Chinese Gift-Giving Etiquette

Chinese people believe that returning favors and kindness is a good deed and manner . Whenever someone receives a present, treat or invitation from a friend, they will try to offer one back on a suitable occasion. This customary reciprocity is considered necessary to build friendship between people.

General Gift Giving Tips
1. Give gifts to people you visit, as a way to thank them for inviting you.
2. When giving a "visiting" gift, find something the whole family can use. For example, give food or tea. Or, give something that is important in your home country or community. For example, you might give wild rice from Minnesota or a framed photo of your family.
3. In China, tradition dictates that the recipient not appear greedy. Therefore, he or she will often decline a gift two or three times before accepting. If you’re the giver, offer again until it is accepted after the third time.
4. Don't be offended if the person does not open the gift in front of you. Chinese people do not usually open a gift in front of the giver. It might embarrass them. They will open it later, then call or write to thank the person for the gift.
5. Wrap the gift well. Do not leave the gift in the store's bag. Use colored ribbons to wrap a gift using these colors:
Red for general and happy occasions
Black and white for funerals
Gold and silver for wedding gifts

Business Gifts1. Show sensitivity to people's status. Give the same type of gift to people at the same level. Or present a gift to a company or organization instead of one person. Giving a gift only to an individual is not acceptable unless it is being given in private as a gesture of friendship.
2. Be sure the value of the gift is not extravagant.
3. If negotiations are involved, gifts should be presented once they are finished.

Receiving Gifts1. Gifts should be received with both hands when presented to you.
2. Chinese people who have had contact with Westerners might expect you to follow the western custom of opening the gift in front of the giver. To avoid confusion, you can always ask, "Would you like me to open this now?"
3. Call or send a thank-you note. And, if possible, offer a gift back on a suitable occasion.

Factoids:If you're giving a pen, or signing a card, stay away from red ink. That is a symbol of severing ties. Clocks can symbolize death, and food can connote poverty.
The number 8 is considered lucky, so giving or receiving 8 items is a good thing. Just avoid the number four, which in Cantonese, is a lot like the word for death.