Somebasicdiningetiquette&customsinChina

　　DinningetiquetteinChinacanbequiteintricateanddauntingatfirst.ThefollowingetiquetteandcustomsmayeaseyournervousnessandmakeyouenjoyChina'scuisinemore.

　　DinningetiquetteinChinacanbequiteintricateanddauntingatfirst.ThefollowingetiquetteandcustomsmayeaseyournervousnessandmakeyouenjoyChina'scuisinemore.

　　InChineserestaurants,knivesshouldnotbeseenonthetable.Chopsticks,bowlsandsoupspoonsarethetraditionaltableware.Foodisalwayscutintobitesizedpieces,wholemeatssuchaspig,fishandpoultryarecookedtilltheyaresotenderthatthemeatcanberemovedrightofftheboneswithchopsticks.

　　Whenusingchopsticks,don'tpointthemdirectlyatpeopleandneverstickthemstandinguprightinyourricebowl--thisisareminderoftheincenseburnedatfunerals.

　　Useacleanspoonsolelyfortakingfoodfromcommunalplatesforyourselforothers,ifyouservesomeonewithyourownchopsticks,usethebluntendsthatdon'tgointoyourmouth.ThoughyoumayseethatChinesepeopletakefooddirectlywiththeirownchopstickssometimes,especiallyitwillbelikethatwhenpeoplehavemealswiththeirfamilies,relativesandintimatefriends.

　　Ifyou'reinvitedtobeaguestatameal,don'tbesurprisedthatifyourhostordersmorefoodthanyoucanhave,thisisthewayforChinesepeopleto"saveface"andshowtheirhospitality.Andalso,pleasedon'tbesurprisedifyourhostkeepsservingyouchoicemorselsoffoodevenyoudon'taskforit,thisisanotherwaytoshowhospitality.

　　InChinesecustom,unlessamongstfriendsorinaninformalsetting,itistheinviterwhopaysforthemeal.Itispolitetomakeanefforttopay,butexpectstrongresistance,thatiswhyinmanyChineserestaurants,itisacommonsighttoseetwopeoplearguingloudlyafterameal-they'refightingfortherighttopay.

　　Whenyouarenotsosurewhattodo,simplyaskyourguidesordoaslocalpeopledo.