Ever booked a hotel in China, rolled in with your suitcase all excited, only to hear that dreaded line: “Sorry, we’re not qualified to accept foreigners”? Yeah… me too. Awful. It’s been repeated so often it might as well be part of the hotel’s welcome script when a foreigner walks in. And the reason they give? “According to the law…” Well,...

Looking for a quick escape this Golden Week? If you want to avoid the big crowds but still enjoy the holiday, here are some of the best day trips you can take from major cities in China. Beijing ➝ Great Wall Hike the Mutianyu or Jinshanling sections of the Great Wall for stunning views and fewer tourists compared to Badaling. Shanghai ➝ Suzhou Known as the “Venice of the...

Shanghai is one of China’s most exciting food cities — a melting pot where East meets West and local flavors blend with international flair. Whether you’re new in town or a longtime resident, here are some of the best places and dishes to explore when hunger hits. 🥢 Must-Try Local Dishes Xiaolongbao (Soup Dumplings) – Steamed buns filled with hot broth and pork,...

Chinese Learning – Class 1: Greetings and Introductions Welcome to our Chinese learning series! In this first class, we’ll focus on the basics: greetings and introductions. 👋 Common Greetings 你好 (nǐ hǎo) – Hello 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) – Good morning 晚上好 (wǎnshàng hǎo) – Good evening 再见 (zàijiàn) – Goodbye 🙋 Introducing Yourself...

Chinese Learning – Class 2: Numbers and Counting Numbers are everywhere in daily life. In Class 2, we’ll learn how to count in Chinese. 🔢 Basic Numbers (0–10) 零 (líng) 0, 一 (yī) 1, 二 (èr) 2, 三 (sān) 3, 四 (sì) 4, 五 (wǔ) 5, 六 (liù) 6, 七 (qī) 7, 八 (bā) 8, 九 (jiǔ) 9, 十 (shí) 10 📅 Useful Phrases 一个 (yí gè) – One...