Chinese Dining Etiquette: A Guide for Foreign Travelers

Seating Arrangement
In China, seating is taken seriously. Elders, hosts, or people of high status usually sit in the “main seat” facing the door, and guests sit according to rank. In many Western countries, seating is more casual, and there isn’t a strict rule for who sits where.

Ordering & Serving Style
During a Chinese meal, the host or the eldest often orders for everyone. Dishes are placed in the center on a rotating tray, and everyone shares. In the West, people usually order individually, and each person has their own plate.

Tableware
Chopsticks are the main eating tool in China, often paired with a soup spoon. Avoid sticking chopsticks upright in a bowl—it’s considered bad luck because it resembles a funeral ritual. In Western countries, knives, forks, and spoons are standard, and chopsticks are rarely used (except in Asian restaurants).

Sharing Etiquette
When taking food from a communal plate in China, people usually use their own chopsticks (though public serving chopsticks are becoming more common). In the West, shared dishes are served with serving utensils to avoid using personal cutlery.

Pace of Eating
Chinese meals are flexible. Dishes are served one by one, not necessarily in a strict appetizer-main-dessert order, and people eat while chatting. Western meals follow a set sequence—appetizer, main course, then dessert—served round by round at a slower pace.

Toasting & Drinking
Toasts are common at Chinese banquets. When clinking glasses, it’s polite to keep your cup slightly lower than elders or hosts. In the West, people usually just say “cheers,” and frequent round-toasting is rare.

Noise & Atmosphere
Chinese dining is lively—talking loudly and passing dishes frequently shows enthusiasm. Western tables are generally quieter, and interrupting someone while they speak is considered rude.

End of Meal Signals
In China, putting down your chopsticks or leaving a little food on your plate can signal that you are full. In Western cultures, finishing your plate shows you enjoyed the meal, and placing utensils diagonally signals the meal is over.

Special Customs
In China, birthday meals often include longevity noodles, and festive meals include dumplings. Table culture is closely tied to holidays. In the West, birthdays usually feature cake, and holiday meals have fixed dishes, like Christmas turkey.