After the last big UK lockdown of 2021, I scrambled to get out of the UK whilst I could. I decided to flee the country and arrive in China early before my contract with a Chinese university began: In case another lockdown took place, or even before travel restrictions worsened and delayed, or even completely…
When I went on a short holiday to Shanghai in 2017, I’d not long since started hesitantly using Apple Pay in the UK. Welcome to the 21st Century. But I was genuinely put to shame wherever I went in Shanghai, as I was literally the only person using cask. Even the most mature of people…
Living in mainland China presents one major problem for most visitors. China, with its conveniences, perks, and pleasures, comes one seemingly ongoing and constantly evolving ‘beast’ of a challenge. That is, of course, the language barrier. Learning any second language requires commitment and perseverance. However, as you go through the peaks and troughs of effort…
China continues to demonstrate a healthy growth rate year-on-year, despite the economic and social challenges that the ongoing pandemic poses. Although a slow process, China is gradually reopening, albeit under strict COVID testing, travel, and quarantine restrictions. But for western organizations with Chinese interests and for individuals taking up work or education opportunities in mainland…
Despite the challenges to travelling and indeed, to all industries that the COVID pandemic continues to ravage, an interesting statistic derived from Bloomsberg is that the number of Chinese applicants to UK universities now outweighs those from the EU. Whilst this might well highlight the effect of Brexit, it is also the result of increasing…
The websites, social media, messaging services, apps and cloud services you use and rely on every day in Europe and North America probably won’t work in China. In fact, it’s highly likely you’ll encounter problems unless you plan to use Chinese mainland services only, or invest in a VPN: a Virtual Private Network service that…
Leaving a somewhat COVID-fatigued UK on a Sunday in July and arriving in Nanjing, China was like stepping into another world: one which takes the risks of COVID cross-infection very seriously and that systematically strives to halt, track and trace any spread of the virus at every given opportunity. My first inklings that China’s relationship…
You’ll more than likely know, given that you’re reading this, that air passengers entering China are subject to 14 days quarantine. So how does that work? As it happens, I am writing this on day 9 of my 14-days isolation, therefore, I’d consider myself a reliable authority on this subject. As of 21.07.21 passengers to…
The title of this blog alone will surely generate some controversy. There are a plethora of Chinese language apps available. Some are great, many are good, and some near unusable. Of course, everyone is different and we all tend to fall into one of seven categories of learner, which include Visual, Aural, Verbal, Physical, Logical,…
When you’re applying for a Chinese Z visa (working visa), the first requirement is to notarise and legalise your documents. Once this is complete, you send scans to your Chinese employer who then applies to their provincial government for your work permit. But how do you legalise your documents? The documents you will need legalising…
