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A Brief Introduction to China 1. Quick Facts about China
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A Brief Introduction to China 1. Quick Facts about China.

Jan 04, 2016

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Page 1: A Brief Introduction to China 1. Quick Facts about China.

A Brief Introduction to China1. Quick Facts about China

Page 2: A Brief Introduction to China 1. Quick Facts about China.

Situated in Eastern Asia, China ( Zhong Guo ) is short for  People's Republic of China (Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo )  with its  abbreviation as PRC. It consists of 23 provinces (sheng, similar to a state in the United States), 5 autonomous regions (zizhiqu),  4 municipalities and 2 special administrative regions ( Hong Kong and Macao ). Taiwan is considered as its 23rd province .

Contiguous states borders:

North- Russia, Mongolia

South- South China Sea, Vietnam, Laos, India, Burma,

East-  the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, Japan, Korea

West- Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan

Page 3: A Brief Introduction to China 1. Quick Facts about China.

•Largest Administrative Division: Xin Jiang (autonomous region, northwest of China)

•Smallest Administrative Division: Macau ( the special administrative region )

•World's third-largest country by size, after Russia , and Canada.World's largest country by population.

•Population: 12.8453 million  (2002 Census), 1,286,975,468 (July 2003 est.)

•Largest Cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Xi’an , Hong Kong.

Page 4: A Brief Introduction to China 1. Quick Facts about China.

National Flag of China

The Symbolism

The red color of the flag symbolizes revolution. The large  star represents  the Communist Party. The smaller 4 stars represents  the people of China.

Back

Page 5: A Brief Introduction to China 1. Quick Facts about China.

The Colors 

Red -  red backgroundGolden yellow - a large golden yellow  five-pointed star and four smaller golden  five-pointed stars arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag  in the upper hoist-side corner

Flag Design

China's national flag was adopted in September, 1949. This flag was first flown in Tiananmen Square on October 1, 1949 - the day of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It was designed on the basis of the approved proposal  provided by  Zeng Liangsong,  a natural born amateur artist, keen on poetry, painting and calligraphy.

Back

Page 6: A Brief Introduction to China 1. Quick Facts about China.

National Flower

Back

Page 7: A Brief Introduction to China 1. Quick Facts about China.

National Anthem

Back

"March of the Volunteers"

Arise!All ye who refuse to be thrall-men!

Rebuild our new Great Wall from our very flesh and blood!China's peoples now face their greatest of challenges,

Every voice must roar defiance to the last sound:

Arise! – Arise! – Arise!

Millions act with one will,Brave the enemy's gunfire – March on!Brave the enemy's gunfire – March on!

March on! – March on! – On!

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/Z-xVbOS5S0c

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2. The People and Etiquette2.1The Chinese People

• In General, on one hand, Chinese people are industrious 勤劳的 , easily contented and peaceful. They respect the elder, love the younger  and believe in harmony. On the other hand,  they are  reserved矜持的 and modest . However, due to the open policy to the world, quite influenced by the western culture, more and more Chinese people are becoming self-confident , open-minded and ready to accept foreign cultures. 

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• Family planning• Due to the enormous population in China, the current  government has worked out a

family planning policy in order  to have birth control in accordance  with the wishes of the masses. Late marriages and late child-bearing are encouraged so couples will have fewer, but healthier babies, preferably one child per couple. Whereas  a flexible family planning policy is adopted for rural people and ethnic minorities. In rural areas for exceptional cases, couples may have a second baby, but must wait several years after the  first child was born.  As for ethnic minorities with extremely small populations, a couple may have as many children as they want.

• Now there is a common understanding of no sexual difference between a son or a daughter, especially in the cities. In the meantime, a small happy nuclear (one child with parents)  family is more and more favored. Moreover, family planning has helped Chinese women get rid of the burden of frequent childbearing and the heavy family burden after marriage, thus raising women's status and improving the health of both mothers and children. (F)

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2.2 Common Etiquette in China

• Etiquette - The set of rules or customs which control accepted behavior in particular social groups or social situations. 

• Knowing the standard social behaviors will create a comfortable atmosphere, whether in a social or a business situation.

• Introduction• Just as in other countries, regional variety in China has also strongly

influenced people's behavior. Traditionally, northerners and westerners are considered to be  more generous and passionate, but more conservative; while southerners and easterners seem to be more industrious, educated, and open-minded.

