Culture & Etiquette
China culture and etiquette: tipping, table manners, gift giving, temple visits and everyday dos and don’ts for travelers.
Culture & Etiquette4 min read2026-09-06How to Order Food in China: QR-Code Ordering, Menu Translation, and Table MannersAfter you sit down, the QR code on the corner of the table is the menu — all in Chinese, and some places even make you follow an official account first. QR-code ordering is a small hurdle for diners who don't read Chinese. This guide covers the four ways to order, the fine print of QR ordering, how to keep the spice in check, and what that "fapiao" question at checkout means.
Culture & Etiquette4 min read2026-09-06Beating the Crowds: A Complete Guide to China's Golden Weeks and the 2026 Public HolidaysIn 2026, the Spring Festival holiday runs 9 days (February 15–23) and National Day 7 days (October 1–7). During Golden Weeks, train tickets sell out the moment sales open, hotel prices double, and attractions cap entry through reservations. This guide covers the official holiday calendar, a ticketing timeline, and off-peak strategies.
Culture & Etiquette3 min read2026-09-06Eat, Drink, and Play Like a Local: A Guide to Dianping, Meituan, and XiaohongshuFor restaurants, go by Dianping's ratings and Must-Eat List; for savings, use Meituan's group-buy vouchers; for travel tips and photo spots, turn to Xiaohongshu (RedNote) — China's local-life apps hold data far deeper than Yelp and TripAdvisor, and the only barrier is registration.
Culture & Etiquette4 min read2026-09-06Getting Sick in China: Pharmacies, Seeing a Doctor, Emergency Care, and Travel InsurancePharmacies are on every street corner in China and over-the-counter medicines are cheap and easy to buy; for serious illness, go to the international department of a top-tier hospital or a foreign-owned hospital — the English is smooth but the bills are not small, so buying the right insurance before departure is the key step. The 120 emergency number, 24-hour pharmacies, and a standby-medicine checklist are all in this guide.
Culture & Etiquette4 min read2026-09-06Travel China Without Speaking Chinese: Translation Apps & Language Survival GuideThe first fact to remember: Google Translate is blocked in China. PandaTrip, Baidu Translate, Youdao, Apple's built-in Translate, plus four key phrases make up a traveler's language survival kit.