Cultural Differences & General FAQ
🚰 Can I drink the tap water?
No. Tap water in China is generally not safe to drink straight from the faucet. Always drink bottled water or boil tap water thoroughly before consuming. Hotels always provide kettles and complimentary bottled water.
💵 Should I leave a tip?
No. Tipping is not part of Chinese culture. Leaving a tip at restaurants, for taxi drivers, or for hotel staff may cause confusion, and they might chase you down thinking you forgot your money. Exceptional tour guides are the only rare exception.
🚽 Are squat toilets common?
Yes, especially in older buildings, train stations, and public parks. Western-style seated toilets are common in modern malls, nice hotels, and airports. Crucial tip: Always carry your own pocket tissues and hand sanitizer, as toilet paper and soap are rarely provided in public restrooms.
🗣️ Will people speak English?
English proficiency varies. In tier-1 cities (Beijing, Shanghai), many young professionals and hotel staff speak some English. However, taxi drivers, shop owners, and folks in smaller cities generally do not. Downloading a translation app (like Baidu Translate or Google Translate with VPN) is essential.
Common Tourist Scams to Avoid
China is one of the safest countries in the world when it comes to violent crime. However, tourists are occasionally targeted by specific financial scams in major tourist hubs (especially Beijing and Shanghai).
1. The "Tea House" or "Art Student" Scam
Where: Wangfujing (Beijing), The Bund / Nanjing Road (Shanghai)
How it works: Friendly, well-dressed young locals (often claiming to be students) approach you to practice their English. After a nice chat, they invite you to experience a "traditional tea ceremony" or view an "art exhibition" nearby. Once inside, you are served tea or drinks. When the bill arrives, it's astronomically high (hundreds or thousands of dollars), and intimidating bouncers will force you to pay.
How to avoid: Politely decline invitations from overly friendly strangers approaching you in tourist hotspots. Never follow strangers into hidden establishments.
2. Fake Monks
Where: Near major temples and tourist streets
How it works: A man dressed as a Buddhist monk approaches you, smiles, hands you a shiny golden amulet, a beaded bracelet, or a "peace" card. As soon as you take it, they pull out a notebook showing "donations" from other foreigners and aggressively demand money.
How to avoid: Real monks in China do not beg for money on the street. Simply ignore them, do not make eye contact, and do not accept anything handed to you.
3. Illegal "Black Cabs" at Airports
Where: Arrivals halls at major airports
How it works: Touts wait near the arrivals gates, aggressively asking if you need a taxi. They will lead you to an unmarked private car and later demand an exorbitant, flat fee—often 3 to 5 times the actual meter price.
How to avoid: Ignore touts completely. Follow the official signs for the "Taxi Stand" (出租车) and wait in line. Official taxis are metered. Alternatively, use Didi within the Alipay or WeChat app.