We’re in that mode again.
Our move is on the horizon and we’re on the hunt for good resources for living in China. Cost-of-living calculator? Check. VPNs and how to use them? Check. Where to travel first when we have a long weekend? Check. A list of all the national holidays? Check.
I know we’re not alone in our tendency to hoard information. It’s just that, unlike other countries, we’ve found reliable, current information about China to be difficult to uncover. Sadly. I mean, eventually we’re happy to become the preeminent authorities for expats in China, but for now, we’re relying on others to fill up our well of knowledge.
Anyway, we’ve been doing our homework and here’s the beginning: 100 resources for living, working and traveling in China. From taxes to visas, to visiting the dentist. Plus all the fun stuff, including the ultimate guide to traveling by train in China, to how to book cheap flights.
Side note: We’d love to hear about anything we’ve missed, so please email or comment below with any of your most fantastic resources for living in China. Many thanks for helping us keep this list current and accurate.
Last Updated: May 2017
Expat Forums
- InterNations
- Chinese Forums
- Lost Laowai
- Expat Arrivals
Know Before You Go
Visas
- China Visa Requirements
- VisaRite (3rd party company to help arrange visas)
- Our Visa Document Gathering Process
- Jurisdiction-Specific Visa Requirements
Cost of Living
- Personal Account of Expat Budget
- Detailed Country-Level Prices by Category
- Take Home Pay Calculator
- Detailed Prices by City
Taxes
Health Care
- The Ultimate Guide to Health Insurance in China
- Going to the Dentist in China
- Getting Sick in China
- Summary of a Typical Health Insurance Plan
- Health Insurance Broker to Compare Plans
Apartments/Utilities
- Utilities in China
- Rent in China
- Rental Site I (all of China, choose city)
- Rental Site II (all of China, choose city)
Technology
- Must-Have Apps
- WeChat (the app that does everything in China)
- Can I Use My Cell Phone In China?
- Mobile Phone FAQs
- What Is a VPN?
- VPN Reviews I
- VPN Reviews II
Learning Mandarin
Transportation
Food
- Essential Shanghai Street Food
- All About Hot Pot
- China’s Top 8 Food Streets
- Guide to Food and Drink in Shanghai
- Beijing Restaurant Guide
- Beijing Street Food Guide
- 58 Chinese Regional Cuisines
- Top Foods to Try in China
- Food Tours in Beijing, Chengdu and Xi’an
- Food Tours in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shanghai
China Expat Blogs
- Shanghai Halfpat
- Asian Living
- Beijing Expat Guide
- Tom Freelance
- Shanghai Street Stories
- Travel Cathay
- China Mike
- Two Americans in China
- China Elevator Stories
- Living a Dream in China
- Far West China
Shenzhen Specific Resources
We’re moving to Shenzhen, the biggest city you’ve never heard of, near Hong Kong. These resources are all for this city, but most of these sites are duplicated for other major cities.
- Shenzhen Party
- Shenzhen Events
- Shenzhen Event Calendar
- Shenzhen Music Venues
- Shenzhen Restaurant Delivery
- Detailed Shenzhen Neighborhood Maps
- Living in Shenzhen
- Shenzhen Tourist Guide
- Specifics about the Hong Kong border
Our China Travel Bucket List
- Southwest High Speed Train Itinerary
- Jiayuguan Fortress
- Kashgar Sunday Market
- Chengdu (Pandas + More!)
- Hiking and Camping on the Great Wall
- Complete Two-Week Travel Itinerary
- Around Yangshuo
- Hong Kong in the Summer
- 30 Days in China Budget (2016 data)
- Jiuzhiagou National Park
- Best Things to Do in Harbin
- 3 Nights in Guilin
- The 7 Wonders of Hangzhou
- Xi’an, Warriors and More
- The Mekong River (far SW China)
- Yangtze River Cruise
- Into Tibet
Miscellaneous
- National Holiday Schedule
- Religion Basics
- Chinese Zodiac
- Attending Chinese Weddings
- The ‘Cult of Face’
- China and Tibet Relations FAQ
And there you have it. 100 resources for living, working and traveling in China. We are so excited about our upcoming adventure and can’t wait to immerse ourselves in a fascinating new culture.
Like we said from the top, we’re hungry for all amazing resources for living in China that you know of, so please feel free to leave links and tips in the comments below. Or if you have too much to say, shoot us an email. We will be updating this list periodically and we’re happy to include any and all valuable information.
Holy wow. If you’re planning a move to China, or even a long trip, you wouldn’t have to visit any other sights to get information. I cannot believe how comprehensive your China resource page is. This will help tons of people.
Wow you’ve put together a great resource here! Good luck with the move, guys!
What a fantastic resource! There’s nothing more reassuring when you’re moving to a new place to learn from others’ research and experience. Definitely bookmarking this to recommend to others when asked.
This is a great, well-researched piece for expats. Often we know where to get all the information, but if someone has provided a short-cut checklist like this one, it all seems so much more manageable. One stop shop!
It’s crazy how much you learn when you’re preparing to live in a new country, isn’t it? This is a true testiment to your dedication as expats. I’m looking forward to reading about your adventures in China. It promises to be a crazy, awkward, incredible journey for you two.
WOOOOOOW. This is such a comprehensive post for anyone moving to China. Great work. I’m excited to read about all your adventures.
Holy smokes. You guys have certainly done your homework. While I won’t be moving to China, this is a great resource guide and super helpful. I wish someone had posted this before we bought property and started living part-time in Panama.
Thanks! It was a lot of work for sure!
This is such a great list. I will definitely send it to my friend who just moved to Shanghai. I think she will find this list very useful. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, this is huge, thanks for putting this together. I know it’s meant as an expat guide, but honestly it’s great for anyone interested in or traveling in general to China. I found Express VPN really useful while in China last year, so can definitely recommend as a great option for both your phone and laptop – but organize before you get there 🙂
We’re definitely going for the Express VPN as well – it’s what we’ve heard is the best!
Fellow ‘information/research hoarder’ here, and proud of it! We’re putting China on the list of our next possible stops and I’ve bookmarked your site- clearly you’ve done the legwork for me so thanks! I’m wondering if you know what the best resources are to find info on vaccination requirements, etc. I have 3 small kids and we’re also going to need info on International schools so I’m curious if you run across something specific there too. Again, many thanks!
Farrah recently posted…Where To and What Not
Farrah – as of now (early 2017) there are no vaccination requirements for entry into China. We didn’t need to get any, nor show evidence of any. If you’re coming from a country that is known to have yellow fever, you frequently need a yellow fever vaccine to travel in many countries…but that’s it! I also know that the major cities (top 10?) have plenty of international schooling options. Anywhere there are expats quickly result in lots of education options. we don’t have kids so haven’t done detailed research in this area, but I know for sure that the major cities are well-stocked!
I’ve read several articles on how difficult it is to get into China but hey, you’ve got a comprehensive list of resources out here!