 | Beijing Spitting Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 14 |  |
 | |  |  | Spitting: Spitting in Beijing | Tip Rating:    |  |  | |  |
"Oh Confucius! That's disgusting! How dare you include "spitting" as a local custom in Beijing!!" Yet it's true. Although not officially sanctioned as a local custom, spitting is a fact of life in China and especially in Beijing. You will see signs all over the city, occasionally with English translation, that spitting is forbidden. In fact, the Great Hall of the People on the west side of Tiananmen Square is where the national government convenes and is also where you can see the world's largest "Please don't spit" sign. (Discreetly located to the left of the front stage when seen from the 10,000 seat auditorium, no English translation) When the political wind is blowing particularly strong (or the Olympic Committee is in town) neighborhood militia are organized to patrol the streets and fine spitters a token penalty, armed with a red armband on their sleeve and a humiliating bullhorn. Beijing citizens do not justify spitting because of the air pollution or sandstorms, nor are they unaware that spitting transmits the flu and a few other diseases. They simply believe it is a necessity of human existence and will spit on streets, on the bus, and even spit bones on restaurant floors (the cheap restaurants that foreigners never go to). Will Beijing ever crack down on spitters with stiffer fines and other punishment? As Johnny Cochran once observed in Tiananmen Square, "If they need to spit, then you must acquit." Leave a Comment
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| | | | Spitting: Spitting and Smoking | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Beijingers are not formal, nor do they have a set of enigmatic social rules that excludes outsiders. The Chinese do not bow (as the Japanese do), and they do not remove their shoes upon entering a house. Beijingers tend to be frank, and they do not, as a rule, thank others for favors, except by later actions. They shake hands but seldom embrace or kiss in public. They joke, but they do not speak loudly; and they seldom brag about their own accomplishments. Until recently, spitting in public and smoking whenever and wherever one pleased were common habits, but in recent years in Beijing, spitting has become unacceptable and smoking, in many public areas, has become unlawful. Don't expect the same thing when you leave Beijing and explore the country. I especialy found the smoking very bad in busses and trains. In sleepertrains it is okay, but in sleeperbusses they smoke like crazy. Leave a Comment
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As spitting is common in China, it doesn't mean you can do it too. It was really disgusting!!! But that's they way they are.... =/ Leave a Comment
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It's not a secret that the Chinese enjoy a good clearing of the throat but they really can do it anywhere, anytime. It's not only the men that do it, the women are also part of the game. Leave a Comment
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