15 Mistakes Tourists Should Avoid in China (2026 Travel Guide)

1Don’t Rely on Google Maps or Other Google Services

Many Google services — including Google Maps — don’t function reliably in mainland China. I learned this the hard way trying to walk to a hotel in Shenzhen with a blue dot that hadn’t moved in ten minutes. If you’re depending on Google for navigation, you may find that maps load slowly, display incomplete information, or don’t work at all.

• Download Amap (Gaode Maps) or Baidu Maps before your trip.
• If you use Gmail, Outlook, or another email service, sign in and configure your preferred email app before traveling to avoid unnecessary complications.

NordVPN is the one I keep coming back to — it’s simple to set up, and (crucially) works reasonably well even with China’s filtering, though no VPN is 100% guaranteed given how often things change there.

2Don’t Wait Until You Arrive to Set Up Alipay or WeChat

China is largely a cashless society. While international visitors can use Alipay and WeChat with eligible foreign bank cards, setting everything up after arrival can be inconvenient — hotel Wi-Fi is not the moment you want to be fighting with identity verification screens.

• Download both apps before leaving home.
• Link your payment card in advance.
• Complete any available identity verification before your flight.

Direct downloads, so you don’t have to go hunting:

While it may still be possible to download and configure these apps after arriving in China, preparing everything beforehand will save time and help you start using digital payments immediately. If PayPal is more your speed, it’s worth checking whether its new WeChat Pay integration is available on your account before you rely on it as a backup.

3Don’t Depend on Cash Alone

Cash is still legal tender in China, and merchants are required to accept it. However, many businesses rely almost entirely on QR-code payments, and some smaller shops may not always have enough change available.

• Use Alipay or WeChat Pay as your primary payment method.
• Carry 200–500 RMB in cash for emergencies or small purchases.

4Don’t Flag Down Random Taxis When You Can Use Didi

Although licensed taxis are generally safe, using a ride-hailing app offers a more convenient experience. You’ll see the fare in advance, avoid language barriers, and have a record of your trip — which matters more than you’d think when you can’t read the meter or explain where you’re going.

Download Didi Chuxing, China’s largest ride-hailing platform. It can be linked to supported payment methods and is available in English for international visitors. In a sprawling city like Guangzhou, the metro is often just as fast for longer distances and a lot cheaper — worth pairing the two rather than relying on one alone.

5Don’t Travel Without Mobile Data

Having reliable internet access is essential in China. You’ll use your phone for maps, transportation, translations, restaurant menus, hotel bookings, and digital payments — genuinely more than at home, since so many of those things aren’t optional analog fallbacks here.

Purchase an eSIM before your trip or buy a local SIM card after arrival. Setting up your connectivity in advance means you’ll be online the moment your plane lands, which matters more in China than almost anywhere else I’ve traveled.

6Don’t Forget a Universal Travel Adapter

China uses 220V electricity, and you’ll encounter several socket types, including Type A, C, and I.

Pack a universal travel adapter along with a portable power bank. Since your smartphone will be your map, wallet, translator, and ticket, keeping it charged throughout the day is essential.

Essential for all my travels, this adapter keeps my gadgets charged on the go!

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7Don’t Leave Your Passport Unavailable

Foreign visitors should always know where their passport is and be prepared to present identification if requested by the authorities or during hotel check-ins and transportation procedures.

Carry your passport whenever appropriate, especially when traveling between cities. It’s also a good idea to keep a secure digital copy of your passport and visa on your phone as a backup.

8Don’t Wear a Green Hat

One of China’s most well-known cultural taboos involves green hats. In Chinese culture, wearing a green hat traditionally suggests that a man’s partner has been unfaithful. While most locals understand that foreigners don’t know this expression, wearing one may still attract amused looks.

Choose hats in other colors such as black, blue, gray, or red.

9Don’t Give a Clock as a Gift

If you’re bringing gifts to Chinese friends or business partners, avoid giving clocks or alarm clocks. The phrase “giving a clock” (送钟) sounds almost identical to “attending a funeral” (送终) in Chinese, making it an unlucky gift.

Popular gifts include tea, local specialties from your country, high-quality chocolates, souvenirs, or red envelopes for special occasions.

10Don’t Stick Chopsticks Upright in Your Rice Bowl

Placing chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice resembles offerings made during funeral rituals. Although nobody expects foreign visitors to know every tradition, this is one custom that’s easy to avoid — and one of the first things locals will gently point out if you do it.

Place your chopsticks neatly across your bowl or on the chopstick rest when you’re not eating.

11Don’t Expect Everyone to Speak English

While English is commonly spoken in major international hotels and some tourist attractions, it’s much less common in local restaurants, convenience stores, taxi services, and smaller cities.

• Keep a translation app ready.
• Save your hotel address in Chinese.
• Learn a few simple Mandarin phrases: Nǐ hǎo (你好) – Hello, Xièxie (谢谢) – Thank you, Duìbùqǐ (对不起) – Sorry.

Even a few words of Mandarin are usually appreciated — people tend to light up a little when you try, even badly.

12Don’t Drink Tap Water

Although tap water is treated, it is generally not recommended for visitors to drink directly in mainland China. Most hotels provide bottled water or electric kettles so you can boil water if needed.

Drink bottled or filtered water. Use boiled water for tea or coffee if bottled water isn’t available.

13Don’t Blow Your Nose Loudly at the Table

Dining in China is a social experience, and table etiquette is taken seriously. Blowing your nose loudly while people are eating may be considered impolite.

If you need to blow your nose, excuse yourself and use the restroom. If that’s not possible, turn away and do so as discreetly as possible.

14Don’t Wrap Gifts in White or Black Paper

Gift-giving plays an important role in Chinese culture, especially during festivals and business meetings. White and black are traditionally associated with mourning and funerals.

Choose brighter colors such as red, gold, pink, or orange. These colors symbolize happiness, prosperity, and good fortune.

15Don’t Assume China Works Like Home

One of the biggest mistakes travelers make isn’t cultural — it’s expecting everything to operate the same way it does back home. China has developed its own digital ecosystem. Payments, transportation, messaging, food delivery, maps, and even shopping often rely on different apps and services than those used in Europe or North America.

The more flexible you are, the smoother your trip will be. This was the one that took me longest to internalize — I kept reaching for habits that simply didn’t apply.

Embrace the differences. Trying new foods, learning local customs, and adapting to China’s way of doing things is part of what makes visiting the country such a memorable experience.