Sapore di Cina

Learn Chinese, Travel or Work in China

Personal Banking in China: How to Open a Bank Account in China

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How to Open a Bank Account in China

Having an account at a Chinese bank can be an advantage, even if your stay is only for a few weeks or months.

In this guide, you will find all of the information you need to know before opening a bank account as well as how to do it. Below are the main subjects that we will cover:

Personal Banking in China – Index

  1. Reasons to open a bank account in China
  2. What do I need to open a bank account in China
  3. What bank to choose
  4. Banking procedures
  5. Obtaining debit and credit cards
  6. Union Pay compared to Visa, MasterCard and American Express
  7. Taking money to China
  8. Bringing money back from China
  9. Online and mobile banking
  10. Frequently asked questions

Reasons for opening a bank account in China

Even if you are in China for a short period of time, opening a bank account in China can make your life easier for multiple reasons: [Read more…]

The Complete Guide for Planning your Trip to the Canton Fair

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The Canton Fair

The Canton Fair is held every six months on the island of Pazhou, at the China Import and Export Fair Complex (380, Yuejiang Zhong Road, Guangzhou).

This is the biggest Commercial Exhibition Fair on the planet. Just to cite a few numbers, in the Spring edition of 2015, some 24,713 manufacturing companies (or wholesalers) participated and 184,801 foreign importers.

In this article you’ll find all you’ll need to plan your trip to the fair. Specifically, we will cover the following topics:

Canton Fair – Index

  1. When does the Canton Fair begin?
  2. How to sign up for the Canton Fair
  3. Visa for the Canton Fair
  4. International flights to China
  5. How to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong, Beijing or Shanghai
  6. Tour to attend the Canton Fair
  7. Hotels for the Canton Fair
  8. Health Insurance
  9. Internet and communications
  10. Getting around Guangzhou by taxi or metro
  11. Translators
  12. Frequently asked questions

If you’ve already decided that you want to attend the Canton Fair but you don’t want to worry about organizing your trip, we can suggest a trustworthy travel agency that will do it for you. Click here to contact us. [Read more…]

The List of Blocked Websites in China

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The list of blocked websites in China

¿Do you want to access any website in China without restrictions? Click here and check out the comparison of the top VPNs that really work in China

Latest important information

VPNs continue to provide access to websites blocked in China

Despite the rumors, VPNs continue to be the best way to get around the Great Firewall of China. Nonetheless, due to an intense campaign during the second half of 2017, many VPNs have stopped working or their services have been affected substantially.

In this article, which we update monthly, you will be able to see which VPNs continue to work in China.

Currently, WhatsApp does not work in China

Since September 2017, WhatsApp has been almost completely blocked in China. Currently, without using a VPN, you can’t send or receive voice messages, videos, images or any other types of files.

Text messages are sometimes capable of getting around the restrictions, but they can arrive hours late.

Skype continues to work in China

In December 2017, the Skype app disappeared from the App Store and other app markets in China. Even so, Skype has never stopped working in China.

VPN apps for Apple are not blocked in China

The apps have not been blocked. Even so, the App Store has blocked downloading these apps for users who are located in China, which means that you will not be able to download the apps or update them unless you have a VPN active on your phone (manually configured or by downloading the app in advance).´

Google maps is still blocked in China
Recent news pointed to the possibility that China may release the block to Google Maps for users in Mainland. However at the present moment Google Maps is unavailable in China without a VPN.

You probably already know that sites such as Facebook, Youtube or Google.com are blocked in China and that the only way to access them is with a VPN.

But what about the other hundreds of web sites that we normally use?

Are we sure that they’ll work in China?

One of the most frequent questions we receive is if a certain website or app, such as Dropbox Google Play, is blocked in China.

In this article we’ll list all web sites, which at the moment, don’t work beyond the Great Firewall of China, or the system developed by the Ministry of Public Security, (MPS) to control access to websites considered “dangerous” for Chinese citizens. [Read more…]

Mount Kailash Tour – All You Need to Know Before planning a trip to Mount Kailash

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Travel to Mount Kailash

This article was written by Harley Greenberg, manager at WindHorseTour.

In this article, I would like to share all you need to know before you plan your trip to Mount Kailash.

P.s. If you are just looking for a tour quotation, you can click here and head directly to the tour form. We will put you in touch with a tour agency based in China, which specializes in tours in Tibet.

