Everyday Practicalities in China: Water, Toilets and Small Customs

The Details That Worry First-Timers

Most questions about travelling in China are not about the Great Wall but about smaller things: can I drink the water, where are the toilets, do I need to tip, is it rude to photograph people. The answers are usually reassuring, and knowing them in advance removes most of the friction.

Water and Food

Tap water is not for drinking; hotels provide kettles and bottled water is cheap and everywhere, and most travellers simply drink boiled or bottled water. Street food is generally safe if it is cooked in front of you and turnover is high; peeled fruit, boiled water and busy stalls are the practical rules. Ice in drinks is common in cities and best avoided in small towns.

Toilets and Queues

Public toilets exist in stations, malls, museums and parks, and standards vary widely: carry tissues and hand sanitiser, and expect squat toilets in older or rural facilities. Queues are generally orderly in cities, though personal space is smaller than in Europe or North America, and metro security checks are routine.

Customs and Manners

Tipping is not expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels. Smoking is banned indoors in most cities but visible outdoors. Spitting and loud phone calls happen, and are best treated as local norms rather than provocations. For photographs, ask before shooting people, and avoid photographing at military or government sites, where it is prohibited.

Frequently Asked Questions