Choosing a suitable gift to give is vitally important. When choosing a gift to give in China it is always acceptable to give a gift that the Chinese would find valuable. For example, common and appreciated gifts include decorations made of jade, crystal and rosewood. In the Chinese culture, these natural gifts are representative of the highest relationship of honor. Chinese people are very proud of their history and customs, so it follows that natural Chinese "treasures" hold a high status in gift giving.
It is also acceptable to bring a gift made in your home country. Be mindful that many things you buy at home are in fact made in China and these gifts should be avoided if possible. A nice gift should show a distinctive link to your home country, for example a Canadian might bring a maple product. In business environments, it is generally unacceptable to give samples of your own product as a gift to a company you wish to conduct business with. Gifts with gold and red are desirable, as these are colors with favorable meanings in the Chinese culture.
It is important to understand that the meaning of gift giving is different in China than it is in the West. The Chinese consider gifts a tangible expression of emotion. Your gift represents how you feel about a person. The more valuable the gift is considered, the higher you are considered to regard the person to be receiving the gift. However, giving a gift of disproportionally high value to a person means you expect a favor in return.
It is also important to know what not to give. The Chinese word for "clock" is similar to the Chinese word for "end," so a clock, no matter how valuable it may be, is never an acceptable gift. The Chinese word for "umbrella" is similar to the word for "apart," so this is also an unacceptable gift.
