Culture & Etiquette
Cultural norms that catch visitors off guard: chopstick taboos, temple etiquette, bargaining in markets, bathhouses and opera houses, and what is expected of a foreign guest.
3 guides
Suzhou Silk: What It Costs, and What the Fake-Silk Warnings Get Wrong
Suzhou has been the center of Chinese silk production for 2500 years, and the markets near Suzhou Station, Zhen Hu, and along Cang Street still sell real mulberry silk at fair prices in 2026. The challenge is that they also sell cheap polyester blends at tourist prices. This guide walks through the...
A Hangzhou Bathhouse, in the Order It Actually Happens
Visiting a public bathhouse in Hangzhou as a foreigner sounds intimidating, but it is one of the most underrated ways to understand Chinese daily life. This 2026 guide walks you through what a real zao tang (澡堂) looks like, the ¥30 to ¥80 entry fees, what extras cost, how communal showers actually...
Peking Opera Without the Language: What to Watch Instead of Listening
Peking Opera is one of the oldest living theatrical forms in the world, and it was never really designed to be followed word-by-word. This 2026 guide shows foreign visitors how to pick a venue (Liyuan Theater, Chang'an Grand Theatre or Huguang Guild Hall), book a ticket with a passport, choose a...