Three agents, six fake listings, and one apartment with a bathroom inside the kitchen later... Lindi has keys to a flat with cross-ventilation and a landlord who actually fixes leaks. Yebo! 🙌🏾
Housing in China is a marathon, not a sprint. But while you are inspecting those fluorescent-lit showings, do this one thing: run the tap for two minutes and smell it. If it reeks of chlorine or rust, budget for a proper reverse osmosis filter. Your liver will thank you when you are pulling night shifts and living on instant coffee.
To everyone still fighting with housing apps at midnight—sawubona, stay strong. The right flat is out there.
Three agents, six fake listings, and one apartment with a bathroom inside the kitchen later... Lindi has keys to a flat with cross-ventilation and a landlord who actually fixes leaks. Yebo! 🙌🏾
Housing in China is a marathon, not a sprint. But while you are inspecting those fluorescent-lit showings, do this one thing: run the tap for two minutes and smell it. If it reeks of chlorine or rust, budget for a proper reverse osmosis filter. Your liver will thank you when you are pulling night shifts and living on instant coffee.
To everyone still fighting with housing apps at midnight—sawubona, stay strong. The right flat is out there.
💳 WeChat Pay for foreigners: 5 things to know (2026)
1️⃣ You can link a Visa or Mastercard. No Chinese bank account needed.
2️⃣ Payments of ¥200 or less are free. Over ¥200 = 3% fee on the FULL amount.
3️⃣ Foreign cards can't send red packets or transfer to friends. They only pay shops.
4️⃣ New in 2026: first-time foreign-card users get the 3% fee waived for 90 days (up to ¥1,000/day). Bind your card before Dec 31!
5️⃣ Living here long term? Link a Chinese bank card instead: no fees, plus transfers and hongbao unlocked.
💳 WeChat Pay for foreigners: 5 things to know (2026)
1️⃣ You can link a Visa or Mastercard. No Chinese bank account needed.
2️⃣ Payments of ¥200 or less are free. Over ¥200 = 3% fee on the FULL amount.
3️⃣ Foreign cards can't send red packets or transfer to friends. They only pay shops.
4️⃣ New in 2026: first-time foreign-card users get the 3% fee waived for 90 days (up to ¥1,000/day). Bind your card before Dec 31!
5️⃣ Living here long term? Link a Chinese bank card instead: no fees, plus transfers and hongbao unlocked.
Full Alipay & WeChat Pay guide 👉 https://hafrik.com/blogs/22824/Alipay-WeChat-Pay-for-Foreigners-in-China-2026-Setup-Fees
#AfricansInChina #WeChatPay #LifeInChina
Selam my Hafrik family. Let me light a small fire, and you may pour water on it if you wish. Everyone hunting for apartments in Guangzhou chases the shiny tower with the fingerprint lock, the glass balcony, and the gym where machines collect dust. But I will tell you what my mother would say: a house with good bones and noisy neighbors is worth far more than a palace with silent walls.
I rent an old walk-up in Yuexiu. The elevator groans like a tired mule, the paint has seen empires rise and fall, and the agent smiled while shaving ten square meters off the truth—betam amesegenallo, I have learned to laugh. Yet my kitchen holds three jebenas on the stove. My windows open wide enough to let frankincense breathe without waking the fire alarm. When I roast green coffee at dawn, the auntie downstairs does not call security; she knocks with warm douhua because she remembers my name. I have held coffee ceremonies in that living room that turned strangers into brothers and sisters. Try building that kind of trust in a serviced apartment where the concierge side-eyes you for burning a little incense.
When you hunt for your home here, do not ask only about metro lines and floor heating. Ask if the walls can hold the smoke of your traditions. Ask if the hallway can turn into a gathering place. Your apartment is not a showroom—it is the soil where your China roots will grow. Choose the soil that feeds you, not the pot that sparkles. ☕
Selam my Hafrik family. Let me light a small fire, and you may pour water on it if you wish. Everyone hunting for apartments in Guangzhou chases the shiny tower with the fingerprint lock, the glass balcony, and the gym where machines collect dust. But I will tell you what my mother would say: a house with good bones and noisy neighbors is worth far more than a palace with silent walls.
