Chinese Language & Life in China Guides

Practical guides for learning Chinese and navigating life in China — payments, food, festivals and etiquette, written for English speakers.

Living in China

How to Refund or Change a China Train Ticket (2026 Fee Rules) The fee depends only on how close you are to departure, and the tiers are published: free beyond 8 days, then 5%, 10% or 20%. The full scale, how changes differ from refunds, and how to do it with a foreign passport. How to Use DiDi in China as a Foreigner (2026 Setup & Payment) China's ride-hailing app takes an overseas phone number, an English interface and an international card. Setup, pickup points, payments - plus the taxi rules that protect you when the app fails. Where to Buy Medicine in China as a Foreigner (2026 Guide) Pharmacies are on every street, but what you can buy without a doctor is narrower than at home. What a Chinese pharmacy will hand over, how to get a prescription the same day, and what the rules say about bringing your own medicine in. How to Withdraw Cash in China as a Foreigner (2026 ATM Limits) China runs on QR codes, but cash is still the legal fallback and the ATMs are being rebuilt to take your card. What actually works, the RMB 3,000 cap per withdrawal, and where to change money when the machine says no. Can Foreigners Stay in Any Hotel in China? (2026 Rules & Refusals) Officially hotels cannot turn you away for being foreign - a 2024 notice from seven ministries says so in writing. What the rule actually says, what to have ready at check-in, and the bilingual hotline that settles a refusal on the spot. How to Use Alipay in China as a Foreigner (2026 Setup & Fees) Set up and use Alipay in China with a foreign passport and an overseas card — what works, what does not, the fees to expect, and the cash backup plan. How to Use WeChat Pay in China as a Foreigner (2026 Setup & Fees) WeChat Pay works for foreign visitors without a Chinese bank account. Here is how to set it up, what it costs, and when to use it instead of Alipay. How to Get a SIM Card in China as a Foreigner (2026 Guide) Where to buy a Chinese SIM card, what it costs, what the passport rules actually are, and why your phone matters more than your wallet when you arrive. How to Take China's High-Speed Train as a Foreigner (2026 Guide) Booking, boarding and riding China's high-speed rail — which app to use, why your passport is your ticket, and the timing mistakes foreigners make most often.

Chinese Culture

Chinese New Year: Etiquette and Customs a Visitor Should Know What actually happens during Spring Festival — the greetings to use, how red envelopes work, which gifts to avoid, and how to behave if you are invited to a Chinese home. Chinese Lucky and Unlucky Numbers Explained Why 8 is everywhere, why buildings skip the 4th floor, and how number symbolism shows up in prices, gifts, phone numbers and weddings in China. Chinese Tea Culture: What a Guest Should Know Tea in China is a social ritual, not just a drink. Here is what to do when someone pours for you, how to respond, and the etiquette that trips up visitors. Chinese Table Manners: What to Do and What to Avoid The practical rules for eating with Chinese hosts — chopstick taboos, who starts eating first, how toasts work, and the mistakes that actually cause offence.

Learning Chinese

Duolingo vs 17Talk vs HelloChinese: Which Actually Teaches Mandarin? Three popular ways to start Mandarin, compared honestly: what each one is genuinely good at, where each one stops, and which to pick depending on your goal and timeline.