Not bringing your own paper!

Every country has its unique toilet etiquette, for example, in most European countries you will have to pay to use a public toilet, Japanese high-tech toilets, Islamic countries generally use water to cleanse oneself as opposed to tissue paper. As for China, it is common to find a squatting toilet bowl instead of a regular sitting toilet bowl. Although the levels of restrooms in China is progressing, time is still needed to solve this problem. therefore, we highly suggest you bring a pocket-sized pack of tissue where you go!
Another thing to note is that the plumbing systems may not be able to handle flushed toilet paper, and thus toilet paper is usually placed in a rubbish bin next to the toilet.

Not getting a VPN!

China is known for rich history and culture but they also infamous in their censorship, with the government restricting many contents such as Google, Facebook, Youtube, and many other websites. To counter that they do have their version of each website they’ve blocked. However, as a foreigner, it might be difficult for us to get by without the use of these sites. This leads us to our next tip, to get a VPN for China. If you’re not well-versed with technology, VPN stands for Virtual Private Network which allows you to bypass the ‘Great Firewall’ that blocks these sites. So if you want to access a blocked website, you’ll need to purchase a VPN.

Not download mobile app: Wechat!

The one-stop-shop mobile app that does everything from sending a text, paying your meal, booking your ride, or making a dinner reservation. We are talking about the ‘superapp’ WeChat, everyone from expats and locals will have it. The mobile application which comes with an English interface is free to use and set up and it has many interesting functions a regular chatting application would not have.

Don’t use unlicensed transportation services.

Last but not least, do not use unlicensed transportation services. These cars are usually called “Hei Che,” which translate to black car. They are usually black with no legitimate signs of being a taxi or private hire vehicle. They can be seen persuading passengers to get into their cars and drive them somewhere. However, it is not advisable to try such services as the language barrier can prove to be a problem and they might try to overcharge foreigners. These services should only be used by locals. However, getting around in China is not too expensive as there are reliable choices such as public buses or taxis operated by legal companies. Public buses pick-up and drop-off passengers at fixed stops and legal taxi uses a meter to calculate the fees rather than a fixed price.

Not learning how to Haggle/Bargain!

Be prepared to haggle! Do not be alarmed, learning how to bargain in China is amongst the most important things you want to prepare before your trip to China. Most stores in China is up for haggling except for items with a price tag or high-end stores. You are encouraged to ask for a bargain because if you don’t, be ready to burn a hole in your pocket because storeowners usually target foreigners. Learning how to bargain is uncommon in most foreign countries as it might be rude to do so. However, in China, it is almost a way of life for them!