Sapore di Cina

Learn Chinese, Travel, Study or Work in China and Asia

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Review of Surfshark VPN – An Alternative for China

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Surfshark review

Created in 2018, Surfshark is definitely one of the most promising VPNs at the moment. Despite not having been around for a long time, Surfshark has a broad network of physical servers across the globe, excellent security and privacy services and a broad offering of extra options, all at a very competitive price. Without a doubt, Surfshark is a premium VPN at the price of a budget one.

For users in China, Surfshark offers excellent connectivity, with services that are similar to those of the most popular VPNs currently used in the country. Without a doubt, Surfshark is an excellent alternative to large VPN providers, especially when you consider that it’s one of the few VPNs that includes the possibility of using Shadowsocks.

Click here to try Surfshark!

Features

Encryption protocols: IKEv2, OpenVPN, Shadowsocks, WireGuard®.

Simultaneous connections: Unlimited.

Number of servers and location: Surfshark offers more than 3200 servers in 65 different countries.

Applications: Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, iOS, FireTV, Apple TV, Xbox, Playstation, TrustDNS..

Trial period or guaranteed money back: It offers a free trial period of 7 days and 30 days guaranteed money back.

After-sale service: It has a 24/7 seven customer service system via live chat or email.

Extras: CleanWeb (ads and malware blocker), Whitelister (allows certain applications or websites to ignore the VPN), Kill switch, Multihop (connect to multiple countries at the same time), Camouflage Mode (avoid VPN conection to be detected), NoBorders (avoid geografic restrictions).
[Read more…]

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The Postal System in China: Sending Goods Within, From, and To China

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sistema postal china

The postal system in China is probably one of the cheapest and most efficient in the world. In this article, I am going to give a small description of the different needs, the sending possibilities that exist, and the advantages and disadvantages of each service. Below, you can find the points I am going to cover. [Read more…]

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Finding a Job in Thailand as a Foreigner: The Complete Guide

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Finding a Job in Thailand as a Foreigner

  1. How can I find a job in Thailand?
  2. How is the job market in Thailand?
  3. Requirements for foreigners to work in Thailand
  4. How high are salaries in Thailand?
  5. How high are the income taxes?
  6. Which cities are best to look for jobs in Thailand?
  7. Teaching English in Thailand
  8. llegal jobs

Thailand is the second-biggest economy in Southeast Asia and has welcomed millions of foreign retirees, expats, and workers in the past decades. Here, you can find numerous Japanese, German, and manufacturers from other countries who set up assembly operations.

In this article, we explain how you can find a job in Thailand, about the job market, the requirements to work there as a foreigner, the best cities to look for jobs, and more. Let’s get started and review the best ways to find a job in Thailand.

[Read more…]

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Travel Insurance for Vietnam – Tips and Suggestions

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seguro medico vietnam

IMPORTANT: Since March 2022, having travel insurance is required in order to enter Vietnam.

  1. Resason to get a travel insurance for Vietnam
  2. Hospitals in Vietnam
  3. Recommended travel insurance for Vietnam
  4. The features of a good travel insurance

Travel insurance recommended for Vietnam

World NomadsWorld Nomads: A complete, low-cost and customizable travel insurance policy with customer service in English. However, their insurance currently isn’t available for residents of the European Union. Get 5% off using the coupon SDC.

Safety WingSafety Wing: A basic, very low-cost travel insurance policy with complete medical coverage.

Having lived most of my life in Europe, an illusory world where free health care and a state of good health reign supreme, getting medical attention was never one of my worries. In fact, I traveled for a long time around the world without even thinking about the need to get health insurance.

It wasn’t until I moved to Asia that I realized the luck I had had during my trips. [Read more…]

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How to Open a Company in Singapore – The Complete Guide

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How to open a company in Singapore

  1. The pros of opening a company in Singapore
  2. The cons of opening a company in Singapore
  3. How to open an Singapore a company without living or even go there
  4. All the documents you need to register a company in Singapore and the procedure for opening it
  5. The total cost of registering and maintaining a company in Singapore
  6. How to open a multi-currencies business bank account in Singapore
  7. Frequently asked questions
  8. Get a free quotation from an agency that can help you to set up your Singapore company

If you want to request directly a quotation to the agency that we recommend, click here

[Read more…]

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How to Access Tinder in China (and What Alternatives Exist)

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Access Tinder in China

For the past few years, Tinder has been blocked in China. However, using Tinder in China might not be so difficult as you think!

In this article, we give a simple explanation of what you need to unblock Tinder in China, what a VPN is, and what are the best VPNs for accessing any apps blocked in China. Finally, we explain what type of people you can find on Tinder and what alternatives exist in China for dating.

  1. What do you need to access Tinder in China?
  2. What is a VPN and what is it used for in China?
  3. What VPN should I used to unblock Tinder in China?
  4. Who uses Tinder in China?
  5. Alternatives to Tinder in China
  6. Frequently asked questions

What do you need to access Tinder in China?

