Good Things About the Chinese Culture
- Long-term, multifaceted holidays remain an important part of the Chinese culture. The Chinese New Year celebrations go on for nearly half of a month. Festivities include special decorations, fireworks, dances, gifts and feasts. China also celebrates the May Day holiday as well as the Qinming and Dragon Boat festivals during the spring. These holidays provide good opportunities to recognize and honor ancient Chinese traditions.
- Chinese culture places importance on educational achievement and reading. Despite the country's large population and poverty in some areas, the literacy rate in China has reached 93 percent, according to the U.S. State Department. The Chinese see education as critical to attaining success in life, although it's debatable whether the pressure created by it is good or not. Chinese writings go back over 3,000 years, according to the Encarta Encyclopedia. Confucius, a famous philosopher, authored some of the nation's earliest books.
- As with some of the other Asian countries, Chinese culture promotes a reserved, polite style of interaction between individuals. Chinese people strongly reject arrogance, public confrontation and disrespect, according to the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce. Relationships and reciprocal action hold importance when conducting business in China. These aspects of Chinese culture sometimes create confusion for people other parts of the world, but the friendly mode of interaction aims to avoid conflict and criticism.
- The popularity of Chinese food has led Chinese restaurants to spread throughout the world, perhaps making it the most well-known part of China's culture. Most towns of any size in the United States offer a restaurant of this type. Some food manufacturers have incorporated such foods into various frozen and instant meals. Encarta Encyclopedia terms it one of the three "Great Cuisines" of the world, alongside French and Italian food.