Sapore di Cina

Learn Chinese, Travel or Work in China

8 Great Dishes From Sichuan That You Can Find in a Restaurant

- Written by SDC 3 Comments

Sichuan food

Dishes from Sichuan – Index

  1. Kung Pao Chicken (宫保鸡丁)
  2. Boiled Dishes like Sichuan boiled fish (水煮鱼)
  3. Dry-fried dishes like fry-fried green beans (干煸豆角)
  4. Mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐)
  5. Twice cooked pork (回锅肉)
  6. Pork in spicy garlic sauce (蒜泥白肉)
  7. Cold noodle salad (涼面)
  8. Yu Xiang Dishes like Yu Xiang Rou Si (鱼香肉丝)
  9. Frequently asked questions

Sichuan cuisine is my favorite cuisine out of the eight ones of China not only because of my childhood but also because of the great taste and imagination. There is a famous description of Sichuan food: “one hundred dishes, one hundred flavors.”

Sichuan cuisine is featured by its unique cooking methods, adaption of spices and seasonings including fresh ones, pickled vegetables and dried goods. Now Sichuan dishes are enjoyed across the world. Today I’m going to introduce eight of the best dishes from Sichuan you can usually find in a real Sichuan style restaurant. [Read more…]

10 Year Visa for China – The Guide

- Written by SDC Leave a Comment

China’s 10 Year Visa

China’s 10 Year Visa – Index

  1. What is China’s 10 year visa?
  2. What kinds of 10 year visas are available?
  3. Which nationalities can get the 10 year visa?
  4. Can I work with a 10 year visa in China?
  5. What documents do I need when applying for the 10 year visa?
  6. How much does it cost?
  7. What should I do if my passport expires when having the visa?
  8. How many times can I apply for the 10 year visa?
  9. How long does it take to apply for the 10 year visa?

[Read more…]

How Long It Takes to Learn Mandarin?

- Written by SDC 2 Comments

how long it takes to learn chienese

Click here to discover what Chinese courses
that we recommend at the moment!

How long does it take to learn Mandarin? – Index

  1. The swim or sink dude
  2. The full-time student
  3. The long-distance Chinese learner
  4. The exchange student
  5. The “I would love but I can’t” guy
  6. The angry expat
  7. The indifferent person
  8. Some final words
  9. Frequently asked questions

First of all, I believe that we are our habits and that our habits are influenced by our goals and the external environment.

Hence I think you can roughly predict how long it will take you to learn Mandarin by honestly answering to which of the following categories you belong. [Read more…]

How to Find a Job as an English Teacher in China – The Complete Guide

- Written by Vanessa Anderson 104 Comments

Teaching in ChinaTeaching kids in China

This is a complete guide to finding a job as an English teacher in China. It’s around 10,000 words, so take your time to read it. You can also click on one of the links below to jump directly to the sections that most interest you.

How to Teach English in China – Index

  1. Why teach English in China?
  2. Visa requirements
  3. What qualifications do I need?
  4. Teaching English as a non-native English speaker
  5. TEFL – Teaching English as a foreign language
  6. What other skills will I need?
  7. Types of English teaching positions available
  8. Preparing a CV for a Chinese teaching position
  9. How to apply – from outside of China
  10. How to apply – from inside China
  11. Contracts and benefits
  12. What type of people teach English in China?
  13. Location considerations
  14. What can go wrong?
  15. Frequently asked questions

[Read more…]

The Best VPNs for Thailand: Security, Censorship and Geographic Restrictions

- Written by SDC 5 Comments

Best VPNs for Thailand

This article is aimed at analyzing the internet in Thailand and comparing the best VPNs that you can use to improve security as well as to avoid geographic restrictions and censorship.

Best VPNs for Thailand – Index

  1. Why do I need a VPN in Thailand?
  2. Comparison of the Best VPNs for Thailand
  3. What VPN to choose depending on your priorities
  4. Internet security in Thailand
  5. Internet censorship in Thailand

Why do I need a VPN in Thailand?

There are multiple reasons to get a VPN when you are living or traveling in Thailand. Below are the most common reasons.

  • To browse securely: Access to the internet in Thailand, just like in many Asian countries, is not exactly secure. A good VPN increases internet security and greatly reduces the possible risks involved in connecting to public networks in this country (such as having your credit card cloned or your email hacked).
  • To avoid censorship: Censorship exists in Thailand, and if you want free access to the internet, the best way is to get a VPN
  • To unblock restricted content: To access the content of websites like Netflix, Hulu or restricted audiovisual content and TV channels in your country, your best option is always get a good quality VPN.

