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Q: Anyone else notice excessive swinging of the arms when Chinese people walk?
I have - this is actually one of my pet hates when travelling on the subway. It's amazing how often people don't smack each other when they walk.
If you ask one of your Chinese friends, they will likely tell you that it is because it is a form of exercise. They will also do it when standing still.
No, not really can't say that I have. I've actually went by someone and touched their hand and they got a little bit frightened and pulled their hand in closer and gave me the googly eye look!
I usually walk quick, so I am always afraid to get hit in 'banana', while passing other 'arms swinging' people. Women swing arms more than men. However, I learned some defensive moves, while practicing Martial Arts as kid.
Exercise? Maybe it is. I often see people walking backwards here. I wouldn't dare to walk backwards in EU or USA out of fear to being put in temporary mental hospital custody.
Swinging their arms is OK, as long as my nuts are not part of it. The loud clapping is really annoying. The other night, taking a nice evening stroll along the river with the wife... and an a-hole walking at 50 paces behind us clapping.... for 15 minutes until we turned and went home.
.Scandinavian:
I also use my iPod each time I go out, to block out noise. It just doesn't work when walking the wife as her volume setting will just keep increasing until the iPod cannot keep up.
icnif77:
It seems stupid to use IPod, while on the stroll together with other person, or even when outside alone on the quiet walk. Sometimes, I'm just looking for 'silence'.
It's funny to see this just now, because I told a girl I often see around my office to MOVE her arms MORE when she walks. For a Chinese she is rather tall; maybe 1.75m. However every time I see her, she keeps her arms exactly parallel to her body. Never moving.
Very sexy girl, cept' she walks like Frankenstein. 
