China & Tibet
Beyond the Ordinary Tours- Spiritual Journeys- to the most sacred and spectacular sites in China & Tibet

Dao of Well Being Tours™

Traveling through China is eye opening for tourists. It's even more interesting for the Chinese. Keep in mind that not so very long ago China was still in the dark ages of isolationism. Although the social transition into the modern world has changed millions and millions of Chinese, most of the change has happened in the large population centers like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hong Kong and the like.

Many Western fashion statements like mini skirts, bikinis, facial makeup, & even body piercing can be seen in the large cities and it is mostly tolerated by the locals. On the clothes issue... (which seems to be mostly a gender bias) bare shoulders on women, short tight shorts on women, heavy facial makeup (on men & women) generally fall into the no no zone throughout most of China. Just a few years ago a male (especially a Caucasian male) walking alone with a Chinese woman was unheard of. Police then were "sure" that she was a prostitute and that he was a "John". This and other forms of public displays of affection is still a "soft" taboo in the cities and a big taboo in the rural areas. Even today, couples holding hands are looked at with a certain distain in the rural areas.

Please keep in mind that you are traveling in a country that may be very different than your home of record. Please remember that unlike a socially homogeneous country like America, China is made up of over 60 ethnic minorities (still mostly separatists & proud to be), has about 6 major religions (some of which are very conservative and leave no room for interpretation of social moirés) all of whom are being faced with an ever increasing flood of foreign tourists bringing needed tourist dollars but also some very "strange" customs & habits .

Certainly the older, more insular people found in the smaller towns & villages have a harder time than metropolitan based Chinese in justifying our "bizarre" habits... such as our dress, our eating, our loud voices, our need for our needs to be met etc.  Loud, in your face, demanding behavior (look closely as you may not even recognize it in your own behavior) is a no no. Traveling through China doesn't mean behaving as if you're at church, instead behaving as if you are visiting your respected great grandmother wouldn't be too far off base either.

There are any number of good books on proper traveling etiquette to read. Many tour guide books like "Lonely Planet", Frommers and many others have gems of wisdom throughout their sometimes many, many pages. Take the time to learn as much as you can about the religious, ethnic & cultural customs of the area & people that you plan to visit. You will have a better relationship & interaction with the people that you are visiting, you will get more out of your tour and you will enjoy your experience much much more than you thought was possible.

~ to learn more  ~
Call  1-800-497-4244 to talk with Mark
Call 1-218-365-6330 to talk with Rebecca

e-mail us.....rebecca@qigongchinatrip.com

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Qigong China Trips
PO Box 750
Ely, MN 55731  USA

phone: 800-497-4244    phone: 218-365-6330