Just came back for the first time since COVID and it seems like half of the recent English teacher hires are from South Africa, what gives? Not judging just curious what is causing the surge.

Anyone here recently apply for the 团聚类居留许可 aka Residence Permit for Family Reunion? What was the experience like? Any challenges during the application/paperwork process? If you're not working in China, did you have to show proof of income?

Context: I feel like I’m wiping my teeth rather than cleaning them.

Trying to find toothbrushes that say medium/中 is like finding something that is currently being scalped… no seriously, are you guys buying out the other toothbrushes?😂

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for experiences from people who have been in a similar situation.

A few years ago, I was caught working illegally in China. I'm now planning to return as a legitimate university student with an X1 visa (admission letter and JW202).

Has anyone here successfully obtained a Chinese student visa after a previous illegal work violation?

I’ve been living in a Tier 3 city in China for almost two years. It’s a popular Chinese tourist city, and many visitors also come from nearby rural areas.

I’m a blonde, blue-eyed woman, so I know I stand out.
But I still can’t get used to the constant attention.
People stare, make comments, and secretly take photos or videos of me every day. I know most of them are probably just curious, but it’s mentally exhausting. What bothers me most is that I feel like I’ve lost the freedom to just exist in public. Imagine you’ve just found out a family member has died and you go outside to clear your head, only to be treated like a tourist attraction. That’s how it feels sometimes.

I’ve already tried wearing wigs, sunglasses, masks and dressing like locals (long, loose UV clothing even in 40°C weather), but it hasn’t made much difference. Older men, in particular, rarely leave me alone.
For those of you who have lived in China for a long time:

How do you deal with this?
At what point would you confront someone for staring or secretly taking photos?
What can I say in Chinese to politely ask people to leave me alone? And what’s a firmer version if they don’t stop?
I really enjoy living here overall, but this is the one thing I still haven’t been able to adapt to

I’m a female in my twenties moving to China next month and wanted to ask about the dating scene for foreigners.

Are there apps like Hinge over there that are actually good for relationships instead of hookups? Also, do foreign girls date locals often? (I prefer a foreigner but I don’t mind dating locals) and what are the general standards I should be aware of?

(I’m NOT looking for marriage, just short/long term dating)

I (19M) recently got accepted into SJTU and I will be living in Shanghai for the next five years until I complete my degree.

One thing about me is that I’m an avid gamer and I really love games from all over the world.

To have the best experience gaming in China, is a console better or a PC better?

I’m following a isotretinoin treatment in my home country, but I will move to China soon. Is it possible to go to a public hospital in order to continue the therapy with a Chinese dermatologist? Or is it better to continue the therapy with my country’s dermatologist while getting isotretinoin over the counter and getting my blood tests done in China?

Good day, I got admitted to the Xiamen University Overseas Education College for the learning Chinese program. However, I am facing a lot of concerns and issues regarding my application. The first concern is that whenever I try to upload my bank receipt to the website, it causes a system error. I have tried many file formats such as PDF, JPEG and PNG but none work. I have also tried using other browsers such as Google Chrome, Safari and Bing yet it still does not work. Does any former Xiamen university overseas education college student know how to fix this. Furthermore, I have other questions in mind regarding the application process:
Note: Xiamen University = XMU

Questions(for former Xiamen University students)
1. how long did it take for XMU to issue a JW202 to you after payment?
2. How did you upload the bank receipt for your tuition if the XMU website causes a “system error?”
3. Can I rent the XMU dorm for a month rather than the entire semester?

Is there any bar, park or sonewhere in this sense where i can watch the volleyball game with a crowd.

Trying to quit vaping before I fly to Singapore because I dont want to deal with bringing my vape into the country and getting caught possibly. Where can I buy nicotine patches? I’m in Zhangzhou

Hi, im 12, i live in germany but im national a russian, i always wanted to live in china because i always saw it safe county, "future living" and all that +. But i have always a question how it really is. Is it easy to live there without knowing chinese or mandarin? How is it in general? I have really many quedtions that i cant write down. Sorry if it is a wrong subreddit or smth (People that are chinese can write too!!)

