What is prohibited for tourists in China. Chinese customs, manners and etiquette

Every day a person lives is associated with compliance with the laws of the country in which he lives.

Law: its role in society

Why are laws made? To regulate various processes in society, even in those areas that at first glance seem quite ordinary: paying for travel on public transport, shopping in a store, etc. Law is a philosophical category aimed at maintaining the functioning of society, being a connecting link all processes occurring in it in order to maintain balance and harmony, as well as the correct course of things. Laws are aimed at resisting chaos, and were invented to fulfill them.

In China, it is illegal to save a drowning person.

Sometimes the imagination of legislative bodies amazes with its sophistication and limitlessness that one only has to throw up one’s hands when getting acquainted with the absurd and strange laws of some countries. For example, in China it is prohibited to save a drowning person.

It sounds, of course, absurd and cruel. But in China it is indeed forbidden to save a drowning person. Why is that? This requires understanding the philosophy of a country like China. It is illegal to save a drowning person because the Chinese believe in Fate, inexorable and unyielding, with which one must live in peace and harmony.

What does Fate mean to the Chinese?

In China there is a saying: “Fate comes first, Luck comes second, and Feng Shui comes third,” which briefly explains the degree of influence of factors on a person’s life. For the Chinese, Fate, which comes first, means the path of life determined by the Higher Powers, which is beyond the limits of human will.

Fate is a combination of a person’s innate qualities that have a significant impact on him and which cannot be changed by his environment, upbringing, or education. A person’s personal-cosmic code, a kind of unique passport, is his moment of birth.

A person’s destiny is the relationship of an individual with other people, the place he occupies in a complex society, combined with such important factors as luck and luck. The Chinese even developed a one-of-a-kind system that allows them to determine and explain Fate without interfering with it in any way. That is why in China it is forbidden to save a drowning person, so as not to violate what is destined for him from above.

Of course, the Chinese are a bit strange people who do not want to come to the rescue in difficult times. After all, if in China it is forbidden to save a drowning person, then this means standing calmly and watching this terrible process, and perhaps even taking photographs? Can the Chinese really be so inhumane to their fellow countrymen? Apparently not.

A real case of saving a drowning Chinese man

Not so long ago, in the summer of 2014, in the city of Qingdao, located on the coast, an incident occurred on the water that practically blew up the press. A young girl from Murmansk saved a drowning Chinese man. While relaxing with a friend at sea, 33-year-old Evgenia Konovalova (that’s the heroine’s name) saw that a person on the water needed help. According to the savior, almost all Chinese do not know how to swim, which means they do not risk going far into the water. They just walk along the shore, going ankle-deep into the sea. One daredevil decided to swim a little further than the others on the circle, but could not stay on it and began to drown. Thanks to the courage of Evgenia, who did not know the prohibition laws in this country, another vacationer was saved. The Chinese media glorified the brave woman on all pages, forgetting about the taboo they had once imposed with their own hands.

As a thank you, Evgenia, who had practically become a national heroine, was given a ticket to a unique flower exhibition and many different souvenirs.

Amazing laws of China

There are also a number of laws in China that seem unusual to us. Here are some of them:

It is true that in China it is forbidden to save a drowning person, just as it is true that in other countries there are rather eccentric laws that are nevertheless enforced and were invented in connection with certain events.

It’s not only China that surprises with its own laws.

Ridiculous laws of other countries

If in China it is prohibited to save a drowning person, then the laws of other countries are even more amazing.

India

• Anyone who kills a cow in the state of Bihar (northern India) will be hanged.
• Those who remove cow dung will have their hands cut off.

Alaska

• It is prohibited to wake up a polar bear for the purpose of taking a photo together.
• It is prohibited to give moose drinks containing alcohol.

USA

Americans are the most original when it comes to coming up with laws, so the fact that in China it is prohibited to save a drowning person is nothing compared to the laws of various US states.

