Customs and traditions of the Chinese People

In this section of web site we cover general customs, festivals (especially Chinese New Year), the calender, traditional weights and measures as well as traditional medicine (TCM) and attitudes to women.



Drinking tea and playing Mahjong in a park Copyright © Dreamstime see image license

With a move to a more cosmopolitan culture particularly in cities some old customs and traditions are in decline, however people will appreciate knowledge and respect for their age-old customs. There are variations in tradition across China particularly within ethnic minorities who have their own distinct culture; so it is important to note that not all these customs are universal.

This is an assortment of all sorts of topics organized as a rough alphabetic glossary.

Behavior in China Consult the Yi Jing Culture We offer a free consultation for Yi Jing (I Ching) the Chinese system for fortune telling. It uses the ancient yarrow stick method and gives full information about the 'gua' (hexagram) that is chosen. The consultation takes account of user action - it is not random. Read more… As a whole the Chinese people are restrained in showing affection in public. Maintaining eye contact is considered intrusive and a physical embrace is reserved for close relationships. Shaking hands is now commonly used for formal business meetings, it is something that Chinese expect to do with foreigners but it is not traditional. Things you take for granted have only recently accepted in China, for instance clapping hands used to be used to drive out evil spirits not to show appreciation. Facial expressions are kept to a minimum and these characteristics have made foreigners use the term ‘inscrutable’ to describe the lack of apparent reaction. Often careful analysis of a conversation is needed to assess a person's true feelings. An important highly regarded quality in China is 忍 rěn which is roughly forbearance or putting up with things without protesting. Part of this has its roots in history, for a long time a whole family was punished for the crimes of one individual, ignorance was not a defense, so reticence in saying anything definite became a natural attitude. Losing one's temper is never a good idea, it is seen as a lack of self control and rarely yields a good result as the recipient would lose 'face' if they accept blame. Book: Chinese Thought A great survey of all the main strands of Chinese thought: Confucius, Daoism, Legalism, Mohism. Even though written by a Cambridge professor it is very accessible and easy to follow. Explore the Chinese beliefs in the ancestors and the central place of the family in all things.

Amazon details... ➚ Spitting is a cultural tradition, it was considered unhealthy to swallow spittle and so spitting is something that still happens, particularly in rural areas. The Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping was admired for his ability to spit with unerring aim directly into a spittoon. Spitting was also considered a defense against demons, they don't like being spat at, so, strangely a passing funeral was a focus for spitting. In recent years the government has tried to reduce spitting in public with some success. On the other hand blowing your nose is not considered pleasant in China. Chinese people will do this much more discretely than in the West. Reusable cotton handkerchiefs are considered particularly vile. Cigarette smoking is very prevalent, and China has the unenviable position as the top tobacco consuming nation (2.64 trillion in 2009). Although there are bans on smoking in some public places and restaurants these are not always obeyed. It is traditional to take a shower after work before going out in the evening, and also before bedtime. This reflects the often hot and humid climate and contrasts with the western habit of a morning shower. Chatting It is quite common for conversation to immediately get much more personal than would be normal to Westerners. While two Westerners may still be talking about the weather, Chinese will be asking questions about your age, salary, marital status and health. Chinese are keen amateur doctors and will often interrogate you if you say you are feeling unwell and offer advice on treatment. However most Chinese will feel uncomfortable talking about politics, this topic should be reserved for people you get to know very well. 祸 从 口 出 Huò cóng kǒu chū The wrong words can bring disaster Be careful what you say

Queue for airport desk for Chinese New Year flights Copyright © Dreamstime see image license Queuing in China Traditionally queuing in line for services was unknown, everyone just barged forward. In the last few decades the culture of waiting in turn has become firmly established but not everywhere, it may still be necessary to push and shove, for example getting onto an already overcrowded bus! Kung Fu The famous Shaolin monastery in Henan is regarded as the origin of one particular form of Chinese martial art-form : Kung Fu. It was made famous in the 1970s with the 'Kung Fu' TV series and many Hong Kong films.

