Summertime is rain shower season in Beijing, so you’re going to want to carry an umbrella with you during appropriate times. Let’s go over what the right thing to do is when heading indoors during the rain with your umbrella.

Keep it closed and dry; if you are heading to a public place or the office, there are going to be tons of umbrellas with no space for everyone to have them opened to dry. It’s also customary to close your umbrella upon entering a building and tapping the tip in front of the entrance a few times before entering. The next question lies in where you should place your wet umbrella. If you have the carrying case for your umbrella, use that. If you enter an establishment that offers bags for wet umbrellas, feel free to use those. Make sure to keep them upright to get them dry.

Keep it open and dry; if you are entering your home, chances are you have enough space to park your wet umbrella. Perhaps you have a large enough of a hallway to leave your umbrella to dry. Simply open your umbrella and set it on its side to let the rain water dry off.

If you are in a public place, keep your umbrella near you and perhaps on the floor so that you can avoid getting the area you’re in wet. Be courteous and don’t set your wet umbrella on a seat next to you. Also, keep your umbrella away from walkways where it can trip someone.