Cross Cultural Etiquette and Manners: China

China: Etiquette and Manners

• Greet the oldest person first and then the others. Age is respected.
• Formal greeting includes handshake particularly from the people outside of China.
• Eye contact may not be necessary while greeting.
• To start with, address by the surname with prefix as Mr or Mrs etc. If first name basis address is invited, you will be told what name to use.
• Chinese want to carry out business with known party since they want to be sure about its reliability.
• Therefore, many times, they prefer to deal through a known intermediate person or party.
• Hierarchical positions are important for Chinese. You must maintain that decorum and deal with people in higher ranks quite formally.
• There is no gender bias in business meetings.
• Before meetings, you must send your organization's complete profile to the Chinese organization you wish to deal with.
• Also send your agenda for meeting.
• Appointments for business meetings should be done well in advance preferably in writing.
• Chinese like face to face meetings rather than other forms of discussions.
• Reach the meeting venue on time or slightly early; arriving late is an insult.
• Guests are generally escorted to their seats which are in descending order of hierarchy. Senior people generally sit opposite senior people from the other party.
• Exchange the business cards after the introductions. Have one side of your business card printed in Chinese preferable in golden color (auspicious color). Present the card with both the hands.
• Only senior members of the negotiating team are expected to speak.
• You should normally leave room for negotiations in your proposals.
• Meetings require patience. The meetings can be pretty lengthy with lots of conversation and pace may be slow.
• Take your own interpreter with you if necessary.
• Cell phones ring frequently and you need not get disturbed emotionally by it.
• Dress conservatively. Men should wear dark color suits and women should wear conservative suit or dress with high neckline. Women should wear flatter shoes (low heels).
• Chinese prefer to entertain in public places rather than in their homes, especially when entertaining foreigners. Being invited at homes is considered as an honor.
• Reach the dining venue on time.
• If entertained at home, remove your shoes before entering the house.
• Present a small gift to the hostess/host. Give the gift with both your hands. The hostess/host may refuse to take the gift but do persuade to accept the gift.
• Chinese like food and a nice food basket will make a decent gift.
• Do not open the gift while presenting or receiving.
• Wait to be told where to sit for dinner. The guest of honour will be given a seat facing the door.
• Eat well to appreciate the food. Try all the dishes.
• Learn using chopsticks.
• Dinners and social events are not the place for business discussions.
• Tipping the waiter in restaurants is becoming a trend with younger generation. Moderate tip is good enough.

(Also refer: http://executive-manners.blogspot.com/ for general etiquette and manners, http://dining-manners.blogspot.com/ dining etiquette and table manners, http://telephone-etiquette.blogspot.com/ for telephone etiquette, http://email-etiquette-manners.blogspot.com/ for email etiquette)

Books Suggested for your Professional, Organization's and Personal Library (all the titles below are available online from Amazon in paperbacks and as eBooks)

Business Management, Life Management, Self-help, Personality Development

1. HSoftware (Human Software) (The Only Key to Higher Effectiveness) 
2. Sensitive Stories of Corporate World (Management Case Studies) 
3. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers 
4. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
5. Classic Team Building Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
6. 101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (available only as a paperback)
7. Stress? No Way!! (Handbook on Stress Management) 
8. HSoftware (Shyam Bhatawdekar’s Effectiveness Model) 
9. Competency Management (Competency Matrix and Competencies) 
10. Essentials of Work Study (Method Study and Work Measurement) 
11. Essentials of Time Management (Taking Control of Your Life) 
12. Essentials of 5S Housekeeping 
13. Essentials of Quality Circles 
14. Essentials of Goal Setting 
15. Essentials of Anger Management 
16. Essentials of Assertive Behavior
17. Essentials of Performance Management and Performance Appraisal
18. Essentials of Effective Communication (soon to be published)
19. Health Essentials (Health is Wealth)
20. Soft Skills You Can't Do Without (Goal Setting, Time Management, Assertiveness and Anger Management)
21. The Romance of Intimacy (How to Enhance Intimacy in a Relationship?) 

Novels, Short Stories, Biographies and Travelogues

1. Good People (Dream of a Boundary Less World)- Novel, a refreshingly different love story (Also available under the title Love Knows No Bounds) 
2. The Peace Crusaders- a most intriguing novel
3. Two Novels in One Book (The Peace Crusaders and Love Knows No Bounds)
4. Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories 
5. Stories Children Will Love (Volume 1: Bhanu-Shanu-Kaju-Biju and Dholu Ram Gadbad Singh) 
6. My Father
7. Travelogue: Scandinavia, Russia
8. Travelogue: Europe