#35: China

Annual count of international tourists: 82 million

Tourism revenue: $730 billion

Mandarin, the world’s second-most spoken language, often creates a barrier for visitors in China, leading to misconceptions of rudeness. Yet, the true gap lies in understanding China’s deeply held customs and values, which locals cherish ardently.

While Chinese people understand the challenge of foreigners fully grasping their customs, they appreciate it when visitors try to understand their rich culture and traditions before arriving, bridging the cultural divide.