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....

In other cities, midnight is a polite cough telling you it’s time to go home. In Shenzhen, it’s the moment the city leans in, winks, and says: “Sit down, this is where it gets interesting.” The malls roll down their shutters like a theatre ending its matinée show — and outside, the streets immediately start the late-night premiere, with a bigger cast, a...

Looking for a quick escape this Golden Week? If you want to avoid the big crowds but still enjoy the holiday, here are some of the best day trips you can take from major cities in China. Beijing ➝ Great Wall Hike the Mutianyu or Jinshanling sections of the Great Wall for stunning views and fewer tourists compared to Badaling. Shanghai ➝ Suzhou Known as the “Venice of the...

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has released a new regulation on managing and reporting cybersecurity incidents. The rules, which will come into effect on November 1, 2025, aim to strengthen China’s defenses against the growing threat of cyberattacks. What the Regulation Covers The new rules define the scope of incidents that must be reported, who is responsible for...

Talking About Daily Activities Welcome to Class 4 of our Chinese learning series! In this lesson, we’ll focus on how to talk about daily activities in Chinese. These are useful phrases you can use right away in everyday life. 🕘 Morning Activities 起床 (qǐ chuáng) – Wake up / Get up 刷牙 (shuā yá) – Brush teeth 洗脸 (xǐ liǎn) – Wash face 吃早饭 (chī zǎo...