beginners
All travel guides tagged with "beginners".
59 articles — page 8 of 10
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itineraryEast Coast China Itinerary 2026: Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou & Nanjing in One Week
The East China 7-day loop — Shanghai as hub (2 days), day trip to Suzhou gardens, day trip to Hangzhou West Lake and tea village, day trip or overnight to Zhujiajiao water town, and high-speed train to Nanjing for the Purple Mountain sites (1.5 days). All within 2 hours of Shanghai, all using the world's best high-speed rail network.
Updated May 2026
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toolkitChina Etiquette & Cultural Customs Guide 2026: What to Know Before You Go
Essential cultural knowledge for China visitors — the 'face' (面子) concept and why it matters in every social interaction, dining etiquette (never stick chopsticks upright in rice, always pour for others before yourself), the shoes-off custom at some homes and guesthouses, bargaining norms (expected in markets, never in malls), and the customs around exchanging contact information via WeChat.
Updated May 2026
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toolkitFirst-Time China Visit Checklist 2026: Everything to Do Before You Fly
The complete pre-departure checklist for first-time China visitors — 6-8 weeks before (apply for visa, book major attractions), 3-4 weeks before (book trains, set up Alipay, buy travel insurance), 1-2 weeks before (download apps, set up VPN, get some RMB cash), 2-3 days before (print confirmations, check passport validity, pack layers). The things people discover they need at the airport.
Updated May 2026
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toolkitEssential Mandarin Phrases for Tourists 2026: What You Actually Need to Know
The 30 most useful Chinese phrases for tourists — not a language course, but the specific phrases that genuinely help (ordering food, asking prices, saying thanks, getting a taxi, saying you don't understand). Pronunciation guide in pinyin, the four tones explained simply, and why even attempting a few words makes a significant difference to how people treat you.
Updated May 2026
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toolkitVisiting Temples in China 2026: Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian & Mosque Etiquette
How to visit China's temples, mosques, and sacred sites respectfully — the dress code at Buddhist and Taoist temples, which side of a threshold to step over, when photography is and isn't allowed, the difference between Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, and folk religion temples (most visitors can't tell them apart), and what the red envelopes and offerings actually mean.
Updated May 2026
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toolkitTipping in China 2026: Where to Tip, Where Not to & Service Culture Explained
Tipping culture in China — the short answer (China doesn't have a tipping culture and tipping can sometimes be refused or cause embarrassment), where it's expected or appreciated (Western-style restaurants, tour guides, massage therapists, hotel porters), and how service culture in China works differently to the West (service is included, not contingent on tips).
Updated May 2026
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