1. Internet access: It’s obvious that to access Tinder, you will first need to be connected to the Internet. However, is it difficult to access the Internet in China? As opposed to what some people might think, accessing the Internet in China is relatively easy. [Read more…]

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How to Unblock WhatsApp in China

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How to unblock Whatsapp in China

Is it possible to access WhatsApp in China? Despite the fact that since September 2017, China has been blocking video calls, messages, and file transfers on the app, it’s still possible to access WhatsApp in China.

In this article, we will give you a step-by-step explanation of how to use WhatsApp in China.

  1. What do you need to use WhatsApp in China?
  2. What is a VPN?
  3. What VPN do we recommend for China?
  4. What to prepare before going to China
  5. What to do to use WhatsApp once in China
  6. Alternatives to WhatsApp in China
  7. Frequently asked questions

What do you need to use WhatsApp in China?

Using WhatsApp in China is relatively simple and you will only need two things:

1. An Internet connection

It’s obvious that to be able to use WhatsApp, you will need to be connected to the Internet. As I explain below, connecting to the Internet in China is relatively easy. [Read more…]

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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. In this article, we’ll give a step-by-step explanation of how to use YouTube in China.

  1. What do you need to access YouTube in China?
  2. What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)?
  3. What VPN do we recommend in China?
  4. Suggestions for unblocking YouTube in China
  5. Alternatives to YouTube in China
  6. Frequently asked questions

[Read more…]

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How to Use WeChat (or Weixin): The Complete Guide for Foreigners

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How to use Wechat

  1. How to install WeChat
  2. Communicating with WeChat
  3. How to use “Moments”
  4. New friends on WeChat
  5. Personal account and posts
  6. Wallet and operations
  7. Strong and weak points of WeChat
  8. 4 Surreal Uses for WeChat

For those who still are not familiar with, WeChat (微信, Weixin, which means “micro-letter” or “micro-message” in Chinese) is a social network: it’s sort of halfway between WhatsApp and Facebook, with the dual purpose of dividing content on your dashboard besides communication via chat. [Read more…]

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Review of ExpressVPN: Does it still work in China?

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Express VPN in China review

Click here to get 3 months free with your annual ExpressVPN plan

Does ExpressVPN still work in China? The short answer is “YES”!

This article is a complete review and a study of the functionality of ExpressVPN in China, which in our opinion, is one of the best VPNs currently on the market.

If you still don’t know what a VPN is, just go till the end of this article to learn more.

  1. Why ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for China
  2. Technical features of ExpressVPN
  3. The strong points of ExpressVPN
  4. What would improve of ExpressVPN?
  5. Suggestions for using ExpressVPN in China
  6. How much does it cost ExpressVPN?
  7. What is a VPN and why is it useful to me?
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Try ExpressVPN now!

Why ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for China

We have been using and testing a multitude of VPNs for more than ten years as a way of getting around the Great Firewall of China, which as you know, limits access to innumerable websites and apps, such as Google, WhatsApp, Facebook or Twitter.

Very few VPNs are capable of offering acceptable performance in China, and among the few that currently work, ExpressVPN has shown itself to be one of the most reliable and quickest.

We have been using ExpressVPN in China since 2014, and during this entire time, it has always been a surefire way to continue to access the Internet without restrictions.

[Read more…]

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Best Health Insurance for Expats in Hong Kong – Our Guide

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Health Insurance in Hong Kong

Click here if you want to send a request for a
free quotation to the broker we recommend at the moment

Do you live in Hong Kong or plan to move there in the near future? Then one of your first tasks should be to find a robust health insurance policy.

Hong Kong is the home of many expats and it’s renowned for having one of the best healthcare systems in the world, both in the private and public sectors. Yet, visiting a local hospital with limited communication opportunities can be proven daunting, especially for expats who want a hassle-free experience when visiting hospitals.

In this article, we cover everything from the medical attention in Hong Kong, why you should get health insurance, what kinds of hospitals that are available, and more.

Health Insurance for Expats in Hong Kong- Index

  1. Medical attention in Hong Kong
  2. Why do I need health insurance in Hong Kong?
  3. Hospitals in Hong Kong
  4. Hong Kong Healthcare Costs
  5. What is an insurance broker and why might you need one?
  6. Table comparing health insurance policies for Hong Kong
  7. How to evaluate the features of a health insurance policy
  8. Send a request for a free quotation to the broker we recommend

[Read more…]

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International Medical Clinics in Asia – Our Complete Guide

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International Medical Clinics in Asia

Living in Asia has many perks in terms of weather, low living costs, great food, and business opportunities. Having said that, it also comes with some responsibility as you’re sometimes not protected by a national welfare system.

