Guide to living in China | Everything you need to know

Living in China

Living in China is an awesome experience but also completely different to living in your home country. It's common for foreign English teachers to experience culture shock upon arrival, especially if it's your first time living overseas but don't worry - We have your back and are always happy to help you settle in to this amazing country and culture.

Find out below about the different aspects of living and teaching in China.

Entertainment

Many people wonder how entertainment in China differs to that in the west. In fact China has many similar forms of entertainment. 3D cinemas are already in most major cities and you’ll often find that several times a week they have films in English. Ticket prices are usually between 40-70 RMB depending on the location and often they’ll show new blockbuster films.

A major form of entertainment in China is “KTV” – Karaoke Television. There are literally 100s in most cities and even if you don’t like singing; you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a fun night. Basically a group of people book a room with a widescreen TV, microphones a music collection of the most popular Chinese & Western songs and sing for several hours. KTV is popular with all ages. Children will go and eat popcorn and drink coke. Adults will have major parties with the tables literally littered with alchohol and beer bottles. Whilst singing isn’t for everyone its great to go and have fun. KTV is a great social activity and it’s certainly worth a visit!

Peking opera is also very popular in Beijing and 1000s of expats visit every year for a true oriental experience. You can enjoy a true spectacle listening to the music and also the wild array of ancient costumes that the performers wear. Whilst not for everyone, Peking opera can be a great Chinese experience.

The ‘Annual classical music festival’ held in Beijing is one of the biggest musical festivals of China. It lasts for about 30 days and present 30 performances comprising operas, symphonic & chamber music concerts and musical and classical jazz performances.

Besides of all these entertainment means provided by China, the most fascinating is the nightlife of China. Nightlife in China is vibrant, stunning and full of fun having vast numbers of hang out zones, from Dance clubs to bars and from opera-shows to live music brands. But the nightlife in China is incomplete without visiting the bars. Bars' are the ideal hangouts of nightlife in China. Chinese discos are also the popular nightlife venue in China especially in Beijing & Shanghai.

A typical KTV room - Party like its 1979!

A typical KTV night - Things can and will get messy from time to time!

Health

If you should become sick you need to ensure you know where the closest hospital is located and also the medication you need to take. If you don’t know any Chinese it’s highly recommended you take a local with you unless you live in a major city. Major cities such as Beijing & Shanghai will have doctors designated for foreign patients (but expect to pay a higher price)

Most major cities have English speakers doctors available and due to the large increase of learning English, you’ll often find that is a smaller city there will also be a doctor that can speak English although it may not be fully clear what they are saying.

Chinese hospitals vary greatly to western hospitals for a number of reasons. Some western countries have the luxury of receiving free treatment. In China, expect to pay for your treatment before you receive it. If you have health insurance it’s a good idea to check the level of compensation you receive. You may have to pay upfront and receive the paid balance at a later date.

Upon arrival, you will need to register with administration and pay a registration fee. Only once you have paid this registration fee will you be able to go and see the doctor. Each department is located in completely different directions; however you’ll often find the all hospitals have both English & Chinese signs signaling where to go. You may find that some of the English signs are completely wrong and don’t be shocked if you encounter a surprising sign…. In a hospital in Jiangsu, the dermatology department reads ‘Skin STDs’.

Once you’ve found your department, you may find you have to wait a while to be seen. Once you have been assessed you’ll be given another piece of paper with the treatment / medication you need and requested to go back to the registration counter to pay the fee for your treatment. Upon payment you’ll be expected to go all the way back to the doctor and receive the necessary treatment. (If you are really sick, and this all seems too much, please ensure you bring someone along with you that can walk around the hospital on your behalf)

Some hospitals do have an international department and this process is much simpler and you’ll often find you are treated straight away as the international departments are not often busy. However expect to pay a higher price for this privilege.

Privacy in China isn’t the same as back home. It’s common for some people to walk into the room whilst you are attending the doctor, they may also consult other doctors to check your case. They may even consult you whilst with another patient so they can compare the results and find the best solutions.

