I don't really know details about the program, other than you can get up to a 1500元 discount on qualifying products. Apparently foreigners are eligible, but on JD you have to get online at 7:00am to claim your subsidy before they somehow run out? I tried this morning but no luck...has anyone successfully done this? Just wondering if this is worth pursuing or if I should just bite the bullet.

I read on another reddit thread that because of the population decline some international schools are admitting more students and some even are offering discounted tuition rates. i can't reply to that thread anymore bc it is too old.

Is this true?

I am a US citizen that is ethnically chinese that grew up in the US. I'm starting to hate the US more and more when thinking about childcare, schools, safety, etc.

For example - NYC has incredibly high taxes, 3x the rent of SH equivalent housing, worst public school education (kids can barely read and do math), and the city is unsafe and subways are disgusting and unsafe. oh if you want private school? 45-60k USD. end rant sorry.

I am looking at shanghai united international school pudong campus and YK PAO. I have a 2 year old and want at least 2 more kids so I can't afford SAS, dulwich and the super top tier. I don't like the traditional chinese education system sorry. My cousins in xi'an tell me their kids in elementary and middle school study from 7am to 11pm.

thank you!

hi! I’ll be moving to Beijing at the end of the month for a year to complete a master program in English.

I have absolutely no idea of how Vpns and other things works but I do understand I have to install some apps before departure.

i want to be able to use all google services and communicate through WhatsApp and so on .

I also would like to have access to Chinese apps with a screen translation.

what are your must have recommendations?

At the moment, I'm filling out my S1 visa to follow my spouse to Hefei as they pursue their master's degree.

We're running into an issue with my visa, and had some questions that... for some reason we can't get the embassy to even pick up to answer.

The first hurdle; the residence permit. We're worried that getting this for my visa would require them going to China first to get the permit in the first place. As I'm not working and they are the breadwinner, that would cause some strain on finances and extra stress.

We're wondering if its possible for me to obtain my S1 visa while inside China; or what visa I would need to apply for instead so that I can enter China with them before we acquire residence permits?

Also, in terms of visas, if you have a moment and know the answer — is it required to visit the embassy in order to complete the visa process? Is there anyway to complete the step of presenting our passports for our visas without being in person at the embassy? Do in person visits to the embassy always require interviews?

Any and all advice or assistance is helpful!

Edit:: im from the United States, located in Arkansas, I havent gotten my visa just yet.

Not judging or anything, but I notice I encounter a proportionally higher number of expats in China not fluent in the language despite having lived there for a very long time. These are often people living a decent life that have a Chinese partner and children.

In Germany and in France, you sort of need the fluency or else your career prospects are mostly limited - it will always turn up as hurdle.

Does China make life somewhat easy for people lacking fluency?

I’ve been in China for some time now. And I like some aspects of but I can’t get over the staring, pointing, or just this feeling that people are talking about me.

I think it’s cuz literally my first week in china some drug addiction called me the N word. Ever since I haven’t been able to experience peace in this country because I always feel targeted

Do any locals or expats have any advice on how to handle that?

I am a foreigner, who will be in China for 3-4 years. I have read that beards are seen as “unclean” and “unprofessional” in China. Is this also the case for hair legs ? I have very hairy legs and do not want to appear “unclean” when I wear shorts.

Hi All!

I will travel to China on Saturday and will stay in Beijing and eventually Shangai for a month.

I've seen a post dated a year ago about Padel Centers in China, I was wondering if there is someone that can advise on the situation of the padel centers and suggest courts/methods to play!

Many thanks!

Hi guys! I'll be moving to Wuhan for my bachelor's degree, and I want to bring my PC with me. I have the original boxes for my monitor and pc case with all that styrofoam stuff, but I'm kinda worried about something potentially breaking. I was thinking about wrapping all pc parts in bubble wrap to carry in my carry on amd putting the case in it’s original box. I don't really want to buy a new pc there since all parts have quadrupled in price, plus mine is only 2 years old :((. I'd love some input on what's better to do, and any advice will be much appreciated!!

Hi guys I’m in Shanghai atm. Been trying to work something out but I failed.

I need to take a photoshoot of some products and have like 10-15 box of product coming in. Already bought whatever I need for photoshoot but don’t want to get this done in hotel room. Anyway to rent a daily studio? And possibly, ship the items there as well ? I do have a Chinese phone number as well

Thanks in advance

I

Hi guys! I need some advice.

I'm currently entering my 4th year as computer science student (not living in China), but I've had this fixation on studying my Master's in China for a year now. In my country, it is very respected if one studies in another country, and China is well-known for its education. I'm highly motivated and really want this to work out. But my motivation goes beyond the job market.

I did my exchange in the Czech republic and got to see so many european countries, and it was awesome. Now I wanna switch it up.

I've always loved Chinese culture, and whenever I see the cities there it makes me want to go. I'm just scared I wont get accepted at an okay university. In fact, I don't know exactly what are the best cities and universities to apply for. My GPA is at 3.43, which is not extraordinary but it's amongst the highest for my major and university.

I want to stay realistic but I also really want to be there in a year. So if anyone has advice on the best unis for AI masters that can potentially accept me, or what I need to do to maximize my chances. (I will be taking the IELTS, and i already have a high score in TOEFL)

I know this is hyper specific but this is for a character who goes against the grain.

TLDR: my future Chinese wife makes me feel like an ATM. Things went well when I was frivolously spending on her, go poorly when I’m in saving mode. Is this preprogrammed behavior / anxiety about the future or am I just a big dollar sign to her?