• Today the south and east are more developed than the north and west; therefore, southerners and easterners are likely to be more wealthy. They are also more casual and flexible in their dress and manners than the northerners and westerners. 

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• Appearance  • Today people feel free to wear whatever they want, as long as they're not too absurd

or indecent. Clothing styles now have variety and are very colorful. It's rare to find people on the street in big cities, or even small towns in China, wearing the same style clothes or the same style clothing.

• Due to the recent and quick economic development in China, there is less and less difference in clothing styles between northerners and southerners. 

• Almost all Chinese women are afraid of the sunshine, because they think white skin is  more beautiful than sun-tanned skin. So in the summertime whenever the sun is shining, they try their best to protect their bodies from the sunshine by holding a parasol女用阳伞 , wearing a hat or topee (遮阳帽 ), or a shawl披肩 , even when riding a bicycle.

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• Business • Most business people are southerners and easterners. Though men dominate

business, today there are more and more women interested in going into business as a profession. 

• Evening events and dinners are the most popular activities to help conduct  business, as well as improve the relationship between the business partners. Although there are various modern means of communication today, many Chinese business people still love to spend time with their business partners at dinners and for evening entertainment. These activities are called "accompanying the business partner". By spending this time on a nice meal and wonderful entertainment, rapport is built that helps solve any business problems that may occur.

• Business people are very busy not only in the daytime, but also in the evening and sometimes even late into the night. Many spend very little time enjoying their family. To them business is more important than their own families, which can make some spouses very angry and annoyed. Business meetings are sometimes arranged as a luncheon午宴 meeting, but dinner meetings are much preferred. 

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• Business appearance• In major cities, a business suit

and tie are appropriate. A dark colored suit,

with a white shirt, and a tie is the most common.

For a formal meeting in the summertime,

a businessman doesn't wear a suit. He

will wear light-colored trousers and a nice

long or short-sleeved shirt with a tie.

The tie is not worn for an informal meeting.

• Businesswomen wear a dress,

or a skirt and blouse.

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• Behavior in communication

• On formal occasions, a handshake is a common way of greeting when first meeting

someone. If the meeting is informal, people just nod to each other. Women, who are

not used to shaking hands first, are more passive regarding handshakes. And in the

country, women are too shy to shake hands.

• Addressing one's boss or parents by only using the first name is considered impolite

and rude. First names are only common between friends and family members.  

• People like to be addressed by their titles, rather than simply as Mr. or Miss. For

example, both men and women prefer to be called " 陈处长( Chen Chuzhang---

Section Chief Chen ) " instead of Mr. Chen or Miss Chen.  All teachers are

referred to by the title " 老师( Laoshi --teacher)  or 教授( Jiaoshou -- professor)

" plus the surname. So a teacher would be called " 陈老师( Chen Laoshi-Mr.

Chen)" or "陈教授( Chen Jiaoshou --Professor Chen)".  (continued)

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• Chinese women do not take their husbands' surnames, and young women preferred to be addressed with Miss. For people who do not have a title, they are generally addressed using their full names.

• Business cards are generally exchanged during introductions. A gentleman always carries a business card with his titles and business information. Today it's rare that only a social card with just a person's name is used, even at a social event.

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• Social Customs• People seldom hug each other when meeting, not even between close friends and

family members. And few people kiss in public; except nowadays, some of the younger people are seen kissing.

• "Ladies first" is not common in China as it is in the West. Few men will think of "the Lady-first rule" in communication. Men will not help hold the door for a lady when taking a lift,  and will not help a lady take off her coat when entering a warmer place from the outside. 

• Few Chinese men would ask the others beside them for permission before smoking in public, especially in the rural areas.  

• When eating noodles or drinking hot soups, people will slurp which makes noise, especially in the rural area. To Chinese slurping while eating indicates the person is enjoying the food and thinks it's delicious.

• Some people will answer their cellular phones and talk in a loud voice while having a meal at a restaurant. This frequently happens in the rural areas.   (continued)

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• When a guest is leaving a person's home, it's polite for the host to accompany the guest out the gate and walk a few steps until the guest asks the host to stop and go back home. Otherwise, the host will continue to accompany the guest. 

