Tips for tourists in China. What not to do in China What is the Great Firewall of China

How the “Golden Shield” works, popular Chinese sites and other interesting facts.

Recently, Russian providers have been blocking site after site. Some journalists accompany the news about the ban of another resource with comments like: “Russia is following the path of China,” “soon we will have the same situation as in China.” What does it mean? Are we really approaching the level of internet censorship of an authoritarian state? How to live with this? This article will help answer such questions.

Plus, China is very close. This country has 4209 km of common border with Russia. In some cities Far East obvious dominance of emigrants from the Middle Kingdom. You can meet a Chinese in many parts of our country. And a modern Russian should have a general understanding of life in China, including the peculiarities of the national Internet.

How many Chinese people use the Internet?

The table shows how the number of Internet users among Chinese changed from 2000 to 2016. 600 million people in the country do not use the Internet at all!. This fact will be a little less shocking if you remember that there are relatively few young people in China (due to state program“one family - one child”), which is the main engine of progress.

This chart shows the percentage of people of different genders and ages in the population. Please note that there are significantly fewer girls than boys. The fact is that due to the fact that there could only be one child, some mothers terminated the pregnancy if they were not satisfied with the sex of the fetus.

But the percentage distribution of Internet users in different age groups. The older generation actively avoids modern technologies.

And this diagram shows how very popular it is among the Chinese Mobile Internet. 9 out of 10 network users access it from a smartphone.

And almost everyone communicates using one or more instant messengers.

What is the Great Firewall of China?

The Internet appeared in China in 1994. The first connection took place at the Institute of High Energy Physics. A few years later, offices began to connect to the network large companies and rich Chinese. In 1998, the government realized that the time had come to think about protecting the masses from harmful information and began developing the Golden Shield system, which was launched in 2003.

What does the Golden Shield protect against?

First of all, from pornography and political disinformation. Site blocking criteria are constantly changing and improving.

Blocking can be done using keywords (“porn”, “Tibet”, “human rights”) and blacklists. IN currently There is a transition from black lists to white lists. That is, now a Chinese person can go to any site that is not blocked. And in the future, he will be able to visit only authorized resources.

In conclusion of the review of sites, it should be noted that the Chinese Internet is huge and each of the above services has many analogues.

Why do the Chinese need digital addresses?

One of characteristic features Chinese Internet are domain names consisting only of numbers. For example, 4399.com hosts a large portal with flash games:

300 million Chinese have learned/are learning English, but it is difficult for them. Many people find it easier to remember the numerical sequence than the Latin alphabet. In addition, many Chinese have email addresses whose first part consists of numbers.

The order of numbers in website names is often not random at all, but phonetically based. For example, at the address 1688.com Alibaba store is located. And the number series “1, 6, 8, 8” sounds like “yau-liyo-ba-ba” in Chinese.

How do the Chinese feel about porn?

It’s not news to anyone that in China there are penalties for creating porn sites and that they are filtered by the national firewall. But last year an unprecedented incident occurred, which was covered by many of the world's media. 30 thousand people were arrested for watching porn. And this is just the beginning.

Where do the Chinese go online other than home/work?

In the 2000s, Internet cafes (passport-only entry) began to gain popularity, some of which could seat several thousand people. You've probably read creepy stories about how the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire sit for days in such establishments. Sometimes this ends in death.

In 2012, a visit cost about 1.5 yuan or 7.5 rubles per hour. Young Chinese people like to stay in such establishments instead of hotels.

At the moment, chain bars are becoming a thing of the past and are not approved by the state.

Just like in Moscow, the subways of major Chinese cities have Wi-Fi. Wireless Internet is easy to find in any metropolis. Travelers recommend looking for it at Starbucks.

Many tourists are unpleasantly surprised that in hotel rooms Instead of Wi-Fi, they are offered wired Internet access (and often not included in the room rate).

In 2013, there were only 1,400 McDonald's with free Wi-Fi throughout the country. If in Russia this is a mandatory option for the outlets of this restaurant chain fast food, then no for China! And they are trying to refuse Wi-Fi, since the Chinese are big fans of freebies and take up all the seats at the tables without ordering anything.

They sit for hours on the floor in bookstores so as not to buy anything.

And they are slowly dismantling the Great Wall of China for economic needs.

Do the Chinese like online games?

The Chinese are not only big fans of freebies, but also avid gamers. Every second Internet user plays online games.

Is it really that bad for the Chinese?

