Chinese Etiquette and Taboos: Table Manners, Gifts, Temples and Everyday Do's and Don'ts

As a foreign visitor in China you get a lot of leeway. Nobody expects you to know the rules, and most small slips are forgiven on the spot. A short list of things does matter, though, and these are the ones to remember: don't stand your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice; don't give a clock as a present; don't turn down a toast bluntly (raise your tea instead); don't lose your temper or argue loudly in public; and at temples, cover your shoulders and knees and check before taking photos. You also don't need to tip in mainland restaurants.

The Idea Behind Everything: Face and Harmony

Most Chinese etiquette makes sense once you know two ideas.

The first is "face" (面子, miànzi). It means a person's dignity and standing in front of other people. You make someone "lose face" when you correct them in public, refuse them flatly, laugh at a mistake they made, or make them look like they can't do their job. You "give face" when you praise someone in front of others, thank a host for the meal, or let someone back out of a mistake without pointing at it. Face matters to the person and to everyone watching, so the same complaint that would be fine in private can feel like an attack when made in front of a group.

The second idea is harmony (和谐, héxié): keeping things smooth and avoiding open conflict. Because a direct "no" can feel harsh, people often soften it into "maybe," "it's not very convenient" (不太方便, bú tài fāngbiàn) or "let me think about it." If you ask for something and get a vague answer, it is often a polite no. Pushing for a clear yes or no forces the other person either to refuse you openly or to promise something they can't do, and both are uncomfortable.

What this means in practice:

• Stay calm when something goes wrong. A wrong hotel booking or a late train is fixed faster by a patient, polite request than by a raised voice. Shouting makes the staff member lose face in front of colleagues, and they become less willing to help.
• Complain in private, not in public. If a guide or a waiter gets something wrong, take them aside.
• Accept compliments with a light "no, no." Modesty is expected. If someone praises your Chinese after you say two words, a smiling "哪里哪里" (nǎlǐ nǎlǐ, "not at all") is the classic reply.
• Don't take blunt questions or remarks as rude. Comments on your weight, your age or how much you earn are usually curiosity, not an insult.

How much leeway do foreigners get? A lot. People assume you don't know the customs, and many will be pleased just to see you try. Where visitors do cause real offence, it is almost always one of three things: open anger, mocking something local, or ignoring the rules at a religious site. Avoid those and you will be fine.

Greetings and First Impressions

Greetings are low-key. A nod, a smile and "nǐ hǎo" (你好, hello) cover almost every situation. With older people or in a formal setting, "nín hǎo" (您好) is the more respectful form. Many Chinese people greet friends with "have you eaten?" (吃了吗, chī le ma); it is just "hi," not an invitation.

Handshakes are normal in business and formal meetings. They tend to be lighter and a little longer than a firm Western grip, and an older or more senior person usually offers a hand first. Hugs and cheek kisses are not used between people who have just met, and they can feel awkward, especially with older people. Deep bows aren't used; a slight nod is enough. When in doubt, follow the other person's lead.

Forms of Address

Chinese names put the family name first, so in "Wang Wei" the surname is Wang. Address people by surname plus title rather than by given name: "Manager Wang" (王经理, Wáng jīnglǐ), "Boss Li" or "President Li" (李总, Lǐ zǒng), "Doctor Zhang" (张医生, Zhāng yīshēng). "Teacher" (老师, lǎoshī) is used for teachers and also, as a polite title, for many professionals and older people whose job you don't know. For someone you don't know at all, "Mr" (先生, xiānsheng) and "Ms" (女士, nǚshì) work. Wait until someone tells you to use their given name or their English name before you switch.

Age is treated with respect. Greet the oldest person in a group first, let them go through doors first, and offer them the better seat.

Business Cards and WeChat

In everyday life most people now swap contacts by scanning each other's WeChat (微信, Wēixìn) QR code, but in formal business settings people still exchange business cards (名片, míngpiàn). If your card has a Chinese side, hand it over Chinese side up, holding it with both hands so the text faces the other person; folding a card you've been given, writing on it or fiddling with it is seen as disrespectful. Take a few seconds to read the card, then place it on the table in front of you during the meeting or put it in a card holder, not your back pocket.

When someone offers to add you on WeChat, the person showing the QR code is usually the more senior one; you scan theirs. If you don't have WeChat, a business card or email is fine. Our WeChat setup guide explains how to register with a foreign phone number.