Mount Kailash Tour – Index

  1. An introduction to Mount Kailash
  2. How to get to Mount Kailash
  3. The best time to visit Mount Kailash
  4. Suggested itineraries for a Mount Kailash Tour
  5. Cost of a Mount Kailash Tour
  6. Travel regulation, China Visa and Tibet Permit to Mount Kailash
  7. Packing list for your Kailash trek
  8. Accomodation at Mount Kailash
  9. Food on a travel to Mount Kailash
  10. Staying healthy and avoiding altitude sickness
  11. Frequently asked questions
  12. Get a free quotation for your tour to Mount Kailash!

[Read more…]

Coliving spaces in Hong Kong: A Complete Guide

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Coliving space in Hong Kong

Coliving space in Hong Kong – Index

  1. What is a coliving space?
  2. For how long time do I need to sign up?
  3. Best coliving spaces in Hong Kong
  4. How much does it cost to rent or share a regular apartment in Hong Kong?
  5. Should I choose coliving or a regular apartment?

Hong Kong has the most expensive real estate market in the world and the young generation is mainly to suffer. However, as property prices reach all time highs, we’ve seen a new industry and trend popping up, namely “coliving”.

In this article, you’ll learn what coliving really means (in modern terms), which companies that offer this kind of service in Hong Kong, how much it costs, and more.

Let’s start and have a look what the definition of coliving is.

[Read more…]

How to Choose the Right Place to Live in Thailand

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where to live in thailand

Where to live in Thailand – Index

  1. The purpose for moving
  2. City, mountain, or sea?
  3. The weather
  4. Alone or accompanied?
  5. Budget and cost of living

Deciding on the place that would become your new home in Thailand is an important and personal choice that can vary widely depending on many aspects such as age, the reason for moving, your budget, your monthly income and so on.

Nevertheless, to decide on a final destination, there are some questions that anyone who is planning on living in Thailand should consider before leaving:

  • What is the reason for your move? Are you looking to establish Thailand as your base of operations for traveling through Southeast Asia, or are you looking to work in the Land of Smiles?

    Another still is: have you chosen this country as a retirement destination or do you still not have a well-defined plan and in the meantime are enrolling in a school to learn Thai?

  • Would you rather live in a city, like Bangkok or Pattaya, or in a smaller place in the countryside like the province of Kanchanaburi? If you’re a fan of the mountains and want to settle in a cool and peaceful place like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai, or would you prefer a life of sun and sea that you can find on the islands?
  • What type of climate do you like? Are you a fan of constant heat, or do you prefer mild temperatures that can go down as far as 15 degrees in the winter?
  • Are you moving to Thailand alone or with your family? Do you have school-age children?
  • How do you plan on supporting yourself during the time you’ll be living in Thailand? Do you have savings or a fixed income, or do you intend to look for work?

An increasing number of people of all ages dream of going to live in a tropical paradise like Thailand. The Kingdom of Siam offers so much in human and landscape terms, as well as completely overturning your life (in a positive way). [Read more…]

Kung Fu Tour: Visit The Shaolin Temple With a Travel Agency

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Kung Fu Tour

Kung Fu Tour – Index

  1. Why it’s difficult to travel to the Shaolin Temple
  2. Why visit Shaolin Temple
  3. Most popular tours
  4. Other tours
  5. Where can I hire these types of tours?
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. Are you looking for a travel agency?

For anyone interested in Chinese martial arts, I’m sure that one of your dreams is to be able to visit a place as emblematic as the Shaolin Temple, and that it would be even better if you could interact with some of its masters.

However, organizing a trip to the Shaolin Temple is not an easy task. In this article, I want to discuss why it isn’t easy to get to the Shaolin Temple and explain what the most popular tours which include a visit to the temple offer.

If you have already decided that you want to hire a tour but you don’t know which agency to choose, we can recommend a trustworthy agency to you, just contact us through this form. [Read more…]

China’s Fake Markets: The Complete Guide for Foreigners

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Fake markets in China

China’s Fake Markets – Index

  1. What are the Chinese fake markets?
  2. Rules to not get ripped off at the fake market
  3. Where to find the fake markets in Beijing?
  4. Where to find the fake markets in Shanghai?
  5. Frequently asked questions

What are the Chinese fake markets?

The first time that I went to China, right after leaving one of my friends told me:

“Don’t come back to Italy without checking out at least one of the fake markets in Beijing.”

Fake market? What did that mean?

I never heard of them, and didn’t know of the existence of this parallel world until one day, at the end of my lessons at the Beijing Language and Culture University, with one of my colleagues I headed toward one of the most famous fake markets in Beijing, the Silk Market (秀水街, Xiushui Jie, in Chinese), in the Chaoyang district.

