Rules of conduct for tourists in China 📃

When going to another country for the first time, everyone should familiarize themselves with the restrictions existing there and unusual events. This will avoid possible problems and awkward situations. You must also follow the rules that exist in this state.

What should a tourist know about China?

There is no need to try to ride like a hare on public transport. The fare is not exorbitant. People here will not understand the word “savings”, and besides, they are so meager. Why contribute to trouble?
Police representatives should not be rude. Offer them a bribe, too, so as not to worsen your situation and not end up behind bars.
Few people know that in the Middle Kingdom, children can go to the toilet anywhere, even in stores! For these purposes, mothers carry special bags with them. There is no need to laugh or loudly discuss the action you saw, so as not to provoke a conflict.
The Chinese are quite friendly towards foreigners and are always ready to respond to help. Residents of other countries perceive them as a “curiosity” and love to look at and communicate with them. The tourist has the opportunity to be the center of attention. There are times when tourists are photographed hiding behind a tree or around the corner of a house. White-skinned people evoke a genuine desire among the Chinese to capture a meeting with them. This is especially true for fair-haired girls.
When choosing an order in a restaurant, you should try to clarify with the waiter what will be served. This must be done in order not to encounter surprises. The word “meat” can mean dog or shark meat. The Chinese offer tourists to try delicacies at high prices. This does not always meet the expectations of foreigners.
The Chinese language is quite difficult to learn. You need to at least learn the main phrases. To greet the local people, you can learn the word "nihao", which means "hello".
It is imperative to ask at least three Chinese to find out the desired route of travel. Everyone here is ready to help, so you can safely turn to local residents in a difficult situation.
Knowledge of English may not always help a tourist in China. In Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong you can hear the answer to your question on English, in other cities this is already a problem. For this purpose, you should always carry a hotel business card and a phrase book with you.

These tips will help those who are planning to get acquainted with Chinese culture and traditions.

For many Europeans, China is not just another country - it is a completely different world! People who come to China for the first time not only face differences in language, geography, politics, etc. - many experience real culture shock. Many Chinese customs and habits are rooted in the ancient past of the country and are based on various kinds of prejudices and superstitions. From the outside - from the point of view of Europeans - they are completely devoid of any common sense and sometimes seem a little wild to non-Chinese people. However, for people wishing to work with China and the Chinese, knowledge of some basic Chinese traditions and norms of behavior will be very useful, since it will allow, as they say, to “save face” in front of this peculiar people and feel less discouraged by the “strange” behavior of the Chinese. It should be borne in mind that China is currently experiencing a lot of changes, including in the cultural life of society. And some Western traditions are replacing them.

GREETINGS

Food is a very significant element of Chinese culture. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Chinese are accustomed to greeting each other by asking whether you have eaten or not. The literal translation of this question is: “Have you eaten rice yet?” (Ni chifan la ma?). To which the answer usually follows: “Yes, thank you! - And you?” (Shi, sese! Nine?). This is almost the exact equivalent of the English greeting "How are you?" And the expected response is "Fine, thanks." Even if you are not “fine” at all.

Traditional Chinese bows are mainly modern China not in use, except perhaps among elderly Chinese, and even then not everywhere and not always. Most Chinese have successfully adopted the Western habit of shaking hands, although perhaps not as vigorously as the Europeans. Therefore, you should not be surprised at the embarrassment of some women who, according to established etiquette, are forced to shake your (man’s) hand. Hugging and kissing as a way of greeting or parting is absolutely not acceptable in China (yet) and should be avoided. Although some particularly “advanced” Chinese may surprise you with a tight hug. But kisses, even the most innocent ones, are incomprehensible to the Chinese.

Another specific problem that may arise when communicating with the Chinese is the difficulty of identifying gender when communicating by correspondence (for example, by email). Most southerners and overseas Chinese subscribe as described above: English name- Chinese surname. Therefore, it is easy to understand the "Mr" or "Mrs" (Miss) in front of you. However, there is a fairly large percentage of Chinese who only subscribe Chinese name. Therefore, in correspondence, you can ask your partner whether he is a man or a woman. This problem is international, and there is nothing scary or inconvenient about it.

For the Chinese, it is considered completely normal to refuse gifts two or three times (sometimes quite decisively, almost indignantly) before accepting them. A Chinese person who accepts a gift “without ceremony” risks looking greedy. Insist that the gifts are “very small” and that you will be offended if they are not accepted. They may give you a gift right away - as a sign of great respect for you and for the sake of future relationships. If a gift is wrapped, it is considered impolite to unwrap it in front of the gift-giver unless he or she insists on it.

