It's polite to offer to pay the bill in China, but usually, the host will insist on covering it. If someone else ends up paying, make sure to express gratitude and offer to treat them to a meal next time. When dining with friends, it's common to playfully argue over who will pay the bill.
The person who invites a group to dinner is the official host, and he pays. On the flip side, if you invite others out for a restaurant or fast food meal, expect to pay their bill. Never try to split the cost of a meal with your Chinese friends.
China has implemented a law to restrict gaming time for minors to 3 hours a week, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, between 8 and 9pm. China instructed gaming companies to prevent children playing outside these times, and the government will be tracking how well game companies are enforcing this.
Cash is still legal tender anywhere and everywhere in China but, while anyone and everyone can use it, very few do. If we were to try and break into a 100 yuan ($14.20) note, the largest Chinese denomination, it's possible that some small stores or taxi drivers would be unable to break it to give us change.
While digital payments like WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate daily transactions in China, many international visitors still rely on cash — especially in traditional markets, taxis, small restaurants, and rural areas where foreign cards may not be accepted.
Tipping in China is generally not customary, but private drivers serving foreign tourists may expect a gratuity. If you've hired a private car service, a tip of 10–15% of the total cost is considered reasonable. For tour guides, a typical tip is around 100 yuan per day, while drivers usually receive 50 yuan per day.
The Three Ts in the context of the People's Republic of China are Taiwan, Tibet, and the Tiananmen protests and massacre of 1989.
If you hold an ordinary Australian passport, you may be able to enter China without a visa for no more than 30 days for business, tourism, visiting family and friends or transit. Chinese authorities will assess your eligibility to enter China.
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.
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.
You can buy four carrots or four onions, 10 green chilies, 1. 2 kilograms bananas, two kilograms oranges, This is a specialty snack store. And $1 can buy two Oreos, or four cans of Coke, two Snickers, a chocolate bar, and what a $1 lunch looks like.
Spain is notorious for its super-late dinner time, usually around 10 p.m., but the reason behind this has to do with some complicated history.
Drinks - 2–10 yuan (0.30–1.50 USD)
The cost for drinks in China is at least half the price in the West. The cheapest mineral water is about 2 yuan for a 500 ml bottle, while a similar bottle of cola is around4yuan. A can/bottle of beer is usually below 10 yuan.
Kekoukele, as a Chinese translation of Coca Cola, is well-known in China as a classic good translation. Zhan Pei considers it as a “perfect” translation, and many people also mention it as a typical good brand translation.
For a family of four, estimated monthly expenses without rent average around 2,016.1 USD (14,583.5 CNY), while a single person's estimated monthly costs are approximately 556.8 USD (4,027.2 CNY).
Items That Are Surprisingly Cheap in China
De Minimis Rule: A foreign-produced item is subject to Chinese export controls if it contains controlled rare earth elements sourced from China representing at least 0.1% of the item's total value.
The pervasive taboos:
Number of rich households or individuals in mainland China based on properties as of January 2024, by standard. Millionaires are defined as individuals with personal wealth of over 10 million yuan, and super-rich are defined as individuals with personal wealth of 100 million yuan or above.
We recommend taking a debit and/or credit card which is still accepted at major shopping malls and some hotels and ATMs. The most widely accepted credit cards include Visa or MasterCard. However, please do not rely on a credit/debit card as your only source of spending money and keep a photocopy of your card(s).
Overview of Average Salary in China
In 2025, the average salary in China in Chinese Yuan (CNY) is ¥22,053 per month, which, at the latest exchange rates, translates to approximately USD 3,050 per month.