Without a doubt the downside is smog in the cities, no personal space, and in Beijing, every time you cross the street, it's a life threatening experience. Then there is the fact that you can't drink the water. I even kept my mouth closed every time I showered and had a towel handy to wipe any water off my lips. Hubby and I also brushed our teeth with bottled water. There are some places you visit that will have only "squatty" potties, so be prepared. Also, keep some toilet paper or Kleenex in your purse b/c it's not always available when you're out & about-every hotel in which we stayed had Western toilets and plenty of toilet paper, but we stayed at the high end luxury hotels. At The Great Wall, there was no toilet paper in the restrooms and only "squatty" potties. When I typed my first post, I guess I was wearing my rose-colored glassed b/c I only remembered the awesome parts of our experience in China. It is definitely different from the United States, but that's what makes it unique. It was a completely new and exciting experience for us. Overall we loved it and hope to go back one day.