Physical gestures

Visitors to Taiwan and many other Asian nations will notice that most people beckon to one another by rolling their fingers back and waving them toward the ground with their palms facing down. Travelers are advised to imitate this custom, as it is widely thought to be crudely suggestive, especially when a man is motioning towards a woman.

Although shaking hands was not the traditional way to welcome someone in Chinese culture, males in Taiwan today frequently do so, especially in professional settings. Strong or overly passionate handshakes, however, are viewed as hostile and can result in great confusion. In general, men and women don't shake hands when they first meet, preferring to give each other small bows of respect instead. However, this is changing, and metropolitan businesswomen are more likely than ever to extend their hands when meeting foreigners.