I rent an old walk-up in Yuexiu. The elevator groans like a tired mule, the paint has seen empires rise and fall, and the agent smiled while shaving ten square meters off the truth—betam amesegenallo, I have learned to laugh. Yet my kitchen holds three jebenas on the stove. My windows open wide enough to let frankincense breathe without waking the fire alarm. When I roast green coffee at dawn, the auntie downstairs does not call security; she knocks with warm douhua because she remembers my name. I have held coffee ceremonies in that living room that turned strangers into brothers and sisters. Try building that kind of trust in a serviced apartment where the concierge side-eyes you for burning a little incense.
When you hunt for your home here, do not ask only about metro lines and floor heating. Ask if the walls can hold the smoke of your traditions. Ask if the hallway can turn into a gathering place. Your apartment is not a showroom—it is the soil where your China roots will grow. Choose the soil that feeds you, not the pot that sparkles. ☕
You can read about Shenzhen from the outside.
Or you can come inside the system that turns ideas into products.
That was one of the biggest things we learned from muShanghai. Over 28 days, 926 global attendees and more than 1,000 local attendees co-created 255 events, welcomed more than 12,000 in-person visits and generated 23.7 million online views.
But the numbers were not the point. The...
Eligible business travelers can now spend up to 30 additional days in China under the APEC Business Travel Card scheme. Here’s who benefits and what to check before traveling.
China has increased the maximum permitted stay for APEC Business Travel Card holders from 60 days to 90 days, effective November 1, 2026.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the change on October 30...
In China, your phone is your wallet. Almost everything, from street food and metro rides to rent, Didi and Taobao, is paid with Alipay or WeChat Pay. Here's how to set both up as a foreigner in 2026, what the fees and limits really are, and the difference between using a foreign card and a Chinese bank card.
What you need
Your passport.
A phone number. A foreign number works to register,...
Shenzhen hosts the 2026 APEC meetings next week, and the whole city has spent the year getting ready to welcome international visitors. Street signs have been fixed, taxi drivers are learning English, and frontline workers are rehearsing conversations with foreign guests.
One of the people behind that preparation is an American who has called Shenzhen home for ten years.
Meet Lita, the...
Winter in China hits different. If you're from Lagos, Accra, Nairobi or Dar, your first Chinese winter can be a shock: snow in the north, damp bone-cold in the south, and very different rules depending on which side of the country you live in. Here's how to survive it and stay comfortable.
North vs South: the line that decides your winter
China is split by the Qinling–Huai River line....
Living in China comes with experiences you never planned for, lessons you never expected, and decisions that shape who you become.
In this conversation, I opened up about my personal journey, the realities of living in China, and some of the experiences that have shaped my life here.
One question stood out: What is your greatest regret since coming to China?
My answer might surprise you.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube. Link in bio.
What about you? If you’ve lived in China, what’s one thing you wish you had done differently?
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST REGRET IN CHINA?
Living in China comes with experiences you never planned for, lessons you never expected, and decisions that shape who you become.
In this conversation, I opened up about my personal journey, the realities of living in China, and some of the experiences that have shaped my life here.
One question stood out: What is your greatest regret since coming to China?
My answer might surprise you.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube. Link in bio.
What about you? If you’ve lived in China, what’s one thing you wish you had done differently?
#LifeInChina #ForeignersInChina #ChinaExperience #AfricanInChina #Hafrik #RealConversations
ChinaLife started with a simple thought: What if we could recreate the experience of living in China in a virtual world?
Inspired by the concept of LagosLife, we began exploring how to build something different, something that allows people to experience, connect, interact and create their own stories.
But turning an idea into reality is a completely different journey.
This is where our story begins.
Welcome to the journey of building ChinaLife by Hafrik.
EPISODE 1 | THE BEGINNING
Every big idea has a starting point.
ChinaLife started with a simple thought: What if we could recreate the experience of living in China in a virtual world?
Inspired by the concept of LagosLife, we began exploring how to build something different, something that allows people to experience, connect, interact and create their own stories.
But turning an idea into reality is a completely different journey.
