Zibo

Zhangdian District

Main urban core and rail hub; best base for one night, walkable to restaurants and the ceramics museum by bus or taxi.

Zhoucun District

Stay here only if the old commercial street is your priority; quieter evenings, 40–60 min from Zhangdian.

Boshan District

Ceramics-workshop side of the city with mountain access; useful if you are driving, thin on hotels otherwise.

Etiquette

• Greeting: Handshake and a nod; use surnames with a title; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses
• Face: Disagree privately and indirectly; avoid: Correcting or embarrassing someone in front of others
• Gifts: Give with two hands; expect the gift to be refused once or twice and opened later; avoid: Clocks, umbrellas, white flowers, sets of four
• Business cards: Present and receive with both hands, read it, keep it on the table; avoid: Writing on it or pocketing it at once
• Queues and crowds: Hold your ground politely in scrums at buses and lifts; avoid: Taking pushing personally
• Temples: Walk clockwise around Tibetan stupas and prayer wheels; remove hats; avoid: Touching statues or photographing where signs forbid
• Politics: Listen; follow your host's lead; avoid: Raising Tibet, Taiwan, Xinjiang, 1989 or the party leadership
• Numbers and colour: Red and 8 are lucky; red envelopes carry money gifts; avoid: Writing names in red; the number 4

Scams and watch-outs

• Zibo Railway Station and a bus stop share the same name; the bus stop is about 300 m from the station entrance.
• The ceramics and glazed-glass museum is free but needs an advance reservation (up to 7 days ahead) and closes Mondays except public holidays.
• Some sights sit 30–60 min apart by car; do not plan three districts in one day.
• At stations and sights, ignore drivers who do not use the meter; the taxi supervision line is +86 533-12345.