Business Etiquette
Business Etiquette
Doing business in Shanghai, at least on the formal level, requires considerable patience and persistence. An understanding of Chinese culture, such as a deeply ingrained respect for hierarchies and rural moralities, may help nurture long-term business relations. Unflappable good and cheerful manners help save face for business clients and public displays of anger must be avoided. Nevertheless, protracted negotiations can often be wound up neatly during a business banquet or an after-hours KTV (karaoke) session – these are the settings where China's legendary guanxi (connections) are exercised. Public business is very formal, with executives wearing suits and exchanging business cards (given with both hands), bows and handshakes. Both men and women should dress in neutral colours and avoid using large hand gestures, personal contact and pointing. Gifts often help open initial contacts, although these should never be open to misinterpretation as bribes. In many companies, especially larger and older ones, a party appointee, who has an honorary or nominal senior post in the company, will preside at the first sessions, then leave the real business to the operational management. Business hours are usually 0800-1700 weekdays, with one or two hours for lunch.
Seniors are usually granted respect, at least to their faces. Likewise, political change may have emancipated women in China before the law, but in business circles men still take precedence. Businesswomen are expected to dress and behave soberly, while businessmen in Shanghai should be prepared for evenings in hostess bars with clients and associates. Foreigners are usually treated with cautious respect, although mainland Chinese have a strong pride in their own language and traditions.
Public manners in eating and drinking can seem hugely lax to foreigners – Shanghainese spit, belch and pick their teeth quite openly. However, visitors are advised to tolerate but not emulate this. After-hours drinking sessions to seal negotiations and cement relations are common. Shanghainese are stronger drinkers than many overseas Chinese.
For corporate travellers, Shanghai Business Review (website: www.sbr.net.cn) provides a monthly source of business information, features, interviews, events and news.
Doing business in Shanghai, at least on the formal level, requires considerable patience and persistence. An understanding of Chinese culture, such as a deeply ingrained respect for hierarchies and rural moralities, may help nurture long-term business relations. Unflappable good and cheerful manners help save face for business clients and public displays of anger must be avoided. Nevertheless, protracted negotiations can often be wound up neatly during a business banquet or an after-hours KTV (karaoke) session – these are the settings where China's legendary guanxi (connections) are exercised. Public business is very formal, with executives wearing suits and exchanging business cards (given with both hands), bows and handshakes. Both men and women should dress in neutral colours and avoid using large hand gestures, personal contact and pointing. Gifts often help open initial contacts, although these should never be open to misinterpretation as bribes. In many companies, especially larger and older ones, a party appointee, who has an honorary or nominal senior post in the company, will preside at the first sessions, then leave the real business to the operational management. Business hours are usually 0800-1700 weekdays, with one or two hours for lunch.
Seniors are usually granted respect, at least to their faces. Likewise, political change may have emancipated women in China before the law, but in business circles men still take precedence. Businesswomen are expected to dress and behave soberly, while businessmen in Shanghai should be prepared for evenings in hostess bars with clients and associates. Foreigners are usually treated with cautious respect, although mainland Chinese have a strong pride in their own language and traditions.
Public manners in eating and drinking can seem hugely lax to foreigners – Shanghainese spit, belch and pick their teeth quite openly. However, visitors are advised to tolerate but not emulate this. After-hours drinking sessions to seal negotiations and cement relations are common. Shanghainese are stronger drinkers than many overseas Chinese.
For corporate travellers, Shanghai Business Review (website: www.sbr.net.cn) provides a monthly source of business information, features, interviews, events and news.
View Our Airport Guides for Shanghai:
Hong Qiao International Airport
(Shanghai) Pudong International Airport