This is where our story begins.
Welcome to the journey of building ChinaLife by Hafrik.
#ChinaLife #Hafrik #BuildingInPublic #TechStartup #GameDevelopment #FounderJourney #MadeInChina
Hi guys, my friend and I are planning to film a documentary on La Sape culture. Does anyone know any Sapeurs currently living in China? Also, does anyone have advice on how to invite Sapeurs from Congo to China?
Hi guys, my friend and I are planning to film a documentary on La Sape culture. Does anyone know any Sapeurs currently living in China? Also, does anyone have advice on how to invite Sapeurs from Congo to China?
Dress to kill. Don't ghost your people. 🎃👻
Hafrik × 007 Club Halloween party, Friday 30 Oct, Shenyang 🔥
Best Dressed contest 👑 Post your costume in the Shenyang Space on Hafrik, get your friends to like it, and the most likes wins. Winner announced live at 3 AM.
New to Hafrik? It's the app for Africans living, studying and trading in China: your community, marketplace and services in one place. Scan the QR on your table or join free at hafrik.com 📲
Free on Android & iOS. Tag the friend who's coming with you 👇 #Hafrik#HafrikHalloween#007Club#Shenyang#AfricansInChina#HalloweenParty#BestDressed#LifeInChina
Dress to kill. Don't ghost your people. 🎃👻
Hafrik × 007 Club Halloween party, Friday 30 Oct, Shenyang 🔥
Best Dressed contest 👑 Post your costume in the Shenyang Space on Hafrik, get your friends to like it, and the most likes wins. Winner announced live at 3 AM.
New to Hafrik? It's the app for Africans living, studying and trading in China: your community, marketplace and services in one place. Scan the QR on your table or join free at hafrik.com 📲
Free on Android & iOS. Tag the friend who's coming with you 👇
#Hafrik #HafrikHalloween #007Club #Shenyang #AfricansInChina #HalloweenParty #BestDressed #LifeInChina
If you have ever stepped off the metro at Xiaobei station and walked up into the open air, you already know the feeling. The smell of grilled suya mixing with fresh bread from a Yemeni bakery, Lingala and Wolof and Arabic all bouncing off each other in the same five metres of pavement, a Nigerian aunty haggling over the price of stockfish while a Guinean trader counts out yuan for a bag of...
Saw this on one of my favorite content creators In China.
What’s it like working in China ?
Living and working in China has been one of the most interesting chapters of my life—but it’s also taught me that there isn’t one “China experience.”
As a PE teacher and content creator, I get to experience things I never imagined: teaching in a different education system, adapting to new environments, building relationships, taking care of my health and recovery, and even exploring business opportunities through factory visits.
But I’ve also learned that what you see online is only one side of the story.
This carousel gives you a glimpse into my experience working and living in China—the opportunities, the challenges, and some of the things I wish more people considered before making the move.
And if you want the full story, I filmed an entire week of my life as a PE teacher in China—from the classroom to the gym, school life, recovery, meetings, and everything happening in between.
Watch 🎥? : @thefreeyouvsyough , check profile
What would you want to know about working in China?
Saw this on one of my favorite content creators In China.
What’s it like working in China ?
Living and working in China has been one of the most interesting chapters of my life—but it’s also taught me that there isn’t one “China experience.”
As a PE teacher and content creator, I get to experience things I never imagined: teaching in a different education system, adapting to new environments, building relationships, taking care of my health and recovery, and even exploring business opportunities through factory visits.
But I’ve also learned that what you see online is only one side of the story.
This carousel gives you a glimpse into my experience working and living in China—the opportunities, the challenges, and some of the things I wish more people considered before making the move.
And if you want the full story, I filmed an entire week of my life as a PE teacher in China—from the classroom to the gym, school life, recovery, meetings, and everything happening in between.
Watch 🎥? : @thefreeyouvsyough , check profile
What would you want to know about working in China?
Good morning, friends and family of Hafrik. Today, I feel like sharing a bitter-sweet thought that's close to our hearts — living compliantly in China, with due respect for its laws. 🇨🇳🇳🇬
Wole Soyinka once said that to respect a law is easy, if one understands it. On this note, understanding our rights and the routine police checks here is a small victory — one step towards harmony and clarity in our foreign lives.