Health insurance and medical access are some of the prime examples. Surprisingly, I still come across people who don’t have any health insurance or have no clue what medical facilities to visit if they get sick.

This is almost reckless and one should have a thorough knowledge of how to act in an emergency. Therefore, we have written this article where we go into further details about what international medical clinics are, why you should have private insurance, and more.

Let’s get started.

International Medical Clinics in Asia – Index

  1. What is an international medical clinic?
  2. Do I need private insurance?
  3. How do I find international medical clinics?
  4. Top international hospitals by countries in Asia

[Read more…]

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Best Health Insurance for Expats in Vietnam – Our Guide

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Best Health Insurance for Expats in Vietnam

Click here if you want to send a request for a
free quotation to the broker we recommend at the moment

Do you live or plan to move to Vietnam and currently look for health insurance?

Nowadays, you can find many international hospitals in Vietnam that cater to foreign expats and visitors. There are also plenty of brokers (more about that later) and insurance companies available that offer tailor-made insurance packages.

Finding an insurance provider might not be the most difficult task on hand, but there are plenty of other things that are worth knowing. What kinds of hospitals are available in Vietnam? How can I seek medical attention in Vietnam?

These are just examples of questions that you should ask yourself before you even more here. In this article, we cover the most important topics for foreigners who need robust insurance packages offered by some of the most credible companies in the market.

Health Insurance for Expats in Vietnam – Index

  1. Medical attention in Vietnam
  2. Why do I need health insurance in Vietnam?
  3. Hospitals in Vietnam
  4. What is a broker and why you might need one?
  5. Table comparing health insurance types for Vietnam
  6. How to evaluate the features of a health insurance policy
  7. Send a request for a free quotation to the broker we recommend

P.S. If you are plan to just travel for a short period in the country, then you can read our guide dedicate to travel insurance in Vietnam.

[Read more…]

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Best Health Insurance for Expats in Singapore – Our Guide

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Expat Insurance Singapore

Click here if you want to send a request for a
free quotation to the broker we recommend at the moment

Do you live in or plan to move to Singapore and wonder what health insurance you should go for?

As you might know by now, most international insurance providers offer packages for foreigners who live there and you can even find regional headquarters.

With that said, you must understand how Singapore’s healthcare system works practically, how you compare to locals, what insurance options you have, and more.

In this article, we try to provide as much valuable information as possible so that you can get your feet wet and prepare before your departure. You will learn how the medical system works, what benefits Singaporeans and PRs have compared to other foreigners, about public and private hospitals, how you can find insurance, and more.

Let’s get started and review how it works when seeking medical attention in Singapore.

Health Insurance for Expats in Singapore- Index

  1. Medical attention in Singapore
  2. Why do I need health insurance in Singapore?
  3. Hospitals in Singapore
  4. Types of insurances in Singapore
  5. What is an insurance broker and why might you need one?
  6. Table comparing health insurance policies for Singapore
  7. How to evaluate the features of a health insurance policy
  8. Send a request for a free quotation to the broker we recommend

Ps. If are just traveling in the city, then you might want to check our article on travel insurance for Singapore.

[Read more…]

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How to Open a Company in Vietnam as a Foreigner

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How to Open a Company in Vietnam

  1. The pros of opening a company in Vietnam
  2. The cons of opening a company in Vietnam
  3. How to open a company in Vietnam
  4. The total cost of registering and maintaining a company in Vietnam
  5. How to open a business bank account in Vietnam
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. Get a free quotation from an agency that can help you to set up your Vietnam company

The pros of opening a company in Vietnam

  • Contrary to many other countries, businesses are not required to have minimum capital for most businesses in Vietnam. You can start a business without a large amount of charter capital in your pocket. You just need to make sure you have enough money to cover the expected costs of the company;

  • Vietnam is witnessing rapid changes in population and social structure. Vietnam’s population has increased to about 97 million in 2018 (from about 60 million in 1986) and is expected to increase to 120 million by 2050. Currently, 70% of the population is under the age of 35.

    The young labor force is very large and shows no sign of decreasing. In addition, the country has invested a lot of resources in education. Therefore, in addition to health, young Vietnamese workers are also skilled.

