China tells citizens traveling overseas not to pick noses in public, pee in pools

Image-conscious China has reportedly issued a 64-page Guidebook for its citizens who are to travel overseas, in a bid to curb their unruly behaviour.

The Guidebook for Civilised Tourism has been publicized by the National Tourism Administration and gives out a list of dos and don'ts like not to pick noses in public, pee in pools or steal aeroplane life jackets.

Vice Premier Wang Yang said that as Chinese tourists increasingly travel abroad, they have developed a stereotype of 'uncivilised behaviour' which has damaged the image of the Chinese people, news.com.au reports.

The guidebook warns travellers to keep their nose-hair neatly trimmed, if they had to pick their teeth, never to use their fingers, and not to occupy public toilets for long periods of time or leave footprints on the toilet seat among other things.

According to the report, the guidebook also gives out country-specific advice like Chinese visitors to Germany should only snap their fingers to beckon dogs, not humans and when in Spain, women should always wear earrings in public, or else be considered effectively naked.

Several countries have eased visa restrictions to attract increasingly affluent Chinese tourists, but reports have also emerged of complaints about etiquette, and the latest effort is aimed at improving the overall image of the country and its citizens, the report added.