• In Los Angeles, it is illegal to lick frogs. The adoption of such a law was due to the discovery of the fact that the skin of some representatives of croaking creatures contains hallucinogenic substances, which for the time being were used by local drug addicts.
• In Minnesota, you can't hang women's and men's underwear on the same line;
• All cats in the Cresskill State must wear three bells to warn birds of their approach.
• In West Virginia, it is legal to take roadkill animals and cook them for dinner. This law was passed to save money on road clearing.
• In the city of Zion, Illinois, it is illegal to serve lighted cigars to dogs, cats, or other pets.

Time zone: GMT 8.00

Important phone numbers:

• Police: 110
• Fire department: 119
• Rescue service: 120 (or 999)

Electricity: 220V / 50 Hz

Legislation

Foreigners for crimes are mainly subject to fines provided for in local legislation. Possession of drugs is severely punished, including the death penalty. Even minor offenses by foreigners usually result in their immediate deportation from China. Prostitution is prohibited for foreigners, and for using such services they face heavy fines and 10 days in prison.

Insurance

There is no obligation to have health insurance in China. If necessary, on domestic flights at the airport, you can take out voluntary insurance for 20 yuan (CNY).

The foreign policy of insurance companies, which is usually not communicated to tourists, is that the foreigner pays for all medical services in cash. Compensation can be claimed upon returning to your home country by submitting invoices to the insurance company, which, to the maximum extent possible, should be issued in English (they will definitely not be issued to you in Russian). Some insurance companies require a report on the status of accounts from the relevant Russian consulate.

Safety

Although the crime rate is increasing year by year, China remains a relatively safe country. Often it comes to pickpocketing in places visited by tourists, shops, parks, markets, in public transport, as well as on intercity buses. Robberies on trains are represented by isolated cases; there are also extortions of money in dubious entertainment centers, massage parlors, etc., and attacks on foreign tourists living in remote areas.

Visas

Russian citizens traveling to China must have a valid residence or transit visa (people waiting for international flights, whose stay at the airport does not exceed 24 hours, can leave the airport on the basis of short-term permits obtained directly during passport control).

Departure from mainland China to Hong Kong or Macau is considered as departure from the PRC and automatically cancels the visa. When planning a trip to these places, you need to apply to the Chinese consulate for a visa to Hong Kong or Macau. A visa to enter mainland China from Hong Kong or Macau can be obtained from Chinese central government liaison offices and through travel agencies. Only in exceptional cases can you obtain a visa at the airport.

Staying in China without a valid visa (staying beyond the validity period of the visa) is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000. The responsible Public Security Visa Bureau has the authority to charge a fine of about $60 for each day without a valid visa. And the passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the expiration of Chinese visas. Consular offices may require individual tourists to present a return ticket. Tourists to this country are not required to have a certain amount of money for each day of their stay.

To obtain a visa with the right to work (so-called Z visas), the organization must apply to local authorities for the issuance of the appropriate permit. After receiving a work visa, a foreigner must apply to the public security bureau for a residence permit (RP) - this is a residence permit, which, however, does not relieve the need to have a valid residence visa. The same procedure applies to those who would like to study in the PRC on the basis of a university certificate, foreigners can apply for a study visa (for example, Visa X), and after arriving in China, must apply for a residence permit. In most cases, formalities related to a foreigner's long stay in China are the responsibility of the receiving organization. Since 2004, it is possible to obtain a residence permit for a period of 10 years. You can extend your visa only in large cities, at the public security office.

Visa extension usually takes 5 working days. In addition to international airports and railway crossings on the borders with Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, the DPRK and in the south with Vietnam, roads and crossings are available to foreigners at several border points. The situation is similar on the border with Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Laos. The border crossings between Nepal and Tibet are open only intermittently. Foreigners are not allowed to drive their own vehicles into China. An exception may be international rallies, expeditions, etc., but such events must be organized by specialized Chinese travel agencies that develop the route, obtaining appropriate permits from the authorities and a delegation of their liaison officers accompanying foreigners along the route.

