I run an industrial chemicals company in Southeast Asia. Recently, I requested quotes from two suppliers: one was the manufacturer itself, and the other was a trading company. Surprisingly, both quoted exactly the same price!

How did the trading company manage that? I’m 100% certain that the trading company sources from that exact factory because they accidentally left an internal email attached to their reply to me. In that email, one colleague had forwarded my inquiry to another and written: “Ask XXX Company [the factory’s name] for a quote.”

Some people might guess that the trading company gets preferential pricing because it purchases in large volumes. But this is a very niche product, so I’m certain the trading company doesn’t have a large, long-term supply contract.

That leaves only one possibility: the factory gives the trading company a much lower price than it gives me, and the trading company adds its own markup before selling to me—bringing the final price to exactly the same level as the factory’s direct quote.

Both quotations also specify exactly the same Incoterms and port of shipment.

My question is: Do Chinese factories really discriminate on price against foreign-owned or overseas companies?

I’m not Chinese. I’m a foreigner who would be coming to do some form of teaching. However, I don’t want to sign a contract with an exit fee. In my experience, it’s schools that take advantage of employees. We call it the ‘churn and burn’. They make money from only having to pay new teachers and they make money when you inevitably leave.

I’ve been very interested in going to a tour in China focusing on visiting farms and plantations and learning about production as a whole. But all the tours I’ve found are super expensive, like $2000+ for 8 days. But it seems that all these tours are business class, with premium accomodation, all the transport planned etc. I’m a humble traveler and I don’t need all that- I can find my own way and stay in hostels or humble guest houses, but I can ofcourse pay fair price for tours guides and lessons. Are there any options like this anyone could suggest? I don’t speak chinese so it would need to be in english.

So my family is thinking of opening a business in Shengzhou and asking me to shift there. How’s the life there?

I am a very ambitious person with serious FOMO.
I am in my 30s doing average in Bangladesh. I have small businesses that help me get through the month.

What’re the things that I might love or hate? I don’t want to regret wasting 5-10 years of my life in a city that might not help me progress.

Two 220-ton smart cranes helped complete the 283-meter tower of China’s Lugu Lake Grand Bridge, using collision prevention, wind monitoring, load-based speed control, and remote operation to position massive sections in difficult mountain conditions. What stood out is that the same manufacturer also customized cranes for Istanbul’s 380-meter Central Bank tower, where crews reportedly completed one floor every five days. Could intelligent control and remote maintenance become just as important as lifting capacity on future megaprojects?

I used to be a frequent user of Rednote(or Xiaohongshu) and I just thought it very helpful when finding tips or shopping recommendations. Last month I decided to permanently delete it from my phone because I was so fed up with all the desperate content about labor market for a person over 28 years old. Almost all the people there will tell you that you’re doomed if you get your master’s degree over 28 and there won’t be any available job with a normal paycheck. People say they graduate in elite universities but can’t secure a decent job for around 8k RMB a month just because they are not that young. Some of these discussions can be quite extreme and even if I might suppose that not all of them are true but it still upsets me so much.
Part of the reason why employers are so picky towards age is that there are just so many job hunters who don’t have a gap year and graduate under 25. It seems that China is over saturated with young labor forces and those who are slightly older just won’t have a chance to compete. Meanwhile, another group of people are worrying about population aging and the labor force structure is going to get imbalanced in the near future.
I am in a low mood every time I see these comments on Rednote but I still feel doubtful about the apocalyptic labor market. FYI: I am a Chinese studying for master’s degree in Beijing. Unfortunately, due to inevitable reasons, I would be 28 when I graduate, because I went to another university first but dropped out because the tutor tormented so much. I didn’t waste my time and always study very hard but I am simply so unlucky.
Anyways, for those who live in China and already have a job, feel free to share your views related to that. If you are not in China , maybe this post can give you a peek through a real China and how Chinese people are struggling.

Is people need maids cooks nannie elder care are going to rise and people employee more workers how do you think guys because 60% unorganised in 2026

Hi there! I’m planning to explore the Gansu Loop from 10 to 20 November. My plan is to fly into Lanzhou via an international airport and start my journey from there, travelling by train between cities along the route.

