We would like to take you on a small trip to China to show you some of the most unique traditions and habits that Chinese people stay loyal to.
- Gifts must be refused a few times before they’re accepted.
No matter how popular or loved gifts are in China when Chinese people are offered presents, it’s customary that they refuse them at least once before accepting them. It’s not because they don’t like the present, but to them, it’s simply the polite thing to do. Chinese people don’t like it when other people buy them expensive gifts, and in many cases, this can be considered bribery. So, if you decide to gift someone with a classic red envelope, make sure not to include a large amount of money in it. - Police will sometimes use geese instead of watchdogs.
It may sound weird, but in places like the Xinjiang province, police will sometimes use domesticated geese instead of dogs. This happens because geese can be loud and aggressive, while still having great vision. They can get very territorial and won’t stop flapping their wings and screaming until an intruder is gone. - Leaving some food on their plate is a good sign.
In many countries, like India and Japan, leaving unfinished food on your plate may indicate that you didn’t enjoy your meal. In China, the same action means that you’re still hungry and your host didn’t offer you enough food. However, in 2020, the country launched “The Clean Plate” campaign in an effort to reduce food waste after President Xi Jinping found the amounts of food that had been disposed of to be shocking. - People take naps pretty much anywhere.
In China, most people work many hours every week, sometimes with no day off. This is why it’s understandable that they take naps during the day anywhere they happen to be. Whether it’s at their work station, on the train, or even on a street bench, they’ll never hesitate to shut their eyes for a few minutes. Those passing by know best not to disturb them. - They like to spit in public.
While spitting is considered rude in Western countries, in China, it’s thought to be a cleansing action. It wasn’t until recent years that many campaigns were started to teach people to refrain from this habit, mainly for sanitary reasons. The city of Beijing, in particular, imposed a fee of 50 yuan (around $6.50) for anyone who was caught spitting in public before the Olympics.
We would like to take you on a small trip to China to show you some of the most unique traditions and habits that Chinese people stay loyal to.
- Gifts must be refused a few times before they’re accepted.
No matter how popular or loved gifts are in China when Chinese people are offered presents, it’s customary that they refuse them at least once before accepting them. It’s not because they don’t like the present, but to them, it’s simply the polite thing to do. Chinese people don’t like it when other people buy them expensive gifts, and in many cases, this can be considered bribery. So, if you decide to gift someone with a classic red envelope, make sure not to include a large amount of money in it. - Police will sometimes use geese instead of watchdogs.
It may sound weird, but in places like the Xinjiang province, police will sometimes use domesticated geese instead of dogs. This happens because geese can be loud and aggressive, while still having great vision. They can get very territorial and won’t stop flapping their wings and screaming until an intruder is gone. - Leaving some food on their plate is a good sign.
In many countries, like India and Japan, leaving unfinished food on your plate may indicate that you didn’t enjoy your meal. In China, the same action means that you’re still hungry and your host didn’t offer you enough food. However, in 2020, the country launched “The Clean Plate” campaign in an effort to reduce food waste after President Xi Jinping found the amounts of food that had been disposed of to be shocking. - People take naps pretty much anywhere.
In China, most people work many hours every week, sometimes with no day off. This is why it’s understandable that they take naps during the day anywhere they happen to be. Whether it’s at their work station, on the train, or even on a street bench, they’ll never hesitate to shut their eyes for a few minutes. Those passing by know best not to disturb them. - They like to spit in public.
While spitting is considered rude in Western countries, in China, it’s thought to be a cleansing action. It wasn’t until recent years that many campaigns were started to teach people to refrain from this habit, mainly for sanitary reasons. The city of Beijing, in particular, imposed a fee of 50 yuan (around $6.50) for anyone who was caught spitting in public before the Olympics.
