Cultural Differences in Gift-Giving Practices: West vs. China

Gift-giving is a universally practiced behavior in human society, which is not only a matter of etiquette, but also a means of cultural transmission and communication. However, there are significant differences between the gift-giving practices in the West and in China. In the following, I will introduce the cultural differences between Chinese and Western gift-giving practices, from the perspectives of cultural origin, religious beliefs, mainstream values, and customs and habits.