The Chinese didn't believe they needed to interact with the outside world. They knew there were other cultures out there, but they believed all that they needed could be found in China. For the most part, they were right. Up until the Reformation and Renaissance, China was ahead of Europe in many areas.
The Chinese did sail and explore all the way to Eastern Africa, but then they stopped.
1. They figured they were right and they needed nothing from the outside world
2. Admirals were so jealous of each other that they sabotaged their own fleet ships
The Chinese believed there were 5 zones of culture. The closer to the middle, the more cultured one was considered.
The people of Zone 5 had to perform a kowtow and give a gift to the emperor. A kowtow was a bow acknowledging submission to a person.
Before Confucianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and all of the other modern religions, the Chinese turned to nature and were polytheistic.
They believed spirits were everywhere. If a person wanted to pray to the gods for something, they were not allowed to pray directly to that god. Instead, they would have to pray to a dead ancestor as a go-between. They believed it was rude to talk directly to the gods.
The Chinese were very respectful to elders since they will have to pray to them for favors eventually. As for today, the Chinese are very respectful to their elders. They are considered wise because of the experience of their years. The Chinese don't worship nature anymore.