• Gifts, especially for the children, are expected at the first visit to someone's home. When receiving or giving things, both hands should be used to be polite and show respect. Business gift giving is also an accepted practice.

• An offer  may be declined several times for the sake of being polite. The person offering the gift will ignore this polite decline, and continue to offer the gift. In this way,  the gift being offered is usually politely accepted at last. So "no" doesn't simply mean no in China. (continued)

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• When receiving a compliment, a typical Chinese reaction is to show modesty and humility by saying: “ 哪里 , 哪里( Na li, na li --I am not so good)”, or “ 差得远( Cha de yuan--far from good) ". Such attitudes towards any praise or compliments are considered appropriate and regarded as virtues.

• People do not  use "thanks" and "please" as often as the Westerners do. They are  not used to  apply them to the family members or the people offering  service,  for they think it is one's duty and responsibility  to offer the help among the family members, so is the service person's.  (F)

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• Common topics • Since there isn't the privacy that's found in the West,  people feel free

to ask almost any question without being offensive. The most common topics are  age, income, property, family life, especially children, politics and religion.

• When a purchase is made, Chinese people will often ask or voluntarily tell the item's price in order to share the happiness of shopping. 

• Elderly people are highly respected in China, for "old"  means "wisdom and  experience", the older the better.  Males especially will often ask about each other's age to show respect for the elder one. And the elder one feels very happy to be addressed as " Lao (Old) " plus surname.

• Today, more and more Chinese women, who have been influenced by the Western cultures, don't want to give their ages.  (F)

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3. Gifts in China

• Gift Giving  • In China, gifts are always expected when a person is invited to dinner,

a birthday party, wedding ceremony, funeral ceremony, or a funeral. They are also expected when visiting patients, friends, relatives, the elderly, or anyone of a higher status. Also, gifts are given for various festivals.

• Gifts containing even numbers instead of odd ones are favored, because odd numbers are considered unfortunate. The number one is especially bad as it suggests the giver is very stingy.  (continued)

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• Interestingly, the gift's value is usually measured by its price rather than its utility. And it's supposed to conform with the receiver's social status, as well as the relationship between the giver and receiver. So the more expensive and valuable the gift is, the better the relationship between the two appears to be.

• However, there is the exception, especially between very good or intimate friends who might share almost everything, even simple food and gifts.

• Therefore, gift giving in China is a very delicate social activity which can become burdensome to most Chinese people. Choosing a gift requires considering lots of information about the receiver; so the gift will be pleasantly accepted, rather than become an unexpected annoyance.  (continued)

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• Visit or dinner invitation• Generally speaking, when there is an invitation to visit or to have dinner at

someone's home, the proper gifts will be fruits, refreshments( 点心 ) such as some sweets, a local specialty from the giver's locale, children's toys, or some specialty item purchased when traveling or away on business.

• Wedding• When attending a wedding ceremony, people used to bring bedding and household

articles to help lessen the bride and groom's financial burden. Now, due to the improved standard of living, a new couple can afford to purchase all the items they want for their new home. So it isn't necessary to present extra household articles or bedding.

• Therefore, giving money as the wedding present has become more and more popular. This not only satisfies the new couple; but it also helps the guest who saves time having to choose a proper gift, which might not be an easy job.  (continued)

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• Patients• When visiting patients, the most welcome presents are

fruits, flowers, or some tonic(滋补品 ).

• Flowers• Symbolizing happiness, niceness, auspiciousness( 吉祥 )

and love, flowers are regarded as one of the best gifts. For example, a lily or twin lotus flowers on one stalk (symbol of a loyal couple) would be a good gift for newly married couple or a couple who are having their wedding anniversary.  (continued)

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• Inappropriate gifts• Some things are believed to be ominous and will bring bad luck to the

receiver, should not be given as gifts, especially on certain occasions.• Pears and Umbrella - For instance, in some places, neither pears nor

umbrellas are supposed to be given at a wedding ceremony, because pears and umbrellas in Chinese are the  homophonies ( 同音异义 ) of  another - the Chinese word meaning  divorced or apart. This would definitely annoy the newly married couple.