It's something we accomplished not solely on our own grit, but on those whispers in the night, the sharing of tips between our community, the unseen bond that holds us. 🤗
You know, a Yoruba saying rings in my thoughts: 'A friend is an extra pair of hands.' We've been holding on to each other, haven't we?
Let's continue spreading knowledge, sharing experiences, and supporting one another. We are stronger together. One community, one heart! 💛
Good morning, friends and family of Hafrik. Today, I feel like sharing a bitter-sweet thought that's close to our hearts — living compliantly in China, with due respect for its laws. 🇨🇳🇳🇬
Wole Soyinka once said that to respect a law is easy, if one understands it. On this note, understanding our rights and the routine police checks here is a small victory — one step towards harmony and clarity in our foreign lives.
It's something we accomplished not solely on our own grit, but on those whispers in the night, the sharing of tips between our community, the unseen bond that holds us. 🤗
You know, a Yoruba saying rings in my thoughts: 'A friend is an extra pair of hands.' We've been holding on to each other, haven't we?
Let's continue spreading knowledge, sharing experiences, and supporting one another. We are stronger together. One community, one heart! 💛
Welcome home. 🇨🇳🌍
This is the official Hafrik Channel — the community platform built by Africans in China, for Africans in China.
Follow here for:
✅ New app features and updates
✅ Community stories and wins
✅ Events across Guangzhou, Yiwu, Shenyang, Beijing
✅ What’s happening inside Hafrik
Turn on notifications 🔔 and be part of it.
Welcome home. 🇨🇳🌍
This is the official Hafrik Channel — the community platform built by Africans in China, for Africans in China.
Follow here for:
✅ New app features and updates
✅ Community stories and wins
✅ Events across Guangzhou, Yiwu, Shenyang, Beijing
✅ What’s happening inside Hafrik
Turn on notifications 🔔 and be part of it.
Share this channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbDZgoh8kyyI5C2WwQ0A
Channel • 1 follower • Hafrik is the community platform built for Africans living, studying, and trading in China — connect, find trusted businesses, and belong. Follow this channel for everything Hafrik: updates, features, community stories, and events. Live. Trade. Move. Belong. Download the app 👇 www.hafrik.com
So, living in China and that life here has got me thinking about raising a family and all that jazz. Chale, the cultural differences alone are like, out of this world, medaase. But let me break down how it’s been, 'cos family life here is not your typical African village setup.
One thing, the schedules are serious in China; everything runs like a well-oiled machine. For kids, that means a lot of school, even on weekends sometimes. The focus is on academics, no time to waste. The pressure! But these shortcuts can be pushing stars, they fall and fly all at the same time
Good thing is, you get support from the community in raising the kids. They got this collective rearing where everyone pitches in. It's random, but it works, abi? Imagine your neighbour dropping the kids at school when they're not feeling well or something. To the point where your child might just share the basic bio facts, but they're like half-siblings with the whole street because everyone claims ‘mumu'.
Teaching them the language has been an adventure, plenty of L's taken. But when you see them transition - from ya fun twi and pidgin夹杂普通话 - to speaking like mini Chinese national treasures, it’s all worth it. I’ve named this game Triple Lingual Toddlers.
Family outings are top-notch too. Visiting ancient sites is basically like living history books. I'm talking about, just yesterday, we took the kids to the Great Wall, and they got to feel the weight of yesteryears on their little shoulders.
On the flip side, there’s this fine line of balancing the Chinese way and the African way of raising kids. Respect for elders and traditional African values are a constant dance with modern Chinese education. The clash is real but learning how to mesh them is like a full-time gig
I’d say, family life in China, it keeps you on your toes, but there’s a kind of magic in making these cultures fit like a puzzle - and our kids? The living, breathing evidence of that magic. What’s your take, o? Feel free to share your own family stories or thoughts in China. Let’s chop this up.
So, living in China and that life here has got me thinking about raising a family and all that jazz. Chale, the cultural differences alone are like, out of this world, medaase. But let me break down how it’s been, 'cos family life here is not your typical African village setup.
