My 2010 Beijing China visit was such a fun experience. My companions and I stayed at the Miyun district and most__ almost all, except the hotel concierge and front desk clerks, cannot speak or understand English. We pointed menu pictures in making our orders in restaurants or draw foods we wanted if pictures were not available. When we shopped, we wrote figures to bargain and got by with gestures and a lot of nods and smiles.
I found the whole experience funny because in the end, we stopped speaking our limited English and just talked in our native tongue when communicating since it mattered little anyway.
Like the rest of us Asians, the Chinese are very patient hospitable people. They went out of their way to communicate with us through drawings and sign languages too. Did their best to cater to us and in return, we got a lot of smiles and nods as well.
I so enjoyed China and its people! I can't wait to visit again.