Sure! Here’s a list of the Top 10 Unique Habits That Chinese People Often Do, rooted in centuries of tradition, cultural values, and daily lifestyle practices:
1. Drinking Hot Water 💧🔥
Instead of cold beverages, many Chinese people prefer hot or warm water, even in summer.
- Believed to improve digestion and blood circulation.
- Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
2. Carrying a Thermos Everywhere 🧳🍵
You’ll often see people (especially elders) with a personal thermos filled with tea or hot water.
- Sometimes includes goji berries, red dates, or chrysanthemum flowers.
3. Using WeChat for Everything 📱💬
WeChat isn’t just for chatting—it’s a super app used for:
- Payments, shopping, ordering food, calling taxis, booking doctors, even paying utility bills.
4. Respecting Hierarchy and Elders 🙇♂️👵
Social structure matters. People:
- Give seats to elders automatically.
- Use formal titles (like “Uncle,” “Auntie”) even for non-relatives.
- Avoid disagreeing with elders openly—“face” (面子) is crucial.
5. Eating Communally with Shared Dishes 🍚🥢
Meals are shared at round tables, with food placed in the center.
- Everyone uses chopsticks to take from shared dishes (though some use “public chopsticks” for hygiene now).
- Eating alone is rare—meals are about bonding.
6. Taking Naps After Lunch (午休) 😴
Many offices and schools allow or encourage a midday nap.
- A cultural norm to boost productivity and health.
- You’ll see people napping at desks or even in restaurants.
7. Practicing Tai Chi or Square Dancing in Public Parks 🧘♀️🕺
Especially in the mornings or evenings, parks fill with:
- Tai Chi groups (slow martial arts-like movements).
- “Dama” (middle-aged women) doing synchronized dancing to music—great for socializing and exercise.
8. Giving and Receiving Things with Both Hands 🤲🎁
Out of respect and politeness, Chinese people often:
- Hand items (especially gifts, money, or business cards) with both hands.
- It’s rude to just toss something to someone or receive it one-handed.
9. Avoiding the Number 4, Loving 8 ❌4 ✅8
- 4 (四) sounds like “death” (死), so it’s considered unlucky.
- Buildings often skip the 4th floor.
- 8 (八) sounds like “wealth” (发), so it’s lucky and sought-after—especially in phone numbers or license plates.
10. Celebrating Big Events with Loud Fireworks or Red Envelopes 🎆🧧
- Fireworks chase away evil spirits—used in weddings, festivals, and openings.
- Red envelopes (红包 hóngbāo) with money are given during Lunar New Year, weddings, and birthdays for luck and prosperity.
💬 “In China, tradition lives in every small daily act—from sipping hot water to sending a red envelope.”
1. Drinking Hot Water 💧🔥
One of the most distinctive habits in China is the daily consumption of hot or warm water—often surprising to visitors who expect cold drinks, especially in restaurants.
🧠 Why Do Chinese People Prefer Hot Water?
Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):
- Hot water is believed to:
- Aid digestion
- Improve blood circulation
- Expel “cold” or dampness from the body
- Maintain internal balance (yin and yang)
Health First Mentality:
- Hot water is seen as a basic preventive health measure.
- It’s often the first thing offered to someone feeling sick—even for a sore throat or upset stomach.
🍵 Everyday Practice:
- Most households boil water daily, often storing it in thermos flasks.
- Many people carry a personal thermos with hot water or herbal infusions (like goji berries or chrysanthemum).
- Restaurants serve hot or warm water automatically—instead of ice water like in Western countries.
👵 Common Wisdom Passed Down:
Elders will often say things like:
“Don’t drink cold water—it’s bad for your stomach.”
“Warm your insides in cold weather.”
It’s considered especially important for:
- Children
- Women (especially during menstruation or after childbirth)
- The elderly
✈️ Even on Flights or in Offices:
- On Chinese airlines, flight attendants routinely walk around offering cups of hot water.
- Offices and schools usually have hot water dispensers, not cold ones.
💬 “Cold water shocks the system. Hot water soothes it.”
2. Carrying a Thermos Everywhere 🧳🍵
In China, it’s incredibly common to see people carrying a thermos—from students and office workers to retirees and travelers. It’s not just about convenience; it’s a reflection of health beliefs, routine, and practicality.
🧂 What’s in the Thermos?
