When you're traveling in Asia it can be very tempting to head toward recognizable brands so you don't have to face language issues and possible embarrassment when you order. You know the Starbucks servers in Shanghai will speak English enough to understand you need a triple-Venti-caramel-no-foam-whipped-cream-decaf-latte and you know you'll be able to point to the pictures in the McDonald's in Beijing. Failing that, you think, well Spaghetti Bolognese is rather internationally understood, so I'll eat Italian tonight. I know what I'll get.

But to skip eating locally while traveling in China is to skip part of the culture. In China, food IS culture. Eating is a big part of daily life - it's important and people enjoy it. It's like not going to the Louvre in Paris, skipping the Dome in Florence, not going to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Are you in China? Then you must eat Chinese food.

All that in mind, I never said it is always easy. And I, for one, have on more than one occasion ordered fried rice because I knew what it was, even though there were some mighty mouth-watering dishes on my neighbors' tables.

Dim Sum is one of those things that folks are universally familiar with but might be intimidated to try. On a recent trip to Hong Kong with my husband's family, eating Dim Sum was high on their to-do list and after a great meal, I thought about them trying to do it on their own without us Old China Hands along to help. So to ease the intrepid Dim Sum seeker's mind, I've written a how-to on eating Dim Sum. Rory Boland, our Guide to Hong Kong and Macau has also broken it down. Armed with our info, you'll be sure to enjoy your authentic Dim Sum experience.

A reader recently wrote in the following, "I bought a very expensive pearl necklace at Fanghua in Beijing. When I returned home to the USA and had the necklace appraised, our jeweler said it was not worth the price I paid for it."

This is very disappointing for anyone and when you're buying something expensive and think you're getting a good value, then it's doubly so. My general advice has always been if you're not an expert buyer, then be do be careful. A good guideline is to spend what you're comfortable losing - so if what you bought breaks or turns out to be a fake, then you're not too disappointed. Of course, buying pearls in China can be a good value. If you know what you're doing, South Sea pearls can be purchased at a fraction of what you'd pay elsewhere (US$1000 vs $10,000 elsewhere) but that's still a significant amount of money and not many folks would be happy if their $1000 strand turned out to be fake.

So buyer, do beware. If you're shopping in Shanghai and want some help buying pearls, then you may want to look into using a personal shopper like Ms. Angela McDonald. McDonald's been in Shanghai for many years, speaks Chinese and has her own pearl business. She's now offering tours and educational seminars to teach people how to buy and she takes people to reputable sellers.

If you're on your own, then make sure you keep your head about you, bargain hard and test the pearls for fakes.

Read more:

• Shanghai Personal Pearl Shopper
• How to Buy Pearls in China
• How to Bargain
• Pearls Circles Wholesale Market in Shanghai
• Hong Qiao Pearl Market in Shanghai

Just a few days ago I was sitting in the sunshine basking in our late October warm weather. Now, with snow in Beijing and cold temperatures here in Shanghai, those warm days seem like a distant memory. Winter's on it's way and if you'll be in China in December, January or February, you might want to start making some plans.

There are some fun festivals and events that should warm you up even in the coldest temperatures. And if you can't stand the cold, then there are plenty of locales across southern China that will help you defrost.

Read all about Winter in China.

November can be a really lovely month to travel in China. The October holidays, and associated fare increases, are long over and folks are settling down for the winter. Therefore, November can be a relatively peaceful month in which to travel and see some of China's Top Attractions.

While northern China will begin to see some really wintery temperatures in late November, central and southern China will still see moderate and comfortable temperatures in which to sight see and tour.
Enjoy China in November!