Table Manners and Dining

Meals are where most visible etiquette happens. They are also where a relaxed, appreciative attitude matters more than perfect technique. Chinese meals are shared: dishes go in the middle of the table and everyone takes from them. At a round table there is usually a glass turntable (often called a "lazy Susan") in the middle. Turn it gently, usually clockwise, and check that nobody is in the middle of serving themselves before you spin it.

A few habits will make you a good guest:

• Wait for the host. Don't start until the host or the oldest person picks up their chopsticks or invites everyone to eat.
• Take from the part of the dish nearest you. Don't dig through a plate looking for the best piece.
• Let the host order. If you are a guest, the host chooses the dishes. Saying you'll eat anything is polite; mention allergies or dietary needs early and plainly.
• Try a little of everything. You don't have to finish something you dislike. A small taste and a kind word are enough.
• Expect food to be placed on your plate. A host may serve you the best pieces. You can leave what you can't eat.
• Bones and shells go on the side plate or the table cloth. In casual restaurants, putting them neatly on the table or a small dish is normal.

Use serving chopsticks or spoons when they are on the table. Using your own chopsticks to pick food for other people is considered impolite, and shared dishes often come with a separate pair of serving chopsticks (公筷, gōngkuài). Some restaurants set two pairs at each place, one black and one white: the black pair is yours and goes in your mouth, the white pair is only for taking food from the shared dishes. Under national catering measures in force since 15 June 2025, restaurants have to provide serving spoons and chopsticks when customers ask for them. In Shanghai, a voluntary local standard in place since 2020 goes further and recommends a serving spoon or pair of chopsticks with every dish. If you don't see serving utensils, ask for "gōngkuài" and they will bring some. The Shanghai government's English portal has a short guide to Chinese table manners that covers the same basics.

Chopstick Rules That Actually Matter

Most chopstick taboos come from funeral customs, which is why people react to them. These are the ones to know:

• Don't stand chopsticks upright in your food, especially rice. It looks like the incense sticks burned for the dead, and it is the best-known taboo. Rest them on the chopstick holder or across the top of your bowl.
• Don't bite or lick the tips, and don't spear food with them. If something is slippery, use the spoon.
• Don't use chopsticks to drag or push bowls and plates around; move dishes with your hand.
• Don't tap your bowl with them. Banging a bowl is linked to begging.
• Don't point at people with them, or wave them around while you talk.
• Don't pass food from your chopsticks to someone else's. It echoes a funeral rite with bones. Put the food on their plate instead.
• Don't hover or dig. Decide what you want before your chopsticks reach the dish.

If you can't manage chopsticks, ask for a spoon or fork (叉子, chāzi) without embarrassment; many restaurants have them.

Banquet Seating

At a formal dinner, where you sit matters. The seat facing the door is the place of honour, kept for the host or the main guest. The seat directly opposite, with its back to the door, is for the second host, who deals with the waiters and the ordering; other guests are seated outwards from the place of honour by rank, so the polite move is to wait until the host shows you where to sit. In a private room the place of honour is often marked by a napkin folded taller than the others. If you are the guest of honour, you may be offered that seat; decline once politely, then accept.

Hosting, Toasting, and Paying

Toasts are the centre of a banquet. The word you will hear is "gānbēi" (干杯), which means "dry the cup," and when someone says it they usually expect you to finish your glass. When you toast the host, stand up, hold your glass with both hands, and keep the rim of your glass lower than theirs as you touch glasses, to show respect. The same lower-glass gesture works for anyone older or more senior.

A typical banquet goes like this: the host makes the first toast, often to welcome guests; then the second host toasts; then guests take turns walking round to toast individuals, starting with the most senior. As a guest, make one toast to thank the host at some point in the meal. Don't drink alone: if you want a sip, raise your glass to someone first.

Strong spirits such as baijiu (白酒, báijiǔ, a clear grain liquor) are common at business dinners. You don't have to keep up. Say at the start that you don't drink, or that you'll drink tea, and you'll rarely be pushed. Refusing a toast flatly, with no glass raised at all, is what causes offence; raising a cup of tea or juice with a smile is completely accepted. Saying "随意" (suíyì, "as you like") during a toast means you'll only take a sip.

