10 Chinese Customs Every Tourist Should Know

China is a beautiful country with a long history. Over time, the people who have lived there have
developed their own set of customs, manners and etiquette that many people find different, not only
from their own country, but also from other East Asian countries. The last thing that anyone wants to do
when visiting a new country is offend someone unintentionally. As such, here are 10 Chinese customs to
keep in mind when you arrive in Beijing:

1. When you are speaking with people, it is considered rude to call them by their first name unless
you have known them since childhood. In business situations, titles are used, while in social
situations Mr., Mrs. or Miss are used.
2. It is rare for a Chinese person to introduce themselves to a stranger. In most cases,
introductions are made by another person. Some Chinese people will not smile or exchange
greetings with strangers, as being friendly to someone you don’t know is sometimes considered
rude or overly familiar.
3. When you are leaving or saying good-bye, it is appropriate to give a bow or nod of your head to
everyone present. Most Chinese do not carry out long good-byes, just nod and then leave. “Ju-i”
is often said when leaving in Beijing, which means take it slow or as one desires.
4. Bowing is used more of a sign or respect, usually for elders, than for greetings, as is done in
Japan. When Chinese bow, they place their right fist in their left hand, hold their hands at
stomach level and bow. The deeper the bow, the more respect they are showing.
5. Other than handshakes, which are growing in popularity, particularly when greeting Westerners,
Chinese basically avoid touching. Personal displays of affection, such as hugging and kissing, are
also frowned upon.
6. There are very few hand gestures in China, and winking and whistling are considered rude.
Also, you shouldn’t point or call someone over using your index finger, as this is used for dogs in
China.
7. When you are speaking with someone, it is considered rude to look them directly in the eye,
have your hands in your pockets or cross your arms or legs. Most Chinese will focus on the lower
neck and avoid staring while carrying on a conversation.
8. All Chinese people are very punctual and the expectation is that they will arrive exactly on time
for the engagement. If someone is late, it is considered rude to start without them, so everyone
will have to wait until that person arrives.

It is considered rude to tell someone no directly. Chinese will go out of their way to save face or make
foreigners happy. Instead of asking closed questions that will elicit a yes or no response, the best bet is
to ask an open question. For example, instead of asking “Can we go on the Yangtze River Cruises (URL:
http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/regions/china/rivers/yangtze/index.aspx) tomorrow?” you should
ask “When can we go on the Yangtze River Cruises?” In the first case, it is likely that you will be told yes,
even if the excursion is not going to happen. In the second case, there will be no option for confusion as
you will know exactly when you are going.

9. While gift giving is not as popular in China as in Japan, it is considered polite to give a small
token when meeting someone. Gifts to avoid are anything green or white, clocks, books or

umbrellas. Should you receive a gift, you should compliment the giver with thanks and smiles,
but do not open the gift until you are in private.
Should you feel awkward in a situation, your best bet is to watch what the Chinese people are doing
and then take it from there. Also, foreigners aren’t expected to know all the intricacies of Chinese
customs, so don’t worry if you make a mistake. The best thing to remember is to be polite and
respectful at all times.

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