Most 'rules' are preferences. Knowing which two are not saves the evening.
Distinguish legal duties, venue rules and local habits rather than treating every custom as a universal taboo. What a site or household asks for on the day takes priority over any general list; when unsure, observe and ask respectfully.
- What was checked
- The dated official and publisher references named in this guide's source section. Each reference explains the specific rule or instruction it supports.
- Known limits
- Prices, opening hours, availability and individual account or document eligibility are not live guarantees. Provider conditions and your actual route, passport, device and circumstances can change the answer.
Never stand chopsticks upright in rice
It mirrors incense at a funeral and is the one gesture almost every Chinese household will notice immediately.
Do not tap your bowl with chopsticks
It reads as a beggar's signal. Rest the chopsticks across the bowl or on the rest instead.
Serving chopsticks exist for a reason
Use the serving spoon or the blunt end for the shared plate when one is provided. It is a hygiene convention, not a comment on you.
Wait for the host to start
With an older host or a business meal, the first bite is theirs. At a casual noodle shop, nobody is waiting.
Slurping is not rude
Noodles and soup are often eaten audibly, and complimentary noises about the food are welcome. Loud phone audio is a different matter.
Leaving a little food is normal
Cleaning every plate is not required, and a host may keep adding dishes. Stop eating when you are full and say so warmly.
If you remember only one thing, remember the rice bowl.
Chopsticks standing upright in rice is the gesture that reads as a funeral offering. Everything else in this section is a preference someone may or may not hold.
No tipping in restaurants or taxis
Service is included in the price. Leaving coins can cause a cashier to chase you to return them.
Bargaining belongs to markets and souvenir stalls
Malls, chain stores, supermarkets and restaurants have fixed prices. Bargaining there is confusing rather than clever.
Ask the unit before the price
Markets may quote per jin (500 g) or per piece. 'Yì jīn duō shao qián' prevents a misunderstanding at the scale.
Cards, codes and cash all still exist
Mobile payment dominates but cash is legal tender and must be accepted. A small note is a real backup, not a museum piece.
Ask, and accept the answer
A nod is consent for that photograph, not for publishing it or for a second pose.
Children need a parent's consent
Ask the adult accompanying them. Photographing children without it is the fastest way to a genuine confrontation.
Religious sites set their own rules
Many temples and mosques prohibit photography of the main hall or of worshippers. The sign at the door decides, not the behaviour of other visitors.
Do not photograph security or military sites
Stations, airports and government buildings have restrictions that staff enforce on the spot. Put the phone away when told.
A portrait is a person's decision, not your composition.
Asking costs one sentence. Being refused costs nothing. Publishing a recognisable face without consent is where a travel photograph becomes a problem, regardless of which country you are in.
Shoes off where there is a shoe rack
A rack or a row of shoes at the threshold is the signal. Socks matter more than you expect.
Cover shoulders and knees
Some active temples ask for it in writing, some do not. A light layer in the bag costs nothing and prevents a refusal at the gate.
Walk clockwise where indicated
Some sites mark a one-way circuit around a hall or a stupa. Follow the arrows rather than cutting across.
Incense is an offering, not a souvenir
Take the free sticks if offered, light them where indicated, and do not photograph worshippers' faces while they pray.
In a home, follow the household
Wait to be shown a seat, accept tea if offered, and do not tour the rooms uninvited.
A small gift is welcome, money is not
Food from your region or a small practical item. Handing cash to a host is awkward for both sides.
Queues are close, and that is not a push
Standing distance is shorter than in Northern Europe or North America. Someone at your shoulder is waiting, not confronting you.
Queue-jumping happens; escalate calmly
Say 'qǐng pái duì' once, or let staff handle it. A loud confrontation in a station rarely ends well for the visitor.
Volume is ambient, not angry
Phone calls, videos and children are simply louder here. You are not obliged to match it, and asking a neighbour to lower the volume is acceptable.
Escalator etiquette is inconsistent
Some cities stand on the right, some on both sides, and some have stopped encouraging walking on escalators for safety.
Carry paper
Many public toilets do not supply it, and dispensers are often empty. A pocket pack is standard equipment.
Paper goes in the bin, not the bowl
Plumbing in older buildings cannot take it. This is a plumbing fact, not a hygiene judgment.
Squat toilets are common
Malls, hotels and newer stations usually have seated options; parks, old alleys and small restaurants often do not.
