Shops:

There are varying shop opening and closing times. In the far West where Beijing time doesn’t fit so well with the position of the sun and moon, times are usually 9am or 10am until 7pm or 8pm with no lazy summer afternoon closing period (although many workers have an afternoon kip). In Beijing this is more like 9am until 8pm at countless major high street stores. Many shops do however carry on throughout the evening until late, especially during the summer months. Banks close earlier – around 5pm throughout the country. Arguably, the Chinese are the best at providing a service throughout the day and in some cases the night too. Sellers of many kinds of products plod along if there is good money to be made. Most shops are unable to accept international credit cards, despite some shop windows that proudly display several well-known credit card brands.

Smoking:Although most Chinese women like a man not to smoke, this practice is still quite common. Men happily go about their business with a cigarette hanging from their lips in just about every line of work. In social circles you will more than likely be offered cigarettes – this could be from colleagues in the lift, a complete stranger on a bus, or most likely, at the dinner table (before, during and after courses). It’s no shame or dishonour to decline a smoke should one be offered, but you’ll do much better to accept one as in China someone’s generosity should never be questioned or refused. If you don’t smoke or really prefer not to, the best thing to do is cite health reasons or simply say that you don’t like smoking.