How do Chinese address foreigners?
Officially, foreigners are addressed as Waibin (foreign guests or foreign friends) but privately; they are call as Lao Wai. In China, it is a usual practice, also the most intimate and friendly way, to address people with the word “Lao” added before the family name. For example, people may kindly call Mr. Li as Lao Li. Not least, people also call those who come from Guangdong Province as “Lao Guang,” and those from Jiangxi “Lao Biao”. Analogically, they call foreigner “Lao Wai”. Pronounced somewhat like “law why”, this address means “old foreigner”. It is not intended to be aggressive or insulting. So when you hear people call you “Lao Wai”, you should feel complemented since it seems that Chinese have treated you as their own fellows.
