Are you traveling to China to watch the 2008 Olympics in Beijing?

Chinese culture differs in many respects to Western culture, and to help ease the transition for tourists and athletes, the Hilton hotels launched their "be hospitable Traveler" campaign.

For instance -- according to behospitabletraveler.com -- did you know that blowing your nose onto the ground is common in China and oftentimes blowing one's nose into a tissue can be perceived as rude if done in public? Slurping and burping is also common in China and shouldn’t be met with any disdain.

Toilet paper, considered a given in any public toilet in America, is not always provided in public bathrooms in China. It is also considered rude to show the soles of your feet in public.

If you are in China, be prepared to push your way through a crowd and do not be offended if you are pushed in a line. The Chinese typically do not practice the courtesy of waiting in line.

These are just a few of the tips that the "be hospitable Traveler" campaign is educating tourists and athletes with.

Mark Lopez, who won the 2005 World Taekwondo Championships in the featherweight division and is a member of the US Olympic team, is a spokesman for the campaign.

"They have taught us many things about traveling abroad, the faux pas of what not to do, and what to do, and specifically about Beijing, a couple of things to look out for," said Lopez.

Lopez said he has already been to Beijing twice before, but he is still learning all the intricacies of the culture.

"For one, if you are at the dinner table, tea is a huge thing in China. And when you're pouring the tea, and you put the pot down, you are supposed to make sure not to point the spout at anyone in particular, because it's kind of a bad omen," said Lopez.

Lopez also said many of the simple, daily social interactions differ greatly in China.

"Another thing is the bows. They are a good way to greet somebody," said Lopez. "In the United States it's a good idea to look somebody in the eye, especially adults, to show respect and that you're paying attention to them. But in Asian culture it's frowned upon to look straight at an elder's eyes, so it's better to look away or down when speaking to them."

Lopez has traveled all around the world competing in Taekwondo matches. His most important piece of advice he has for tourists traveling to Beijing is to keep an open mind.

"Just remember that people over there aren't going to speak the same language that you do or always feel the same that you do," said Lopez.

He also advises to learn a few key Chinese phrases like "Where is the restroom?" "Hello," and "Goodbye." He also advises to take the opportunity to learn about the great history of China, which stretches back thousands of years.

"Before you even go, research the food and the culture, and the people and most importantly the history of China and the civilization," said Lopez. "I mean, it's one of the richest civilizations in the history of mankind."

Lopez said traveling far distances and trying to stay focused on his competitions is always a challenge.

"That's why we're grateful for what the Hilton's "be hospitable Traveler" program is doing for us. They have a lot of things about what to be prepared for and what's to come, in China, from the food and how people interact with each other," said Lopez. "So, going into a foreign culture, you already know what to expect so it's not as much of a distraction when you get there. You get to concentrate more on the competition and training."

There has been a lot of publicity and controversy leading up to the Beijing Olympics, much of it a result of China's controversial policies in Tibet. But Lopez said he thinks the Olympics will bring the West and East closer together instead of driving them further apart.

"I think more good can come out of this more than anything, and give China a chance to show themselves to the world. They're going to put their best face forward for everybody," said Lopez. "Of course, there will be protests and those issues are going to come up, which I think is good, because China's going to really look themselves in the mirror and see what's good and bad about their own civilization and society and maybe they can learn from something the people here in the United States are discussing."