It is important to know that gifts are a major part of the Chinese culture. For example, the Chinese would much rather reciprocate a gift with another gift than to send a ‘thank you’ card. When visiting someone in China, especially if you are a guest in their house, it is imperative that you bring a gift (whatever the monetary value) to show respect to the host.
Gifts / Gift Etiquette in China
- Bringing a gift for your friend, relative, business partner, or host is a good idea. Depending on the nature of your visit, your gift may vary. Gifts are an important way to build relationships in China.
- Chinese are fond of items that are not accessible in China. For example, items that are hand-made, from your country, or both, are highly valued.
- The Chinese do not usually open gifts when they receive them. You should not open a gift given to you unless they insist.
- The Chinese will decline a gift two or three times (sometimes even more) before accepting. Do not give up on the first try, but be sensitive to genuine refusals.
- A proper way to show appreciation for a gift is another gift in return, as opposed to thank you cards.
Chinese Gift Symbolism, Gift-Giving, Gift Advice, Taboos
- Do not give knives, scissors as they symbolize breaking a relationship. Also avoid clocks, or anything in sets of four (four is an unlucky number as it sounds like “death”). Six, eight and nine are a lucky numbers.
- For business relations, foreign cigarettes, cognac, fine whiskey, and quality wines are great gift ideas.
- Insider Tip: If you know that your contact likes chocolate, consider bringing some high-end chocolate, as Chinese chocolate is waxy and lacks flavor. Anything you can get at a Western market or grocery story will suffice, but specialty chocolate will be sure to leave a lasting impression.
- Chinese avoid giving each other clocks as gifts are because the phrase “give a clock as a gift” is “song zhong”, which in Chinese sounds like you are “wishing someone death.” This does not apply to watches, just clocks.
- Never slice a pear in two and offer a half to someone (especially if you like them). This is symbolic of breaking up, because the phrase is “li kai”, which has the double meaning of “cut a pear” and “break up”.
- If you love someone, you can buy them a belt. It means that you want to “hold them” forever! Watches and wallets are also good gifts for lovebirds. Traditional western “love” gifts (like chocolate and roses) are becoming more common.
- Insider Tip: For the Mid-Autumn Festival, or “Zhong Qiu Jie”, (roughly falls in September) you should give a box of moon cake and give walnuts.
- A flower arrangement is an acceptable gift, but never give white chrysanthemums, or any white flowers for that matter, as they are traditionally used for funerals.
- Giving an apple basket is nice because apple, or “ping guo”, sounds like peace.
- If someone has just moved into a new house, it would be appropriate to give a vase, or “hua ping”, as it also sounds like peace.
- Insider Tip: If someone opens a store or starts a business, give the bamboo flower or “shui zhu” as a gift. By giving this gift, as represented by the many rings in the bamboo stem, you are wishing them continual growth and income.
- Gifts can be wrapped or presented in a gift bag, but do not choose the color white. Red and gold are the best colors for gift paper, bags, or boxes.
My Chinese girlfriend tells me that on first meeting her family that custom requires that I give a gift of $1000 to each of her parents and grandparents. She further indicates that a gift of a photo album with photos of her in the U.S. with accompanying Godiva chocolates is an insult.
What do Chinese customs require?
Me thinks your girlfriend is tripping. Unless you are joking (which I cannot tell if you are or not), your girlfriend is trying to shake you down for a few thousand dollars. If you really did make a photo album and brought some chocolate to her family, and they were insulted, then they are tripping too. While in China, I have lived in cities with 10 million people and in mountain villages with less than 30 people. I can say that I’ve been to hundreds of dinners with hundreds of different Chinese hosts and guests. Not one would have been insulted by this.
Hi, I enjoyed reading all this but I am still concerned on what to bring as a gift. I am going to HK and to Dogguan and I am a sales rep. and the folks I am seeing are the customer service people that help me with my customers and also meeting with the owner & CEO of the company.
I live in Seattle so can you give me some ideas?
Thank you
Help! Our close Chinese friends (we all live in North America) came for dinner. In addition to the usual hostess gifts (wine, some home-made steamed buns), they brought a large gift bag for our 15-year-old son with chocolates, a sweater, and some books. It’s not his birthday, but it is Easter weekend. Is this a traditional gift-giving occasion? Their son is about the same age - should we have given him a gift as well? We will see them next weekend — should we bring a gift of similar value for their son?
We are very fond of these friends and don’t want to offend them
Many thanks!
