China rules for visitors

Tipping isn't customary in mainland China — not at restaurants, in taxis, or at hotels. Staff generally don't expect one, and some venues will politely decline a tip if it's offered. A service charge is sometimes already built into upscale restaurant or tour prices — check your bill before adding anything extra.

The legal purchase age for alcohol is widely documented as 18. In practice, ID checks at bars and shops vary by venue and city, and enforcement isn't as consistently strict as in some Western countries. Public drinking isn't the social norm the way it might be at home — follow the lead of the venue you're in, and check local guidance if you're unsure.

Indoor smoking bans are widely enforced in major cities — Beijing and Shanghai are commonly cited as strictly covering restaurants, hotels, and other indoor public spaces. Designated outdoor or ventilated smoking areas are common in airports, train stations, and office buildings — look for signage rather than assuming a spot is fine.

Many Chinese cities use camera enforcement at pedestrian crossings, and rules around traffic turning on red vary by city and junction. The safest approach is to follow the signal at the crossing rather than assume it's clear just because other pedestrians are moving — look both ways and treat every intersection as its own situation.

Rules for e-cigarettes and vapes differ from those for regular cigarettes and are reported to have tightened in recent years. Bringing a personal device for your own use is generally reported as tolerated, but buying vape products locally is restricted in various ways. This is a heavily hedged, changing area — check current guidance from the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country before you fly.

Real-name registration for drones is widely reported as required, and many urban and sensitive areas are no-fly zones. This is a serious topic with real consequences if you get it wrong — check current CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) rules and any registration requirements before you pack a drone, rather than assuming your home-country rules carry over.

Carry prescription medications in their original packaging, ideally with a doctor's note describing what they are and why you need them. Some medicines sold over the counter elsewhere — including certain cold medicines and stronger painkillers — are reported to be controlled in China. Check current guidance from the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country before you fly; don't rely on a general packing list for this one.

Avoid photographing military installations, government buildings, and border or security checkpoints. Airport and train-station security areas can also be sensitive. Outside of those categories, photographing people and places in public is generally fine with the usual courtesy — ask before a close-up photo of someone, and put the camera away if a guard or sign tells you to.

Bags go through X-ray screening at metro stations and train stations pretty much everywhere, similar to airport security. Budget a few extra minutes when catching a train, especially with luggage. Water bottles are sometimes tested or need to be opened — procedures can vary by station and city.

It's generally a good idea to carry your passport (or at minimum a clear photo or copy, with the original reachable) any time you're out. Hotels and many ticketed attractions are reported to require the physical passport, not just a photo, for check-in or entry.