A lot of people are afraid of going to China, and when they hear about earthquakes or outbreaks like SARS, their fear gets even worse. Don’t forget that China is a huge country, and disasters happen everywhere on this planet. There are tornadoes and hurricanes in the U.S., India and Thailand were hit by a tsunami a few years ago, and in Austria a wild boar could theoretically attack and kill you.
To be honest, Yun Cheng (southwest of Shan Dong) is quite safe. When the Sichuan earthquake hit China, I was in Yun Cheng and didn’t even feel a small shake. There are no mountains, no flooding, and I’ve never heard of tornadoes or hurricanes hitting the area. I guess the biggest risk at a wushu school like this is getting diarrhea. And if people in the area keep eating that much dog meat, there might one day be another SARS-like disease. For more information about wushu training in China, click here.
More: Medical Care – Health – Insurance
What if I get sick?
The school doctor will usually try to sell you 200 pills so he can pay his rent for the next six months. Always be skeptical and check the labels before you buy anything. At least pretend to read the labels carefully so the seller reconsiders trying to sell you too much. A part of the label is usually in English, and you can look up the ingredients on Wikipedia. If you feel sick, don’t wait until it gets worse.
What if I get injured?
First of all, stop training and see a doctor as soon as possible. You can get an X-ray at the Yun Cheng hospital, about 15 minutes from the school. It’s not very clean and will probably look like the worst hospital you’ve ever seen, but they will try to help you and will usually do a better job than the school doctor.
In the worst case, you can contact your country’s embassy. If it’s something serious, your insurance should reimburse you. Paying your trip with a Visa card is also a form of insurance (ask your Visa provider for details).
And here is something I always tell people: don’t pay your school fee in advance. Pay month by month. If something goes wrong, be ready to tell them you’ll go to another school. You are a customer, and if you’re injured or sick, you shouldn’t pay for lessons you can’t attend. All schools in China will try to charge you for days you lie sick or injured in bed—including Song Jiang. It’s up to you to make it clear that you will not pay a single cent if you can’t train. Customer = king. I even recommend telling them this in your emails before you go.
What if I have travel insurance?
Keep all your bills and receipts and try to get reimbursed once you’re back home. Many insurance companies claim they pay back everything, but they might question the authenticity of your bills.
Advice: Medical Care – Health – Insurance
Get travel insurance or pay your trip with a Visa card. Travel insurance usually starts at around 50 USD, and if you pay your flight with Visa, your trip is partially insured as well. A private accident insurance can also be a good idea. That said, I lived in China for four years and never needed my insurance—and knowing Austria (my home country), they probably wouldn’t have paid a cent if I’d been seriously injured. Still, safety comes first, and 50 USD isn’t much. If you have extra money, it’s better spent on insurance than on new clothes.
Avoid eating street food.
Never drink cold tap water. Only drink boiled water or bottled water. The tap water in Yun Cheng isn’t even great for showering.
Don’t use the air conditioning in your room. Filters are rarely changed, and when you turn it on, dozens of unknown bacteria and viruses get blown into the air. You wouldn’t be the first foreigner to get sick from an old Chinese AC unit.
Go to a doctor if you feel sick or injured. Avoid drugstores. Many people in China go straight to pharmacies because it’s cheaper than paying for a doctor’s diagnosis. As a result, pharmacy owners try to sell you as many pills as possible. They are not medical professionals and mainly want to make a profit. Best example: the school doctor.
Get vaccinations for hepatitis and similar diseases about six months before going to China.
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