31-country business-culture briefs — customs stated as common practice, backed by our data.
Handshakes are the standard greeting for initial meetings; bowing is uncommon in business contexts. Exchanging business cards is an important ritual — present and receive cards with both hands and take a moment to read the card carefully before setting it aside respectfully. The most senior person in the room is typically greeted first.
Use a person's surname followed by their title in formal settings, such as 'Manager Li' or 'Director Wang.' Avoid using first names unless explicitly invited to do so. As a relationship develops, your counterpart may suggest a more informal form of address.
Avoid politically sensitive subjects including Taiwan, Tibet, and Tiananmen. When giving gifts, steer clear of clocks (associated with death), pears (associated with separation), and green hats (associated with infidelity). The number four is commonly considered unlucky due to its phonetic similarity to the word for 'death.'
Seating at meetings is typically arranged by seniority, with the most senior person often entering last. Prepare materials in both Chinese and English where possible. Silence during a meeting is not necessarily negative — it often signals that your counterpart is considering their response.
Building a trust-based relationship (guānxi) is widely considered foundational to successful business partnerships, and negotiations may proceed slowly as a result. 'Face' (miànzi) carries significant weight — avoid putting counterparts in an embarrassing position publicly. Contractual details may continue to be discussed after signing, so flexibility is advisable.
At business dinners, the host commonly orders dishes on behalf of the group as a gesture of hospitality. Toasting with 'gānbēi' is frequent, though drinking moderately is entirely acceptable. It is common practice for hosts to serve guests food and refill drinks throughout the meal.
Punctuality is expected; arriving 5–10 minutes early is considered courteous. Large formal meetings may occasionally start slightly late. Schedules can shift due to circumstances, so building flexibility into your itinerary is practical.
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), falling between late January and February, triggers a week-long national holiday and is the most significant break of the year — plan around it well in advance. Golden Week runs October 1–7 and sees widespread employee leave across industries. Labor Day (May 1) also carries a multi-day holiday; scheduling important meetings during these periods is generally not advisable.