GUIDE TO CIVILISED TOURISM

CHINANATIONALTOURISMADMINISTRATION

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CONTENTS

01 P5 CodeofConductforCivilisedTourism

P6 A.StandardsofCivilisedConductforDomesticChineseTourists

P8 B.GuidetoCivilisedConductforChineseTouristsAbroad

02 P11 PracticalTipsforCivilisedTourism

P12 A.CommonSenseforCivilisedTourism

P28 B.ElementsofCivilisedTourism

P38 C.CustomsandTaboosofMainOverseasTouristDestinations

03 P43 CommonSignsandTelephoneNumbers

P44 A.70SignsCommonlySeeninPublicVenues

P54 B.TouristAssistanceOrganisationsandTheirContactNumbers

P56 C.SelectEmbassiesandTheirContactNumbers

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01

CodeofConductforCivilisedTourism

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A. StandardsofCivilisedConductforDomesticChinese

Tourists

Creatingacivilisedandharmonioustourismenvironmentisaprimary

concernforeverytourist.Beingacivilisedtouristiseveryone’sduty.Please

observethefollowingstandards:

1. KeeptheEnvironmentClean

Donotspitoutchewinggumorspitontheground;donotlitter;donot

smokeatno‐smokingvenues.

2. ObservePublicOrder

Keepvoiceslow;waitpatientlyinthequeue;donotblockstreetsby

walkingsidebyside;donotspeakloudlyinpublic.

3. ProtecttheEnvironment

Donotwalkonlawns;donotpickflowersandfruit;donotchase,beat

orfeedanimals.

4. PreserveCulturalRelicsandHistoricSites

Donotdefaceculturalrelicsorhistoricsiteswithcarvingsorgraffiti;do

notclimbonortouchthem;takephotographsonlywhenpermitted.

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5. CareforPublicFacilities

Donotdirtyhotelamenities;donotdamagepublicbathroomsandother

facilities;donotbegreedywithcomplimentaryitems;donotwaste

waterorelectricity;donotwastefood.

6. RespectOthers’Rights

Donotinsistontakingphotographswithforeignvisitors;donotsneeze

infrontofotherpeople;donotoccupypublicbathroomsforlong

periods;respecttheworkofservicestaff;respectthecustomsofall

ethnicandreligiousgroups.

7. BePolitetoOthers

Dressneatlyandappropriately;donotbareyourchestorbackinpublic;

showcourtesytoelders,childrenandpeoplewithdisabilities;show

courtesytoladies;avoidswearingandusingfoullanguage.

8. PromoteHealthyRecreation

Rejectsuperstitions,pornography,prostitution,gamblinganddrugs.

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B. GuidetoCivilisedConductforChineseCitizens

Abroad

Chinesecitizens:whentravellingoverseas,bepoliteanddignified.

Payattentiontohygiene,protecttheenvironment,dressappropriately,

keepvoiceslow.

Becourteoustoeldersandchildren,behelpfultoothers.Putothersfirst,

especiallyladies.

Forappointments,beontime,waitinline,donotcrosstheyellowline.

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Beacivilisedhotelguest,donotdamageamenities,eatquietly,avoidwaste.

Promotehealthyrecreationsbenefitingbodyandmind;firmlyreject

gamblingandpornographyorprostitution.

Whensightseeing,observelocalrules,customsandtaboos;donotgive

offence.

Ifyouhaveproblemsorquestions,consultthelocalconsulate.Travelina

civilisedmannerandstaysafealltheway.

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02

PracticalTipsforCivilisedTourism

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A.CommonSenseforCivilisedTourism

1. Actappropriatelyandwithcalmandconfidence;speakpolitelyand

discreetly;avoiduncivilisedlanguageandbehaviour.

2. Use“please”,“thankyou”,“excuseme”,“sorry”,“pardonme”and

othersuchpolitephrasesfrequently.Whenweleaveourcountry,we

becomeguests,andwemusttreatourhostswithcivility.Say“good

morning”inthemorning.Say“sorry”whenyoumakeamistake.

Thesestandardsapplyinallcountries.

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3. Donotspitoutchewinggumorspitontheground;donotlitter;do

notrelieveyourselfinrandomplaces;donotpickyournose,pick

yourteeth,cough,sneezeorengageinothervulgarbehaviourin

frontofothers.

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4. Throwfood,paperandotherrubbishintogarbagebins;donotlitter;

alsopayattentiontotheclassificationofgarbage.

