Practical guidance
Guides for your life in China
Step-by-step answers for the decisions that matter before and after your move.
Handling Apartment Noise Problems in China as a Foreign Renter
A practical guide to documenting, discussing, and escalating apartment noise in China through neighbors, landlords, property management, hotlines, and local authorities.
Managing Food Allergies While Living and Eating in China
A practical food allergy guide for foreigners in China covering translation cards, restaurants, packaged food, cross-contact, schools, emergency planning, and medical support.
Health Checks and Medical Exams in China for Foreign Workers
A practical guide to work-permit medical exams, employer health checks, clinic preparation, reports, privacy, costs, and follow-up for foreign workers in China.
International Moving and Shipping Household Goods to or from China
How foreign residents can plan an international household move involving China, including inventories, customs documents, restricted items, insurance, delivery, and damage claims.
Performance Reviews and Promotions in China for Foreign Employees
How foreign employees in China can prepare for performance reviews, document goals, discuss ratings and promotion, and align role changes with payroll and work permit records.
Baby Born in China: A Document Planner for Foreign Parents
A practical post-birth document planner for foreign parents in China covering hospital records, birth medical certificate, embassy registration, passport, visa or residence status, insurance, and travel.
Eye Care and Glasses in China: A Guide for Foreign Residents
A practical guide to eye exams, optometry, glasses, contact lenses, clinic visits, prescriptions, costs, insurance, and urgent symptoms in China.
Pest Control in China Apartments: A Guide for Foreign Residents
How foreign residents can prevent and address cockroaches, mosquitoes, ants, rodents, and bed bugs in China apartments while coordinating with landlords and property management.
Work Expense Reimbursement in China: A Guide for Foreign Employees
How foreign employees in China can manage business expense approvals, fapiao, travel evidence, reimbursement deadlines, currency conversion, and payroll records.
Workplace Meetings in China: A Communication Guide for Foreign Employees
A practical guide for foreign employees managing meeting invitations, bilingual communication, decisions, action items, chat groups, minutes, feedback, and follow-up in China.
Buying and Owning a Car in China: A Guide for Foreign Residents
A practical guide to buying and owning a car in China as a foreign resident, covering licence eligibility, local plate rules, inspection, insurance, registration, parking, and resale.
Home Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness in China: A Resident Checklist
A practical home safety guide for foreign residents in China covering exits, alarms, gas, batteries, high-rise evacuation, emergency contacts, and family planning.
Finding Mental Health Care in China: A Guide for Foreign Residents
A practical guide for foreign residents seeking mental health support in China, covering provider choice, language, privacy, costs, medication, and crisis planning.
Sick Leave and Medical Certificates in China: A Guide for Foreign Employees
A practical guide to taking sick leave in China as a foreign employee, including employer notice, hospital certificates, payroll questions, privacy, and returning to work.
Social Insurance Records in China: A Practical Guide for Foreign Employees
How foreign employees in China can organize social insurance enrollment, contribution records, city changes, benefit questions, and departure planning.
Changing Jobs in China: A Work Permit Handover Guide for Foreign Employees
A practical China job-change checklist for foreign employees covering resignation records, work permit cancellation, new applications, residence documents, payroll, and timing.
Choosing a School in China: An Enrollment Planner for Foreign Families
A practical school search and enrollment guide for foreign families in China, including eligibility, curricula, language, fees, documents, transport, and transfer records.
Landlord Repairs in China: A Home Maintenance Guide for Foreign Renters
A practical guide for foreign renters handling apartment repairs in China, including evidence, landlord communication, urgent problems, access, invoices, deposits, and move-out records.
Pregnancy and Giving Birth in China: A Planning Guide for Foreign Families
A practical guide to pregnancy and childbirth in China for foreign families, covering hospitals, prenatal records, insurance, language support, delivery planning, and newborn documents.
Sending Salary Savings Abroad from China: A Document Checklist for Foreigners
A practical guide for foreigners remitting legally earned salary savings from China, covering bank checks, income and tax records, beneficiary details, fees, limits, and fraud prevention.
Apartment Safety in China: Gas, Electricity, Water Leaks, Locks, Repairs, and Landlord Records
A practical English guide for foreign renters improving apartment safety in China, including gas, electricity, water leaks, locks, repairs, smoke alarms, property management, landlord records, and emergency contacts.
Childcare and Nannies in China: A Hiring Guide for Foreign Families
A practical guide for foreign families comparing daycare, ayi and nanny arrangements in China, with interview questions, trial periods, safety routines, pay, and records.
