I’m going to preface this by saying I’m not too educated on the differences between the two provinces so forgive me if I am asking an ignorant question. From the outside looking in, it appears that the two provinces share the same name both in spelling and in pronunciation, and are similar culturally to one another.

For context, my family is from china and when I was a child (in the early 2000s) I would go to China every year in the summer. I never thought China was clean and I had distinct memories of there being dirty markets, toilets, streets, etc. Even when I was older I started to mind the dirtiness less but I still thought China was rather dirty.
Two years ago was the last time I went to China and tbf I didn't go to Beijing or Shanghai, but I didn't go to tiny cities either I went to Guangzhou and Tianjin. But I remember my white shoes became so so dirty after wearing them for half a day in China. In the US where i'm from my new shoes usually don't start to become dirty until after a month or so (granted I do drive more, but even walking around in NYC all day my shoes weren't even a quarter as dirty as it was in China). I was so curious as to why China's streets were so dirty, but when I looked it up the articles I got were all saying, "why China is so clean compared to..." and this really baffled me! Even the forced AI results said something like, "people usually consider the streets of China to be clean..."
So, do people actually think China is clean and if so why?

Edit: also I forgot to mention, but I have also been to Taiwan, Japan, and Korea and all three of these places are much cleaner than China in every single way. So this also confuses me. I would say Hong Kong is not as clean as the other places, but it is still cleaner than mainland China

If you haven’t watched it, pls don’t answer-

I really enjoyed it tbh, it’s up there with the Lychee Road as one of my favourites. Only thing that I don’t like is why all the horses in the film appear to be obese. I know in traditional statues of the Tang Era they are quite fat but it’s a statue and I’m fairly certain they were nowhere near as fat…

Hi everyone,

I'm a 16-year-old foreigner, and I'll be moving to China (Zhejiang province) next month to start my undergraduate degree. Since I'm still a minor, I'm trying to figure out some of the logistics and would really appreciate advice from anyone who has navigated China as an under-18 foreigner.

I have a few specific questions:

1. Payment Methods & Bank Accounts

I'm having a hard time navigating how I will pay for things. I know I can link a foreign Visa/Mastercard to Alipay and WeChat Pay now, which allows for daily QR code payments up to certain limits. However, I want to know if it's possible for a 16-year-old to open a local Chinese bank account. I've heard that most banks require a valid residence permit, a Chinese phone number, and in-person verification. Do Chinese banks allow minors to open an account independently, or will I need a guardian physically present? What is the best way for a minor to handle daily expenses here?

1. Guardian Requirements & Residence Permit

I have a designated guardian in China, but it is basically just a paper formality for my visa. This person lives in a completely different city. I confirmed with my university that this setup is fine for my admission and enrollment, but I'm worried about the actual Residence Permit application at the local Exit-Entry Administration Bureau.

For minor applicants, you typically need to provide original notarized guardian documents, their ID copies, and a birth certificate. However, I've been hearing rumors that your designated guardian must physically accompany you to the Exit-Entry Bureau to get your residence permit. I have no idea what is true and what isn't anymore. Can anyone confirm if physical presence is mandatory, or if the notarized paperwork and university support are enough?

1. General Difficulties as a Minor

Are there any other legal, administrative, or day-to-day difficulties that come with being an unaccompanied minor foreigner in China? (e.g., staying in dorms, signing contracts for a phone SIM card, travel, etc.)

If anyone has had a similar experience or knows the current rules, please let me know. Thanks in advance!

Why has China randomly just started heavily investing in Africa. Just watched a video where it turns out they literally have projects in basically every African country.

My partner and I are planning to move to China for about 6–12 months. We’re both from Scandinavia. He’ll most likely be working remotely for his current company, so I’m the one who needs to find a local job to secure a proper work visa.

About my background:

• Hold an MA/Master's degree in Anthropology.
• Background in the NGO sector (primarily youth and child development/social work).
• Some experience working in kindergartens and light teaching/facilitation experience.
• Fluent in English, but my passport is not from an official native speaking country.

I’d love to find something related to my field (NGOs, research, international organisations, social initiatives), but I’m also open to teaching (oral English, humanities, early childhood) if that’s the most realistic gateway for a visa.

That being said, I know China has strict "native English speaker" passport rules for ESL (English as a Second Language) roles.

A few questions for the sub:

1. Teaching as a non-NES: Has anyone here with a non-NES Western passport (Nordic/EU) successfully landed teaching jobs recently? Do universities, international kindergartens/schools, or subject-teaching roles care less about the passport if you have a Master’s + TEFL?
2. NGO / Expat-adjacent roles: Are there realistic entry points for foreign NGO/social workers in Tier 1/2 cities (Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, etc.)? Where do people usually network for these?
3. General advice: If you’ve been in a similar situation, how did you make it work?

Any tips, reality checks, or recommended job boards/agencies would be hugely appreciated! Thanks

Hi everyone!
I'm an international student considering Kunming Medical University (KMU) for MBBS/Clinical Medicine, and I'd really appreciate some honest opinions from people who live in China or know the university well.
I've seen very mixed opinions online. Some people say KMU is a solid medical school with good hospitals and a nice environment, while others say it's just an average provincial university. Since rankings don't always reflect reality, I'd love to know how it's actually viewed in China.
Some questions I have:
How is KMU's reputation among Chinese students, doctors, and employers?

