Working hours
The regular working time generally is from Monday to Friday, with Saturday and Sunday off. The Chinese people usually work between 08:00 and 18:00 each day, with a lunch break from 12:00 to 14:00. However they are also known to work longer hours.
Climate
September, praised as a golden month in Beijing, is cool, clear and brisk. The average high-temperature is 25.8°C (78.4°F), and the average low-temperature is 14.8°C (58.6°F).
Good Manners
Greetings:
Do greet others by using a handshake or a nod.
Do address seniority by an honorific title,
Do address the eldest or most senior person first.
Table Manners:
Do join in on toasts.
Do sample all dishes at banquets or formal occasions. It’s considered polite, and at the end of the meal be sure to leave a little on the plate to honor your host’s generosity.
Do tap the table when someone refills your tea. The gesture of using two fingers to tap the dining table is used to show thanks toward whoever refilled your tea.
Don’t put bones, seeds or other inedibles into in your rice bowl. Use a tissue or your hand to place them in the small plate provided — or observe how others deal with them.
Don’t tap your chopsticks. Tapping your bowl or the table with your chopsticks is considered rude and impolite.
Don’t use your own chopsticks to pick food from the central dishes. This is typically considered unhygienic. Use the serving spoons or serving chopsticks provided.
Giving and recieving gifts:
Do Present and receive things with both hands.
Do refuse a gift a number of times before accepting it. Politely refusing a gift before accepting it is the norm in Chinese culture, so don’t be discouraged when someone initially refuses your gift.
Do gift small items like books, music CDs, perfumes, cigarettes and candies from your home country (or a well-known Chinese brand). These are always appreciated and are always well received.
Alcohol
The legal age is 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol.
Language
The official dialect of China is Mandarin, also call "Putonghua". More than 70% of the Chinese population speaks Mandarin, but there are also several other major dialects in use in China.
Basic Mandarin Chinese words and phrases
Hello: Nǐhǎo (Nee how)
Thank you: Xièxiè (Shieh-shieh)
You're welcome: Bù kèqì (Boo kuh-chi)
Good morning: Zǎo (Zhow)
Goodnight: Wǎn'ān (One-un)
My name is: Wǒ jiào (Wuh jeow)