drinks released by the Beijing Tourism Bureau so as to make their menus accessible to foreign visitors.

You might not see this year names such as the “chicken cube” (kung pao chicken) or “steamed crap” (steamed carp). These actions are taken in an effort to ban unintelligible English, known as “Chinglish”, that abounds, as you can see, in cities all over China. Also, the Tourism Bureau will be soliciting the public’s opinion before releasing the names.

Think you’re going to need some help getting around in Beijing this Olympics? Check out the free to download 2008 Beijing Olympics Guidebook.

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Posted in China

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