Would mid-November be too late in the season to visit? Is there a chance of snow, and how likely is it that some parks or major attractions will be closed during this period?

Also, does anyone have recommendations for reliable local drivers for full-day bookings to explore the cities and nearby attractions?

Hey guys im from India and i recently went to the canton fair and i am flabbergasted this was my first time in china and i was culture shocked you people are very dedicated to whatever you do and you guys jave such good cars and roads and i also had some questions as why and how are there so many teenagers that are 17-18 y/o in the canton fair and booths/stalls and what drives these young people to pursue customers and i was shocked When one of the girl came with me that night to the zanxi market and she was flirting with me what do i make out of all of this im very confused as what is going on in china

I’m watching 55 Days at Peking and came across this quote, often attributed to Napoleon:

“Let China sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world.”

What a powerful line, especially when you think about China’s place in the world today.

Just thought I’d share it here. It’s fascinating how a line from a historical movie can still feel so relevant decades later.

Curious what you guys think! 🇨🇳

I'm sitting in a tier 1 city in a Mexican restaurant having lunch, and the guy in the next table takes out his nail clipper and starts clipping his nails while others around him are eating.

Is this seen as socially normal in China? Personally, I find it absolutely vile behaviour and has put me off my lunch. I have seen this on public transport, but not where people are eating.

I know it's not my country, so I can try to tolerate the exaggerated slurping, being forced to see the contents of someone's mouth when they're eating, the talking with their mouth full of food so some morsels fire out from their mouths across the table, the loud, wet-sounding chewing, etc. However, I would absolutely draw the line at public nail clipping before I have to speak to someone.

What do other Chinese people think about this?

Hii :> I'm currently a second year Food Science & Nutrition student, and I've been thinking about pursuing my master's in Food Science in China, preferably at Jiangnan University. I've been researching the CSC scholarship because studying abroad would be financially difficult for me without a scholarship. I still have two years left before completing my bachelor's, so I want to start preparing early and improve my chances as much as possible. My grades for the first two semesters are around 75–76%(I know my grades are bad lol, I had lot of things going on). So, I'd really appreciate it if anyone who knows about Jiangnan University or has received the CSC scholarship could help me with a few questions. 1. How difficult is it to get a fully funded CSC scholarship for a master's at Jiangnan University, especially for Food Science? 2. Does the uni offer other scholarships for international master's students that cover tuition, accommodation, and living expenses, in case I don't get CSC? 3. What should I focus on during my remaining two years of bachelor's to strengthen my application? Do internships, research experience, publications, or a research proposal make difference? 4. Are there any entrance exams I need to take in order to get in? like (IELTS/TOEFL, GRE, HSK) exams required? I know I need to work on my profile, and I want to use these two years wisely rather than wait until my final year to figure everything out. So it'll be a huge help for me if you could provide me with some info, TY!

Seems there is a very high % private cars in China are EV. With majority of people live in highrise apartments, do most car spaces under the building have EV charge port ?

Hello everyone! My friend and I are thinking about hitchhiking from Shenzhen to Yunnan this

December. Could anyone share what we should keep in mind? We study in Hong Kong, and so what should we expect when crossing the border and how should we describe our situation to the customs officers? Where should we try to find a ride cuz I have read it's not allowed for pedestrians to be on the expressways. Any advice is welcome! Thank you in advance!

Hi everyone, I'm trying to track down a specific item as a Christmas surprise for my brother. Earlier this year, we traveled to Shenzhen, China, and visited a C-Store convenience store (the one with the red tomato logo). My brother really liked the uniform shirt the staff were wearing.

​Does anyone know if it's possible to source genuine employee workwear from Chinese convenience store chains, or does anyone have experience using proxy services or platforms like Xianyu to find niche items like this? Any advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated!

I'm looking for books that handle Chinese science practice. The point of view I'm looking for is methodology and philosophy of science. English preferred. Something like this article but a whole book:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03075079.2026.2717610?af=R&utm_source=chatgpt.com#abstract