• Clock - At a birthday party, especially for an elderly person, it is very impolite and ominous to present a clock, which in Chinese means death.  (continued)

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• Presenting gifts• When giving a gift, it's customary to verbally depreciate it, even when

it's very precious and expensive. The person presenting the gift will politely say,

• "Sorry for the small gift!“• "I didn't intentionally buy this. I happened to have it at home."

"I am a bit ashamed to present you with such a small gift; but, please take it."

• The reason the person giving a gift will devalue it, is to help the receiver accept it without feeling pressured or awkward. This also avoids the possibility of a host refusing to accept a gift, which would cause the guest to "lose face".

• Sometimes, to avoid embarrassment to either person, guests may put the gifts in a corner or another 'out of the way' place in the house; never mentioning them.  (continued)

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• Accepting gifts • To be polite, the person receiving a gift will usually refuse to take it

and say, • "Please keep it for yourself.“• "Please don't spend so much money on gifts any more."

"Such expensive gifts embarrass me!“• "I am afraid it's too expensive for me to take."

• The person offering the gift will insist several times that the gift be accepted before it is finally accepted with both hands and put aside.

• Some hosts may even appear angry or insulted at having to accept the gift, not wanting the guest to assume that the only reason he or she is a welcomed visitor is because of the gift. (continued)

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• Opening gifts• Gifts are not opened immediately, but are opened only after the

visitors have left. This is done to show that the host is welcoming the guests for themselves, not for the gifts. Opening a gift in front of a visitor would be regarded as impolite and greedy, and the visitor would think the host is only interested in the gift.

• In addition, many gifts used to be presented without being wrapped. But now, because of Western culture's influence, more and more gifts are beautifully wrapped.

• Also, when offering a gift, people usually tell the receiver what's inside; which is also part of the reason why the gift is set aside and isn't immediately unwrapped.  (F)

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4. Friendship in China 

• Every one has a friend no matter who he or she is. With friends, one's life becomes colorful and meaningful; without friends life would be boring and dull.  Although people value friendship throughout the world, Chinese people have expectations of a friendship that are different from the concepts in a Western friendship.

• In China, most people expect their friends to be there for them, and to do for them, whenever they're in need. In other words, there's an obligation within a friendship. People feel an obligation and a duty 'to do' for their friends. There are many Chinese proverbs or sayings concerning friendship, for example:

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• People would rather depend on their friends than their own relatives. There is a saying, though not absolutely right,  "One's wife could  be deserted like a set of clothes, while one's friend could not be betrayed." 

• What's more, there is supposed to be no secret among close friends. It is believed that one's business is the others', or the friends', business. So among friends, almost everything except a wife can be shared. Almost all topics can be discussed, including some very personal and private things; such as personal income, wealth, age, health, family life, expenditures, as well as emotional and financial problems. 

• It's believed that people's real friendships are tested in times of need. As often happens people will get  angry or hurt because their friends didn't tell them the truth, or come to them for help when in need. They're afraid of being neglected as real friends. 

• (continued)

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• " 为朋友两肋插刀 " (Wei Peng You Liang Lei Cha Dao ---People can take any risks, including risking their own lives - especially among male friends - to do everything for their friends; even disregarding whether it is right or wrong.)

•  " 有难同当,有福共享。 " ( You Nan Tong Dang, You Fu Gong Xiang --Not only happiness but also bitterness and hardships can be shared among friends.) 

•  "一个篱笆三个桩 , 一个好汉三个帮。 " (Yi Ge Li Ba San Ge Zhuang, Yi Ge Hao Han San Ge Bang--As one fence needs three stakes, a good guy needs three fellows.) 

• " 在家靠父母,出门靠朋友。 "  ( Zai Jia Kao Fu Mu , Chu Men Kao Peng You -- Parents are depended on at home, and friends are depended on when out.) 

• As shown above,  friendship really counts and is very important to a person in society. Having friends shows that a person has a good personality. The more friends one has, the better personality he has and more sociable he is.  (F)

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5. The Magic of Chinese Food 

• The Magic of Chinese Cuisine• With a long history, Chinese cuisine is highly appreciated as a very sophisticated

and delicate art, with variety, uniqueness, and delicateness. It also has the four distinctive features of colour, fragrance, taste and appearance.

