China is a great place for foreigners to travel around. But there is a great deal of culture differences between China and Western countries. In this global information age, more and more international communication and intercultural dialogue is preceding. So, it is imperative to understand the cultural difference among countries. There are lots of things that surprise foreigners in China.

 

1.    Which is the family name and which is the given name?

For our Chinese people, it is logical to put the given name next to the family name. But in western courtiers are just the opposites. And some of foreign friends are at a loss, and they do not know how to distinguish between the family name and the given name.

 

2.    Aren’t you happy?

When the foreigners meet each other, they will always greeting each other warmly. It seems that they have not  seen each other for several decades. While for Chinese people, they often shakehands as the way of greeting. They will not kiss or hug for the greeting.Foreigners may not understand this, they will ask a question, aren’t you happy?Otherwise, why not greet each other with a warm welcome.

 

3.    Pick out of vegetables and fruit

When Chinese people are picking out some vegetables and fruit, they are very picky. Take water melon as an example: people knock the surface of the melon by their fingers and stick ear to listen, foreingers just do not understand what the hell they are hearing about?

 

4.    Go Dutch?

Chinese people do not understand why the foreign people would like to go Dutch on a meal. While for foreigners, they can not figure out why Chinese people enjoy paying the bill for meal of all participants. Some people will argue with you if you do not let him or her to pay.

 

5.     Move out for adults

In western countries, children would prefer to move out when they are of adult age. They do not want to reply on their parents any more. Most of them will find a part time job to make some pocket money. For most of the Chinese adult people, they also like to live with their parents in the crowded condition.

 

6.     Puppy love

Some Chinese parents warn their children not to start a relationship too early. Nowadays puppy love is not rare among middle school students. But after students have graduated from university, parents will push them to find a satisfactory person to get married and have their own baby ASAP.

 

7.     Salt flavor for breakfast

Foreigners do not understand why Chinese people prefer to taste salty food to sweet food for breakfast.

 

8.     So many people in China

So many people in China,you will have to line up to waiting for a long time to buy subway tickets. Especially in the rush hours, it is hard to get a seat in a bus or subway. Most of Chinese people will have to make train tickets reservation in advance; otherwise, you may not get the ticket to back home to celebrate the Spring Festival.

 

9.     Not happy on weekends

It is reasonable that children should have a relax at weekends and do what they want to do. But lots of Chinese parents force their kids to learn something at weekends. Children have to spend extra time to join the drawing class, dancing class, piano class and so on. Parents should have to ask themselves a question, are kids really happy by their arrangement?

 

10.  Medical care

The health care is not free in China and its big cost has arisen the public concern in China. In big city, you will have to wait for a long time to see the doctor and the cost is also expensive to afford.

 

Dec,2nd,2014