Customs in China
Traditions, symbolism, lucky and unlucky numbers, festivals, and family customs.
How to Register and Navigate a Chinese Hospital Visit: A Step-by-Step Guide
Register via the hospital's WeChat mini-program (挂号, Guàhào) to book a department, doctor, and time slot. Bring your passport, a phone with WeChat Pay or Alipay…
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Chinese Hospital System Guide: Public, Private & International
China's hospitals are tiered from Grade 3-A (top-tier, crowded) to community health centers (basic, local). For foreigners, the smart move is often a Grade 2 ho…
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Wear Red Underwear or Accessories in Your Chinese Zodiac Year
In your zodiac year (本命年, běn mìng nián) — the year matching your birth animal — Chinese tradition says you are more vulnerable to bad luck. Wearing red underga…
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Don't Get a Haircut in the First Lunar Month of the Year
A folk superstition holds that getting a haircut in the first lunar month (正月, zhēngyuè, roughly January–February) will bring bad luck to your maternal uncle. M…
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Know Which Hand Goes Outside When Bowing (拱手礼) — Left for Happy Events, Right for Funerals
For happy occasions (New Year, celebrations), left hand goes on the outside. Right hand on the outside is used at funerals. Mixing these up is a significant soc…
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Step Over, Not On, the Door Threshold When Entering a Chinese Home
Stepping on the threshold is considered disrespectful and bad luck. Always step over it, not on it.
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Never Say 'Flip' or Turn the Fish Upside Down at the Table
Yes. When eating a whole fish, never flip it upside down or say the word 'flip' (翻, fān). This is considered bad luck, especially in coastal communities where i…
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Ancestor Worship & Qingming Festival: A Foreigner's Guide
Ancestor worship in China centers on honoring deceased family members through rituals like Qingming grave sweeping, burning paper offerings, and maintaining hom…
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Chinese Funeral Customs: What Foreigners Must Know
Wear black or white, avoid red and bright colors. Bring a white envelope with cash in an even amount (no 4s) and white flowers — never red roses. Offer brief co…
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Red Envelopes: The Complete Hongbao Guide for Foreigners
Red envelopes are given at weddings, birthdays for elders, baby full-moon celebrations, and hospital visits, not just New Year. Amounts vary by city and occasio…
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Chinese Naming Customs: How to Address People Correctly
Chinese names put the family name first (e.g., Wang Wei – Wang is the family name). Always address someone by their full name or title + family name (e.g., Mana…
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Lucky Foods in China: Symbolism & Etiquette Guide
In China, certain foods carry deep symbolic meanings—fish for surplus, dumplings for wealth, long noodles for longevity, and more. When these foods appear, it's…
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Choosing Auspicious Dates in China: A Foreigner's Guide
Chinese people often consult the lunar calendar and the almanac (tong shu) to pick dates that are believed to bring good luck for events like weddings, moving, …
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Feng Shui Basics: What Foreigners Must Know in China
Feng shui influences everything from apartment floor numbers to mirror placement and home orientation. In China, many buildings skip the 4th floor, mirrors are …
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Chinese Tea Etiquette: Knuckle Tap, Pouring Rules & Business Signals
When someone pours your tea, tap the table with two fingers (index and middle) to say thanks. Always pour for others before yourself, and keep their cups filled…
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Chinese Color Symbolism: What to Wear & Avoid
In China, red symbolizes luck and joy, white is for mourning, gold means prosperity, and green hats imply infidelity. Wear red at weddings and festivals, avoid …
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Chinese Zodiac in Daily Life: What Expats Need to Know
The Chinese zodiac influences everything from gift-giving and wedding dates to office dynamics and personal decisions. Many Chinese people consult zodiac compat…
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Chinese Superstitions in Everyday Life: What Foreigners Should Know
Several Chinese superstitions remain genuinely active in modern life — especially around gifts (clocks, pears, green hats), numbers (4 = death, 8 = prosperity),…
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China High-Speed Rail and Taxi Guide for Foreigners
China's high-speed rail (高铁, gāotiě) is fast, punctual, and remarkably comfortable — but requires a passport for ticket purchase, a name-to-seat system, and spe…
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Living With or Near Chinese In-Laws: A Foreigner's Guide
Chinese parents typically maintain a much closer involvement in their married children's lives than Western families expect — especially around major holidays, …
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Chinese Wedding Traditions: What Foreigners Need to Know
Chinese weddings involve rituals foreign partners rarely expect: cǎilǐ (bride price), elaborate pre-wedding photo shoots, multiple toasting rounds, and sometime…
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Meeting Your Chinese Partner's Parents: A Foreigner's Survival Guide
Meeting Chinese parents is a major milestone — it signals the relationship is marriage-track. Bring a quality gift (¥300–800), expect interview-style questions …
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Chinese Lucky and Unlucky Numbers: Why 8 is Gold and 4 is Catastrophic
In China, 8 is the luckiest number (sounds like 'prosper'), 6 means smooth sailing, and 9 means longevity. The number 4 is avoided like death — because it sound…
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