May 08, 2024
Chinese workplace culture can confuse foreigners about what exactly their boss is thinking and saying. In this article, break down some of the most confusing local practices and bring you some tips on how expats can charm their Chinese bosses. Read more>>
Jul 06, 2012 Comments(14)
While it’s at least very annoying, and at most woefully erroneous that many Chinese people judge all foreigners to be totally minted, it’s not hard to see why, when many foreigners are here living decadent lifestyles, partying on weekends (and ...... Read More>>
Jul 04, 2012 Comments(6)
Photo: ouradoptionstories.com When it comes to expanding the family, adoption is an option often considered by families for various reasons. While many foreign couples consider the adoption of a Chinese baby, few realise how the process works and end up ...... Read More>>
Jun 23, 2012 Comments(2)
Lychee mojitos. Photo: glueandglitter.com It's easy to get carried away spending at least 80 RMB for a fancy cocktail at overpriced "Western" bars. There can also be concerns about the authenticity of cheap alcohol at your local watering hole. ...... Read More>>
Jun 22, 2012 Comments(1)
Photo: flickr.com Along with taxmen, lawyers, mother-in-laws and people that shout into their mobile phones in public like they are trying to communicate by sheer lung power alone, agents are some of the most despised/maligned people on Planet Earth. For ...... Read More>>
Jun 19, 2012 Comments(4)
Welcome to China's edition of Battle of the Browsers, where competing web browsers pit their wits and wiles against each other in a fight for the covetable title of Web Browser Extraordinaire. Three top browsers will tough it out, armed exclusively with ...... Read More>>
Jun 14, 2012 Comments(8)
Photo: itiexue.net Generally speaking, China is safe for expats and tourists. In a land where saving face is everything, Beijing has sought to abolish negative international news coverage by ensuring overseas nationals are treated well. Now crimes against ...... Read More>>
Jun 08, 2012 Comments(6)
Photo: tech-faq.com If recent tragic events in Japan have taught us anything, it is how being prepared for a disaster can save lives. While the death toll in the recent earthquake and tsunami in Northeastern Japan has reached nearly 20,000 as of this ...... Read More>>
Jun 01, 2012 Comments(14)
China is a place where an expat can learn about a different culture, a different language and how to be independent. It can be a place where you learn exactly what you’re made of and where you live out you’re big city dreams. It can also be a ...... Read More>>
Apr 24, 2012 Comments(9)
Photo: mappling.com The difficulties faced by ESL primary school teachers are often exacerbated by their students' young age (and the subsequent limited attention span), inability to read and write, disparate English levels, infrequent lessons, and their ...... Read More>>
Apr 21, 2012 Comments(2)
Note: Can of worms, not a perfect gift. Photo: brandautopsy.com Trying to shoulder your way into the fray of Chinese gift-giving culture is hard for many expats. And when the time comes to bringing mementos from back home, it gets even harder. In China, ...... Read More>>
Apr 20, 2012 Comments(6)
Going to a Chinese market (more popularly just called a "fake market") can be a daunting task. Various vendors shouting at you, shoving goods in your face, and even sometimes grabbing your wrists can make for a stressful outing. One way to make ...... Read More>>
Apr 14, 2012 Comments(1)
Photo: lafujimama.com Today, Chinese food has travelled far beyond the borders of China to become an internationally recognised cuisine. Kung Pao Chicken and Peking Duck are dishes that people all over the world not only know by name, but by taste. Takeout ...... Read More>>
Apr 06, 2012 Comments(12)
The visa issue is one of the thorniest and most talked-about in the expat community. The luckier laowai are those whose companies complete the visa process for them. Freelancers and consultants who have enough cash can use agencies to help them out, but is ...... Read More>>
Apr 03, 2012 Comments(0)
Chinese chess, or 象棋 (xiàngqi) as it is known in China, is one of the most popular games in the world, yet many Westerners never hear of it until moving east. Even if you've played Western chess before, xiangqi will probably still be puzzling at first. ...... Read More>>
Apr 02, 2012 Comments(2)
China is known as the land of knock offs, where you can get everything and anything you may desire (or potentially desire, or a friend of a friend desires, or…) - and all this at a low, low price. But while you may rejoice at the cheap cost of vegetables, ...... Read More>>
Mar 26, 2012 Comments(7)
Photo: globaltimes.cn Lili blinked and said, "I hadn't thought of that before." I pressed her to think about it and she just shut down. I shut up. Awkward silence ensued. We paid the bill, I finished my tea and we went window shopping, a prospect ...... Read More>>
Mar 24, 2012 Comments(0)
Whether or not you currently employ an ayi (otherwise known as a maid), no doubt you've heard the countless horror stories floating around the expat community. "My ayi broke my favourite vase!" (friend's true story) or "My ayi just stopped ...... Read More>>
Mar 22, 2012 Comments(0)
Whether it be as a memento of your time here, to shower distant relatives with poignant gifts, or to beautify the bare walls of your apartment, buying artwork in China may seem like a relatively easy task. Take a walk through any local market, shopping ...... Read More>>
Mar 20, 2012 Comments(1)
Cooking in China is notoriously hard, from the exotic (and sometimes downright befuddling) ingredients to the complete and utter lack of kitchen space, to the frequent lack of an oven. But nonetheless, it is possible to cook some of your Chinese favourites ...... Read More>>
Mar 09, 2012 Comments(2)
Meals are an important part of life in China and big meals are an especially important aspect. It only follows that business meals are also an essential ingredient in life for entrepreneurs and their colleagues. However, just knowing they’re important ...... Read More>>
Mar 04, 2012 Comments(2)
Over thirty million people visit China each year, including tourists and business travelers. China also has entire neighborhoods full of foreign residents. Although most foreign visitors in this rapidly developing nation choose to get by with the metro, ...... Read More>>
Feb 28, 2012 Comments(0)
No one ever wants to feel like a number. This is especially true while travelling. China, like most destinations, has a well-worn travel circuit. While this circuit does provide convenience and access to places which would otherwise be near impossible to ...... Read More>>
Feb 27, 2012 Comments(1)
It's hard enough starting a business in your own country, but imagine doing it abroad. Language barriers, differences in business practices, licensing requirements and visas all affect a small business' ability to get off the ground. Even more than at home, ...... Read More>>
Feb 23, 2012 Comments(0)
It may still be winter, but it's not too early to start thinking about doing a little spring cleaning. It's amazing the amount of stuff – clothing, books, furniture – you can accumulate throughout your stay in China. But once everything is ...... Read More>>
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