01 · DINING
Order for the table, not one plate at a time.
Many meals are built around shared dishes, contrasting textures and a balance of vegetables, proteins, soups and staples. A local host can help with both the menu and the story behind it.
Meal rhythm
Lunch and dinner may start earlier than you expect. On touring days, leaving a little flexibility makes it easier to follow a market recommendation or seasonal speciality.
Drinking water
Choose sealed bottled water or water that has been properly boiled. Hotels commonly provide a kettle, and tea is often the default welcome.
Regional, not generic
Sichuan heat, Cantonese clarity, Yunnan herbs and mushrooms, northwest noodles and coastal seafood are different culinary worlds.
02 · DIETARY NEEDS
Write the detail, not only the label.
“Vegetarian,” “halal” or “allergy” can be interpreted differently. A translated card should name the ingredient, the severity and hidden forms such as stock, cooking oil or sauces.
Allergies
Carry the message in Simplified Chinese, keep prescribed medication with you and ask the guide or restaurant to repeat the restriction before ordering.
Vegetarian and vegan
Clarify whether egg, dairy, fish sauce, oyster sauce, meat stock and lard are acceptable. Buddhist vegetarian restaurants can be useful, but still confirm ingredients.
Halal and faith needs
Look for 清真 (qīngzhēn) and plan prayer, fasting or kitchen requirements in advance. Availability varies sharply by city and region.
Keep in mindA translation card supports communication; it is not a guarantee against cross-contact. Discuss serious allergies with your clinician and travel insurer before departure.
03 · EVERYDAY ETIQUETTE
Follow the room you are in.
China is too varied for one etiquette list. Observe your host, accept small corrections lightly and ask before photographing people, homes, workshops or religious spaces.
Names and greetings
A surname often comes first in Chinese. A handshake, nod or warm verbal greeting is enough; your guide can help with titles in formal settings.
At the table
Hosts may order generously and offer food as hospitality. You can decline politely, and you do not need to finish every dish to show appreciation.
Temples and communities
Dress and behave with the place in mind, follow photography signs, avoid interrupting worship and let local guidance lead in private or minority-community spaces.
04 · SHOPPING
Buy the story you can trace.
The most rewarding purchases often come with a maker, material and place—not a generic souvenir stop.
Local design
Independent studios, ceramics, textiles, tea ware and contemporary Chinese brands can connect a purchase to the city where you found it.
Markets and bargaining
Bargaining depends on the setting. It may be expected in some tourist markets and inappropriate in fixed-price shops, galleries and maker studios.
Restricted materials
Avoid wildlife products, unverified antiquities and items that may be illegal to export or bring home. Ask for provenance and receipts when it matters.
05 · GUIDES, DRIVERS & TIPPING
Know who is doing what.
A local guide interprets the day, a chauffeur manages the vehicle and route, and specialists may join for a particular site or subject. The team should feel coordinated, not anonymous.
Expectations
Confirm daily start times, walking pace, luggage handling, language needs and how after-hours support works before the trip begins.
Tipping
Tipping is not universal in everyday Chinese service, while gratuities may be customary on privately guided travel. Use the guidance in your proposal rather than guessing from another country.
Useful feedback
A specific note—what worked, what felt rushed, what you want more of—helps the team adjust the next day in a way a generic rating cannot.
06 · TRAVEL THOUGHTFULLY
Leave the encounter in good shape.
Responsible travel is practical: respect access rules, support local ownership, reduce avoidable waste and treat communities as hosts rather than scenery.
People
Ask before taking close portraits, avoid staged poverty narratives and pay fairly for workshops, performances or time when that is the agreed arrangement.
Places
Stay on marked routes where erosion or conservation matters, carry a refill bottle where safe refills are available and follow local waste systems.
Wildlife
Choose observation and accredited conservation work over handling, feeding or performances that put animals under pressure.