None of the manners below are strict rules - Chinese people are forgiving of visitors - but a few habits will make meals smoother, gifts welcome, and photos trouble-free. This is the 2026 foreigner briefing on not accidentally offending.
Eating is the centre of Chinese social life - mastering a handful of habits goes a long way, and the rest you can relax about.
Tea is hospitality, not just a drink - a few gestures show respect without saying a word.
Common styles you'll meet: green (Longjing, Maojian), oolong (Tieguanyin), pu'er (fermented, Yunnan) and jasmine. The City Guides flag local tea stops, including Chongqing and Hangzhou.
A small gift for a host is appreciated; a few items are best avoided because of sound-alike words or old associations.
Quality tea, a basket of fruit, local sweets or a bottle for the host are safe and welcome. Local specialties from your home country also go down well.
A clock (zhong sounds like "end/funeral"), an umbrella (san sounds like "separation") and a green hat (a cuckold insult) are traditional no-gos. Avoid sets of four (si sounds like "death"); eight is lucky.
Offer and receive with both hands. A little polite refusal before accepting ("no need, really") is normal etiquette, not a real refusal - don't take it literally.
Red or festive wrapping reads as lucky; plain or white/black wrapping is for mourning. A gift bag from a decent shop is fine.
Most of China is camera-friendly, but a few lines shouldn't be crossed - mostly around people and security.
For getting around to all those photo spots, the city transit guide covers metro and DiDi, and the China Arrival Guide 2026 covers SIM, payments and airport logistics.
No. Tipping is not part of Chinese service culture and can actually confuse a waiter or cause an awkward moment - just pay the bill (via Alipay/WeChat or card) and leave. High-end hotels may add a service charge; if so, extra tipping is not expected.
Leaving a little on the plate is fine and was traditionally a sign the host fed you well. What to avoid is sticking your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice - that resembles incense at a funeral. Lay them across the bowl or on the chopstick rest instead.
When tea is served, the host pours for guests and elders first. As a guest, when someone tops up your cup, tap two fingers (index and middle) lightly on the table - a quiet 'thank you' called the finger kowtow. Don't pour for yourself before filling others' cups; receiving a cup with both hands is polite.
Ask before photographing people, especially in villages, markets or near temples - a smile and a gesture works. Many temples and museums ban interior photography (look for signs). Never photograph military sites, police, border areas or train stations' secure zones. Drones need a CAAC permit and are banned at most scenic spots - check first.
Good gifts: tea, fruit, sweets, local specialties, or a bottle for the host. Taboo: clocks (a pun on funerals), umbrellas (a pun on separation), and a green hat (a cuckold insult); avoid sets of four (associated with death) and favour eight (lucky). Give and receive with both hands, and a little polite refusal before accepting is normal.
Etiquette above is cultural guidance, not law. For the entry, visa-free and tax-refund rules that frame your trip, use the official English sources below.