Read more… Chinese Modesty Many responses in conversation will display modesty and humility. The standard response to a thank you 谢谢 xiè xie in Chinese is to respond with no need to thank 不谢 bù xiè and this attitude is very prevalent. A meal will be presented as a ‘poor table’ and a compliment will usually be refused. If you were to say You speak good English this will often be returned with a phrase such as not very good. This humility helps to reduce competitiveness and eases relationships. Historical attitude to sex has been to use metaphor and innuendo rather than direct reference. Symbolism is often used and so the hidden meaning of objects in paintings and gifts has to be taken into account. (See our extensive section on symbolism) Overt sexual advances towards strangers is not acceptable in China. Once married Chinese people tend to dress conservatively in restrained colors; younger single people wear fashionable clothes. Sometimes the characteristic black hair of Chinese is bleached. A level of modesty is expected even on beaches, the Chinese do not have a tradition of naked bathing as nakedness is still a strong taboo. At temples of any religion tourists are expected to dress respectfully, at least covering the upper arms. There is a belief that exposing the navel to sunshine is beneficial and so you may see men with a ‘Belly Bikini’ ➚.



Demonstrating the elaborate tea ceremony at the Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum, Chengdu, Sichuan

Bowing

To indicate deep respect and appreciation the Chinese may make the traditional gesture of cupping a fist with the other hand and bringing the hands towards the forehead while the head is gently bowed. Originally deep veneration was practiced with the kowtow, bowing to the ground, although this is now only practiced in a religious context.

How well do you know China? The Japanese word Kamikaze is named after the attempted invasion of Japan during which dynasty? <Select> Ming Tang Sui Mongol (Yuan) The attempted invasion of The attempted invasion of Japan by the Mongols were defeated by the violent storms at seas as much as by staunch Japanese defense. The first attempt in 1274 and then the Mongols tried again in 1281 when a typhoon drowned thousands of Mongol troops, the term 'Kamikaze' (Divine Wind) comes from this incident. Go to our quizzes page for a great range of quizzes about everything Chinese



Chrysanthemum design motif (Plate 33) available under a Creative Commons License ➚

Color Symbolism

Colors play an important part in Chinese symbolism. White (undyed) in China is used in funerals and mourning clothes. Black is the color of darkness and evil and so this is generally avoided. Prisoners wore black, and devils are depicted with black faces. Addiction to opium was termed 'to be stained black'. Yellow/golden is the Imperial color and banned to ordinary people, only Imperial buildings could use yellow roof tiles. Red is considered the most auspicious color, it represents fire, power and good luck. So red is often used widely for festivals, marriages, paper to wrap gifts and paper-cuts. The association of colors has deep roots within the system of elemental principles that are still important in Feng Shui. The use of red by Communists helped retain red's popularity; for a brief time traffic lights were planned to use red for 'go' and green for 'stop' which did cause some confusion. Blue was used on seals on the death of the Emperor. See our extensive guide to color symbolism for more details of all this.

Network of Connections If you have been to China or done business there, you will know the importance of connections 关系 guān xì it means literally closed system or network. Having access to a network of people to whom you have a vague connection is important in all sorts of ways and so everyone builds up an extensive group who can offer preferential access to goods and services. They may get you into a theater, a university, a job or may be a discount on goods. Using connections is referred to in Chinese as 走后门 zǒu hòu mén going by the back door. This process is not seen as unfair because everyone uses it. There is strong competition to build a powerful network of connections. As a foreign visitor many people will want to add you to their network by giving you a lavish gift in the hope you can be of help to them in the future.



Copyright Richard Wingfield, October 2017.