China A/B License Ground Training — Night paragliding by Zhuhai Sun & Moon Shell 🌙🪂
Every Tuesday & Wednesday, we cross the HK-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge from Hong Kong to train on the seaside grass next to the Sun & Moon Shell landmark.
Why nights? Cooler, less exhausting, and the sea breeze gives us steady, reliable wind. The grass is clean and flat — no rocks, no stones, no tree roots. Nobody chases us away, so it's become our regular training spot. Plus, no bridge reservation needed on Tue & Wed.
Last night we trained until 9:30pm, went for hotpot, then headed home. I'm a full-time paragliding coach now — my car doubles as the school bus, dropping students off after training.
Ground handling is where it all begins. Launch the wing, manage the lines, build muscle memory. Step by step.
China A/B license training (FAI certified) is open to anyone interested. DM me

Most of the complaints on reddit that I see about English 1 is the somewhat long working hours, the fact that you have to work evenings sometimes and working on weekends. None of that really matters to me since I have worked retail in the United States for the past 8 years. I also have a suspicion that some of these people might have been walking into the whole thing like a paid "vacation" to china and not a real job. Is it not really that bad if you 1. Don't mind working with children 2. Don't mind the working hours and 3. Treat it like a job?

I fell in love with a Chinese man. He is a Chinese man living in the Netherlands, where he has worked hard to build his business and create a stable life. For almost a year, we were happy and did our best to make our long-distance relationship work. I loved him with all my heart, and I dreamed about the day we would finally meet. He was already stable in life, building his career and future. Meanwhile, I was still chasing my dream of becoming a nurse. I spent my days studying, attending lectures, and completing my clinical duties because I knew this career would shape the rest of my life. We planned to meet in September, and I wanted that more than anything. But my enrollment was delayed, and my nursing schedule wasn’t finalized until later than expected. I realized I couldn’t leave my clinical duties behind. It broke my heart because I knew how much our meeting meant to him, and it meant just as much to me. I applied for my passport because I truly wanted to see him. I was even willing to spend my entire Christmas and New Year’s break away from my family just to be with him, without worrying about classes or hospital duties. I was trying to protect the future I had worked so hard to build while holding on to the person I loved. Sometimes love is real, but the timing isn’t. I wished he could have waited just a little longer. Maybe things would have been different. No matter what happens, I’ll always be grateful that I know him. Thank you for loving me, for making me happy, and for giving me memories I’ll always carry with me.

I love you, Boss Jinnan H.

I’ll always wonder… what if you had waited just a little longer?

Hey everyone,

Im moving to China this August and I was wondering what accommodation websites are legitimate or if there are any you recommend.

I-Home was recommended personally by my host uni but it’s kinda expensive but I found another platform called I-Stay which is somewhat cheaper and more diverse.

Help needed ASAP😭
Thank youuu

Dear all,

I have been spending few months in Beijing and I have been attending a Chinese class for foreigners, with other students which are much younger than me. I don't find the class very useful because there are too many students, and my goal is to make progress fast rather than saving money. I just thought that learning with other students would have been fun (and indeed there are some nice people in the class) but now I have been changing my mind.

On the other hand, I don't feel like abandoning my chinese teacher, because she is very cute. She seems quite interested in my life because she often asks me questions about my life in chinese (and never ask the other students).

1) Can I ask her if she is interested to do 1-1 classes outside the school? (as far as I understand she only teaches in the school for 1.5 hours /day but i have no idea what she is doing during the rest of her day. This would also be a good reason to continue with online classes after I leave Beijing.

2) Would it be rude if I contact her with wechat? I am not her friend there, but I have her contact because we are in the same chat group.

3) Would she be afraid of losing her job because I contact her outside her school?

4) Finally, and more importantly, would it be crazy to invite her for dinner at some point? :D my feeling is that here in China, it is not so crazy to go to dinner with your own teacher.

Did anyone of you have any experience in dating with your Chinese teacher?

I am happy to hear your story !

Hey everyone,

I want to move to China to learn Mandarin at a university, but I need to keep costs low—ideally through a full scholarship.

If I end up self-funding, I want to make sure I pay for a great dorm and live in a vibrant city (like Hangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, or Nanjing) to explore Chinese culture, business, and daily life.

About me:

• Master’s degree holder
• Fluent in English (IELTS 8.0)
• Goal: Learn Mandarin, experience local culture, and understand the business environment.

Advise me!

Thanks for any tips or personal experiences!

I will be living near Green Lake Kunming - are there places to run or has anyone tried the Ao Fitness gym - can I get a membership there?

I am a 27 yo male and I have been offered a job in china with monthly salary upto 1500USD plus commission. I'd also be give allowances on rent grocery and travel. Is this enough for a couple and savings? The city hasn't been disclosed yet but it will probably be beijing. Is this salary enough for supporting my spouse as company will only give allowances on my expenses.