Chinese Drinking Culture
By shirly on 2016-03-22

After coming to China, you may have been invited to several feasts or parties. There must be inevitable drinking with hosts or guests. Then there is no doubt that you found that the drinking culture of China is different from your own country. Yes, that's right, during thousands years of drinking, we Chinese have developed our own customs of drinking. And it is unique in the world.

In China, drinking is not a way to relax or enjoy one's self, but a way to communicating, to express respect or show gratitude. It has developed into a social symbol of Chinese society. And drinking culture is really a deep knowledge in China. 

Since ancient time, there is idioms about drinking wine, like "removing from military position by means of cups of wines", "A thousand cups of wineare not too many when drinking with close friends" and so on. Drinking wine, instead of being just personal behavior, has become a way to negotiating, communicating and congratulating. 

Nowadays, the drinking culture in China has some notice that distinguishes it from that in other countries. 

When drinking, the host should toast to every guests that come. But one point should be kept in mind ---- be sure to lower your glass when clinking it with others. Please do remember that if other people also lower the glass, you should lower it more. This is a way to show respect to others and now it seems that is has become a competition to lower your glass. Second, it is also a should-be-remembered gist that you drink all the wine up in your glass. If you don't finish it, you will be regarded to be impolite.

On Chinese wine table, people tend to be noisy and boisterous. The louder your voice is, the happier other people will be. People think that it is a time for everyone gethering and a lively atmosphere is preferred. If you sit there quietly and drink your wine alone, people will think that you are unhappy and feel uncomfortable.

So next time when go to Chinese feast or party, keep in mind what I said, you will be the most hit one and shining star on the party!