Top 10 tips for newcomers

10. Go with the flow!

I think the biggest lesson I've learned since coming to China is to "just go with it." Unexpected things happen all the time. You might end up in a tuk-tuk weaving in and out of traffic as you cross your fingers and silently pray that you'll make it to the train station on time. After that, you may find yourself piling into a "private taxi" at 1 AM because the train station is closed. Or you might find yourself invited to dinner with a new friend you've literally only met 10 minutes ago on the subway. Whatever happens, be open to these wild new experiences. After all, there really are things that only ever happen in China…and those are the ones that make the best stories.

Foreign tourists wearing summer clothing take photos at the Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]