文化是指一个国家或民族的历史

Abstract: With the deepening of the globalization, China and America，which played an important role in the world，also have strengthened the mutual dependence between them. However, due to the cultural differences, people in different cultural backgrounds often have conflicts with each other in the cross-cultural communication and cooperation. Therefore, the article first discusses the importance of learning about cultural differences and similarities, and then compare some parts of sino-us cultural differences. At last it shows that understanding cultural differences of China and America will not only help deepen the understanding between east and west culture, but also help to cultural exchange between east and west.

Key Words: China and America, family education, political system,tourist ideology

1. Culture and Cross-cultural Communication

Culture refers to a state or nation's history, geography, local conditions and customs, lifestyle, way of thinking, values, etc. It is a kind of social phenomenon, which is formed in the long time of people's creation. Meanwhile, it is also a kind of historical phenomenon,social and historical sediment. Culture deeply roots in the basic needs of human survival and development. Any nation requires for survival and development, this is all the nations' common point, which become the basis of cross-cultural communication. Cross-cultural communication, that is, people in different cultural backgrounds participate in the activities of communication. Due to various reasons, the development of all ethnic groups cannot be at the same level. There are always cultural differences existing among various nations, which make cross-cultural communication have the possibility and necessity. Thus, the initial motivation of cross-cultural communication is cultural differences. Without such differences, cross-cultural communication has lost its meaning, it is impossible to exist.

2. The importance of learning about cultural differences and similarities

With the economic globalization process accelerating and extending, different cultural forms interpenetrated and mingled mutually. If a country wants to maintain cultural independence and enhance culture competitive power, it must fully understand the culture of different countries, discard the dross and select the essence, on this basis of which the country can develop their culture better. At the same time, understanding different countries culture is not only a kind of respect for others, but also can alleviate the cultural conflicts in cross-cultural communication and make us tackle a series of problems easier brought by cultural differences.

3. Cultural differences between China and America

Chinese culture is a typical representative of Oriental culture. America is a fusion of western culture. In recent years, the two countries get closer in the cultural exchanges. Comparing the two typical representative countries can give us a more comprehensive understanding of American culture, and re-examine the accumulation of Chinese culture