Dental Care in China: Clinics, Appointments, Treatment Plans, Prices, and Receipts
A practical English guide for foreign residents using dental care in China, including public hospitals, private clinics, appointments, x-rays, treatment plans, estimates, insurance, and receipts.
Domestic Flights in China: Passport Booking, Airport Check-In, Luggage, Delays, and Receipts
A practical English guide for foreign residents taking domestic flights in China, including passport names, airport check-in, luggage rules, delays, receipts, transport, and travel backups.
Hotel Check-In in China: Passport Names, Foreign Guest Acceptance, Registration, Deposits, and Receipts
A practical English guide for foreign residents and visitors checking into hotels in China, including passport names, foreign guest acceptance, accommodation registration, deposits, invoices, and address records.
Leaving a Job in China: Resignation, Handover, Final Pay, Tax Records, and Permit Planning
A practical English guide for foreign employees leaving a job in China, including resignation notice, handover, final payroll, tax records, work permit transfer or cancellation, residence planning, and documents to keep.
Lost Phone in China: SIM Card, Mobile Payments, Bank Cards, Apps, and Account Recovery
A practical English guide for foreign residents who lose a phone in China, including SIM replacement, mobile payment security, bank cards, app recovery, data backup, and emergency contacts.
Medical Insurance Claims in China: A Paperwork Guide for Foreign Residents
A practical checklist for foreigners preparing medical insurance claims in China, from hospital network and direct billing to receipts, records, translation, and deadlines.
Moving Between Cities in China: An Administrative Checklist for Foreign Residents
A practical checklist for foreigners relocating between Chinese cities, covering employer and permit planning, housing registration, banking, insurance, healthcare, schools, and utilities.
Notarization, Apostille, and Translation for Documents Used in China
A practical document-preparation guide for foreigners using overseas certificates in China, including destination requirements, apostilles, notarization, translation, copies, and validity.
Pet Healthcare in China: Vet Clinics, Vaccinations, Records, Medicine, Insurance, and Emergencies
A practical English guide for foreign residents managing pet healthcare in China, including veterinary clinics, vaccinations, medical records, medicine, insurance, emergencies, travel, and apartment coordination.
Probation Period in China: Goals, Feedback, Salary, Work Permit Support, and Records
A practical English guide for foreign employees navigating probation in China, including contract terms, performance goals, feedback, salary, work permit support, relocation risk, and records.
How to Read a Payslip in China: A Monthly Checklist for Foreign Employees
A practical guide for foreign employees checking China payslips, including gross pay, individual income tax, benefits, reimbursements, bonuses, and record keeping.
Returns and Refunds in China: Online Orders, Photos, Courier Pickup, Disputes, and Receipts
A practical English guide for foreign residents handling returns and refunds in China, including online shopping records, photos, return windows, courier pickup, refund status, disputes, invoices, and warranty notes.
School Communication in China: Parent Chats, Calendars, Documents, Fees, and Teacher Meetings
A practical English guide for foreign families managing school communication in China, including parent chats, teacher messages, calendars, documents, fees, homework, transport, health notices, and meetings.
Emergency Contacts and Safety in China: Phone Numbers, Address Cards, Hospitals, and Insurance
A practical English guide for foreign residents preparing emergency contacts and safety records in China, including phone numbers, address cards, hospitals, employer contacts, embassy details, and insurance.
Pharmacies and Medicine in China: Prescriptions, OTC Drugs, Translation, and Receipts
A practical English guide for foreign residents using pharmacies in China, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicine, dosage translation, allergies, receipts, and follow-up records.
Public Holidays and Adjusted Workdays in China: Leave Planning, Travel, Payroll, and Renewals
A practical English guide for foreign residents understanding public holidays and adjusted workdays in China, including make-up workdays, leave planning, travel tickets, payroll timing, and document renewals.
New Passport in China: Updating Residence Permit, Employer, Bank, Phone, Housing, and Travel Records
A practical English guide for foreign residents who receive a new passport while living in China, including immigration records, employer files, bank accounts, phone numbers, housing registration, and travel accounts.
Waste Sorting and Recycling in China: Apartment Rules, Collection Times, Batteries, and Bulky Items
A practical English guide for foreign residents handling waste sorting and recycling in China, including apartment compound rules, kitchen waste, boxes, batteries, collection times, and bulky items.
