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Living in Shanghai •
Shanghai life
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Shanghai!
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Chinese Customs -
Traditional Festivals -
Surrounding Landscape
◦ Chinese Customs
Chinese
customs change a lot, like other places in the world. But
to know some brief customs exampled as below, may be interesting,
may be helpful somehow especially when you meet new friends at first time.
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Chinese Etiquette
The
rules of conduct within the Chinese culture remain an important aspect of
daily life. The set rules and formalities for every occasion are probably
the most confusing to Westerners. By ensuring that no one "lose
face" in any given situation, the methods of interaction at meals,
meetings and during business discussions, are preset, allowing for few
surprises. Similarly when receiving guests they should be accorded
deferential preference according to their status in the hierarchy.
Departing guests should be accompanied to the door of the office.
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Dinning Out Chinese Style
When
invited to a Chinese dinner it is not necessary to take a gift unless the
dinner is for a special reason, for example a birthday, in which a gift
would be taken. It is polite for the host to order the food. Guests
generally make few requests. Meat, fish and vegetable courses are usually
served. Soup and rice will be in the end of the meal.
Guests wait for the host to begin and if signaled to do so will help
themselves. The piece of food closest is chosen. It is not polite to reach
across the table or stand up to reach other dishes even if the table is
very large. When your chopsticks touch a piece of food that piece should
be taken.
A
serving spoon may be provided, if not chopsticks are used to place food
into the bowl before eating. Often a sauce will accompany a dish. Use
chopsticks to dip the food into the sauce. If food has been sampled do not
dip again. Take one piece of food at a time and allow guests an equal
share. It takes time to be skilled with chopsticks to eat meat on bones.
Bones may be removed from the mouth with the help of chopsticks and placed
on the plate or nearly on the table.
Do
not take the last piece of food from the serving dish. It is a signal to
the host that not enough food has been ordered and the guests are still
hungry. Even when the host insists, it may not be taken.
It
is considered bad luck to turn whole fish (head and tail in tact) over,
when serving.
Sometimes
a chicken dish or fish dish will arrive with the head on the serving
plate. The head may point to the guest of honor.
Chinese
people do not usually use their hands for eating. There are a few
exceptions to this rule including shrimps that need peeling. Shrimp skin
are placed on the plate. Waiters will change the shrimp course plates
often and a communal finger bowl will be placed on the table. Sometimes
wet napkins will be passed around for cleaning hands.
Chinese
guests may leave the table promptly after eating a meal, usually at 8:30.
Follow the host lead. A dish of fruit may be served for dessert, as this
is a sign that the meal is over.
Allow
the person who invited you to dinner to pay for the meal.
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Name Cards
Name
cards are essential to establish individual identities and credential.
They should include the company name and position or title.
Both
hands are used to present and accept cards, these should be printed in
English and Chinese. The cards should be placed on the meeting table in
front of you. When a name card is presented to you in a social setting,
you should take a few moments to study the card as a sign of respect.
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Other Tips
Punctuality
is expected and important. Tea or coffee is offered to visitors and it is
polite to accept even if unwanted. Visitors are escorted to reception
areas or elevators by their host.
Business
entertaining is almost always in restaurants and hospitality should be
returned.
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