China’s Social Customs

Chinese culture is one of the oldest in the world and has some very unique traditions and customs, here we list few of them that one must know.

1.     Hongbao giving on Chinese New Year’s Eve

Spring festival also known as Chinese New Year is the happiest time of the year for youngsters. They often receive hongbao (lucky money), regardless of the area or origins of their families. Hongbao is typically offered by the family’s elders and comprises of brand-new banknotes enclosed in a red envelope. The hongbao is a symbol of good fortune for the upcoming year. When people start working, they usually cease getting hongbao, however in some regions of China (including Guangdong and Hong Kong), they can continue to obtain hongbao until they are married.

2.     Dumplings and winter solstice.

On the Winter Solstice, foreigners may experience confusion. There is an extreme overabundance of patrons at almost every dumpling (jiaozi) restaurant, regardless of size. Even your Chinese pals who decide against going out to eat will probably request a delivery of dumplings. This is due to a legend that says the wind will rip your ears off if you don’t eat dumplings on the Winter Solstice.

3.     Saying “ganbei” and then downing your drink

Drinking up the alcohol in one’s glass rather than taking a slow sip is what happens in China after “Ganbei” (Cheers) and glass clinking. If you do not finish your wine, you may be considered rude in China. That being said, there is a Chinese ritual that states, “Replace the wine with tea (Yi Cha Dai Jiu),” so those who are unable to consume alcohol need not fear. This makes it easy for everyone to celebrate by raising a glass of wine.

4.     Never share a pear; always share an apple or an orange.

This isn’t because cutting apples and oranges is simpler. This Chinese tradition has a similar origin to the previous one. Chinese for “dividing a pear” is “Fen Li” (分梨), homophone for “分离,” which means “departure” in the language. It’s true that some people make a great effort to stay together.

5.     Planting plants and veggies everywhere

When foreign community gardeners visit China’s cities, they will cry. Anywhere you look—in a typical residential neighbourhood, on the balcony of an apartment, on the side of the road, or even in a tiny area of productive land—you may find vegetables that regular people have grown growing organically. The joke that “planting trees is in their DNA” is even made by the Chinese themselves.

Chinese social etiquette and customs: It is a mystery; why do Chinese people consider you polite when slurping your soup whereas rejecting someone’s gift is considered impolite?  Although it seems too ancient, concerning societal norms, manners and etiquette of China are filled with traditions, which aim at ensuring harmony and avoiding offending anyone.  Understanding these distinctions would make an individual more comfortable in social situations as well as business transactions or while eating in the country. 

In this article, we will take a close look at some key issues regarding greetings and gift-giving, dining culture and public behaviour.