China - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

by Kathy Flower, Indre Balcikonyte-Huang

Don't just see the sights? Get to know the people.

For thousands of years, the Chinese believed that they had created a perfect social system, based on Confucian values and tempered by the Mandate of Heaven. Dynasties came and went, but the essence of being Chinese remained essentially unchanged until the twentieth century. Since then, change has taken place in Chinese society at unprecedented speed, as the country first experienced the turmoil of civil war and revolution before emerging on to the world stage as a global superpower.

This thoroughly updated edition of Culture Smart! China puts these changes into historical context, explains deep-seated cultural attitudes, and guides you through the maze of unfamiliar social situations, in order to help you discover for yourself the pragmatism, genius, warmth, and humanity of this extraordinary country and its people.

Have a more meaningful and successful time abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on values, attitudes, customs, and daily life will help you make the most of your visit, while tips on etiquette and communication will help you navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, China, Cultural, History, Audiobook

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this while on a vacation in China, and was quite satisfied. It does exactly what it sets out to do: provides an introduction to Chinese life and customs for a new visitor from the West. It touches on many aspects of life, from philosophy to business to correct behavior, and there are fascinating sections on how your average Chinese person lives, pidgin English, the importance of punctuality, how to behave at banquets, and more.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good quick book covering a lot of basics. There is history, customs, tips for western travelers and sight-seeing recommendations. It's a good place to start getting a general idea of what you'll need to know before you go. An example of a complaint I would have is that they describe the standard configuration of the traditional chinese toilet but there is no good example (diagram) of how you use it. I found the answer quickly online. On the flipside, Frommer's guide goes into way more detail than is helpful for someone just looking for an overview. I don't know if there's a good compromise but expect that you'll need multiple sources. This was a good starting point.

[Abel Mora · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's alright for what it is was made for: a largely basic but informative quick-guide to Chinese culture. Give it a read if you're interested in visiting China and are worried about some of their common customs. Not exactly my cup of tea, though

[Shane Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot about Chinese culture from this book. A great overview of many topics from food to history to etiquette to name a few.

[Den · Rating 4 out of 5]

And excellent introduction to Chinese society and culture. It's short, but covers. A great place to start for anyone considering a trip to China.

[Jingwei Shi · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some good tips, but a lot of the facts are outdated and useless.

[Leyi]

As a Chinese, I always like to read some books about my countries, and I really feel like the knowledge is too much to learn. China's history was uninterrupted, and the social transformation was changeable. China consists of fifty-six ethnic groups, scattered in different places, with different cultures and customs. They form the big and colorful country.
The part I am most interested in is the text of Chinese culture. Different ethnic groups have different languages ​​and scripts, and have different communication methods. Then, when these different people meet, they speak Mandarin.
The history of China validated the valuable cultures of China. I have seen the palaces that were built during different dynasties, there were great and beautiful.
I have also seen the different beautiful views of different places in China.
If there's chance for me to travel over the country, I would grab the chance without hesitation.

[Yossi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick overview of China and its cultural. The good - it's short. The bad - it's too short.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative book that covers a lot of the basics for any westerner planning a move or visit.

[Ming's fantasy myth library · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars

[Paul Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite basic, but a decent introduction if you have a trip planned to China. 3.5 stars.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ☆

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent source of information. Reasonable to read.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little book with a brief overview of culture, customs and even food...some broken down by region. It is helpful.

[Rflutist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this short book as a basic intoduction to Chinese culture. It's great if you're pressed for time. Some of the points raised may spark an interest in reading other in-depth works about China.

[Todd Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little overview of China and its culture. China - Culture Smart! is a good intro for first time travelers and business people.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty helpful, but not exactly what I was looking for. I read this to prepare for my upcoming vacation to China, but I found that this was geared more towards the person going there for business.

[Molly Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite useful summary of the culture of contemporary China...very handy for an upcoming visit.

[BLACK CAT]

Different traditions and ways of doing things in China.
Good tips in case you visit.