Of all the changes to sweep China since the death of Mao Zedong in 1976 — stock markets, private cars, fashion — one thing seemed not to have changed: No hugging. Chinese were physically reserved.
That’s changing now.
Recently, it seems like everyone is hugging. Friends are hugging. Family members are hugging. In hugging between Chinese and non-Chinese, it was non-Chinese who once foisted physical affection on the Chinese. Today it may be a Chinese initiating contact. The tables are turning.
More Hugs Please, We’re Chinese
by Didi Kirsten Tatlow
Sinosphere – Dispatches From China
New York Times
http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/more-hugs-please-were-chinese/
The older couple appeared to be the young woman’s parents. Mother and daughter hugged. That wasn’t too surprising. Women are huggier than men, everywhere. But then the young man stepped up to the older man and hugged him. And the older man hugged him back, stiffly, but smiling.
LES CHINOIS AUSSI VEULENT DES CÂLINS
par Camille Jourdan
http://www.slate.fr/life/86853/chinois-calins