Sealing a deal in China

Anyone doing business in China must be aware that there is a long held belief that a verbal agreement is not necessarily binding. It has its origin is the Chinese philosophy to life, if a better opportunity comes along, it is correct to change course and accept it. To many Westerners who try to live by ‘my word is my bond’ this can take a bit of getting used to. An apparent agreement to meet up or do some work or sign a contract may be sidestepped. Chinese seek to avoid a definite decision as they like to leave themselves some leeway; there has always been a lack of certainty which is in harmony with the concept of yin and yang; there is no absolute right or wrong decision - just a current approximation. This is evident in the language, how many is expressed as many-few 多 duō 少 shǎo and distance as far-near 远 yuǎn 近 jìn. No malice is intended in a change of an apparent agreement, it is a different attitude and avoids being tied to commitments that no longer appeal.

The concept of conceding and yielding is neatly encapsulated in the character 让 ràng and represents a key concept in Chinese relationships. Rather akin to avoiding losing face, a good communicator in China knows the appropriate time to stand firm and when to yield ground. With correct use of rang negotiations move towards agreement rather than confrontation. The application of rang in dealings can be subtle and complex, an Emperor would voluntarily give way to a usurper in the hope his life will be spared; similarly turning down a small gift may be appropriate as accepting it would require a larger gift to be given in return. A related concept is forbearance (忍 rěn), hiding displeasure is considered a virtue but this makes discovering true feelings more tricky.

Business cards should be printed in English and Chinese so these can be exchanged on meeting. It is traditional to proffer a card (or any gift) by holding it not in just one hand but in both hands.

Macau Macau has overtaken Las Vegas as the top city for gambling in the world. It has the largest casino anywhere. Rich Chinese visitors come to the semi-autonomous district for short breaks to spend time and money in the casinos and at the horse races.

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In many situations a tourist can negotiate a price for goods and services, the quoted price may be much higher than a native Chinese would be expected to pay. This is particularly true at market stalls where no price is displayed. Traders hope that visitors may be wealthy and quite happy to pay an inflated price.

狡 兔 三 窟 Jiǎo tù sān kū A crafty rabbit has three burrows To succeed you must must have alternative options, in particular several ways of escape from danger There's more than one way to skin a cat

Unwritten rules

Many visitors to China will have come across situations when they are told they have broken rules. One way to deal with thus is to ask to see the rule in a document that is supposed to have broken. After some prognostication it may then be admitted that there are no printed rules and the visitor feels unfairly treated - how can I obey a rule I don't know about? But this is part of the Chinese way of doing things, the situation may crop up at a hotel, when traveling or dealing with officialdom. Rather than protest, it is best to fain ignorance of the rule and apologize, this may give room for the official to ‘generously’ avoid levying a fine or delaying things.

English in China

The English language for many years has been seen as the essential passport to a good career. In cities you will find English on many shop signs and translations on notices. Chinese people may well be keen to develop their English with you. It is not however safe to assume that everyone at a police station or hospital can speak good English. In comparison most English speaking people’s ‘phrase-book’ Chinese is very poor. However if you travel into remote villages and small towns you may not be able to find anyone who speaks English.

Face The Chinese have a long standing tradition of maintaining their social standing, which has been very loosely translated as face 面子 miàn zi. In everyday life this means that taking criticism in front of other people ‘loses face’ 丢脸 diū liǎn and is not acceptable. A westerner who is used to immediately making a complaint has to go about it in a different way. Confronting someone with a problem in front of others will rarely work if it requires someone to admit they are at fault. The way to handle the situation is to avoid any public disgrace by negotiating quietly and in private, this often allows things to be put right. If this fails then an intermediary will often be able to negotiate a compromise. ‘Face’ represents honor; social standing and appearance, so care is also taken in the style of clothes worn. There was a belief that the features of the face provides clues to personality, so may be that is why the word ‘face’ is used in this situation. Any transaction has to take place with this in mind. People who look and behave well will receive better service than those who do not. There is a long tradition of an individual’s behavior reflecting on the family and community, so getting poor grades at an examination reflects not just on the individual but also on the wider family. Moving on socially involves becoming familiar with those of higher social standing and establishing connections 关系 guān xì. Getting drunk is a severe loss of standing and it is therefore rare to see Chinese people very intoxicated with alcohol, but being ‘tipsy’ is fine.

