As a foreign citizen, you should have applied for and obtained an appropriate visa before entering China unless you are visa-exempt according to certain agreements and regulations. You are advised to ensure that your visa is valid before Iraveling. If your visa has expired or the visa has an insufficient number of entries, you will need to apply for a new visa. Depending on your purpose for visiting China, there are different types of visas.

Many express delivery companies provide parcel delivery services to China, but it is highly recommended to research and compare multiple services based on where you are from and what you are trying to send in order to find the best fit. Be sure to consult whichever service you decide to employ regarding the size and contents of your packages, as every company has unique restrictions. Here are some important factors to consider when planning to ship personal belongings to China.

This chapter was written in conjunction with Karuna Rescue, the largest foreigner-run dog shelter in Shenzhen, which sends an average of five rescued dogs to new homes abroad each week.

You can find a lot of imported goods in Shenzhen, whether through online marketplaces like Taobao, Alibaba and Nogogo, or brick-and-mortar international supermarkets like Metro, Carrefour, BLT, Wal-Mart or smaller specialty shops, but you probably won' tfind the same variety you are accustomed to at home and whatever you can find will have a slight mark up in price. Products like specialty chocolates, candies, cereals, coffee, wine, etc. are considered luxury import products, which China taxes heavily. However, many domestic brands have been stepping up their game in these markets, so with a little exploration, and some trial and error, it' s possible to find some real gems at decent prices.

Recently, pneumonia cases caused by the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in multiple cities in China, including Shenzhen. In response, Shenzhen Municipality is sparing no effort to contain the spread of the virus and safeguard your lives and those of Shenzhen' s residents. Currently, a wide range of preventive and control measures are being rolled out. 

Most companies have a specific bank they prefer, or insist, you open an account with to simplify their payroll, so it is recommended that you ask your company before choosing a bank. The process should be basically the same at any major bank. These days, banks usually have at least one staff member who can help you with basic commands in English, and as long as you can get over the initial hurdle of communicating what service you need, then they can walk you through the steps of handing over your passport and initial deposit, signing the documents and entering your preferred six digit passcode (a few times).

Category I (2A) or Category II (2B). Category I can be used for clinic visits and hospitalization, while Category II can only be used for hospitalization. The payments and contributions by employers are made directly from each month1 s paycheck.

Alibaba owned AutoNavi has built a great Chinese-language map, known as Amap, and there are a number of other handy apps that use Amap data as a base while providing English translations or Pinyin. Lost Laowai, for example, is a reliable bilingual map that enables you to search for English/Pinyin/Chinese addresses, set your Home and Work locations for one-click directions, favorite/bookmark as many locations as you wish and view all of China on the map with clear satellite imagery.

Shenzhen is one of the most wired cities in China. You can access Wi-Fi connections at the airport, train stations and most hotels, restaurants and cafes.

Chinese hospitals are classified into three general levels from 1 -3. Level 3 hospitals provide the highest standard of care, while level 1 facilities meet the lowest standards. There are also three sub-levels from A-C, with A being the highest and C the lowest. The best hospitals in China are always classified as 3A, but there are also cases of hospitals with a classification of 3A+, meaning they provide some of the best medical treatment in the country.

Shenzhen has a wide array of medical institutions to meet any need. As of 2019, Shenzhen had 453 community health centers located across the city, and more are being added every year as the local government is promoting the use and trust of grassroots health centers for minor ailments in an effort to alleviate congestion at the major hospitals.

Many employers provide a stipend, or even a pre-arranged apartment, as part of the contract. Some will also recommend housing agents. But if you want a little more choice in where you live and what you pay, there are a few ways to go about finding an apartment in Shenzhen.

As more young people are moving to Shenzhen for work, there has been a rapid development of the nascent childcare industry. One of the Shenzhen government' s current goals is to become more of a "child friendly city.M It has made many efforts in this regard, from piloting a Japan-inspired neighborhood-watch-like program in Luohu District, under which local shops are enlisted as volunteer safe zones to protect children from abuse, to building children' s parks and public nursing rooms. For example, in Fuyong Subdistrict, Bao1 an District, the local government solicited ideas from children for the new Fuwei Community Children' s Park, which is a part of a campaign to build five small children' s parks in urban villages as well as a huge sports park in the subdistrict this year. The aim of building parks like these across the city is to provide safe outdoor areas for kids to play, as well as venues for public activities regarding family education, health and psychological consultation, and the promotion of reading and the rule of law.

Just Shenzhen city experience routes aim to help you learn about the culture, history, technology and living conditions of Shenzhen by solving puzzles.

Bruno is a happily retired chef, enjoying his newly found passion for learning and sharing his discoveries for healthy living with everyone willing to listen, after having overcome depression, homelessness and multiple drug addictions (alcohol, cigarettes, etc.) caused by the tragic loss of multiple family members and friends while living abroad.

Joe has lived in Shenzhen for four years and has a passion for exploring and the outdoors. With interests in nature, art, history and more, he has uncovered most of Shenzhen's hidden secrets and is now eager to help others do the same. He instantly fell in love with the futuristic city of Shenzhen and adores the varied and exciting things the city has to offer. 

As a Company CEO, Alekz is currently running his own business focusing on commercializing and investing in the biomedical industry. Like a lot of entrepreneurs in Shenzhen, Alekz lives a hectic life, but he always manages to keep a decent work-life balance. A caring and charismatic person, he has made a lot of friends during his two-year stay in Shenzhen. A good planner, Alekz knows how to combine multiple purposes during a single shopping trip and make the most out of it.