Usually not just plain water. People fill thermoses with:
- Boiled water
- Warm tea (often green or jasmine)
- Herbal infusions like:
- Goji berries (枸杞)
- Red dates (红枣)
- Chrysanthemum flowers
- Ginger slices
These are chosen for health-boosting purposes like improving eyesight, blood flow, or warming the body.
🧓 Especially Popular Among:
- Elders: Carry it on walks, to the park, or when traveling.
- Young professionals: Seen on office desks or in handbags.
- Students: Common in classrooms and dormitories.
💡 Practical Reasons:
- Chinese people generally avoid cold beverages, so a thermos guarantees access to warm drinks anytime.
- Many public places, schools, and offices provide free hot water dispensers, making refills easy.
🌟 A Cultural Icon:
In recent years, carrying a thermos has even become a bit of a meme or status symbol—especially the “goji berry thermos” (枸杞保温杯), symbolizing a person who’s becoming more health-conscious or “getting old.”
“The day you put goji berries in your thermos is the day you’ve entered adulthood.”
🚶 Common Sight:
- At the airport
- On trains
- At work
- In parks during morning exercise
💬 “A Chinese thermos isn’t just for tea—it’s a portable wellness kit.”
3. Using WeChat for Everything 📱🌐
In China, WeChat (微信 – Wēixìn) isn’t just a messaging app—it’s a complete digital lifestyle platform. Think of it as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, PayPal, Google Maps, and Uber—all rolled into one.
📲 Core Features:
- Messaging (text, voice, video, group chats)
- Voice/video calls
- Social media feed (called “Moments”)
- File sharing
- Stickers, emojis, mini-apps
But that’s just the surface.
💰 WeChat Pay = Daily Wallet
- Cashless society: Most people pay for everything using WeChat Pay via QR codes—street food, luxury goods, taxis, or utility bills.
- Even street performers and beggars may have QR codes!
🛒 All-in-One Lifestyle Tool:
- Order food 🍜
- Book taxis 🚕
- Buy movie/train tickets 🎫
- Track deliveries 📦
- Schedule medical appointments 🏥
- Pay traffic fines 🧾
- Even file for divorce in some cities!
🏢 Work & Business:
- Many companies use WeChat for internal communication, faster than emails.
- Small businesses run fully on WeChat—from marketing to customer service to transactions.
👥 Digital Social Norms:
- People add contacts by scanning QR codes, not phone numbers.
- Business cards? Rarely used—just scan and connect.
- Group chats for everything: school classes, family planning, office tasks, neighborhood updates, etc.
🔐 Security & Trust:
- Linked to real ID, phone number, and bank account.
- High user trust in privacy and financial security—though the app is tightly regulated by Chinese authorities.
💬 “In China, you don’t ask, ‘Do you have WeChat?’ You ask, ‘Scan me.’”
4. Respecting Hierarchy and Elders 🙇♀️👴
One of the most deeply rooted values in Chinese culture is respect for hierarchy and elders, shaped by Confucian philosophy, which emphasizes social harmony, filial piety (孝, xiào), and respect for authority.
🧓 Filial Piety (孝)
- Children are expected to care for their parents and grandparents, both emotionally and financially.
- In some families, it’s common for multiple generations to live under one roof.
- Disrespecting parents or older relatives is considered deeply shameful.
🧾 In Language and Titles
- People address elders and superiors with honorific titles, such as:
- “Uncle” (叔叔 shūshu) and “Auntie” (阿姨 āyí) for older strangers
- “Teacher Li” (李老师 Lǐ lǎoshī) even outside the classroom
- It’s impolite to call someone older by their first name unless invited.
🪑 Social Etiquette
- Always offer your seat to an elderly person on public transport.
- Elders are typically served first at meals.
- At formal dinners or family gatherings, the seating arrangement is based on seniority.
🧧 Gift-Giving and Celebrations
- During festivals like Chinese New Year, younger generations give respect (often through greetings or bows), and elders give red envelopes (红包 hóngbāo) in return.
- On birthdays, elders receive priority celebrations, often with large family banquets.
🏢 In the Workplace
- Hierarchy matters—junior employees often wait for the boss to speak first in meetings.
- Deference to authority is common, and decisions are often made top-down.
- Promotions and job titles carry significant social weight.
💬 “To walk ahead of your grandfather is to forget where you came from.”
