Location: Eastern Asia

Climate Description:  
China's climate varies throughout the country from region to region due to its extensive territory and diverse countryside. Northern China experiences sub-arctic temperatures with no summer, whereas southern China experiences tropical, spring-like weather all year round. Even the Western and Eastern China differ where they are covered in snow all year round and experience four distinct seasons respectively.

Is it likely that residents in this country will speak English?
Most Chinese people speak standard Chinese or Mandarin, however others such as Cantonese and other dialects which are spoken as minority languages.

What are the staple foods of the country?
China is a country diverse in climate, ethnicity and subcultures. Not surprisingly therefore, there are many distinctive styles of cuisine. Following are examples of the major staple foods. 
Beijing (Northern) bread, noodles or other wheat products (e.g. dumplings, buns), lamb and mutton
Shanghai (Eastern) Seafood, meat, chicken, vegetables 
Cantonese (Southern) Fresh food including rice, vegetables and fish. Other common foods include seafood (mainly shrimp, oysters and squid), pork, poultry and eggs
Sichuan/Szechwan (Western) Maize products, vegetables is well known for its strong, spicy aromatic foods (including chili, peppers, cassia, five spice)
There is a wide range of soups available in Chinese cuisine and they contain a lot of essential nutrients.

What is a typical daily intake and timing for each meal in this country?
Carbohydrates (rice, steamed buns, noodles) are usually the main ingredients of a Chinese meal. 
A Typical Chinese menu for a day may include:
Breakfast: Noodles in soup + meat slices + vegetables + tea (and rice porridge (zhou) with chinese donut (fried dough sticks). Porridge usually has bits in it - preserved vegetables or egg and little bits of meat.
Lunch: Stir-fried rice + lettuce + minced beef + juice/other drinks (lunch is the same as dinner)
Dinner: Tea (jasmine green tea or woo-long black tea) (oolong is a semi-fermented tea, so isn't green and isn't black) (a lot of people drink soup as a their drink with lunch and dinner, and a lot of men will drink beer)           Appetizer (usually cold seasoned meat)  Main dishes (as many as ten, usually 2 dishes plus one soup) Plain boiled rice Dessert (fruit)

Which food items are readily available?
Breads and Cereals: Rice and wheat products are abundant in China but tend to be low in fibre and are available from both markets and supermarkets 
Fruit and vegetables: For fresh vegetables and fruits they are best purchased from markets however they are still available from supermarkets. Markets are usually held daily.
Dairy Products: Not as abundant - lack of yoghurt, milk, cheese - may be available from supermarkets (Lots of milk - especially for kids. Available at all the little stores and supermarkets, usually UHT. Failing that there's milk tablets which a lot of people suck on. From supermarkets there's a lot of yoghurt and in restaurants you can get yoghurt (it's all the runny drinking stuff).
Meat and seafood: Most seafood and meats such as pork, lamb, and mutton are readily available and can be purchased fresh from markets and from butcher/delicatessens and supermarkets.

Which food products are not readily available?
Dairy Products, Cereals and cereal bars, milk drinks, sports drinks, soft drinks, and energy/muesli bars (milk and soft drinks available everywhere and drunk a lot, at least by younger generations)

What are typical methods of preparation of foods in this country?
Because of the vast array cuisines in China all regions have their own different methods for cooking their foods. They include;
Northern - Frying, Stewing, Braising, Quick, dry frying, without oil
Southern - Stir frying, Broiling, Steaming, 
Eastern - Stir-frying, Red-stewing, Steaming
Western - Boiling, Frying

Is food reasonably priced in this country?
Food is generally inexpensive in most Asian countries. Market prices for vegetables and meat appear to be particularly reasonable

Are there any food safety concerns?
Seafood is major source of food poisoning, the area has potentially poor hygiene in parts of local establishments - adopting conservative behaviour regarding food hygiene is important. Water sources may also be susceptible to contamination.
 
Can you see any likely issues/concerns regarding nutrition for athletes traveling to this country?
Unavailability of special sports products (drinks and supplements) including energy and cereal bars, Gatorade etc, high fibre cereals and dairy products such as yoghurts. May be useful to take own supplies from home.
Constipation may be a problem due to Asian breads being sweeter and lower in fibre and limited availability of high fibre cereals, plenty of vegetables and fruit are important and bringing cereal, cereal bars and dried fruit from home.
Quality meat cuts are rare and thus fatty meats and deep fried foods are valued throughout the country as well as coconut based curries - thus watch high fat intake.

 Author: Ellen Louise Curtis