Unlike the United States, China is not a country with multiple prominent ethnic groups. Although China officially recognizes 56 ethnic groups, Han Chinese make up 91% of the population. The other 55 groups account for the remaining 9%. However, the difference between these minority groups (少数民族, shǎoshùmínzú) and those in the United States is that they are indigenous and have existed in China for a millennia, while the United States is a country of immigrants who have arrived from all over the world, mostly within the last few hundred years. I say this to emphasize that while people in the United States may be accustomed to seeing people who don’t look like them, this is not the case in China.
Whether I’m out on a walk, on public transit, or eating at a restaurant, one thing remains consistent: stares. People don’t glare or seem hostile, but they are clearly curious. In Chinese cultural norms, staring is often seen as intrigue rather than rudeness, so these moments can feel awkward. And in more rural or less international areas, I might have been one of the first foreigners some locals had ever seen in person.
My study abroad cohort has had varying reactions to this norm. Some accept it and don’t pay it too much attention. Some openly dislike it and run away from the stares when possible. I believe in a slightly different approach. Whenever I catch someone staring at me, whether from three or ten feet away, I’ll smile and say, “你好，今天怎么样?” (hello, how’s it going today?). This quickly changes my role from “zoo exhibit” to “literate person.” Oftentimes, what happens next is either a short conversation about how our days are going or a smirk and then a shy look-away. Sometimes, it even leads to locals teaching us how to do the “Chinese squat” (pictured below).
No matter what the response is, it’s always positive and a great experience to see the smile on someone’s face when you connect with them in their mother tongue. That is how I transform awkward stares into surprisingly meaningful interactions. I’m not sure who enjoys it more, me or the people I greet. But either way, a simple “你好” has never failed me.