Doing Business in China
Doing Business in China
September 4, 2012 by Taylor Studios
We want to do business in and with our Chinese friends. I think it is important to understand the customs, history and culture in order to make new friends and to do business well. I have been reading and experiencing as much of Chinese culture and business as I can. Here is some of what I have been learning, seeing and doing.
On my trips to China I have brought gifts for my business associates. They like Western made things. I tried to bring a piece of home or work from our business. This time I gave them prints of illustrations from Taylor Studios.
When exchanging business cards it is much more formal in China. They are received with both hands and reverence. I also place them on the table next to me for easy reference.
The Chinese expect to entertain their business partners. In one meeting this week my Chinese counterpart encouraged them to not waste that time as that is not the way of the West. We just wanted a quick lunch and then to get back to business. Therefore, I ate at a small local restaurant. I always want to try every food placed in front of me in China in order to not offend. At this particular lunch that meant I ended up eating baby eels, black eggs and more. The eels were quite good, yet the thought of it was hard to swallow. Today I had some pork wrapped in a corn husk, a local type of water chestnut and some local made candies. The Chinese know how to stick shrimp, chicken and other things in their mouth and eat around the non-edible parts. I am much sloppier at it. I sure hope sea cucumber is never placed in front of me. It scares me a bit.
My birthday was last Monday. I gave myself a trip to The Great Wall that afternoon after business. It was grand. We went to a section of the wall in the mountains near Bejing. It was magnificent. The watch towers used to use smoke signals to warn of oncoming enemies. Dang, it’s big and 1,000s of miles long. To have done that stone work without modern machinery is an unbelievable feat. We took a toboggan ride down from the top of the mountain and played ping pong at the base.
I also had a few hours to see The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. I’m learning more and more about tea. I took a bullet train from Bejing to Shanghai. I had an evening stroll along the river in Pudong, China’s financial district. It offered a beautiful night view of the West side of the river, the historic district. I’ve been educated on fresh water pearls. How many pearls in a fresh water oyster? I’ve seen Jade, the history of Chinese money, Chinese furniture, gardens, Chinese ancient postal delivery, Mao, water villages, the Olympic bird nest stadium and more.
Do you learn and adapt to other cultures when you travel? Can you learn to do things in different ways? It adds spice to life. I encourage you to try new things.