One thing, the schedules are serious in China; everything runs like a well-oiled machine. For kids, that means a lot of school, even on weekends sometimes. The focus is on academics, no time to waste. The pressure! But these shortcuts can be pushing stars, they fall and fly all at the same time
Good thing is, you get support from the community in raising the kids. They got this collective rearing where everyone pitches in. It's random, but it works, abi? Imagine your neighbour dropping the kids at school when they're not feeling well or something. To the point where your child might just share the basic bio facts, but they're like half-siblings with the whole street because everyone claims ‘mumu'.
Teaching them the language has been an adventure, plenty of L's taken. But when you see them transition - from ya fun twi and pidgin夹杂普通话 - to speaking like mini Chinese national treasures, it’s all worth it. I’ve named this game Triple Lingual Toddlers.
Family outings are top-notch too. Visiting ancient sites is basically like living history books. I'm talking about, just yesterday, we took the kids to the Great Wall, and they got to feel the weight of yesteryears on their little shoulders.
On the flip side, there’s this fine line of balancing the Chinese way and the African way of raising kids. Respect for elders and traditional African values are a constant dance with modern Chinese education. The clash is real but learning how to mesh them is like a full-time gig
I’d say, family life in China, it keeps you on your toes, but there’s a kind of magic in making these cultures fit like a puzzle - and our kids? The living, breathing evidence of that magic. What’s your take, o? Feel free to share your own family stories or thoughts in China. Let’s chop this up.
Ah, eish, all this talk about motivation these days. You know what they say, motivation is everything!👊 And lemme tell you, I've seen someiple living proof here in China, Africans who are nothing short of success stories. Here's my hot take: motivation is just the engine, but culture's the oil 🛠️ letting it run smoothly. #AfricanExcellence#ChineseDiversity
I know, right? Different strokes for different folks, but let's talk story time. Take Nelson for example; he comes from Cape Town, makes a living here selling designer socks🧦. Might sound quirky, but hey, he's the king of socks in Guangzhou!👑 You see, him being from a place full of colour and creativity kind of blends into how he markets his stuff. And, eish, his products are sharp sharp in this market! His secret? Being true to himself and his roots.🌟
People might disagree, argue motivation is universal but trust me, our backgrounds add spice to the game. Another student of mine, Thandi, from Joburg, she's doing graphic design with a twist – using traditional Zulu patterns she learned from her grandmother.✂️ This girl is making waves and has been approached by big companies who want that authentic African vibe in their products.✅
So, I'm here telling you, lekker, motivation's not just a thirst for success; it's letting your roots show in everything you do. Even when you're far from home 🏠. What do you all think? Do you agree or am I missing the boat here? Tell me your hustles and how your culture plays a role. Let's share some motivation faits!🔥🌍
Ah, eish, all this talk about motivation these days. You know what they say, motivation is everything!👊 And lemme tell you, I've seen someiple living proof here in China, Africans who are nothing short of success stories. Here's my hot take: motivation is just the engine, but culture's the oil 🛠️ letting it run smoothly. #AfricanExcellence #ChineseDiversity
I know, right? Different strokes for different folks, but let's talk story time. Take Nelson for example; he comes from Cape Town, makes a living here selling designer socks🧦. Might sound quirky, but hey, he's the king of socks in Guangzhou!👑 You see, him being from a place full of colour and creativity kind of blends into how he markets his stuff. And, eish, his products are sharp sharp in this market! His secret? Being true to himself and his roots.🌟
People might disagree, argue motivation is universal but trust me, our backgrounds add spice to the game. Another student of mine, Thandi, from Joburg, she's doing graphic design with a twist – using traditional Zulu patterns she learned from her grandmother.✂️ This girl is making waves and has been approached by big companies who want that authentic African vibe in their products.✅
So, I'm here telling you, lekker, motivation's not just a thirst for success; it's letting your roots show in everything you do. Even when you're far from home 🏠. What do you all think? Do you agree or am I missing the boat here? Tell me your hustles and how your culture plays a role. Let's share some motivation faits!🔥🌍
