Doing Business in China For Dummies®

Enjoying a Chinese Banquet

The Chinese people have a long tradition of putting on elaborate banquets. Banquets usually celebrate holidays, weddings, special occasions, and business dealings. They’re a great way to get to know your Chinese friends in a casual and relaxed setting. Most importantly, they’re a fun evening for everybody, so relax and enjoy.

Usually, the Chinese first host a banquet in your honor. It’s customary for the visiting foreigners to reciprocate with a return banquet if your travel schedule allows. See the “Returning the favor: Hosting a banquet” section later for planning advice.

Knowing what to expect

Knowing how a Chinese banquet works shows your Chinese host that you know a little bit about Chinese tradition and etiquette.

Take mental notes about the protocol that takes place during the evening so you can be better prepared to play the role of host at the return banquet.

Arriving at the restaurant

Chinese banquets are generally held in private rooms at popular restaurants known for their good atmosphere, food, and service. Often, the host chooses one of his or her favorite restaurants where he or she knows the management and staff.

Although Chinese banquets can take place at lunchtime, most start in the early evening and last for two or so hours. The Chinese generally take their meals earlier than many Westerners do — expect that a banquet in the evening ...