Cultural Differences & Daily Etiquette

Foreign visitors new to China often encounter the following "culture shocks". Once you understand them, most turn out not to be hostility, but simply differences in habit.

A. Being stared at or asked for photos

In tier-3/4 cities or rural areas, foreign visitors with white faces, tall stature, blond hair, or those traveling with children may be stared at for long periods, or even asked directly for photos by strangers (mostly young people or the elderly). This is not an offense—it is curiosity. Many Chinese people rarely see foreigners up close in their daily lives. You can smile and nod, or politely shake your head and decline. At popular attractions like the Great Wall or Tiananmen, groups of people gathering to take photos is a common sight.

B. Squat toilets & toilet paper

The vast majority of public restrooms in China are squat toilets ("Asian squat"). Western-style sit-down toilets are mostly found in hotels, shopping malls, airports, and international chain restaurants. Most public restrooms do not provide toilet paper, so always carry tissues with you. Subway stations, shopping malls, and visitor centers at scenic spots usually have clean sit-down toilets with toilet paper.

C. Queuing & personal space

Chinese people stand closer together when queuing than Westerners. Being jostled in crowded subway, bus, or ticket-checking situations is not "line-cutting" or aggression—it is just how crowded spaces work here.

D. Drinking water

Tap water in China is not safe to drink directly (even in big cities). Drink bottled water or boiled water from your hotel. The plain boiled water provided free at restaurants is safe—it has been boiled.

E. Tipping

China has no tipping culture. Restaurants, taxis, and hotel bellhops do not expect tips; leaving money behind may even lead to staff chasing after you to return it. The only exception: high-end international hotels may automatically include a service charge (usually 15%) in your bill, so no extra tip is needed.