• Regions• Chinese food consists of four major schools with an enormous variety that differs

greatly from region to region. Each region has its own distinctive ingredients, cooking technique, taste and style. The four regions are:

• - LuCai (Shangdong Cuisine at the lower reaches of Yellow River)• - ChuanCai (Sichuan Cuisine at the upper reaches of Yangzi River)• - SuCai (Jiangsu Cuisine at the lower reaches of Yangzi River)• - YueCai (Canton Cuisine along Zhujiang River in the southern part of China)

• (continued)

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• Cuisines• Apart from the Chinese Han cuisines, there are other cuisines favored

by minority nationalities such as Islamic cuisine, Mongolian cuisine, Manzu cuisine and Korean cuisine.

• In addition, according to consumers, Chinese food falls into different categories such as household cuisine, common cuisine, temple cuisine, official cuisine, imperial cuisine, and medical cuisine.

• Also, Chinese food can be classified as cold dishes, hot dishes, main dishes, snacks 小 吃 , refreshments 点 心 , desserts and soups depending on the form of the dish.

• (continued)

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• Preparation and cooking• Typical Chinese cooking features frying, roasting, sautéing( 嫩煎 ),

braising( 炖 ), stewing( 焖 ), and steaming. • And the cutting of Chinese food, which plays a very important role in

the cuisine, varies greatly. It includes dicing 切块 , chopping 剁 , slicing切薄片 , shredding切条 , and mincing绞碎 .

• There's an interesting saying about the ingredients used in the cuisine. Though it may be a bit of an exaggeration, it says, "Anything can be used for cooking, as long as it either flies in the sky, swims in the water, or lives on the mountain."

• (F)

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6. The Eating Habits in China 

• The main difference between Chinese and western eating habits is that people in China sit around the table and share the food with each other; while in the West, people only eat the food on their own plates. The Chinese are very proud of their food, and if you're invited to a Chinese meal be prepared for special hospitality and specific eating habits. 

• Chinese people are well known for their extraordinary hospitality to guests. They will offer a magnificent meal, even if they are not rich enough. If a person is poor, he or she will save the money needed by having simple meals for a long time, in order to show hospitality and generosity. So please don’t assume that every Chinese host is rich enough to be able to offer you a feast. On many occasions, especially in the country, the luxurious meal offered a guest would never be eaten by the host; because the host simply couldn't afford to buy that quality food for a normal family meal. (continued)

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• Number of dishes• There are normally eight cold dishes and at least eight hot dishes on

the table when formally inviting guests. If it is not as formal, then four cold dishes and at least four hot dishes are offered. The number of dishes depends on the number of guests. As a rule, the more respectable the guests, the more formal the meal. There are more dishes and more expensive food for each dish. Therefore, one might sense the host’s hospitality, as well as the formality of the meal, by counting the number of the dishes on the table.

• However, this rule doesn’t apply among very close friends. There is a Chinese saying: real friendship doesn’t count on having nice food, such as the type of food given to fair weather friends; but on the common interests shared; so friends can share anything, even simple food. (continued)

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• Serving• Usually Chinese hosts, who are not familiar with western culture, will continue

putting food into a bowl or onto a plate for a guest, as a way of showing their hospitality and politeness.   It’s the host’s responsibility to make sure a guest's bowl is never empty, especially if that guest is highly respected and/or elderly.

• The host will keep an eye on the food at the table, and as the guest's plate becomes empty the host will refill it. Failing to keep food in the guest's bowl reflects poorly on the host, who would be considered inhospitable, impolite and even stingy. One can observe a host staying very busy during a meal, whether that meal is at home or in a Chinese restaurant.

• Because of this tradition, guests are not to initiate taking food that they would like to eat. A guest who does this, not only has bad manners, but is considered greedy and lacking education.

• To be polite and show respect when the host offers food, take it using both hands. If the host is the eldest, always stand while accepting the food with both hands; otherwise remain seated when the food is offered. (continued)

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• Eating• When food is offered, the appropriate thing to do is to eat it, whatever

it is; and say how yummy( 美味的 ) it is. If you feel uncomfortable with this, you can just say a polite thank you and leave the food. But keep in mind: the more food the guests eat, the happier the host will be.  (continued)

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• Dining Etiquette• Chopsticks - The chopsticks are not supposed to be stuck upright in a bowl of rice.