Buying Electronics in China: Phones, Laptops, Plugs, Warranties, and Repairs
A practical English guide for foreign residents buying electronics in China, including phones, laptops, adapters, invoices, warranties, repairs, delivery checks, and resale planning.
Daily Budgeting in China: Rent, Food, Transport, Subscriptions, and Receipts
A practical English guide for foreign residents managing daily budgets in China, including rent, food, transport, subscriptions, receipts, reimbursement, emergency cash, and monthly reviews.
Haircuts and Salons in China: Photos, Phrases, Pricing, and Appointments
A practical English guide for foreign residents getting haircuts and salon services in China, including reference photos, phrases, pricing, appointments, tipping expectations, and service checks.
Managing Subscriptions in China: Memberships, Renewals, Receipts, and Cancellations
A practical English guide for foreign residents managing subscriptions and memberships in China, including gyms, apps, streaming, coworking, delivery passes, renewals, receipts, and cancellations.
Secondhand Shopping in China: Used Furniture, Electronics, Pickup Checks, and Safety
A practical English guide for foreign residents buying and selling secondhand items in China, including furniture, electronics, pickup checks, payment records, delivery, scams, and move-out planning.
Bikes and E-Bikes in China: Short Commutes, Parking, Charging, and Safety
A practical English guide for foreign residents using bicycles, shared bikes, and e-bikes in China, including short commutes, parking, charging, helmets, weather, and neighborhood routines.
Eating Out in China: Menus, Ordering, Allergies, Payment, and Receipts
A practical English guide for foreign residents eating out in China, including menu translation, ordering, dietary needs, table customs, payment, invoices, and delivery follow-up.
Furnishing an Apartment in China: Furniture, Appliances, Delivery, and Returns
A practical English guide for foreign residents furnishing an apartment in China, including furniture shopping, appliances, measurements, delivery, installation, returns, and move-in priorities.
Housekeeping and Cleaning Services in China: A Guide for Foreign Residents
A practical English guide for foreign residents hiring housekeeping and cleaning services in China, including scope, pricing, supplies, apartment access, pets, records, and follow-up.
Learning Chinese in China: A Practical Guide for Foreign Residents
A practical English guide for foreign residents learning Chinese in China, including survival phrases, apps, classes, workplace communication, pronunciation, and daily practice.
Local Services Apps in China: Repairs, Cleaning, Errands, and Bookings for Foreigners
A practical English guide for foreign residents using local services apps in China, including repairs, cleaning, errands, bookings, reviews, payments, addresses, and safety records.
Making Friends and Networking in China: A Guide for Foreign Residents
A practical English guide for foreign residents building social circles and professional networks in China through colleagues, communities, language exchange, events, sports, and safe boundaries.
Maps and Navigation in China: Addresses, Routes, Taxis, and Saved Places
A practical English guide for foreign residents using maps and navigation in China, including Chinese addresses, landmarks, route planning, taxis, walking, metro exits, and saved places.
Weather and Air Quality in China: A Practical Guide for Foreign Residents
A practical English guide for foreign residents planning around weather, seasons, humidity, heat, cold, rain, air quality, masks, purifiers, and daily comfort in China.
Weekend Travel in China: Hotels, Tickets, Documents, and Light Planning
A practical English guide for foreign residents planning weekend trips in China, including hotels, train tickets, passport checks, payments, packing, maps, and backup plans.
Coworking and Home Office in China for Foreigners: Workspaces, Wi-Fi, and Daily Setup
A practical English guide to coworking spaces and home office setup in China for foreign residents, including Wi-Fi, calls, invoices, commuting, payments, and workday routines.
Laundry and Dry Cleaning in China for Foreigners: Machines, Drying, and Garment Care
A practical English guide to doing laundry in China as a foreign resident, including washing machines, drying clothes, dry cleaners, detergents, pickup services, and fabric-care habits.
Neighborhood Etiquette in China for Foreigners: Compounds, Elevators, Parcels, and Shared Spaces
A practical English guide to neighborhood etiquette in China for foreign residents, including apartment compounds, elevators, property management, noise, parcels, waste areas, and shared spaces.
Receiving Official Documents in China: Address, Courier Calls, and Record-Keeping
A practical English guide for foreign residents receiving official documents in China, including address formatting, courier calls, delivery records, document safety, and backup contacts.
Renting with Pets in China: A Guide for Foreign Residents
A practical English guide for foreign residents renting with pets in China, including lease terms, deposits, compound rules, neighbors, cleaning, delivery access, and moving plans.
