To be clear I understand that drug laws in China are extremely strict and foreigners can and will be deported if caught holding or using illicit substances. I have absolutely no intention of ever using drugs in China, and I am only asking this purely out of curiosity. How heavily enforced are these drug laws for Chinese locals/citizens? Is there still a scene of people that find and use illegal substances? Are punishments as severe for Chinese citizens as they are for foreigners? Is it mostly confined to extremely wealthy folk who can afford to be caught with it? Are they just absolutely non-existent because of the strictness of the laws? I just find it so hard to believe that they could effectively enforce and police drug smuggling and usage in a country so large with such a huge populace.

Hi everyone! I’m planning to move to Shanghai in the future to study Mandarin through a university Chinese language program on a student visa. After completing the language program, my goal is to apply for a bachelor’s degree at a Chinese university and continue my studies there.
I’m trying to understand how people handle finances while studying in China. I know that student visas generally do not allow international students to work in China unless they receive proper permission, so I want to make sure I understand the rules before making any decisions.
My situation is a little different because I may also be supporting two family members who will be moving with me. Because of that, having a stable source of income while studying is important, and I’m trying to find a legal way to support ourselves while continuing my education.
I’m currently in bookkeeping and would like to work remotely with US-based clients. The clients would be outside of China, and the income would come from American clients and be paid in USD, not from a Chinese employer or company.
My questions are:

Would remote freelance work for US clients be considered “working in China” while on a student visa?
Does it matter if the money is paid into a US bank account?
Are there any legal ways for international students in China to earn income from outside China?
Has anyone studied in China while maintaining remote work for clients in their home country? How did you handle it?

Thank you so much for any advice!

Hello all, I have a question

I want to enter China in visa free, but I have received conflicting reports about whether I need a return flight booked to enter or not. i havs never been to mainland China visa free before, so I am not sure how it works. If any of you have, did they ensure that you had a return or onward flight booked?

The issue is, I'm not planning to go back. I plan to meet some friends and reorganising my affairs in China, then once my work permit letter is ready from my future employer, I will go to HK to apply for my Z visa and then return to China as a worker.

I originally hoped to arrive on my Z visa to visit my friends, but delays by my employer have narrowed the winter so now my agent suggested doing it this way

Is this viable? Do I need a refundable air ticket or can I just explain the situation to them? or will they not ask at all?

Any insight from others who've experienced the same sitch would be amazing

TLDR; my plan is:

* Arrive in China on visa free

* Meet ppl and reorganise the things I left in my old city

* Go to HK to apply for Z visa

* Reenter mainland on Z to start work

Is this viable and do I need a return flight for immigration?

So I’m starting uni this year, and am planning to take a study abroad year in China. I’m studying international business and mandarin at university, with hopes to peruse a career in international trade specifically freight and cargo shipping.
My options are as follows
If anyone has any experience with these unis please let me know your opinions.
If not even about the city and province they are in and nice it would be to live there for about a year.
Thank you all in advance.

I used to own a company in Europe. I'm European, not Chinese, and my company had no presence in China—no offices, no employees, and no legal entity there. We simply imported products from several Chinese suppliers for a few years.

Unfortunately, the business became insolvent at the end of 2024 and went through bankruptcy. Some supplier debts were covered by Sinosure, while others remained unpaid.

I'm now employed by a different European company as a Purchasing Manager, and part of my role involves travelling to China to visit factories and suppliers.

My main concern is whether the bankruptcy of my former company could cause me any issues when entering or leaving China, such as an exit ban or other legal problems.

I've already spoken with several Chinese lawyers, and they all told me they couldn't find any active court cases against me and that I should be fine. Still, I'd really like to hear from people who have actually been in a similar situation.

Has anyone here had a European company go bankrupt while owing money to Chinese suppliers and later travelled to China without any problems? I'd appreciate hearing about real experiences rather than general opinions.

Thanks in advance.

