Getting it right in Beijing

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15:36 GMT +00:00

Getting it right in Beijing
Posted by: Economist.com | LONDON
Categories: Etiquette Olympics
IF YOU'RE in Beijing for the Olympics, for business or for tourism, you should follow these tips (part of a series) in order to avoid any embarrassing gaffes. For information on where to stay, where to eat, and what to do, see our guide.


• Communication remains the biggest challenge for foreign visitors to Beijing. Buy a reliable phrasebook and point to the relevant Chinese characters. Ask your hotel concierge to write down addresses for taxi drivers, and remember to take a hotel card with the address in Chinese characters for the return trip.
• Remember that Chinese surnames come first, and given names second. You should address Chinese acquaintances with their surname preceded by their title.

• Chinese culture still places a lot of emphasis on guanxi or personal connections. Remember that guanxi involve an invisible balance sheet between two sides. Avoid accepting gifts or favours unless you are in a position to reciprocate in a similar way.

• Interactions between men and women are reserved. After an initial handshake, avoid physical contact and be politely restrained.

• The exchange of business cards is common all over China. Use both hands to receive a card and look at it immediately. Offer yours in return, again using both hands. It's considered impolite to hand a name card to someone using one hand.

• Do not underestimate the concept of face in China. Being late, causing embarrassment, confrontational behaviour, a public insult or calling attention to a mistake can all cause loss of face and could seriously damage a business relationship.

• The Chinese are very proud of their culture and history, and sensitivities are easy to ignite, as evidenced by Chinese reaction to the recent Tibetan uprising. Emotions will be particularly strong this summer, as Beijing comes under the international spotlight. Tread carefully around subjects like Taiwan, Tibet, religion and human rights.

• The Olympic organisers hope to change locals' behaviour. The city’s Communist Party secretary promised to re-educate people who use local profanity ("jingma") to jeer at athletes. And a big push is being made to discourage spitting, a widespread habit, and to get people to wait in line. Wednesdays are “stand in line day”, when citizens are reminded not to jump queues.

Eating and drinking

• Chinese meals are communal affairs, with diners helping themselves from shared dishes in the centre of the table. It is considered polite to take only what you can eat right away, so avoid piling food into a rice bowl or side plate.

• If you do not have a side plate (many restaurants don’t provide them), use your rice bowl as your main dish. If there is a serving spoon or serving chopsticks, use them; otherwise it is quite acceptable to use your chopsticks to take food directly from the communal plate; just don’t pick around for the piece you want to eat. Slippery foods, such as tofu or peanuts, that are difficult to pick up with chopsticks can be taken with a spoon.

• As a general rule, watch your Chinese friends and act accordingly. It is often the norm to sip soup directly from a bowl or even spit bones on to the table.

• If you are invited to a meal, the host will order the food. It is still rare for Chinese to split the bills, although nowadays some of the younger generation are comfortable doing so. Generally speaking, tipping is not part of restaurant culture in Beijing. However, restaurants in five-star hotels are likely to include a service charge in the bill.

• Alcohol is often part of a meal in Beijing. If you prefer not to drink, make it clear at the outset—a health-related excuse will usually suffice. If you are drinking, be wary of toasts. “Ganbei!” literally means “dry bottom”. If you don't want to down your drink in a single swig, just respond with the words “Suiyi” (“as you like”), which means either party can drink as little or as much desired.

• It is polite to wait for another guest to toast before starting to drink. After a toast, raise your glass with two hands and tip it slightly in the direction of the person who is toasting with you to show that you've taken a drink and how much.

• When invited to a Chinese home for a meal, bring some fruit or flowers as a gift. Try if you can to reciprocate the invitation.