If you need to stay in hospital overnight, be aware that in China meals are not provided and it is the responsibility of friends, relatives or co-workers to bring the food for you.

All employers will provide some kind of medical allowance / insurance but the level of cover varies greatly from absolute minimal to fully comprehensive. Check your contract for the level of cover you are offered. It’s also worthwhile to purchase separate insurance for travelling overseas from your home country.

If you are in an emergency and you need an ambulance. Call 120 immediately. They will ensure that no matter what language you speak you will be assisted too straight away.

<<< Sometimes hospitals are (very) busy. This is China afterall.

A typical Chinese hositpal. >>>

Money

The official name for China’s currency is RMB (Renimbi) – Meaning ‘Peoples Money’

In recent years the Chinese exchange rate has changed greatly due to the weakness of the American dollar and the strengthening of the Chinese economy. At this time (2012) it’s around 1 US dollar to 6.3 Yuan. That's a huge difference of 2 Yuan per dollar just 5 years ago.

Whilst it’s becoming a lot easier to change money in China, generally speaking the easiest place to convert your money is within a bank. All banks have the same exchange rate so it’s pointless shopping around. It’s advised to bring some initial Chinese Yuan with you as during the holidays all banks are closed.

Most Chinese bank cards are issued with the provider – ‘Unionpay’ which is completely different to the visa & MasterCard we are used to back home. Whilst most major Chinese banks accept Visa and MasterCard withdrawals it’s suggested that you open a Chinese bank account upon arrival to save you any hassle in the future.

Opening a bank account is much simpler than in the West; however expect to be waiting in a queue for an hour or 2. All you need to do is go to the bank you wish to open an account with along with your passport (We recommend bank of China as they have the best international service), fill in an application form, and you’ll receive your card on the spot after selecting a password of your choice.

Regulations are tougher in China for foreign currency conversions, so your bank account can be used for national transitions, not back to your home country. It’s advised using a service such as western union to send money back home and you can also find these counters in most major banks.

To know more about how much things cost here, check out our Cost of Living page.

Fake Money

It is highly advised that you only receive money from an authorized ATM within a major bank. Avoid receiving large sums of cash back from strangers or sellers. Check the note's you have received and don’t be afraid to get someone else’s input to check the notes too.

Counterfeit money is a serious problem in China and money is highly scrutinized when you buy goods, don’t think they are only checking you. Due to the seriousness of the issue, all banks, shops and street vendors will check the notes carefully for counterfeits.

Bargaining

If you’re in China, you must bargain as it’s largely a part of the lifestyle especially with street sellers, shops and sometimes even hotels. Whilst in high end hotels and bars it’s uncommon to haggle, within smaller hotels and bars everyone will bargain the price. The price you see advertised is rarely the real price.

You’ll often also see a lot of un-priced goods, when you do, ask the price and initially refuse to pay. Soon the sellers will ask you to name a price. Sometimes you feel obliged to give a price, but ensure you ask them the given price and work down from there. They will always quote a higher price than reality.

Some bargaining tips:

With unmarked items the price quoted can often be as 5 times the real price.
Don’t pay anymore than you are comfortable paying and never accept the first offer.
Try to joke about the price offered, they will soon know that you know the real price (even if you don’t) Check around for different prices. The first sellers often quote the highest prices.
Have a look around, if you can’t find it cheaper, you can always go back to the same seller.
When they offer a really high price, offer a really low price in return and ignore the complaints they make. They may try to trick you into thinking it’s too cheap.
Walk away. Many times they will call you back and sell it at the price you asked for.
In reality, you will sometimes pay a higher price than some, this is just a part of living in China and as long as you were happy with the price, don’t get angry when someone else gets it cheaper.

'Rolex' anyone?

Be prepared to see many calculators

as you haggle.

