It's a good idea to learn as much as you can about Chinese culture and customs before you go. Travel guides are an easy way to pick up some basic advice. They will also help you choose some places that you may want to visit, and provide hints on how to visit them and where to stay. You may want to skim through several at the library, then buy copies of your favorites to take along on the trip.

You can search through UNC-Chapel Hill's Libraries catalog to find travel guides that meet your needs. One useful strategy is using China--guidebooks as an LC Subject heading in the UNC-Chapel Hill Libraries Catalog. Click on the links of the results that come up. You can look through the Subject lines to see what topics a book focuses on.

Two excellent guidebooks about China are:

Fodor's China. New York, NY: Fodor's Travel Publications.
Published annually.
An excellent guide to China for all travelers. Contains suggestions for places to stay, eat, and visit; basic health precautions; public transport information; and cultural notes.
Davis Library and Undergraduate Library DS705 .F63

 

Lonely Planet China. Ed. Damian Harper, et al. Oakland, CA: Lonely Planet, 2005.
Updated regularly.
The popular Lonely Planet series is aimed at backpackers and other budget travelers. The information is honest and pointed--if the authors really liked or disliked something, they'll let you know! Lonely Planet China provides suggested itineraries for exploring China, as well as plenty of cultural information. Note that Lonely Planet also publishes guidebooks for specific Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The library does not own these titles, but you may want to purchase a copy if you will be traveling in these cities.
Undergraduate Library DS705 .C4645 2005