English

7. Hang out and you’ll meet new people

By hanging out at a bar or other place where people are gathered, you can meet new people. Sometimes Chinese can be shy, especially towards foreigners so it may be best if you approach Chinese. Chinese are very friendly so once the ice is broken (and assuming communication is not an issue), it should be easy to have a conversation.

8. Being Humble and Respectful

So many people come to China with formed assumptions and ideas about the Chinese people, the government, and China itself as a whole. You will be surprised to find out how some of your assumptions are wrong. While others might be right, just remember to try and be open-minded, be willing to be challenged about some of your assumptions and try as much as you can to avoid certain topics most especially politics.

Chinese people are quite appreciative when they realize that you are interested in their country, language, and culture, and show great humility when you present your ideas. When you’ve finally built a relationship with someone, they will want to know with all honesty what you think about so many issues including controversial ones. In such a scenario, try to be very respectful to avoid falling out with your friend.

9. Make Chinese Friends Online

If you are looking for Chinese pen pals online, the following sites might just be very useful.

Sina Weibo

This is China’s answer to twitter and it’s full of quite random stuff but as long as you enjoy the jokes and surprises, this is the best place to start looking.

Facebook was banned in 2009 in China following riots that were believed to be organized by the social media platform. Some Chinese, especially Chinese who have lived abroad are on Facebook through the use of a VPN.

Making friends in China is just one step towards having one of the best experiences you can ever think of while in China. Chinese friends will make you feel like part of a community; they will assimilate you into their culture, teach you about their foods, games and their way of having fun. Making friends is not one of the fastest things you can ever do since it requires patience, being able to understand them, sincerity and getting interested in their way of life. It can be challenging but with an open heart and mind, you can have friends who are culturally different from you.