Blog
Practical guides & tips for foreigners in China
First 72 Hours After Landing in Shanghai: The Complete Settling-In Guide for Foreigners (2026)
Everything you need to do in your first 3 days in Shanghai — from airport to fully set up with SIM, payments, transport, and registration. Step-by-step with bilingual templates.
How to Open a Bank Account in China as a Foreigner: Which Bank, What Documents, Common Pitfalls (2026)
Step-by-step guide to opening a Chinese bank account. Bank comparison, required documents by visa type, bilingual scripts for the bank visit, and what to do when they say no.
WeChat Pay vs Alipay: Which to Set Up First and How — The Honest Foreigner's Guide (2026)
Real-world comparison of WeChat Pay and Alipay for foreigners. Setup steps, fees, limitations, which merchants accept what, and a clear recommendation on which to prioritize.
15 Apps Every Foreigner Needs in China (2026): The No-Nonsense Download List
The real apps you actually need — not a list of 50 you'll never use. Categorized by purpose: payments, transport, food, maps, translation, and social. With setup tips for each.
Police Registration in China: What Foreigners Actually Need to Do (2026)
The registration requirement nobody explains clearly. When it's automatic, when you must do it yourself, what documents to bring, what happens if you skip it, and bilingual templates for the police station.