Anne
Hi Anne,
It’s a few weeks since your post, but in case you haven’t done so yet, it’s a good idea to reciprocate in kind with some gifts. They won’t be angry if you don’t, but you should anyway. It doesn’t have to be expensive though, it’s more of a symbolic gesture (some special food, some perfume, for example).
I need to thanks someone, a doctor and mentor, for their help and am not sure what is a symbolic gift of thanks.
I wanted to crochet a blanket for my son’s girlfriend. But I was told that this was bad luck because I would be wishing her ill health. Can you tell me anymore about this.
My brother married a woman from Shanghai and they were living in San Diego when my husband and I arrange for a wedding gift of two late model, reconditioned bicycles. At the time we could not afford to buy them something new. We live in Canada, by the way. That was seven years ago and I have just now discovered that my sister-in-law “hates” us because we gave them a second hand gift. According to my brother it is considered culturally insensitive and, indeed, an insult. Oh dear. Can anyone with experience tell me if this is true and, if so, what, if anything we should do to make her feel better about the perceived slight. Thanks very much.
Hi there,
I asked my wife, and she explained. In China, it would have been better to get something new than anything used. For some reason, it’s pretty bad, especially for a wedding gift.
Having said that, she said the best thing you can do is to write or call her and say “I wanted to learn more about the Chinese culture, and I was reading around on the internet, and I found out that I made a mistake a few years back…” and then go into the whole thing and explain that you had no idea about the cultural differences. Then you could send them another gift (a new one), like a vase, or a crystal figure (think Swarovski, although they have that chain in China).
I wouldn’t go into how you thought the bikes were a good idea at the time or anything, just use the “I found out that I was wrong” approach and apologize.
I hope this helps, and I hope your sister-in-law accepts.
Good luck.
I am a student getting prepared to stay in Shanghai China for the summer, with a Chinses Host Family. I read some books and look all over the internet for what gift I should bring. Does anyone out there have any ideas. This will be first time to China and I want to make myself look good.
Thank You in Advance
Christopher,
You should bring something from your country, something you cannot get in China. Maybe something handmade from a local artist from your hometown.
Keep in mind that Shanghai is like New York — they have everything. So your best bet is to bring something cool that is unique and original.
Sorry if that is vague. If you want to go with the staple gifts - if it is for a women, you could get perfume — for a man, you could bring some cigarettes or expensive liquor (XO, or whatever, I don’t drink, so). Or a vase for the family.
One gift you may not have thought about giving someone is a gas gift card. Gasoline gift cards are more popular than ever because of the rising costs of gasoline.s
I will stay for one month with a family in Beijing, with whom I’ve been exchanging emails for the last few months.
I found many great ideas for gift giving on blogs and thought I would bring the following:
-maple syrup, calendar of my city, American Ginseng, hand-made jam, ice wine, kids’ centrum vitamins, coffee table picture book of my province and some wooden handicraft.
I picked 8 items because it’s considered a lucky number. But could it be too much? I don’t want to embarrass them either!
Thanks
@Woman from Canada:
Perfect gift ideas. A couple things, based on my experience.
They may use the syrup in a different way, so be open to that. While they might not eat the same pancakes we eat, the Chinese (especially in the northern areas like Beijing) eat other types of sweet buns and other wheat-based foods. But they might use the syrup in a different way, I would just say “Yeah, whatever works!” Explain how you use it in Canada and the general purpose of syrup (if they don’t know — wouldn’t it be funny if they had some Aunt Jemima on the shelf?!)
The vitamins might be a stretch. I’ve experienced a lot of conversations where the Chinese speak of the differences of their way of medicine, nutrition, and health compared to Western countries. So they might not use them. I might scratch those, actually. The odds that they will actually use them are low, and the explanation / embarrassment factor is elevated. Unless, of course, there is some specific reason that you picked those that match with your trip.
Having eight gifts is not too much, and the fact that you’ve done your research will be received — they should be impressed.
Remember to give a brief explanation of each gift! Because you went above and beyond (and didn’t purchase generic, off-the-shelf items) you should have fun telling all the stories.
I’m impressed, great work!
Thank you very much for your comments.
I plan to go to the supermarket with my host. If I see Aunt Jemima packages, I will be sure to buy one to prepare them a special breakfast. I would wait until the end of my stay though, to sense if it’s appropriate for me to offer my services as a cook. Maybe it’s not done at all, temporarily taking over another woman’s kitchen? I often host foreigners and I was at least once offered a home-made meal. A young couple from Vienna made us pork cutlets. It took them hours but they would not accept any help after I pointed to them where the pots&pans and utensils were.
