Chinese have great temperaments when it comes to handling. I have even handled several wild adult ones without so much as a ruffled wing on their part. The key to handling a mantis is to look at it as a joint process. You don't pick the mantis up, they crawl on you and you lift them up. Reaching to grab around a mantis is the quickest way to get nailed with a bite or claw because it is an instinctual reaction for them to lash out and try to flee.
Chinese are naturally mobile mantises so most don't need much encouragement to crawl up on your hand and then from one hand to the next. I usually set my hand a little higher than them since they prefer climbing up to begin with. To help get a slow mantis moving I usually try blowing first since that often stimulates them forward. If that doesn't work I will with my free hand gently brush a back leg or abdomen to coax them forward.
One important thing to look out for are the warning signs your freaking your mantis out. Chinese mantises will curl their butts, splay their claws to their side, spread their mandibles, and fixated their head and antennae toward what has spooked them. Adults will do this and also flare their wings for an added dramatic effect. If pushed further they will either fall backwards and flee or strike. No need to panic however, just slow down, don't try to poke or prod them. I find letting them see your face and swaying slightly like leaves in the wind usually gets them calmed down in seconds. Once they relax you can go about to trying to move them.
Another I'm freaking out sign the Chinese mantis will do is they will suddenly go ridged, often splaying out straight like a stick and lean low to the ground. This is not an attack pose but a defense one and if poked in this stage they will often try fleeing by releasing their hold and falling to the ground ridged like a stick dropping from a tree. Once again don't try to move them during this but give them a second to relax and see everything is fine.
Finally one word of warning, Chinese Mantises are very mobile little guys that can leap well and have been known to face hug. I've gotten face hopped by more times than I can count from nymphs to full grown adults. They seem drawn to the human face and the Chinese mantis isn't shy about leaping up to say hi. Now they simply hop right on all friendly like, but it can startle someone into swatting with lesser nerves. Thus I always like to give a word of warning with this species because when you are staring down at them and cooing at them, don't be surprised if they try to jump or fly up to you to say hi right back. :wub:
? Is it ok If you lightly close your fingers around the mantis so it doesent get away, or will they bite you if you do that? Last question, what is the best way to tame your mantis? 