Work in China

In recent years, there have been many foreigners who want to work in China. In addition to working in the subsidiaries of multinational corporations operating in the local market, many, especially young people, work as translators. Please note, however, that working in China is only possible after obtaining the appropriate visa (“Z”). Failure to do this, which future employers often deliberately do not say, can lead to serious consequences, including deportation from the territory of the PRC. So, if you decide to sign a contract with a local language school, you must ensure that the work will be carried out legally, after receiving a Z visa. It is also important to agree on the exact living conditions, duration of vacation and number of hours of training.

Declaration

In China, when importing currency in an amount exceeding $5,000, foreigners are required to submit a declaration on the basis of which the foreign currency can be re-exported. Its size should not exceed the amount specified in the declaration. If the amount of currency is less than the equivalent of $ 5,000, its export does not require permission. When exporting foreign currency equivalent from $5,000 to $10,000, the foreigner is required to have a certificate from the bank that issued the money, present a travel document (passport) and documentation of the origin of the funds. If the amount exceeds the equivalent of $10,000, in addition to the bank certificate, the approval of the Office of the Control of the Exchange is also required.

In the entry declaration, the foreigner is required to provide everything valuable that he is importing (for example, a video camera, a camera, a radio, valuable jewelry). It rarely happens that customs declarations are carefully examined at airports, but customs officers often do this at the land border. You cannot transport drugs, weapons, ammunition and explosives, Chinese currency, publications recognized by Chinese law as harmful (including pornography and publications criticizing the PRC government and its political system, as well as promoting sects banned in China, such as Falun Gong). It is also prohibited to import meat products, dairy products, seeds, live plants, etc. into China. You can only bring a limited amount of alcohol into China (usually 1 liter), which should not be carried in hand luggage. Failure to comply with these provisions will result in confiscation of goods at the border. Without a certificate, purchased works of art, rare publications, precious stones and products made from them cannot be exported. The export of consumer goods, including electronic equipment, from China is considered very liberal. There are no customs restrictions that differ from generally accepted international standards.

Registration

China has registration requirements for foreigners. When staying in a private home, registration is required at the nearest police station within 24 hours of crossing the border. Registration of persons staying in hotels is carried out by the local administration. When renting an apartment, foreigners are also required to register at the nearest police station within 14 days from the date of move-in.

Availability

Almost the entire territory of the PRC is accessible to foreigners, with the exception of military, border zones and other areas where entry is restricted. An exception to this rule are regions where only organized groups are allowed to enter (such as Tibet, Xinjiang, the northwestern region, some national parks). When planning a trip to Tibet, you must first obtain a travel permit. All this can be found out when planning tours to China: search, offers and booking provide a lot of information on visiting certain places. You can get discounted travel services by contacting local travel agents (usually the package includes access to Tibet, local transport, accommodation, excursions, etc.).

Tourists traveling to China should take into account the necessary fees - compulsory insurance for long-distance bus travel or tourist taxes associated with staying in places attractive from the point of view of cultural, historical and natural heritage. The safest and relatively cheapest means of transport is railway. Local airlines are rapidly modernizing and now offer a decent level of service. The quality of service and condition of road transport in China is very diverse - from new, luxurious buses with all the amenities and professional service, to dilapidated, old buses, which can be risky to travel on, especially on the mountain roads of southern China.

Information for drivers

A foreigner cannot enter China with his own car. But he can rent or buy a car if he has passed the test and received a Chinese driving license. This document can be issued by the police on the basis of a national driving license, subject to a residence permit valid for at least one year. The validity of a Chinese driving license is renewed - depending on the driver's age - for 2 and 4 years, or one year after a medical examination. International driving licenses are not recognized in China. When driving in China, keep in mind that pedestrians and cyclists have privileged rights. This means that even the slightest encounter with them can result in extremely high compensation and legal proceedings often lasting several months. If you cross the road, be careful. It’s a paradox, but local drivers do not respect the rights of pedestrians, even at crossings when the light is green.

