» How to Teach English in Xinjiang, China (Updated 2025)
07/01/25 14:30 from Xinjiang: Far West China
In this article I want to describe to you the process of finding a good job here with the help of Jan Abbey, an anthropologist and current teacher here in the province. At the end, you will have th...

» How to Travel from Urumqi to Kashgar in 2025
07/01/25 12:30 from Xinjiang: Far West China
What is the best way to travel between Urumqi and Kashgar in China’s western Xinjiang region? Whether you’re looking for the fastest, most comfortable, or the cheapest route, IR...

» Urumqi Train Travel 2025 Guide 乌鲁木齐站
06/01/25 22:30 from Xinjiang: Far West China
A guide to taking a train in Urumqi and what to expect when you're traveling in Xinjiang The post Urumqi Train Travel 2025 Guide 乌鲁木齐站 appeared first on Xinjiang: Far West China .

» Is Xinjiang Safe for Travelers? Security & Threats in 2025
06/01/25 17:30 from Xinjiang: Far West China
The most commonly asked question from people who are planning a trip to China’s western region is this: Is Xinjiang safe for travelers (especially now in 2025)? It’s a legitimate questi...

» Do I Need a Special Visa or Permit for Xinjiang in 2025?
05/01/25 17:30 from Xinjiang: Far West China
Is there a special visa or permit required to travel to Xinjiang in 2025? This is a question that I get quite a few times throughout the travel season (although Covid has pretty much killed any suc...

» Urumqi Airport Traveler’s Guide 2025 (Xinjiang)
05/01/25 09:30 from Xinjiang: Far West China
For most travelers, flying into Urumqi Diwopu International Airport marks their first step into the Xinjiang province. Here I answer the top 4 questions about flying to/from Urumqi, Xinjiang. The p...

» How to Use Instagram in China in 2025
04/01/25 14:30 from Xinjiang: Far West China
I’ve become addicted to Instagram over the past few years. As it turns out, I’m not the only one. According to the latest numbers, there are 1 BILLION other people around the world who ...

» Xinjiang’s Four Amazing Lakes! 2025 Traveler’s Guide
04/01/25 13:30 from Xinjiang: Far West China
Mention the name “Xinjiang” and most people who know their Chinese geography picture vast deserts crossed by dirty looking camels and a beating sun.  It’s a nostalgic picture...

» Best China Visa Service for US Travelers (2025 Updates)
03/01/25 21:30 from Xinjiang: Far West China
Applying for a visa to China can be a frustratingly complicated ordeal, especially after the pandemic. My passport currently has over 20 different China visas in it so trust me…I understand! ...

» How I Use Gmail in China in 2025 (despite it being blocked)
03/01/25 17:30 from Xinjiang: Far West China
How do I use Gmail in China in 2025? If you’re like me, you use Gmail / Google Apps suite for business or for personal email. I love everything about using Gmail except for one thing: all Goo...

» Chinese Blog Greatest Hits: Volume 2
26/07/22 13:00 from Chinese Blog
There’s an old Chinese idiom that goes “Time flies like an arrow” (光阴似箭 guāngyīnsìjiàn). I can totally relate to that one at the moment. It doesn’t seem like it was that lon...

» Chinese Blog Greatest Hits: Volume 1
12/07/22 13:00 from Chinese Blog
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 12 years since I started writing for the Chinese Language Blog. At the time, I was an English teacher (英语老师 yīngyǔ lǎoshī) in Beijing. I had a person...

» A Beach Trip from Beijing: Visiting Beidaihe and Nandaihe
28/06/22 13:00 from Chinese Blog
The summer heat can be intense in the concrete jungle of Beijing, but thankfully there’s a beach (海滩 hǎi tān) escape not too far away. A few hours on a train or bus can bring you to the popul...

» Summer Fun in And Around Beijing
14/06/22 21:22 from Chinese Blog
Summer is right around the corner (夏天就在拐角处 xiàtiān jiù zài guǎijiǎo chù). It’s definietly my favorite season (季节 jìjié). Get ready for it by brushing up on your Chinese summer vocabulary. In ...

» Beijing vs. Shanghai
26/05/22 13:00 from Chinese Blog
Beijing and Shanghai are the two biggest and most famous Chinese cities. One is an ancient city known for its cultural icons, while the other is a modern metropolis full of futuristic skyscrapers. ...

» Shanghai Lockdown Continues
11/05/22 23:41 from Chinese Blog
One Chinese city has been in the news a lot lately – Shanghai (上海 shànghǎi). That’s because the city has been under an intense lockdown (封锁 fēngsuǒ). This is a result of the strict R...