People at the table often refill each other's glasses and tea cups, and you should say thank you when someone pours for you. If you have food in your mouth or don't want to interrupt the conversation, tap the table twice lightly with your index and middle fingers; it is a silent "thank you". Pour for your neighbours before you top up your own glass. For more on tea manners, see our guide to the Chinese tea ceremony.

On paying: offering to pay is polite, but the host will normally insist on paying; if someone treats you, thank them and offer to treat them next time. Among friends you will often see people fight to pay the bill, sometimes slipping away to pay at the counter before the meal ends. Splitting the bill item by item (called AA制, AA zhì) is common among young people and colleagues, but suggesting it at a meal someone invited you to can make the host lose face. If you want to return the favour, invite them to a meal another time.

Finishing the Meal

Hosts usually order more food than the table can eat, because empty plates can suggest they didn't provide enough. Leaving a little food on your plate tells the host you are full. At the same time, waste is less accepted than it used to be, and asking to take leftovers away (打包, dǎbāo) is normal and polite: under the 2025 catering measures, restaurants are expected to remind customers to pack up leftovers and to provide packing when asked. If you are the one ordering, order a little less and add dishes later. For what is on the table in the first place, see our guide to Chinese cuisine by region.

Gift Giving

Gifts help relationships in China, whether you are visiting someone's home, meeting business contacts or thanking a host. The gesture and the way you give it matter more than the price.

What to Give

• Something from your home country: local sweets, biscuits, a regional food speciality, a good bottle of wine or spirits if the person drinks, or a well-made souvenir. These are the easiest gifts for a foreign visitor, because they are personal and can't be bought locally.
• Good tea, fruit or a box of quality snacks when you visit a family home.
• Something for the children if you are visiting a family.
• For business: a gift from your company or your city, given to the group or to the most senior person, rather than an expensive gift to one person.

Give and receive gifts with both hands. Red and gold wrapping is festive and safe.

What to Avoid

Most unlucky gifts are unlucky because of how their names sound:

• Clocks. "Giving a clock" (送钟, sòng zhōng) sounds the same as "seeing someone off at death" (送终). This is the most important one to avoid; some people also avoid giving watches to older relatives.
• Umbrellas. "Umbrella" (伞, sǎn) sounds like "to break up" (散, sàn).
• Pears, especially for a couple. "Pear" (梨, lí) sounds like "to separate" (离, lí). Don't cut a pear to share with someone, either.
• Sharp things such as knives and scissors, which suggest cutting a relationship.
• Anything in fours. "Four" (四, sì) sounds like "death" (死, sǐ). Pairs and even numbers are otherwise good, and eight (八, bā) is the luckiest number because it sounds like "to prosper."
• White or black wrapping, white envelopes, and white flowers (especially chrysanthemums), which are linked to funerals.
• Green hats. "Wearing a green hat" (戴绿帽子) means a man's partner is cheating on him. It's a joke gift at best.

Refusing Before Accepting, and Red Envelopes

Don't be surprised if your gift is refused once or twice before it is accepted. The first refusal is modesty, not a real no; offer again warmly and it will be taken. Do the same in return: when someone offers you a gift, a polite refusal or two before you accept is normal, though as a foreigner you can simply accept with thanks. Gifts are usually not opened in front of the giver, so don't read that as lack of interest, and don't open yours on the spot unless the giver asks you to.

Money is given in red envelopes (红包, hóngbāo) at weddings, at Chinese New Year (mainly to children and unmarried younger relatives) and on some other occasions. Amounts that include an eight or a six, or are even numbers, are preferred, and any amount with a four in it is avoided. As a visitor you may be invited to a wedding; ask your host what is usual among their friends, because the expected amount varies a lot by city and relationship. Never give money in a white envelope; white envelopes are used at funerals.

