As an ocean port where ships from around the world have docked
for centuries, Shanghai has always had more of a link to Western
culture than most Chinese cities.
Now its residents seem to be showing enthusiasm to learn more
about Western etiquette even as they share Chinese social customs
with the expatriate community.
The latest of such moves to promote such exchange was an
etiquette competition involving both local and expat families,
which closed on February 9.
The competition will be converted into a TV program soon,
according to organizers of the competition.
Hu Min (center) and her
family take part in the finals of an etiquette competition. Many
families took part in the final showdown, including one of Indian
origin and another of Russian origin. Preliminary competitions
began in February last year, when people in Shanghai listed
etiquette as an important quality for residents.
"The 100 families in the competition each have very touching
stories, which even affected our creative team from time to time,"
said Zhang Xuechun, the program's producer.
Seven expatriate families participated in the competition and
showed their countries' traditions and customs in front of the
cameras.
Zhang said politeness is an international passport, and the
families are excellent models for Shanghai residents who want to
become ladies and gentlemen.
"One of the 100 families involves a cross-cultural marriage
family," Zhang said. "The husband, an overseas Chinese surnamed
Yang, and his wife, a fair blonde, live in Shanghai. The wife
always treats Yang and his family with New Shanghai etiquette."
Zhang explained that on the show the wife buys gifts for the
children and the parents in the family, and she sends gifts in a
happily surprising way.
This could be considered a Shanghai way of politeness, neither
typically Western nor Eastern.
Yang Yulin, the government official charged with promoting
etiquette in Shanghai, noted that the competition was only one
phenomenon reflecting the increasing enthusiasm of city residents
to learn more international etiquette.
Many training organizations, either government-run or privately
run, have opened etiquette training courses to meet the huge
demand.
A trainer surnamed Fang said that with more communication
between Shanghai and foreign countries, local residents are eager
to show their best side to their foreign friends.
A senior at a university in Shanghai, surnamed Shen, noted that
she is undergoing the training for a better career path.
"A woman who doesn't know how to use dinnerware gracefully will
not get a decent job," Shen said.
(China Daily February 28, 2007)
