Daily Life in China
Practical tips for everyday living in China — from ordering food to understanding cultural customs.
Food & Dining
🍜 Ordering Food Delivery
Use Meituan (美团) or Ele.me (饿了么) apps to order food delivery to your hotel. Both have English interfaces. Link Alipay or WeChat Pay to pay.
🍽️ Dining Out
Most restaurants have Chinese-only menus. Use the camera feature in translation apps to translate menus, or ask "有英文菜单吗?" (yǒu yīngwén càidān ma?) — "Do you have an English menu?"
☕ Western Food
Major cities have Starbucks, McDonald's, KFC, and Western restaurants. _import supermarket chains (沃尔玛, 家乐福) stock imported food items.
Cultural Tips
👍 Greetings
A slight nod or handshake is appropriate. Avoid hugging or excessive physical contact with strangers.
💼 Business Cards
Exchange business cards with both hands. Take a moment to look at the card before putting it away.
🎁 Gift Giving
It's polite to initially decline a gift. The giver will usually offer again. When accepting, receive with both hands.
🗣️ Speaking
Speaking loudly is not considered rude in China. It's simply how people communicate in busy environments.
Shopping in China
🛒 Online Shopping
Taobao and JD.com are the main online shopping platforms. Products can be delivered to your hotel. Use translation apps to search.
Useful phrases:
送到酒店 (sòng dào jiǔdiàn) = deliver to hotel
🏬 Markets
At traditional markets, bargaining is expected. Start at 30-50% of the asking price and negotiate from there.
Quick Reference
- WeChat/Alipay are essential
Most places expect mobile payment. Cash is only common at small markets.
- Keep small bills handy
Taxis and small vendors may not have change for large bills.
- Toilet paper is not always provided
Carry tissues or toilet paper when going out. Public restrooms may not have toilet paper.