"I would have thought that in a culture with so many people, you'd likely be careful about sharing your sounds with others."

Your first visit to China?

Actually, this is one of those times when being a foreigner helps. While Chinese are usually reluctant to interfere in other's pleasures, you as the barbarian are perfectly free to do so. Particularly in hotels I always seem to be asking other guests to close their door when chatting in their room or not talk on their mobiles in the hall, and I haven't been murdered for doing so yet.