Travel Tips: Dining Etiquette in China / Hong Kong

Eating can be a very foreign and disorienting experience for foreigners in Asia. However, it is an incredibly important social and business setting. Know how to politely navigate meals and drinks in China. Having proper dining etiquette is part of having good business etiquette.

When doing business in China, creating a personal relationship is important. Meals are an important part of that, but do not discuss business at meals.

It’s also important to note a few basic rules for dining etiquette in China:

Learn to use chopsticks before going (etiquette below).
Taste everything you are not allergic to or violates medical or religious reasons.
The bowl tells all. Never leave a full bowl, but also do not empty your bowl entirely—the former shows that you don’t approve of the food, while the latter implies the host did not give you enough.
Defer to the host. Sit, eat, and drink after the host and respected elders or honored people. The host will also pick up the bill for the meal.

Follow these travel tips for business or recreational trips to China.

Dining Etiquette in China

From start to finish, manners are an important part of nonverbal communication for the Chinese. Not following proper dining etiquette can ruin business opportunities.

At the beginning of the meal, sit only where and when the host directs you to. At a round table, the guest of honor is seated to the right of the host. The next in line to the left of the host.

The Start of the Meal

Hosting is an ongoing role throughout dinner, beginning with seating and inviting guests to enjoy the meal. The host will likely make a starting toast or speech.

Before eating, you will receive a hot towel. These are often in lieu of napkins and are for your face and hands. Another towel will come after the meal is over.

Do not start eating or drinking before the host and elders. They will also set the pace for eating.

Family Style Meals in China

Most meals in China are taken family style, which is a number of shared plates put centrally on a table. The tables are usually round. The host will do the ordering or a banquet-style meal will be provided by the restaurant. Meals will come in courses, so sample each plate rather than filling up early.

Often, there will be a rotating portion of the table, which is called a lazy Susan.

Minding the Lazy Susan

If there is a lazy Susan, be careful to not hoard the good food by you or continue taking from those plates before they have circulated.
Do not bump the lazy Susan while someone is serving themselves.
Never take the last piece of food unless offered by the host. It is considered a show of greed.

Leave Food on Your Plate

Leave a small portion of food on your plate at the end of each course.
Each dish should have a portion left to assure the host that there was enough food and it was all pleasing.
Fried rice or noodles is served as a final course. It is symbolically presented to show that the meal is ending. Do not eat this. This portion of food is simply to signal satisfaction.

Toothpicks are common between courses or at the end of a meal. Using a toothpick at the table is polite. However, use it with one hand and cover your mouth with the other. It’s never okay to put your hands in your mouth. Whenever you do something involving your mouth, cover it with your hand.

Travel Tips for Asia: What Not to do With Chopsticks

Chopsticks aren’t sticks. They are a real utensil. Treat them like you would a knife at a Western dinner table and you will likely do pretty well.

All food items, with the exception of soup, are eaten with chopsticks. There are a number of rules of etiquette for chopsticks. Look for a chopstick stand for a safe place to courteously rest your chopsticks when they are not in use.

Mind not to do any of the following with chopsticks:

Fidget or twiddle
Point or wave with chopsticks
Stick chopsticks straight out of rice bowls
Stir or stab food
Lick chopsticks
Pick through a shared plate for the pieces you want. Take from the plate in front of you and wait for the plates to come to you.
Lay your chopsticks across each other in an x-pattern or leave them pointing directly at someone.
In someone’s home, if serving utensils are not present, move items into your bowl with the non-eating ends of your chopsticks.

How to Handle Common Chinese Foods and Beverages

Food and beverages are highly ritualized in China. It is also a very different palate than Westerners are used to. Delicacies in China that are prepared special for honored guests may be off-putting. For example, blood, insects like scorpion, snake, and even dog meat may be offered as premium delicacies. Do not show disgust.

Manners suggest that you should at least try everything in China.

Know how to politely handle dishes that may be different or difficult for foreigners.

Tea Service

Guests are not supposed to pour tea for themselves. Traditionally, whoever has the tea next to them is to pour tea for the table, beginning with the host.

If someone pours you tea, you can tap two fingers on the table to show appreciation or say thank you.

Fish and bones

Fish will be served head-on with the mouth facing the guest of honor.
Do not turn the fish over. Allow the host or server to debone before partaking.
Spitting bones onto the plate is more acceptable than removing them from your mouth with your hands or chopsticks.

Heads-on

Many dishes will have identifiable body parts or the heads left on, such as whole duck. You are not required to eat the head.

Rice

Hold the bowl to your mouth and scoop rice into your mouth.

Understanding Tea at Business Meetings

Tea will be served. Wait for the most-senior person to start sipping. That person sipping shows the meeting is going well or continuing. When this person stops drinking tea, it may be a signal that the meeting is ended.

Drinking Etiquette and Business in China

You will be expected to go to drinks with business counterparts. You should say yes, but expect that you may be tested. Try not to schedule much for the next day. The Chinese are not inclined towards softer alcohols like wine or beer.

Women are the exception to the drinking culture. Traditionally, women do not drink in public—even at meals.

If you do not want to drink, give a medical reason.

Drinking Etiquette at Dinner

Alcoholic beverages are not usually had before a meal. When it is, beer is usually poured from shared bottles and drinking is done family style.

Only have alcohol if others are partaking.
Wait for a toast to be given and the host to drink before drinking yourself.
Never pour your own drink.
Unlike the Japanese and Koreans, tipsiness is unacceptable in China. If you have had enough, smile and abstain from drinking.

Paying the Bill for Meals or Drinks

It’s a matter of honor to pay the bill. Bills are not split in China.
It is a good show and helps protect and bolster the honor of the people involved to argue to pay the bill or reach for the bill. The host will likely refuse, but this is a customary show of not aiming for a free meal.

Tipping Etiquette

Tipping is considered rude, insinuating the person who is being tipped hasn’t enough money.

Dining in Someone’s Home

It is rare to be invited to someone’s home. Entertaining is usually done in public. If you are invited to someone’s home, it is a great honor. If you cannot make it, give a detailed and good reason.

When invited to someone’s home, be sure to:

Arrive punctually, much as you would for a business meeting.
Bring a small gift for the hostess.
Take your shoes off when arriving. (Be prepared.)
Follow good table manners and eat well to show appreciation.