Are you planning to move from Russia to China? No matter if you are starting this exciting adventure or your own or with your family, learning about the Chinese culture will definitely help you in your integration. Relocating to China isn’t just moving to another country, it’s moving to one of the most populated countries on earth and the third largest one in total area. This vast territory gives room for a huge cultural diversity, to the point that traditions not only vary from region to region but from town to town or –in some cases- even from village to village! Precisely, it’s all these diversity what drives thousands of expats to move to the country – and Russian expats aren’t the exception! Moving from Russia to China will mean a unique new experience in your life, but before the taking-off, have a look at some general local habits and customs – they will help you in your settling-in, promised! Communication style – forget about being direct! Chinese communication style has a tendency to be less direct and to have a strong emphasis on tact and etiquette. Subtlety and politeness are appreciated as opposed to showing your feelings or explicitly disagreeing with opinions. Calm, controlled conduct and respectful diplomacy are usual features in Chinese culture, and you should try to make use of them if you want to integrate into the Chinese society. Where are you in the hierarchy? Don’t forget that your status or hierarchical level within an organization in China will directly influence the communication style, so you should adopt it. It is important to respect higher-ranking individuals, elders and anyone else in a position of authority. Just to give you one typical example: during a dinner, respected individuals should be seated at the head of the table, and they are served first. Making compliments – the Chinese way Chinese prefer to either divert the credit for their accomplishments to factors other than themselves, or state that their accomplishments aren’t worthy of praise. A humble Chinese response to complimentary communications is “Na li Na li,” which translates to “not really,” or “where, where?”. As an expat coming from Russia – like any other expat-, avoid boasting your achievements and take a humble attitude to your successes. Daily life in China – getting used to the differences Transportation If you aren’t friends with public transport, now it's the best time to begin. As all the main cities are densely populated, there isn’t any other way to get around in China, but by public transport. And if you are thinking about driving, remember: it’s a challenging “risk sport” even for the most experienced Chinese drivers. Health When it comes to healthcare, fusions of ancient and modern practices are available, but there aren’t local GP’s. Instead, hospital visits are made to address complaints. There is no expansive state-funded medical system in place in China as we know from other countries. That means a private health insurance can be expensive, and some expats prefer to have an adequate ‘exit strategy’ to seek foreign healthcare if necessary. Are you ready to move from Russia to China? Let us help you. Contact our Russian Crown Relocations team and they will help you prepare for your international move.