Solvency

You can change currency at branches of state banks, airports, train stations and hotels. We strongly caution against using random money exchange services (such transactions are prohibited by law, and there is also a high risk of receiving counterfeit Chinese banknotes). Not all types of credit cards used by Russian tourists are accepted by local terminals and ATMs; problems can arise even when using VISA cards; there are difficulties in using cards such as Maestro, Visa Electron. Most ATMs only accept cards issued by Chinese banks. When traveling to remote areas of China, make sure in advance (for example, when booking a hotel) that you can use your bank's credit cards there; it is best to stock up on cash in advance. Credit cards are generally only accepted in at least mid-range hotels and large shops and supermarkets in major cities. See hotels in China: the best hotels and reviews from specialists, here you will find out whether the hotel accepts cards from Russian banks. Lately, it has been happening that in southern China (Guangzhou, Shenzhen) ATMs are dispensing counterfeit banknotes. In this case, you must notify the local police immediately.

What to take with you?

• Insect repellent – ​​This is often a problem in Chinese hotels and homes.
• Light cotton clothing in the summer months and warm clothing in winter
• Chopsticks (those provided in restaurants and bars are often dirty)

How to get there

It is convenient to fly to Beijing or Hong Kong, which have good air connections to the rest of the country. From Russia, Kazakhstan can come by train, by bus and by car, as well as from Pakistan, Nepal, Vietnam, Laos and Burma.

Culture

There are no specific restrictions on tourists visiting places of worship in China. When visiting Buddhist monasteries, Taoist temples and Islamic mosques, tourists should behave with due tact and respect religious customs. In this case, certain recommendations may be given, for example, not to take photographs inside the visited monuments.

Vaccination is mandatory if tourists come from countries or regions included in the list of those with epidemiological risks. Before crossing the border, a foreigner fills out a health declaration. The law does not allow the entry into China of tourists with HIV, tuberculosis, infectious diseases, leprosy, typhoid and cholera, people infected with sexually transmitted diseases, and the mentally ill. Since the outbreak of SARS, that is, since April 2003, travelers must notify the Chinese sanitary and epidemiological service of symptoms such as fever, cough and cold symptoms.

Everyone arriving in China has their body temperature measured using electronic scanners. The number of hepatitis A cases continues to increase in China, which is why preventive vaccination is recommended. Tourists often complain of diarrhea and food poisoning - problems caused by eating at random street eateries and stalls with questionable sanitary conditions. To avoid such problems, food products, especially fruits, are thoroughly washed before consumption. It is not recommended to drink not boiled water, but tap water. In southern China, south of 25° north latitude, there is a risk of malaria and dengue fever. In rural areas of southern China, there is a risk of viral meningitis, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. In Tibet and other mountainous areas, you should not drink unfiltered water.

Medical care outside of the deep interior regions (Tibet, Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, parts of Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan) is not a problem. In big cities, hospitals have doctors of all specialties, and the hospitals are equipped with modern medical equipment. Physician appointment fees range from $20 to $100. The price for a night's stay for a foreigner in the hospital ranges from 60 to 200 US dollars and does not include the cost of medical services, tests and medical services for which you pay extra. Treatment costs range from several hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. In China's largest cities, medical and dental services are world class, but very expensive ($90+ for medical exams). Before traveling to China, stock up on essential medications.

People with cardiovascular disease should avoid traveling to areas with high altitudes (Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai, Gansu, Xinjiang). Don't forget about the threat of bird flu. To avoid exposing yourself to the risk of infection, you should stop traveling in provinces where an outbreak has been detected (for example, Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia) and closely monitor the epidemiological situation. It is advisable to purchase an insurance policy against accident and medical expenses.

