I've just got back from my first trip to China. Beijing and Shanghai - for a very short visit -
10 days. We were on a Squash Tour - we played at local clubs wherever we could find them.
And, in between we hit the tourist spots - and shopped till we dropped. As a Speaking Coach, I was interested to find an article in the "Jing An Times" which illustrated a few tips on "How to Understand Chinese Business Culture". It focused on 5 areas and here are the top tips in each. (If you would like more info on these, email me at: sofia@speak2us.com.au
- Appearance and Greetings: Bow upon meeting. If expecting to shake hands, wait till your host offers their hand first.
- How to Behave and Communicate: Avoid large hand gestures. Chinese people do not use their hand expressively and will find it distracting if you do.
- Gift giving and Respect: In China, gifts have symbolic meanings and choosing the right gift is a minefield.
- Business Decision Making: Decisions are made slowly and with care, in China.
- Tips and Warnings: Never write on a business card that has been handed to you.
