Business cards and credit cards.

The Chinese see a business card, especially one with their name on it, as very important, To show you how important it is, they will give it to you by handing it with both hands extended. Now, this is probably not something we would notice in the West, but it is to be taken notice of in China. You see, anything of importance is always given two-handed.

When you received the card, it is important that you follow certain rules, and not cause offense. Ensure that when you receive the business card, that you firstly receive it with both hands. This is really important, do not immediately put it away but read it and keep it with you. If you are sitting at a desk or at a dining table it is more than acceptable to place it on the table, but never put it away in your purse or wallet. The time to put it away is when you have left the person.

This may sound like a very little thing to us in the West, but it is very important for the Chinese, as they are giving you a symbol of themselves. They want to be treated with care and courtesy, especially if you will meet them again. They want to treat you with respect, and be their honored guest as you stay at the hotel they manage or own or want to do business with them.

In the West, a business card may not be very useful but as you travel around China you will find you can't be without them. Just imagine you have found an interesting part of the town or city that you are staying in. You spend hours wandering around, and then you realize you have a problem, how do you get back to where you are staying especially if you do not know any Chinese (Mandarin on the mainland, Cantonese in some areas)? The answer is easy. Before you head off on your adventures, you find a store, hotel or restaurant and ask them to give you their name card. These cards will have the name and address in both Chinese and English, with a small message, please bring my guest to. You can then give this to any taxi driver and he will be able to drive you back to the place you want to go, or close to where you are staying. The business cards will be a landmark for you when you get lost, and have no idea which will to go.

In a hotel, before you set foot outside the door always make sure you have the business card of the hotel. Then if you get lost and cannot find your way back you can get into a taxi and get them to take you there. I know that many hotels in the main cities will have a street map of the center of the city available but that may be miles from where you are staying. Remember, Beijing has about 8 ring roads all further and further from Tiananmen Square (the center).

Credit cards are not yet popular in most of China. Hotels do take them but often major department stores will only take a credit or debit card issued by the bank they use. When you find somewhere that takes your credit card you will find that the person processing your card will be received in both hands, give it with both hards (it shows you value it) and the same when you receive it back. The same is true when you hand over cash at a store or restaurant. Always use two hands when giving something that is important.