Fascinating Facts 

• The earliest chopsticks, developed 5,000 years ago, were used for cooking.
   

• China discovered tea and a way of medicine.  

• According to Worldometer, China is the most populated country in the world with more than 1.4 billion people. 

• China is home to the Bailong Elevator, the highest outdoor elevator in the world, located in Zhangliajie. It can carry visitors more 900 feet high on a cliff’s edge. 

Religion and Ethnic Groups

• Majority are unaffiliated religion (52%), folk religion (21.9%) and Buddhist (18.2%) 
   
• Han Chinese 91.6%, Zhuang 1.3%, other 7.1% (includes Hui, Manchu, Ulighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai) (2010 est.) 

Greetings 

• Casual greeting involves a handshake with a light grip and longer duration than in the West. In formal situations, bow slightly from the shoulders or give a nod. It’s important to greet someone that’s older than you first. 
   
• In China, only friends call each other by their given names and nicknames are only used between people who are romantically involved or very close friends.  
   
• Often when first meeting a Chinese person, they will invite you to join them for a meal which translates to politeness.    

General Social Etiquette  

• Use two hands when giving and accepting. Tipping is considered disrespectful and an action a superior does to someone with lower status.  
   
• During interactions, it’s proper behavior to display respect to the elderly and to lightly bow and speak when talking to someone older. In addition, it’s very rude to challenge or talk back to the elderly.  
   
• When headed to an event, it’s vital to be prompt and on time, especially when meeting for the first time. For casual events with friends and family, Chinese people are less prompt and may show up a bit late.  
   
• When attending an event, make sure to not be loud and rowdy and bring gifts to the host such as tea, fruit, or cake. Expect your gift to be rejected a couple times before being accepted—a sign of politeness.  

Eating  

• As a guest in a Chinese household, you’re expected to try every meal presented. As dinner begins, you mix your food with your rice bowl. Proper eating position is to hold the bowl close to your mouth.  
   
• When using chopsticks, refrain from placing them in an upward position in your rice bowl. It is reminiscent of a ceremony performed at funerals and is seen as bad luck when done at the dinner table. 
   
• If you wish to receive a second serving, deny the host’s initial offer before receiving it. When dinner concludes, leave some food on your plate to acknowledge you had enough food. Finally, leave your chopsticks on the table rather than leaving them in your rice bowl. 

Getting around   

Long-distance travel 

China has one of the most extensive rail networks in the world that includes slower trains that stop at small towns and high-speed trains that connect bigger cities at speeds between 120 and 200 mph. The high-speed rail network covers more than 37,000 kilometers and has the most widespread English signage and English-speaking staff.  

A cheaper, but slower option, is the network of long-distance buses, which cover smaller towns and villages that are not reachable by train. However, dangerous road conditions in more remote areas and traffic congestion can cause long delays.  

If you’re traveling between large cities, cleaner, more comfortable buses are available. Shorter routes, however, often rely on old minibuses which can be quite crammed. When going from Beijing to Shanghai, a bus trip can take anywhere between 14 and 16 hours, instead of five hours by bullet train.   

Local transport 

China has several affordable options for local transport. The metro system, available in a growing number of cities, is efficient and cheap. Taxis are also found everywhere and relatively inexpensive. However, most taxi drivers don’t speak English. Make sure the meter is working when you get in the car or negotiate a price before departing. Also ask for an official receipt printed from the meter before you exit. To avoid receiving counterfeit currency, it’s a good idea to look over your change, especially when receiving larger bills.  

An extensive bus network makes this another great way to get around. Traffic can cause delays so this may not be the best option if you’re in a hurry. When you get on, you can show the conductor your destination on a map to purchase the right ticket. Keep in mind that bus routes at bus stops are generally listed in Chinese. In large cities and tourist towns, stops are announced in English. 

Key Phrases

Good morning: Zaoshang hao 

Good evening: Wanshang hao 

Goodnight: Wǎn'ān 

Yes: Shi  

No: Bu 

Good: Hao  

Bad: Bu hao 

Please: Qing 

Excuse me: Bu hai yisi 

Hello: Ni hao 

Goodbye: Zaijian 

My name is…: Wo jiao 

My friend’s name is…: Wo de pengyou jiao 

What’s your name? (informal):  

How much?: Duo shao 

Too expensive: Tai guile! 

Make it cheaper: Pianyi yi dian 

How are you?: Ni hao ma? 

Nice to meet you?: Hen gaoxing renshi ni 

I don’t understand: Wo bu dong 

OK/ Good: hao / hao de  

Not OK: bu hao  

Excuse me: qing wen  

Help!: jiu ming 

The bill, please. Thank you: jie zhang, xie xie  

What do you mean?: shen me yi si