China Travel Resources | Save Time & Money!

There are plenty of China visa services out there, but this is the one that me and my family have used time and again.

They’re reliable and incredibly helpful throughout the process. Best of all, use this link to get 10% off their fees!

As you probably already know, sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even Gmail are blocked here in China.

ExpressVPN is one of the best (and easiest!) services to use in order to stay connected during your stay in China. Click this link to get 3 months free!

I can tell you from experience that travel insurance always seems like a waste of money…until you need to use it.

Don’t take the risk, though! It’s just a few extra dollars for unbelievable peace of mind. I’ve used World Nomads in the past and they’ve been great.

Ask most any expat here in China and they’ll tell you that they buy their China flight tickets through Trip (formerly Ctrip).

Because it’s a China-based company, they’re usually cheaper than foreign companies and they have English-speaking phone support in case you have problems.

In the same way that Trip offers a more local option for flights, Agoda is the go-to resources for hotels all around Asia.

You can try Expedia or Orbitz, but if you want up-to-date listings that have plenty of pictures, Agoda is going to be the best place to find it. They also offer lots of great pictures so you know what to expect with your China hotel experienceWhat to Expect with Chinese Hotels | 2021 Traveler’s Guide.

No software or app is going to help you learn as fast as talking with a native Chinese person. If you can’t study in China, online tutoring is the next best thing!

Get paired with an experienced teacher that can help you with your goals. Best of all, you get your first session free!

Founded in 2004, Keats School is one of the best and largest Mandarin Chinese schools in China and offers both one-on-one immersion Mandarin courses and small group Chinese classes.

Located in Kunming, Keats develops personalized exercises and materials exclusively for you to meet your learning goals and requirements. You can come to study anytime, according to your schedule.

Flashcards are boring. Skritter is FUN. Seriously!!

I have learned how to write and pronounce thousands of Chinese words using Skritter’s amazing mobile app that utilizes spaced repetition learning. Get 10% off their plans using the button below.

When learning to read Chinese, some of the best tools available are known as “graded readers”.

The Chairman’s Bao is an amazing resource of current news articles organized by reading level. You need to use it to understand just how helpful it is. Try for free and if you like it, use TCC20 to get 20% off!

Sometimes the best way to learn Chinese is to relax while watching a movie or TV show…in Chinese 😉

FluentU is an amazing resource full of shows you know as well as those you don’t. Don’t just learn from a textbook, improve your listening and understanding using FluentU’s video archive!

You can use your parent’s address, but that’s not always convenient. For those that need a virtual address solution, I have loved using Traveling Mailbox.

They scan my mail so I can view it on my computer or mobile app. Very handy service for those who travel from place to place. Click the link below for 2 months free!

Pulling money out of an ATM is costly and so is wiring money from your bank. So what options do you have?

I love using Wise (formerly Transferwise) to make the transfer of money to my bank account in China. Saves a lot of $$$!

While most insurance is meant for short-term travel, Safety Wing covers you for extended periods of time at a great price.

What’s even more important, they cover COVID, which is surprisingly harder to find than you might realize. Get a quote to see how they compare!

If you’re coming to China to teach English, you’ll want to be TEFL certified. Not only will it give you better job opportunities, you’ll also get higher pay!

i-to-i offers plenty of courses to get you officially TEFL certified. They also have great options to teach English online.