5. Eating Communally with Shared Dishes 🍽️🥢
In Chinese culture, meals are a communal affair—a time to bond, show hospitality, and share abundance. Unlike Western dining where everyone orders their own plate, in China, everyone shares multiple dishes from the center of the table.
🍲 How It Works:
- Round tables (often with a lazy Susan) are popular to make sharing easier.
- Dishes—meat, vegetables, soups, dumplings—are placed in the middle for everyone to pick from using chopsticks.
- Rice or noodles are served individually, but the rest is for group enjoyment.
🧠 Why It’s Meaningful:
- Emphasizes togetherness and unity.
- Food is seen as a way to express love and care, especially from elders or hosts.
- Eating together builds trust—business deals, family bonding, and friendships often happen over a meal.
🍜 Meal Etiquette:
- Wait for elders or hosts to begin before eating.
- Offer choice pieces (like fish cheeks or tender meat) to guests or elders.
- Avoid sticking chopsticks vertically in rice (symbolizes death).
- Use serving chopsticks if provided (for hygiene).
🤝 Cultural Reflection:
- Reflects a collectivist mindset—the group is more important than the individual.
- Encourages sharing, cooperation, and attentiveness to others’ needs.
💬 “In China, eating is never just about the food—it’s about who you share it with.”
6. Taking Naps After Lunch (午休) 😴
In China, taking a short nap after lunch—known as “wǔxiū” (午休)—is a widely accepted and culturally ingrained habit. It’s not laziness, but rather a health practice and productivity booster respected across age groups.
⏰ When It Happens:
- Typically from 12:00–1:30 PM after lunch.
- The duration varies—from 10 to 30 minutes, sometimes up to an hour.
🏫 Where You’ll See It:
- Offices: Employees nap at desks, on foldable cots, or even on beanbags.
- Schools: Students often lay their heads on desks or use neck pillows.
- Homes: Afternoon naps are part of the daily routine, especially for the elderly.
🧠 Why It’s Valued:
Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it’s believed that:
- Rest after eating helps with digestion.
- A midday nap recharges energy for the second half of the day.
- Lack of proper rest leads to fatigue, poor focus, and long-term health issues.
💤 Corporate Culture:
- In some Chinese companies, napping is encouraged—a sign of a caring, health-conscious employer.
- Tech companies may even provide nap rooms or reclining chairs.
“It’s better to rest and work well than to push through and burn out.”
🧓 Common Saying:
“中午不睡，下午崩溃”
(“If you don’t nap at noon, you’ll crash in the afternoon.”)
🧍 Western Perception vs Chinese Norm:
- In the West, naps may be seen as unproductive.
- In China, it’s a sign of self-care and balance, not laziness.
💬 “Even a dragon takes a break in the heat of the day.”
7. Practicing Tai Chi or Square Dancing in Public Parks 🧘♂️🕺
In cities across China, early mornings and evenings bring public spaces to life with Tai Chi practitioners and “dancing aunties” (广场舞大妈) moving in harmony. These communal exercises are a unique and vibrant part of everyday Chinese life.
🌀 Tai Chi (太极拳 – Tàijí quán)
A slow, flowing martial art practiced for:
- Health & balance
- Mental clarity
- Inner peace and energy flow (qi)
✅ Practiced mostly by elderly people, though all ages can join.
✅ Common in parks, public squares, or temple courtyards.
💃 Square Dancing (广场舞 – Guǎngchǎng wǔ)
A uniquely Chinese phenomenon where middle-aged and older women (“dama”) gather in squares or sidewalks to dance in sync to music.
🎵 Music ranges from traditional Chinese folk to pop remixes and even techno.
🧍Typically done:
- After dinner
- In public plazas, parking lots, or community areas
❤️ Why These Activities Are So Popular:
- Low-cost exercise that promotes community and physical well-being
- A way to socialize and reduce feelings of isolation, especially among retirees
- Seen as a stress reliever in crowded urban life
😅 Cultural Notes:
- Some younger residents find square dancing loud or disruptive, especially when it takes place near residential areas.
- Conflicts over public space occasionally occur—but overall, it’s a deeply respected and ingrained tradition.
🧓 Common Saying:
“活到老，练到老”
“As long as you live, keep exercising.”
💬 “In China’s public parks, health, harmony, and rhythm move together.”
