To test their theory they monitored the daily outdoor routines of two people, one was alone and the other was accompanied by a dog trained to ignore passers-by so it would initiate social contact.

BBC: Dogs help you make friends

Regardless of all of the above, one thing you should always do when traveling around China is carry with you Chinese-language business cards of your hotel or of places you wish to visit so you can show passers-by, taxi drivers, bus conductors and the like.

CNN: 5 top tips for China first-timers