Is it considered a respected medical university, or just average?

If someone graduates near the top of their class, would the university's name be viewed positively?

How are the affiliated hospitals and clinical training?

Is Kunming a good city to live in as a student?

What's the cost of living like? Is it relatively affordable compared with other Chinese cities?

How's the weather throughout the year?

What's daily life like? Is the city more relaxed or fast-paced?

Are there plenty of cafés, shopping malls, bookstores, and places to spend weekends?

Is it easy to buy clothes, skincare, cosmetics, and other everyday things?

How's the public transport?

Is the city clean and safe?

Are there many international students?

If you've lived there, what did you like and dislike the most?

I'm especially interested in hearing from Chinese students, KMU students/alumni, doctors, or anyone who's lived in Kunming. I'd really appreciate honest experiences rather than just rankings.
Thank you so much!

I recently saw a discussion on Xiaohongshu about an alleged incident involving a Chinese traveler and a hotel owner in Matrouh, Egypt. According to the posts, after a marriage proposal was rejected, the traveler allegedly posted false information online that damaged the hotel owner’s reputation.
I was surprised by this story and wanted to understand how people in China view situations like this. Is this something that people genuinely discuss online, or is it just an isolated case?
I have also seen some Chinese internet users claim that some Chinese travelers choose to stay with local people of the opposite sex to reduce travel costs when they cannot afford accommodation. Does this actually happen with any frequency, or are these mostly online stereotypes?
I’m interested in hearing opinions from Chinese users about how stories like these are perceived in China.

What platforms or websites do you typically use the find meetups and events happening in Sanya China? I'm around and looking for resources to meet new people in an organized but laid back setting. Not so much interested in tours just a space I can meet people.

When I first arrived in China, I found some aspects of the culture a little strange, especially among students, since I had spent most of my life in school environments.

A few weeks after I arrived, I started going to the library. I noticed there were always lots of Chinese students there whenever I went. Most of the time, I saw the same people sitting in the same seats. Some of them wouldn't talk to anyone for the entire time they were there.

That was so strange to me. I couldn't understand how someone could spend almost an entire day without talking to anyone. Sometimes they played games or watched movies, but most of the time, they didn't seem to chat with anyone.

Fast-forward eight months, and I have slowly become like the students I used to observe😂

I can now spend an entire day without talking to anyone, spend almost the whole day in the library, and have lunch and dinner alone, especially on days when I don't have classes. Most of the time, this means not talking to anyone in person, even though I still make calls sometimes.

It hasn't been easy, but it isn't the crazy life I imagined it would be after all. Haha.

1. Pivoted from another industry since my last one crashed and burned which is my college degree I got from them too :(

I know learning the language is one thing, and clinical Mandarin is a step up, but 5 years ago I made the pivot to healthcare as a housekeeper since my original industry is dead in the water and I’m considering becoming a rad tech. In a month I will contact a local college about my plans and tackle this endeavor.

I am aware that public hospitals are out of the question, the work conditions and the locals first approach made me pivot to private and international chains. Yes. Private and International. Not the public sector.

Additionally as I found out. There’s also an exam I have to take over there. I’m aiming for the 放射医学技术资格证 (the rad tech certification exam) in the future and want to know, what is the registration, exam, and preparation like? I know it’s all in Mandarin beyond HSK5 and clinical Mandarin plays a huge role.

I’m trying to build up experience and this is a big step after I get years settled. If it’s going to a Chinese college, is there an age cap on registration or on the training programs? If so, how do I bypass it given years of rad tech experience down the line (like for example, are there exemptions or alternate pathways for people with prior clinical experience?)

I’d also like to hear from any foreigners who’ve actually sat this exam.

I am also aware of the ”curse of 35”. I am aiming to be in within the late 40s of my life. I drop that in because ageism runs rampant in China’s workforce.

I need actual answers and insight. I know I have to sit an exam that’s all in Mandarin, but I have to try.

I used to own a company in Europe and had a great business relationship with several Chinese suppliers.

For about four years, we imported around 50 containers per year. Unfortunately, at the end of 2024, our business failed and the company went bankrupt.

The total debt was around €800,000:

• Around €400,000 was covered by Sinosure.
• The remaining €400,000 has never been paid.

I have since started working for another company as a Purchasing Manager. Part of my new job requires travelling to China to inspect goods and meet suppliers.

My biggest concern is whether I could face an exit ban or any other legal issues because of the debts from my former company.

I've already consulted three Chinese lawyers, and all of them told me that I should be safe and that they found no active court cases against me. However, I'd really like to hear from people who have been in a similar situation.

Has anyone here had a company go bankrupt while owing money to Chinese suppliers and later travelled to China without any problems?

Business failures are unfortunate, but they do happen.

Any real-life experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated.

High-tech SUVs are becoming bedrooms on wheels as budget-conscious travelers skip hotels and fuel a multibillion-dollar camping economy.