打 人 不 打 脸 Dǎ rén bù dǎ liǎn Better to hit a person than their reputation. Losing 'face' is a major consideration for Chinese people Be diplomatic and tactful when being critical To err is human; to forgive divine

人 要 脸, 树 要 皮 Rén yaò liǎn, shù yaò pí Keeping a good reputation is as essential as bark is to a tree Reputation ('face') must be maintained at all costs



Copyright Richard Wingfield, October 2017.

Family loyalty in China There is great loyalty to the extended family in China respecting a continuous ancient tradition. The Confucian doctrine for respect for one's elders and betters still has deep resonance. For many loyalty to the family comes way ahead of friends. It is inappropriate to refer to people outside one's own age group too familiarly. The epithet 老 lǎo old, venerable is used as a mark of respect and is traditionally used to address anyone slightly older. Deference to parents is more prevalent than in the West. Grandparents often have an active role in bringing up grandchildren while both parents are at work. The penal system used to punish the whole family if one member is convicted and this has led to solidarity among family members. Success or failure of one member is seen to reflect on the whole family not just the individual. In China there was no concept of universal individual rights, the deeply entrenched attitude is that people are all different and they must live within the position they are in. It is for the family to look after their relatives and not the state. People have responsibilities rather than rights, a responsibility to look after the elderly is the flip side to the right of the elderly to receive care.

树 高 千 丈叶落 归 根 Shù gāo qiān zhàng yè luò guī gēn A tree may grow high, but its leaves always fall on its roots People living far away will eventually comes back home Absence makes the heart grow fonder



Chinese workers have lunch on a construction site, Chengdu Copyright © Dreamstime see image license

Delicious Chinese food Culture A fine Chinese meal is a carefully balanced mixtures of flavors, textures, colors and food types. Although Western fast food has made major inroads in the cities there is still a great appreciation of Chinese food as one of the finer pleasures in life. Etiquette at formal banquets is important for visitors to understand before visiting China. Each region in China has its own variations with specialities, the cuisine in southerly Guangdong is very different from that of northerly Gansu. Read more…

Food and Drink

At a dinner one person will usually pay for all the diners on the basis that it is that person's turn rather than try to divide equally or apportion accurately. It is polite to join in with offers to pay for everyone at the end of the meal, even though, if you are a guest this will be politely declined. A guest is seated at a table first and is usually is the most honored position to the left of the host.

Choosing dishes of food will take into account balance and medicinal value as well as smell and appearance. Meals are a social and friendly occasion for an extended family and not just a married couple as it is elsewhere. There are many traditions associated with food and especially formal banquets, for a full description see our main section all about Chinese food and traditions. A tip is only expected at posh establishments or where service has indeed been exceptional, they are not a normal addition to a bill.

Guests Appropriate ceremony should be shown to guests. People should rise from their seats when a new guest arrives. Tea cups are held by both hands not just one, and the cups were offered cross-handed - the right-hand one given to guest on left. The drinking of tea by a guest was considered a signal that the visit was at an end and so an invitation by a host to drink tea can be interpreted as a subtle suggestion it is time to leave. All the tea in China Culture Tea originates from China, it has been drunk there for thousands of years. It took a long time to find the best way to select the best varieties and process the leaves. Initially the very bitter flavor made it suitable only as a medicine. Our guide covers history of tea , its preparation, growing and appreciation. Read more… Chinese Tea Chinese tea is the drink of choice. Only on special occasions is alcohol taken. There are traditional tea-houses dotted over China, many in Sichuan, here friends can sit and chat for hours with an indefinite supply of tea. The protocol is to lift the lid of the teapot to request that it is refilled with hot water. When it has been recharged you serve all the other people at the table and yourself last.



