You could also bring up sports if you know anything about it. People here have pretty strong feelings regarding football and baseball. At least where I am from (New England, Go Pats and Red Sox!). Bringing that up can bring on some tangents which can be quite funny.

Try to find common ground. Ask them about their taste in music or movies or how they feel about what's on the news. Out of curiousity, what kind of things do you talk about with your Chinese friends?

tell them the first thing that pass through you mind :)

I guess it does work that make kidding with start.

 agree with you