Use the traditional good luck colors of red and gold to wrap gifts. Avoid white and black colors, which symbolize mourning.

The Chinese also consider it appropriate to give gifts in pairs or even several pieces. Therefore, if you take oranges as a gift, take the "lucky" number - six or eight, but not odd number. The owner will give you back a few (in the case of oranges) as a sign that he is sharing his good fortune with you.

The only gift you should avoid giving to the Chinese is a watch. In Cantonese, watch also sounds like "to go to a funeral", and this gift can be seen as wishing the person to die. Also avoid giving gifts of sharp objects, as this is seen as a threat to friendship. Flowers are traditionally given to people in hospital (or being discharged), as well as for funerals. However, these traditions change over time, but the custom of giving people flowers in even numbers still remains.

TABLE BEHAVIOR

As noted earlier, in China there is a certain cult of food. Therefore, many traditions have a direct connection with food.

Chinese tea is served throughout the meal. A polite host will fill guests' mugs or bowls before they are empty. It is not necessary to drink tea every time it is topped up. It’s just that the dishes with tea should not be empty - that’s the custom. You can see how Chinese people thank each other for their thoughtfulness and kindness by tapping with two fingers right hand along the edge of the table. It is said that this gesture of politeness dates back to the Qing Dynasty, when one emperor took pleasure in incognito, “going among the people.” Those accompanying him could not express their respect to the ruler in words and expressed it by tapping two fingers on the table. Now many people find this habit quite practical: you can say “Thank you” without interrupting the main conversation.

You will use chopsticks while eating. Do not stick chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice. For the Chinese, this is a “bad” sign, as it resembles incense sticks that are stuck vertically into a bowl of sand at funeral ceremonies. Don't wave your chopsticks or point them at people. It is also not good if your chopsticks cross with someone else's when you take food from common dishes. Just bad omens!

It is considered normal if the owners underestimate the quality of the food they eat. However, you should not agree with him or her, even if the food is not very good. On the contrary, it is considered polite to praise in every possible way the quality and taste of the food served.

As in other Asian cultures, burping at the table is a sign of satisfaction with food. In contrast European culture. At banquets, where there are sometimes up to twelve courses, try to restrain yourself. The hosts expect you to try every dish. Again, it is considered polite to first refuse the owner’s invitation to try this or that dish. If you agree immediately, you may be suspected of greed.

Turning fish over on the other side in a dish is a bad omen. It symbolizes an overturned boat. The top side of the fish is eaten and the bones are removed, leaving access to the bottom side. The bones are usually removed either by the owner or the waiter.

Remember to leave the noodles or rice (served at the end of the meal) slightly uneaten. If you clean your cup, it will mean that you are still hungry, and the owners did not bother to feed you enough.

After the meal is finished, the guests stand up together and bow. This is somewhat different from the European habit of getting high after a meal with a cup of coffee and a cigarette. In a purely Chinese restaurant, coffee may not be available. But smoking after a meal is quite normal (if the hosts also smoke).

The lower the rank of the restaurant, the more natural the Chinese feel there. Are you not surprised that your companions - quite civilized and cultured, in the Western manner, in the city - can begin to behave like "peasants", slurping, belching and throwing bones on the floor at their feet in some roadside restaurant in rural areas. “Food” habits are one of the strongest and most complex in human nature. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Chinese, even the most educated and well-mannered, forget and give themselves free rein during lunch. You just need to accept it without trying to understand or change it.

BODY LANGUAGE

Touches. All Chinese people really dislike being touched by strangers and foreigners. Women in particular experience an almost physiological hostility to tactile signs of attention from strangers or unfamiliar people. Hugging, patting on the back, kissing, and generally any other form of close physical contact can be shocking to the Chinese.

Hands. Never point your index finger at the Chinese. To do this, use an open palm with the inside facing up. Never call anyone by wagging your finger. In China, this is done by moving the fingers of the palm - the inner surface of the palm down. Clicking your fingers is considered a very indecent gesture.

Legs. It is considered extremely indecent and rude to place your feet on a table or chair. Do not pass anything or point at anything with your feet.

Nose. It is considered very unhygienic to blow your nose into a handkerchief and then put it back in your pocket. Freeing the nose without using a scarf on the street is considered normal.

Crowds and queues. The very concept of a queue is unknown in China. The Chinese can gather in huge crowds trying to gain access to something. At the same time, they do not consider these clusters to be a small heap or a crush, finding a certain order in the crowd, giving way to each other or cutting off each other.

Whistling. Whistling is very rude in China.

