About the "working hours" bit, that's not necessarily true. In Guangxi province, all my classes have been between 35 minutes (public primary classes) and 1.5 hours (at my private training center). I had a real working visa at both jobs. The most common class length here is 40 minutes. Full Comment>>

Why is the address in English? Translating Chinese street addresses into English is utterly pointless. Full Comment>>

I've actually mentioned this many times before when discussing Chinese economics with friends back home. I'm sure the barristas at Chinese Starbucks are making significantly less per hour than their North American counterparts. Starbucks also controls its costs by manufacturing its own machinery and products, so one ... Full Comment>>

I had the worst hangover once, living in Beihai, after having two gin and tonics at the club. I was in bed sick for a day and a half with a splitting headache and I couldn't keep anything down. My school "invited themselves in" to my apartment to see if I would be going to work that day...they were treated ... Full Comment>>

Another issue is that they have zero idea about how to deal with naturally curly hair. A friend of mine who had beautiful curls ended up leaving the salon in tears, sporting an Afro, because they didn't know how much to cut off. My hair's naturally wavy and they very seldomly dry my hair completely, so in the ... Full Comment>>

You guys need to edit that infographic...ankie brocelet? nockloce? Full Comment>>

Run, Forrest, run! Full Comment>>

You raise a really good point. It damages the reputation of foreign women in general, in fact. My friends and I went out to a club the other night and they had some "foreign entertainment" (ie. Russian strippers). When my girlfriend and I went to the washroom, we were propositioned, and she was groped by ... Full Comment>>

Drivers here are such arseholes. Some rich d-bag almost backed over me on my bicycle the other day, with onlookers shouting and trying to stop him. I threw my bike out of the way, and banged on his driver's side window. I yelled at him and he just waved and gave a stupid smirk! If I saw that guy again I'd do worse ... Full Comment>>

Crocodiles aren't exactly endangered. And it's not just Guangzhou--you can also get crocodile in Nanning, Guangxi. Southern Chinese eat everything. :D Full Comment>>

I've struck a fairly good balance between the expat bubble and the "real-China-experience", I think. I go to the foreign bar with my coworkers and friends, drink red wine at home and cook some western comfort food occasionally. The rest of the time, I enjoy a lot of good Chinese meals with my boyfriend's ... Full Comment>>

I noticed this from my first day in China. Most recently I went to a French wine shop near my home and noted that what sells as a cheap table wine (around 5 euros), was being sold here as "high-end" at over 600yuan per bottle. JUst because it says "chateau" on it, doesn't mean it's good! I've ... Full Comment>>

Great article! You really delved into the food safety issues in China. We can only hope that they step up the game and find a way to nip that kind of opportunism in the bud. Full Comment>>

I've got a Huawei phone and have the same problem: no google app works on it. It doesn't even register when I go through the google play website and try to register my phone, though it's a popular enough model. I suspect socio-political tensions with China and Google Inc. are to blame, but I'd love to be able to use ... Full Comment>>

That's happened to me...with the same goddamned beer! I'll never drink Yanjing again if I can help it. Full Comment>>

so cute! A step in the right direction Full Comment>>

Yes and yes...find a new job and get them on it ASAP. I almost got screwed by not having everything ready on time. In the end, it took 2 months to get my new visa, during which time I was on a temporary residence permit. You do need a release letter, assuming that you have a foreign expert's certificate, and not just... Full Comment>>

sorry, I took a long time to answer--I only just noticed your reply. I got the information from this website, actually! http://news.echinacities.com/detail/8562-Updated-Guidelines-for-Obtaining-a-Chinese-Visa And I experienced it myself--I got a visa form from the visa offices here in Nanning that said I was to go ... Full Comment>>

How did you get "stuck" here? I had the opposite experience with friends and family, as did a lot of others I talk to. Parents/friends/family/coworkers that are terrified and think China is this ridiculously backward place where everything will kill you. But then you get here and you find that it's a ... Full Comment>>

From what I read, it is still possible to get the work visa from Hong Kong, but only a certain number of people per year are now allowed to do this. Full Comment>>

everyone has a different situation. my switch from old job to new job was pretty hellish. i had a z visa with my old job but it turned out they had given me a work permit, not a foreign expert's certificate, and the visa was only valid for 11 months, ending on the day my contract ended. the old school didnt involve ... Full Comment>>

Hey! I encountered one of those concrete rooms one day, as well. Yuck! The "trench" in mine was only two inches deep, there was no running water, and it's a damned good thing I didn't have to poo. And as for hygiene, I agree. Some people are squeaky clean. Others, even those who can afford to wear clean ... Full Comment>>

Hate to say it, but the younger guys here seem to adore Jackass. Their sense of humour may be "evolving", but I'm pretty sure that one's a step in the wrong direction. Full Comment>>

I'm pretty sure I fell victim to the fake booze at a so-called "high class" establishment. It was, of course, suspiciously cheap...35rmb for a gin and tonic-- and it's served in a pint glass. It tasted fine...but of course, lemon and tonic water go a long way to covering up real tastes. I had one of those ... Full Comment>>

I'm in the same boat....it's a little complicated because i make a lot more money than he does. I do ask his help for a lot of things, particularly language stuff since my Chinese is atrocious, so I think that makes him feel important and needed. I buy expensive things for myself and sometimes I insist on paying the ... Full Comment>>