Fresh from diverse sources on the web:
In a series of essays, the state news agency offers a list of good manners and behaviors for the Chinese people. According to Xinhua:
奥运将临，无数中国人怀着兴奋的心情期 待 着这一盛会，都希望能为奥运出一份力, 为国争一份光。可是，一些国人的不文明 行为，实在令人担忧。新华网评选取十种 比 较典型的社会现象，进行点评。希望每 一 个中国人都能成为文明的奥运东道主，让 奥运带来中华文明的新高度。
Here’s a translation:
The Olympics are coming. Countless Chinese people are waiting with eagerness and excitement for this grand gathering. Everyone hopes to contribute to the Olympic effort and help China win glory. However, there are some uncivilized behaviors of Chinese people that are real causes for concern. We have selected 10 typical phenomena to comment on. Let’s hope that every Chinese can become a civilized host, and the Olympics will elevate Chinese civilization to a new height.
The list, in headlines, reads as follows:
- 十议奥运礼仪之一：朋友，国旗可不是坐 垫
- (One: Friends, National Flag Is Not a Seat Cushion)
- 十议奥运礼仪之二：大声说话的毛病要改 一 改
- (Two: The Bad Habit of Speaking Loudly Should Be Corrected)
- 十议奥运礼仪之三：下课声、口哨声不是 奥 运之声
- (Three: Unruly Noises Are Not Olympic Sounds)
- 十议奥运礼仪之四：比赛结束垃圾成堆, 不 是 中国特色
- (Four: Garbage Pileup After Sport Event, Not a Chinese Strong Point)
- 十议奥运礼仪之五：做文明人排个队有多 难？
- (Five: How Hard Is It to Stand in Line in a Civilized Way?)
- 十议奥运礼仪之六：温饱有余，陋习何存
- (Six: When There’s More Than Adequate Food and Clothing, How Could Bad Habits Still Persist)
- 十议奥运礼仪之七：做一个热情谦让的中 国 人
- (Seven: Be an Enthusiastic and Polite Chinese)
- 十议奥运礼仪之八：奥运来了，网络不要 “ⅩⅩⅩ”
- (Eight: Olympics Are Coming, Don’t Pollute the Internet)
- 十议奥运礼仪之九：现场看比赛要 “懂规 矩”
- (Nine: When Watching Sport Event, Behave Well)
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- Smile When Communicating with Foreigners
A Smile is Beijing’s Best Business Card — A Smile is the Whole World’s Propriety
- “Eight Don’t-Asks” When Chatting with Foreign Guests
Rules for Interacting with Foreigners
Don’t ask about income or expenses; Don’t ask about age; Don’t ask about love life or marriage; Don’t ask about health; Don’t ask about someone’s home or address; Don’t ask about personal experience; Don’t ask about religious beliefs or political views; Don’t ask what someone does.
- General Rules for Etiquette with Foreigners
One’s manners and bearing, and image should be graceful; Be neither humble nor haughty, but at ease and self possessed; Seek commonalities while reserving differences, have reason and integrity;
Adapt to others’ customs, respect ethical code; Abide by agreements, adhere to promises; Be enthusiastic in moderation, differentiate between insiders and outsiders; Be appropriately modest, be affirmed in yourself; Do not ask private questions, respect others’ customs; Ladies first, be gentlemanly; Seat honored guests on the right, and get along harmoniously.
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Don't say bad things to handicapped people!
Etiquette for Interacting with Handicapped Athletes
You should use polite and standard forms of address for handicapped athletes.
Try to keep as light as you can with handicapped overtones.
Pay attention to how you congratulate handicapped athletes.
Pay attention to avoiding taboo subjects, quit using bad platitudes, and do not use insulting or discriminatory contemptuous or derogatory terms to address the disabled. Say things such as, “You are amazing,” or “You are really great.” When chatting with the visually impaired, do not say things like “It’s up ahead,” or “It’s over there.” When chatting with athletes who are paraplegic in their upper body, do not say things like “It’s behind you.”
Lastly, there was one rule on a poster about proper behavior for commuters and pedestrians that seemed a bit odd:
When men and women are walking together, men should generally walk on the outside, and the person carrying things should normally walk on the right. Men should help women carry things, but must not help women carry their handbags. When three people are walking side-by-side, elderly should walk in the middle. Where there are many cars around, men should walk on the side of the sidewalk closer to the street. When four people are walking together, it is best to walk two-by-two..
