Hanzhong

This is increasingly rare, but it happens. Have small denomination RMB notes (5, 10, 20 yuan) as backup. If they truly only take QR codes, your last resort is to politely show your cash to a younger-looking local person in line and point to the vendor's QR code. They will almost always help you scan and pay them the cash. It's a bit awkward, but it works.

Many dishes aren't inherently spicy. You can explicitly order Roujiamo or Stewed Pork Rice with no spice. For noodles, you can say "bu yao la jiao you" (don't want chili oil). The flavor profile will change, but you'll still get the core taste of the noodles, meat, and vinegar.

It's a challenge, but not impossible. Buddhist restaurants near temples are your best bet. You can find dishes like Liangfen (mung bean jelly) without meat sauce, steamed buns with vegetable fillings (su baozi), and stir-fried greens. Learn the phrase "wo chi su" (I eat vegetarian). Be aware that stocks and sauces often contain meat, so strict vegetarians will have a limited selection.

Don't assume "chicken" or "beef" is prepared like at home. The cuts are different—more bones, cartilage, and skin. If you're not adventurous with textures, stick to the minced or stewed meats in dishes like Roujiamo and Hong Shao Rou. Pointing at a picture of a whole chicken dish might get you a plate of delicious but challenging-to-navigate pieces.

Real antiques are rare and expensive. If a deal seems too good, it probably is. I ask sellers for provenance or certificates; if they hesitate, it's likely a reproduction. Stick to items labeled as replicas, and focus on craftsmanship over age.

Take the metro to Bell Tower Station and walk east for 10 minutes. Taxis are convenient but can get stuck in traffic during peak hours. I recommend using a map app like Baidu Maps for precise navigation to the side entrances.

Generally, food prices are fixed, but for non-food items like souvenirs, you can bargain. I found that vendors are more flexible late at night when they're trying to clear stock. Start by offering 70% of the quoted price and negotiate from there.

It depends heavily on complexity. For a rubbing of a single, large Chinese character or a simple phrase on A3-sized paper (approx. 30x42 cm), a fair final price after bargaining should be between 150 and 250 RMB. If the seller insists it's from a particularly famous inscription or uses premium gold-leaf ink instead of standard black, the price will be higher. Always compare the texture and paper quality to the ones in the fixed-price museum shop first to calibrate your expectations.

Shimen is relatively low-pressure, but be wary of the "antique" scam. No one is selling genuine 2000-year-old stone fragments from the site. If someone approaches you with a "rare ancient artifact" found nearby, it's a fake. Also, with calligraphy brushes, a common upsell is the "luxury box." The brush inside a 300 RMB silk box might be identical to the one in a 80 RMB cardboard box. Insist on examining the brush itself—the feel of the hair, the balance in your hand—not the packaging.