Culture & Etiquette

China runs on WeChat Pay and Alipay. Cash and international credit cards have very limited acceptance. Some vendors now support international cards through Alipay. Set up a mobile payment option before arriving if possible — it will make daily life dramatically easier.

Chinese meals are typically shared family-style. Dishes are placed in the center of the table (often on a lazy Susan) and everyone takes from them. It is polite to serve others before yourself, especially elders. Using communal chopsticks for shared dishes is becoming more common.

Placing chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice resembles incense sticks at a funeral and is considered extremely unlucky and disrespectful. Lay them across your bowl or on the chopstick rest. Also avoid pointing at people with chopsticks.

When someone pours you tea, tap two fingers on the table twice as a silent "thank you." This tradition comes from a Qing Dynasty legend. Tea is offered as a sign of respect and hospitality. In Guangdong, tea is served before, during, and after every meal.

When given a business card, receive it with both hands and take a moment to read it. Placing it directly in your pocket without looking is considered very rude. Treat it with respect — never write on it in front of the giver or place it under objects.

Never give a clock as a gift — "giving a clock" (sòng zhōng) sounds like "attending a funeral" in Mandarin. Avoid gifts in sets of four (associated with death). Red is lucky, white is for mourning. Gifts are typically refused two or three times before being accepted — this is polite, not a genuine refusal.

Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and many Western apps are blocked in mainland China. Download a VPN before arriving. WeChat is the essential app for messaging, payments, and daily life. Plan your digital strategy before crossing the border.