Chinese Miao children eating rice noodles in Miao Village, Xijiang, Kaili, Guizhou Copyright © Dreamstime see image license

Foreigners

In remote rural areas the sight of a foreigner with strange facial features: large noses, deep set eyes, strange colored hair may still stimulate interest and gawping. As all Chinese have black hair, another hair color was traditionally seen as ‘demonic’. In the 1980s when there were very few foreign travelers and so whole crowds would stand and ‘stare’ at the strange apparitions. It is best to try to ignore a sea of staring faces.

In the days of early contact in the Qing dynasty period foreigners were often described as Ocean devils: Yang guizi 洋鬼子 yáng guǐ zǐ or 番鬼 fān guǐ ‘barbarian devils’. Dutch people with red/orange hair were described as 红毛 hóng máo red heads and associated with Buddhist demons who are portrayed with red or blue hair.

东 dōng east Origin Some say it is a representation of seeing the sun through a tree that has been recently simplified in structure, others it is a shared phonetic for a 'bundle'. One of the few characters not to have a radical.



Full information for 东

Foxes 狐狸 hú li

Foxes have an evil reputation in China. A demon takes the form of a fox and gets up to all sorts of evil. In addition the spirit of a fox can possess a man and cause him to get up to mischief. By custom a fox when it reaches fifty it can turn itself into a woman, and into a girl when a hundred years old. It would become a celestial fox at a thousand and so powerful it could bring down a dynasty (as in the famous legend of the Shang dynasty). Foxes are also associated with sensuality.

Funerals in China The Chinese have different rituals and customs concerning funerals. Everyone used to be buried not cremated as it was important to be interred intact due to ancient beliefs about the after-life. By contrast to Christian tradition white (or more strictly un-dyed cloth) not black is the color of mourning. The funeral procession to the place of burial would be long, noisy (with musicians and jugglers) and colorful. Strict protocol was enforced, with invitations sent out to people and gifts sent. People used to join many ‘societies’ whose sole purpose was to take part in the procession at the funeral. The annual subscriptions raised the money for the funeral. The processions could involve hundreds of people. Specially printed ‘paper money’ was strewn on the road. Families have an ancestral burial plot and the names of the deceased are inscribed on the ancestral tablet. The date and exact place for burial was carefully determined by a Feng Shui practitioner. The period for mourning of parents was long - traditionally three years - and wearing white or fragments of white cloth was normal for this period. All work and study stalled during this period and marriage was out of the question. On the death of the Emperor the whole nation went into long mourning with, for example, all marriages postponed. So when the Emperor became ill there was a dash for couples to get married.



Food offerings placed on a grave at Qing Ming Festival Copyright © Dreamstime see image license

How well do you know China? The Art of War was written by which ancient author? <Select> Kongfuzi (Confucius) Laozi (Lao Tzu) Sun Wu (Tzu) Sima Rangju The Art of War 孙子兵法 was written about 2,500 years ago by Sun Wu (Sun Tzu). It was the standard text on military strategy for over two thousand years. The Art of Warwas written about 2,500 years ago by Sun Wu (Sun Tzu). It was the standard text on military strategy for over two thousand years. Go to our quizzes page for a great range of quizzes about everything Chinese Gifts It is usual to bring the host a small gift if you are invited to a house. These are generally not opened until the guests have left. Gifts should be offered in both hands, and this tradition applies to business cards as well. The importance of this ritual is made plain by the character 礼 lǐ which can mean both ceremony; ritual and gift. A birthday or wedding gift is usually wrapped in red paper for luck. The Chinese language and culture leads itself to much symbolism. So when you give a gift in China you should be careful not to choose something with an unfortunate hidden meaning. An example is a pear, as sharing a pear 分梨 fēnlí sounds the same as separate/divorce 分离 fēn lí. Gifts of belts and ties have the symbolism of betrothal and should only be given to very intimate friends. For similar linguistic reasons fans and umbrellas bring bad luck. 扇 shān for fan sounds like 散 sǎn meaning scatter or fall apart as does 伞 sǎn meaning umbrella. A clock is an unlucky gift as it has the connotation of counting down the remaining life span. To give a clock 送终 sòng zhōng is written the same as pay last respects. As in the European tradition giving a knife is unlucky, the luck can be salvaged by the recipient giving back a token payment in return (so it is no longer purely a gift). Because four is such an unlucky number, it is not a good idea to give a gift of four of anything. On the other hand eight is lucky, so groups of eight are OK. Generally Chinese will find it odd to be given something old or secondhand. It is usually best to stick with wine; cigarettes and sweets. It is considered rude not to give a gift in return or refuse to accept one.

