15 Tips for China Trips

In light of an upcoming trip to China, University President Drew G. Faust consulted a group of Harvard students who could help acquaint her with the rudiments of Chinese culture: what to expect, how to act, etc. While this was undoubtedly informative, FM came up with a couple more tips we thought she should know.

1) Don’t mention siblings—that’s just rubbing it in.

2) You can tell a lot from toasting: a person of lower status touches the rim of their glass below the rim of a higher-status counterpart.

3) Chinese people will look up to you (you will be taller than most).

4) Tap your index and middle finger on the table twice to thank someone pouring tea or signal that you have enough.

5) Check out Mao’s body—it’s preserved in Tiananmen Square!

6) You should learn a few phrases ahead of time. Here’s one to get you started: “zhe shi she ma zhong de ro?” (“What kind of meat is this?”).

7) Leave your perpetual caffeine drip (aka travel mug) at home. In China people carry tea around in glass jars.

8) When taking a cab, if you’re in the know, you’ll ride up front.

9) There are no fortune cookies in China...

10) ...Instead, your fortune is up to you: the color red and number eight are lucky.

11) What’s bad luck? Leaving chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice.

12) Defy Western manners: eating with your mouth open is acceptable. In fact, slurping hot noodles is a compliment to the chef.

13) Get your cup of joe before visiting the Forbidden City: the Starbucks there has been removed.

14) Afraid to hawk a loogie in Cambridge? Let it fly in Shanghai. It’s all the rage.

15) In Beijing, the 22nd of each month has been designated “Share Your Seat Day,” a recent initiative to eradicate impolite behavior before the Olympics.