Tips guides
Short, practical tips that reduce friction: etiquette, safety, communication, and daily habits.
16 guides available
Featured tips
The most common mistakes first-time visitors make in China, why they happen, and how to avoid unnecessary stress or regret.
Cultural Do & Don’t in China (A Practical Summary)A clear, practical summary of behaviors that work well in China and common actions that cause friction, confusion, or awkwardness.
Greetings and Social Norms in China (How to Start Interactions Smoothly)How people greet each other in China, what is considered polite or awkward, and how visitors can start interactions naturally.
What to Wear in China: How to Dress Comfortably and AppropriatelyPractical clothing advice for traveling in China, balancing comfort, social norms, weather, and urban walking.
Dealing With Crowds in China (And When to Avoid Them)How to move comfortably in crowded Chinese cities, why crowds are normal, and why traveling during Chinese holidays can ruin your experience.
Traveling at Night in China: Safe, Normal, and LivelyWhat nighttime travel in China is really like, why it is generally safe, and how visitors can move confidently after dark.
Browse by topic
Etiquette and social norms
- Greetings and Social Norms in China (How to Start Interactions Smoothly)
- Compliments and Politeness in China (What Actually Works)
- Gestures to Avoid in China (Simple Ways to Not Look Rude)
- Public Affection in China: What Is Normal and What Feels Awkward
- Cultural Do & Don’t in China (A Practical Summary)
Communication and understanding
Safety and awareness
Families and seniors
Shopping and bargaining
All tips
- Bargaining in China: When It Works and When to Stop
Where bargaining is normal in China, where it is inappropriate, and how visitors can negotiate prices without awkwardness.
- Common Mistakes First-Time Visitors Make in China
The most common mistakes first-time visitors make in China, why they happen, and how to avoid unnecessary stress or regret.
- Compliments and Politeness in China (What Actually Works)
How politeness is expressed in China, when compliments feel natural or awkward, and how visitors can sound respectful without overdoing it.
- Cultural Do & Don’t in China (A Practical Summary)
A clear, practical summary of behaviors that work well in China and common actions that cause friction, confusion, or awkwardness.
- Dealing With Crowds in China (And When to Avoid Them)
How to move comfortably in crowded Chinese cities, why crowds are normal, and why traveling during Chinese holidays can ruin your experience.
- Family Travel in China: Practical Tips for Traveling With Kids
What family travel in China is really like, why it is generally easy and safe, and how parents can plan a smooth trip with children.
- Gestures to Avoid in China (Simple Ways to Not Look Rude)
Common hand gestures and body language that can be misunderstood in China, and what to do instead.
- Greetings and Social Norms in China (How to Start Interactions Smoothly)
How people greet each other in China, what is considered polite or awkward, and how visitors can start interactions naturally.
- Handling Misunderstandings in China (Stay Calm, Resolve Fast)
How to handle misunderstandings caused by language or cultural differences in China without escalating tension.
- Public Affection in China: What Is Normal and What Feels Awkward
What levels of public affection are common in China, what may feel uncomfortable to locals, and how to avoid awkward situations.
- Safety With Electronics in China
How safe it is to use phones, cameras, and laptops in public in China, what actually matters, and what you do not need to worry about.
- Senior Travel Tips for China: Comfortable, Safe, and Surprisingly Convenient
Why China can be a comfortable destination for senior travelers, including safety, transport, food, and highly efficient medical access.
- Staying Connected in China Without English
How travelers can navigate, pay, travel, and solve problems in China even when English is not spoken.
- Traveling at Night in China: Safe, Normal, and Lively
What nighttime travel in China is really like, why it is generally safe, and how visitors can move confidently after dark.
- Taking Photos in China: Privacy, What’s OK, and What to Avoid
How photography works in China, where taking photos is normal, and where it can cause discomfort or problems.
- What to Wear in China: How to Dress Comfortably and Appropriately
Practical clothing advice for traveling in China, balancing comfort, social norms, weather, and urban walking.