No one can predict what will happen during the operation of a business, so crisis preparation is quite important. Chinese business professionals use many of the same techniques Westerners do, such as hiring consultants or experts, but another common method is building guanxi by gift giving. Giving gifts to the right people can help solve, or even avoid any crisis.

There are many myths about China and how things work there, mostly misleading. Some exaggerate the negative aspects, while others do the opposite. One of the most prevalent myths, and one of the easiest ones to mistakenly believe, is that China is Westernizing. Foreigners usually go to Beijing or Shanghai and see the impressive skylines, the modern cars, luxury hotels and so on, then return home and tell our friends that China is becoming like New York or London. The truth is more complicated.

Chinese food has a real international presence. Not many other countries boast restaurants with their national food across every continent, from Aberdeen to Ulan Bator. All the same, a trip to a Chinese restaurant that is actually in China has quite a unique etiquette, which even those who have been to several Chinese restaurants in their home country might not be familiar with.