Sapore di Cina

Learn Chinese, Travel or Work in China

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…]

Do VPNs Still Work in China? Is It Illegal to Use a VPN in China?

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Do VPNs still work in China

At the time of the enactment of China’s new cybersecurity law in 2017, the country initiated a several-month period aimed at increasing controls and restrictions on Internet use. During these months, many media outlets published contradictory news stories on the possibility of VPNs being blocked completely in China in 2018. The first stories said it would happen in January 2018, and then February and finally March.

The goal of this article is to try to organize and clarify all of the information that has come out in 2017 and 2018 on the subject.

Do VPNs work in China?

The short answer is YES. You can check out this complete article on some of the best VPNs that continue to work in China, which we update every month with the most recent information on their functionality and stability. The first version of the article dates back to 2013, and since then, we have continued to monitor the different VPNs on the market and have selected those that work best in China in our opinion.

Despite the fact that since June 2017, many VPNs have been seriously affected in terms of their functionality, or have even been completely blocked, currently, numerous VPNs continue to work quite well in China.

However, if VPNs continue to work in China, what was the reason for this wave of news stories stating the opposite in 2017 and the beginning of 2018? Below, we will try to clarify the information and debunk the myths.
[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…]

How to Access Instagram in China and Use It Without Restrictions

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Unblocking Instagram in China

Can you access Instagram China? Like many other social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, Instagram is blocked in China.

However, there are multiple ways of accessing Instagram and other websites and apps blocked in China. Out of all of these methods, without a doubt, VPNs are the simplest and most effective system.

In this article, we will give you a simple and step-by-step explanation on how to unblock Instagram in China.

Unblocking Instagram in China

To unblock Instagram in China, all you will need is Internet access and a system to get around restrictions.

Accessing the Internet in China

If you’re traveling in China, finding Internet access is relatively easy, as free Wi-Fi networks are available at many businesses such as cafés, restaurants, hotels and airports, among others.

In any event, if you want to always be connected or are going to travel to rural areas, it might be a good idea to purchase a SIM card with a data plan. To get a prepaid SIM card, all you will need is to take your passport to an official store of one of the main telephone operators (China Telecom, China Unicom or China Mobile). If you’re going to be one month or less, 200 Yuan is usually enough to buy the card, a basic data plan and a bit of credit for calls.
[Read more…]

How to find the fastest VPN: Check Your VPN Speed in China

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internet speed test vpn

VPNs are an excellent tool to access the Internet securely and without restrictions. Currently, using a VPN is the best way to get around the Great Firewall of China and be able to access all of the blocked apps in the country.

However, how can you objectively assess the performance of your VPN? In this article, we explain how to use an Internet speed test to evaluate the quality of your Internet connection and the functionality of your VPN.

Speed test

Below is a tool designed by Bing that you can use for free to test your Internet connection speed (simply click on Start):


[Read more…]

How to Unblock and Use Snapchat in China in 2019

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Unblocking snapchat china

Is it possible to access Snapchat in China? Like many other messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Line, Snapchat is blocked in China. However, if you have a VPN, you will be able to access Snapchat in China without any problems. In this article, we will give you a simple and step-by-step explanation on how to unblock Snapchat in China.

What do you need to connect to Snapchat in China?

Using Snapchat or any apps blocked in China is relatively simple. You will only need two things: Internet access (obviously) and a system to get around the Internet use controls that exist in China.

1. An Internet connection

It’s obvious that to use Snapchat in China, you will have to have some way to connect to the global network. However, is it easy to access the Internet in China?

Accessing the Internet in China is very easy, whether via one of the many free Wi-Fi networks, a data plan, or even by using roaming:

Wifi: In China, and especially in large cities, finding a free Wi-Fi network is really easy, as the majority of restaurants, bars, cafés, hotels and airports offer free Wi-Fi to their customers.

As you may understand, finding a Wi-Fi network in rural areas can be complicated.

Chinese SIM card: Getting a prepaid SIM card from one of China’s main telephone companies (China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom) is very easy, and all you will need to do is find one of these companies’ stores and present your passport.

Normally, just 200 Yuan will be enough for the SIM card, a basic monthly data plan and a bit of credit for calls.

I don’t recommend any company in particular, as their prices and services tend to be quite comparable. Simply choose the first you find.

[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 Watch Youtube Videos 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…]

Traveling to Bangkok, the City of Angels

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Travel to Bangkok

The complete name of Bangkok is composed of more than twenty words, which when translated mean “City of angels, the great city, the city of eternal joy, the impenetrable city of the god Indra, the magnificent capital of the world adorned in precious gems, the happy city that abounds in the colossal Royal Palace, which is like the divine home where the reincarnated gods reign, a city blessed by Indra and built for Vishnukam”.

Bangkok, the largest and most populated metropolis of Southeast Asia with its almost 10 million inhabitants, is climbing the toward the top of the list of the most extensive and busiest cities on the planet.

Located on the banks of the Chao Praya River, up until 1782 Bangkok was like any other town. Since then, thanks also to the fact that King Rama I made it the capital of Siam, it began its commercial, political and diplomatic climb.

Click on one of the following links to jump directly to the section of the article that interests you most:

Traveling to Bangkok – Index

  1. How to get to Bangkok
  2. What to do upon arriving in Bangkok
  3. When to visit Bangkok
  4. Where to stay in Bangkok
  5. How to get around Bangkok
  6. The districts of Bangkok
  7. Safety in Bangkok
  8. What to see in Bangkok
  9. Where to eat in Bangkok
  10. Nightlife in Bangkok
  11. Frequently asked questions

[Read more…]

How to Access Twitter in China Without Restrictions

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tweet from China

As you should already be well aware, Twitter, along with the majority of social media platforms, can’t be accessed from Mainland China.

If you’re in China and want to access the Internet without restrictions, you will need a system to get around the filtering conducted by the so-called Great Firewall of China.

Currently, the most effective and simplest system to use to get around restrictions is called a Virtual Private Network or VPN.

In this article, I am going to give you a simple, step-by-step explanation on how to access Twitter and any blocked website in China.

What you’ll need to Tweet in China

Tweeting in China is easy. All you will need is Internet access and a system to get around the Internet restrictions imposed by the Great Firewall of China.

Currently, the most effective and easy-to-use system to get around the Great Firewall is a Virtual Private Networks or VPN.

What’s a VPN and where can I get one?

A VPN is a system designed to redirect all or a part of your online traffic through a server located in another place. The traffic between your device and the server is encrypted, preventing third parties from being able to see your online activities, thus increasing security. [Read more…]

Giving Birth in China: The Complete Guide

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how to give birth in China

Giving Birth in China – Index

  1. What should you consider before starting a family in China?
  2. Can you pass on your nationality?
  3. Getting a Chinese Hukou if your spouse is Chinese
  4. Family support network
  5. Deciding which hospital to give birth
  6. Can insurance pay for the high maternity costs?>
  7. Public hospitals vs international hospitals
  8. Choosing a suitable hospital
  9. What paperwork is involved

What Should You Consider Before Starting A Family in China?

As an expat, before you decide to have a family, or maybe before you decide where to have a baby, you need to consider a number of issues and how that will work out for you and your future. Things like whether or not you have a support network in place or whether or not you can afford to give birth in an international clinic, may have a drastic effect on your planning.
[Read more…]