Cautions. People of the same sex can walk holding hands. This is a gesture of deep friendship and trust. The Chinese can noisily and quickly suck air through their lips and teeth, thereby expressing difficulty or surprise caused by a question addressed to them.

A question addressed to a Chinese person, especially a stranger, by a foreigner may not always receive an adequate answer. If a Chinese person does not know where this or that point that you are asking about is located, he may make something up or make an assumption, passing it off as a reliable answer. This is due to the fear of “losing face” in front of a foreigner. This is not always the case with all Chinese. In any case, in China it is better to contact law enforcement officers who are on duty with questions.

Knowledge of the basics of Chinese etiquette and customs will be very useful when traveling to Taiwan or China. This article describes, so to speak, the basics, from the very simple rules, a simple greeting, to more subtle situations, such as what color to use when writing someone's name.

Greetings in Chinese etiquette

For some reason, many people think that in China everyone bows to each other when they meet, probably a stereotype, after watching numerous films about karate and others martial arts. In fact, you shouldn't bow when you meet. Just greet them, smile and say “Hello” or “Ni Hao” in the most normal way, without unnecessary curtsies. When greeting older people, say “nǐn hǎo”, this is a more formal version, pronounced Ning How

Chinese etiquette at a party

To show respect, try not to be late, this important point Chinese etiquette.
Take off your shoes before entering the house.
Put on the slippers that are offered to you and walk in them, even if they are too small.
Bring a small gift with you.
Take any items that the hosts give (gifts, drinks, napkins) with both hands.
Be sure to compliment something you liked about the house.

Table etiquette in China

Do not sit down until you are told where to sit and wait until the elders are seated.
Do not start eating as soon as the food is served; you must wait until the host offers to taste the dish.
Eat as much as you can to show that you are enjoying your food.
You must try everything the hosts offer.
Don't take the last pieces from the shared dish.
Before drinking alcohol, wait for a toast; usually the owner of the house makes it first.
You can eat chicken and shrimp with your hands.
When using a toothpick at the table, cover your mouth with your free hand.
Do not express dissatisfaction if those present at the table make noise or even burp.

One more thing, if you eat in a restaurant, you should know who will pay, in China it is not customary to “chip in”, that is, either you pay, or they pay for you.
The best way to avoid mistakes is to observe how others behave and try to imitate them.

Chopsticks

Rule #1: Don't leave your chopsticks upright in a dish, this is only done at funerals. When you are not using chopsticks, you can place them on the table. When finished eating, place flat on a plate.

« Public use chopsticks»
Sometimes, extra pair sticks can be placed in the middle of the table. These chopsticks are called "kuai gong" or "public use". You can use them to pick up food from trays, but they need to be put back in place after use.

Gifts in China

Giving and receiving gifts is a complex part of Chinese etiquette that can seem very confusing to foreigners. Gifts are given when people go to visit, on major Chinese holidays such as New Year, wedding or birthday. Remember some nuances of this important part of Chinese etiquette.

Give the gift with both hands.
Fresh fruit is always appreciated, especially when presented in a beautiful box or basket.
You cannot give things such as watches, handkerchiefs and sharp objects, in particular scissors or knives, as this is considered a very bad omen.
By Chinese etiquette You must refuse a gift at least twice before accepting it, so take it only after a persistent request.
Always take gifts with both hands.
Don't open a gift in front of the person who gave it to you.

Red envelopes

On special occasions such as New Year's or weddings, red envelopes containing money called "hong bao" are given. Red is the most significant color in Chinese culture, symbolizing good luck, success and prosperity. On Chinese New Year, adults give red envelopes to children. If you are invited to a wedding, you should give a red envelope with your name on it. You need to give an amount that does not contain a four, which is a bad omen. Odd numbers are also bad, but 8 is lucky number, so it fits perfectly.

Why are the Chinese so curious??
The Chinese are very curious about foreigners and do not hesitate to ask questions. Even if you are meeting a person for the first time, do not be surprised if you are bombarded with questions such as:

How old are you?
Where do you study or did you study?
Married to a husband? If not, when are you planning this event?
Where and who do you work for?

Of course, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to answer personal questions, but you just have to be prepared to be asked.

Respect for elders

Elderly people occupy an important place in Chinese society. People around them, under a variety of circumstances, try to show their respect for their elders. Always use "ning" (polite "you" in Chinese) when addressing older people.

Don't write people's names in red

Even though red is considered a lucky color among the Chinese, people's names should not be written in red. Why? Because according to tradition, the name of the deceased is written on the tombstone in this color.