Lay them on your dish. According to Chinese customs, when somebody dies, their shrine contains a bowl of sand or rice with two sticks of incense stuck upright in it. So if chopsticks are stuck upright in a rice bowl, it looks like a shrine; and appears as if you are wishing someone dead at the table!

• Teapot - Make sure the spout of the teapot is not facing anyone, but setting so the spout is just facing outward from the table. Having a teapot spout facing someone is considered impolite.

• Tapping one's bowl - Children are discouraged from tapping on their bowls with their chopsticks, because beggars often tap on their bowls. Tapping one’s bowl is regarded as an insult to the cook in the restaurant or the host in someone’s home.

• Occasionally, some people will tap on their bowl when they are not satisfied with the service in the restaurant, especially if it is too slow. (continued)

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• Slurping sound - Slurping the soup or the noodles is not considered a bad eating habit in China. On the contrary, it shows that the person is really enjoying the meal.  

• Drinking and Toasts - Just as continuing to offer food is a way to express hospitality, drinking is also a means of being polite and showing hospitality. So toasting and drinking alcohol can be observed at almost all the banquets and meals in China, especially in the north.

• Not drinking when the host or others offer a toast is regarded as being impolite. Failing to participate does not allow the person offering the toast to "save face".

• (F)

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7. National Celebrations and Holidays in China  

• Like all the other nations, China now celebrates the same festivals of New Year's Day, Labor  Day (May 1st), Children's Day, and Women's Day. Also, more and more people have begun to celebrate  Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day and Christmas Day as the Westerners do. However, as a multinational  country, China also has its own traditional festivals, which are closely related to the customs, religious beliefs, and moral principles of its multi-nations, especially the Han.  Although most national  minorities have their own unique festivals,  they too share some of the  most common ones with the majority of Han people: such as Spring Festivals, Lantern Festival, the Clear and Bright Festival and  Mid-autumn Festival.   (continued)

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7.1 The Spring Festival

• Chung Jie (The Spring Festival )• Chung Jie, (the Spring Festival), is the most popular and important

festivity among the Chinese, just as Christmas is among Westerners. It celebrates the New Year and occurs on the first day of the first lunar month according to the Chinese lunar calendar, normally around the early spring time of a year.  It is also shared by some of the other national minorities including the Manzu, Mongol, Yaozu, and Zhuangzu.   It was after the 1911 Revolution that the 1st of the lunar month was officially named the Spring Festival. 

• The festival originated in China's history as an offering of sacrifices to gods and ancestors at the beginning of each year during the period of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC). Due to its history, important  and various activities continue to remain in the festival today.    (continued)

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• The Legend of Nian ( the Year)• The legend has it that in ancient China there lived a monster with a horn on its head

called Nian (Year). Nian was extremely ferocious and bloodthirsty, and often appeared  on New Year's Eve to devour the livestock like cattle and pigs, as well as people. In order to avoid the calamity caused by the monster of Year, on every New Year's Eve people would flee from their villages.

• But on one New Year's Eve, an old beggar came and promised to get rid of the monster in the village when the others left. Nobody believed him, and they went up to the mountains and caves for protection.

• Around midnight, the monster came to the house where the old beggar stayed, but was quite scared at the red paper on the door and the sudden sound of exploding. Finally, seeing the old man in a red robe, the horrified monster fled instead of taking one step further.   (continued)

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• The Legend of Nian ( the Year)• The next day the people returned and were surprised to find

the old man safe and sound.  They realized the monster feared the red colour, the flame and the exploding firecrackers. They believed the old man was a celestial being who had come to help them drive away the monster by making red paper, red clothes, red candles, and setting exploding firecrackers. Hence the custom on every New Year's Eve of sticking red paper on the door (which became red couplets), blowing up firecrackers, keeping every house brilliantly illuminated, and staying up late into the night.  (F)

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7.2 Lantern Festival

• Yuanxiao Jie  (Sweet Dumpling Festival) / Denglong Jie  (Lantern Festival)

• The 15th day of the 1st lunar month is called Denglong Jie  (Lantern Festival) or the traditional Sweet Dumpling Festival as Yuanxiao Jie. It is the first night when the moon is full after the Spring Festival, and is an exceptionally grand occasion.