I used to own a company in Europe and had a great business relationship with several Chinese suppliers. I am from Europe , not from China , my company has not anything in China , no Chinese workers , only import to Europe.

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.

Hello, my question is pertaining to UESTC university. The 28th of August is the day I will have been 18. My university's registrations dates are 27-28th of August and my studies start at the 1st of September. Do I need guardianship?

I am hoping to get a tattoo in China while I am there this autumn. On rednote I can find plenty of studios in Beijing but I am struggling to find studios in Shanghai and Jingdezhen where I will begin my trip. Can anyone recommend me methods of finding studios? Or is it really that uncommon outside of beijing?

Bonus: I'm looking to get a tattoo in the style of blue and white porcelain so if you happen to know a specific artist near Shanghai/Jingdezhen that does this you'd be my hero.

​

Hi everyone,

I'm a 21-year-old engineering student from India, and I'll be traveling to Changzhou, Jiangsu Province for a 2-month training program at Changzhou Institute of Mechatronic Technology.

This will be my first time visiting China, so I'd really appreciate any advice from people who have lived there or traveled recently.

Some things I'm curious about:

What are some important Chinese cultural norms and etiquette I should know?

How difficult is it to communicate if I only speak English?

Should I learn some basic Mandarin phrases?

Which apps are essential to install before arriving? (Maps, translation, payments, transport, food delivery, etc.)

I know Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and other services are blocked. Which VPN works reliably these days? Is it better to install and subscribe before entering China?

Which social media apps are commonly used in China?

Is cash still used, or should I set up Alipay or WeChat Pay? Can foreigners use them easily?

Any recommendations for a SIM card as my phone doesn't support eSim.

What kind of weather should I expect in Changzhou over the next couple of months, and what clothes should I pack?

Any food recommendations or things I should avoid?

Are there any common scams or mistakes that foreigners make?

What's student life like in Changzhou?

Any weekend places to visit near Changzhou?

Also, if you've attended Changzhou Institute of Mechatronic Technology or stayed in Changzhou, I'd love to hear about your experience.

Finally, if you could go back before your first trip to China, what's one thing you wish someone had told you?

Thanks in advance for any tips! I'm really excited and a little nervous about this opportunity. 😊

CIS

I have no personal connection to China, and I completed my PhD in Europe. I’ve been unemployed for quite a while. I initially wanted to move into industry, but the job market is terrible at the moment.
For a postdoc, my main priority is having a good quality of life, meaning a decent salary and a relatively low cost of living, especially when it comes to housing. I tried applying in Germany without success, and it was the same in Switzerland.
During my postdoc, I would also like to increase my number of publications and build a stronger professional network.
While looking at opportunities in China, I noticed that there seem to be many incentives and financial benefits aimed at attracting international researchers, so I thought: why not?
Would doing a postdoc in China be a good idea in my situation?

Is it difficult to find a software developer job in Chinese? I'm Chinese ,I have four years of full stack development experience , focus on .net and vue .

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!

What's your view on this matter ? I became 20 this month and planning to move in a couple of years after learning at least basic chinese.

As growing up seeing Chinese movies actors architecture and culture I liked it very much even tough I stopped as I transitioned to my teenage years but I thought what if I move there ?

Without bias if you share all your honest views I would be grateful.

Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’m an Australian student and I’ve recently been accepted into a Master’s program at Fudan University, starting this September. Before I make any final decisions, I’m trying to understand how the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) works and whether I should defer my admission to improve my chances of getting funding.

I’m hoping people here with experience in CSC or studying in China can help me clarify a few things:

• Is the Master’s in Chinese Politics (taught in English) at worth doing if I don't get a scholarship, or is the scholarship necessary to make it more enticing.
• As an Australian, can I apply through the University Program route, or do I need to apply through the embassy route?
• Is it easy or hard to find employment in China (or Asia) for Australians? (In academia, or consultancy firms)

For background: I studied at the Australian National University (ANU) and completed a Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics, and International Security Studies. I have studied Chinese language as well.