Flattery in Chinese culture

The Chinese love to give compliments. After you say “Ni Hao”, you will definitely hear: “Your Chinese is just wonderful!” You will also learn that your country is the most beautiful in the world, despite the fact that the person who says this has never been to it in his life. Well, you will probably hear a lot of pleasant and interesting things about your appearance. For our culture, of course, it is not usual to hear such an amount of flattery, so many perceive it as hypocrisy, which, undoubtedly, has some truth. But the east is a delicate matter, and this is part of Chinese culture.

Business cards

In Western countries, business cards are usually exchanged for business purposes, well, there are businessmen and officials. However, in Chinese society, almost everyone uses business cards, even in everyday life, so remember these nuances:

Always offer or take business card from another person with both hands.
Do not immediately put the card in your pocket, this is not polite, look at it first, or at least pretend to read it.
Don't write on a business card.
Don't put someone else's business card in your back pocket.

Clothing and appearance

In Western cities, in extreme heat, you can see a topless man; this, of course, is not decent, but it does not really shock anyone. In China, the attitude is different; you shouldn’t take off your T-shirt, even if the temperature has exceeded forty degrees.
At the beach, most girls do not wear bikinis; tanned skin is not valued in Chinese culture.

Public display of affection

According to Chinese traditions, it is not customary to show your feelings in public places. But in modern Taiwan, most people take this completely calmly, so couples in love walking arm-in-arm or in an embrace are a common occurrence. However, kissing in public is definitely inappropriate.

How to avoid an awkward situation

The tips are very simple:

Conduct yourself in a way that does not embarrass others.
Don't criticize someone in front of other people.
Do not lose your composure, even if the situation is very unfavorable.
Don't yell at people, don't show your anger.
Don't accept compliments too easily, show humility.
Don't talk too much about yourself.
At every opportunity, compliment others.

Finally, remember that when Chinese people are angry or very upset, they usually smile. They are not laughing at you, but are simply doing their best to avoid confrontation and complications.

Reminder for tourists traveling to China

Customs regulations
Upon arrival in the country, everyone entering the country is required to fill out a declaration, indicating the amount of currency they have, as well as valuables such as photo (video) equipment, antiques and jewelry. When leaving, the declaration must be presented again. Free transportation of two bottles of alcoholic beverages and 600 cigarettes, as well as foreign currency and valuable personal items is allowed. When leaving, all antiques purchased in China such as porcelain, paintings, calligraphic posters, artistic carvings, ancient books must have the red lacquer seal of the relevant state antique store, otherwise all these items will be confiscated at customs without any confiscation.

General information
Chinese People's Republic(PRC), a state in Central and East Asia, includes China proper (18 historical provinces of the Chinese Empire), Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Northeast (Manchuria) and Tibet. The PRC occupies an area of 9561 thousand square meters. km (without Taiwan). It borders on 13 countries and has the longest land border in the world (22.8 thousand km). The coast is washed by the waters of the Yellow, East China and South China Seas.
Within China, three large orographic regions are distinguished: in the southwest, the Tibetan Plateau with an altitude of more than 2000 m above sea level; to the north of it there is a belt of mountains and high plains, located in the altitude range from 200 to 2000 m above sea level, and in the northeast, east and south of the country - low-lying accumulative plains (below 200 m above sea level) and low mountains.

Transport
Public transport in Chinese cities is overloaded to the limit. There are more than enough taxis, but due to the increasing number of cars, traffic jams often occur. And if you're not in a hurry, follow the example of most Chinese: get a bicycle. If you need a taxi, then keep in mind that in every city there is a fixed fee, depending on the class of the car. The fare is indicated on the rear window of the car. Renting a car is not recommended due to the traffic being too difficult.

Money
The local currency is the yuan (or RMB, which is an abbreviation of the word "renminbi" - "people's coin"). The yuan is divided into 10 jiao (or mao) and 100 fen. There are banknotes in 1,2,5,10,50 and 100RMB; in 1,2 and 5 jiao and 1,2, and 5 fen. 1 $ = 8.3 RMB. Major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Dinners Club are accepted only in international hotels and department stores such as state-owned Druzhba stores. Banking operations with credit cards are practically not carried out in China. There are currency exchange offices in almost all large hotels. No commissions are charged. Typically, banks are not open in the morning at traditional breakfast times and close very early.

Time
The time difference with Moscow is +4 hours in summer and +5 hours in winter. China is located in five time zones, but the entire country lives according to Beijing time. Nobody pays attention to the fact that in the western regions the sun rises four hours later than in the eastern ones.

Climate
The territory of China is located within three climatic zones: temperate, subtropical and tropical.

