Etiquette & Behavior in Shanghai
China - Xian - Beijing - Guangzhou - Chengdu - Dalian - Shenzhen - Shanghai - Hangzhou
Proper etiquette and behavior is the first thing that people notice. Your acceptability in an alien country with a different culture depends a lot on how you behave in public. Since etiquette and behavioral pattern is different for each culture, so proper knowledge of them is a must. If you are planning to visit Shanghai for either business or pleasure, you should follow the proper etiquette and Behavior in Shanghai.
Chinese love to drink. Every social occasion, be it marriage or an informal gathering, calls for a toast. Even official meetings are not complete without a loud cheer at the end. However there is some etiquette regarding drinking alcohol in Shanghai. Rule number one, never say no when someone is offering you a drink. Rule number two, you should completely empty your glass. The Shanghai people, after the glass is empty, invert it. This is done to show not a single drop is left in that glass. Rule number three, you should always participate in toasting or people will find it offensive. Rule number four, if you are participating in a business party and happen to be a junior in designation, you should keep your glass a bit lower than that of your bosses.
If you are visiting a Chinese restaurant in Shanghai and wish to try out chopsticks to eat food, then be very careful. Improper handling of chop stick may seem funny to many Chinese people. Do not point your chopsticks to others while you are talking. The Chinese people hold rice bowl with a hand and eat using chopstick with another hand. It is considered a rude behavior to keep one of your hands under your table. So do not forget to follow this etiquette and behavior while you are in Shanghai.
While walking through sidewalks, well, there is no etiquette. So do not be surprised if people elbow you off. In fact you could also do the same.
Last but not the least; never try to lecture someone about proper behavioral pattern. The Chinese consider it as a mark of disrespect.
Just keep these proper Etiquette and Behavior in mind, and you would pass on as a decent person.
