Browsing Category: CHINA Bites

You’re on a train, in a restaurant or walking through a busy public space. Someone is talking loudly. A group at the next table is even louder. Somewhere nearby, a phone seems determined to join the conversation. You may wonder: Why is everyone so loud? 😂 🥟 The Quick Bite First, not everyone in China is loud. But some international travelers do notice that conversation and activity in busy public spaces can...

At a railway station, in a park, at work or on a long train journey, you may notice people carrying their own flask or insulated bottle. And quite often, what’s inside isn’t coffee. It’s hot water. So why bring a thermos everywhere? 🥟 The Quick Bite For many Chinese people — especially older generations — having hot water (热水, rèshuǐ) readily available is simply part of everyday life. A thermos keeps it...

You’re walking down a street in China when you hear it. Then someone spits. For some international travelers, the immediate reaction is: “Wait… people actually do that here?” 🥟 The Quick Bite Yes, you may still encounter public spitting in China — particularly among some older people. But don’t mistake that for: “Chinese people think spitting anywhere is perfectly acceptable.” Public attitudes have changed considerably, and discouraging uncivilized public behavior has been...

You’re walking through a Chinese park when someone approaches you. Except they’re facing the wrong way. They’re walking backwards. Then another person passes doing exactly the same thing. Why? 😂 🥟 The Quick Bite Backward walking 倒走 (dàozǒu) is an exercise you may see, particularly among middle-aged and older people in Chinese parks. People practice it for fitness, balance and because some believe it exercises the body differently from ordinary forward walking....

Visit a park in China early in the morning and you may find it already busy. Someone is practicing tai chi. A group is moving together to music. Others are stretching, walking backwards or doing exercises you may not recognize. Why does so much exercise happen in public? 🥟 The Quick Bite For many people in China, especially older adults, parks and public spaces are everyday places for exercise and social life....

You may notice it in your hotel, on a train, in a restaurant — or simply when someone offers you a drink. Hot water. Just hot water. For many international travelers, the obvious question is: Why? 🥟 The Quick Bite Drinking hot or warm water (热水, rèshuǐ) is a familiar everyday habit in China. For many people, warm water simply feels comfortable, normal and good for the body — especially compared with...

You’ve just met someone in China. A few minutes later: “How old are you?”“Are you married?”“Do you have children?” 😳 We just met! 🥟 The Quick Bite Questions about age, marriage, children, work or where you come from may feel surprisingly personal to some international travelers. But in many everyday Chinese conversations, these questions aren’t necessarily intended as intrusive. They can simply be a way of placing someone socially and finding something...

You’re visiting a famous sight in China when someone smiles, points at their phone and asks: “Photo?” Sometimes they want a selfie with you. For international visitors who aren’t used to this, the first reaction can be: Why me? 😂 🥟 The Quick Bite Usually, it’s much less complicated than it feels. In places that receive fewer international visitors — or among domestic travelers who have had relatively little everyday contact with people...

You are walking through a park in China after dinner. Music starts playing. A dozen — sometimes dozens — of people line up. Then everyone starts doing the same dance. What’s going on? Welcome to square dancing (广场舞, guǎngchǎngwǔ) — one of the most visible little rituals of everyday urban China. 🥟 The Quick Bite 广场舞 literally means “public-square dance.” You’ll see groups dancing to music in public squares, parks, courtyards and other open...