Guangzhou - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Business casual everywhere for work. Ok to wear casual clothes on the street and at malls. Formal dress rarely seen unless you're a senior official or businessman or a housing complex employee. - Apr 2023
The consulate is more casual. Men still wear suits, but often take off the coat. I rarely see women in a blazer. The local staff are stylish but much more casual. Sneakers with dresses is very in-style here. - Aug 2021
Business casual, except for special events. - May 2019
Fairly formal. Get clothes made here or in Hong Kong. - Nov 2018
Biz casual. Shorts in the summer when you're not at work. It's pretty casual overall. - Nov 2015
Business at work, anything goes in public. China does a real number on clothes and shoes, for some reason- I had multiple pairs of shoes just disintegrate on me, and I wasn't the only one. On the bright side, you can get some nice, new suits made for yourself while you're there. - Aug 2014
Everything goes! Seriously. Do you want to wear a miniskirt to work? Go for it. You want to wear raggedy jeans and Converse? Go for it. There IS a dress code where I work, but it is not enforced---especially not among local staff. - May 2013
Work: attire at the consulate appears to be business casual for most, depending on what office you're in. Public: anything goes, but everything is pretty casual. You're foreign, you'll get stared at no matter what, so don't worry too much about trying to fit in. - Apr 2013
Dress code is pretty casual depending upon what section you work in. - Jan 2013
Local females wear the most revealing clothes I have ever seen. The shortest skirts and highest heels ever. it is like a contest. Guys dress casual. - Oct 2011
Americans at my work wear business casual. Chinese, though, tend to wear whatever they interpret "business casual" to mean, which can range from jeans and a logo'd t-shirt to fishnet stockings and a miniskirt (with a logo'd t-shirt).Some dress better than others. In public you'll see lots of women in high heels and short skirts, especially in the summer. - May 2011
Dress code at the consulate is professional. In public, most people wear jeans and dark clothing. Not many in shorts. - Jul 2009
Comparable to the U.S. - Jan 2009
