Page:A Pocket Guide to China (1943).pdf/46

 Discourage anyone who acts as though the Chinese are queer. They are not queer. After all, there are more peo­ple in the world eating Chinese food and wearing Chinese clothes than there are Americans eating Amer­ican food and wearing American clothes. They live their way and we live ours. If you respect them, they will respect you.

Realize in advance that the Chinese, friendly and spon­taneous and natural as they are, have a few special likes and dislikes. They do not like to be touched. They don't like to be slapped on the back, or even to shake hands, although some of the modern ones have learned this form of salutation. So don't put your hands on anybody, in fun or fury or affection, until you know the person very well indeed.

The Chinese like reserve with their women and gen­tleness with their children.

Try not to lose your temper. You will see plenty of Chinese lose theirs, but they are looked upon and look on themselves as lower class when they do so.

In a shop, it is better not to touch goods you do not intend to buy.

Unless you are very sure of your crowd, better not try to take pictures. In many parts of China there is a superstition that a photograph magically removes a person's 42