China cymbals tend to have a very loud, harsh attack without a lot of sustain. Think of cymbals as punctuation and a china type might be an exclamation point. They tend to fit in a more rock or aggressive sound and can be very annoying when used out of context. That being said, there are no rules about different types of cymbals, just general guidelines. If you strike a good cymbal 100 different ways you will get 100 variations of the sound. It also depends on the diameter and thickness of the cymbal. I like to tap chinas lightly sometimes in a jazzier context or with brushes. It takes time and experience to "get to know" your cymbals and what they do best. Trust your ears and really listen to what is being played around you and how that sound blends in. I have some cymbals I have been playing 30yrs. and I am always learning new things about them. Welcome to the wonderful world of percussion and good luck.-the Rhythmatist