The level of Internet censorship in China is far from the highest. In neighboring North Korea, only a few organizations with special permission have access to the network (according to unverified data, there are about one and a half thousand of them). For example, embassies of foreign countries. At the same time, they can access the Internet, but they cannot distribute Wi-Fi, so as not to intimidate local residents.

Ordinary Koreans use their own Gwangmyeon network (via Dial-Up), which foreigners know little about. And even this local network You can only log out from work computers. When a wealthy resident North Korea gets to China, the first thing he does is run to a network bar.

The traditions of China have been established and taken root over thousands of years. Being a closed country, China has formed its own cultural taboos that are alien and incomprehensible to foreigners.

Over the past 40 years of reform, the country has opened up significantly to the world, people have become more tolerant of strangers violating some unwritten laws, but there are still a lot of things that should not be done in China. Of course, it is impossible to know all of them, and only after living for some time can you learn to intuitively sense the situation so as not to spoil relationships with loved ones, friends or partners.

One of the most ceremonial aspects of life is eating. In general, food, cuisine and everything connected with it evoke special hypertrophied feelings among the Chinese. If you want to fit into Chinese society, here's what you shouldn't do at the table, and more.

It is indecent to refuse an invitation to dinner; this will greatly offend the Chinese. Agree, even if you are not very pleased, you can refuse only by citing some very important reason. Don’t be surprised if the inviting party suddenly invites more huge quantities to the people. The more, the tastier.

Do not rush to take your place at the table; the Chinese are seated in the order of seniority, importance, and coolness that they understand. You will definitely be shown a place by which you can judge how the other side perceives you, but, as a rule, the Chinese treat guests very respectfully, offering place of honor next to the owner.

The dishes are usually ordered by the elder or the inviter, your opinion will also be asked, but if you do not have strict restrictions, such as religious, medical, or you are simply not a fan of certain foods, let the Chinese choose what they consider appropriate to the situation. If for some reason you cannot eat something, be sure to let us know and they will choose suitable dishes for you.

The eldest at the table begins the meal.

Chopsticks are only for eating, they cannot be used as a toothpick, hair decoration... If the chopsticks fall, do not touch them, ask the waiter to replace them. Dirty chopsticks, even if wiped, contaminate the food. You cannot stick chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice; this is reminiscent of rituals associated with the deceased. When you reach for food in a common dish, the chopsticks should be clean, without any rice stuck to them.

You cannot turn the fish over on a common platter; after you have eaten the top part, you must remove the backbone and continue. This tradition may differ from place to place, be supplemented and modified.

You should not turn the spout of the teapot towards anyone sitting at the table; this is a hint that the person pointed at should leave.

When drinking and clinking glasses, the Chinese stand up and try to ensure that when they touch, their glass is lower than that of their interlocutor - a sign of respect.

Don't discuss business matters at the table. And although it is common to say that issues are resolved over lunch, do not take this literally. The main point is that they are looking at you, evaluating you and deciding how to treat you.

The bill is paid by the person who invited. There is no tradition of separate payment in China. If lunch is with friends, then at the end of the meal an argument begins about who pays; the argument is accompanied by throwing money on the table, stuffing it back into the owner’s pocket, calling the waiter demanding to take his money, etc. Be sure to take part in the performance, you are unlikely to win the argument, but you will leave a good impression.

Tipping is not accepted in China. Although in big cities, “spoiled” by foreigners, the situation is changing. If you don't tip, then only the masseuses will be offended.

At business meetings The first impression is important. The Chinese pay special attention to such things as: who entered the room first, and how they sat down. If you are offered to sit at the table, do not sit at the head, wait until they show you a place. When handing over a business card, you cannot hold it with two fingers, but always with both hands, with the face of the business card facing the person you are handing over to, and it does not matter whether it is the director of the company or his driver.

IN traditional China handshakes were not accepted, but now it is common, and not only in business sphere. The handshake should be firm and short. But since this is a tradition alien to them, sometimes they do it strangely. Hugs are not accepted at all, even among relatives.

Communication does not always go in the direction you want, but under no circumstances should you raise your voice, rise above your opponent (they already feel uncomfortable around tall people) and point a finger. Remain calm and self-possessed, you cannot be the reason for a Chinese person to “lose face”, this cannot be forgiven.

If you need to call someone over, do not do it with your palm up, just your palm down.

Because of large quantity People in China have their personal space reduced to a minimum. When someone comes VERY close to you, do not try to back away, this may be interpreted as hostility.