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5. Donotsmokeinplaceswheresmokingisprohibitedorinair‐

conditionedvenues.Whensmokingatvenueswheresmokingis

permitted,considerthecomfortofothers.

6. Donottakephotographsinplaceswherethisisprohibited.Where

theuseofflashisprohibited,pleaseconscientiouslyswitchoffyour

flash.

7. Donotoccupypublicbathroomsforlongperiods.Donotleave

footprintsontoiletseats.Remembertoflushthetoiletafteruse.

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8. Careforculturalrelicsandhistoricalsites.Donotclimbonthem,

touchthem,ordefacethemwithcarvingsorgraffiti.Take

photographsonlywhenpermitted.

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9. Becourteousandconsideratewhentakingphotographsatscenic

spots.Donotfightorquarrel.Donotinsistontakingphotoswith

othersorpreventothersfromtakingphotos.Say“thankyou”when

askingotherstotakepicturesforyou.

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10. Followrulesandregulationssuchas“nosmoking”,“nofoodand

drinks”and“nophotographywithflash”whenvisitingmuseums,

churches,artgalleriesandtemples.Donottouchexhibits,cultural

relicsandotheritemswithoutpermission.

11. Beorderlywhenqueuinginpublic.Donotpushorshove.Queue

jumpingisshamefulwhereveryouare.

12. Donotshoutorberowdyinpublic.Donotliedownorremoveyour

shoesorsocksinpublic.

13. Understandandrespectthereligiousbeliefs,customsandtaboosof

otherplaces.Doyourbesttoadheretolocalcustoms.

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14. Dressneatlyandappropriatelyforthevenueyouarevisitingandthe

activitiesyouwillbedoing.Donotgooutbare‐chested.Donotgo

outwithuncombedhairoradirtyface.Atformalevents,trytodress

formallyorprofessionally.

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15. Beorderlywhencheckingintoahotel.Respectthestaffandrespond

politelywhentheygreetyou.Becleanandhygienicandlookafter

theamenitiesinhotelroomsandpublicplaces.

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16. Tippingservicestaffisacustominmanycountries.Pleasetipwhen

youfindtheservicecommendable.

17. Observeproperetiquettewhendining.Bepolitetoelders.Lookafter

womenandyoungchildren.

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18. Takenormal‐sizedservingsatabuffet.Trytofinishthefoodyoutake.

Donotwastefood.

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19. Aftereatingatafast‐foodrestaurant,takeyourrubbishwithyouand

returnthetrays.

20. Beontimetocatchyourplane,trainorpublictransport.Be

cooperativeatcheck‐inandsecuritycheckpoints.Donotcarry

prohibitedgoods.

21. Onpublicbusesandtrains,youngpassengersshouldsittowardsthe

backwherepossibleandleavethefrontseatsfreeforelders,women

andchildren.

22. Bepunctualandorderlywhentouringingroups,andavoiddisrupting

theitinerary.

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23. Obeytrafficrules.Donotrunredlights.Donotjaywalk.Donotstop

tochatonroadsorfootpaths.Standontheright‐handsideon

escalatorsandleavetheleftsideopensootherscanpass.

24. Protecttheenvironment.Donotcatchortakeanymarinelifewhen

diving.

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25. Respectlife.Donotpickordamageflowersandfruit.Donotchaseor

feedanimals.

26. Promotehealthyrecreation.Resistsuperstitiousactivities,

pornography,prostitution,gamblinganddrugs.

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27. Arriveearlywhengoingtothecinemaortheatre.Ifarrivinglate,ask

thestafftohelpyoufindaseat.Keepquiet.

28. Respecttheactors.Applaudattheendofaperformancetoshow

appreciation.Standuptoclapforacurtaincallattheendofanentire

performance.Beunderstandingifandwhenanactorcommitsan

error,anddonotbooandhootorjeer.

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29. Whenwatchingasportingcompetition,respectbothteamsaswellas

thereferees.Observeorderandtherulesofthegame.Donotlose

control.Donotscreamorshout.Donotswearatrefereesorathletes.

Donotthrowthingsontothefield.Donotenterthefield.

30. Takeyourrubbishwithyouwhenleavingasportingvenueandthrow

itinthegarbagebin.

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B.ElementsofCivilisedTourism

[Pages28–37omitted]

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C.CustomsandTaboosofMainOverseasTouristDestinations

I.EUROPE

1. InEngland,donotcasuallyaskothers“Whereareyougoing?”or“Haveyoueaten?”

asyoudoinChina.Itisconsideredimpolite.