It was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my first trip to China. After weeks of frustration in university, finally a little shopping and entertainment.

The Silk Street Market is an actual building of fakes, each floor with specific products, from shoes to clothing, to electronics and toys, to perfume to accessories for the home. A shopping mall from which it is impossible to leave without making at least one purchase among the thousands of articles offered. [Read more…]

Writing Chinese: Basic Rules and the Order of Strokes

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Chinese writing

Chinese writing has a fascination all its own: from the ornamental aspect, which all can appreciate even without being an expert, to the symbolic value which is exotic to us, to the long tradition that the characters bring from over two millennia of history full of meaning and even magic.

There are those who don’t consider it so much as a form of writing the words of a spoken language as much as a system for “writing the world”.

In this article I will speak to you about the rules through which this “world” is created on paper: starting from an alphabetic writing you’ll be used to, up to simple signs that indicate sounds whose combinations create the written text, while the question becomes a little more complicated for Chinese.

Chinese writing – Index

  1. Order and direction of writing
  2. The strokes
  3. The classification of strokes
  4. The combination of strokes
  5. The order of strokes
  6. Why learn the order of strokes?
  7. Curiosities

[Read more…]

Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok: The complete guide

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Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok

Sukhumvit Road a Bangkok – Indice

  1. Sukhumvit Road
  2. How to get there
  3. What to do on Sukhumvit Road
  4. Where to eat on Sukhumvit Road

Sukhumvit Road

Unlike Ratchathewi and Pathum Wan, the area called “Sukhumvit” (in Thai: สุขุมวิท) can’t be considered an actual neighborhood, but rather an area that includes several districts within it. Among the most well known are:

  • Watthana and Khlong Toei which are on the opposite side of the SkyTrain at Nana, Asoke, Phrom Phong, Thonglor, Ekkamai, Phra Khanong, and On Nut;
  • Phra Khanong, or the neighborhood where Sukhumvit Road curves and goes into the direction of Pattaya;
  • Suan Luang, famous for its sanctuary dedicated to the legend of the ghost of Mae Nak Phra.

[Read more…]

How to transfer money to China, Hong Kong, Thailand and other countries cheaply, quickly and safely

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How to send your money to Asia

How to transfer money to Asia – Index

  1. What is TransferWise?
  2. How do I sign up to use TransferWise?
  3. Why do I save money with TransferWise?
  4. Why with TransferWise the money arrives quicker?
  5. Is it safe to send money to Asia through TransferWise?
  6. In which Asian countries can you use TransferWise’s services?
  7. Can I also use TransferWise for my business?
  8. Other than TransferWise, are there other similar services?
  9. Other frequently asked questions

One of the most frequently heard problems of those who move to an Asian country such as Hong Kong, Thailand or Vietnam is that of sending the necessary money for initial expenses to their new country, without getting fleeced by the banks, who can make you pay up to 5% commission.

5% may seem “acceptable”, but if you send 10.000 USD we’re talking about a bank commission of 500 USD!

This goes not just for those who move for work, but above all for students, who not having a salary need to send the necessary funds from home to survive in their new country, such as Hong Kong for example, for the entire length of study (even six months or a year).

How can you solve this problem? By using TranserWise!

Ps. I lost a ton of money transferring it via wire transfers up until last year. The reason is that, even if I was aware of the existence of TransferWise, I never tried it because I thought it might be complicated and, moreover, I didn’t understand how it worked.

This is why, at the end of this article, I will explain in detail both how to use the service and the strategy (all legal and safe) that TransferWise uses and similar platforms to lower costs.

What is TransferWise?

Simplifying it to the extreme, TranserWise is an online platform that allows you to send money abroad that could save you up to 8 times what you would spend on bank commissions sending the same amount via wire transfer or credit card.

TransferWise’s commission is 0.5% for the majority of currencies; that commission can however increase depending on the currency.

To send USD from your bank account in US and receive Hong Kong Dollars in a Hong Kong bank account, for example, the commission is 0.5%. [Read more…]

List of 148 well-known Chengyu (or idiomatic expressions)

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Chengyu List

The Chengyu, in Chinese 成语, are four character expressions that express a particular meaning, taken from the stories of classical China. There are lots of Chengyu in the Chinese language and they get used quite a bit.

When a foreigner manages to master the Chengyu – along with idiomatic expressions – both in written and spoken language, it means they have reached a very high level in the Chinese language.

