What we explain
Per-city checklists are released progressively as we research each market. For now, the items below are the most common things expats ask us about in the first 30 days.
Bank account
Which banks onboard foreigners, what documents to bring, and how a consultant can pre-confirm with the branch.
Talk to a consultant → 📱Phone & eSIM
China Mobile / Unicom / Telecom and eSIM options for short stays and longer relocations.
Talk to a consultant → 🛡️Insurance
International vs local health cover — the essentials are answered in the FAQ.
Read the FAQ → 🎓Schools
International & bilingual schools per city — shortlists prepared on request.
Talk to a consultant → 🚇Transport
Metro cards, HSR and ride-hailing — basics in the FAQ.
Read the FAQ → 💡Utilities & rental setup
Setting up power, water, gas and broadband — covered in the Rental Survival Guide.
Read the guide →How we work the rental side
Most expats first reach us about the apartment — and the apartment is also where the most avoidable mistakes happen. Four pieces of our rental coverage are now live:
Before you sign
Lease clauses, agent fees, landlord verification, the classic scams and the 24-hour police registration that follows.
Read the Rental Survival Guide →
Pick your district
Four rent rungs for Shanghai — from the outer ring to the lane houses. Match your monthly budget to the area that fits.
Read the Rent-by-Budget Guide →
Pick your apartment type
Affordable housing, regular long-term lease or serviced apartment — who each one fits, and the trade-offs.
Read the Rental Types Guide →
Get your deposit back
The 2025 Housing Rental Regulations, landlord verification, agent-fee negotiation, the 20-minute move-in paper trail.
Read the Deposit Rules Guide →Most-asked settling questions
- 24-hour police registration (Article 39)
- Visa-free entry (50 countries + 240-hour transit)
- Bringing family — Q and S visas
- Shanghai deposit rules (2025 Regulations)
- Choosing between affordable, regular and serviced rentals
- Real 2026 monthly budget (single / couple / family)
- Buying property in Guangzhou (2026 citywide rules)
- Expat Voices: Russians in Guangzhou (2014 republication)
Buying rather than renting?
🏠 Guangzhou has no purchase cap for foreigners since March 2026. A passport, an offshore-funded bank account and a clean self-use plan are the three pillars. The Nansha district adds a one-off ¥30,000 youth talent subsidy for qualifying foreign residents until 30 April 2026. Read the Guangzhou Property Guide →