Hierarchy

For centuries the Confucian doctrine of social hierarchy has been taught and followed. In a group of westerners it is likely that they will feel they have equal status and decisions should be decided democratically with everyone having their say. Not so much in China, it is still expected for juniors to defer to seniors in conversation, waiting for a senior member to initiate topics for debate. Chinese will expect to deal with the ‘leader’ of a group of visitors and channel contact through them. The correct relationship based on status and age remains an important cultural principle.

Hobbies 我 行 我 素 Wǒ xíng wǒ sù To continue in habitual ways Stuck following old ways

Caged song birds in the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden at Kowloon, Hong Kong Caged birds There has been a long tradition of keeping caged birds in China. The birds were taken to a park every day and there they sang to the delight of the owner and all around. The tradition is under steep decline now other pets are affordable. Laughing thrushes (Garrulax canorus) 画眉 huà méi and Mongolian larks (Melanocorypha mongolica) 蒙古百灵 měnggǔ bǎilíng are two species that can sometimes be seen. Exercise The best known form of Chinese exercise is the Martial Art of which Taijiquan (Tai Chi) is the best known variety. Most of these moves are about grace and poise and not aggression. Martial arts used to be practiced widely in public parks in the morning. Nowadays it is mainly the older generation that keeps up the tradition. Gymnastics has always been popular in China. Athletic acrobats perform great feats of balance in circuses. Quintessence of the Nation Culture Traditional Chinese Opera was the entertainment of all Chinese over many centuries. A long evening performance contains elements of drama, music, comedy, acrobatics and martial arts. Each region has its own distinctive form. Over time complex body movements represent specific meanings as a very sparse set is used. The art form has inspired many Western composers and playwrights to emulate the style. Read more… Chinese Opera To many, the most characteristic Chinese art-form is the Opera. Different regions have developed their own style (Beijing (Peking) and Kunqu are the best known). It is an art-form where movement, music, voice, humor and costume combine together to give a unique impression which has stimulated composers and playwrights the world over. See our opera section for a full description. Theater Although the operatic form predominates there are many traditional plays too. For many centuries street theater included shadow plays, where historical drama was played out using delicate puppets placed against a back-lit cloth. Kites Culture Along with many other things the Chinese lay claim to the invention of the kite. Kite flying remains very popular in China and many can be seen flying in public parks. In the past they have even been used for military purposes. Read more… Kite flying Children and adults like to fly kites in parks and on hills whenever there is an adequate breeze. Chinese kite designs are many and varied with some hundreds of feet in length. See our kite section for all about them. Board games Many of the age-old games have their origin in China. ‘Go’ is a game of great age and taught students the basics of strategy. Mahjong is in essence like the card game of ‘rummy ➚’ but with tiles. Chinese Chess or Xiangqi can claim to be closer to the original game than the version played in the west.

Luck

In Chinese the even numbers 8, 9, 2 and 6 are considered lucky. However, four is considered particularly unlucky as the sound 四 sì is similar to that for death 死 sǐ - differing only in tone. Chinese in general have a strong belief in lucky numbers and will pay a premium for a lucky number, of which 8 is considered the luckiest (and so all the '888' in China). For lots more on the traditions behind all this please see our numbers section.

