Last week the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a bilingual notice that spells out China’s new visa structure. Beijing-based immigration lawyer Gary Chodorow has published an article highlighting some of recent changes in the Chinese visa structure in an easy-to-read layout. The post breaks down the most common visas, explaining both what the previous law …Read More
City Weekend has a fantastic overview of the changes to the Chinese visa system put in place yesterday. The changes, adopted by the National’s People Congress last June, are primarily to curb illegal stay and illegal employment of foreigners in China. Key points of the changes are: F Visas, for commercial/business visits, are now called M …Read More
Expats in Beijing and Shanghai now have two new options for buying/selling/trading their gear. SellShanghai.com and SellBeijing.com. Read More
Despite a strong showing in the “Top 10 attractive cities to foreigners” list, a new report indicates that no Mainland first-tier cities are suitable for habitation. The report on China’s urban competitiveness, from Chinese think tank the National Academy of Economic Strategy under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, states that the metropolises of Beijing, …Read More
After my last post for Lost Laowai, where I expressed my annoyance with the irritating and pointless public announcements in Chinese public transport, I will now move on to another aspect of life in China which I find irritating: the tendency of the Chinese to address foreigners in English even when it would be easier …Read More
In response to “What tips and tricks have you learned that have made it easier to live in China?” recently asked on Quora, long-time China expat and Beijing resident Kaiser Kuo dished out some fantastic advice — his last one, quite possibly the toughest to follow, is my fav. Stay tuned after Kaiser’s advice for …Read More
As a bit of a follow-up to my post the other day, Tighter visa restrictions or just more of the same?, here is a link to a guest post by Gary Chodorow at the Shanghaiist which outlines everything you need to know about China’s new Exit-Entry Law: All you need to know about China’s new …Read More
According to Shanghai Daily, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee is currently discussing a draft law that will shorten the minimum stay for foreigners who come to China to 90 days, with the residence permits ranging in validity from six months to five years. The draft law was designed with the aim of curbing the …Read More
Because living in China didn’t feel uneasy enough, a new draft law currently under review will require any foreigners staying longer than 6 months in China to have their fingerprints taken by the Entry & Exit Bureau and kept on file. China Daily: Foreigners who stay in China for more than six months will be …Read More
According to a post on Global Voices, Sven Englund, a Swede studying in Shanghai’s Fudan University, has been interrogated and has had his passport confiscated by Shanghai police after writing a “letter” to the Chinese President Hu Jintao in his Chinese-language blog. Not wishing to bring any undue wrath down on me or mine, I’ll …Read More
The game Scruples; that’s the first thing I thought of when I read “Plea for help to get sick Aussie home” in the Canberra Times this morning. The Department of Foreign Affairs has refused to fund the repatriation of a former air force serviceman who has been in a coma in a Chinese hospital for …Read More
For what feels like forever, I’ve been tinkering away at a new feature here at Lost Laowai, and I finally feel its at a stage where I can announce it. It’s called “Laowai Answers” and it operates pretty much on the same principle as any of the many of other “q & a” components out there — most notably Yahoo Answers and Answers.com — except ours is completely China-focused.
The concept is simple — have a question about China, post the question, get a answers from fellow China expats and travellers. Just a lil’ Laowai helping Laowai love. A two-way street where expats can gain and share knowledge about living, working and playing in this crazy country we call home (even if for some that’s only temporary).
Read More
Return to Top ▲
