culture
All travel guides tagged with "culture".
133 articles — page 17 of 23
All destinations
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
Read →
toolkitGift Giving & Social Etiquette in China 2026: What to Give, What to Avoid
Gift giving etiquette in China — the gifts to avoid (clocks symbolise death, pears symbolise separation, green hats are an adultery reference), good gifts (quality tea, wine, fruit), the Chinese practice of not opening gifts immediately, the red envelope (hongbao) tradition, and basic social etiquette around meals (the host orders, the host pours drinks, the host pays).
Updated May 2026
Read →
toolkitChina Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival 2026: Mooncakes, Best Cities & What to Expect
China's Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节) — when it falls in 2026, the mooncake tradition and the best cities to buy and taste them, lantern festivals across China (Zigong, Chengdu, Hong Kong are spectacular), the cultural significance, where not to be (the Great Wall gets insanely crowded), and which cities feel the festival most authentically.
Updated May 2026
Read →
photographyChina City Photography Guide 2026: Best Locations in Beijing, Shanghai & Beyond
The best urban photography locations in China — Beijing's hutong doorways and Forbidden City golden hour, Shanghai's Bund at blue hour with Pudong reflected in the river, Chongqing's extraordinary layered cityscape, Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour from the peak, and the photogenic minority villages of Guizhou. Camera settings advice for each.
Updated May 2026
Read →
seasonalQingming Festival in China 2026: Tomb Sweeping, Spring Travel & Cultural Meaning
The Qingming Festival (清明节) — China's Tomb Sweeping Day, falling in early April, when families visit ancestral graves. What it means culturally (the most solemn Chinese holiday), how it affects travel (a 3-day public holiday creates moderate travel surge), which natural sites are at their most beautiful in early April (rapeseed flowers in Anhui, cherry blossoms fading), and what travelers should know.
Updated May 2026
Read →toolkit
Tai Chi & Kung Fu Classes in China 2026: Where to Learn, Schools & Experiences
Learning Tai Chi and kung fu in China — the Shaolin Temple's martial arts schools in Henan (kung fu focus), the Wudang Mountain schools (Taoist internal arts, Tai Chi), Chenjiagou village in Henan (birthplace of Chen-style Tai Chi), and casual Tai Chi classes in Shanghai and Beijing parks (free, informal, genuinely excellent for beginners).
Updated May 2026
Read →