Names in China

A group of children walking home from school in Pengzhou, Sichuan Copyright © Dreamstime see image license In China the family name comes before the personal name. So Xi Jinping is Mr. Xi. When Chinese emigrated abroad some reversed the order to avoid confusion. They may also choose an English name in place of a Chinese name because this may be tricky for English people to pronounce correctly. The surname is called xìng 姓 and the given name míng 名. People who are not close friends or relations are addressed by surname only with a title (字 zì) e.g. Mr. Wang, the title may be their job description. So Zhou Enlai was referred to as ‘Zhou zong li’ meaningZhou Premier. A less formal naming can be used among friends 老 lǎo old; venerable to address older people and 小 xiǎo young; small to address someone younger. Children may address strangers as 叔叔 shū shu uncle or 阿姨 ā yí aunt. There are relatively few family names in use and many assume there must be some distant family relationship among people with the same family name. For centuries, you were unable to be marry someone with the same family name for this reason. The Chinese have been called the ‘100 names’ 百家姓 Bǎijiāxìng after a classic text of the Song dynasty listing all the families, it actually had 504 names in the list and there are about 3,000 in use today. However some names are much more common that others, for example there are about 93 million Wangs 王 (meaning ‘monarch, king’). Names have a patchy regional distribution, so it is possible to guess which province someone comes from just based on their name. On marriage the tradition is that the wife retains her family name, she does not take on her husband's surname. Children can take either their mother's or father's name - but usually take the father's. With so few family names the selection of the given name is a matter of much importance, and it will often have some allusion to history or culture. Originally a great deal of ceremony and tradition was associated with finding the appropriate one. Some families used the same poem over centuries to determine one character of the name, this allowed the relationship to anyone in the family to be easily worked out. The look and elemental balance of the Chinese character was taken into consideration. The same given name can be given to a boy or a girl although some names are usually gender specific [Zhi (will), Shan (mountain), Guo (country) for boys] and [Fang (scented), Xiang (scent), Lan (lotus), Shu (beauty) for girls]. A baby was often not named until a month of life and was given a temporary, sometimes derogatory, name for this short period following the tradition that demons would not attack a baby with such a nasty name; names such as pig manure and puppy were used. During their early childhood a ‘milk name’ would be used within the family, and this name would be used informally and affectionately throughout life. When very large families were the norm, children would be generally referred to by their ordinal number within the family 'third son'; 'second daughter'. The standing of women in China Culture Attitudes to women have changed greatly in China over the centuries. The traditional subservient position of women in society was removed in only the last sixty years but there yet to be a woman appointed to the top rung of government. Our section describes the role of women down the centuries including the role of concubines and how some Imperial women bucked the trend. Read more… It was also traditional for people to change their name during their lifetime, particularly after a significant event took place. Scholars had a usual given name 号 hào and a nick or literary name 字 zì as well as the míng 名 given name. An example of this is the poet went by the given name Su Shi as well as the literary name Su Song po meaning eastern slope; you will see both names in use in different contexts. The Republican leader Sun Yatsen went by a number of different names ➚ during his life and is known in China as Sun Zhongshan when the Republic was founded. Mao Zedong had a nick name of Runzhi only used by close friends and seniors. The names of emperors is even more complex as there are ‘temple names’, ‘reign names’ and ‘honorary names’ to consider as well as their given name (see our Imperial name section for details). Until the Ming dynasty, an emperor may rule under several reign names 年号 niánhào which he proclaimed during his reign. By the time of the Ming and Qing dynasties the 'reign name' and 'emperor name' became interchangeable so Emperor Yongle is a bit incorrect as Yongle is the name of the dynastic period not a person while Chengzu is his given name.

