The Chinese are very proud of China, its history and culture, and the speed and extent of its development since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949. “Wu qian nian de lishi” – 5,000 years of history – is a phrase you may hear as a proud reference to the length of the Chinese cultural tradition and the history that underpins it.

However, their positive conception of themselves and their past goes further than simple national pride.

The Chinese have a strong sense of their place in the history of the world, and the unique nature of that position. They are in tune with their past in a way that can be difficult for Westerners to fully appreciate.

The strong bond between the Chinese and their long history amounts to a sort of membership to an exclusive 5,000 year-old club that gives them a sense of separateness and self-regard…and sometimes superiority as well.

An example of this mindset is that your Chinese business partners may not appreciate being told that Western methods, technological or otherwise, are better, faster, or more efficient than Chinese ones.