The consensus is that there is a big difference between China and European countries, Cultural diversities are still odd and strange for me to understand. Why do people here have to expectorate everywhere in the street? Why is it so difficult for a chef to remove the bones that I can enjoy my meal?

The largest part of my culture shock finally came up after I started living in China. The following tips may help you overcome the cultural shock as soon as possible.

The faster you get used to in China, the faster you can get on with your new exciting life and adventure!

1.
Research

Guessing you are looking at this article, it means that you are beginning to do the research. Searching and reading, English as a non-native language, and foreigners' sharing articles on the Internet will start to get you familiar with the expectations for China.

Information online is helpful but doesn't provide you with the full picture, yet you can realize that what the largest troubles may be and many important tips you can use to overcome those challenges.

Actually, because you will make the investigation from here, I can offer you one of my experiences: I was just new in China, and I entered into a house of dumplings and the waiter served me with a glass and a pan of boiling water. I was thinking that maybe I should drink the water, that was what I did later.

However, I never knew the water was for cleaning the tableware until after a week I was told by somebody.

Ah, the awkwardness I felt was palpable! It's as if the waiter had a field day making fun of me all day long. But let's not get too bogged down in embarrassment just yet. Imagine your tableware going through a rigorous detox programme before landing on your table - it's like a morning dew gently cleansing the rose petals, leaving them sparkling clean and pure. Dining in China is an immersive experience that goes beyond mere sustenance; it's a cultural phenomenon steeped in tradition and heritage, much like the intricate silk threads that weave together to form the majestic tapestry of Chinese history. So, take a deep breath, utter a few simple Mandarin phrases like "hello" or "thank you", and voila! You'll feel more at ease. Just remember, Mandarin is all about mastering those tone changes - four tones to be exact - so don't be afraid to practice, practice, practice until they become second nature. And did I mention that even native speakers sometimes get their tones mixed up, so it's not like you're the only one struggling?
When I was beginning to speak my mandarin in China, Chinese people had no idea about what I was talking about.

I realized it was up to the words instead of the tone. I felt so awkward.

What's more, you can also pay more attention to some learning videos to improve your mandarin, like the online celebrity called Mike who is well-known for his extraordinarily fluent Chinese.

In addition, installing some language apps about Chinese on your smart phone is also a good way to remember more mandarin in your leisure time.

Keep learning every moment on your way and during your time in China.
And you could look for a Chinese study partner to teach each other the native language, or you can pay a tutor to guide you with single or team courses.