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,...

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....

China has made new changes to how foreign workers are classified, and it could affect how expats apply for or renew their work permits. The Ministry of Human Resources announced that the country is giving more power to local governments to decide which foreign professionals are most needed in their area. Before, foreign workers were grouped under three main types — Category A (top...

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...

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...