In the course of my studies I’ve run into several of these expressions and wanted to draw up those I have encountered most frequently.

So below you will find a list of 148 Chengyu and idiomatic phrases that are among the most used in modern China:

1. 不可得兼 (bù kě dé jiān): “you can’t have both at the same time”

2. 不得其法 (bù dé qí fǎ): “not knowing the right way”

3. 心神不宁 (xīn shén bù níng): “to feel bad about nothing” [Read more…]

The Best Working VPN for China in July 2019 (with Comparison Table)

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Best VPN for China

Before getting started

This article is a complete guide that is updated monthly on how to easily access Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Youtube and other websites that are blocked in China, using a VPN.

The first part of this article explains what a VPN is, the simplest and most effective way to access the Internet without restrictions.

The second part is a comparative review of ExpressVPN, VyprVPN, NordVPN and VPN Area, in our opinion one of the best VPN providers for China. We compare the prices, functionality and performance of the four VPN.

We also give a short review of the most popular VPN in China and show the results of the survey of VPNs that our readers in China use. On top of that, you will find multiple sections to try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions.

Important: Many of the VPN services mentioned in the article have offered us exclusive deals for our readers. To get the discount, all you have to do is access the VPN service’s website via one of the links that you’ll find in this article.

Click here if you want to jump directly to the
comparison of the best VPN for China!

What VPN do we recommend for China?

  • ExpressVPN: A VPN that’s easy to use, fast and which has proven to be one of the most reliable VPNs for China over the past years.
  • VyprVPN: A VPN with an excellent quality to price ratio, good performance in China and numerous options for a secure connection.
  • NordVPN: A VPN that is very complete and easy to use. It has a good performance in China if you choose the right server.
  • VPNArea: A VPN that’s less popular in China, but has an excelent performance at a very low price.

Important: Due to the increased restrictions to VPN which came into effect in October 2017, you should always keep your VPN updated in order to make sure it works at its best.

What is a VPN and why do I need one in China?

As you probably already know, the internet doesn’t work like we would like it to in China and a large number of websites are blocked by the “Great Firewall.” Among the websites that you can’t access there are Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Twitter and Google+.

There are many other blocked websites, and depending on what you do, it may be virtually impossible for you to work in China without a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The most striking case is probably that of Google.com, which often returns an error message when used from within the Middle Kingdom.

In order to solve this problem, you can install a VPN, which masks your I.P. address so that your laptop appears to be connected from the U.S. or Japan even if you are in China [Read more…]

The Love for Dogs in Hong Kong

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Dogs in Hong Kong

How many times have you heard it asked “do they eat dogs in China”?

It’s absolutely true but take note of this important distinction: it’s not as widespread as believed in the West and the dog meat festival in Yulin, in Guangxi province, is at the center of controversy and contention.

Despite attempts to block it by various animal rights groups (and not just them!) even this year, in the early days of May, when the arrival of Spring is generally celebrated and life renews, in Chinese cities they are restaurants and consumers, giving life to a horrible slaughter, consuming between 10.000 and 15.000 specimens in the ten days of the festival; the poor creatures are perhaps glad to end up cooked rather than to stay in le povere bestiole sono forse perfino grate di finire cucinate invece che rimanere in macabre cages.

The organizers insist that there’s no difference between eating the meat of pigs, poultry and dogs, arguing in favor of health benefits. Chinese newspapers speak of the event in purely cultural terms, not at all giving poor Rex, Lilly, Argo or Luna special status and branding like an obsession the criticism of Western public opinion. [Read more…]

Driving in China: How can I get my license?

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Driving in China

In this article you will find a summary of the information you need to be able to drive in mainland China.

Driving in China – Index

  1. Getting a temporary permit in mainland China
  2. Getting a Chinese driver’s license (if already have one)
  3. Getting a driver’s license for the first time
  4. Web pages and apps to study for the written exam
  5. Frequently asked questions

  • This article is based on the laws of the province of Beijing, and as usually is the case in China, the requirements may vary slightly depending on the city in which they apply.
  • Written exams can be done in English or Chinese. Nonetheless, in some small cities, you may be forced to do them in Chinese (sometimes they may authorize you to bring a translator). On the other hand, in some of the main cities of the country, you may even find exams in other languages (such as Spanish, French, German or Arabic).

[Read more…]

How to Access YouTube in China without Restrictions

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accessing YouTube in china

As you most likely already know, YouTube is blocked in China, but is it still possible to access YouTube in the country?

