Page:A Pocket Guide to China (1943).pdf/14

 anyone's feelings and they will appreciate consideration of their own feelings. This is sometimes called "face," which simply means self-respect. There is about as much of it in one country as another, but the Chinese pay more attention to preserving it than we do. They do not criticize each other as frankly as we do, and there are certain rules of courtesy, particularly to the old, from the young. Old peo­ple in China are highly respected, even revered, and their advice valued. Lack of respect to the old is therefore a sign of bad manners.

Don't worry about "face" and complicated courtesy. Simply be an American, in the best sense. The Chinese don’t expect you to know all their ways of polite behav­iour. They will not think less of you if you break a rule or two if they are convinced you wish to respect them and to be friendly with them.

YOUR first impression will depend upon where you ar­rive. The Chinese people vary widely. In the north the people are tall and handsome. In mid-China they are of average height and in the south they are short and stocky.

During your tour of duty you will see cities, towns, and countryside. Chinese cities are of two kinds, those which have been modernized and those which remain as they 9