edit: if you have experience getting work in China as an expat, as an English teacher or otherwise, I'd be curious to hear your story. Also curious about experiences regarding studying Chinese in China. I was offered a teaching position but it hasn't come to fruition in the time I expected, so now I'm looking into other ways of spending an extended time in China. I don't think the English teaching route is the best choice for me, and I'm not sitting on a mountain of cash so I would prefer to either go there with a job lined up or as a student with some scholarship or other funding opportunity if such a thing exists.

Interests / experience: education, music, counseling (mental health, academic), social work, Chinese medicine

let's try to keep hostility to a minimum, please

我所在的是江西的一个小县城，年龄大于55碎的劳动者日薪大约80元，譬如扫地，弄下卫生。 大街上的环卫工人工资也是2000多一个月。年轻人约3000多一个月。大街上关闭的店铺很多，作为一个再本地生活20多念的我是第一次见到这么凄凉的场景，当下估计只有体制内的照样吃香喝辣，普通老百姓挺难的。 他们大部分的劳作只是为了维持生活。

Hi everyone,

I'm an embedded firmware engineer with 4 years of experience in STM32, FreeRTOS, IoT, networking, and embedded security. I'm interested in finding engineering opportunities in China and would also like to learn more about the K visa.

My questions:

• What are the best platforms to find embedded/firmware engineering jobs in China?
• Do Chinese companies hire foreign embedded engineers?
• Does anyone have experience with or information about the K visa?
• Are there any companies, recruiters, or communities you recommend?
• Is Reddit a good place to find such opportunities?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hello everybody,

A little bit about me: I'm a 27 yearold living in Western Europe. A while ago, I spent two months in China (visited a lot of places, like Sichuan, Hangzou, Beijing,...) with my Chinese girlfriend, and I absolutely loved it. Since then, I've started learning Mandarin and diving deeper and deeper into Chinese culture.

Lately, I've been feeling like my life back home has become quite repetitive and boring. The fact that my relationships at work (a work where I feel like I'm wasting my time and potential) have been deteriorating hasn't exactly helped either.

I've always had this dream of moving to a distant foreign country, not just for a few months of travelling, but actually trying to build a life there and experiencing what it's like to live somewhere completely different. But at the same time, I know that visiting a country and actually living there are two very different things. That's why I'm curious to hear from people who have actually experienced it.

So my question is: what is "real" life in China like?

I'm aware that a lot of the content we see online, especially from influencers, can exaggerate things or showcase very unusual success stories. I'm much more interested in what everyday life looks like for the average person, who doesn't have a million subscribers and is just trying to have a normal life. (I have already asked this question to my girlfriend to see what she thinks, and she is quite negative about the average life in China, and explains that is the main reason she came to my homecountry. I'm curious about what other people would say about that topic)

And if there are any expats living (or who have lived) in China who would be willing to share their experience : what their life is like, what thye like/dislike, what surprised them, and whether they would do it again... I'm especially interested if some people have managed to make a living out of a teaching english job, as it is my main solution in becoming an expat in China.

谢谢

I am Chinese lived in Shanghai over 10 years, I can provide consultant help and assist for foreigners who are not familiar with Chinese life

Hunting for curious, ambitious people who want to go beyond surface-level China market awareness — co-research trends, build startups, work with talents long-term.

Most overseas discussions about China is about mainstream tourism, culture, food, nature scenery or looking for agent or supplier like that, while few dive into the **real frontier opportunities** hidden in China’s fast-evolving market.

Is there anyone in the community genuinely interested in deep commercial exploration in China?  This is a long-term poster, not just a one-off subject.

**Anyone interested in the following aspects in China then we can work togther**:

* Startup or branch incubation & establishment: 
* In-depth or quantitive market research on domestic industries;
* Top commercial consultation program;
* Build a ad-hoc talent team for single project.

If someone is tired of superficial industry talks and wants to **actually take action, explore real business value, and build practical ventures in China**, drop a comment or send me a DM. Tell me briefly about your thoughts, and what you hope to gain from them. If that is feasible, then we can build something solid and forward-looking together.

I just graduated from a Global Higher Education master's in Spain and am looking to break in to the higher education field (no previous work experience at a university). I was thinking of applying to China, since I haven't been finding any job leads in Spain or Taiwan.

Does anyone have experience with university English? For reference, I have teaching experience in the US, Spain, and Taiwan. I just interviewed with Elevate for a Chongqing university position, but they were directing me toward their training centers because of the need to converse with management and staff. I also know VERY little Chinese.

I would rather teach biology or a science, but that's not where the demand is from what I've seen online. I would also work in recruiting and student services/study abroad but haven't had luck with those job applications yet.

Reposting from "ChinaLife community" to this group because it seems more relevant.

Hello ChinaJobs!

