Chinese Table Manners - 15 Do's and Don'ts

Written by Sally Guo Updated Mar. 2, 2023

The Chinese have developed an exquisite cuisine and regard food as being the most important thing in their life. They do not greet each other with “How are you?” but instead they ask, “Have you eaten?”

As part of Chinese culinary culture, Chinese table manners are still observed today.

Seating- Take the Right Seat

The seat that is given to the “guest of honor” or the oldest person in the family gives the best view of the room. The “seat of honor” is usually the one facing the entrance of the room or the one in the center facing east of the room, if there is no seat facing the entrance.

seating arrangement

The next rule that governs the seating plan is linked with the “social ranking” of a person. This rule will be applied even if the dinner is of family get-together. That is, the person with a higher rank gets a closer seat to the “guest of honor”.

As for the host, he may take the least prominent seat, usually the one nearest the kitchen or service door. It is better to be seated after the senior or the guest of honor sit down. Guests should wait for the host to invite them to get seated.

Order Dishes - Do It Properly

Ordering and Serving
 

Ordering Food

If time permits, the menu can be circulated among the people in attendance and the host will make the final decision. But whether the dishes are ordered by the host or the guests, here are some basic rules that require attention:

Eating - Important Etiquette to Learn

Lazy Susan
 

Lazy Susan

Chinese people like sharing food together and all the dishes are usually placed in the center of a round table with a Lazy Susan, rather than a rectangular table like in the West.

A Lazy Susan is a round rotating disc in the center of the dining table, that ensures all the diners have equal access to the served meal and to makes everybody feel respected.

Here is a complete guide on eating etiquette in China: 

1. Don't start eating until the host gives a sign to start.

2. When the dishes are served, you need to wait for the elders, leaders, and guests to try the dishes first.  

3. Try to choose dishes that are close to you, and don't flip the dishes back and forth. If someone else is serving the food, don't put your hand over that person's hand to pick up the food.   

4. You should not rotate the Lazy Susan for yourself when someone else on the table is serving himself from the main bowl. It is recommended to wait until he gets a sufficient quantity of the dish.

5. Wait until the dish takes a complete round when you want to have something a second time so that everyone gets his due share.

6. Never fill your plate to the maximum, and always serve yourself with a small quantity.  Rotating the Lazy Susan counterclockwise is yet another bad habit that should be avoided.

7. Despite the facility of the Lazy Susan, it is expected of the host to offer the special dish to all the members present before he takes a share for himself, using a pair of serving or “public” chopsticks of course, which is a simple gesture of showing concern and respect for others. Guests can politely decline or leave the food on the plate if they don’t want to eat something.

8. Concentrate on the meal and the people in attendance. It is considered ill-mannered to fiddle with your phone during dining.

Etiquette in Using Chopstick

The use of chopsticks is a must in Chinese cuisine, accompanied by some always taboos that you must have at least a basic idea:

1. Chopsticks should not be inserted into the rice and should be placed flat on the bowl.

2. Don't play with your chopsticks such as using the chopsticks to beating your bowls or wave your chopsticks around in the air. 

3. Don't use your chopsticks to flip the food, if you need to do so, try to use a shovel. 

 4. Pointing at people with your chopsticks is considered to be very impolite. Try to avoid so. If you accidentally do so, you must apologize in time.

5. Try to hold your chopsticks and avoid them falling to the ground.  chopsticks taboos

6. Pick up the bowl of rice and lift the rice into your mouth with the chopsticks. Do not make any noise when chewing the food.

7. The spoon should not be used at the same time as the chopsticks.

Chinese Drinking Etiquette

Toasting
 

Toasting

In China, at the beginning of a banquet or a formal dinner, the host must first toast the guests to show his hospitality. Wine, beer, or even soda can be used to toast.

If you wish to take a drink of wine at a formal dinner, you must first toast another dinner guest regardless of whether he or she responds by drinking. If you are toasted and don’t want to drink, simply touch your lips to the edge of the wine glass to acknowledge the courtesy.

Normally, your glass will be refilled immediately following a toast in preparation for the next one. So… Good luck!

Do you want to taste the world-famous Mapo Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken? Try our Chengdu Night View & Food Tour!

Etiquette for Serving Tea

Sipping Tea
 

Sipping Tea

Tea always plays an important role at a Chinese dinner. It is usually served by a waiter or waitress as soon as you have a seat in a restaurant.

Whenever tea is served you should say “thank you” or make a gesture of thanks – tap the table with your first two fingers twice. The host should naturally refill the empty teacups and never point the mouth of the teapot to others.

Leaving the Table

Offering the Final Toast
 

Offering the Final Toast

Chinese banquets commonly last for about two hours, but the dinner is over when the host stands up and offers the final toast. Then you should immediately leave after expressing your thanks to the host for his hospitality. In some cases, you can invite the host to your own future banquet.

If you want to leave in the middle of the banquet, explain the reason to your host and appreciate his hospitality. Remember: do not invite other guests to leave with you, otherwise, the banquet will be over in advance.

These etiquette rules also apply to normal Chinese meals in restaurants.

You Might Like to Read

Experience Chinese Food and Dining Culture!

Our Customers Trying Guilin Cuisine
 

Our Customers Trying Guilin Cuisine

 If you are interested in Chinese dining culture and planning a foodie tour in China, we are here to help enhance your tour with more experience and more fun. Below are three sample tour packages we've hand-picked for your travel inspiration:

Back to the Chinese Food Guide

Create My Trip

Need Help?

Request a custom itinerary today and get one step closer to your personalized trip

Create Your Trip