Guangzhou's authorities gave away 100,000 copies of a newly published etiquette handbook to residents yesterday.

The book was published on the occasion of the annual national "Learn from Lei Feng" Day, aiming to carry on the spirit of Lei Feng, a Chinese Samaritan of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Guangzhou has picked patriotism, obeying the law, honesty and good manners as this year's theme. The books were offered free to schools, companies and communities.

"When a man is walking with a lady, the man should walk to the outside of the sidewalk," the book teaches. It also says a man should walk in front of a lady when going downstairs and behind the lady when walking upstairs. While riding on an escalator, Guangzhou residents are advised to stand to the right so that others may pass on the left.

Pedestrians are told to use pavements, zebra crossings, footbridges and underground tunnels on the road.

The booklet is also considerate enough to remind ladies to avoid wearing skirts or short pants while on a boat trip.

While using public transport, eating at a restaurant or traveling in an elevator, people are suggested to lower their voices and reduce the volume of their mobile phone rings so as not to disturb others.

The booklet advises people against using the term "Xiaojie," or miss, to address young ladies from outside Guangdong Province, because the term implies "prostitute" in the rest of China.

People are told to arrive at a theater before the performance begins, applaud at the right time. For instance, clap at the end of an act, a symphony or a dance performance instead of during the show, the book says.

Many Guangzhou citizens welcomed the book and some suggested posting advertisements to remind people in the public, the Information Times said yesterday.

"No Smoking signs are common nowadays, but we seldom see posters reminding people to keep quiet or stand to the right on escalators in public," a resident was quoted as saying.

(Shenzhen Daily March 6, 2006)