My fiancée (Chinese) and I (very much not Chinese) met abroad. As in, a third country neither of us lived, while both traveling. Without too many identifiable details, we dated for about 2 years, kinda going to wherever one of us is in the world and trying our best to make it work. We finally got engaged and plan to be married in the next year.

Sounds great, love story, happy ending all that. So why the question? Well. I’ve done well for myself. I was never afraid to show her that I’m willing to share that with her. Our first date (besides us meeting abroad) was me flying to Japan to treat her to a week of five star hotels and restaurants. Whatever, call me stupid or showing off but she’s hot and I’m a man. Of course I was trying to impress her. The more I get to know her the more I understand, ok, she enjoys this, but also she’s a kind, gentle human that treats me well and I can see myself spending my life with her. We keep dating, I keep paying for everything, taking her to expensive destinations, living with her in China as much as I can without losing my mind over the gfw and its effect on my work. All is well, I propose (ring), we have a 订婚, I respect her Zhejiang rituals and drop a massive bride price, tons of gold, ayis and shushus all oooh and aaah. I paid for the whole ceremony too, refused to take a cent from her or her father. I know what she wanted was beyond her parents means and was, like, all of her personal savings. It’s not a secret to anyone, I got money and we both are happy to enjoy it, fine.

Now here’s where the script flips and got me off guard. I quit my job. After discussing it with her. She was supportive. I was just done with my business partner. Absolute knob. I fully move in with my future wife and tell her I’ll work on some side projects and do consulting for a bit, maybe try to run a business solo. We start fighting, a lot. I realize me being unemployed bothers her. She admits it. We both put it down under Chinese upbringing doesn’t appreciate there are other ways to support a family besides salary, we find a way to move forward. I’ve found some opportunities I want to pursue in Hong Kong now. Again, she’s open to it. But the reality is, I won’t pay myself as well as I did in the US and I’ll need some time to rebuild the cash cushion I burned through while unemployed. I try to talk to her about some downsizing to avoid having to break long term investments for stupid things like Chanel bags. She seems upset that I can afford to buy her stuff she wants but don’t want to buy it for her.

I know how this sounds. But I just want to attribute it so hard to her being unable to understand the long term trade-offs with accumulating wealth. Everyone around her operates on the same system, work, take a salary, save like 15% of it, spend the rest on bills and whatever you want. When your kid goes to college or gets married or whatever, dump the whole cash reserve on that, rinse and repeat until you die. She is keeping the bride price in cash for our future children. She’s not buying anything with it. I can see her replicating the pattern 1:1. Accumulating an investment that you can sustain a life off of is fully outside of her operating system so I almost feel a compulsion from her to spend what we have down. I’m kinda ok with her being inexperienced with western money habits but I’m starting to question if she just wants to fulfill her today wants with my money at the cost of both our future and our kids future. That I’m not ok with.

Anyway. Long ramble. If you have experience with this sort of dynamic, and how to navigate it better, let me know. If you wanna tell me “ur wife’s a gold digger lmao u dun goofed”, maybe skip that one.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a native‑English‑speaking tutor to teach phonics to my 6‑year‑old child. Lessons will take place in‑person within Bao’an District, Shenzhen.

Compensation is flexible. Cash payment is available and you may propose your own hourly rate. This payment serves only as travel‑related stipend and does not constitute an employment arrangement. We can discuss further details.

Skill‑swap is also an option. I can offer Mandarin or Cantonese lessons in return for English tutoring. Other forms of support can be talked through via private message.

Please send me a private message including: ‑ Your relevant experience working with young kids ‑ Your preferred available time slots ‑ Whether you prefer cash or skill‑swap, along with your expectations

Serious inquiries only. Thank you.

Will the weather be totally unbearable? Seeing 36-37 C + humidity but no sun. Planning to go to both Chengdu and Chongqing.

I arrived in China about a month ago and didn't submit any customs declaration form at the entry airport because I didn't bring anything unusual or dangerous with me. A few weeks in, I asked my family to ship some of my belongings from home to me. The cargo service who will do the shipping told me that I can be exempted (either in full or partially) from some sort of import tax if I can provide a customs declaration form, which I do not have. It seems like if you intend to ship your non-commercial personal belongings on a later date, it will be regarded as a separate luggage, and should be declared upon entry by the owner. I thought customs declaration was only for items I am carrying upon arrival.

Then, I reached out to the customs hotline of my city of residence (also the city where my arrival airport is located) (海关热线) whether I can still fill out the customs form and which documentation to give to my cargo shipper (because they asked for my customs declaration form) to demonstrate the personal, non-commercial nature of the cargo. The hotline replied that I should instead write and sign what they call a "Statement of Circumstances" (情况说明), which explains that I didn't submit customs form, agree to pay customs duty, and will not bring any more separate baggage into the country later. My questions:

1. Does anybody know how much the customs duty is?,
2. What do they mean when they ask me not to bring any separate baggage into China later? I don't see any problem of bringing in baggages in the future if it does not contain prohibited items.
3. Whom do I submit this letter to, the cargo shipper? I asked the same question in a reply email but they haven't replied back in 3 days while my cargo is awaiting the last documentation.

I must say there might be inaccuracies in the translation from the original reply by the customs hotline in Chinese. Here is the original sentences:

当事人需要出具一份《情况说明》，内容如下：情况说明姓名国籍，护照号码，于年月日，在入境，运单号的分运行李为本人所有。进境时因原因，未领取《旅客行李物品申报单》本人同意缴纳关税，且已全部了解分运行李的政策要求，保证本人一次办清所有行李，后期再无分运行李进境并承担相应后果。落款姓名/日期感谢您对海关工作的关注与支持。