Before travelling in China, you need to know a little about Chinese culture. Below is an interview with a Chinese lady. Hopefully this information will help you before you visit China.
1. Name of Interviewee: Aihua
2. How do people greet each other - shake hands? bow? embrace? other? People usually greet one another by saying Ni hao (which is pronounced knee-how). They might shake hands. But they do not hug, embrace, or kiss. For the most part, Chinese people are very reserved.
3. On what occasions would you present or accept gifts? What gifts are considered appropriate? If flowers, what kind? (some have special meanings) Weddings are special occasions where you give gifts. Usually you only go to the wedding and wedding dinner. The gift is money. At Chinese new year, the gift is a red envelope which has money inside. During this time at work, they give bonuses. The children who are not in school get gifts (money) from grandparents, aunts and uncles.
4. How are children disciplined at home? at school? It is customarily to beat them. At school, children who misbehave usually have to stand in the corner, stay after school in a study hall, and then they call your parents.
5. Are children usually present/participants at social gatherings? Elderly members of the family? Women of the family? For family gathering, everyone is together. Formal important, the men olden times, the women would not be allowed to sit at the same table as the men.
6. In schools, are children segregated? If so, how - race? class or caste? sex? religion? grade level? age? Yes. Same as the states. First grade primary school 7- 9 middle 10-12 high school. College same as the states- 4 year university 2 year technical school
7. What is the literacy rate for the country or region? For the northwest area very low. Not very developed and very poor area. People don't have enough money to send children to school. And not enough schools in the area.
8. How are public sanitation and garbage dealt with? There is a solid waste management problem. That leads to contaminated water and other environmental problems. There is sanitation pick up. Usually people put their trash out to be picked up. Whatever the scavengers do not get is picked up.
9. What is the normal dress of women? of men? Silk is the cloth of choice. Men and women wear silk clothing. Women wear blouses, skirts, and pants. Some younger women wear shorts. Men wear shirts, slacks, and Bermuda shorts.
10. What foods are taboo? What actions are taboo? Do not disrespect the elders, their parents. Cannot abandon parents. Do not disrespect the family or break the law. You don't hug anyone who is unfamiliar to you. Personal displays of affection are frowned upon.
11. If, as a customer, you touch or handle things that are for sale, will you be considered knowledgeable, or inconsiderate, within or outside your rights? It is okay. Because of the poor quality of some merchandise, it is common to carefully examine an item before buying.
12. How widely available is technology? Television? Cable? Computers? Widely available. Practically every home has a television. The government promotes having a TV because that is their tool to disseminate propaganda. A majority of people has computers. People in the cities have cable and Internet. All communication on television and Internet is censored.
13. What is the attitude toward drinking? Gambling? There is no specific attitude toward drinking. It is tolerated. No one really gives it much thought. Officially, gambling in is illegal. Sometimes people play mahjongg for money. But usually that happens in families or groups of friends.
14. How do adults and children spend their leisure time? (specific activities) Usually take the children to McDonalds. Go shopping together. Very little sports. Not popular. Soccer. Luxury don't have the place or the equipment to play. Bowling. The government chooses little children who they want to put in the sports program and they put them in a boarding school to train the children.
15. What is the normal pattern of work (school) days and days off? What are normal working hours - for men? for women? For Chinese domestic, usually the people work from 8 to 5, with an hour for lunch. Since the Chinese are very laid back, sometimes people take more than an hour for lunch.
16. What are the important holidays? How is each observed? Chinese new year spring festival. Give gifts- red envelopes. Family gets together at eldest family members house Usually the grandparents house. Have big dinner. Fireworks. Nation Day October 1. Celebrate New China. Similar to the 4th of July. Organized by the government. Have big firework display. Get 3 days off from work to celebrate. May day International Labor Day. Get one day off from work for that day too. Begins the tourist season. Middle autumn/Moon festival around late September/early October. The moon is the most round at that time. Family gets together to eat moon cake. Its round like the moon, with a thin crust, and inside has a sweet stuffing.
17. How do people get married? Who makes the arrangements? What is the attitude toward divorce? They meet through matchmaker, friends, or classmates. Their parents must agree with the union. They go to the government to make it legal. The parents of both people get together to make the arrangements for the restaurant. The man pays for the wedding dinner for all the people. Set up a date and have a big wedding with a wedding dinner. Not in the church. The bride buys the furniture for the house and decorating the house. There is showing so the people can see what the bride bought for the house. The attitude is that you do not divorce. With the Western influence, divorce is more and more common.
18. What is the common language? What other languages are used? Common language is Mandarin Chinese. As far as other languages used, there are hundreds of local dialects.
19. What is the principal religion? Is it a state (official) religion? What are its basic doctrines? Who are its originators and shapers? Atheism. Do not believe in God. Communism came and took out all religion.
20. What is the attitude of believers in the principal religion towards other religions and their followers? They have other religions (Buddhism & Christianity), but it is government controlled.
21. Who are the country's national heroes - women as well as men? For what kinds of achievements are they celebrated? Communist took over in 1949. In 1966, there was cultural revolution. Chairman Mao led the revolution. Tegn Xiaoping