China

Most teenagers in China focus heavily on school and studying. In their free time, Chinese teenagers get together at friends’ homes, go to movies, dance, watch television, or play sports like soccer, basketball, and ping-pong. Parents are usually very involved in students’ lives and Chinese teenagers seldom date, preferring to socialize with their classmates in single-sex groups. Most middle schools and high schools have clear rules against romantic relations between students.

The moral values of Chinese society are different from those of Western countries. Children have less independence and freedom. Parents and educators very protective. High school students are considered children.

Chinese New Year/Spring Festival: Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese lunar calendar. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar, which should be some day between January and March of the Gregorian calendar. Chinese New Year’s Eve is known as chúxī, which literally means “Year-pass Eve.” The other important day during the Chinese New Year is the Lantern Festival, which is on the 15th day. Traditionally, it is considered to be the end of the Spring Festival

Qing Ming/Tomb Sweeping Day – April 5: Qing Ming is a time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenery of springtime and tend to the graves of their deceased loved ones.

Dragon Boat Festival/Duanwu Festival: The festival occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Three of the most widespread activities for the Duanwu Festival are eating zongzi, an angular rice ball wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves, drinking realgar wine, and racing dragon boats.

National Day – October 1: This holiday is considered to be a “golden week” in China. Many families will go for a short trip or pay visits to relatives.

Mid-Autumn Day: The Mid-Autumn Festival is a popular harvest festival as well as a holiday for family and friends to get together. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, which is usually around late September or early October in the Gregorian calendar.

Chinese people tend to have a more indirect communication style. For instance, many people find saying “no” challenging, because this is considered embarrassing to both parties and a “loss of face.” It is important for Chinese people to keep high status in front of others or to “save face.” Chinese people usually praise and show respect to others and avoid being inappropriate or shamed. In this way, people seldom point out one’s shortcomings or mistakes in person.

Chinese people tend to avoid conflict to maintain harmony, so it can be difficult to ascertain their real thoughts and feelings. Chinese non-verbal communication, such as facial expression, tone of voice, and posture can be helpful indicators of one’s truest intentions.