If you're from a culture that encourages smiles when greeting strangers or service people, or saying hello to strangers on the street, you may need to adjust this practice if you plan on venturing to China. The Chinese do not smile at strangers, foreign or not.
Do not touch, hug, lock arms, back slap or make any body contact. Clicking fingers or whistling is considered very rude. Never put your feet on a desk or a chair. Never gesture or pass an object with your feet.
Chinese smile for more reasons than Americans. A smile can mean the person is embarrassed, trying to be helpful, curious, happy or friendly. In the middle of an argument, smiling means that the speaker doesn't want this to become personal.
In formal situations, people bow slightly or nod politely to greet one another formally. The bow is from the shoulders and should be greater if the person you are greeting has a higher status than you. If seated, the Chinese will stand up out of respect when they are introduced to someone.
Chinese people are generally very warm and welcoming towards foreigners. This often leads to a lot of preferential treatment.
Burping is polite
In China, burping isn't considered rude. In fact, it's actually a sign of gratitude to the cook and satisfaction with the meal. It's a great compliment, so don't be surprised when you hear a burp or two at the dining table.
For example, in China, holding hands or kissing in public is considered taboo. It's more common for friends of the same sex rather than couples of the opposite sex to hold hands or dance in public.
According to Chinese custom, public displays of affection (PDA) are not the norm and are generally considered taboo. At the University of Zimbabwe, students can be expelled for public displays of affection.
Lean Toward Conservative Clothing
While Chinese fashion trends are very similar to Western trends, showing too much skin is frowned upon. Shirts that are low-cut, or leave shoulders and backs mostly bare, should be avoided.
If you're a foreigner visiting China, you still shouldn't hesitate to smile at strangers, says Mike. Just don't be surprised if you don't get a smile in return. Chinese who are more accustomed to dealing with foreigners may understand and even appreciate the gesture.
China is visited by travellers from all around the world, and is of no danger to any person who understands local cultures and obeys local laws.
It is considered impolite to ask a direct question about a person's salary or wealth. Inquiring about someone's weight or age is also highly inappropriate in many situations. Spitting in public is rude. If there is a line for something, always queue and wait for your turn.
Biáng – a type of noodle (42 strokes)
Biáng has attained a certain fame as the most complex Chinese character of them all. However, again there are a few issues surrounding it. The character has a very, very specific meaning: it is used in the name of a traditional Shaanxi noodle dish.
As long as it's out of sight and inaudible to the next door neighbours, Melbournians are entitled to do as they wish. Have any further thoughts on kissing etiquette in Melbourne?
Hook-ups, i.e. casual sexual encounters, are increasingly common and accepted among men and women.
In most of the Europe countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and the United States it is very common to see people holding hands, hugging and kissing in public. It is not socially acceptable.
In traditional Chinese etiquette, hugs are simply not an option. Although Chinese people have become more open-minded in recent decades, the idea of hugging remains a discomforting one. This is especially true for members of the opposite sex, who may feel that public displays of affection are a source of embarrassment.
In Chinese culture, virginity is really important. Men and women tend to wait for marriage before engaging in sexual intercourse. It is not surprising since casual dating is not a thing in their culture. They are not as liberated as the western culture, where the one-night stand is common.
In most of the Western world, such as Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and Latin America, it is very common to see people holding hands, hugging and sometimes kissing in public.
It seems that any bodily functions are acceptable in public. Farting, burping, slurping, picking your nose and anything else that we would consider to be poor manners in the west, it totally normal here.
Slurping your noodles loudly is considered a compliment to the chef throughout Japan and China – a sign of deep appreciation for your one-bowl meal. In South Korea and Singapore, however, not so much. There, you might get unappreciative glances – the kind you get when you talk too loudly in a quiet train carriage.
Excess gas in your stomach can point to different medical issues, with conditions as wide ranging as gastroesophageal reflux disease and stomach ulcers to depression and anxiety possibly causing more frequent burps.