Language
Chinese. Most Chinese don't speak any language foreign language. In large hotels and department stores, staff usually speak English. In large cities, inscriptions on street panels and signs, as well as street names, are duplicated in Latin letters. The numbers, fortunately, are Arabic. In any case, carry your hotel card with you, which shows its name and address in Chinese. The card will make your life much easier. Even taxi drivers rarely understand signs in Latin, and if you try to pronounce them yourself, it may turn out that in Chinese they sound completely different.

Religion
Officially, the entire population is considered atheists. However, three religions have become widespread: Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. The exact number of followers of each of these religions is difficult to establish, since all the main religions of China are closely intertwined with each other, and often a believer simultaneously visits the temples of two or even three religions.

Tips
It is officially prohibited to take tips in China. Moreover, tipping has long been seen as a form of humiliation. Currently, tipping has not yet become commonplace in restaurants and hotels, although it is accepted in such high-class establishments. It should be remembered that the initial refusal of the person serving you to give you a gift or tip is only integral part ritual.

Features of staying in the country
Safety. Foreigners need to take the same precautions as in other countries, including while on the street and when storing valuables in a hotel. Pickpockets and thieves who make their living by cutting bags and suitcases with a knife or razor are dangerous, especially on crowded trains and buses.
What to take with you. When going to China, it is advisable to take regular toiletries and medicines with you. You can buy film and batteries in the country, but it is cheaper and more reliable to bring them with you.
Cloth. It is advisable to give preference to simple and appropriate clothing, taking into account the season. It is useful to have moderately warm clothes with you even in the hottest season, since air conditioners in hotels often work at full capacity. Shoes should be comfortable and durable. For those planning to visit northern regions In winter, you should take care of warm clothes. It is useful to provide everything you need in case of rainy weather.

Kitchen
Chinese cuisine rightfully enjoys worldwide fame. Anywhere in Europe and America you will certainly find a Chinese restaurant owned by enterprising emigrants from the “Celestial Empire”. And yet, you can truly appreciate and love Chinese cuisine only in China. The variety of its dishes is not inferior to the variety of Chinese landscapes and the temperaments of its inhabitants. Lover of exoticism and thrills (both direct and figuratively) will receive them in full: here are frog legs baked in dough, and eggs aged for a couple of weeks with a characteristic smell, and small birds fried whole, perhaps without feathers, and vodka infused with a cute snake - but all this still needs to be managed pick it up and bring it to your mouth with a pair of chopsticks. And yet, the main thing in Chinese cuisine is sauces, exotic combinations of tastes and aromas. There are many of them in China, and it is they who make dishes exquisite and unique. It is recommended to visit restaurants that have a special license to serve foreign tourists, which is posted on the front door and is written in English.

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For many Europeans, China is not just another country - it is a completely different world! People who come to China for the first time not only face differences in language, geography, politics, etc. - many experience real culture shock. Many Chinese customs and habits are rooted in the country's ancient past and are based on various kinds of prejudices and superstitions. From the outside - from the point of view of Europeans - they are completely devoid of any common sense and sometimes seem a little wild to non-Chinese people. However, for people who want to work with China and the Chinese, knowledge of some basic Chinese traditions and norms of behavior will be very useful, as it will allow them, as they say, to “save face” in front of this peculiar people and feel less discouraged by the “strange” behavior of the Chinese. It should be borne in mind that China is currently experiencing a lot of changes, including in the cultural life of society. And some Western traditions are replacing them.

Traditional Chinese bows are generally not in use in modern China, except perhaps among older Chinese, and even then not everywhere and not always. Most Chinese have successfully adopted the Western habit of shaking hands, although perhaps not as vigorously as the Europeans. Therefore, you should not be surprised at the embarrassment of some women who, according to established etiquette, are forced to shake your (man’s) hand. Hugging and kissing as a way of greeting or parting is absolutely not acceptable in China (yet) and should be avoided. Although some particularly “advanced” Chinese may surprise you with a tight hug. But kisses, even the most innocent ones, are incomprehensible to the Chinese.

Another specific problem that may arise when communicating with the Chinese is the difficulty of identifying gender when communicating by correspondence (for example, by email). Most southerners and overseas Chinese sign their names as described above: English given name - Chinese surname. Therefore, it is easy to understand the "Mr" or "Mrs" (Miss) in front of you. However, there is a fairly large percentage of Chinese who sign only with their Chinese name. Therefore, in correspondence, you can ask your partner whether he is a man or a woman. This problem is international, and there is nothing scary or inconvenient about it.

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