[Read more…]

How to Access Tumblr in China – The Complete Guide

- Written by SDC Leave a Comment

How to Access Tumblr in China

How to Access Tumblr in China – Index

  1. What do you need to connect to Tumblr in China?
  2. What’s a VPN and what are they used for?
  3. Preparations before going to China
  4. Unblocking Tumblr in China

Tumblr is one of dozens of popular applications and websites that are blocked in China. Facebook, Google, Instagram, and YouTube are no exceptions and it often comes as a surprise to foreigners who either travel or move to China permanently.

In this article, you’ll learn how you can access Tumblr in just a click by simply following my short step-by-step guide. Once finished, you’ll not only be able to access Tumblr, but all other websites and applications that are currently blocked in China.

[Read more…]

The Best VPNs for Vietnam: Security and Freedom Online

- Written by SDC 3 Comments

Best VPNs for Vietnam

Best VPNs for Vietnam – Index

  1. How can I access blocked websites in Vietnam?
  2. What is a VPN?
  3. Why do I need a VPN in Vietnam?
  4. Comparison of the Best VPNs for Vietnam
  5. Is it safe to connect to the Internet in Vietnam?
  6. What websites are blocked in Vietnam?

Security online is one of the things that we should start to keep in mind, especially when we are traveling or moving to another country. Another thing that we should keep in mind is whether access to the Internet is restricted or not.

In Vietnam, there exist multiple cybernetic laws which are theoretically aimed at preventing information leaks, promoting security in the interchange of information, and permitting secure transactions. However, these laws have mainly been used to block, filter or monitor the use of the Internet in the country. Many websites in Vietnam are blocked or have restricted use, including sites as popular as Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, the BBC, and WordPress, following the lead of countries such as China.

Despite this, recent reports indicate that Vietnam is among the countries with the highest risk in the world for cybernetic attacks along with Thailand.

How can I access Facebook, Twitter, Blogger and other blocked websites in Vietnam?

To improve security online and to avoid potential restrictions on access to certain websites, one of the most useful tools is the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), as you will see in the following sections.

Click here if you want to skip directly to the comparison of the best VPNs!

[Read more…]

The Relationship Between the Chinese Language, Everyday Life and Superstitions

- Written by Luca Xu 2 Comments

The relationship between the Chinese language, everyday life and superstitions

This article has the objective of describing the particular type of relationship that exists between the Chinese language and the everyday life of those who speak and read it.

From this close relationship you can identify a series of “superstitions” (or customs) that are more or less strictly followed by the population of the Middle Kingdom.

In order to fully understand those relationships, we need to first consider some aspects of the Chinese language.

What are the characteristics and peculiarities of the Chinese language?

One always hears that Chinese is a strange language that is difficult to learn, especially for someone coming from a Western culture.

This is probably true in part, as every language in the world has its simple and complex aspects. [Read more…]

Top 7 Trade and Commercial Fairs in Hong Kong

- Written by SDC Leave a Comment

Top Trade and Commercial Fairs in Hong Kong

Top Trade Fairs in Hong Kong – Index

  1. HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair
  2. Global Sources Exhibitions
  3. HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair
  4. HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair
  5. HOFEX
  6. HKTDC Hong Kong Food Expo
  7. HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair

In this article we list some of the top trade fairs in Hong Kong. If you are interested on trade shows based in China (Mainland), you can click here.

HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair

The HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair is one of the biggest electronics fairs in the region. Here, you’ll learn about the latest technology ideas & trends. Thousands of service providers that work with inspection, certification, testing and other related services exhibit at the fair. [Read more…]

Flights to China and Domestic Flights in China: Offers and Tips

- Written by SDC 4 Comments

Book a China Flight

Click here if you want to jump directly to the comparison of some popular flight comparison websites!

Flights to China – Index

  1. General advice for finding cheap flights
  2. How to find the cheapest domestic flights in China
  3. How to find the cheapest international flights to get to China
  4. Problems with price comparison websites.
  5. Comparison of popular platforms for booking plane tickets
  6. Other advice
  7. Frequently asked questions

General advice for finding cheap flights

The price of flights varies in such a way that it often seems arbitrary. There are many studies that try to predict ticket price trends. Below, I detail some of the main conclusions of these studies, which will let you save money when purchasing plane tickets:
[Read more…]

Virtual Phone Numbers: The Best Way to Receive Calls in China

- Written by SDC 12 Comments

virtual phone number in china

Click here to skip directly to our comparison of
virtual telephone numbers!

