Chinese government tells citizens not to pee in pools, pick noses while abroad

Don't leave footprints on toilet seats or pee in pools and always trim your nose hairs when travelling abroad, the Chinese government has advised its citizens in a new Guidebook for Civilised Tourism.

Agence France-Presse reported the National Tourism Administration has published a guidebook doling out etiquette for its travelling citizens — and some of the advice is bizarre.

The rules, published before a week-long holiday marking the communist take-over in 1949, include drawings that illustrate improper behaviour, such as picking one's nose and stealing life jackets from airplanes. Some advice is specific to various countries: the guidebook says not to buy stones in Scotland or snap fingers to beckon people in Germany, according to the Telegraph.

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China has issued similar guidelines before imploring its citizens to be "civilized" abroad by ensuring they don't spit, litter, vandalize or jay-walk, among other impolite conduct. The last set of guidelines issued in May came after a 15-year-old boy caused international outrage by carving the words "Ding Jinhao paid a visit here" onto the wall of a 3,500-year-old Egyptian temple.

In February, a mainland Chinese woman visiting Hong Kong with her family enraged residents there after she told her son to pee into a bottle while they were sitting in a restaurant, according to Agence France-Presse.