Do not drink the tap water
Boiled or bottled water is the norm. Ask for 'kāi shuǐ' in a restaurant, and decline ice if you have a sensitive stomach.
Tissues double as napkins
Many casual restaurants provide a tissue box rather than napkins. Taking your own is normal, not rude.
Bathrooms in stations cost nothing but time
Large stations have several; the ones near the platforms are busier than the ones at the far end of the concourse.
Is it rude to refuse food?
Not if you thank first and give a reason. What reads as cold is a bare 'no' with no acknowledgement.
Should I bring gifts?
For a home visit or a hosted meal, a small food item from your region is ideal. For a hotel or a guide, a tip is not expected and a thank-you note is warmer.
What about alcohol at a business dinner?
Toasts are social, and refusing outright can stall the table. Sipping and saying 'wǒ hē yī diǎn' is accepted; claiming a medical reason also works.
Can I talk about politics or religion?
Not with strangers, not at a dinner table and not in a taxi. Food, landscape, family and travel plans are the reliable subjects.
Is public affection acceptable?
Hand-holding is unremarkable. Prolonged kissing in a busy street or a family restaurant draws attention.
Why do people stare?
In smaller cities and older neighbourhoods it is usually curiosity rather than hostility. A smile ends it; a confrontation extends it.
Do I need to remove shoes indoors?
In homes and in some temples, yes. Look for a shoe rack or a row of shoes, and ask if unsure.
CHINESE HELP CARDS · WRITTEN FOR THESE SITUATIONS
Ask before taking a portrait
Ask, then wait for the nod. A shake of the head ends it; do not offer money instead.
您好，我可以给您拍一张照片吗？如果不方便，完全没关系，我就不拍了。照片只是我自己留着看，不会商用。谢谢您。Accepting a toast without emptying the glass
A sip and a raised glass is a complete response. Explain only if pressed.
谢谢您，我少喝一点，意思到了就好。我酒量不太好，明天还要早起赶车。很高兴认识您，我以茶代酒敬您。Declining food without offence
Say thanks first, then the reason. A refusal with no thanks reads as coldness.
谢谢您，太客气了。这个我吃不了（我不吃 ＿＿），就不浪费了。其他的我都可以，真的很好吃，谢谢。Asking whether to take shoes off
Ask at the threshold, before stepping in. Look for a shoe rack as well.
请问需要脱鞋吗？我可以把鞋放在哪里？谢谢。Moving through a crowd politely
Said while moving, with a hand gesture. It is the standard phrase, not an apology for existing.
麻烦让一下，谢谢。不好意思，我过一下。Offering a small gift from home
Food from your region is the easiest gift. Hand it over with both hands.
这是我家乡的一点小礼物，带给您尝尝。不值什么钱，只是心意，请您收下。谢谢您这几天的照顾。Use these cards for common etiquette situations. Etiquette varies by region, generation and household; follow the people in front of you.
Official and publisher references used in this guide
These are external references. They are not live availability, price, approval or service guarantees, and each date marks the point after which a rule may have changed.
Barrier-free Environment Construction Law
The law that requires accessible facilities, accessible information and retained human assistance in public services. It sets the obligation; it does not mean every old station, temple or alley has already been rebuilt to that standard.
Common emergency numbers: 110, 119, 120, 122
Police 110, fire 119, ambulance 120, traffic accident 122. These are the numbers to keep on a phone lock screen; they are not a translation service and do not replace the local emergency instructions at a site.
12315: consumer complaint and report channel
The official route for a consumer dispute over a meal, a delivery order or a purchase. It records a complaint; it does not order a refund, send an inspector to your table, or act as an emergency line.
Food safety: five keys and the burden of foodborne illness
General food-safety principles that travel with you regardless of country. It is not a judgment about any specific restaurant in China and cannot certify that a particular dish is safe for you.
Updates and corrections
The dates above apply only to the checks described here. Recheck current prices, opening hours, availability and account or document eligibility with the responsible provider before you rely on them. When an official rule changes, the affected guidance and its review date should be updated. To report a specific change, email support@slowchinaguide.com with the place, date and current source.
Send a correctionWhat this guide does and does not do
This guide turns practical questions and dated references into steps you can follow. It is not a booking service, a live price list or a substitute for a clinician, a lawyer or the staff responsible for your actual situation.
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