Do's & Don'ts
Eating throws up a host of potential pitfalls for the visitor. While breaking wind, burping, sometimes spitting and generally making as much noise and mess as possible are all acceptable, other seemingly innocuous activities, such as using a toothpick, are not. If you wish to pick your teeth you should do so by hiding your mouth with your other hand. Chopsticks also offer more than just the problem of picking up your food with them (see Chopsticks callout). Likewise, drinking has a few associated protocols; toasts are so important that at formal dinners it's rude to drink without one, and you should try to keep your companions' glasses full, for they will surely do the same for you.
When meeting people, particularly in business, it is customary to make a small bow while clasping one hand over the other fist, although Chinese familiar with meeting Westerners may well just plunge straight in with a handshake. When presented with anything, you should receive it with both hands and, while a business card should be scrutinized before being carefully tucked away, a gift should be opened at a later time when not in the presence of its giver.
Studying & Working in China
Since China opened up in the early 1980s, people have been curious to come and experience life in the Middle Kingdom. Many come here to study traditional arts or the language and to teach English but, since China has found its economic feet, more and more people are coming here to do business (see Business Travel below).
Study
If you want to study the language, universities are the best bet – your local embassy should be able to provide you with a list of suitable universities, but there are also a host of other types of schools, including some where you teach English (see below) in return for your lessons. There are also schools that use traditional arts (such as calligraphy, painting, kung fu and tai chi – see Martial Arts for the latter two) as vehicles to teach the language. Wherever you choose to study, you'll get better results if you fully immerse yourself and cut yourself off from the English-language world. There are language and cultural studies schools mentioned in the relevant chapters, although some of these are aimed at short-term visitors. Good websites for cultural studies and language studies include www.educasian.com and www.worldlinkedu.com. Officially enrolled students with school identity cards will enjoy substantial discounts at all major sights.
Teaching English
In order to legally teach you need a working visa, which can be obtained with the school's help, although some places will let you carry on teaching with a standard tourist visa. Good schools might require you to have a degree or TEFL qualification, but plenty of places just want a foreign face to look good for the parents. Salaries typically range from US$400 to US$800 per month and hours might be as few as 15 or as many as 30 a week. Many places offer accommodation, food and maybe even a bicycle as part of the bargain!
If you're serious about your teaching, then it's best to head for a high school or one of the major private schools where you should find all the teaching materials and staff support you need; some of the cowboy operations will just send you into a classroom of mixed-age, mixed-ability children with no preparation whatsoever – "OK kids, today we're going to learn about Christmas.…”
Other Jobs
If you're posted to China by an international company, then many of your relocation needs are likely to be met by a specialist company that can help arrange moving, housing and domestic care. If, on the other hand, you arrive by yourself with no prospects, just a burning desire to work in China, do not despair. It's fairly easy to pick up some kind of work, perhaps teaching English, to support yourself in the beginning until you find the job you're after. Expat websites such as that's magazines (see Information Sources) have job listings, as does China Daily. Speaking some Chinese will improve your prospects. In all work categories the highest wages are found in the big cities, but obviously the cost of living is also higher.
Business Travel
As China opens itself up to more foreign trade, the number of business visitors is increasing. Opportunities are predominantly in joint venture companies and, with such great potential for both manufacture and consumption, it's no wonder the race is on to grab a piece of the pie. However, doing business in China is not the same as in Europe or North America and many newcomers find these differences frustrating. The Chinese are master business tacticians and, while they are gracious and hospitable hosts, they are operating in their own country and have a few moves up their sleeve. Thus, the better you're prepared for your trip, the more profitable it is likely to be and, to this end, the tips below should help.
Business Do's & Don't's
Get a China consultant and/or a translator. If this is the first time you've done business in China recruiting a China consultant can help to put you on more level footing with your new Chinese business partner. A consultant will probably speak the language, though it's also a good idea to organize your own translator (fanyi). Interpreters tend to be arranged by the host company and in this case you may feel you're not always getting the full picture, probably because you aren't. The Chinese know they are free to talk openly and that their translator will provide a suitably censored version for your ears. Taking your own translator won't make you any friends but it will offer you more insight into what's going on. The not-for-profit US-China Business Council (www.uschina.org) and the China Britain Business Council (www.cbbc.org) are good starting points.
Be aware of the importance of personal connections (guanxi). Although guanxi isn't the dominating force it once was, business in China is based much more on close personal ties than at home. Old friends or colleagues with suspect business practices may be preferred to an unknown newcomer with a good track record. As long as an individual is liked and trusted, business can proceed, which means it's important to make a good impression during your visit. Although part of this is clearly about your business proposal, adhering to the etiquette practices mentioned in the previous section will also play a role. In order to build up the required relationship you may need to invest much more time than you might have anticipated, so be prepared for lots of banquets and karaoke (KTV) bars before you start to head in the right direction.
Account for the importance of superstition (see Beliefs and Superstitions for more). Although it may seem crazy to you in this modern business age, some decisions may be based on how auspicious a certain date (or figure) is and production might be delayed until then. Fengshui, also known as geomancy (see Fengshui) also has its part to play here and if a location is perceived to have bad fengshui (and thus future prospects) the whole deal could go sour.