What to Expect and How to Adapt Respectfully
Travelling through China is an incredible experience, but it can feel quite different from what many Western travellers are used to. Some of these differences caught us off guard, not because they were wrong, but because they were unfamiliar. Understanding them ahead of time makes your journey smoother, more respectful, and far less stressful.
This guide shares a few everyday cultural differences we personally found challenging, explained gently and honestly, so you can arrive prepared rather than surprised.
Table of Contents
🚻 Toilets and Toilet Paper
This one is practical, not cultural judgement — and it’s important.
In many public toilets across China, toilet paper is not provided. This includes tourist areas, train stations, and city facilities. Airports generally do provide it, but outside of that, it’s best to always carry tissues or toilet paper with you.
You may see tissue-dispensing machines that work via an app or QR code, but we were never able to get them working. Having your own tissues saves a lot of stress.
A few other things to know:
- Many public toilets are squat toilets, sometimes with only one Western-style toilet, and sometimes none at all
- Toilet paper is not flushed. Used paper goes into the bin beside the toilet
- This applies to everything — it’s part of the plumbing system, not poor hygiene
It does take some getting used to, but once you understand the system, it becomes second nature.
Quiet traveller tip: Carry tissues and hand sanitiser in your day pack at all times.
💦 Spitting and Throat Clearing
This is something many travellers notice quickly.
Spitting and loud throat clearing are relatively common in public spaces, especially among older generations. While it can feel confronting at first, it’s a long-standing habit tied to traditional health beliefs.
The best approach we found was:
- Expect it
- Don’t react
- Mentally block it out
It’s not meant to offend, and once you stop focusing on it, it becomes easier to ignore.
🚶 Pushing and Queue Jumping
Personal space and queuing culture work differently in China.
In busy areas like train stations, attractions, or boarding lines, people may:
- Step in front of you
- Push forward without apology
- Move quickly and assertively
This isn’t rudeness — it’s efficiency in very crowded environments. Standing your ground calmly helps, but so does letting go of the idea of orderly queues.
We found it easiest to go with the flow rather than fight it.
🔊 Loud Conversations
Public conversations in China can feel much louder than what many travellers are used to.
People often:
- Speak loudly on phones
- Use speaker mode in public
- Talk to friends or family who may be several seats away without thinking anything of it
This isn’t meant to draw attention or disturb others. It’s simply a different comfort level with shared space and communication.
Noise-cancelling headphones helped us a lot, especially on trains, buses and in busy stations.
🌏 A Gentle Reminder
Cultural differences aren’t good or bad — they’re just different.
China is a vast country with deep traditions, regional variations, and a population far larger than most visitors are used to navigating around. Approaching these differences with curiosity rather than frustration made our experience far more enjoyable.
Once you accept that things work differently, you stop resisting — and that’s when the magic of travel really begins.
🔗 More China Travel Guides
Want more China Inspiration?
Explore all our China blogs in one place — from ancient towns and national parks to mega-cities and night markets.
👉 Read all our China Destination Guides & China Travel Essentials Guides Here
🌍 Travel Planning Resources
These are the tools we personally use and trust when planning our travels from finding a place to stay to booking activities, transport and insurance. Let your Tohu guide you — Trust the Journey and follow what feels right for you.
- ✈️Flights – Compare great deals with Trip.com then Kiwi.com for flexible, affordable options.
- 🚐 Campervans – Compare rental deals with Motorhome Republic across Aotearoa and beyond.
- 🛏️ Stays – Compare hotels on Trip.com and TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
- 🚐 Rental Cars – Compare prices and book through Airport Rentals by Motorhome Republic for trusted brands and easy airport pickup.
- 🎟️ Activities – Browse tours and experiences on Viator, Get Your Guide, or TripAdvisor
- 🚆12Go Asia – Compare and book trains, buses, and ferries across Asia in one place with 12Go.
- 🛡️ Travel Insurance – Get flexible short-term coverage with Insubuy for your next holiday.
- 🔒 Protect Your Privacy with a VPN – We recommend Surfshark VPN for secure and private browsing while travelling. It’s fast, affordable and works worldwide — perfect for public Wi-Fi at airports, cafes and hotels.
- 📱 Travel eSIM – Stay connected with Airalo
- 💼 Lounge Access – Treat yourself with Priority Pass – for UK or US
- 🎶 Events & Concerts – Book tickets worldwide through Ticketmaster.
🧭 Note: Some booking links can be a bit shy when you’re using a VPN. If one doesn’t open, try pausing your VPN or switching to a different server location or secure Wi-Fi network to get things flowing again.
“Travel teaches us not that one way is right, but that many ways can exist side by side.”