Pub culture, coffee breaks, office banter and a clear work-life divide: Britain's office culture surprises many newly arrived Chinese employees, but most end up enjoying the politeness, meticulous planning and lack of a strong hierarchy.

Despite the UK's reputation for having the longest working hours in Europe, most Chinese employees embrace working in Britain, compared to the much tougher and stressful alternative back home.

"In China, work is far more dominant. People do not have a clear distinction between their working life and personal life, and are often expected to deal with work queries during holidays," said Jenny Zhu, a 32-year-old Oxford graduate who previously interned for Citibank in Shenzhen but now works at London-based fund manager Cerno Capital Partners.

Zhu gives her job 100 percent, but enjoys taking holidays "completely disconnected from work", and "not being expected to answer the phone and reply to emails when off duty".

The other big difference, "daunting in the beginning," is the lack of a strict hierarchy in many UK offices.

"Chinese are brought up to respect hierarchy and seniority, which in the workplace can prevent us from presenting our own opinions and ideas," Zhu said.

Her views are shared by 27-year-old Chen Ran, an architectural designer at Hopkins, who has learned to share thoughts in the workplace.

Chen, who graduated from UCL in London, was initially amazed by senior architects' "politeness and kindness" in their instructions and feedback, something that made her feel appreciated.

"Compared to direct communication styles in China, instructions for action in the UK often sound like a piece of advice or a suggestion," said Chen.

Olive Hou, a former journalist in China who founded a marketing agency in 2013, briefs her Chinese and British clients on the do's and don'ts of "the work culture of the other side".

"The UK work culture appreciates planning and procedure, but when Chinese clients need something, they need it now," said Hou.

She enjoys the "smart productivity" of the UK, where meetings are scheduled in advanced tidy slots, although she understands why constant changes are a logical product of China's fast-paced work culture.

Another key difference is the importance of face-to-face meetings in China, compared to the UK's greater reliance on phone calls and emails.

Hou said a good sense of humor and ability to participate in banter at tea breaks is also important in the UK, and she has learned to ask colleagues more challenging questions than she would in China.

Hou is also inspired by colleagues from vastly diverse backgrounds, thanks to London's popularity with expats from all over the world.

But China's work culture has its merits. Han Ying, a 25-year-old marketing executive at Sinclair Global, likes the UK's respect for privacy, but says it can mean colleagues are "too polite, making me feel pressured". While she has learned to make small talk, she misses the "intimacy of Chinese working culture".