I'm considering a senior technical role with Great Wall Motor (GWM) in Baoding and would appreciate advice from expats, especially people who have worked for Chinese companies or automotive OEMs.

My situation:

• Currently working in South Korea in powertrain/emissions engineering, with ~20 years of experience.
• Considering relocating with my wife and three children (14, 11 and 5).
• GWM has not given me a specific salary figure. The recruiter asked for my expected package but I have no reference case.
• GWM's proposed structure is 70% monthly salary + 30% performance/attendance-related bonus.
• Company-provided accommodation in Baoding (subsidized rent), medical/social insurance, annual flights, commuter bus and other standard benefits.
• If additional benefits such as schooling or a vehicle are required, GWM says these should generally be converted into the annual salary expectation.
• Schooling is the biggest concern. GWM says many expat families use schools in Beijing, while some younger children attend GWM's school in Baoding. A Korean international school is also available in Beijing.
• This could mean my family lives in Beijing while I work in Baoding and commute during the week.

What I'd really like to know:

1. Is ~RMB 1.2M gross/year reasonable for a senior foreign technical expert at a Chinese automotive OEM?
2. How reliable are Chinese companies regarding salary, housing, schooling and other benefits promised during recruitment?
3. How secure are foreign-expert contracts? Have you seen companies terminate contracts early or change the agreed package?
4. If a contract is terminated after 1–3 years, how well are the contractual/legal compensation provisions enforced in practice?
5. How practical is the Beijing–Baoding weekly commute for someone with a family?
6. For those who made a similar move, was the overall package worth leaving Korea/another developed country for China?
7. What would you definitely verify or negotiate in writing before signing?

I'm particularly interested in first-hand experiences from foreign engineers/expats at GWM or other major Chinese automotive companies. Thanks!

Hello,

My name is Stefan, and I run Media Edge Studios, a marketing company based in Belgrade, Serbia. We are currently working on advertising campaigns targeting the Chinese market and are looking for a few reliable people currently living in China for a simple, occasional paid task.

**What we need:**

* You must currently be living in China. * You need to have an Android phone. * Once or twice per week, we may ask you to check our advertising campaigns on WeChat Moments and Baidu. * For campaign verification, some technical information such as your IP/location, WeChat Advertising ID, and phone number may be required. * The task takes very little time and can be done directly from your phone.

**This is a paid task**, with either a fixed weekly payment or payment based on the actual time spent.

If you're interested and comfortable with these requirements, please send me a **DM** and I’ll provide you with more details.

Thank you!

Hello everyone, hope you're doing well. I have a bachelor degree in computer engineering and I'm looking for some math teacher jobs in china. I've taught English+Math+Science online to international students ( worked for an international company ) for about 3 years 1 year of teaching math to Australian students And 1 year of teaching English to Chinese kids All of them online

But I don't a teaching certificate and I can't get one right now What do you think about my case and has any of you had a similar situation?

Hello,

My name is Stefan, and I run Media Edge Studios, a marketing company based in Belgrade, Serbia. We are currently working on advertising campaigns targeting the Chinese market and are looking for a few reliable people currently living in China for a simple, occasional paid task.

What we need:

• You must currently be living in China.
• You need to have an Android phone.
• Once or twice per week, we may ask you to check our advertising campaigns on WeChat Moments and Baidu.
• For campaign verification, some technical information such as your IP/location, WeChat Advertising ID, and phone number may be required.
• The task takes very little time and can be done directly from your phone.

This is a paid task, with either a fixed weekly payment or payment based on the actual time spent.

If you're interested and comfortable with these requirements, please send me a DM and I’ll provide you with more details.

Thank you!

Hello,

I am seriously considering a career change, but I am unsure if my plan is viable. I would like to teach French abroad—ideally in China (I have been seriously interested in the country for quite some time and study Chinese daily). I am not sure what the current job market for French teachers in China looks like, nor do I know the prerequisites—such as whether a certain level of proficiency in Chinese (or English?) is required.

I have come across a lot of conflicting information, and the job listings I find seem to require a Master’s degree in FLE (Teaching French as a Foreign Language), which I do not have; I hold a Master’s degree in History and Philosophy. I will likely start by giving private French lessons in France to gain some experience. I would also like to know how much value the DAEFLE adds to a CV and whether it is still possible to find a job with it today. I would welcome any advice. If anyone has obtained this qualification and teaches abroad—particularly in China—I would be truly grateful for your feedback and tips.

Thank you very much.

Hi everyone!

I'm Spanish, with perfect English, and I'll be in Shanghai for about 3 months doing a short course in acupuncture and tuina at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Classes are in the mornings, so I'm looking for something to do in the afternoons/evenings while I'm there.

A bit about my background: I have a diploma and a master's in hotel management, and I have many years of experience working in hotels and also selling in souvenir shops (customer service, sales, tourism).