Gestures and Body Language

Most everyday gestures mean the same as at home. A few are worth knowing:

• Calling someone over. Hold your hand palm down and wave your fingers towards yourself. The Western palm-up, one-finger "come here" is seen as rude and is used for animals.
• Pointing. Pointing at a person with one finger is impolite. Use an open hand, palm up.
• Handing things over. Use both hands for anything that matters: business cards, gifts, documents, a passport at a hotel desk. When handing over scissors or a knife, give the handle, not the blade.
• Counting on one hand. Chinese people count from one to ten on one hand. Six is the thumb and little finger stretched out; eight is the thumb and index finger in an "L"; ten is often a fist or crossed index fingers. This helps at market stalls when someone shows you a price with their hand.
• Feet. Don't put your feet on chairs or tables, and don't point the soles of your feet at people, especially at temples.
• Touching. Friends of the same sex may hold hands or link arms; it means nothing more than friendship. Couples holding hands is normal in cities, but long public kissing still draws looks, more so outside big cities.
• Personal space and staring. Expect less personal space in queues and crowds than you may be used to. Outside big cities, people may stare at foreigners out of curiosity; a smile and a nod usually ends it.
• Loud talk. Lively, loud conversation in restaurants is normal and doesn't mean people are angry. The word for a busy, noisy, fun atmosphere, 热闹 (rènao), is a compliment.

There is no common rude hand gesture that you need to watch for constantly. The main habit to change is the beckoning gesture.

Sensitive Topics and Conversation

Small talk in China can feel personal by Western standards. People may ask your age, whether you are married, whether you have children, how much you earn or what your flat cost. These questions are usually friendly. You don't have to answer exactly; a vague, cheerful reply such as "not enough!" is fine, and you can turn the question back.

Good topics: food (always), the places you've visited, the person's home town, family, sport, travel, and anything you like about China. Asking for food recommendations is one of the best conversation starters there is.

With people you have just met, it is wise to avoid debating politics, territorial questions and religion. The reason is simple: these discussions can put the other person in an awkward position in front of others, and they rarely go anywhere good in a casual setting. If someone else brings them up, you can listen, ask questions, and move on politely. Avoid jokes or criticism about the country, its leaders or its history, and don't compare China unfavourably with your home country at the dinner table. Your host will notice the tact.

Numbers carry meaning too. Four is avoided because it sounds like "death," so some buildings skip the 4th, 14th and 24th floors, and phone numbers full of fours are unpopular. Eight is lucky; six (六, liù) suggests things going smoothly; nine (九, jiǔ) sounds like "long-lasting."

Religious and Regional Considerations

China's Tourism Law asks visitors to respect local customs, cultural traditions and religious beliefs, and in turn says tourists' own customs and beliefs should be respected. In practice that comes down to a few simple habits at religious sites and in areas where most people belong to an ethnic minority. For a full list of the temples, monasteries and mosques worth visiting, see our guide to religious sites in China.

Temples and Religious Sites

At Buddhist and Taoist temples:

• Dress modestly. Cover your shoulders and knees. Hats off inside the halls.
• Step over the raised threshold at the hall doors, never on it.
• Check before taking photos. Many temples don't allow photos inside the halls, especially of the main statues. Look for signs, and ask before photographing monks or worshippers.
• Keep your voice low, and don't walk in front of someone who is kneeling to pray.
• Don't touch statues or offerings, and don't sit with your feet pointing at an altar.
• Incense is optional. You don't have to burn any. If you do, follow the temple's rules and hold the sticks upright.

Rules differ from temple to temple, so read the notice at the gate. At Beijing's Lama Temple (雍和宫, Yōnghégōng), for example, free incense is handed out at Zhaotai Gate, you may not bring your own, and photos and video are not allowed inside the halls. Big temples increasingly need a booking: Lama Temple sells tickets through real-name reservations on its official WeChat account, and passport holders can book, so you need WeChat set up first (see our WeChat setup guide). Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺, Língyǐn Sì) in Hangzhou has been free since 1 December 2025 but needs a real-name reservation made at least one day ahead on its official mini-program, which accepts passports.

Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries

In Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and around stupas, walk clockwise, the same direction as the pilgrims; this applies to walking circuits (the kora), turning prayer wheels and moving around a hall. Don't step over or sit on prayer flags or mani stones (carved prayer stones), and ask before photographing pilgrims or monks. Offering a small donation at the altar is welcome but not expected.

The rules at Lhasa's main sites are strict. At the Jokhang Temple (大昭寺, Dàzhāo Sì), short skirts, shorts, revealing tops and open-toe slippers are not allowed, hats must come off, and photos and touching relics or murals are banned in the main hall. At the Potala Palace (布达拉宫, Bùdálā Gōng), the security check bans, among other things, printed materials, banners and flags used for political, religious or commercial purposes. Our Lhasa and Tibet guide covers permits and bookings.

