• General Practice

• Taboos Surrounding Chinese Table Manners

• Drinking Water

1. Utensils

When eating Chinese food, most people use chopsticks; however, you can ask for a fork and knife if you find those more useful

2. Food: Share or Not

When eating western food, people order their own plate of food; but in China the dishes are placed on the table and everyone shares.

3. Amount of Food Ordered

If invited to a formal dinner, and as a sign of hospitality and generosity, the Chinese host generally tends to over-order food. That is because the Chinese finds it embarrassing should the guest feel inadequately fed or thinks there wasn't enough variety in dishes. Once you have eaten enough, politely tell them you are full and the pressure to eat more will be lessened.

4. Another Sign of Hospitality

Again as a sign of hospitality, Chinese hosts may put food from the various dished onto the guest's plate. Usually food is served using communal serving utensils, but some hosts may use their own chopsticks, a sign of genuine friendship. It is always polite to eat a portion of or all the food. What you can't finish it, just leave on the plate.

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Traditionally speaking, there are some taboos surrounding Chinese Table Manners. Some things to keep in mind include:

1. About Chopsticks

• Lay your chopsticks on your dish; do not stick your them upright in the rice bowl, for that gesture symbolizes death to the Chinese people.
• Do not tap your chopsticks against your bowl, because the Chinese would see that as a beggar's motion.

2. About Teapots

• Make sure the spout of the teapot is not facing anyone because that would be equivalent to the impolite gesture of pointing. The teapot spout should always be directed to where nobody is sitting.

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Not all the tap water in China is potable, but bottled mineral water is on sale everywhere.