China Business Opportunities
Business lunches are growing in popularity in China. Business breakfasts, however, are not as prevalent, except in Guangdong, Hangzhou and Fujian province where 'Morning Tea' is very popular.
Evening banquets are the most popular occasions for business entertaining. Generally, they start at between 5:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. and last for two hours. Make sure to arrive on time. If you wish, arrive around 15 minutes early to a banquet; your Chinese hosts and counterparts will probably be present before the proceedings officially begin. Being punctual is a virtue in Chinese Culture, forget about the western philosophy of "never arrive to an event early".
Wait to be seated, as there is a seating etiquette based on hierarchy in Chinese business culture.
Generally, the seat in the middle of the table, facing the door, is reserved for the host. The most senior guest of honour sits directly to the left. Everyone else is seated in descending order of status. The most senior member sits in the center seat. Follow this seating pattern if you are hosting a banquet or a meal in your residence, whether for business or purely social reasons.
The host is the first person at the table allowed to begin eating by declaring the first toast. Then, the rest of the company can proceed with the meal. If you are the host, take the first piece of the most valued food (the first dish such events are usually sucking pig, so pick the piece which looks crunchy and doesnt have much fat) and put it on your guest of honour's plate after the first toast. This will signify that eating can proceed and is considered a friendly gesture.
Business is not discussed during the meal. Meals for just for networking purpose.
It is not uncommon for a host to order enough food for ten people at a table of five. He or she loses face if there are not plenty of left-overs at the end of a meal. Rice, considered by many Chinese to be filler, is generally not served until the end of a meal. So, if you want to eat rice with your meal be sure to ask the waitress or 'shou jie' ("miss" in Chinese) to serve it early, particularly if the food is spicy.
During a meal, as many as 20-30 courses can be served, so try not to eat too much at once. The best policy is to lightly sample each dish. Leaving a 'clean plate' means that you were not given enough food--a terrible insult. On the other hand, leaving a food offering untouched will also be offensive; even if you find a dish unappealing, try a small portion for the sake of politeness.
One important part of Chinese business entertaining is a tea drinking ritual known as 'yum cha.' It is used to establish rapport before a meeting or during meals. If you do not want a 'refill' of tea, just leave some in your cup.
If you are served food that does not require utensils, you may be given a bowl of tea; do NOT drink it! It is only for the purpose of dipping and cleaning your fingers.
It's perfectly acceptable to reach in front of others for dishes and other items. But many Chinese restaurant now has turning plates so you can just turn the dish you want in front of you.
Seeds and bones are placed on the table or in a specially reserved dish; never place them in your bowl.
It will be appreciated if you use chopsticks. When you are finished eating, place your chopsticks on the table or a chopstick rest. Placing your chopsticks parallel on top of your bowl is believed to bring bad luck. Sticking your chopsticks straight up in your rice bowl is considered rude because in this position, they resemble the joss sticks that are used in Chinese religious rituals.
Do not put the end of the chopstick in your mouth. Try not to drop your chopsticks, as this is considered a sign of bad luck.
When eating rice, follow Chinese custom by holding the bowl close to your mouth. Slurping and belching at the table can be perfectly acceptable: they are perceived as signs that you are appreciating the meal.
Toothpicks are usually offered between courses and at the conclusion of a meal. When using a toothpick, cover your mouth with your free hand for concealment.
Forming a personal relationship ['guanxi' in Chinese] is very important in Chinese Business Culture. Part of this involves participating in the strong drinking culture that exists here. Generally, the Chinese disregard anyone who does not participate in the inevitable drinking that takes place during almost all business dinners. And it is at these kinds of social occasions that most negotiating breakthroughs are made. Unless you have medical excuses, it is hard to avoid drinking in these circumstances.
Toasting, usually with beer, wine or Chinese white liquors, is an important part of Chinese business etiquette. You will often find three glasses on your table: a glass for your drink of choice [toast with this glass], a wine glass, and a shot glass for a liquor called 'maotai' or 'wu liang ye.' The host of a banquet offers the first toast. If you prefer not to drink alcohol, you can toast with a soft drink, glass of juice, or tea. Toasts will be proposed throughout the meal. Two popular toasts are 'ganbei' ['bottoms up!'] and 'kai wei' ['starting the appetite!'].
Sometimes, the Chinese enjoy testing the ability of a foreigner ['lou wai'] to handle his or her alcohol, especially 'er gua toe', a potent clear alcohol that has as high as 80 proof like Vodka or Scotch. A good practice would be to eat something beforehand. Before smoking, it's polite to offer cigarettes to those in your company.
You know a meal has reached a definite conclusion when fruit is served and hot towels are presented. Guests should make preparations to leave shortly after these items are offered. In accordance with Chinese business etiquette, the host will not initiate the guests' departure.
Tipping is generally considered an insult in China. Most government operated hotels and restaurants prohibit acceptance of tips. It is sometimes expected, however, in some of the bigger hotels and by younger service personnel, in the more open cities (i.e. Beijing, Shanghai, GuangZhou, Hong Kong...).
Follow Chinese business protocol and reciprocate with a banquet of similar value; never surpass your host by arranging a more lavish gathering as this will make them "loss face".
Generally, the Chinese are not great experimenters when it comes to their diet. Unless he or she has traveled extensively, typical Chinese businessperson doesn't like Western food.
If you are hosting a banquet, arrive at least 30 minutes before your guests.
Home entertaining is very popular in China. If you are invited to a Chinese home, you will probably be asked to remove your shoes. Again, arrive on time (but not too early, or else it might be awkward)
Next time in China Business Opportunities, we will talk about the proper public behavior in China.