Virtual phone numbers – Index

  1. What is a virtual phone number?
  2. Why you may need a virtual phone number
  3. How does it works?
  4. Comparison of the best virtual telephone number services
  5. Reviews of virtual phone services
  6. Frequently asked questions

What is a virtual phone number?

A virtual number is a phone number that isn’t associated with any physical phone line: all the incoming calls are redirected to another number (for instance your mobile number)

Why you may need a virtual phone number

Have you ever used a roaming service while you were abroad? I did it when I just arrived in China and I ended up paying a huge amount of money (at the time my family needed to contact me quite frequently and I was often offline). After the first crazy expensive bill I decided to find a solution to this problem. This is how I stumbled upon virtual numbers.

Using a virtual number to redirect calls from a local number in your country to your Chinese mobile number is probably the best option to receive calls in China or wherever you are. It’s cheap and you won’t have to teach your grandma to use Skype!
[Read more…]

Smelly Breakfast at the Water Caves

- Written by Marco Neri Leave a Comment

SmellyBreakfastWaterCaves

August 8, seven in the morning.

The climate in Fushun is surreal: the heat is already crazy, the humidity through the roof. The sky is a patina halfway between gray and yellow; dust is everywhere. We’re ready for our day out. Destination: Benxi Shuidong, the most famous water caves of all Dongbei. One travels the Chinese way, with Chinese hours, Chinese travel companies, Chinese smells. And – naturally – Chinese harassment.

Waking up at dawn, I chugged a bag of milk (yes, here they’re sold in bags) and right away smoke a cigarette – Chinese as well. That most precious type of tobacco (to them), extremely heavy and smelly, is offered every three for two. The objective is quite clear in my mind: to shake the Calcutta inside my intestine to get me out of the house, and not in a Turkish-Chinese public. The objective soon achieved: twelve minutes on the can at home, half a kilo of jiaozi expelled and three flushes to get the toilet water clean.

Digression: I always wondered what the purpose of tap water is – in Fushun – it stinks like a horse. Even now I don’t have an answer. [Read more…]

How to Access Google in China (and all Google Services)

- Written by SDC 2 Comments

Unblocking Google in China

Since 2012, Google and all of its services (such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps and Google Play) have been blocked and are not accessible to users located in Mainland China. However, is it possible to access Google from China?

Accessing Google from China is possible and even easy. In this article, we will give a step-by-step explanation of how to access Google and any other Internet service that is blocked in China.

What Google services are blocked in China?

Here a non-exhaustive list of Google services and products that are blocked in China:

  • Google search engine (text and voice)
  • Youtube
  • Gmail
  • Google Images
  • Google Maps
  • G Suite (including Google Docs and Google Sheets)
  • Google Drive
  • ReCAPTCHA

There are however some exceptions, that is Google services that still work in China, such a Google Chrome, and Android operative system, even if with some severe limitations (for instance Google Play is blocked).

What do you need to access Google in China?

To access Google and all of its services, basically you will need two things:

A standard Internet connection

It’s obvious that to access Google or any other website, you will first need to connect to the Internet, either through a data connection from your cell phone or by connecting to a Wi-Fi network. Keep on reading to find out how to connect to the Internet in China.

A system to get around the Great Firewall of China

The so-called Great Firewall of China is a series of measures applied by the Chinese authorities to prevent access to a variety of foreign websites. Even so, there are multiple ways of getting around this blockage. Virtual Private Networks or VPNs are the most popular and effective system for getting around Internet use restrictions in China.
[Read more…]

How to Access TikTok from China – The complete guide

- Written by SDC 8 Comments

How to Access TikTok from China

Well yes, even though TikTok is a 100% Chinese app (the “original” name is Douyin, 抖音), it is blocked in China.

Let me explain: TikTok has two versions, one exclusively for use in China, and one for the rest of the world.

If you find yourself in China you can download and use the Chinese version, Douyin without a problem, but it is in no way interconnected with the international version, which you won’t be able to download.

The reason is that Chinese laws are very different, so the company that owns Douyin and TikTok thought well about resolving the problem like this.

So, if you already have a TikTok account before arriving in China, once you enter the country it will no longer work. You can open a new account with the Chinese version, but you’ll be given a completely new account, and even your feeds will be different.

But all is not lost…

How do I access the international version of TikTok from China?

