Chinese Kiss Bow Shake Hands

HISTORY

The Chinese boast the world's oldest continuous civilization, with more than 4,000 years of recorded history. Beijing has been the capital of China for over 800 years and is the country's political, economic, and cultural hub. The country was ruled by dynasties for thousands of years, with the last one ending in 1911. Paper-making, movable type printing, the compass, and gunpowder were all produced during Chinese dynasty rule

GOVERNMENT

The People's Republic of China has a Communist government. There is a single legislative house and the National People's Congress. They all belong to the Communist party. The premier is the head of the government and the president is the chief of state.

LANGUAGE

The official national language of China is Chinese, based on the Mandarin dialect. It is spoken by more than 70% of the population. Many Chinese people speak Cantonese, Shanghainese, and Kejia dialects. Each minority speaks its own dialect or language. English is spoken by many business people.

CHINESE VIEW

As for religion, the government encourages atheism. At the same time, they guarantee religious freedom. Buddhism, Christianity and Islam are the three formal major religions practiced in China. A large number of their people also believe in traditional Chinese philosophies like Taoism and Confucianism.

PUNCTUALITY

Punctuality is very important in Chinese culture, whether it'd be for business or social occasions. If you are late or cancel an appointment it is a serious affront. Make sure to establish contacts in China prior to investing in a trip. The U.S. government's department of trade and commerce can usually assist with identifying local Chinese business and government officials. The best time to schedule a trip is from April to June or September to October. Their work weeks are usually Monday to Saturday from 8am to 5pm, however many business are beginning to close on Saturdays. It's vital to always remember not to schedule any trips during the Chinese New Year, as it is their main holiday. The date of the new year varies according to the lunar calendar. They write the year first, then the month, then the day, which is opposite to us. China is 13 hours ahead of our U.S. Eastern Standard Time.

NEGOTIATING

During negotiations, they will most likely bring an interpreter, however it isn't a bad idea to bring your own to help you a little better. Avoid slang or jargon and figures of speech. Using short easy simple sentences is the best way and also pause to make sure they understand your exact words. There is a significance to different colors in China, so unless you understand them, stick to black and white for collateral