Westerners have a hard time figuring out the numerous customs and formalities in China. These are so different from the customs and formalities in other Asian countries that may many a times leave a person confused. Foreigners are not expected to know all Chinese customs. If mistakes are made, it is usually not a big deal.
Social Customs
Chinese are very punctual and are expected to arrive exactly on time for a party or a dinner invitation. Chinese generally don’t make compliments and usually don’t take them in the right sense. Chinese find it rude to look someone into a person’s eye directly while talking. Also cross your legs, arms or your hands in your pocket when you are speaking to someone, is considered rude. They usually, stand very close to them, and try to avoid staring at the person they are talking to. It is also rude to be impatient and not wait even when someone is really late. Arriving on time is regarded as an expression of respect to other people.
Greeting Customs
Generally bowing is reserved as a sign of respect for elders and ancestors, especially on special holidays. Additional to the bow, they make a fist with their right hand and hold it in the palm of the left at stomach level and bow slightly, deeply depending on how much respect they want to convey.
Traditionally The Chinese have not been hand shakers but the custom is now widely practiced among men. When you meet a Chinese person and specially a woman, wait for the other person to offers his or her hand first, before offering to shake hands.
Sometimes when entering a school, meeting or banquet, the Chinese usually clap as a greeting. It is customary to clap as an acknowledgment.
Respect for Older People
Showing respect to older people is a basic behavioral routine among young Chinese people. The people younger in age are expected to defer to older people, let them speak first, sit down after them and not contradict them. Sometime when an older person enters a room, everyone stands to give respect. People are often introduced from oldest to youngest. Many occasions you will notice that people go out their way to open doors for older people. Cross their legs in front of older people is rude.