I was sooo surprised to see the number of blog posts about bringing vitamins. Apparently the market is inundated with fake vitamins so Chinese love getting brand names from foreign friends. But just in case, I’ll drop those off my list.
Another thing: I promised to pay a small rent (about US$250) for the month. Can I just put this money with a note in a red enveloppe and give it along with the gifts? Are there special considerations when giving money?
Thank you.
I would like to add that I’m the one who suggested I pay a rent. My host offered me a room very graciously in exchange for English and French conversations.
Oh boy.
I was joking about Aunt Jemima, because.. Well nevermind. Don’t get any Aunt Jemima packages.
And I have to apologize, I spoke with the Master of All Things Chinese (or MATC, my wife), and she said “Bob! WTF, Chinese people love Western vitamins!” And I was like, “But didn’t you say like a million times that you don’t eat vitamins because they’re all KESHUI (scientist!),” and she was like, “Dude, vitamins are a great gift go back and update your blog.”
So bring the vitamins. Also, she said another GREAT gift is “deep sea fish oil” — literally translated “shen4 hai3 yu2 you3″ sounds like “shen hi you yo” — it’s fish oil. ANYWAY, keep the vitamins.
Re: Cooking the MTAC says “if your relationship is strong with them” then after a meal, you can offer to cook something. See, cooking is very sensitive, and the Chinese are good at it. I mean, if you are a professional French chef or something, it’s a different story. But I would really suggest just sitting back and allowing them to be the hosts.
Re: Rent — great thought, but they probably won’t let give it to them. It’s like trying to get the bill at a Chinese restaurant (there’s usually a scene). Don’t get too serious when you’re giving it to them, just keep insisting and say it’s what you do in your country. They will push your hand away, or even your whole arm. Try giving it to them three times with a smile. After three or four times, (or if they have the look in their eye that you are offending them at any point) then stop and say, “Ok, ok, you must come to my country then” or something like that.
Last but not least — be a good guest! Try different things, be on time, be courtesy to everyone, don’t complain or negatively compare, don’t talk about sensitive issues (like Falun Gong, or Tiananmen!!) — just embrace it all and have fun. This is an opportunity to make some great new friends. Chinese people rock! So does China, I hope you get that impression. And be sure to read the (In)Complete Chinese Guide for all your current Chinese etiquette tips.
Also, I just found a great online English to Chinese translator/dictionary (pinyin, mandarin, English, traditional and simplified characters). Their site looks busted and cheap, but I’ve tried them all and this is the best. This will surely help you with anything you’d like to say.
Thanks again for your detailed comments.
Your wife really did say WTF Dude?
Vitamins are back on the list. Deep sea fish oil has been added. Will do my best to behave! And I won’t go anywhere near the kitchen (except to wash dishes) because pancakes are about the only meal I could have handled. (Well, I think so, but I usually buy them in the frozen department)
I have to admit, the WTF dude was embellishment for the web. But she did correct all my errors. Have a great trip.
Please tell me more about how well handmade gifts are received, particularly needlework (embroidery, crocheted) items. I am going very soon, and am working on a small embroidered item to take as a gift.
@Laura: Hand embroidery is a great gift idea. Do know, however, that when you get to tourist attractions, you’re going to see (hand made or machine produced) embroidered items in China, such as art pieces, clothing, etc.
An example of this is where I lived, in Yunnan, there were many hand embroidered ethnic minority clothing pieces that were very colorful (hats, vests, jackets, slip-on shoes). This is not to discourage you, but just to let you know that it is a very common technique in China.
Also, bear in mind cultural sensitivities. The number 8 is lucky, 4 is not. Patterns can be done in sets of 3, that’s also lucky. Make sure the design won’t be interpreted the wrong way. I’m digressing a bit, but for example, you would never cut a pear in half and share it with someone, as the actual words for that act literally translate to “break up” or “severe a relationship”. So when you are designing your embroidery, make sure it won’t be interpreted the wrong way, symbolically or literally. You might want to use red and yellow for your main colors.
Just some ideas for you.