8. Giving and Receiving Things with Both Hands 🤲🎁
In Chinese culture, using both hands to give or receive something—especially gifts, money, or important documents—is a sign of respect, politeness, and humility.
🙌 When It’s Commonly Seen:
- Handing over a business card
- Giving a gift or red envelope (红包 hóngbāo)
- Receiving a certificate, award, or important item
- Serving or accepting tea, especially during formal occasions
🎎 Why It Matters:
Using both hands conveys:
- Gratitude and sincerity
- Recognition of the importance or value of the object
- Respect for the person you’re interacting with (especially if they are older or of higher status)
🧠 Cultural Roots:
This habit stems from:
- Confucian values that emphasize humility, order, and hierarchy
- The belief that small gestures reflect inner character
❌ One-Handed = Rude or Careless
- Receiving or passing something with one hand, especially casually or carelessly, can come across as disrespectful or even dismissive.
- Especially inappropriate when interacting with elders, superiors, or during formal events.
🧧 Red Envelopes Example:
During Lunar New Year or weddings:
- Elders give red envelopes using both hands.
- The recipient accepts with both hands, often followed by a deep thank you and a bow or polite phrase like:
- “谢谢您！” (Xièxiè nín – Thank you, respectfully)
📌 Pro Tip for Visitors:
If you’re doing business or attending cultural events in China:
- Always use both hands to give or accept anything important.
- It shows that you’re thoughtful and culturally aware.
💬 “With both hands, we give not just the gift—but also our sincerity.”
9. Avoiding the Number 4, Loving the Number 8 ❌4 ✅8
In Chinese culture, numbers carry deep symbolic meanings, and two stand out for opposite reasons:
- 4 (四 – sì) is feared
- 8 (八 – bā) is loved
❌ Why the Number 4 is Considered Unlucky:
- The word for “4” (四 – sì) sounds nearly identical to “death” (死 – sǐ) in Mandarin.
- This phonetic similarity has led to a cultural superstition that associates the number with bad luck or misfortune.
🔻 Real-World Examples:
- Many buildings skip the 4th floor, similar to how Western hotels avoid floor 13.
- Phone numbers, license plates, and ID numbers with 4s are often considered unlucky and avoided.
- Hospitals and hotels may avoid room numbers like 404 or 414.
✅ Why the Number 8 is Considered Lucky:
- The word for “8” (八 – bā) sounds like “发” (fā), short for “发财” (fācái), which means to get rich or prosper.
- This positive association makes 8 a symbol of wealth, success, and good fortune.
🔺 Real-World Examples:
- People pay extra for phone numbers or license plates with lots of 8s (e.g., 8888).
- Couples may get married on dates with the number 8 (e.g., 8/8 or 8:08 PM).
- The 2008 Beijing Olympics started at exactly 8:08 PM on 8/8/08 for this very reason.
🧠 Cultural Mindset:
- This belief is part of Feng Shui and numerology, influencing business decisions, real estate pricing, and even personal milestones.
- While not everyone is superstitious, many take these numbers seriously, especially in southern China and among the older generations.
💬 “If 4 brings endings, 8 brings endless beginnings.”
10. Celebrating Big Events with Loud Fireworks and Red Envelopes 🎆🧧
In Chinese culture, celebrations are vibrant, loud, and full of symbolism, and two traditions stand out as must-haves during big events like Lunar New Year, weddings, or business openings:
🎇 Loud Fireworks and Firecrackers
- Fireworks and firecrackers are believed to scare away evil spirits and bad luck.
- The louder and more spectacular, the better—signaling joy, prosperity, and a fresh start.
- During Lunar New Year, many families and communities light firecrackers at midnight or early morning to welcome the new year with a bang.
- Some cities have large, official fireworks shows to mark important festivals or milestones.
🧧 Giving Red Envelopes (红包 hóngbāo)
- Red envelopes filled with money symbolize good luck, blessings, and wealth.
- Common occasions include:
- Lunar New Year
- Weddings
- Birthdays
- Baby showers
- Business openings
- The color red itself symbolizes happiness, vitality, and protection.
- The amount of money usually includes lucky numbers (often containing 8s) and avoids unlucky ones (like 4).
🎉 Why These Traditions Matter:
- They reinforce community bonds and good fortune.
- Create a festive atmosphere that honors tradition and cultural identity.
- Help pass on cultural values to younger generations.
💬 “With fire and red paper, we chase away the old and welcome the new“