Insider Tips

Culture shock may be the first thing to overcome in China. Owning a car, speaking English, and seeing
foreigners are rare for most of the Chinese population.

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At restaurants, water is not free, and it does not come with ice. Tea, however, is sometimes complimentary.

Internet services may be hard to find outside of university settings.

Churches are very rare in China. Chongwenmen Church, the largest protestant church in China, is located
in Beijing. President Clinton attended a service there in 1998.





Electricity and water may often have outages.

The tap water in China is not safe to drink. It is best to boil the water first before drinking.

Pick pocketing is common in China. Keep all valuables tucked away, and keep bags close.

Public bathrooms in China are rarely as well managed as they are in the United States. It is advisable to
bring a roll of toilet paper with you whenever you go out.

There is no sales tax in China.

China uses 24-hour military time.