Culture & Etiquette
Toasting and baijiu: surviving the banquet
✅ Updated May 2026
Toasting (敬酒) is central to banquets and business dinners. Ganbei (干杯) means bottoms up; sui yi (随意) means drink as you like. When clinking glasses, hold yours slightly lower than an elder or superior to show respect, and let the host toast first. If you do not drink, it is perfectly fine to toast with tea or a soft drink — just say so warmly and raise your glass. Baijiu is strong (40-60%), so pace yourself and always eat while drinking.
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