[Read more…]

Learn How to Write Chinese Characters: Skritter Review & Discount

- Written by SDC 15 Comments

If you sign up to Skritter using one of the links on this page with the coupon “SDC3952” you get a 33% discount for the first six months (only valid for new accounts)

Skritter review – Index

  1. What is Skritter?
  2. Why do you need a software to write characters?
  3. How much does it cost?
  4. How to use the software
  5. The advantages of learning how to write characters
  6. Common mistakes
  7. Other features of Skritter

What is Skritter?

Skritter is, in my opinion, the best way to learn how to write Chinese characters.

I used it ten minutes per day for about one year and I managed to learn how to write more than 1,000 characters (all the characters on the HK4 list, to be precise). Also, I learned the meaning and pronunciation of those characters.

Why do you need a software to write characters?

If you watched the video at the beginning of this post you already know that the software is pretty cool.

But the real reason for using Skritter is the algorithm behind the software, which allows you to remember more than the 90% of the characters that you are studying (in the photo below you can see that in 30 days I was able to remember the 92.9% of the characters that I studied, [Read more…]

Traveling to Ningbo: The Port on the East China Sea

- Written by Marco Oliveri Leave a Comment

Traveling to Ningbo

Traveling to Ningbo – Index

  1. How to get to Ningbo
  2. Where to stay in Ningbo
  3. What to see and do in Ningbo
  4. Typical dishes

Located in Zhejiang Province, southeast of the famous city of Nanjing, an ancient imperial city where even today you can admire its beauty and historic past, as well as the main city of Jiangsu Province (more specifically the eastern coast), Ningbo is one of the oldest cities in China and owns its fame mostly due to its port, which is among the most important and well-known.

In fact, after the First Opium War (1839-42), with a stipulation in the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842, it was listed among the five ports open to international commercial traffic. We also know that Ningbo has a history going back more than 2,000 years thanks to its frequent commercial exchanges along the Silk Road, which especially intensified during the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) Dynasties.

According to recent statistics, the city of Ningbo stands out as 16th place on the national classification of the best economic cities list of 2018, and at the same time, it’s considered one of the 30 cities that have the highest rate of innovation and creativity.

[Read more…]

Eternal Pig

- Written by Kandido Burenson Leave a Comment

Eternal pig

“…it all started when the pig began to eat itself.”

An economic metaphor of modern China.

I was traveling in the remote mountains of Yunnan. That time by horse with a motor of flesh, bone and also sweat. I was together with a local guide and a family of modern nodmads.

This was in the Spring of 2007. In Lijiang I met Pana and Haydeh who with their two children wanted to take a trip to get them ready to go to Mongolia on horseback that very summer. Having experience traveling in Mongolia with horses I’ve bought, I offered to accompany them. It seemed to me as a great idea considering all those friends who transform having kids in to an excuse not to travel anymore. Yes, you can travel with a family and without a lot of money.

Certainly with two young kids the trip wouldn’t be the quickest. The newborn, named Nugaj like a Mongolian prince, screamed out his warrior roots and there were frequent breaks to nurse him and placate his discomfort. The other kid – a four year-old – became impatient: his horse was under the watchful control of the guide who got nervous because he couldn’t go as quickly as he had planned: it wasn’t good business for him especially with people who didn’t even speak Mandarin.

He was only there to get paid for the job and wanted to finish as soon as possible. So before leaving, another farmer joined the group so that, as the guard explained to us, he would help bring back the horses: all at his own expense. [Read more…]

10 Ideas for Buying Souvenirs in China

- Written by Aldo Terminiello Leave a Comment

Souvenirs from China

Traveling the world not only allows you to get to know new places and people, but also objects you’ve never seen before. Anyone who’s been to China well knows that many things, even the most common ones, can be very different than what we’re used to. The same goes for a ton of objects that can’t be found anywhere but the Middle Kingdom.

With this article I hope to gather a few ideas about souvenirs you can buy in China. By reading it, you’ll have a few more choices the next time you need to bring some “little gifts” to your friends and family. If you have no intention of visiting China…you can think of something for someone who’s going to bring you, taking advantage of someone else’s trip!

What souvenirs to bring home from China? – Index

  1. The “Classics”
  2. Chopsticks
  3. Tea
  4. Foods
  5. Seeds
  6. Calligraphy Tools
  7. Pictures and Calligraphy
  8. Silk
  9. Technology
  10. Jianzi
  11. Final Advice

[Read more…]