Students of English

So-called “language students” on the street will sometimes strike up conversation in order, so they will tell you, to practice their English. However, caution is necessary as increasingly these approaches are lead-ins to scams. These students may suggest entering a nearby teahouse, where you will naturally offer to buy them a drink. The students take generous advantage of your offer and then depart leaving you with a wildly inflated bill for thousands of renminbi. Of course, the bar owner is in on the deal.

Queuing

Despite the re-education measures taken up in the run-up to the Olympics, the Chinese don’t do queues. They prefer to push and shove. Anyone who politely waits their turn at the ticket office is likely to be stood there all day.

Taking Offense at Spitting

Despite the best attempts of public educators, spitting remains a fact of Chinese life on the streets, buses and trains. It is not just an old man thing either; it is not uncommon to observe a pretty young woman break off mid-conversation to loudly expel a gob of saliva.

Rush Hour

Beijing’s traffic is horrendous, and if you aren’t careful you could spend half your visit sat in a taxi, gridlocked in a sea of other vehicles. Rush hour seems to last nearly all day, but the roads are noticeably worse on week days before 10am and between around 5pm and 8pm. You should avoid traveling at these times if at all possible.

Art Students

Around Wangfujing Dajie, Liulichang, Tian’an Men Square and the Forbidden City, be wary of “art students” who in the guise of fund-raising will pressure you to visit an exhibition where you can buy amateur and hugely overpriced art.

Guides

At many of Beijing’s sights, but particularly at the Forbidden Palace and Temple of Heaven, so-called guides wait around the ticket offices to offer their services. Decline. More often than not, they know little more than the bare facts, which are often recited with a dubious propagandist slant.

Visiting Sights on National Holidays

The biggest tourists in China are the Chinese themselves. On public holidays out-of-towners swarm into Beijing for a spot of sightseeing. It becomes impossible to move in the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, or in any of the parks.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

China’s is one of the world’s great cuisines. Chinese food is astonishing in its variety, and there is nowhere better to experience this than Beijing. The city boasts restaurants specializing in most, if not all, the country’s many regional cuisines. Ordering the few Cantonese-originating dishes that have come to represent Chinese cooking to the rest of the world would really be a wasted opportunity.

Public Toilets

Even though some progress has been made, public toilets are hole-in-the-ground types, and they are usually extremely malodorous. You will also need to bring your own tissue paper. It is a better idea to take advantage of the facilities in top-end shopping malls, hotels, and restaurants.

Taking a Taxi without the Right Change

Beijing taxi drivers hardly ever seem to carry any change, so make sure you always have a good stash of ¥5, ¥10, and ¥20 notes to hand.