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....

On September 28, the results of the 2024 “Charming China—The Most Attractive Chinese Cities in the Eyes of Foreign Talent” survey were announced. Organized by the Foreign Talent Research Center of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the study evaluated how foreigners living and working in China view different cities. How the Ranking Was Done A total of...

If you’re in Guangzhou for sourcing or scouting suppliers, here’s what changed this session and why buyers should care. The 138th Canton Fair opened on October 15, 2025 in Guangzhou. This edition is being called the strictest so far. Many small and medium exhibitors were surprised by the new rules, but for buyers, the updates bring clear benefits. What’s new Stricter...

Wealthy, Educated Man Chooses to Live on the Streets Zhao Dian, a 32-year-old from China, has sparked widespread debate after abandoning an elite lifestyle to live as a homeless individual, surviving on just 100 yuan (US$14) a month. Despite his prestigious background — having lived in cities like Sydney, New York, Beijing, and Paris while earning multiple degrees in finance —...

Learning Mandarin might feel intimidating at first, but you don’t have to master thousands of characters to start communicating. Just a few phrases can make your life in China much smoother — from shopping and traveling to making friends. 50 Useful Mandarin Phrases 你好 (Nǐ hǎo) – Hello 👋 早上好 (Zǎo shàng hǎo) – Good morning 🌅 晚上好 (Wǎn shàng hǎo) – Good...