Three Strange Habits of Chinese | Spitting, Hand Clapping and Split Pants

We had the opportunity to travel all over the Asian region and have a chance to see different manners of doing things. While living in China, I have observed a lot about the Chinese and their manner of doing some specific things. 

In China, I have encountered certain customs and ways that I have never come across somewhere else. There are three Chinese particularities be obvious: Splitting, Hand clapping, and Split Pants.

Spitting

This Chinese habit maybe seems very peculiar. Chinese people especially the older age group doesn’t use a tissue to blow their nose. Instead of using tissue, they spit the mess out with a big loud snuffle sound. 

This can be done everywhere. While walking on the road you may find the spit lands right ahead of your feet. This looks very ugly for Westerners. At home, the stuff normally spits out into a trash can. 

However, many Chinese younger people use a tissue to blow their nose. After using the tissue they don’t get a used tissue back in the pocket. Instead, they cut tissue into two or three strips and use each once and throw it in the trashcan.

Hand clapping

This is another surprising Chinese habit. In China, while walking, people usually clap hands loudly. It is a popular Chinese exercise, and you may wake up to this clapping sound in the morning. 

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the palms of the hands have several pressure points that get stimulated with clapping. Clapping hands is also a good exercise for arms. 

You may see people clapping their hands with walking backward activity. Walking backward is another curious exercise that stimulates the back muscles and builds up many body muscles as compared to walking forward.

Tree hitting is another form of hand clapping. It is an activity of self-massage. You may see an older man hitting a tree to relax and getting a massage. 

Split pants

Split pant is another interesting custom between Chinese people. Split pants are worn out by junior children and are totally open in the center to make sure an adult hold the toddler to pee and poop at any time and any place needed.

I have seen this on the street side, in the center of the sidewalk, next to a flower or tree bed, over a trash can in a shopping mall, over on of a park bench, even in the subway, where children usually pee.

Chinese children usually wore split pants all year round. So, you may see a small boy sitting in the children's seat of the shopping cart with his small privates sticking out of the split pant. In the winters, the pants cut-outs are small. However, it is bigger in the summer season. Maybe it is for faster drying and more air circulation.

Many other customs could be surprising for Westerners, like the Chinese man carrying his women’s bag, people crouching instead of sitting, etc. Several customs can be seen in different Asian countries.