What are appropriate "small" gifts to give hosts when traveling to China?

It's a business trip, and I've been told most of the people I'll be meeting with will have small gifts for me and it's appropriate to give something in return. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated--especially from someone familiar with Chinese customs. Thanks!

What are appropriate "small" gifts to give hosts when traveling to China?
Nice retractable/refillable pens are available in all price ranges from around $5 to $85...to "sky's the limit" price. There are many sleek and elegant looking pens (or pen and pencil sets) that are very reasonably priced. It makes for a very businesslike gift and I think will be appreciated.





If your visit is related to architecture, drafting or engineering, you may consider refillable mechanical pencils. Some of the beautiful ones are even sold by the dozen. Give a pencil with a cartridge or two of refills (depending on your budget).





Visit your local office supply store and view what they have in their display cases. You might find something that sits well with you. Something practical and not readily available/affordable in the area you are visiting is a nice choice. Perhaps something durable and decidedly "made in America."





Here are a couple of examples (you may want to classify your gifts according to the person's position within the organization):


http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/70...


http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/51...





Business card holder:


http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/22...





Most of all, be gracious and down-to-earth. In Asia, the business setting is still a bit reserved than what we're used to here. The boss IS still the boss and does not buddy up with the regular employees. If you're a boss, ease them into your personality. Get a feel for your situation and I think you'll figure out how to be.





Good luck and have fun, too. Hopefully you will have time to enjoy the marvelous natural landscape of China. Do not miss out on the local cuisine.
Reply:Something British would be nice. Perhaps some shortbread or British cookies- anything, custard creams, jammie dodgers, chocolate or even specialised ones. Chinese love to eat as I am chinese. They don't skimp on that. Coffee is always a good present as it is still something new to their country as they have always been tea drinkers. I went to China last year and was told to buy them coffee. I think the boxes of cappucino would be nice. And I think cheese if you can get it over is also a very rare thing.. they have horrible cheese like processed stuff..


While you are there, you must try their Dim Sum. They were so generous with their food last time I went, I was fed 30 courses lunches and dinners which must have costs them hundreds as RMP but they were determined that I try their food. They told me that I will not find them in any restaurants back in the UK these Shanghainese and See Chao Dishes.


Hope this will be helpful.


Enjoy the adventure.
Reply:Take something from your company with you logo on it - t-shirts - pens - water bottles.


When my niece adopted over there, she took toys for the orphanages. I suppose anything would be appreciated. she said the ladies running the orphanages were ecstatic over the new toys.
Reply:Bring gifts that represent you're culture or country of origin. For example I reside in the United States of America (God bless us). I would bring something Native American. Stuffed Bald Eagles!!! Just Joking. Something that says "my country" when you see it, other than your Flag. Good luck!
Reply:Lead with yourself; they will buy you before they buy what you have to sell.





Take a number of designs of business card with your name in English for the journey and Day-1.





Use the Trade Attache at the Embassy for guidance about business culture and translation of Sales and Marketing material into Mandarin, Cantonese, business cards, and any other area you are going to do business in. Check whether it would be appropriate to get a locally made suit once you are there, to fit into Chinese business culture. British business dress sticks out like a sore thumb elsewhere in continental Europe, so things like cut, colour, and material could make a real difference. Spin it as beginning to develop an empathy and affection for Chinese culture, workmanship, design, and a general enthusiasm for things Chinese.





Take a large number of small delicately gift-wrapped objects specific to the area you are from, or where your company is from. The personal relationship phase is different to the company relationship phase. Small expensive ceramic items such as cameos, or something for which you have a passion would be appropriate. Gifts are semaphor; they carry whatever message you give them. As you give it, give the back story which communicates your passion, enthusiasm, personal warmth, and emphasise the relationship you are building.





Next, comes the company relationship building phase. Do not take corporate logo-ed merchandaising tat. Take the stuff you give to CEOs you like. It should be the best stuff you can get e.g. Wifi signal detector cuff-links, high voilume Memory sticks, etc. Raid thinkgeek.com. The Chinese are highly family-oriented, so toys that could be passed on to a child may open doors. Obviously, whenever anyone opens their mouth, they are giving you a list of buttons for you to press - if your client mentions their children, get toys FedExed to your Hotel for the next day. You are sending semaphore about how eager and creative you are to meet their needs.





Whoever is paying for your trip will need to understand the Chinese way of doing business; i.e. exchange pleasantries, before exchanging personal gifts, before spending time building rapport, before warming them to your company, to get your relationship to a point where you can discuss holding negotiations, about talks about business.





Unless you enjoy building relationships, stay at home.





Unless you understand that, culturally, what would be understood as a bribe in British business culture is a part of the process in Chinese business culture, stay at home.





Unless you understand that the Chinese have had some considerable success doing business their way, over 5000 years of recorded history, stay at home.





Unless you understand that the way you govern a society of 1.3 billion differs from a society of 60 million, and you have left your judgemental opinions at home, stay at home.





Your expectations will be blown away. Enjoy it.
Reply:Some native products.