Mosques

Many historic mosques in China welcome visitors outside prayer times. Wear long trousers or a long skirt and cover your arms; women may be asked to cover their hair, so carry a scarf. Take your shoes off before entering any prayer space, avoid visiting around Friday midday prayers, and don't eat, drink or smoke inside the grounds. At the Great Mosque of Xi'an (化觉巷清真大寺, Huàjuéxiàng Qīngzhēn Dàsì), for example, the prayer hall at the back of the complex is not open to visitors. At other mosques, ask the staff at the entrance which parts are open.

Churches

Catholic and Protestant churches in big cities often hold services that visitors attend. Dress neatly, sit towards the back, keep your phone silent and don't take photos during a service. Outside services, check the door for opening times and photo rules.

Bringing Religious Items, and What Foreigners Can't Do

You can bring religious books and objects for your own use in reasonable quantities, but items meant for handing out are not allowed into the country. Foreigners also may not preach or hold group religious activities without permission, recruit followers among Chinese citizens, or hand out religious materials. Praying privately and joining a service as a worshipper is a different thing from these. The official limits are in the card below.

The full text is in the implementing rules on foreigners' religious activities published in the State Council Gazette (in Chinese).

Ethnic and Religious Minority Areas

In some regions of China most people belong to an ethnic minority rather than the Han majority, and customs there can be quite different.

• Hui and Uyghur Muslim areas (for example parts of Ningxia, Gansu, Xinjiang, and the Muslim quarters of cities like Xi'an and Lanzhou): don't bring pork, pork products or alcohol into a halal (清真, qīngzhēn) restaurant, and don't ask for them there. Dress more conservatively. Halal restaurants usually display an official sign; in Beijing, for example, it is issued by the city's ethnic-affairs office after registration. Our guide to halal food in China explains how to find and recognise them.
• Tibetan areas: treat prayer flags, prayer wheels and mani stones with care, walk clockwise around them, and ask before taking photos of people. You may be offered a white silk scarf (哈达, hādá, khata) as a welcome; accept it with both hands and bow your head slightly.
• Other minority villages in Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi: ask before photographing people in traditional dress, and if someone asks for a small payment for a photo, either pay or don't take it. Some villages have their own rules for visitors at shrines or sacred trees; follow your guide or a local.

Everyday Public Life

Daily life in public is where many visitors notice differences first. Most of it is about following what people around you do.

Queues, the Metro and Trains

Queuing is the norm at stations, ticket windows, museums and taxi ranks. In very crowded places the line can be loose, and people may push in at a counter; staying calm and standing your ground politely works better than arguing. On the metro, platforms usually have marked lines either side of the train doors: wait there, let people off first (先下后上, xiān xià hòu shàng, "off first, then on"), and give priority seats to older people, pregnant women and people with children.

Each city's metro has its own passenger rules, and they are stricter than many visitors expect. Beijing's metro rules, for example, ban eating in the carriages (babies and sick passengers excepted), smoking including e-cigarettes, playing music out loud, and using scooters or folding bikes in stations. Use headphones for videos and calls. Our China metro guide covers tickets and how to ride in any city.

Smoking

Smoking rules are set by each city, and the big cities have strict ones. In Beijing, city regulations ban smoking indoors in all public places and workplaces and on public transport, and also in the outdoor areas of schools and kindergartens, and at cultural heritage sites open to the public. Shanghai's city law bans smoking indoors in public places, workplaces and on public transport, and it counts e-cigarettes as smoking. Rules and enforcement in other cities vary, and you will still see people smoking in some restaurants and stairwells; look for no-smoking signs (禁止吸烟, jìnzhǐ xīyān) and follow them.

Noise, Phones and Photos

Restaurants, markets and squares are noisy and that is normal. Museums, temples, high-speed trains and the metro are quieter. Video calls on speakerphone are common, but you don't have to join in.

Outside the big cities especially, people may ask to take a photo with you. It's friendly curiosity, and you can say yes or politely decline. The national civilised-tourism convention, a voluntary code for Chinese travellers, itself asks people not to force foreign visitors into photos. Do the same in return: ask before photographing people, especially children, older people and anyone in traditional dress.

Toilets

Public toilets are free and easy to find in cities, at stations and in malls. Many are squat toilets, though malls, hotels and newer stations usually have at least one Western-style cubicle (often marked with a sign of a seated figure). Carry tissues or a small pack of toilet paper, because many public toilets have none in the cubicles. In older buildings, a bin next to the toilet means used paper goes in the bin, not the bowl, because the pipes are narrow. Hand sanitiser is useful too.