Superstitions

The Chinese are generally a superstitious people. There was a traditional belief in demons, and that foxes could disguise themselves as people. Ruined houses, dark corners and wide open spaces were considered unlucky places inhabited by demons. The spirit of someone wronged would come back to haunt the perpetrator. Sometimes someone would commit suicide in the belief their spirit would be able to exact their revenge. There is a strong belief that the spirits of the ancestors look down on their living descendents and they can punish those that bring dishonor the family. There are many superstitions associated with the old festivals, for instance it is considered unlucky to write a signature in red ink at the Spring Festival.

There are many ways to seek knowledge of future destiny. The Yi Jing or I Ching for fortune telling is the best known example. Temples offer a fortune telling service often by drawing lots or burning paper containing a question or tossing small blocks of wood.

Feng shui with its sometimes weird rules is considered by some to be superstition, particularly when it advocates such things as the position of toilets or the placement of goldfish bowls. Feng shui is still important for choosing the location for graveyards and new buildings.

Time

To many Westerners the Chinese have a relaxed attitude to timekeeping in common with other Asian cultures. A meeting set for a specific time should be regarded as a rough estimate. Lateness should not be seen as rudeness or laziness, it is just a less precise definition of time. When visiting friends it was traditional just to turn up at any time without warning.

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Travel advice

It is best to avoid drinking cold water; mineral or hot water are less likely to harbor germs. Although it is possible to travel to most places in China unescorted and without permits this is not true of Tibet and Xinjiang provinces.



Traveling to Shanghai

Time to travel In terms of timing your travel to China, the climate needs to be taken into account, it is best to avoid southern China in high summer because of the high heat and humidity; conversely North China can be surprisingly cold in winter. (See our climate section for full details). So in general spring and autumn are the best time to visit. It is also worth checking a Chinese calendar to avoid the busy times at Chinese festivals - especially Chinese New Year. 千 山 万 水 Qiān shān wàn shuǐ Many mountains and many rivers A long and arduous journey Best China Sights China In this page we give information on the top attractions all over China to maybe tempt you to explore further. Each attraction is clearly marked on a map and further information on each place is readily available. From furthest Heilongjiang to Hong Kong and Lhasa to Shanghai we have selected the top travel highlights. Read more… Places to visit There are a great many places to visit in China ranging from the bustling urban cities to the peace of mountains and deserts. Please see our visitor guide for information on the top attractions.

Shenzhen vegetable market, Guangdong Copyright © Dreamstime see image license Children Chinese are very welcoming of all young children, their faces will light up when they see a child and will show it a lot of affection. It is considered bad form to chastise children in public although this can be done in private. Toilets Public toilets are generally primitive and not very hygienic and so should be avoided, although there is major campaign to improve facilities. Large department stores and restaurant chains offer better facilities. Medical care It is advisable to take out medical insurance cover so that you can receive good quality medical care, the public health system in China is very patchy and the language barrier can make receiving the correct treatment difficult. You will be expected to pay up front in cash for your care. A wide range of medicines are available from pharmacies in cities. Air travel in China China Here we list all China's main airports, giving information on location, facilities and easy to use distance calculator so you can plan a complex itinerary around China. We also give useful visitor information about air transport in China. Read more… Crime in China Travelers can be targeted by thieves so it is best to hide away any valuables as much as possible and wear a money belt. Remember to take photocopies of important documents in case they are lost or stolen. Women are rarely targeted but as anywhere else in the world it is best to follow sensible safety tips particularly if traveling alone. The Public Security Bureau ➚ (PSB) provides the police force. Foreigners are probably best advised to consult their embassy for advice if a crime has been committed. 110 is the emergency service number, but you will need to speak good Chinese to be able to use it.

Finally...

We hope this list may be of some help to visitors to China, alerting you to some of the main distinctive and specific customs. This section would greatly benefit from your feedback and comments. Have we got it right? Have you an experience to share? If so, please use our comment form.