When communicating in person, you cannot talk about death and it is better not to discuss politics, both past and present. The Chinese have their own personal view of what is happening or happened in the country, and they are very emotional about it. Due to the nature of media and education, it is very difficult to talk about some topics in terms of logic, facts and reason (for example, the Cultural Revolution and Mao's role in it; treatment of the Japanese and the mass use of Japanese goods; human rights; the situation with Tibet).

You can't name people, especially older generation, by name, only by status: “auntie”, “paternal/maternal grandmother”, etc.

It is indecent to sneeze in public, but this can be compensated for, for example, by coughing.

Another aspect of communication that raises questions: gifts and phrases, the sound of which may have a negative meaning.

You cannot give a watch, since the phrase songzhong 送钟 (give a watch) is consonant with songzhong 送终 - death, bury parents. Although now wrist watch became an indicator of status, this taboo began to apply more to large watches than to wristwatches.

When offering a gift, be prepared for it to be rejected at least three times, be persistent, but at the same time, when receiving a gift, also force yourself to be persuaded a little. The gift cannot be opened immediately; this is done privately. When packing a gift, pay attention to the color of the packaging: dark colors- unfortunately, red is only for newlyweds. You cannot give something in the amount of 4 pieces, four is consonant with the word 死 death, but 8 is a lucky number.

You can't stroke people's heads or hair.

Mentioning a turtle in any context is unacceptable - it is a symbol of a deceived husband. Also refrain from wearing green headdresses, this is the same as putting horns on a man’s head.

You cannot show the soles of your feet; it is perceived very negatively. When entering the house, be sure to ask if you need to take off your shoes.

You can't wash your hair in Chinese New Year so as not to wash away your luck. But if such an opportunity does happen, never, ever tell your Chinese friends about it.

Customs and traditions in China may differ and sometimes mean the opposite in different regions, but it’s not forbidden to ask locals about accepted standards behavior. In general, the Chinese are quite loyal to the mistakes of foreigners, the main thing is not to abuse this.

Among foreigners and tourists living in the Middle Kingdom, there are a lot of fears about this country. The PRC is considered a rather closed and unlike other country. Therefore, before going here on vacation, or even moving, you need to find out about all the pitfalls associated with this place. There are a lot of unusual prohibitions. But it is worth noting that there are even more myths associated with pseudo-prohibitions. So what is really going on in China? What can't you do there, and what is simply not recommended?

Strict prohibitions

To begin with, it’s worth talking about things for which in China they can not just look at you askance, but actually punish you. As they say, ignorance of the laws does not exempt you from responsibility. So let's learn the basic laws of China together.

• Don't deal with drugs. This point will probably not surprise anyone. Drugs are prohibited in most civilized countries, and China is no exception. The use of drugs, trade and possession of drugs is prohibited here - the penalties for this are the most serious. Moreover, it applies not only to locals, but also to foreigners. If you are caught for drug trafficking in an Asian country, it is quite possible that you will spend the rest of your life in a local prison. There have also been cases where people were sentenced to death for drug trafficking. death penalty. But this is only if everything is really serious.
• Don't pay in dollars . This fact surprises many tourists. Foreigners are accustomed to the fact that they can use international currencies everywhere – dollars, euros. This is very convenient, because you don’t have to recalculate or change anything. But in China this is prohibited by law. As in the former Soviet Union, if you try to pay in foreign currency, you may well be detained and fined (unless, of course, you show money everywhere).Here you can say that China still maintains relations with other countries, so payment in dollars must be present. This is true, but all this trade is semi-legal, and in China itself you need to be very careful with dollars. It is better to immediately exchange dollars for local currency. A foreigner can exchange as much currency as he wants per day, but only buy $500. Tricky?
• Don't give bribes. We have already talked about the problem of corruption in China. As well as the fact that they are now actively fighting it. Or they are trying to fight. Therefore, giving bribes in China is now prohibited. Of course, the punishment for this is not too terrible. They may simply cool you down with a short “no”; maximum - detain and issue a fine. However, in this case the attitude towards foreigners is more lenient, but it’s still not worth the risk.
• Never criticize local authorities. If in many countries politicians are loyal to what is said about them in the kitchen in Khrushchev or in a humorous program, then in the PRC this is more difficult. For criticism local authorities even a foreigner may well be deported from China.
• Be careful on the roads. This is more likely not even a ban, but useful recommendation, which may well save your life. The fact is that in China a lot of people die in car accidents due to the inattention of drivers and pedestrians. This is especially true for the southern cities of the Middle Kingdom. According to statistics, this is where the most irresponsible drivers are who often break the rules. Therefore, you need to be very careful here. There are no special rules: everything is the same as in other cities. It is enough to be careful on the roads, do not cross when the lights are red and look both ways when crossing from one side of the street to the other. Well, be able to quickly run away from danger.