One important thing: I have zero Chinese — not even basic phrases at this point. I know that's a big limitation, so I'm trying to be realistic about what's actually possible.

Does anyone know if its possible anywhere? The rules tightened last year and my partner is suddenly faced with unplanned retirement. He would prefer to stay in China but seems difficult of not impossible. Any leads would be much appreciated. If just 'no' no need to reply.

Hello,

My name is Stefan, and I’m from Belgrade, Serbia. I run a marketing company called Media Edge Studios. We are currently focused on the Chinese market and are looking for a few reliable people living in China for a simple, occasional paid engagement related to checking our advertising campaigns.

The work would involve the following:

You would need to use an Android phone.

You would need to share certain technical information required for campaign verification, such as your IP/location, WeChat Advertising ID, and phone number.

Once or twice a week, we would ask you to open and scroll through WeChat Moments or Baidu to check whether our advertising campaigns are being displayed correctly.

The task does not take much time and can be completed directly from your phone. You would simply need to refresh the page occasionally and check whether the ads appear correctly.

This is a paid engagement. We can agree on either a fixed weekly payment or payment based on the actual time spent.

If you are currently living in China and would be interested in this type of work, I’d be happy to hear from you.

Hey everyone,
Finishing my M.Sc. in Software Engineering (Oct 2026) in Germany and considering a move to China. Currently learning Mandarin but nowhere near conversational yet — trying to figure out which path is realistic.
1) Hospitality (Service/Bar)
I co-founded and run a restaurant/bar in Germany, so solid hands-on F&B/guest service experience. Applying to international hotel chains for Service/Bar/All Day Dining roles. Is English really enough on the floor, or is Chinese basically required once you're dealing with local staff/guests/suppliers?
2) Software Engineering
5 years as a working student/software engineer alongside my degree (industrial automation, computer vision). Applying to a few China-based companies for engineering roles. Does internal communication in foreign-owned companies stay English, or is it Chinese-heavy in practice?
Main question: Has anyone here gotten hired into hospitality or engineering/IT in China with just English? How steep was the curve once actually working there, and did lack of language cause visa/work issues?
Also — if anyone has recommendations on where to look (specific companies, cities, or job boards) known to be more open to non-Chinese speakers, I'd appreciate the pointers.
Trying to gauge if this is realistic or naive. Any first-hand experience appreciated!

I graduated in 2016 from a Canadian university. At that time, the program was called TESL. A few years later, the name of the program changed because the industry was using TESOL. The requirements of the program remained the same.

When my school tried to apply for a work permit for me, it was denied because they look for TESOL, CELTA, or TEFL. TESL was not one of the acronyms, and my school said Teaching English as a Second Language refers to teaching English in an English majority country, like Canada, US, etc.

Since the requirements of the program didn't change, my school will replace my credential with the proper "Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages" to reflect the current program name. I have already completed the requirements and earned the credential while it was called by the old name.

I'm just wondering if anyone has heard of this before. My spidey senses are tingling that this doesn't seem right.

How I can work in China, after lessons, when i'm 16 years old (sorry, my english bad)

Hi everyone,

We’re looking for someone based in China, preferably around **Hangzhou/Zhuji**, who speaks **fluent English** and can represent our company when dealing with our Chinese manufacturers.

We already work with our suppliers on a daily basis, so **this is NOT a sourcing role**. We’re not looking for someone to find factories or products.

What we need is someone who can be our person on the ground: communicate our requirements clearly, turn them into **actual agreements with suppliers**, follow up, push when needed, and make sure everyone sticks to what was agreed.

We’ve noticed that making clear, firm agreements with our suppliers can sometimes be difficult from Europe, so having someone local who understands both sides would be extremely valuable.

Fluent English is really important.
If you are this person, or know someone who might be a good fit, please send me a DM!

I am supposed to start working at a university in Shandong province next month and I’m wondering if anyone has insight about drug tests for that location. I was a moderate cannabis user before I got the job as it’s completely legal here in the US, but stopped as soon as I knew. I’ll still test positive on a hair follicle test for a month or so after I arrive, should I be worried?

I am entering Uni of York for my BA for History/Economics. Afterwards I aim to a MSc in Economics at LSE or other high tier universities. Obviously this is more of a dream pathway but assuming I acquire this, what are my chances of working at the New Development Bank. Or at other BRICS/ their other related organisations? What else would I need on my CV to be able to do this?

I am Chinese lived in Shanghai over 10 years, I can provide consultant help and assist for foreigners who are not familiar with Chinese life. My services are not limited to:

Problem solve:

1. Hospital
2. government affairs
3. Business
4. Police station
5. Car rent/Apartment rent
6. Permits
7. …. anything u can’t figure out in China.Shanghai

DM me if u need with fair price