If you are a Westerner traveling to China for the first time, there may be a few Chinese customs or ways of life that you may find peculiar. Of course, this is true with any unfamiliar culture so your best option is to learn as much as you can before traveling to your new destination. Elizabeth Rabe and Kristen McAvoy, two American interns for china.org.cn, wrote their top 10 tips for westerners traveling to China after living in Beijing for 8 weeks. We hope this list helps you prepare for your China adventure and minimizes any unpleasant surprises.

Words to know

a. Mai dan – Check

b. Cai dan – Menu

c. Xiexie – Thank you

d. Ni hao – Hello

e. Bing – Ice

f. Shui – Water

g. Bu yao – Don't want it.

h. Learning the numbers 1 through 10 will make your daily life much easier.