Chinese too classless to dress themselves, officials say

I’m supposed to be on a brief holiday in Hangzhou, but couldn’t resist posting about this AP article: Beijingers get dress code advice for Olympics.

One of the things that has always bothered me about China is the way that “officials” treat the public like children. Now certainly, anyone that has been in China for more than 30 seconds realizes that the public doesn’t go a long way to dispel a need for this sort of overseeing, but I rather strongly believe that when you treat someone like a child then you simply encourage them to act like a child.

I also understand that the upper-class and growing middle-class of Beijing (and China at large) lay awake nights worrying that their foreign counterparts are going to come to their country and believe that ALL of China, and all Chinese, have the civility and manners of the sweet potato hawker (in all ways) on the corner.

But for a country so sensitive about its pride and its face, what does it do to the psyche of a nation knowing that the rest of the world is reading it had the need to create an Office of Capital Spiritual Civilization Construction Commission because the citizens aren’t “civilized” enough to dress themselves?

BEIJING – Polishing up Beijing for the Olympics has extended to telling residents what not wear, with the city government advising against too many colors, white socks with black shoes, and parading in pajamas.

The advice, on top of campaigns to cut out public spitting and promote orderly lining up, was handed out in booklets to 4 million households ahead of the Olympics, an official said Thursday.

The etiquette book giving advice on everything from shaking hands to how to stand is part of a slew of admonitions on manners, said Zheng Mojie, deputy director of the Office of Capital Spiritual Civilization Construction Commission.

“The level of civility of the whole city has improved and a sound cultural and social environment has been assured for the success of the Beijing Olympic Games,” she said.

Tips Include

• There should be no more than three color groups in your clothing.
• Wearing pajamas and slippers to visit neighbors is out.
• Dark-colored socks are recommended, and white socks should never be worn with black leather shoes.
• No public displays of affection
• Feet should be slightly apart or in the shape of a V or Y when standing
• Handshake should not last more than three seconds
• Don’t ask foreigners their age, marital status, income, past experience, address, personal life, religious belief or political belief

These tips have been added to the ban on spitting (in Beijing at least) and Patience In Line Day (the 11th of each month).

Campaigns involving nearly a million volunteers have been launched to give etiquette tips at schools, universities and government offices. In some districts university students have been encouraged to go to villages to educate rural people, she said.

“Such campaigns and educational activities are now gradually improving the lives of Beijingers, for example now you’ll find more smiling faces and people are more properly and elegantly dressed,” she said.

People have formed a habit of queuing for buses, she said. At more than 1,000 bus stops in the city people are queuing up, she said. “This has already become a habit for the Beijing citizens,” Zheng said.