China Culture Guide
Do’s and Don’ts
Shanghai is to China as New York is to the US. Shanghai is a city of 17 million people, so it can get pretty crowed. Many travellers from abroad are confused by Chinese customs. In this vast metropolis of Sky Scrapers, Shopping centres and Chinese temples, you need to know what to do, what not to do, and how to get around with some basic Chinese.
This basic guide of Chinese culture makes it easy for newcomers to Shanghai to fit right in.
About people
Unlike the Japanese, Chinese do not commonly bow as a form of greeting. Instead, a brief handshake is usual. While meeting elders or senior officials, your handshake should be even more gentle and accompanied by a slight nod. Sometimes, as an expression of warmth, a Chinese will cover the normal handshake with his left hand. As a sign of respect, Chinese usually lower their eyes slightly when they meet others.
Moreover, embracing or kissing when greeting or saying good-bye is highly unusual. Generally, Chinese do not show their emotions and feelings in public. Consequently, it is better not to behave in too carefree a manner in public. Too, it is advisable to be fairly cautious in political discussions.
Do not worry if people around you do any of the following, it just comes naturally to them: burping, spitting, farting, yawing, and chomping. There is no shame here for such activities.
Don’t be timid when it comes to waiting in line. It is very likely someone will come and butt in front of you. More than often there aren’t any lines at all, just people massing at something. If you don’t fight your way in, you probably won’t get there at all.
At the dinner taple
Traditionally speaking, there are many taboos at Chinese tables, but these days not many people pay attention to them. However, there are a few things to keep in mind, especially if you are a guest at a private home.
Don’t be afraid to say you don’t want it when someone places food you don’t like into your bowl. Don’t look down at people if they make noise when eating as that I how they enjoy the food.
Don’t stick your chopsticks upright in the rice bowl. Instead, lay them on your dish. The reason for this is that when somebody dies, the shrine to them contains a bowl of sand or rice with two sticks of incense stuck upright in it. So if you stick your chopsticks in the rice bowl, it looks like this shrine and is equivalent to wishing death upon person at the table!
Tiping etiquette
Tipping is a completely foreign concept in China and is often refused by service staff, unless they are familiar with foreign customs (eg hotel and international restaurant staff). While there is no expectation of a tip by service staff, good service is rather rare in Shanghai, so a discreet reward for a job well done can only encourage more of the same!
Survival Chinese
Shanghai has its own version of Chinese, known as Shanghainese. Luckily, mostly everybody understands Mandarin Chinese. Here are some phrases that will help you get around in Shanghai.
ShoppingFor the traveller who is new to Asia, be careful when you bargain and remember that you should start at about 30-50% of the initial asking price. It’s always a good idea to eavesdrop on fellow shoppers in order to get more of an idea of a suitable price.