A very good chinese friend of ours recently had my family stay at his vacation beach house while we were visiting in the Florida area. I would love to give him a thank you/appreciation gift. What is a highly respectible gift of thanks for his custom? Are Orchids or another plant arrangement respectable? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Ami
I asked, and it really depends on a number of factors, but I’ll keep it simple and say yes, flowers are fine, but never buy or give white chrysanthemums (they symbolize death.)
After reading this article and some of the questions and comments I truly feel bad for some individuals that don’t know the custom well and being taken advantage of. Before anyone start hating, I am Chinese myself, I immigrated here when I was 10 and grew up in a Chinese culture rich environment.
Robert is absolutely correct on bring gifts that people can’t get in the mainland because there’s always this mentality in mainland that foreign goods especially American items are viewed as top honor and valuable.
And for the people that’s dating a Chinese man or woman, please do not fall into that scam of giving their parents and grand parents money on first time meet ups. This is only practiced when you get marry, it’s an age old practice in China. They see it that you owe them money for raising their daughter for you to take away. If your boyfriend or girlfriend bring up the money giving issue, my honest advise is to carefully think about their integrity and why they are with you. If you are meeting the parents for the first time, try to take them to a nice Chinese restaurant and bring them a gift that will be nice fixture in the house if you want to impress them.
I’ve dated out of my race and never had any of these issues, but I guess I am just a more Americanized version.
I am a Chinese Canadian. I was born and raised in HK and have moved to Canada for a long time.
There is no such thing as giving money to your girlfriend’s parents on the first visit. Bringing gift to visit someone is a must but giving money is something else.
An appropriate gift on your first visit to anybody would be a fruit basket, or if you are going from another country, a gift basket with various products unique to your country.
If you are from Canada, North American ginseng (make sure you buy the ones in whole pieces, the ones being cut up or in powder form are less valuable, and the ginseng grown in North American is different than the ones grown in Asia, they have opposite effects), maple syrup, ice wine, red wine, smoked salmon are all good ideas.
Offering to pay money to your host is a bad idea. It may be taken as an insult. And red envelopes are not for use by anybody, they are given by someone who is senior to someone who is junior, you don’t give red envelopes to people of the same seniority or rank, or friends. I would just bring a more valuable gift in lieu of money, and take them out for dinner at the end of your stay.
Some Chinese guard their kitchens rather seriously, and good Chinese hosts do not let their guests do any work, you can offer but they will invariably refuse, because that makes them feel they are not doing their job as the host. I doubt they would let you cook a real meal, unless you are on a prolonged stay and it is something small, like baking cookies or a cake.
If you are getting flowers, do not buy any chrysanthemums (of any colour), or gladiolis, carnations, which are all flowers usually used when Chinese pay their respect for the deceased.
I wish to thank everyone who has passed on their knowledge on chinese customs.
I have been to China once before and it was the best 30 days of vacation I’ve ever had. I spent 21 years in the military and I’ve traveled to many spots around the world, but China was the best.
I’m planning on going back in Oct. I have been communicating with a woman for the past four months and if all goes well I’ll be asking her to marry me.
I’ve been very worried about insulting her family by not showing them the proper respect when meeting for the first time. I now feel I’m armed with the information needed.
I spoke to my possible future wife about the money gift after reading about in on a blog. She told me that in Mudanjiang it is still practiced, but since I’m an american her parents will not expect it of me. I told her I didn’t want to insult her family or start off on the wrong foot with her family. I told her I would follow the chinese customs. She insisted I would not have to give the money gift because her parents will be happy that I love her and want to take care of her.
I guess my question is… Am I walking into a pitfall by not giving the money gift? Is she concerned I will not want to marry if she says I have to give the money gift? What would be considered the proper amount to give and to whom?
Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks.
Actually chocolate is given to a Chinese family tradionally during weddings and ceremony. Her parents probably preferred cash.
Smoked Salmon was mentioned as a great gift to bring but would some local jerky do as well? I live in Colorado and we have Buffalo, Beef, and Elk that are all locally made. Just want to see if that may be something appreciated, maybe a spicy seasoning to it? Also, can one bring red wine into China and do you store it your suitcase?
@Rich: Wow, I feel warm and fuzzy that you read my blog to learn more about customs for your future wife.
Here’s the deal. The money thing is old school. If you go there and you are respectful and sensitive to their family and Chinese cultural in general, and you keep studying Mandarin (as this is what you will need to do if you have a Chinese wife) — there is no need to give cash as a gift. I actually think that is insulting, and now-a-days, they may too. (In their eyes, you show up, take their daughter, and drop a bunch of cash on them. Just saying, I met a lot of Chinese people who would decline immediately and be offended.)
