There’s no one-size-fits-all rule for settling into expat life in a new country, but here are a few helpful articles and personal stories that may help make your move a little easier.
China is one of the world's economic powerhouses, and more and more expats are jumping at the opportunity to live and work in Shanghai, Beijing and in other thriving metropolises.
That said, expats eager to become part of this East Asian economy should realise that positions… Read more
Melissa is 27-year-old South African currently working as an ESL teacher at an international kindergarten in China. She is an animal lover and a nature enthusiast.
Read more about China in the Expat Arrivals China country guide.
About Melissa
Q: Where are you… Read more
Julia, hailing from Scotland, is a new addition to the expat scene in China. She shares her experiences of what life is like in the Henan Province, as she teaches English there on her gap year. Read about the cultural changes she has had to adjust to, what she enjoys about living in China, and the… Read more
The little brother to neighbouring Guangzhou, Foshan offers its visitors a diverse and welcoming expat community which is able to savour a plethora of different cuisines, entertainment and experiences.Those relocating to Foshan can enjoy a lifestyle that balances an emphasis on the best of Chinese… Read more
Rachel is an American expat who moved to China when her husband got a job in the nuclear industry. They live in a village just outside Haiyang, in China’s Shandong Province. While she sometimes feels frustrated not being able to work, she’s been able to spend some time learning Mandarin and… Read more
Paul is a British expat living in China. He moved to Jinan, the capital of China’s eastern Shandong province, to immerse himself in a different culture and learn a new language. He supports his adventures in China by teaching English.
Read more about China in the Expat Arrivals China country… Read more
As I'm a teacher, Wednesday is when I start my week, and it ends on Sunday – as the weekend days are busy teaching days in China. I take Monday and Tuesday off, which isn’t bad since there are almost 20 million people living in my city, so not having to fight the crowds of a typical weekend is just… Read more
You can hardly open a magazine or newspaper these days without finding an article on the rise of China, so it’s not surprising the country attracts scores of expats looking to boost their international business bona fides or experience some of the most vibrant cities in the East. But China is,… Read more
Ben graduated with a business degree and decided to get his work experience out in the big wide world before settling into an entry-level job back home in the States. Eight years, many trips back home, and a few Chinese cities later and he's still living and working in China, and loving it. When he… Read more
Tina Li has been working in the expat housing and relocation services field in China for over 13 years, and is currently a partner at Greenpath Relocation and Real Estate Services in Beijing. Here she shares her insights and answers some of the most common questions expats have about finding… Read more
When I made the great leap to start a business in China from the UK, it soon dawned on me that to do business well in China, you need to “be Chinese”. By this, I don’t mean you can’t do business as a foreigner, but you do need to think like a Chinese person.
Most “laowai” (… Read more
By Broc Smith, author of “The Tragic Kingdom, or, Prisoner in a Chinese Theme Park”
The best advice for expats wanting to get their drivers licence in China is simple. Don’t.
In China, driving is a risky business and can often seem more similar to a true blood sport or… Read more
Broc Smith, an American architect, shares this witty account of his experiences of communicating in China. Article originally published in August 2010.
I moved from the States to Asia in 1992 BC (Before Computers, specifically email). Back then, even carrier pigeons went ballistic when… Read more
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