• On this special evening, beautiful lanterns decorated with all kinds of riddles and poems are hung on every house and building. Also, on the street, there are many gorgeous performers who are walking on stilts, performing the lion dance and dragon lantern dance, running land boats, and setting off fireworks and firecrackers.   (continued)

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• Yuanxiao Jie  (Sweet Dumpling Festival) / Denglong Jie  (Lantern Festival)

• Traditionally it was only on this special occasion that ladies and young girls, especially ones from the big and wealthy families who were kept in their own rooms all day and discouraged from seeing any men, were allowed to step out of their enclosed spaces, go downtown, and enjoy themselves by watching the exciting street activities or  working out the riddles.  Therefore, it was also a special  occasion for the temporary  freedom of women in the past.  

• What's more, the sweet dumpling (Tangyuan or Yuanxiao) is the typical traditional festive food with a history of over 1000 years in China.  Eating sweet dumpling on this festival symbolizes reunion, harmony and auspiciousness of the family.  (F)

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7.3 The Clear and Bright Festival

• Qingming Jie (The Clear and Bright Festival ) • The Clear and Bright Festival falls around the 5th of April by the

solar calendar. At this time,  the spring begins and all plants on earth start to sprout with the freshness of the drizzling rain as well as the clearness and brightness of the day; hence the name of the Clear and Bright Festival. The day before the Clear and Bright Festival is the Cold Food Festival. 

• The most important and prevailing festival activity for the people is tending their ancestors' graves,  therefore the festival is also called Tending the Grave Day. In addition, going for an outing in the country, flying kites, playing cockfighting and tug-of-war are also very popular festivities. (F)

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7.4 The Dragon Boat Festival

• Duanwu Jie (The Dragon Boat Festival)  • Duanwu Jie (the Dragon Boat Festival) is on the 5th day of

the 5th lunar month. This is widely celebrated among the Chinese people. On this day, people go out to watch fantastic boat contests either on the lakes and rivers or on the land, and eat Zongzi, a special  pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves.  (F)

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7.5 The Mid-autumn Festival

• Zhong Qiu Jie (The Mid-autumn Festival)• The Mid-autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th

lunar month, and is the second grandest festival next to the Spring Festival in China. Since it is in the middle of autumn when the moon is the brightest, clearest and most full, the festival is named the Mid-autumn Festival.

• The full moon symbolizes reunion in China so it is also the time of family gatherings like the Spring Festival. Wherever they are, people will try their best to go back home for the family reunion on the exact day. Even if they can't, they will leave messages to their families and try worship and enjoy the same moon but in a different place.   (continued)

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• Zhong Qiu Jie (The Mid-autumn Festival)• Enjoying or appreciating, rather than worshiping, the moon

in the mid-autumn has become one of the most popular festivities in China, both at the imperial  court and among the common people. And the moon itself has always been the subject matter in many poems and literary works. 

• In the meantime, since it is also the time when the Chinese sweet-scented osmanthus( 桂花 ) trees are in full bloom,  people drink sweet-scented osmanthus wine while eating a special kind of sweet round cake called moon-cake, which is the best present for relatives and friends. (F)  

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7.6 The Double Ninth Festival

• Chongyang Jie (The Double Ninth Festival) • The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Double Ninth

Festival in China. On this day, when the chrysanthemums are in full bloom, people often go climbing in the mountains, enjoy the chrysanthemum and drinking chrysanthemum wine. 

• Chinese people favor special numbers such as the even numbers, which are believed to be auspicious幸运的 and can bring good luck to them. So when it concerns numbers, usually the even numbers are the first choice, especially when presenting gifts. People would never buy things containing singular numbers which would be regarded as ominous不吉利的 . 

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• Chongyang Jie (The Double Ninth Festival) • Although not as favored as the even numbers, some singular numbers

are still   preferred, such as the number nine, which is considered the greatest masculine one, symbolizing infinity. The legend has it that the zigzagging body of a dragon, which was the symbol of the powerful emperor in ancient China, looked like the number 9. Therefore, number nine has been closely related with the dragon and the emperor, and therefore regarded as the royal number and auspicious. 

• Since there were two masculine numbers in the 9th day of the 9th lunar month, the date was called double 9th as well as double masculine.  (F)

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