First Stop China

Etiquette & dos and don’ts in Beijing

The practical rules that stop you accidentally causing offence.

Last reviewed for the 2026 season · Etiquette & dos and don’ts across all of China →

In Beijing specifically

In Beijing, stand right on escalators and let passengers off the metro before boarding.
Around Beijing's heritages sites, dress modestly and never photograph people at prayer.
Do not photograph police, checkpoints or government buildings anywhere in Beijing — it is taken seriously.

What everyone needs to know

Honour the queue — pushing in is genuinely unpopular and escalators have a standing side.
Do not comment on politics, Taiwan or Tibet in casual conversation.
Public spitting and loud phone calls are common; reacting to them is the ruder act.
Photographing government buildings, police and military sites is prohibited and taken seriously.

The numbers

Item	Typical value
Escalator rule	Stand right, walk left
Queue behaviour	Increasingly enforced in metros
Photography ban	Government/military sites
Toasting	Older person leads

Do it in this order

Stand right on escalators and let people off the metro before boarding.
Photograph people with permission and government buildings not at all.
In restaurants, it is normal to share dishes — do not expect individual courses.
Keep debates about politics and history out of casual conversation.

Mistakes that cost money or time

Photographing police, checkpoints or government buildings.
Assuming a shared dish is eaten only by you.
Raising sensitive historical topics with people you have just met.

Check it at the source

Emergency: 110

Questions people actually ask

Can I take photos anywhere?: Tourist sites, streets and markets are fine. Government buildings, police, military sites and some temple interiors are not.
What should I wear at temples?: Cover shoulders and knees, and remove hats inside halls.

More about Beijing

Etiquette & dos and don’ts in other cities