Arrival & accommodation
Hotel or private home? Understand the different accommodation registration routes and where to check local handling.
Read the article →A practical guide to living in ChinaMake a life
Make a life
in China.
From your first address to everyday payments and journeys, find the next step with clear guidance and official sources.
Illustrative city scene. Guidance checked against official sources; local procedures may differ.
Start here
The first steps, in a useful order.
Moving to a new city means juggling documents, an address, a phone and a way to pay. Our getting-settled guide puts those jobs in sequence and shows where to confirm the rules that apply to you.
Read the getting-settled guideYour arrival checklist
- Check your entry permission and dates.
- Record your accommodation.
- Set up a phone and a payment option.
- Keep official help channels handy.
Everyday essentials
Answers for the life you are building.
Use these entry points to find the relevant section in our source-led guide. We avoid invented prices, blanket visa promises and one-size-fits-all local advice.
Phone & payments
Build a reliable way to connect and pay, with alternatives if a card or mobile payment setup fails.
Read the article →Travel & help
Find official railway guidance and the immigration help channel before you need them.
Read the guide →Editorial standard
Information you can trace.
We link to the National Immigration Administration and Chinese government service guidance beside consequential claims. We show the date we checked a guide and flag where a city or personal status can change the answer.
About this site
Built for people living here.
Expat China is an independent practical guide for foreign nationals making a home in mainland China. We focus on the tasks that cross daily life and public services. We do not process applications or provide individual legal, medical or immigration advice.
See the source list →