You’re going to hear from these “Chinese cultural experts who haven’t been to China” again and again about how you need to give cash. But you’re talking to someone who was in your shoes about five years ago, who lived in an isolated village-town in China for two years (I was the only foreigner in the place!) and I’m telling you, if you are genuine and respectful, her parents should be excited to have you as a son-in-law.
Especially if your future wife is telling you not to. Sounds good to me, I’m happy for you. Good luck.
I’d like to show my appreciation for my doctor (acupuncture) and her two nurses. Is it ok to present them with identical gifts (red flowers + chocolate)? Note: location - US, not China.
Kamerun, and everyone else: If you are giving a gift in the US, then I would stick to US customs — even if your doctor was born in China.
If I gave my doctor red flowers and chocolates in America, she might think I’m trying to ask her out. If that’s what you’re trying to do, then hey buddy, good luck. If you’re trying to return some of the healin’ back her way, don’t let me mess anything up. But if you just want to give her a gift to show your appreciation, then there are a lot of other ways to show that without sending mixed signals.
An absolutely great site. I think I have some ideas for gifts for two women I will be visiting for the first time in Beijing. Anybody, your thoughts are welcome and appreciated! I live in Florida and thought I would bring each of the ladies a Daytona Beach sweatshirt. I also thought about bringing a nice picture book on Florida sightseeing plus a box of Godive chocolates. That makes four gifts, a no-no, so I thought I would also bring six oranges.
Anyone care to comment, please!
Thanks
My boss has invited the chinese academic delegation to his home for a visit (appetizers etc.)
I wasn’t sure if he should give them gifts? If so, any suggestions? We are in Chicago and I wasn’t sure if the chinese enjoyed sports i.e. baseball.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Linda I’m going to ask the MOATC and I’ll get back to you in about three hours.
We have some of the Japanese army visiting our post and they like to give gifts and trade. So what I would like to know is what a good gift idea to give back is.
Linda -
If they are a Chinese academic delegation from China, then this is our advice:
If they smoke, you can give them cigarettes. Go find the best, most expensive cigarettes in Chicago.
If they do not smoke, then you can give a bottle of expensive hard liquor (whiskey, XO, etc) or wine.
I know it sounds strange, but this is the advice. If they do not smoke or drink, then I don’t know. But this is what would happen in China.
Shelly - Don’t know much about Japanese gift etiquette. Sorry!
We’ve had such fun reading your site, thank you. What I’m wondering about is what sort of gift to bring a Chinese friend who is opening a restaurant, please? We’ve been invited to the restaurant opening. Also, have you any advice about appropriate dress?
Our son is going to China to visit Girlfriend’s parents. Is it still ok to give liquor if he is only 19? Also can one buy flowers in the airport in Beijing? What would be most appropriate? He will be there over New Year’s.
Learned alot from reading posts. Thank you.
Which city is he visiting? Not sure on the legality of transporting alcohol, bit I’ve never been checked and it is not illegal in China to carry alcohol as a 19 year old.
If you tell us which city we can help customize a gift, also any detail about the parents (Beijing bankers vs. laborers from the countryside).
Are you close to a Whole Foods (in the states)?
Hi, My best girlfriend here (in Germany) is from Singapore, but her family is follows Chinese customs and speaks Chinese. She just had a baby and her mother is here to take care of her. What is a good traditional gift for her? What should I bring to her mother (who has just arrived AND who has a new granddaughter)? THANKS!
Hi there,
My friend has lived in Shanghei for about 6 months. I am putting together a New Year’s care package for her. I don’t want it to weigh too much since shipping is SO expensive. I don’t asked her a long time ago (in the summer) what she missed and can remember a few things… a couple types of candies and gums and boxed mac and cheese. I can’t remember what else, and I would rather not ask her again. Any ideas for a single 30 year old American living in Shanghai? I want to send things she can NOT get there. Thanks!!
The good thing about Shanghai is that they can actually get a lot of things.
Different story in the mountains of Yunnan, where even in the capital city of Kunming of over a million people, there wasn’t a Starbucks. (Not that Starbucks is good, but usually a Starbucks in a Chinese city symbolizes growth and internationalism.)
It’s funny you mention Mac N Cheese, because my brother sent me some too, but after eating so much Chinese food for a year, the Macaroni and Cheese tasted terrible — like chemicals, especially the bright neon orange ‘cheese’ mix.
