Gifts

The Chinese like to give gifts, which are used to express friendship, the successful conclusion of an endeavour or appreciation for a favour done. Often, the symbolic value of the gift is of more importance than the material value.

It is a good idea to bring along small gifts for your hosts (souvenirs from your region, books, pens, ties, or a memento of your company). Wrap them in a colour traditionally regarded as lucky, such as gold or red. It is not customary to open presents in front of the giver, unless encouraged to do so.

There are few rules on what gifts not to give, but the Chinese expression for ‘to give a clock’ sounds like the phrase for ‘to attend to a dying parent’, so clocks are not popular gifts. Similarly, cut flowers are associated with funerals.

Gift giving is influenced by hierarchy. The most senior person should receive the most valuable gift. If other gifts are also given, they can be smaller and given to other members of the Chinese team.