Climate, weather, average temperature

China has a very diverse climate. The temperate climate zone includes the Mongolian plateau and Dzungaria, the Manchurian plain, the Amur-Ussuri plain and part of the Chinese plain. The central and eastern parts of the country belong to the dry subtropical climate zone. Southern and Southeast China belong to the humid subtropical climate zone.

Kitchen

Chinese cuisine is very diverse, due to the vastness of the country and the diversity of climate. In terms of cuisine, China can be divided into four regions: Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Sichuan.

How the “Golden Shield” works, popular Chinese sites and other interesting facts.

Recently, Russian providers have been blocking site after site. Some journalists accompany the news about the ban of another resource with comments like: “Russia is following the path of China,” “soon we will have the same situation as in China.” What does it mean? Are we really approaching the level of internet censorship of an authoritarian state? How to live with this? This article will help answer such questions.

Plus, China is very close. This country has 4209 km of common border with Russia. In some cities of the Far East there is a clear dominance of emigrants from the Middle Kingdom. You can meet a Chinese in many parts of our country. And a modern Russian should have a general understanding of life in China, including the peculiarities of the national Internet.

How many Chinese people use the Internet?

The table shows how the number of Internet users among Chinese changed from 2000 to 2016. 600 million people in the country do not use the Internet at all!. This fact will be a little less shocking if you remember that China has relatively few young people (due to the government's one-child program), which is the main engine of progress.

This chart shows the percentage of people of different genders and ages in the population. Please note that there are significantly fewer girls than boys. The fact is that due to the fact that there could only be one child, some mothers terminated the pregnancy if they were not satisfied with the sex of the fetus.

And here is the percentage distribution of Internet users in different age groups. The older generation actively avoids modern technologies.

And this diagram shows how very popular mobile Internet is among the Chinese. 9 out of 10 network users access it from a smartphone.

And almost everyone communicates using one or more instant messengers.

What is the Great Firewall of China?

The Internet appeared in China in 1994. The first connection took place at the Institute of High Energy Physics. A few years later, offices of large companies and wealthy Chinese began to connect to the network. In 1998, the government realized that the time had come to think about protecting the masses from harmful information and began developing the Golden Shield system, which was launched in 2003.

What does the Golden Shield protect against?

First of all, from pornography and political disinformation. Site blocking criteria are constantly changing and improving.

Blocking can be done using keywords (“porn”, “Tibet”, “human rights”) and blacklists. Currently there is a transition from black lists to white lists. That is, now a Chinese person can go to any site that is not blocked. And in the future, he will be able to visit only authorized resources.

In conclusion of the review of sites, it should be noted that the Chinese Internet is huge and each of the above services has many analogues.

Why do the Chinese need digital addresses?

One of the characteristic features of the Chinese Internet is domain names consisting only of numbers. For example, 4399.com hosts a large portal with flash games:

300 million Chinese have learned/are learning English, but it is difficult for them. Many people find it easier to remember the numerical sequence than the Latin alphabet. In addition, many Chinese have email addresses whose first part consists of numbers.

The order of numbers in website names is often not random at all, but phonetically based. For example, at the address 1688.com Alibaba store is located. And the number series “1, 6, 8, 8” sounds like “yau-liyo-ba-ba” in Chinese.

How do the Chinese feel about porn?

It’s not news to anyone that in China there are penalties for creating porn sites and that they are filtered by the national firewall. But last year an unprecedented incident occurred, which was covered by many of the world's media. 30 thousand people were arrested for watching porn. And this is just the beginning.

Where do the Chinese go online other than home/work?

In the 2000s, Internet cafes (passport-only entry) began to gain popularity, some of which could seat several thousand people. You've probably read terrible stories about how residents of the Celestial Empire spend days in such establishments. Sometimes this ends in death.

In 2012, a visit cost about 1.5 yuan or 7.5 rubles per hour. Young Chinese people like to stay in such establishments instead of hotels.

At the moment, chain bars are becoming a thing of the past and are not approved by the state.

