Cultural tips

Chinese people have many ways to try to avoid illness. For example, to avoid seasonal illnesses like irritated eyes, gum disease and toothache, Chinese people drink pear soup and chrysanthemum or honeysuckle tea during the autumn and spring season. They believe that too much time in an air-conditioned room or drinking iced beverages lead to colds and diarrhea. Chinese people call these cold symptoms 着凉(zháo liáng). During sudden changes in temperature, Chinese parents make sure that their children drink hot water, eat warm meals, cover themselves with quilts and stay out of the blowing wind.