Dear Sally,
I‘m glad you are coming to China.we Chinese eat custom and custom:for everyone here to eat,to show solidarity happy implication,the guests ( guests ) and the elders ( the ELD ) to eat,said to the guest and respect the elderly,can not use chopsticks ( TAP ) bowl,not polite,it should not be at the opposite side dish ( reach across the table ),meaning to eat rude,rude,and also for the happiness,health,glad you visit my house.