Nanjing culture advice please!

[AGlinnerOfHope]

Help Me out, please! I need to make a good impression on a young woman from Nanjing. Are there any dos and don’ts? I want her to feel relaxed and comfortable, and ideally like me 😅

I know different cultures have particular things to avoid or to make sure you do, and wondered whether anyone has insight for a middle aged woman in England!

I know her English is excellent and she prefers to use chopsticks. We have some hobbies in common.

I’d just rather not smother her or scare her off! Any tips? Anything I may inadvertently do that’s really off putting? 😬

I'm not from the mainland, so I could get this wrong.

Don't hug her unless she starts it first. Chinese keeps their personal distance more than British. Start with a hand shake and big smile.

Chinese takes off their shoes at the door when we enter homes. Wearing shoes indoors is considered unhygenic. Many people have guest slippers but I don't think she'll expect this.

Chinese also prefers cooked food over raw, except when it's sushi and sashimi. If you can, offer a cooked lunch instead of sandwiches.

@HalloweenVibethat’s amazing, thank you! We are a slippers kind of family so that should be ok. Cooked food will be easy as well.
And the hugging advice is helpful- I’m not a big hugger but it helps to know I won’t look stand offish!
Are bare feet in slippers an issue? Will she be horrified by DH’s white hairy toes?

I think bare foot in slippers is ok. I go barefoot or socks in my parents home as I'm not a fan of slippers. They aren't offended I hope! I can't remember if my parents wear socks.

Also, Chinese takeaways are generally not good in the UK. I wouldn't eat anything from them. The exception is if you are in an area with a lot of Chinese and you know where they go to eat. If she's an adventurous eater, then British food is fine.

If you are taking her to do some sight seeing, then the very European things will impress. I find my family loves the old English villages, the pubs, the cathedrals.

As an example, I’m in the South. They love London, Winchester, the Cotswold villages and Stratford upon Avon.

Thank you!