By: Charles Qin

Charles Qin — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 01:52:37 +0000

For Chinese returning to the ‘motherland’ on visits to friends and family, there is big pressure to return with expensive gifts for everyone! Not to mention on your luggage. With so much ‘made in China’ it takes some careful planning to find products that should please or careful removal of offending labels.
In terms of appropriate gifts – we always take good Australian red wines – but there is only so much you are allowed to take in. Wrapping is important too – choose a good colour like red to wrap your gifts. Don’t expect the receiver to unwrap them in front of you though, and be prepared for a refusal – keep insisting – it is a face and etiquette driven ritual and they will eventually accept!
A collection of Australiana is also good – souvenirs like koalas, kangaroos (all made in China) are good for kids – so take a pile of these too.
Expect to be given a pile of stuff to fill that space in your luggage – beautifully wrapped and presented Chinese local produce and handicrafts – probably including food, which, most likely, won’t be permitted back to Australia. Chinese are masters at hospitality – you can try to refuse the gifts too – as etiquette demands – good luck!

Comments on: Gift Giving – many of our translation clients ask us – what to give their Chinese counterparts

By: Charles Qin