2. InSpain,ladieswearearringswhengoingout;failuretodosoisseenasrisibleand

akintogoingnaked.

3. InFrance,donotbringchrysanthemumsoryellowflowerswhenvisitingsomeone’s

home.

4. InItaly,donotgivehandkerchiefsasgifts.Italiansregardhandkerchiefsasunlucky

becausetheyareusedtowipeawaytearswhenpartingwithlovedones.

5. InGermany,donotsnapyourfingersatanyone.Thisisthewaydogsaresummoned.

6. InGreece,donotcasuallyraiseyourthumb.Athumbs‐upisahighlyinsultinggesture.

7. InHungry,donotbreakglassormirrors.Itisconsideredunlucky.Donotpointyour

fingeratanyone’sface.

8. InScotland,donotbuystonesassouvenirs.

9. IntheNetherlands,fillingacoffeecuptothebrimistaboo.Itisconsideredimpolite.

TheDutchbelievetwo‐thirdsfullisthecorrectlevel.

10. InDenmark,aguestshouldnotproposeatoastbeforethehostdoes.Ifyousay

“skol”duringatoast,youmustdrinkyourwholeglass.

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II.SOUTH‐EASTASIA

11. InIndia,thelefthandisconsideredunclean.Donottouchotherswithyourlefthand.

Donottouchanotherperson’shead.Leathermadefromcowscannotbebrought

insidetemples.DonotphotographanyIndianwomenwithoutpermission.

12. InThailand,donotcommentonmembersoftheroyalfamily.Donottouchanother

person’shead.Purchasingalcoholafter2A.M.isprohibited.Donotpointatthings

withyourfeet.

13. InNepal,donottouchthelocals’belongingswithyourfeet.Womenshouldnotwear

revealingclothes.Leatherandfurgoodsareprohibitedintemples.Whenwalking

aroundatempleorpagoda,goclockwise.

14. InCambodia,ahostgreetsguestsbyputtingbothhandstogether.Guestsshould

returnthegreetingbydoinglikewise.Donottalkwhilesittingwithcrossedlegs.Do

nottouchanotherperson’shead.

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15. InSingapore,donotchewgum.Donoteatonsubwaytrains.Donotcarrydurianson

buses.Throwingcigarettebuttsontheground,spittingorjaywalkingwillgetyou

fined.

16. IntheMaldives,fishingwithoutpermissionandpickingortramplingoncoralare

strictlyprohibited.Washsandoffyourfeetbeforeenteringhotelrooms.

17. InJapan,donotadjustyourclothes,touchyourheadortouchyourhairwhiledining.

WearsocksandremoveyourshoeswhenvisitingaJapanesehome.

18. InKorea,donotpickupyourchopsticksbeforeyourelders.Turnyourfaceaway

fromotherswhendrinkingalcohol.

19. InHongKongandMacau,smokingisprohibitedinallair‐conditionedspaces.

Purchasedfoodcannotbeexchangedorrefunded.

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III.MIDDLEEASTANDAFRICA

20. InMuslimcountries,donotoffertoshakehandswithlocalwomenorphotograph

them.

21. SupermarketsinMuslimcountriesdonotsellalcohol.Donotdiscusspork.

22. InMuslimregions,ladiesshouldnotwearrevealingclothes.Menshouldnotwear

jewelleryinpublic.Donothug,kiss,danceorevenholdhandsinpublic.

23. InIran,donotdiscussbabies’eyes.

24. InAfrica,donotuseyourlefthandtogreetothers.Thefashionablewayofgreeting

inAfricaistoraiseyourrighthandandshowyourpalmtotheotherperson,asif

saying“thereisnorockinmyhand”.

25. ItisbesttoaddressAfricansbynationality.

26. Africanpeopledislikethewords“Negro”and“black”.Emphasisingdifferencesin

skincoloursisthegreatesttabooinAfrica.

27. InAlgeria,handshakesmustbefirm.Alimphandshakeisconsidereddiscourteous.

28. InAlgeriaandGuinea,femaletouristswearingwhiteclothesorcapeswillbe

respectedbylocalsandeveryonewillmakewayforthem.

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CommonSignsandTelephoneNumbers

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[Thefinalthreesectionsoftheguideareomitted:

A.70SignsCommonlySeenatPublicVenues

B.TouristAssistanceOrganisationsandTheirContactNumbers

C.SelectEmbassiesandTheirContactNumbers]

September2013