8 Weird Chinese Customs Every Importer Needs to Know
By Edmund Lowman
Once you’ve got your importing business going, you’re most definitely going to want to visit China. You’ll be able to meet your supplier face to face, negotiate lower prices, and also get the chance to experience China (which is awesome and weird).
However, if you aren’t prepared for China – you’re in for a BIG surprise.
Landing in China is like visiting a new planet. The customs, the language, the people, the food, the traffic- I could go on forever…
Personally I never thought anywhere on the planet could be more weird / unique. But despite all of its quirks and weirdness, I love it.
Below are the top 8 things that I think everyone should know and be prepared for when heading to China or doing business in China.
1. Spitting
Though efforts have been made in recent years to curb this disgusting cultural habit, spitting seems to have etched its way into Chinese culture for the long haul…
Spitting is as common as breathing in China, along with a laundry list of other bodily functions that you never even knew existed, so you’d better get used to it. If their body wants to release something, they believe (and maybe rightly so) that it should be released right then and there (weddings, birthdays, funerals, it doesn’t matter).
In general this is not considered weird and you have to accept this and ‘let it go’ (pun intended).
2. Food
The stories you’ve heard are unfortunately true. The weirder the animal (and body part) – the more expensive it is.
And God as my witness – if you have a business dinner in China, you’ll be presented with a smorgasbord of foods straight off the Fear Factor Menu…
However, if you can muscle through it and take a few bites – your Chinese counterparts will greatly appreciate and respect you. I suggest a blindfold and nose clip for such occasions.
Things I’ve personally ingested (and am not too proud of…)
Frog lungs
Cow stomach
Fish eyes
Something from a pig that I could not identify and nobody could really explain…
3. Baiju
Baiju Chinese Liquor Alcohol
Think of the worst alcohol you can possibly imagine, and then add some more alcohol to it to make it worse. Something like paint thinner, nail polish remover and turpentine all mixed together…
That is the best way I can describe Baiju.
Chinese businessmen love this stuff, and typically have it served at business dinners. This is like the finally step of hazing at a fraternity, if you can make it through this you are officially in their club.
PRO-TIP!
When dinner is served someone will most likely ask you ‘Would you like some white wine?’. Don’t fall for this trick like I did!
This is not the ‘White Wine’ you’ve come to know and love. This is Baiju translated very poorly and unfairly (bai(by) = white ju(joe) = wine).
Interestingly enough if you order Hongju (Hong = Red and Ju = Wine), you do in fact get Red Wine…
4. Manners
The Chinese are PAINFULLY polite…
This means even if you are blatantly wrong or offensive, they won’t tell you. Even if they think you are completely retarded and will never do business with you again – they won’t tell you.
In order to get through this politeness you have to really read between the lines…
If a supplier isn’t writing you back it’s usually because they are not interested, and if they do finally respond it’s because they don’t want to be impolite.
This is probably the most difficult thing to navigate in China, but also the most important.
Likewise, you should do your best to be as polite as humanly possible to your Chinese counterparts. Things like ego, impatience, rudeness, outbursts, and other ‘power plays’ are not well received in the far east – and it will do nothing productive for you or your business to act in such a way.
The best thing you can do, is bite your tongue, shake your head and smile. Actions speak much louder than words in China, so make sure you act accordingly.
5. English is tough
Despite having learned it for years in school Chinese have a hard time speaking and understanding English.
This is not because they are dumb, this is because in school they recite, read and write a lot of English, but do not actively speak English in conversations. They are only drilled as groups.
So when you speak, speak slowly and clearly, take your time and try to explain things. Also remember you do not speak (Mandarin/Cantonese) and you are in their country, so respect the fact that they are trying to speak your language.
6. Lines and Lack of Personal Space
You have to remember that China has the largest population on the planet with 20 million people plus in many cities (People will argue this is not true, but what wikipedia and many other census do not account for are migrant workers).
That being said personal space is a luxury that doesn’t exist in China…
You should not take it personally, nor be aggressive about it. Just embrace it and go with the flow. If you are trying to get on to a bus or train, expect that you will be pushed and bumped around, just use your size to your advantage