What's the order of serving in China banquet?

Chinese food is usually served in the following order: cold dishes first, then hot dishes, and finally sweets and fruits.

Before eating, the first wet towel given by the waiter is for wiping hands, and it is better not to wipe faces. Before serving shrimp, crab, chicken and other dishes, the waiter will send a small water tank with lemon slices or rose petals floating in it. This is not a drink, but for washing hands. When washing hands, you can dip your fingers in water in turn, rinse them gently, and then dry them with a small towel.

There are six kinds of tableware for Chinese food: cups, plates, bowls, plates, chopsticks and spoons. At a formal banquet, the water glass is placed at the top left of the dish and the wine glass is placed at the top right. Chopsticks and spoons can be placed on special seats or in paper sleeves. Public chopsticks and spoons are best placed in special seats.

Extended information of Chinese food seating etiquette

In China, how to sit and choose a seat is also very particular. Expert's statement (Wang, a folklore expert in Beijing): Generally speaking, the order of seating is "Zuo Zun Dong" and "Zun Men".

The person in charge of the family banquet is the elder with the highest seniority, and the last seat is the lowest. If it is a round table, the one facing the gate is the upper seat, and the most important person to eat at that time should be invited to sit here. Because he can see every dish at first sight and observe the whole table.

The left hand is second only to the upper seat, and the right hand is second only to the left hand. Other seats are not very particular, but the payer usually sits on the left side of the door.

Baidu encyclopedia-China gourmet