Just like in Moscow, the subways of major Chinese cities have Wi-Fi. Wireless Internet is easy to find in any metropolis. Travelers recommend looking for it at Starbucks.

Many tourists are unpleasantly surprised that hotel rooms offer wired Internet access instead of Wi-Fi (and is often not included in the room price).

In 2013, there were only 1,400 McDonald's with free Wi-Fi throughout the country. If in Russia this is a mandatory option for the outlets of this fast food restaurant chain, then for China it is not! And they are trying to refuse Wi-Fi, since the Chinese are big fans of freebies and take up all the seats at the tables without ordering anything.

They sit for hours on the floor in bookstores so as not to buy anything.

And they are slowly dismantling the Great Wall of China for economic needs.

Do the Chinese like online games?

The Chinese are not only big fans of freebies, but also avid gamers. Every second Internet user plays online games.

Is it really that bad for the Chinese?

The level of Internet censorship in China is far from the highest. In neighboring North Korea, only a few organizations with special permission have access to the network (according to unverified data, there are about one and a half thousand of them). For example, embassies of foreign countries. At the same time, they can access the Internet, but they cannot distribute Wi-Fi, so as not to intimidate local residents.

Ordinary Koreans use their own Gwangmyeon network (via Dial-Up), which foreigners know little about. And even this local network can only be accessed from work computers. When a wealthy North Korean comes to China, the first thing he does is run to an online bar.

They are storming Russian cities and exploring local attractions, it’s time for us to explore the Celestial Empire.

However, everything needs to be done as carefully as possible, and so that you are fully prepared when planning your trip, WMJ.ru decided to talk with an avid traveler and blogger Masha Koltsova about the most important rules that a Russian tourist should know.

China is the fastest growing country in the world, and this can already be seen with the naked eye. The unusual architecture of buildings, temples and parks are just a few of the distinctive features of a country that is unlike any other part of the world. When you get here, you find yourself on another planet: skyscrapers in the shape of eggs and trees, islands built on garbage, an airport - a concert hall hall. China is a completely different world, a different culture, mentality, spiritual values, a different mindset, its own laws, which I had to deal with in the worst sense... Everything is different here. This is where you change and shake yourself up properly.

Rule #1: Learn the Laws

Before entering China, be sure to familiarize yourself with the local laws (you will find out why as the article progresses). Be sure to keep with you the emergency number of the Russian Embassy and the phone numbers of your banks.

Rule #2: Find an alternative Internet

Rule #3: More money is better

Yes, this is paradoxical, but China today is not at all about poverty and low prices, even here a good thing will not be cheap, and a taxi can charge an astronomical price for a trip. Therefore, it is better to take care of converting rubles to yuan in advance. It’s better upon arrival or in Russia in general.

And one more piece of advice: feel free to bargain, this is the only way to fight their prices.

Rule #4 (Important!): Keep your eyes on the road

To travel around the city, it is generally better to choose a bus or taxi. But be careful! Chinese drivers are crazy. Despite the fact that this is a country of prohibitions and rules, they are in no hurry to comply with them on the road. Here they can calmly drive through a red light, not stop at a zebra crossing, run into a person, and if they hit them, they will drive on, and the person will be left to die on the side of the road...

Rule #5: Don't use your driver's license.

In China, you can only drive electric scooters without a local license. You cannot drive any other vehicle! And gasoline mopeds are completely prohibited in many places. If you take the risk of riding and are stopped by the local police, don’t argue or get emotional. Arguing and standing up for one’s innocence can lead to arrest for 15 to 30 days, as my friend was unlucky this time.

The Chinese pre-trial detention center is a real prison with rats, wooden bunks, a hole in the toilet, no opportunity to wash, brush your teeth or even just drink water.