Despite the fact that YouTube has been restricted for use by Chinese users since March 2009, it is still possible to access YouTube to watch videos in China if you know how. In this article, we’ll give a step-by-step explanation of how to use YouTube in China.

What do you need to access YouTube in China?

To be able to view or upload your videos to YouTube from China, you will need two things:

1. An Internet connection

It’s more than obvious that you’ll need an Internet connection to access YouTube, whether by Wi-Fi or a data connection. As opposed to what some people think, accessing the Internet in China is relatively easy.

2. Software to get around the Great Firewall

The Great Firewall is the reason why many Western websites are blocked in China.

There are different ways of getting around the Great Firewall, but without a doubt, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are the simplest and most effective way of doing so.

[Read more…]

Coworking Space in Hong Kong: The Ultimate Guide

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Coworking Space in Hong Kong

Coworking spaces become increasingly popular in many Asian countries including Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Before the rise of coworking spaces, both digital nomads and startups had to rent expensive office spaces, work from home, or work from cafes. Coworking spaces, on the other hand, are convenient, more social, and often cheaper.

Thanks to my positive experiences of using coworking spaces around Asia and in Hong Kong, I decided to write this article.

Coworking Space in Hong Kong – Index

  1. How many coworking spaces are there in Hong Kong and how’s the market?
  2. What are the benefits of using a coworking space?
  3. What are the differences between a hot desk, a dedicated desk and a private office?
  4. How much does it cost with a coworking space in Hong Kong?
  5. Best coworking spaces in Hong Kong

[Read more…]

Learning Thai in Thailand: The Beginner’s Guide

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Learning Thai in Thailand

According to a report compiled by the Swiss agency Education First, Thailand places as one of the countries with the lowest level of English in Southeast Asia. Even on a worldwide level it’s position isn’t among the best: 64th on a list of 88 total countries analyzed.

Despite this, in the Land of Smiles it’s not hard to get around without knowing the local language. Paradoxically you can even live in Thailand for decades without speaking or understanding a word of Thai.

If however you plan on settling in the country and integrating with the local people, learning Thai is an added value and not so secret ingredient for better integrating with the community.

Learning Thai in Thailand – Index

  1. Why learn Thai?
  2. How difficult is Thai?
  3. How much does it cost to learn Thai?
  4. How to choose the right school?
  5. The best schools in Bangkok, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai

[Read more…]

How to Rent an Apartment in Shanghai: The guide for Expats

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rent apartment in shanghai

This is a complete guide to rent an apartment, or just a room in a shared flat, in Shanghai.

How to rent an apartment in Shanghai – Index

  1. Looking for an apartment on the internet
  2. Another option for getting a room in a shared apartment
  3. Looking for an apartment through an agency
  4. What are the expenses beside the monthly rent
  5. Why you need a regular contract
  6. How should the contract looks like?
  7. The most common scams while renting an apartment in China
  8. Where to live in Shanghai if you care about your social life
  9. Frequently asked questions

P.s. Click here if you need an hotel
for your first days in Shanghai

Looking for an apartment on the internet

If you are just landed to China and you don’t know anybody, the fastest way to find an apartment is probably to check the websites in English language. I recommend Flat in China, Smart Shanghai, Craigs List and Inter Shanghai.

The pros are that you won’t have to hunt for an agency on the street and most luckily you will deal with a landlord (or an agent) that can speak decent English.

Also, if you are in a tight budget (less than 3,000 RMB per month, that is about 500 USD) and you don’t want to live too far away from downtown, getting a room in a shared flat will be your only choice. [Read more…]

Sending Money to China: The Guide to Saving Money

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Sending money to China

Do you have to send money to China, perhaps a travel agency, a Chinese school, or your supplier, but your bank asks for absurd commissions and tells you that it will take more than 5 working days?

Keep reading this guide to understand how to save time and money by using TransferWise!

Sending Money to China – Index

  1. What service should I use to save money on bank commissions?
  2. Will I also save time by using Transferwise?
  3. Limitations of using Transferwise (when sending money to China)
  4. Alternate options to Transferwise
  5. Frequently asked questions

What service should I use to save money on bank commissions?

At the moment we can’t help but recommend TranserWise, since we’ve been using it for years – with savings we never thought possible, – both for our own private international expenses as well as for our business.

In few words, Transferwise allows you to send money abroad (not just to China), using the official currency transfer rate and having you pay only a percentage (which is more than reasonable) of the amount sent. [Read more…]