» Visiting the Ancient City of Pingyao
28/04/22 16:41 from Chinese Blog
For those interested in Chinese history and culture, a great place to visit is the Ancient City of Pingyao (平遥古城 píng yáo gǔ chéng), located in central Shanxi province (山西省 shān xī shěng). Although...

» The Dao of Pandemic
21/04/20 15:05 from The Useless Tree
A nice piece in the SCMP by Lijia Zhang ...

» City Guide: Things to Do and avoid in Lhasa, Tibet
03/02/20 07:34 from chinaSMACK
Why visit Lhasa? Lhasa ལྷ་ས་, literally the “Place of the Gods,” is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, is located in the southeast of Tibet, and in the northern […] More The post Cit...

» The Best VPN for China: Our Top 5 Choices (Jan 2020)
04/01/20 14:10 from chinaSMACK
After months of extensive testing here in China, we’ve updated our Best China VPN guide to help you unblock the web and access Facebook, Google, Youtube, Instagram, Whatsapp, and others. [...

» Mencius on Protester Violence in Hong Kong
19/11/19 02:17 from The Useless Tree
The months-long protests and demonstrati...

» Young Woman Commits Suicide After Photoshoot Scam
07/11/19 00:47 from chinaSMACK
October 26th, Xiao Wei (a 20 years old girl from Guiyang) left the world disappointed. Her family is devastated and knowing the reason just made things worse. Having a nice […] More The post ...

» “Quantum Speed Reading” Training Camp Scam Tiger Parents for Thousands of Dollars
01/11/19 02:50 from chinaSMACK
Modern China is a society with cruel competition and high pressure. Parents would do anything to give their child a head start in life, and the eagerness created opportunities for […] More Th...

» Children Hospitalized after Teacher told them to Eat Trash
24/10/19 20:45 from chinaSMACK
Parents of students at a school in Henan couldn’t believe what kind of power the teachers have over their children. Recently, 4 teenagers in Henan Shuiquan private boarding school were [̷...

» 6 Reasons to Visit China
04/10/19 07:14 from ChinaHush
At first glance, China seems like home to bamboo forests, vibrant cities, and centuries of ancient history, but there’s more to the country than meets the eye. There are mountainous valleys, shimme...

» Starting Work in China: 10 Facts You Need to Know
23/07/19 06:51 from ChinaHush
Image by christels from Pixabay China is a country with a diverse economy. For a long time, it has been a leader in businesses and global markets, creating employment opportunities for workers and ...

» New Book: Blogging China in the 21st Century
24/06/19 14:21 from The Useless Tree
I've made a book out of parts of this blog. With material stretching back to 2005, I concentrated on various questions surrounding the reinvention of "tradition" in the PRC today, creating a volume...

» How has Digital Changed Business Environment in China?
25/04/19 08:00 from ChinaHush
China ranks third among the largest digital and technology investments and is also the largest e-commerce market in the world with nearly 40% of total e-commerce transactions worldwide. China is ho...

» Somewhat Less than Normal: Notes on actually coming home
16/04/19 19:53 from A Totally Impractical Guide to Living in Shanghai
After 25 or so years of living in vast, sprawling cities, far, far away- as far away as my impulses to dive into the unknown and unexpected could take me-- I have landed with a thud...

» An Old Hotelier Remembers 1980s Tibet
08/04/19 07:22 from ChinaHush
Alec Le Sueur had never been to China before when he agreed to work at the Holiday Inn Lhasa as the sales and marketing manager, but he had been fascinated by Tibet after reading books about it by ...

» Podcast #30: Motorcycling in Chengdu and Across China with Carl
22/03/19 08:20 from Chengdu Living
This episode of the podcast, the first in a Haus Guests series with Berlin Haus, is all about motorcycling around Chengdu and across China. The post Podcast #30: Motorcycling in Chengdu and Across ...

» Why I Still Love China, Even if It Hates Me
21/03/19 09:20 from Chengdu Living
There's a lot to dislike about China, but so much more to love. The post Why I Still Love China, Even if It Hates Me appeared first on Chengdu Living .

» Just Like Starting Over (Again): Canada!
07/03/19 20:33 from A Totally Impractical Guide to Living in Shanghai
This is Nanaimo in the snow. This is one of the many bear-frequented trails that run above and below and alongside our little temporary Yew (tux wa’culhp) cottage on the […]

» Podcast #29: Mastering Mandarin with Luke of Mandarin Blueprint
05/03/19 07:53 from Chengdu Living
We're back again with another episode, cracking away at one of the most enduring challenges of life in China: mastery of the Chinese language. The post Podcast #29: Mastering Mandarin with Luke of ...

» The Unbearable Lightness of Beijing: July 2018
27/07/18 08:13 from The Useless Tree
Most of the usual haunts haven’t changed...