Dos and Don'ts For Foriengers in China

My reader asked what is the dos and don'ts for foreigners (or America as he is) in China. Here is my answer:

@Pedro Godoi, don't worry, just enjoy your trip and don't care too much about the dos and don'ts. Just follow the common sense in America. Typically, people in China, and in Shanghai of cause, are very nice to foreigners, and they tolerate a lot if you cannot use chopstick, or don't understand many local things. It is OK to be nature as in every where in the world. Most dos and don'ts here are the same as most places in the world.
If you do ask me for one don'ts, that is, don't always think there is only one correct way to do things. Be open in mind and don't be too quick to judge the country.

At a second thought, I may want to add the following dos and don'ts for my friends.

Dos

Do try new things in China. Many people come to see a world different from the world they live, so take the opportunity to try some new things, like walking out of the 5 star hotels to the street to learn what normal people do.
Do smile. People in China are generally very kind to visiting foreigners, so be kind to them.
Do make local friends. It is through friends that you understand the country better than wandering on the street. People in China love to make foreign friends, especially young people, since it is also a good opportunity for them to learn world outside, or at least learn English or other foreign language

Don'ts

Don't think people staring at you as hostile. Most of the straight look is out of curiosity instead of discrimination, or hate. This is especially true in inner China where people don't see many foreigners in their life before.
Don't try to enforce your local rules. I saw foreigners yelling at local people claiming to send them to court, or get involved in argument based on the local rules, or laws. Show some respect, since there are other rules locally. Just try to understand it. If people cross the street at red light, give people time (in China, it means decades) instead of yelling at people.
Don't misbehave. This is very general, but don't misbehave just because you are out of your home country, and you don't feel the pressure of laws. Or you may find many local people did something, like jaywalking, and you follow. Please don't do it, since when you don't know something (for example, you don't know what is Qing Dynasty, or you don't use chopstick), it is acceptable, and often welcomed. However, if you do some bad things that local people think is bad (no matter how many break the rule), they will think very badly of you (I do). Try to stay the bar high. I understand that China is still far from a modern country, even after a successful Olympic or enjoying high grow economy, but I don't want to lower the standard I set for myself. Many local people do the same thing, that is the reason they don't like people behave differently from the relatively higher standard in public places.

Anything you want to add?

"Dos and Don'ts For Foriengers in China" was posted by Jian Shuo Wang at August 29, 2008 9:49 PM under (China » West Meets East) category. Copyright: You are free to redistribute this work, as long as you keep this disclaimer and this link: http://home.wangjianshuo.com/archives/20080829_dos_and_donts_for_foriengers_in_china.htm

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Comments on "Dos and Don'ts For Foriengers in China"

i totally agree with you, Mr wang
this summer,i suddenly realized i should do a favor for our foreign friends,so i opened a sina blog,try to introduce in english.
but it's not detail.and most about my personal emotion.because i'm stil a college student in ningbo,no much experience,my major is tourism management
whatever,i will try.try to introduce my experience about travelling in english.make it easy for our friends.thank for your blog.

Posted by: dolly on August 30, 2008 8:20 PM

Why so much focus on jaywalking?
I am foreigner, I personally never look if the light is red or green for pedestrian (whatever I am in China or aboard), but I look carefully of the cars, if I can cross without danger and without forcing car to slow down, then I cross. What is the point to wait??? And whatever in China even if it is red for pedestrian the car can still turn right, so it is not safe for pedestrian.
Furthermore, when I walk I do not pollute the air, I do not make noise, I am already nice enough to let the way to the cars who make noise, pollute, can hurt people.

But the problem is that many many local people just cross on red light without looking to the cars... When I am in a taxi and it happen, I most of the time say to the taxi driver for fun: "he tried to suicide, please do not help him"

Posted by: Smith on August 31, 2008 1:31 PM

@Smith, where do you come from? I am just curious. Jaywalking has been a topic we discuss a lot of time on this blog. It is not something very special - it is just one of the typical examples (out of thousands of other examples) to illustrate the conflict of rules in this world.

You are right. In some cities, or countries, traffic light is not that important. It is not completely a western vs eastern matter. It is more a big city vs small city, or city vs rural area problem. With so many cars in the city, they need to have traffic lights.

For me, I think Shanghai needs to enforce traffic rules, and many of my friends from US think so, although I do have friends with different opinions. My way of thinking about it is, it is fine to believe in whatever you believe, but give other people a break and give them time to change (or for yourself to change) to get a common practices.

Posted by: Jian Shuo Wang (external link) on August 31, 2008 3:32 PM

If you have some trouble, keep smiling (like a stupid guy) and you will be safe.a

Posted by: saee on September 1, 2008 1:03 PM

Do try the local restaurant food. Don't just keep looking for McD.

Do try out your bargaining skill in some local shops or market. I know it is not a common practice in a lot of western countries.

Posted by: DC on September 3, 2008 4:15 PM

Hello Jian Shuo Wang!
I am from French, living in China since years.
For me, the goal of pedestrian light is to avoid accident, to increase security... Thus if there is no car, the security goal is achieve... thus why wait for nothing?

I will be a little rude: I think there is three kind of people: the one who do not think do not look and just cross (the suicide type), the one who apply stricly the jaywalking rules (who think himself has civilized but do not think much, just obey), the smart one (me of course >_<)

For me be civilized is not respect stricly pedestrian traffic rules, but a way of behaving with other people (beeing nice with people around you, even the people who low rank job), do not destroy your environment, and think to not disturb other people. So to make it short: "Beeing civilized is take into account that you are not alone, and that others deserve your respect"

I think that many chinese are focus on "beeing Civilized, romantic, and open minded is good" but very few understand the meaning of these words and most of them just apply cliche they have been told or see in stupid TV serie.

加油中国，天天进步，已经有很多但是还需要非常多。需要好好沟通
（这样的Blog可以帮助,但是在中国有太多审查(你的blog也有一点审查.你一次开始一个主题聊天审查的事情2008.08.25,然后你马上删除)

再见!

Posted by: Smith on September 7, 2008 2:21 PM

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