• Do not carry self-defense equipment with you. Even if you are afraid to walk dark streets, have heard a lot about the criminal areas of megacities, or simply do not trust foreign police, you still do not need to carry knives, gas canisters, and so on. The same goes for lighters and matches. The Chinese take their security very seriously. Therefore, if they notice that you have something with you that is potentially dangerous, they will immediately take it away from you. This is especially true if you walk around museums or often use the metro. By the way, it is also not recommended to bring something like this to China.
• Don't stick your chopsticks into your food . This ban is due to local prejudices. The fact is that they associate this gesture with funerals. When the Chinese bring food to a funeral, they always stick their chopsticks into the rice before placing the plate on the grave. Therefore, if you do this at the table, it will be perceived as a violation of etiquette. Although no one will point a finger at you - you are laowai.
• Don't drink water from—under the tap. This is true for many Asian countries. This should not be done simply because the water here is dirty, and in some cities even dangerous to health. Locals prefer to either buy bottled water, boil it, or filter it. You can follow their example.
• Learn Chinese. This is another tip that will make your life much easier. Of course, the phrase “in China one cannot help but know Chinese language“sounds loud, but in practice it is close to the truth. Few locals speak English or, especially, other less common languages. Therefore, in order not to get lost in China and have a good rest there, it is worth learning at least some basic phrases.

Don't believe the rumors

We should also talk about rumors related to bans. For example, on the Internet you can find information that in the PRC it is forbidden to photograph locals. It is not true. But it's worth noting that many Asians are naturally shy, so not everyone will want to pose for a stranger or take a photo with him.

Another prohibition related to this topic is photographs in Museums. This is also a lie. The rules here are the same as everywhere else - pay extra money and take photos. This rumor has spread due to the fact that there is indeed a ban on photography at the Great Hall of the People at Tiananmen and at the mausoleum of the great Mao Zedong. But everything here is tied to politics, and there are always signs at the entrance warning about the ban.

The latest story that people like to retell on the Internet is that in China you cannot eat everything on offer, you must leave food on the plate. In reality this is not the case at all. In the past, rich Chinese and tourists did exactly this to prove that they lived in abundance and did not starve. Now such a “demonstration of satiety” is completely useless. Try new dishes, eat with pleasure, and, if you want, finish it and even ask for more!

Every day a person lives is associated with compliance with the laws of the country in which he lives.

Law: its role in society

Why are laws made? To regulate various processes in society, even in those areas that at first glance seem quite ordinary: paying for travel on public transport, shopping in a store, etc. Law is a philosophical category aimed at maintaining the functioning of society, being a connecting link all processes occurring in it in order to maintain balance and harmony, as well as the correct course of things. Laws are aimed at resisting chaos, and were invented to fulfill them.

In China, it is illegal to save a drowning person.

Sometimes the imagination of legislative bodies amazes with its sophistication and limitlessness that one only has to throw up one’s hands when getting acquainted with the absurd and strange laws of some countries. For example, in China it is prohibited to save a drowning person.

It sounds, of course, absurd and cruel. But in China it is indeed forbidden to save a drowning person. Why is that? This requires understanding the philosophy of a country like China. It is illegal to save a drowning person because the Chinese believe in Fate, inexorable and unyielding, with which one must live in peace and harmony.

What does Fate mean to the Chinese?

In China there is a saying: “Fate comes first, Luck comes second, and Feng Shui comes third,” which briefly explains the degree of influence of factors on a person’s life. For the Chinese, Fate coming first means life path, definite By Higher Powers that is beyond human will.

Fate is a combination of a person’s innate qualities that have a significant impact on him and which cannot be changed by his environment, upbringing, or education. A person’s personal-cosmic code, a kind of unique passport, is his moment of birth.

The fate of a person is the relationship of the individual with other people, the place he occupies in a complex society, in combination with such important factors like luck and luck. The Chinese even developed a one-of-a-kind system that allows them to determine and explain Fate without interfering with it in any way. That is why in China it is forbidden to save a drowning person, so as not to violate what is destined for him from above.

Of course, the Chinese are a bit strange people unwilling to come to the rescue Hard time. After all, if in China it is forbidden to save a drowning person, then this means standing calmly and watching this terrible process, and perhaps even taking photographs? Can the Chinese really be so inhumane to their fellow countrymen? Apparently not.

