8 things Donald Trump definitely shouldn’t do while in China

Donald Trump will soon arrive in China to continue his marathon tour of Asia, which has so far seen him take in Japan and South Korea.

The US president will attend a series of events and meet with Chinese president Xi Jinping.

Travelling somewhere so new and different can be difficult, and in China especially there’s a lot to remember in order to avoid causing offence. So here are a few tips:

1. Don’t boast

Humility, especially in the face of compliments, is a big thing in China.

When complimented it would be considered inappropriate to accept it. The correct response would be to instead deny the compliment categorically, even going as far as to assert that the opposite might be true. So if someone says your coat is nice, you might insist that it’s actually really ugly.

Trump isn’t a world leader known for his modesty, instead preferring to boast quite a lot about his achievements. In China, that may not be received so warmly.

2. Don’t wear a green hat

Wearing a green hat in China suggests that a man’s wife or girlfriend has been unfaithful to him.

One explanation for this is that the phrase “wearing a green hat” sounds a lot like the word for cuckold – while another theory is that the families of prostitutes were made to wear green hats during the Yuan Dynasty.

There are actually a lot of stories about how this cultural tradition may have formed, but the important thing for Trump to remember if he doesn’t want to embarrass himself is: stick to the red hat.

3. Don’t call anyone by their first name

So if someone is introduced to Trump as Li Wei, for example, it would be correct to refer to him as Mr Li from then on.

4. Don’t forget to bring gifts

This is one that Trump’s team will presumably have covered, but it’s worth Trump remembering the rule about compliments when he hands a gift over. It’s definitely not a done thing to brag about the gift you brought, and any compliments received for it should probably be refused.

5. Don’t slip up with the chopsticks

But the most important thing to remember while eating with chopsticks in China, much like in Japan, is to not leave the implements sticking vertically out of a bowl.

Burning incense is part of tradition at funerals, and pointed chopsticks can remind people of that. This one’s definitely a big no.

6. Likewise, don’t mention death

Death is an ominous and touchy subject everywhere, but particularly in China, and even talking about people who’ve died should probably be off the cards.

Political issues can also be an area best left alone for visitors to the country but, in Trump’s shoes, that one’s a little more difficult to sidestep.

7. Avoid touching people

Given that Trump is a self-confessed germaphobe, this will probably be an easy one to remember.

8. Don’t embarrass anyone

Whether it’s contradicting someone in front of other people, pointing out a mistake, or getting angry at someone – these are all things that could cause someone a great deal of embarrassment and could provoke an ugly reaction.

There are definitely a few other things Trump would do best to avoid, but stick to these and he should be okay.