On the counter-clockwise rotation of Drink Around the World, China is the third stop of the day. That's good news the Asian fetishists who - at two drinks in - will hopefully be more charming than asinine to the petite, dark-haired ladies serving up questionable fried rice. More good news – they'll get a second chance in Japan if they crash and burn with the China dolls. On the downside, unless Yao Ming makes a surprise appearance, there's not much to entertain the ladies, as yellow fever seems to be a disease specific to the Y chromosome.
The early stop in China also helps you avoid the noontime throng of Midwestern tourists hungry for the familiar food of their hometown takeout joint. You, on the other hand, will be standing in line for a Tsingtao… authentic Chinese beer.
Well, authentically founded by German settlers in China. Whatever. Dwell on that point for too long and you'll conclude that "authenticity" is not such a great selling-point. After recent scares with tainted pet food, toys, and prescription drugs, you may be wishing that Tsingtao was imported from Chernobyl instead.
So, play it safe and stick with one beer in China. So what if they're home to a fifth of the world's population and own your grandchildren's future - they're still communists. Better dead than red – it's time to move on to the next country!