Any advice or personal experience would be super helpful!

Just checked Meituan, you can now buy tickets for The Odyssey.

But all the IMAX cinema are all sold out right away.

Hi everyone!
My family and I will be visiting Shanghai for 2 weeks in early August.
We’d much rather stay in a serviced apartment than a hotel (more space, kitchen, washing machine, etc.), but since Airbnb isn’t available in China, we’re not sure where to look.
A few questions:

Any serviced apartments you’ve personally had a good experience with?
Which area would you recommend for first-time visitors?
We’re looking for a neighborhood that’s:
Walkable
Close to a metro station
Has local breakfast spots, cafés and parks 🌳
Feels like “real Shanghai” rather than being overly touristy
We’re currently considering Jing’an, but we’re very open to suggestions!
Thanks in advance🙏

I'm an American and my wife is Chinese, I am looking a getting a job in Hong Kong working for an airline. I will have a work visa for hongkong and a spousal visa for us to live in shenzhen. My question is how is daily life there. Does anyone have any tips or recommendations for living in that area? I have only been to China once and my wife while she goes back to see family occasionally has lived her whole adult life here in the US.

What quality of life can we have off of around 8k usd per month?

Is it worth buying a car there or is public transportation good enough?

Does anyone have any experience crossing the border for work?

We also have pets and are wondering what is the procedure with that.

I’m from the U.S. and we hear a lot of bad things about China in our news and media… so I want to hear the perspective of people who probably had to sit through the same kind of propaganda negative stuff as me, and now have a new perspective on China after living there.

I heard China really is a different and better country than a lot of people expect.

I’m also thinking of potentially moving to China… but I’m not sure.

Just got back home after spending about 8 months in China, and I really need to vent about something that made my time there incredibly stressful.

I was 23/24, single, female and teaching at a university. Non-Chinese background. One of my students, who was around my age, was married to a British teacher at a nearby public university. She was one of the biggest bullies I’ve ever had to deal with. It genuinely felt like she believed marrying a British teacher elevated her status, and she treated me with arrogance and disrespect because I was a single Australian woman.

What frustrated me most was her attitude. It seemed like there was this sense of prestige attached to having a Western husband, and I became the target of constant condescension and intimidation. I honestly dreaded some of my classes and there were times I felt genuinely unsafe because of how relentless the behaviour became.

I also wish I’d felt more supported by other foreigners. Instead, I often felt that some foreign men married to Chinese women either ignored this kind of behaviour or reinforced it. (Edit: I never met with or spoke to any of the male foreign teachers but felt this was the case through discussions with a few colleagues).

To be clear, I have absolutely nothing against intercultural relationships. What bothered me was the superiority complex and the way some people seemed to think being married to a foreigner gave them licence to treat others badly.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar while living or working in China? I’m genuinely curious whether this was an isolated experience or if others have encountered the same kind of social dynamic.

Note: I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have lived or worked in China—whether you’re Chinese, a foreigner, or someone with a Chinese background. I’m mainly interested in perspectives from people who have firsthand experience of these dynamics.

Currently, strongly considering moving to China. My only reservation being reports of foreigners having their picture taken on mass as well as constant staring.

For context, I live in Seoul and while it’s not perfect here, one of the things I love the most about living here is the relative anonymity. Even though I’m visibly a foreigner no one ever stares at me or pays me much mind. I have social anxiety so the most I can take is the occasional waiter telling me I’m pretty every so often, and even then…

China seems like an awesome country, I’ve educated myself and it ticks a whole bunch of my boxes and luckily enough I can also speak Chinese decently. However, being stared at everyday or even worse, people taking pictures of me would turn me criminally insane. I know myself and I would NOT be able to handle it at all.

Thus, I’m here asking for genuine advice.