Hafrik: The Digital Home for Foreigners in China A community-driven platform helping foreigners in China connect, thrive, and build bridges with Chinese society. What Is Hafrik? Hafrik is a lifestyle, business, and community platform designed specifically for foreigners living in China. Life in a new country comes with challenges — from language barriers to finding trusted services...

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....

Published: Oct 1, 2025 • For: Foreigners living in China & global investors China has made a major policy shift that directly affects foreigners. On Sept 15, 2025, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) announced nine new FX measures, including the loosening of long-standing limits on foreign property ownership. Key changes Non-self-use homes now allowed: Foreign...

Aside from essential apps like WeChat, Alipay, Didi, Maps, etc., one of the other apps that I use most often here is Dianping, especially for looking up restaurants and bars. It's a great way to find new places, check opening times and addresses, book tables and get some banging discounts.  Almost every restaurant or bar is guaranteed to have at least one kind of deal or discount....

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...