Out & about

Public Bathrooms:

Whilst public toilets and bathrooms are improving they are still not certainly for the faint hearted. Public toilets often lack privacy and many ‘cubicles’ fail to have doors, even toilet paper. If you really need to use public bathrooms (do you, really?) then take your own toilet paper with you and be prepared.

Whilst they are not all bad, they are completely different than we are used to in the west. In China, privacy doesn’t exactly mean what we are used too. If you are using the toilet / bathroom, there is a chance that many people are waiting for the same cubicle as you and they will stand and watch until it is their turn.

Crime:

Violent crime is not common in China and China is considered safer than the USA in terms of violet crime. However please be aware of pickpockets and petty thieves as they are everywhere and will take any opportunity they can to steal things that can easily be grabbed. Make sure if you carry valuables that your pockets are closed and nothing is on show. It’s recommended not to carry any personal items or cash worth a high amount.

Pickpockets:

Although found everywhere in the world, be especially careful around the major tourist sites with your wallets and bags. Thieves have been known to come up behind tourists while they are walking and unzip their backpacks to help themselves to whatever is inside. Always keep your eyes on your bags, and carry your wallets in a front pocket or a pocket inside your coat, and constantly be aware of people around you. If you have something especially valuable in your backpack, wear it on your front – no shame in that! This is one scam where a true tour guide is very helpful, as thieves will not target tourists with a tour guide that knows how to turn them in to the police.

Chinese food

Chinese food is some of the best food you’ll find in the world and everywhere you go in China will have different styles of cooking. These styles are distinctive from one another due to factors such as available resources, climate, geography, history, cooking techniques and lifestyle. One style may favor the use of lots of garlic and shallots over lots of chilli and spices, while another may favor preparing seafood over other meats Jiangsu cuisine favors cooking techniques such as braising and stewing, while Sichuan cuisine employs baking, just to name a few. Hairy crab is a highly sought after local delicacy in Shanghai, as it can be found in lakes within the region. Beijing Roast Duck (otherwise known as 'Peking Duck') is another popular dish well known outside of China. Based on the raw materials and ingredients used, the method of preparation and cultural differences, a variety of foods with different flavors and textures are prepared in different regions of the country. Many traditional regional cuisines rely on basic methods of preservation such as drying, salting, pickling and fermentation.

The Chinese eat many foods that are unfamiliar in the west. Shark fins, seaweed, frogs and snakes. However, the Chinese follow the spiritual teaching of balance signified by yin ("cool") and yang ("hot"). This philosophy encourages the Chinese to find a balance in their lives, including in the foods they eat. While preparing meals, the Chinese may strive to balance the color, texture, or types of food they choose to eat.

Rice is China's staple food. The Chinese word for rice is "fan" which also means "meal." Rice may be served with any meal, and is eaten several times a day. Scallions, bean sprouts, cabbage, and gingerroot are other traditional foods. Soybean curd, called tofu, is an important source of protein for the Chinese. Although the Chinese generally do not eat a lot of meat, pork and chicken are the most commonly eaten meats. Vegetables play a central role in Chinese cooking, too.

The Mandarin cuisine of Mandarin province in northern China features dishes made with wheat flour, such as noodles, dumplings, and thin pancakes. The best known dish from this region is Peking duck, a dish made up of roast duck and strips of crispy duck skin wrapped in thin pancakes. (Peking was the name of Beijing, the capital of China, until after the Cultural Revolution of the late 1960s. This traditional recipe is still known in the United States as "Peking duck.") Shanghai cooking, from China's east coast, emphasizes seafood and strong-flavored sauces. The cuisine of the Szechuan province in inland China is known for its hot and spicy dishes made with hot peppers, garlic, onions, and leeks. This type of cooking became popular in the United States in the 1990s.

Although day-to-day cooking in China is quite simple, elaborate meals are served on holidays and festivals. A typical holiday meal might consist of steamed dumplings, suckling pig (or a spicy chicken dish), and a selection of desserts. Unlike in the United States, desserts are generally reserved for special occasions only. Most ordinary meals end with soup.