Common Signs and Slogans

You will see "civilisation" (文明, wénmíng) on signs everywhere. In this sense it means good public manners. A national civilised-tourism convention lists the behaviour these signs promote, such as not spitting or littering, not smoking where it's banned, queuing, not damaging or climbing on heritage, and not wasting food. It is a voluntary code, not a law. Signs you'll see:

• 文明旅游 (wénmíng lǚyóu) — "travel in a civilised way," a general reminder of good behaviour at sights.
• 请排队 (qǐng páiduì) — "please queue."
• 先下后上 (xiān xià hòu shàng) — "let passengers off first."
• 请勿吸烟 / 禁止吸烟 (qǐng wù xīyān / jìnzhǐ xīyān) — "no smoking."
• 小心地滑 (xiǎoxīn dì huá) — "caution, wet floor."
• 请勿践踏草坪 (qǐng wù jiàntà cǎopíng) — "keep off the grass."
• 光盘行动 (guāngpán xíngdòng) — "Clean Plate Campaign," a reminder not to waste food, often on restaurant tables.
• 前进一小步，文明一大步 — "one small step forward, one big step for civilisation," found above urinals.

Dress, Spitting and Other Habits

Casual clothes are fine almost everywhere. Swimwear and bare chests away from the beach or pool get looks. You may see people spit in the street, squat to wait, or slurp noodles loudly; spitting is much less common in big cities than it used to be, and slurping is not rude at all. You don't need to copy any of these, and you don't need to comment on them either.

Friendly Strangers and Tea Houses

In tourist areas of big cities, a friendly person or two may start chatting in good English and invite you to a tea house, an art gallery or a bar. Real hospitality exists, but this pattern is a well-known scam that ends with a huge bill. Saying "no, thank you" and walking on is not rude. Our guide to tourist scams in China explains how it works.

City vs. Countryside

Big cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou are used to foreign visitors and a wide range of behaviour. Smaller towns and rural areas are more traditional and less used to foreigners. There, modest dress, a quiet manner and asking before photos matter more, and people may be more curious about you. Hospitality is often stronger too: you may be offered tea, fruit or a cigarette. Accepting a small cup of tea is a kind way to say yes; you can refuse a cigarette politely with a smile and a wave of the hand.

Tipping and Service

Tipping is not part of everyday life in mainland China. You don't tip in restaurants, taxis, hairdressers or shops, and staff may refuse or run after you with your change. For tour guides, China's Tourism Law says that guides and tour leaders may not ask tourists for tips. Giving a little extra to a guide or driver who was especially good is your choice, not an obligation. Hong Kong and Macau, and some international hotels, work differently. Our guide to tipping culture in China covers when a tip makes sense, what restaurants can and can't charge, and the exceptions.

A Few Words on Communication

Even a few words of Mandarin earn a lot of goodwill, and people are quick to forgive your accent and grammar. "Nǐ hǎo" (你好, hello), "xièxie" (谢谢, thank you), "duìbuqǐ" (对不起, sorry) and "bù yòng le, xièxie" (不用了，谢谢, no thanks) cover a surprising amount. A warm tone matters more than perfect words. If you smile and try, most people will slow down, use gestures and help. Our survival Chinese phrases guide has the essentials for ordering, shopping and getting around.

For anything longer, a translation app does the work; our comparison of translation apps for China shows which ones work offline and with the camera. If you'd like to practise greetings and table phrases out loud before the trip, a short online lesson with a tutor on italki is an easy way to get comfortable with the tones.

Practical Etiquette Cheat Sheet

If you only remember a few things, make it these:

Final Thoughts

Chinese etiquette can look like a long list of rules, but it comes down to two habits: protect other people's dignity, and keep things smooth. The few rules worth memorising are no upright chopsticks in rice, both hands for cards and gifts, no clocks or sets of four as gifts, a raised glass (of anything) when someone toasts you, and calm rather than anger in public. At temples and mosques, cover up, read the notice at the gate and ask before photos. On the metro, queue, let people off first and don't eat. Before you go, learn a few words of Mandarin and read up on the food you'll be sharing. People notice the effort far more than the occasional mistake.

Last updated: October 2026