Farting in China is generally considered less taboo and more normalized than in many Western cultures, often seen as a natural bodily function, especially in private or among family, but public or excessive farting can still be impolite, with attitudes varying by education, region, and individual upbringing, though it's far less offensive than in places like Europe. While burping is often polite, loud, uncontrolled flatulence in public spaces like restaurants or transport may draw negative attention, even if people don't always outwardly react.
Standing with your hands on your hips or with arms crossed conveys arrogance or defensiveness in Chinese culture. Watch out for your feet. Pointing your feet towards someone, or touching someone with your feet, is considered impolite in Chinese culture. The feet are seen as the lowest and dirtiest part of the body.
In Chinese culture, giving gifts in pairs is good, but never sets of four. During Chinese New Year, using sharp objects like scissors and knives is considered bad luck. Unlucky gifts, like clocks, can be made right by the receiver giving back a coin.
7 Rules of Etiquette When Eating & Traveling in China
4. To burp or not to burp? In India, Turkey and China, burping is acceptable and even a sign that you've enjoyed your meal. In Europe, it is considered extremely rude, as is licking your fingers, making too much noise with cutlery or slurping (in Japan, slurping your noodles means you're just loving it!).
China's "3-hour rule" for minors restricts children under 18 to playing online video games for only three hours per week, specifically from 8 PM to 9 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, to combat gaming addiction and improve health. Implemented by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) in 2021, the rule mandates gaming companies use real-name verification and facial recognition to enforce limits, though some children bypass it using adult accounts.
The "Three Ts" in China refer to the highly sensitive topics of Taiwan, Tibet, and Tiananmen Square, which are major taboos and subjects of strict censorship, with discussions often discouraged or forbidden due to their challenge to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) narrative and authority. Foreigners are often advised to avoid these topics to prevent discomfort, legal issues, or awkwardness with Chinese citizens.
The 996 working hour system (Chinese: 996工作制) is a work schedule that derives its name from its requirement that workers clock in from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, 6 days per week, resulting in employees working 12 hours per day and 72 hours per week. It is practiced illegally by some companies in China.
Under the weight of this history and this institutional reality, most Chinese people have, tragically, been trained not to care about others—and even not to smile at strangers. The social environment has taught them, again and again, that kindness carries risk, and that the safest posture is emotional withdrawal.
It considers Tibet to be China's right hand palm, with five fingers on its periphery: Ladakh, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and North-East Frontier Agency (now known as Arunachal Pradesh) that are considered China's responsibility to "liberate".
China's "0.1% rule" refers to its October 2025 export controls, requiring licenses for foreign products containing ≥0.1% by value of certain Chinese-origin rare earths or made with controlled Chinese rare earth tech, extending China's jurisdiction extraterritorially to high-tech supply chains like EV magnets and AI chips, impacting global industries by giving Beijing leverage over critical materials. This "de minimis" rule creates significant compliance burdens for foreign firms, potentially halting supply of advanced tech.
Cars are not allowed to stop at crosswalks
Cars are not allowed to stop at a pedestrian crossing. This law is strange since it is usually known that cars need to stop at crosswalks so that pedestrians can cross the road. But this is not the case in China where cars are not allowed to stop and let the pedestrians pass.
In modern Chinese culture, black is an unlucky color that represents destruction and suffering.
It is best to not touch and to not hug others, unless the other person initiates it.
The Chinese internet slang 666 (liù liù liù) basically means “awesome” because the number six in Chinese sounds like “溜” (liù), meaning “smooth”. 666 started as gaming slang to praise a skilled player, like “GG” in English, but is now used generally to praise someone for doing something very impressively or “smoothly”.
The PRC bans certain content regarding independence movements in Tibet and Taiwan, the religious movement Falun Gong, democracy, the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, Maoism, corruption, police brutality, anarchism, gossip, disparity of wealth, and food safety scandals.
Knowing what not to do when visiting China includes being mindful of affection in public. While holding hands is fine, kissing or hugging passionately in public is often viewed as inappropriate, especially in traditional or family settings. Keep affection private and respectful.
The shrug emoji, along with its iconic kaomoji counterpart ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ , has become a go-to symbol in modern communication. Whether you're conveying indifference, confusion, or a lighthearted “what can you do,” the shrug is a simple yet powerful tool.
Chinese New Year Greetings - Kung Hei Fat Choi (gōng xǐ fā cái) is traditional Chinese New Year greeting meaning: Congratulations and best wishes for a prosperous New Year!; Happy New Year!
The 4-2-1 family structure refers to families in which three generations coexist in a variety of family forms. The structure emphasizes a social living community, including four older people (paternal and maternal grandparents), two parents, and one child, based on relationships of marriage, kinship, and adoption.
It really depends on what you're going to do with that $100. If you're living a western style of life with food, $100 US in the cities would be like $120 US maybe? It'll stretch out a little. But if you're eating like the locals, buying groceries and the like, this can be a small fortune.
This constitutional principle was formulated in the early 1980s during negotiations over Hong Kong between China and the United Kingdom. It provided that there would be only one China, but that each region would retain its own economic and administrative system.
In 2018, according to Business Insider, China ordered that the Winnie the Pooh theme be banned and replaced with a new one due to the character's use in censored internet memes.
A foreigner staying in China with tourist visa is not allowed to engage in activities unfitted to his position, such as employment, study, and illegal journalist interviewing. Foreigners staying in China must abide by Chinese law and respect Chinese habits and customs.
Although wearing revealing clothing isn't illegal in China, a lot of guys will leer at you. And that just makes for an unpleasant trip. So, I suggest you avoid wearing low-cut shirts that show your cleavage or shorts so short they ride up you.