Even though I’m Chinese myself (American-born, raised in a Cantonese-speaking household), that didn’t stop me from experiencing culture shock once I landed in China.

The pace, the systems, the lack of English, the little unspoken rules—it was a lot to adjust to, even with the language somewhat on my side.

(I actually went to Saturday school as a kid to learn Mandarin, but after visiting China, I realize I should have paid more attention in class… lol.)

This guide assumes you already have a general understanding of China’s must-have apps and lifestyle differences. If not, I highly recommend starting with my guide on essential China travel tips you need to know to get up to speed.

After spending almost four weeks in China traveling with my family, I walked away with a list of things I definitely would’ve done differently. Use this ~~mini-rant~~ trip reflection to learn from my mistakes so your trip goes smoother from day one!

This post may contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful and free content. Thanks a lot!

7 BIGGEST Mistakes I Made in China

Table of Contents

Not mentally preparing for the crowds.

Shibati 18 Steps - Chongqing China — 18 Steps in Chongqing. With the right mindset, these crowds aren’t bad.

Before our trip, I had already accepted that China—especially major cities and popular tourist attractions—was going to be crowded. I mean, with over a billion people, it comes with the territory.

Chinese domestic tourists are constantly out and about, and they’re used to being in packed spaces. It’s just part of the rhythm of daily life there.

My cousin, on the other hand, did zero prep. He didn’t read anything about what to expect and definitely didn’t brace himself for shoulder-to-shoulder crowds at spots like Hongyadong or Liziba Station in Chongqing or at the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an.

So when we showed up at tourist attractions and it was wall-to-wall people, I was like, “Yep, this is exactly what I expected,” while he was visibly annoyed and frustrated. The constant crowds put a damper on his mood and made it harder for him to enjoy what we were seeing.

Pro tip: Set your expectations ahead of time. If you mentally prepare for crowds, they’ll feel like just another part of the overall China experience, not a trip-ruiner.

Not considering local cuisine when picking destinations.

Sichuan Hotpot Chengdu — The only spicy hotpot meal we had in Chengdu. We had to try!

One big mistake I made when planning our China trip was not taking everyone’s food preferences into account, especially when it came to spice levels and regional flavors.

My family is originally from Southern China, so we grew up eating Cantonese cuisine: light, fresh flavors, seafood-forward dishes, and very little spice. My parents aren’t adventurous eaters, and they definitely don’t do spicy food or lamb.

So what did I do? I planned a trip that included Chongqing and Chengdu — two cities known for their bold, chili-heavy dishes and tongue-numbing Sichuan peppercorns. I also included Xi’an, where many of the regional specialties are lamb-based.

They loved the cities themselves; they just weren’t thrilled about the food. Meal times turned into survival mode, always hunting for the one or two HK-style restaurants among all the hotpot restaurants dotting the city.

If I could do it again, I’d be way more thoughtful about matching destinations with the kind of food my travel group would actually enjoy. For example, my parents loved the food in Shenzhen, which makes sense — it’s like an extension of Hong Kong cuisine.

Pro tip: Research a destination’s must-eat foods before you commit — especially if you’re traveling with picky eaters or dietary restrictions. Food isn’t just fuel, it’s part of the experience. And if the food isn’t working for you, the whole trip starts to drag.

Ordering the cheapest Didi car.

The cheapest Didi cars were always a mixed bag–you never knew what you would get. Some would be normal, but a lot of them smelled like smoke and were paired with a driver who coughed a lot (probably from all the smoking).

If you can’t handle smoky environments, don’t take the chance and just pay a little more for the premium cars. Because of how cheap Didi’s are out there, it really doesn’t cost that much more to upgrade.

Our upgraded rides were always nicer cars and came with professional drivers (usually the only ones who could recommend good food spots or attractions to us), and they did not smell bad at all.

Forgetting my travel soap on outings.

You might assume that if you’re spending the day in a major Chinese city—especially somewhere modern like Shenzhen or Chengdu—you’ll always have access to clean, fully stocked restrooms. That’s not always the case.

I made the mistake of leaving my travel soap and tissues in my other bag more than once, thinking, “I’m not hiking or going rural today. I’ll be in shopping malls and restaurants—it’s fine.”

Spoiler: it wasn’t. Some of the sketchiest bathroom situations I encountered were actually inside big electronics buildings in the heart of the electronics district. We’re talking no soap, no toilet paper, sometimes no sinks, and on occasion, just squat toilets with questionable plumbing.

Pro tip: Always carry a little “bathroom kit” with you. Mine includes travel-size hand soap, a pack of tissues or toilet paper, and hand sanitizer as backup. Even in urban areas, bathrooms can be wildly unpredictable—better to be overprepared than caught off guard.

Not going #2 in the privacy of your own hotel.

Miracle Coffee - Eastern Suburb Memory District - Chengdu China — Restrooms were usually fine at the more modern establishments.

Shuyanfu Dinner Show Set Menu - Chengdu China — Restrooms were usually fine at the more modern establishments.

This wasn’t my mistake, but my mom’s—and it’s a good reminder for anyone used to Western-style toilets.

One morning, we had to leave early to catch a train, and she didn’t have enough time to go before leaving the hotel. She figured she’d just use the restroom at the train station… only to discover that every stall had squat toilets. No sitting options in sight. She had to make do, but after squatting for an extended time, she could barely stand back up.

Pro tip: If squatting isn’t easy for you, try to time your bathroom breaks around higher-end malls, nicer restaurants, or hotels—those are your best bets for sit-down toilets. And in general, don’t bank on being able to “just go later.” China’s public toilet infrastructure varies wildly, even in major cities.

Booking a train ride too early in the day.

The train stations are huge, and ideally, you wanna get there 45 minutes to an hour early. Having an 8:30am train reserved means you’ll need to get there around 7:30am.

But traffic in Chinese cities can be horrendous, meaning you’re going to need to leave your hotel at 6:45am… which, in turn, means a 6am wakeup call. No thanks.

Pro tip: Just book a train that arrives at your next destination around your next hotel’s check-in time (2-3 pm). Sleep in and enjoy breakfast the morning of your commute day instead.

Not getting a Chinese phone number.

Before our trip, I suggested we bring one of our old iPhones and pick up a local SIM card once we landed in China. Having a Mainland Chinese phone number would’ve allowed us to easily pay at restaurants, reserve museum tickets, book local attractions, and make restaurant reservations that require SMS verification.

My dad waved it off, saying we’d be fine without it—and technically, we were. But it came with a ton of inconveniences.

We constantly had to ask our hotel concierge to help us make bookings, and anytime something required a phone number to verify access (like free museum admission or local tour apps), we had to rely on someone else.

It got frustrating fast, especially when I wanted to do things spontaneously or on the go.

Pro tip: If you want true flexibility and the ability to navigate China like a local, just get a SIM card that comes with a local number. It’ll save you time, hassle, and the awkward feeling of hovering by the hotel front desk every time you need something booked.

Planning Your Trip To China?

We’re here to help! Feel free to check out some of our other China travel guides to get inspiration for your own trip:

MORE CHINA TRAVEL GUIDES

7 Big Mistakes I Made in China (And How You Can Avoid Them)