Tipping

In Guangzhou, and probably throughout China, tipping is becoming much more popular, especially when you see how hard some of these people work and for so little. Tipping frequently occurs when you are in a tour group, superior hotel, restaurant, train station and airport or somewhere else you can enjoy service.

If you are going to tip, tip in cash (don''t add it to the bill). Usually tip RMB10.00 for bellboys who carry one bag or RMB20.00 for many bags when you check in at a hotel. If you are uncertain about how much to give, just to tip based on your bill. For the tour guide and the driver, 5 - 10 US dollars a day per person is adequate

But remember there is no need to tip; do so only if you like the service and want to.

Toast

Should you choose to toast or receive a toast from a Chinese professional or friend, remember to hold your glass lower than theirs when clinking glasses together. It shows respect, and the Chinese will be quite impressed that you are such an expert in Chinese etiquette!

Time 

GMT/UTC plus eight hours (all of China is set to Beijing time). For a less complicated way, use New York time as an example. In the middle of the summer, New York will be exactly 12 hours behind China. If it is 8 am Monday morning in Guangzhou then it is 8 pm Sunday night in New York and 60 minutes is just ending. When clocks are set back, it becomes 13 hours behind East Coast time.
 
 
 Passports & VISAs

Always keep your passport with you. If you are traveling outside a group and entering Hong Kong or applying for a visa to enter mainland China, you will need a passport that will not expire in the next 6 months.

All foreigners entering mainland China require visas. If you are traveling to mainland China, whether for business or tourism, you require a Chinese visa.