Rule No. 6: rely only on yourself

The public in China is very unfriendly. I would call them biorobots. The locals are very closed and withdrawn into themselves and their affairs. If you suddenly need help or a hint, then you should not rely on them. Therefore, before you go for a walk, stock up on everything you need: maps and guides, translators, a phone charger, water, and so on.

Rule No. 7: Be prepared to speak on your fingers

Immediately download an offline translator, for example, Google Translate. The Chinese don't understand English at all. By the way, there are those who understand Russian. Don't be afraid to ask them about it. For other cases, always have a cheat sheet with the hieroglyph of the place you need on hand. In general, I advise you to learn a few phrases in Chinese and several possible answers to them, for example, such as “Bu la” (not spicy) or “duo-shao-tsien” (how much does it cost?). This will make your vacation easier and, perhaps, give you some privileges.

Rule #8: Bring your medications with you.

Although Chinese medicine is famous for its effectiveness, it does not always have the right effect on our body.

Rule #9: Be prepared for local cuisine

Most Chinese dishes taste unusual to us. Especially because they like to make food either sweet or hellishly spicy. But you won't go hungry here. Restaurants have very large portions. The Chinese have their own measure of weight - jin - which is approximately 500 grams. China has a wide variety of plant foods and soy products. No milk at all. But at every step there are small Chinese cafes, which locals call “Chifanki”. And I just call them “Nabirashki”. You see for yourself what your food looks like, and you choose your own toppings for the rice to suit your taste. So don't be afraid of street food.

By the way, they cook simple white rice divinely. On average, the bill for lunch per person will be from 100 to 250 rubles, and in a supermarket, for example, a mango costs about 20 rubles.

Rule No. 10: look for Russian-speaking photographers

If you want to take a photographer for a walk, the most convenient way is to find a Russian speaker who lives in China. However, be prepared that our compatriots are driving up prices quite well.

The Chinese can reduce the cost for their services, however, they are more difficult to find due to their absence in all social networks familiar to us. They have their own media platforms: Weibo and Meipai - analogues of our Facebook and Instagram.

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Photo: Teya Flow, Instagram, Shutterstock/VOSTOCK

Rules of conduct for tourists in China 📃

When going to another country for the first time, everyone should familiarize themselves with the restrictions and unusual events that exist there. This will avoid possible problems and awkward situations. You must also follow the rules that exist in this state.

What should a tourist know about China?

• There is no need to try to ride like a hare on public transport. The fare is not exorbitant. People here will not understand the word “savings”, and besides, they are so meager. Why contribute to trouble?
• Police representatives should not be rude. Offer them a bribe, too, so as not to worsen your situation and not end up behind bars.
• Few people know that in the Middle Kingdom, children can go to the toilet anywhere, even in stores! For these purposes, mothers carry special bags with them. There is no need to laugh or loudly discuss the action you saw, so as not to provoke a conflict.
• The Chinese are quite friendly towards foreigners and are always ready to respond to help. Residents of other countries perceive them as a “curiosity” and love to look at and communicate with them. The tourist has the opportunity to be the center of attention. There are times when tourists are photographed hiding behind a tree or around the corner of a house. White-skinned people evoke a genuine desire among the Chinese to capture a meeting with them. This is especially true for fair-haired girls.
• When choosing an order in a restaurant, you should try to clarify with the waiter what will be served. This must be done in order not to encounter surprises. The word “meat” can mean dog or shark meat. The Chinese offer tourists to try delicacies at high prices. This does not always meet the expectations of foreigners.
• The Chinese language is quite difficult to learn. You need to at least learn the main phrases. To greet the local people, you can learn the word "nihao", which means "hello".
• It is imperative to ask at least three Chinese to find out the desired route of travel. Everyone here is ready to help, so you can safely turn to local residents in a difficult situation.
• Knowledge of English may not always help a tourist in China. In Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong you can hear the answer to your question in English, in other cities this is already a problem. For this purpose, you should always carry a hotel business card and a phrase book with you.

These tips will help those who are planning to get acquainted with Chinese culture and traditions.