7 Do’s & 8 Don’ts In China
China is one of the most populated countries in the world. The entire Middle Kingdom is an adventure within itself. Tourism plays a significant role in the Chinese economy. Just like in any other country, there are things you can and cannot do. I lived in China as an intern at the start of 2010; I don’t claim to be a Mister Know-it-all; I’m writing this blog concordance with my experience. Here are the ten things to do and not to do in China.
The 10 Do’s
1. Be punctual
Just like Germans, Belgians, French people, Dutch people, Nordics, Britons, Boers, Singaporeans, Americans, and other nationalities from the developed world, Chinese people cannot tolerate unpunctual people. Chinese people cannot stand unorganized people. If you make an appointment with someone else, you must show up on time. If you are on an internship or have a job, ensure that you always show up on time; if you can’t do that, please make sure that you keep your superior notified beforehand. If you don’t show up, it will be perceived as disrespectful; there will be questions about your values, character, and credibility. China is now one of the most successful societies in the world because Chinese people take punctuality seriously.
Shanghai
2.Enjoy the food that you are offered
When invited to a Chinese party or dinner, you’re better off eating and drinking as much as the local population does. If locals don’t see you enjoy the food given to you, they will take it as an insult to their country, cuisine, and culture. If there is something China is known for is its unwillingness to lose face. In Chinese culture, you spend your entire life building your social prestige and reputation while avoiding causing anyone else to lose theirs; the same can be said about other Asian countries.
3. Do join the toast or initiate on the table
In China, society emphasizes people. Although the drinking culture in the country is fascinating, confusing, and intimidating — you still need to punish yourself by drinking, given you’re expected to do so. However, take it slow; in China, dinners and drinkings gatherings tend to go on for hours. Remember to hydrate between food and drinks. There are also diffrent popular drinking games.
4. Receive compliments humbly
This is something that I’m extremely guilty of; it’s something that I’m not comfortable with, but in China, humility is a virtue, and society believes that pride leads to loss. If you receive compliments, respond with “it’s nothing” or “well, yeah!”.
5. Get a VPN before your departure to China
Guys, please get it from me; I am talking out of the experience. I didn’t know what a VPN is, nor did I know anything about its importance before going to China. I paid the price when I made it to the Middle Kingdom, given that Facebook and other Western social networking sites are blocked in the country. The only Western social networking site that isn’t plugged into China is LinkeIn, but I cannot guarantee that the CCP hasn’t blocked it. It would be best if you got a VPN. I Left China and went to Hong Kong to use a VPN, and for enjoying the Sepecial Administrative Region.
Harbin
Rural China
6. Keep your religious beliefs to yourself
If you’re someone who likes to convert the world to Christianity or Islam, don’t do it in China. Contrary to popular belief, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) states that citizens “enjoy the freedom of religious belief” but limits protections for religious practice to “normal religious activities” without defining “normal.” CCP members and members of the armed forces must be atheists and are forbidden from engaging in religious practices. If you try to impose your religious beliefs upon others, people will take you for a fool, or you will go to jail. The authorities might even throw you out of the country and ban you from entering the Middle Kingdom. In China, there are traditional religions, and people don’t impose them on you — so don’t impose yours.
7. Take off your hat when visiting a temple
Take off your hat as a sign of respect when you set foot in a temple. Remember to donate to religious beggars, even though you don’t believe in good or bad karma, especially in Tibet.
The Yangtze River is the longest river in China; the third-longest river in the world.
The 8 Don’ts
1.Don’t draw similarities between China and Japan
Japan and China have cultures that have nothing to do with each other and there have been muliple Sino-Japanese wars. The Sino-Japanese war that occurred in WWII cost between 7 to 16 million Chinese lives; we’re talking about civilians. 3 million Chinese soldiers were killed during that war. Also, there are many Japanese who see the Chinese as uncilized and not human — never compare Japan to China either.
2.Don’t refuse strangers who want to take pictures with you
Even though China has one of the best educational systems in the world; even though the country is the second richest on the planet, by GDP Nominal, it is not accustom to foreigners of different races, and ethnicities. China is still in its infancy, when it comes to interacting with people of various backgrounds, given that it has been islolated for a very long time. When a group of Chinese people ask you to take a picture with them randomly, please don’t refuse because they would see it as an insult. Certain individuals might even go so far to accuse you of insulting their country; the Chinese law will take the side of the Chinese, at your expense in 99,9 % of the time.
4.Don’t do crime in China
Don’t do crime in any country, not just China. Whether you’re a local or a foreigner, especially if you are a foreigner. I’m going to say for the second time in this blog…China has a 99% convinction rate, and if you as a foreigner steal in a shop, or if you scam the locals or anything else, you are going to be behind bars, and after that, the authorities might get you dissappeared or deported. Don’t even think about killing someone else or selling drugs in China, given that it carries the death penalty. If you bring drugs into the country, you will be sentenced to capital punishment. Executions are carried out by lethal injection or by shooting. In my humble opinion, France, Hungary, the Congo, and the Congo DR should draw lessons from China when it comes to executing those who are involved with drug trafficking, and those who sell drugs. Also those who commit murder.
6. Don’t critize the Chinese government & don’t get involved in Chinese politics
China is not a deomocracy, it is a dictatorship. The country has some of the world’s worst human rights’ records. The Chinese Communist Party doesn’t even care about its citizens; do you expect them to give you special treaments? First of all, if you criticize the Chinese government and China as a country, you will be jailed or deported. Second, try to abstain from topics about Tibet, Xinjiang, and Taiwan. I’m not in China; I proudly say that Taiwan is a country, and I don’t care if someone gets angry about it. However, don’t say it in China. If you do, it is going to offend your Chinese counterpart. Most Chinese people are very proud of their country and its long history of achievements and would be offended by sharp criticism of it.
7. Don’t leave your chopsticks upright
Please, I really beg you; I plead with you never to leave chopsticks upright in your food, like incense sticks! Leaving your chopsticks upright symbolizes death because it is similar to the ceremony that Chinese people use to pray for someone who has passed and is considered bad luck. Please don’t do it in China and most Asian countries. Don’t even do it in an Asian restaurant in your home country.
8. Don’t be afraid to criticize organized religions
You can criticize religions in China, given that the government in that country hates them. There is nothing wrong with saying that religion is the root of all evil in China, but don’t overblow it.
Chongqing
Wuhan
Shenzhen
Guangzhou. This city is This city has been nicknamed the chocolate by the locals because many Blacks from different Sub-Saharan African countries live there. Many live there because they have businesses and sell goods from various African countries. However, some live there illegally; you must never overstay illegally in China. If you stay on Chinese territory longer than the validity of your Chinese visa, you will not be allowed to leave the country. You will pay a daily fine of 40 Euros and be placed in a detention camp for five days to two weeks before being repatriated back to your country. The Chinese authorities will put you on a dark list and ban you from re-entering the country for ten years. Being banned from re-entry into China will negatively influence your possibility of visa application in other countries.
Beijing
Thank you for showing your interest in this blog. Xié Xié.
Roderick Balenda is a blogger and a poet on Medium. He is a Frenchman of Congolese descent. He publishes blogs about societal issues, traveling, and other topics. Roderick Balenda is based in Bordeaux, France. You can contact him via brnbalenda@gmx.com. Roderick Balenda has lived in China, where he was an intern.
