THINGS ABOUT CHINA THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Cheers, it’s Friday everyone! Next month will mark my 3 years staying in China, yeay! Well, if I may describe China, I’ll describe it in 3 words : China Is Tough. The feeling when you step out from your comfort zone and live in a different part of the world where the culture is different, and you know a little about it – yes the mix of exciting, anxious, nervous, happy or other feelings, you name it. Moreover, the place that you move in is the most populous country and one of the biggest countries of the world! There you go… It’s been tough, but at the same time it’s been a pleasant and amazing journey though

Ok, let’s move to the main topic. I’ll share to you all 11 things (let’s say it’s part of Chinese culture) that you have to know about China. Maybe, you plan to travel to China, to study, or moreover for those who want to do business with Chinese people or in China, it’s better to know how their culture is to minimize the chance of misunderstanding or other inconvenient things. Let’s get started!

1. The Importance of “Face” (面子)

I remember, once my British teacher told me that he felt like living in another part of European country because most Chinese people drive VW, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Range Rover, or other European cars. And I think, it’s quite right! Or every time Apple launches its newest iPhone, when you take public busses or other public transports, 80% of the passengers holding that newest iPhone. And notes that, it’s not a Samsung, or other brands, but Apple. I got the answer from my Chinese language teacher not so long time ago, he told me that, because Chinese people don’t want to lose face. Reputation or pride is very important. They even willing to live in a decent place in substitute of driving an Audi!

For Chinese, “Face” has 2 meanings. First meaning is the part of our head (脸: lian). The second meaning is our image or reputation (面子：mian zi). The “Face” meaning that we will discuss is the second one: image or reputation. There is a term of “Losing face”, which means losing reputation or dignity, and it is a super terrible term for Chinese. For most of them, “Face” is more important than the truth.

So, remember, don’t make Chinese people lose their face because it’s a really terrible thing for them.

2. Relationship or Personal Contact (关系)

A friend of mine, he is also foreigner, he has a distant relative who runs business in China. He worked at his distant relative’s company even though, they didn’t need any people or open any vacancies. Why? Because of that term of “Relationship” or 关系 (guan xi). For Chinese, “Guan Xi” is as important as “Face”. If you want to do business with Chinese or in China, I really recommend you to have personal contact with them. It really does make some difference!

3. Food

Prepare your belly to accept foods that it never digested before! There is a joke that says: Imagine if our ancestors, Adam and Eve, were Chinese; They would keep staying in Eden, because they wouldn’t fall for the snake’s deceit, but they would eat the snake!

Beside, also prepare some medicine, because the food here is super greasy and sometimes, the safety is not guaranteed…

The Exotic Snack at WangFuJing Market, Beijing

4. Recompense

Last July, my other 2 roommates went back for good to their country. We personally feel grateful that we had such a kind landlord, so before my other 2 roommates went back home, they gave the landlord some gifts as a gratitude. Well, none of them, including me (I’m still here in China and live at their place, so I didn’t give anything to the landlord), hoped that we would get something in return, really. But, our landlord gave us (us, including me, I mean I gave nothing to them) gifts in return.

That’s how the term of “Ren Qing“– 人情 or we can interpret it as Recompense goes in Chinese culture.

5. Modesty

I still remember the word that I was taught in my first Chinese language class: “Na li, Na li” or 哪里哪里. It’s the term of modesty or humility when someone praises you, that can be interpreted like: not really.

6. Hot and Noisy (热闹)

“Re Nao” or 热闹 can be interpreted as hot and noisy. And you know what, most of Chinese people like that! For them, it shows that the place is lively and exciting. Well, when you come to China, you’ll know and realize why it is called and in fact “The most populous country in the world”!

And 1 more thing, they like to shout! If you are in China, and you hear people talks with high volume, adapt with it. No, no, no, they’re not in fight, but that’s just how they communicate. When you take public bus in China, don’t expect that you can get some sleep, because when there is an incoming call, the owner will ‘say’ (I mean LOUDLY) “Waiiiiiiii” which means Hello . I’m sure during your journey on the bus, not only 1 person will have the incoming calls, but some…

New Year Eve at The Bund

Great Wall During Independence Day Holiday

Just a small warm tip: Don’t go to Shanghai, Beijing, HongKong or other tourist attraction places during Chinese holiday, moreover on its Independence day holiday (October the 1st)! From my experience, who personally like tranquility, I wanted to throw up when I went to the East Nanjing Pedestrian Walk in Shanghai on the Independence day holiday. It did fulfill the Chinese saying of “人山人海“ – ren shan ren hai. Ren means human; Shan means mountain; Hai means ocean. So we can interpret it like too many people or ocean of human!

7. No Queue

There is a saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. I’d say, When in China, usually when you are waiting for bus or subway, you’ll have to do as Chinese do, I mean squeezing through the crowd, otherwise, you’ll wait forever to get on the bus or subway, because you will be pushed away or stepped on by others and be patient, if that happens to you, no “I’m sorry or Dui bu qi” from them. One more funny thing is when you are queuing in line with Chinese, if at first there was only 1 line, it will grow to 2 lines, 2 lines to 4 lines, and so on…..

The Crowd at Beijing MRT

8. The Drastic Opposite Meaning of Red Color

Chinese love Red color, yes! Moreover if you come to China during Chinese New Year or when you witness Chinese wedding, your eyes will be enlightened by the Red color because Red color means happiness. Buttttt, be careful, when you are writing a letter to Chinese, don’t write their name in Red color, because it means the person will die any time soon or you want them to die soon!

9. Skyscrapers and Unique Building

Go to Lujiazui 陆家嘴 (line 2 or the green line of Shanghai’s MRT, 1 stop after East Nanjing Road), Shanghai, and you’ll be amazed by the majestic view of those skyscrapers. You also can go to Beijing or Guangzhou or other cities, to see some Chinese’s unique buildings.

CCTV Headquarter at Beijing

Sheraton Hotel at Huzhou

10. Copycat

Don’t be shocked if you see another product’s copycat with its ‘similar’ name. For example, in the city that I live, there is a sport shoes store named New Barlun . Can you guess, what brand did they copy from? (please name it by yourself).