在华生活 / Living in China

A foreign (overseas) driver’s license is not directly valid for driving on the Chinese mainland — you must obtain a PRC motor vehicle driving license (机动车驾驶证) or a temporary driving permit before getting behind the wheel. 境外核发的机动车驾驶证不能在中国大陆直接驾车——你必须在开车前申领中华人民共和国机动车驾驶证或临时机动车驾驶许可。 Most expatriates take … Driving in China as a Foreigner: obtaining a Chinese driver’s license and the temporary driving permitRead more

Foreign employees legally employed in China must enroll in statutory employee basic medical insurance, with premiums shared by the employer and the individual. 在中国境内合法就业的外籍职工必须参加法定职工基本医疗保险，由用人单位和本人共同缴费。 Employers must complete social insurance registration for foreign staff within 30 days from the date the … Expat Medical Insurance and Healthcare in China: A Practical 2026 GuideRead more

China is a mobile-first payment economy — mobile-payment penetration is around 86%, the highest in the world — so cash and foreign cards, while accepted, are no longer the default. 中国是”移动支付优先”的社会——移动支付普及率约 86%，居全球第一——因此现金和境外银行卡虽被接受，却已不再是默认选项。 The national blueprint is the State Council General … Paying for Everything in China: A Practical Guide for Foreign Visitors and ResidentsRead more

Foreigners legally employed in China must join basic social insurance — including employee basic medical insurance (职工基本医疗保险) — and the employer must register them within 30 days of the work permit. 在中国境内合法就业的外国人必须参加基本社会保险（含职工基本医疗保险），用人单位须自办理就业证件之日起 30 日内为其办理社会保险登记。 Unemployed holders of the Foreign Permanent … Healthcare Access & Medical Insurance for Expatriates in ChinaRead more

Your lawful stay hinges on the right visa and residence permit — enter on the correct catgory (typically Z for work) and complete the 24/48-hour temporary lodging registration after each move. 合法停留取决于正确的签证与居留许可——按需持对应类别入境（工作通常持 Z 字签证），每次搬家后完成 24/48 小时临时住宿登记。 Mobile payment (WeChat Pay … Living in China: a starter guide for expatriatesRead more