Culture & Etiquette
Cultural norms that catch tourists off-guard. Tipping is not expected and can cause confusion, holding chopsticks upright in rice resembles a funeral ritual, business cards get presented with both hands, and personal-space norms differ from Western expectations. Notes on temple etiquette, photo permission, and gift-giving customs.
15 answers
4
useful
How can an international undergraduate in China make friends without fluent Chinese?
Choose recurring activities where doing the thing replaces talking; combat and fitness gyms work best.
4
useful
Shanghai
What gift should I bring from Germany for a friend in Shanghai and her young son?
Bring the gift from Germany; the origin and thought matter more than rarity in a city as well-stocked as Shanghai.
2
useful
If salary is the same, should a foreign teacher choose Xi'an, Beijing, or Shanghai for one year in China?
Choose by priority: Shanghai for social ease, Xi'an for savings and immersion, Beijing for history.