The Guide
Navigate China with confidence.
Practical, honest guides written by foreigners who've lived it — covering visas, banking, apps, work, cities, and everything in between.
Community-written · Updated regularly · Contribute a guide →
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The honest guide to opening a bank account as a foreigner
It's not as hard as people say — but only if you know which bank to walk into first.
Marcus C. · Shanghai
Your first 72 hours in China: a practical checklist
SIM card, police registration, WeChat setup, local cash — in exactly that order.
Sofa Lounge team
How I went from tourist to full-time freelancer in two years
I arrived with one client and a suitcase. Here's how that turned into a life I didn't expect.
Sarah L. · Beijing
Browse by topic
Arriving in China
Everything you need before and right after landing — visas, registration, SIM cards, and what nobody tells you.
Which visa do I need? A clear breakdown for creatives
Visa · 5 min read
Your first 72 hours in China: a practical checklist
Essentials · 4 min read
How to get a Chinese SIM card as a foreigner
Connectivity · 3 min read
Police registration explained — don't skip this
Legal · 4 min read
Money & banking
Opening a bank account, getting paid as a freelancer, using Alipay and WeChat Pay — the honest guide.
The honest guide to opening a bank account as a foreigner
Banking · 6 min read
How to set up Alipay and WeChat Pay without a Chinese ID
Payments · 5 min read
Getting paid as a freelancer in China — what actually works
Freelance · 7 min read
Transferring money out of China: your options in 2025
Transfers · 6 min read
Apps & tech
The apps you actually need to function in China, and how to use them as a foreigner.
WeChat for foreigners: beyond messaging
WeChat · 5 min read
The essential apps list for foreigners in China (2025)
Apps · 4 min read
How to use Didi as a foreigner
Transport · 3 min read
VPNs in China: what works, what doesn't
Connectivity · 5 min read
Work & freelancing
Finding creative work, freelancing legally, understanding contracts, and how to build a career in China.
How I went from tourist to full-time freelancer in two years
Spotlight · 8 min read
Freelancing legally in China: work permits explained
Legal · 6 min read
Where to find creative jobs that don't require Chinese
Job hunting · 5 min read
Setting your rate as a foreign creative in China
Freelance · 5 min read
City guides
Where to live, work, and connect — neighbourhood breakdowns and local tips for each major city.
Shaoxing: the underrated city creatives are moving to
Shaoxing · 7 min read
Beijing for creatives: neighbourhoods, scenes, and costs
Beijing · 8 min read
Shanghai: the creative districts worth knowing
Shanghai · 7 min read
Shenzhen: why designers are choosing it over the rest
Shenzhen · 6 min read
Culture & belonging
Making real friends, bridging the cultural gap, language basics, and what it actually feels like to build a life here.
Making local friends as a foreigner in China — what actually works
Culture · 6 min read
Chinese work culture: what foreigners get wrong
Work culture · 5 min read
Learning Mandarin in China: realistic expectations
Language · 5 min read
On loneliness, community, and finding your place abroad
Opinion · 7 min read
Know something worth sharing?
The best guides come from people already living it. If you've navigated something tricky — visa, banking, freelancing, culture shock — write it up and help the next person land on their feet.