Business lunches are growing in popularity in China. Business breakfasts, however, are not as prevalent, except in Guangdong, Hangzhou and Fujian province where 'Morning Tea' is very popular.
Evening banquets are the most popular occasions for business entertaining. Generally, they start at between 5:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. and last for two hours. Make sure to arrive on time. If you wish, arrive around 15 minutes early to a banquet; your Chinese hosts and counterparts will probably be present before the proceedings officially begin. Being punctual is a virtue in Chinese Culture, forget about the western philosophy of "never arrive to an event early".
Wait to be seated, as there is a seating etiquette based on hierarchy in Chinese business culture.
Generally, the seat in the middle of the table, facing the door, is reserved for the host. The most senior guest of honour sits directly to the left. Everyone else is seated in descending order of status. The most senior member sits in the center seat. Follow this seating pattern if you are hosting a banquet or a meal in your residence, whether for business or purely social reasons.
The host is the first person at the table allowed to begin eating by declaring the first toast. Then, the rest of the company can proceed with the meal. If you are the host, take the first piece of the most valued food (the first dish such events are usually sucking pig, so pick the piece which looks crunchy and doesnt have much fat) and put it on your guest of honour's plate after the first toast. This will signify that eating can proceed and is considered a friendly gesture.
Business is not discussed during the meal. Meals for just for networking purpose.
It is not uncommon for a host to order enough food for ten people at a table of five. He or she loses face if there are not plenty of left-overs at the end of a meal. Rice, considered by many Chinese to be filler, is generally not served until the end of a meal. So, if you want to eat rice with your meal be sure to ask the waitress or 'shou jie' ("miss" in Chinese) to serve it early, particularly if the food is spicy.
During a meal, as many as 20-30 courses can be served, so try not to eat too much at once. The best policy is to lightly sample each dish. Leaving a 'clean plate' means that you were not given enough food--a terrible insult. On the other hand, leaving a food offering untouched will also be offensive; even if you find a dish unappealing, try a small portion for the sake of politeness.
One important part of Chinese business entertaining is a tea drinking ritual known as 'yum cha.' It is used to establish rapport before a meeting or during meals. If you do not want a 'refill' of tea, just leave some in your cup.
If you are served food that does not require utensils, you may be given a bowl of tea; do NOT drink it! It is only for the purpose of dipping and cleaning your fingers.
It's perfectly acceptable to reach in front of others for dishes and other items. But many Chinese restaurant now has turning plates so you can just turn the dish you want in front of you.
Seeds and bones are placed on the table or in a specially reserved dish; never place them in your bowl.
It will be appreciated if you use chopsticks. When you are finished eating, place your chopsticks on the table or a chopstick rest. Placing your chopsticks parallel on top of your bowl is believed to bring bad luck. Sticking your chopsticks straight up in your rice bowl is considered rude because in this position, they resemble the joss sticks that are used in Chinese religious rituals.
Do not put the end of the chopstick in your mouth. Try not to drop your chopsticks, as this is considered a sign of bad luck.
When eating rice, follow Chinese custom by holding the bowl close to your mouth. Slurping and belching at the table can be perfectly acceptable: they are perceived as signs that you are appreciating the meal.
Toothpicks are usually offered between courses and at the conclusion of a meal. When using a toothpick, cover your mouth with your free hand for concealment.
Forming a personal relationship ['guanxi' in Chinese] is very important in Chinese Business Culture. Part of this involves participating in the strong drinking culture that exists here. Generally, the Chinese disregard anyone who does not participate in the inevitable drinking that takes place during almost all business dinners. And it is at these kinds of social occasions that most negotiating breakthroughs are made. Unless you have medical excuses, it is hard to avoid drinking in these circumstances.
Toasting, usually with beer, wine or Chinese white liquors, is an important part of Chinese business etiquette. You will often find three glasses on your table: a glass for your drink of choice [toast with this glass], a wine glass, and a shot glass for a liquor called 'maotai' or 'wu liang ye.' The host of a banquet offers the first toast. If you prefer not to drink alcohol, you can toast with a soft drink, glass of juice, or tea. Toasts will be proposed throughout the meal. Two popular toasts are 'ganbei' ['bottoms up!'] and 'kai wei' ['starting the appetite!'].
Sometimes, the Chinese enjoy testing the ability of a foreigner ['lou wai'] to handle his or her alcohol, especially 'er gua toe', a potent clear alcohol that has as high as 80 proof like Vodka or Scotch. A good practice would be to eat something beforehand. Before smoking, it's polite to offer cigarettes to those in your company.
You know a meal has reached a definite conclusion when fruit is served and hot towels are presented. Guests should make preparations to leave shortly after these items are offered. In accordance with Chinese business etiquette, the host will not initiate the guests' departure.
Tipping is generally considered an insult in China. Most government operated hotels and restaurants prohibit acceptance of tips. It is sometimes expected, however, in some of the bigger hotels and by younger service personnel, in the more open cities (i.e. Beijing, Shanghai, GuangZhou, Hong Kong...).
Follow Chinese business protocol and reciprocate with a banquet of similar value; never surpass your host by arranging a more lavish gathering as this will make them "loss face".
Generally, the Chinese are not great experimenters when it comes to their diet. Unless he or she has traveled extensively, typical Chinese businessperson doesn't like Western food.
If you are hosting a banquet, arrive at least 30 minutes before your guests.
Home entertaining is very popular in China. If you are invited to a Chinese home, you will probably be asked to remove your shoes. Again, arrive on time (but not too early, or else it might be awkward)
Next time in China Business Opportunities, we will talk about the proper public behavior in China.
This post first appeared on China Business Opportunities | Trade Secrets | Joi, please read the originial post: here
