Moving to China can feel like stepping into another world — exciting, fast, and full of daily surprises. I thought I was prepared, but there were a few things I wish someone told me earlier. If you’re planning to move or you just arrived, these five notes will make life much smoother. 1) Cashless Life is Real QR codes run everything. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay as soon as you can....

Chinese Class 101: How to Say Hello in Chinese Learning Chinese can feel challenging at first, but starting with simple and practical phrases makes it easier. One of the most important words you’ll use every day is “Hello”. Basic Greeting: 你好 (Nǐ hǎo) The most common way to say hello in Chinese is 你好, pronounced nǐ hǎo. - Nǐ means “you” - Hǎo means...

Qingming Festival 2025: 3-Day Holiday with No Makeup Work Days 📅 March 13, 2025 | 📰 Source: GuideinChnExpat Good news for everyone planning ahead! According to the official 2025 holiday schedule, Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day) will be observed from April 4 to April 6, 2025. That’s a full three-day holiday — and the best part? There will be no makeup working days....

In China, jobs are not always found on websites—they’re found through people. Foreigners who succeed here actively build networks. This means attending industry meetups, connecting with alumni, joining professional WeChat groups, and even showing up to local community events. One connection could open a door that online applications never will.

Ever booked a hotel in China, rolled in with your suitcase all excited, only to hear that dreaded line: “Sorry, we’re not qualified to accept foreigners”? Yeah… me too. Awful. It’s been repeated so often it might as well be part of the hotel’s welcome script when a foreigner walks in. And the reason they give? “According to the law…” Well,...