China: Wearing Yarmulka; Bringing in Food

[DTM]

Planning first trip to China. Two interesting questions:

1. Is it safe to wear a yarlmulka or is a hat necessary/recommended? 

2. What types of food, if any, can be brought in?

Thanks!

[mordechain]

What could be the issue with a yarmulka?

[Hershelsdeals]

What could be the issue with a yarmulka?

+1

[Emkay]

Planning first trip to China. Two interesting questions:

1. Is it safe to wear a yarlmulka or is a hat necessary/recommended? 

2. What types of food, if any, can be brought in?

Thanks!

No one knows what a yarmulka is.

[jojo-nj]

I've been to China many times and always wore my yarmulka with no issue. As far as food, I've brought in tuna, dried salami, meal mart meals and more.

What kind of food are you thinking of?

[FlyFirst]

My uncle wears his Shtreimel and Talis, walks around like in his backyard

[iAm]

The Chinese have great respect for Jews as theyve been conditioned to believe that Jews are intelligent, driven, and good businessmen. I had absolutely no problem with a yalkmukah here

[DTM]

Thank you for your responses. With the yarmulka I was thinking about potential antisemitism, which is apparently not a concern in China.

As for food, I read elsewhere that there are official restrictions on bringing on meat, fish and fruit, but I guess it's not true or not enforced.

Another follow-up question: What do you do about milk in China? I recently heard that there is imported milk (perhaps from Australia) that is either Cholov Yisroel or halachically acceptable to some as Cholov Stam as in the USA?   

[jojo-nj]

I bring powdered milk. I've seen some long shelf life milk for sale at chabad in Shanghai but never tried it.

[Tzadik Nistar]

Thank you for your responses. With the yarmulka I was thinking about potential antisemitism, which is apparently not a concern in China.

As for food, I read elsewhere that there are official restrictions on bringing on meat, fish and fruit, but I guess it's not true or not enforced.

Another follow-up question: What do you do about milk in China? I recently heard that there is imported milk (perhaps from Australia) that is either Cholov Yisroel or halachically acceptable to some as Cholov Stam as in the USA?   

Local milk you can't drink even for those drinking Cholov Stam regarding the imported milk available, those are long shelf life milk
There is no antisemitism as they don't even know what that is

[davidmal]

1. Is it safe to wear a yarlmulka or is a hat necessary/recommended? 

No one knows what a yarmulka is.

Many don't know what a Jew is. they think your muslim.

The Chinese have great respect for Jews as theyve been conditioned to believe that Jews are intelligent, driven, and good businessmen. I had absolutely no problem with a yalkmukah here

That's usually only the factories who are more worldly.

2. What types of food, if any, can be brought in?

There is chabad in many locations
while i used to bring a suitcase of food today i end up just bringing some snacks.
try NOT to gain weight there
Chabad serves a lot of food!

[marivmariv]

Planning first trip to China. Two interesting questions:

1. Is it safe to wear a yarlmulka or is a hat necessary/recommended? 

2. What types of food, if any, can be brought in?

Thanks!

1. Yeah very safe..
2. Where will you be in China? I have a good hookup in Shenzhen, pickup for davening and food delivery wherever you are at(working)....all via Chabad of course.

[davidmal]

....all via Chabad of course.

congrats on your first like.

[DTM]

Planning first trip to China. Two interesting questions:

1. Is it safe to wear a yarlmulka or is a hat necessary/recommended? 

2. What types of food, if any, can be brought in?

Thanks!

Post-trip answers to my own questions:
1. Yarlmulka is perfectly fine. I wore it all over China and felt no anti-semitism. It also seemed like it went unnoticed as being Caucasian made us so different anyway. Except I wore a hat in the major airports for concern about other international travelers.
2. Some people told us that they brought in a suitcase full of all types of food, but we were cautious and only brought in tuna fish, Parmalat milk, bread, cereal, oatmeal, granola bars and the like, small OU non-dairy creamers.   

[davidmal]

Post-trip answers to my own questions:
1. Yarlmulka is perfectly fine. I wore it all over China and felt no anti-semitism. It also seemed like it went unnoticed as being Caucasian made us so different anyway. Except I wore a hat in the major airports for concern about other international travelers.
2. Some people told us that they brought in a suitcase full of all types of food, but we were cautious and only brought in tuna fish, Parmalat milk, bread, cereal, oatmeal, granola bars and the like, small OU non-dairy creamers.   

1. No one even knew you were a jew
Major airports is the only place you should feel safe to wear it. Besides and international travelers that are there are there for business. Not you.
3.  Bringing food in is zero issue as you experience no one checks a thing.

[sillypainter]

Was just there last week.

I wore my full chasidish garb, and no one even blinked an eye. Traveled on airplanes, trains, metro, all over, never felt unsafe. The only issue I had was,  NOBODY speaks your language. One person told me I look like a hipster and if I was muslim........Chabad of SZX prepared a great meal, and we also had a great meal at JCC in HKG.

[davidmal]

One person told me I look like a hipster and if I was muslim........

+1000

Many don't know what a Jew is. they think your muslim.

Chabad of SZX prepared a great meal, and we also had a great meal at JCC in HKG.

BH! There is a big Jewish infrastructure across China and they're all on top of the food situation.