Hi Liam,nice to meet you.I agree with the commons above.Actually we will prepare lunch or dinner when we Inviting friends to our home.And it would be better if you bring a present (some fruits usually) when you are making the first visiting.Nothing very different from western I think.And the praise for the delicious meals will always help to found a harmouniously atmousphere. Colin

Hi Liam, I don't know where you learnt your Mandarin but it's really a history that we Chinese were that serious about inviting somebody else to home for a dinner :) I think your teacher must wanna you to learn our Chinese culture deeply, so he raise such a question in front of you :) Actually during past time, it's really a matter if somebody invite you to his home for eating, it really means that he's treating you very seriously maybe as a brother :) You know we Chinese shows great respect to our parents, in traditional way, once somebody's willing to take you to see his parents(no matter it's a male or female friend), it means at least he/she thinks you are good enough to be introduced to his/her parents or nowadays may his wife or husband ;) But there's really nothing to be nervours, usually for the first time we go to a friend's home, we usually take some simple gifts such as some timing fruits or vegetables, normally just for enriching the dinner table :) or something specially representative your greeting/regards :)

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I dont think there are any customs and tradition left in China now, except in some villages or going to minor people(racial?)'s home. at least, I was born in China, grown up in China, but I lost the tradition maybe

China is becomin more and more extrovert these days. if u wanna ask a friend 2 come 2 ur home, just invite him/her. dinner, home-warmin parties, dvds can all be considered nice reasons.