So, I loved coffee so my family sent Blue Bottle and Philz Coffee from San Francisco. I also needed shoes, so you could tell her to go to Zappos and pick out some shoes — order them to you, and then you send them to China.
Again, I don’t really know what Shanghai *doesn’t* have, and it really depends on what your friend likes. Chocolate (See’s, or even store brands would be better than the norm in China).
You could also go to the local grocery story and pick up a bunch of canned goods that are purely American (soups, pastas, etc) — but that would be pretty heavy.
My brother sent me a tool kit and a frying pan, and the shipping was $100. But I have to say, that was pretty cool. Or you could send big coffee mugs, or a coffee press (Bodum). Those were hard to come by in Yunnan.
Even though clothes are abundant and cheap in China, you could send a Timbuk2 bag, or North Face/Marmot/REI jacket, or something else that would remind her of home. Especially if it is cold.
Of course, electronics are cheaper in the US (especially if you go with Amazon or B&H) — much cheaper than in China. For example, when I was there, I think they had the Nikon D70 for twice the price as it sold in the US — so if she is into iPods, or a Chinese-English translator, or cameras, or anything else electronic, that would be cool for her — also, these would be 110-220v, so everything would work in China.
Lastly, you could send a bunch of photos of people that she knows and write a nice letter. I remember a bunch of my friends on tour sent me a movie that recorded on their laptop, saying “Hello, we miss you, etc”, and just seeing them was pretty cool.
You might consider telling her to start a blog (like this one!) — that always helps to keep people connected. If she’s into Twitter (and if Twitter is not blocked in China), get her on that and keep in touch.
If she smokes, send her a bunch of her favorite American cigarettes, as those are hard to get and expensive in China.
Also, pretty much anything in the candy isle at your local Walgreen’s is not in China (besides Snickers bars and Dove Chocolate), if she has a sweet tooth, you could raid all the high fructose corn syrup candies and mail her those. Potato chips don’t send well, but the Chinese have their own versions of potato chips, so if she likes Funyons or those orange sticky finger chips, China doesn’t have those.
That’s about as good as I can do without knowing her.
Robert - Thanks so much for the great and thorough reply… lots of good ideas! Sorry I am just now checking back for a reply. I’ll be getting the package together in the next week or so, and I’m going to include some of your ideas. Interestingly, I skyped with her tonight, and she is on day 3 of trying to quit smoking. I was thinking of sending her some Marlboro Lights, but I’ve crossed that off my list! She is a junk food lover, though, so I am still going to include the mac and cheese, as I know it’s one of her requests. I’m going to include some good candy too, as that’s always good to have on hand when you are trying to quit smoking - ha! She is also a big reader and movie buff, so I am going to include a dvd and a book (I haven’t settled yet on which ones). I am going to try hard not to get the dang package too heavy, since shipping is so high. Again, I appreciate all of your suggestions, and I just love your site.
Hi, I’m currently studying Chinese in Chengdu . For ?? I will be traveling to Yangzhou, Jiangsu to visit my host family from a previous trip. I don’t need help with gift ideas but I’m unsure of when I should present my gifts. Any help??? I’ll be staying at their apartment and after picking me up from the train station, we’ll most likely drop my bag off at their apartment and then head out for dinner. I’m just not sure when I right time is. Thanks!
Hi, I’m currently studying Chinese in Chengdu . For Chunjie (Spring Festival) I will be traveling to Yangzhou, Jiangsu to visit my host family from a previous trip. I don’t need help with gift ideas but I’m unsure of when I should present my gifts. Any help??? I’ll be staying at their apartment and after picking me up from the train station, we’ll most likely drop my bag off at their apartment and then head out for dinner. I’m just not sure when I right time is. Thanks!
Alexandra, you should present them when you drop off your bags in their apartment.
You could do it at the dinner table, but undoubtedly there will be other guests, and you don’t want to feel like you’re excluding anyone.
So once you enter the house and drop off your bags, just present the gift then, and then go off to dinner.
Wow! Thanks for the quick response!
Robert-
This is an amazing website! My partner and I will be traveling to China for the first time and we’re going over to meet our suppliers. For much a business trip. We found out that our supplier bosses smoke. We will be mainly in Shenzhen and a short visit up north coast.
The four gifts so far:
1. fine quality cigarettes
2. great quality chocolate
3. a picture our kids help make and put into a frame
4. still thinking on this one…any suggestions?
Thank you