Fitness and Gyms in China for Foreigners: Memberships, Classes, and Sports Venues
A practical English guide to finding gyms, fitness classes, running routes, sports venues, and membership options in China as a foreign resident.
Moving Apartments in China: Address, Utilities, Deposit, and Registration Checklist
A practical English guide for foreign residents moving apartments in China, including lease handover, address updates, utilities, deposits, deliveries, and post-move registration checks.
Grocery Shopping in China for Foreigners: Supermarkets, Markets, and Online Orders
A practical English guide to buying groceries in China as a foreign resident, including supermarkets, wet markets, online orders, payment, food labels, delivery, and useful shopping habits.
Packages and Food Delivery in China: A Guide for Foreign Residents
How foreign residents can receive parcels and food delivery in China, including Chinese addresses, pickup lockers, building gates, payment, delivery calls, and practical safety checks.
Public Transport in China for Foreigners: Metro, Buses, Taxis, and Ride-Hailing
A practical English guide to using public transport in China as a foreigner, including metro systems, buses, taxis, ride-hailing, payment methods, navigation, and common arrival mistakes.
Utilities in China for Foreign Renters: Water, Electricity, Gas, and Property Fees
A practical guide for foreign renters in China on setting up and paying utilities, reading meters, handling property-management fees, avoiding billing disputes, and closing accounts when moving out.
Home Internet in China for Foreigners: How to Set Up Broadband and Wi-Fi
A practical guide for foreign residents setting up home internet in China, from checking building coverage and choosing a plan to installation, router setup, payments, and moving out.
China Employment Contracts for Foreign Employees: What to Check Before You Sign
A practical English checklist for foreign professionals reviewing a China employment contract, including employer identity, work permit alignment, pay, probation, benefits, renewal, and exit terms.
Taking Trains in China as a Foreigner: 12306, Passport Tickets, Check-In, and Refunds
A practical English guide to buying China train tickets with a passport, using 12306, checking in with e-tickets, changing or refunding tickets, and planning station time.
Renting an Apartment in Shenzhen: A Guide for Foreign Professionals
How to search, inspect, sign, file, and move into a rental apartment in Shenzhen, with official platform and registration notes for foreign residents.
Bringing Your Family to China: S1/S2 Visas, Residence Permits, and Practical Planning
A practical guide for foreign professionals who want a spouse, children, parents, or parents-in-law to live with or visit them in China.
Moving to Shenzhen: A First-Week Guide for Foreign Professionals
A practical Shenzhen arrival checklist covering accommodation registration, SIM cards, payments, transport, banking, healthcare, and local government services.
Shenzhen Work and Residence Permit Services: What Foreign Employees Should Know
A Shenzhen-focused guide to work permit, residence permit, and government-service steps for foreign employees and their employers.
China Residence Permit Renewal for Foreigners: When to Apply and What to Prepare in 2026
A practical English guide to China residence permit renewal timing, document planning, address or passport changes, and what foreign employees should do before expiry.
Can Foreigners Drive in China with a Foreign License? What to Do in 2026
A practical English guide to driving legally in mainland China with a foreign license, including temporary driving permits, Chinese license conversion, rentals, and common mistakes.
China Tax Return for Foreigners: Who Must File by June 30, 2026?
A practical English guide to China's annual individual income tax settlement for foreign employees, including who must file, key dates, deductions, and the IIT app.
Your First Week in China: A Practical Arrival Checklist
The first essential tasks to handle after landing, from accommodation registration to mobile payments.
Getting a SIM Card in China: A Guide for Foreign Residents and Visitors
How to get a Chinese mobile number, choose a telecom provider, register with your passport, top up your account, and protect your phone.
How to Open a Bank Account in China as a Foreigner
A practical English guide to opening a Chinese bank account, preparing documents, choosing a branch, and linking the account to daily payments.
Renting an Apartment in Shanghai: A Practical Guide for Foreign Residents
How to search, inspect, sign, pay, and complete accommodation registration when renting a home in Shanghai.
Seeing a Doctor in China: Hospitals, Appointments, Emergency 120, and Payment Basics
A practical English guide for foreigners on how to get medical care in China, from outpatient registration to emergency ambulance calls and insurance reimbursement.
China Work Permits: What International Professionals Should Understand
A plain-English overview of the work permit process and the questions to ask before accepting a role.
Mobile Payments in China for Foreigners: Alipay, Weixin Pay, Cards, and Cash
A practical English guide to using Alipay, Weixin Pay, UnionPay, bank cards, and cash as an international visitor or new resident in China.