A real case of saving a drowning Chinese man

Not so long ago, in the summer of 2014, in the city of Qingdao, located on the coast, an incident occurred on the water that practically blew up the press. A young girl from Murmansk saved a drowning Chinese man. While relaxing with a friend at sea, 33-year-old Evgenia Konovalova (that’s the heroine’s name) saw that a person on the water needed help. According to the savior, almost all Chinese do not know how to swim, which means they do not risk going far into the water. They just walk along the shore, going ankle-deep into the sea. One daredevil decided to swim a little further than the others on the circle, but could not stay on it and began to drown. Thanks to the courage of Evgenia, who did not know the prohibition laws in this country, another vacationer was saved. The Chinese media glorified the brave woman on all pages, forgetting about the taboo they had once imposed with their own hands.

As a thank you to Evgenia, who has practically become national heroine, was awarded a ticket to a unique flower exhibition and many different souvenirs.

Amazing laws of China

There are also a number of laws in China that seem unusual to us. Here are some of them:

It is true that in China it is forbidden to save a drowning person, just as it is true that in other countries there are rather eccentric laws that are nevertheless enforced and were invented in connection with certain events.

It’s not only China that surprises with its own laws.

Ridiculous laws of other countries

If in China it is prohibited to save a drowning person, then the laws of other countries are even more amazing.

India

• Anyone who kills a cow in the state of Bihar (northern India) will be hanged.
• Those who remove cow dung will have their hands cut off.

Alaska

• It is forbidden to wake up polar bear for the purpose of taking a photo together.
• It is prohibited to give moose drinks containing alcohol.

Americans are the most original when it comes to coming up with laws, so the fact that in China it is prohibited to save a drowning person is nothing compared to the laws of various US states.

• In Los Angeles, it is illegal to lick frogs. The adoption of such a law was due to the discovery of the fact that the skin of some representatives of croaking creatures contains hallucinogenic substances, which for the time being were used by local drug addicts.
• In Minnesota, you can't hang women's and men's underwear on the same line;
• All cats in the Cresskill State must wear three bells to warn birds of their approach.
• In West Virginia, it is legal to take roadkill animals and cook them for dinner. This law was passed to save money on road clearing.
• In the city of Zion, Illinois, it is illegal to serve lighted cigars to dogs, cats, or other pets.

1. You shouldn’t pretend to be a tropical tourist by wearing a bright Hawaiian jacket - after all, you’re not on a tropical island, but in China. The thing is that bright clothes are not very welcome local residents, and most people will be reluctant to interact with an obvious stranger who hasn't even bothered to familiarize themselves with etiquette.

2. It is not customary to walk counterclockwise around the temple. It is customary for the Chinese to walk around their temples strictly clockwise, and individual groups of tourists walking counterclockwise attract unnecessary attention.

3. You should not jump out of a taxi without paying, or in any other way violate public order and the law. The police in China are very strict with violators, and embassies cannot always help their citizens who have violated some rules.

4. Don't try your hand at climbing Everest. Yes, if you are an experienced climber, then there are no problems. However, in China there are a lot of other, less dangerous activities for ordinary tourists, except climbing rocks. Last year, 40 thousand tourists climbed this mountain (Chinese section), injuries and even death among such tourists are a very common occurrence.

6. Do not cross lines in the subway and at bus stops. Our drivers know who they are dealing with and will not run you over, even if you stand behind such a line. Citizens there are law-abiding, and a bus can easily hit a tourist who decides to stand out from the crowd and gets out of line. Well, let’s keep silent about the subway altogether - there are so many people in the Chinese subways that they can simply push you over the line, and then you won’t be able to prove anything to anyone.

7. You should also not stay in China more than your visa allows. Well, of course, if you want to get acquainted with the original etiquette of Chinese prisons, then please live as long as you want. But it is best not to deal with an expired visa, since the police of this country, as mentioned above, have a very negative attitude towards violators.

8. If you have lost a receipt for a hotel payment, or any other financial document, which indicates that you paid for something there in China, then you can take out your wallet again. Even if the same manager who checked you in the first time is standing at the reception, he will demand a piece of paper indicating that you paid for your stay. If there is no piece of paper, you will either have to pay again, or you will have to deal with the police, who will consider you a defaulter without any investigation.

9. Smile. You should smile while traveling in China. Exude fun and good nature, and traveling will become much easier! Good luck!