    Finally, salaries in Vietnam are very competitive, even for skilled workers;

    • [Read more…]

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How to Open a Company in Taiwan as a Foreigner

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How to Open a Company in Taiwan

  1. The pros of opening a company in Taiwan
  2. The cons of opening a company in Taiwan
  3. How to open a company in Taiwan
  4. The total cost of registering and maintaining a company in Taiwan
  5. How to open a multi-currency business bank account in Taiwan
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. Get a free quotation from an agency that can help you to set up your Taiwan company

The pros of opening a company in Taiwan

  • In order to solve the employment problem and attract foreigners with expertise, the Taiwan government provided with Regulations on the Permission and Administration of the Employment of Foreign Workers and tax incentives. Foreigners can get a work permit easier than in many other Asian countries and enjoy the favorable income tax rate;
  • Taiwan’s corporate income tax rate is 20%, comparatively lower than Japan, Korea, China. The VAT rate is 5%, which is also lower than Japan, Korea, China, and Singapore;
  • It is relatively easy, when compared to other Asian countries, to open a business bank account and transfer funds, if you can provide the required documents;
  • The Taiwan government established the special-purpose zones that can meet changing business needs. At present, there are 174 industrial parks, 10 export processing zones, 3 science parks, 2 agricultural technology parks, 4 environmental science, and technology parks, and 7 free trade zones;

    • [Read more…]

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How to open a Multi-currency Business Account in Singapore

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Multi-currency Business Account in Singapore

  1. What are your options?
  2. How to open an Aspire business account in Singapore
  3. How to open a “traditional” business account in Singapore
  4. How to open an offshore business account
  5. Are you looking for an agency that can help you to set up your Singapore company?

Singapore is Southeast Asia’s leading business hub with some of the region’s lowest taxes. Not surprisingly, many foreign companies decide to open a company in Singapore and use it as the base of their operations.

However, along with a great influx of investors, new foreign companies, and more stringent anti-money laundering laws, it’s become increasingly more difficult to open local business accounts as well.

This is not only a trend we’ve seen in Singapore but in Hong Kong, which brings many similarities to the nation. Due to the increased amount of problems to open business accounts, smart entrepreneurs, often with years of experience in banking, have come up with FinTech solutions to make it easier for companies to open local business accounts.

In this article, we present what options you have when opening a business account in Singapore, what the pros and cons are, how much it costs, what documents you need, and more. [Read more…]

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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. Who can open a bank account in China?
  3. What do I need to open a bank account in China?
  4. What bank to choose
  5. Banking procedures
  6. Obtaining debit and credit cards
  7. Union Pay compared to Visa, MasterCard and American Express
  8. Taking money to China
  9. Bringing money back from China
  10. Online and mobile banking
  11. 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…]

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Best Online Vietnamese Cooking Courses

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Best Online Vietnam Cooking Courses

Online Vietnamese Cooking Courses – Index

  1. Vietnamese Cooking Made Simple (Udemy)
  2. Veecoco
  3. Vietnamese Classics: Pho, Noodles & Beyond
  4. Unique Cuisine (Youtube channel)
  5. Helen’s Recipes (Youtube channel)
  6. Van’s Kitchen (Youtube channel)

Vietnamese food gets increasingly popular and it’s well-known for its fresh vegetables and distinctive flavors. Common seasonings include mint, lemongrass, ginger, coriander, cinnamon, chili, Thai basil leaves, and lime.

All the way from the North to the South, you’ll find tasty dishes like Pho (noodle soup), Com tam (broken rice), Banh mi (Vietnamese baguette), and Bun Cha. Along with the increase in the popularity of Vietnamese food, we also see an increased demand for online cooking courses.

Therefore, we have written this article where we list some of the most popular online Vietnamese cooking classes and YouTube channels where you can learn how to make Vietnamese food.

[Read more…]

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How to Translate Chinese into English: The Complete Guide

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How to translate Chinese into English

Do you need a translation from English to Chinese or from Chinese to English? Click here to request a free quote

This guide was written by our two experts in Chinese: Aldo Terminiello and Armando Turturici. The first part was written by Aldo, while the second was from Armando. Enjoy the read!

  1. Introduction: Translation in China
  2. Translating from Chinese
  3. Phase one: understanding the text
  4. Phase two: rewriting the text
  5. The patient work of the translator
  6. Translating from Chinese: suggestions for translation
  7. Frequently asked questions

Introduction: Translation in China

In China, translation was of vital importance at key moments in history. For example, in the second century A.D., when Buddhism reached the Middle Kingdom and it was necessary to translate the sacred texts from Sanskrit; in the eighteenth century, when Christian missions (especially the Jesuits) translated the holy texts into Chinese and the key texts of the boundless Chinese literature into Latin in order to get to know the civilization they were trying to convert to Christianity.

In the nineteenth century and the first few decades of the twentieth century, China realized it was technologically underdeveloped compared to the rest of the world, and felt the need to import lots of scientific and literary texts, setting off a third great wave of Chinese translation.

During the first half of the twentieth century, the translation of Russian revolutionary texts had a great impact and could be considered the fourth period of Chinese translation.

As a common factor during these periods, there was a need to import knowledge and make it available to Chinese people in their own language: translations for religious, ideological or cultural purposes, rather practical goals that also reflect the translation theories created during those periods, which were manuals that simply explained: “how to translate well”.

The urgency of communication nowadays makes the situation is very different: translations are more and more often conducted in both ways, in Chinese, and from Chinese.
[Read more…]