Most Africans arrive in China and start off in survival mode. Finding a place to sleep. Figuring out visas. Taking whatever small job comes first. Trying to understand a system that moves faster than anything they’ve seen before. It’s a normal beginning — but it shouldn’t be a permanent lifestyle. The turning point comes when you shift from surviving day-to-day to...

The Shanghai Public Security Bureau (PSB) has rolled out new measures to make it easier for foreigners to attend and do business during the China International Import Expo (CIIE). These updates improve visa access, registration, and mobility around the event. 1. Electronic Port Visa System For the first time, Shanghai has introduced an electronic port visa system for foreign exhibitors and...

If you’re in Guangzhou for sourcing or scouting suppliers, here’s what changed this session and why buyers should care. The 138th Canton Fair opened on October 15, 2025 in Guangzhou. This edition is being called the strictest so far. Many small and medium exhibitors were surprised by the new rules, but for buyers, the updates bring clear benefits. What’s new Stricter...

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...