The Things You Must Never Do When Travelling In China

When you get your China travel visa and leave for that trip you planned for a while to China, the last thing on your mind is to piss off the people in your host country. It will not just make your stay hostile but also has the potential of putting you at loggerheads with the Chinese authority due to the potential alterations you might get involved in. It is, therefore, necessary to know the things you are allowed to do and the things you are prohibited from doing when in new countries and to help you out, here are some of the things you must never do while traveling in China-:

Never disrespect the homes or the temples

One of the temple and house customs in China is to remove shoes. It is not a strict individual practice, but most home will require you to remove your shoes when you get into their houses as well as their temples. This is not the time think about getting embarrassed because of your worn socks. You must respect the custom, and in case you doubt whether or not to remove your shoes, don’t be afraid to ask the host for guidance. Additionally, you must never show the bottom of your feet or shoes to people. It means that when you are seated, your legs should be crossed and your feet should be positioned in a manner that they don’t point towards any Chinese.

Avoid uncomfortable topics

There is a certain topic you should always avoid when having a conversation with the Chinese. One such topic is death or mentioning that someone passed on. Death is a grave, and ominous topic in China and the color white usually represents it, hence when you give your gifts, be sure not to wrap them in white. The other topics you must avoid when traveling in Japan is trying to compare Japan to China, talking politics, and religion. The Chinese are never fond of discussing political matters that might end up embarrassing them with visitors since they have a very different view of their history and politics.

Don’t touch people

The other thing you should know after getting your China travel visa is that the Chinese don’t hug, touch and kiss like the rest of the cultures from other countries in the world. When you meet a stranger, it will be safer to give a verbal greeting than extending your hand for a handshake or opening your arms for a hug. Since personal contact is not common among the Chinese, avoid bowing, hugging, kissing as much as you can, unless they make the first move for such affection.

You should also know that the head is considered as the most sacred amongst many traditions and religions in China, and touching it would be construed as being disrespectful. Avoid things like patting people on the head or playing with their hair.

Don’t stop giving gifts

If you travel to China and you know, you will be meeting new people, either for personal or business reasons, it is appropriate to carry gifts for them. Chinese value gifts a lot, and when you give the right gifts at the right time, you can end up building a great relationship which will enable you to enjoy the real warmth of the Chinese people.

It is a common occurrence for some of them to reject the gifts you give to them, and they don’t consider this inappropriate in any way. If it happens to you, you should not get discouraged and stop giving the gifts. Just have in mind that sometimes you may need to make many offers before a gift is finally accepted and this is a very normal thing in China.

Don’t offend with your gift

While you give the gifts, you must also be careful with the kinds of gift you give, lest you end up offending whoever you are trying to impress with the gift. Gift baskets of fruits and flowers may be common in western countries like Canada and the US, but some fruits and flowers may be considered inappropriate or signs of bad luck in China. To stay safe, it is a good idea to avoid such kinds of gifts until you know the meanings of the various fruits and flowers that can be given as gifts. Here is a basic guide to consider when giving gifts in China-:

• Never give bad smelling flowers and cut flowers
• Always choose yellow, red, or pink for gift wrappers
• Clocks connote death to the Chinese hence don’t give clocks as gifts
• Umbrellas should also be avoided as gifts. This is because umbrella in Chinese is san and its meaning is not appropriate as it sounds like the verb “to split.”
• Giving green hats as gifts is a taboo in China. The phrase “to put on green hat” implies to be cuckold by someone’s unfaithful partner, and this is completely unacceptable to the Chinese people.
• Four is the sound of death hence you should also avoid giving things in fours. If you have to give your gifts in sets, then they should come in sets of eights.

Never tip in China

Tipping is common in most parts of the world, but unfortunately, it is a practice the Chinese don’t observe. The restaurant staff, the taxi driver and the bellman expect no tips and some of them could get offended should you offer them extra money or they may get confused why you gave them the extra money and return it. This, may, in turn, offend you. Just be sure not to tip to avoid such ugly scenario.

Never attempt to pay when hosted by Chinese

If you are a foreigner hosted by Chinese, there are a few things you must know. One, the host at the table is the first to order food, and they will order for everyone without asking what people want. Two, the host will be the one to take care of the entire bill. There is nothing like chipping in China, and this may get the host offended. Again, if you were the one who invited the Chinese to a restaurant, you will be the one to take care of the bill. Therefore, if you have your China travel visa and you intend to invite Chinese to a dinner, be ready to pay for all the foods and drinks you will have.