A Chinese workplace can be so different from a Western one, in things you may not expect. In this article, we will look at the 5 key differences between working in China and the West.

Remember when you first arrived in Beijing, how exciting it was in the beginning? How the excitement then gave way to frustration, when you couldn’t communicate, or the air quality index hit 300 again?

Can you trust the Chinese? Before moving to China I talked to a good friend, who was already living and working in China for almost five years. One of the things he said was “you can never trust the Chinese.”

If you come from the West, you are likely used to things being done according to specifications and high standards. You probably wouldn’t expect less than 100%.

Confucius was a Chinese teacher, philosopher and politician around 500 BC, whose influence is still felt in China today. You will see it in the respect given to older or higher ranking people. It is also evident in the general attitude towards hierarchy. So you can imagine how it influences the work culture in China.

We have traveled throughout the Asian region and had the opportunity to witness different ways of doing things. After living in China, I have learned a lot about the Chinese people and their way of doing certain things.

After spending some time as a Westerner in China, both living in Beijing and traveling around the country, you can’t help but notice some things peculiar to Chinese people. Below are my top ten things I learned about the Chinese.

Most foreigners who come to China don’t speak much Mandarin, if any, when they arrive. If you are one of them, you probably wonder how well you will be able to get by with English in Beijing. After all, Beijing is a capital city with a big foreign population, right?

In addition my friends' experiences, I’ve shipped my dog (a golden retriever!) from the U.S. to Asia. Hopefully by sharing my own experience, you can get a better understanding of what it takes to ship your pet to China, how much it can cost and what you need to know.

Moving to a new country with children can be stressful but it also is a unique opportunity to expose kids to a different culture. So how are International schools in Beijing?

You find yourself moving half-way around the world to Beijing without knowing what your next home looks like. Scary thought, huh? Freaking out at the idea of searching frantically for an apartment while staying in a hotel?

Finding a nice place to live in a city as big, foreign and fast-paced as Beijing can seem daunting to new Beijing expats and even to foreigners who have lived here for a while.

Are you looking for an apartment in Beijing? Do you want a balcony to sit outside, a dishwasher so you don’t have to do the dishes, an oven to bake, a walk-in closet for your clothes, a washer and dryer for the laundry, …?

Usually, when you move, you give people your new address. This becomes a bit trickier with a foreign address. When the foreign address uses Chinese characters, it can be a real challenge. Here are ways to make it work.

Once you move into your rented apartment in Beijing, you are responsible for the typical housing utilities like gas, water, and electricity. You also have to set up and pay for your phone and internet connection.

Beijing is a sprawling metropolis with over 20 million people and an area of over 6000 square miles. Its sheer size and many distinct neighborhoods can make it daunting when deciding where in Beijing you want to live.

When moving to a huge metropolis at the other end of the world, the question of safety certainly comes up. Let’s look at 5 different areas to see how safe Beijing is.

What should you bring, besides your personal items, when you are moving to China? What is easy to buy there? The answer depends a bit on where in China you will be living.

If you plan to do any shopping around China’s capital city, it helps to know the best markets in Beijing. There are plenty of large, modern malls and small shops, but if you’re looking for an old fashioned market, these are the eight places you’ll want to visit.

Will you miss the season finale of your favorite TV series when you move to China? Or your cozy Tuesday evenings snuggling up on the couch and watching the latest episode of a TV show you have been following for years?

When I told friends about our big move from the US to China, many said I should write a blog to share my adventures with them and to stay connected. Back then I didn’t think much about it. I wasn’t even very active on Facebook, and I definitely didn’t feel like a blogger.

Living as a foreigner in Beijing makes for many great experiences. But not all is just great all the time. Behind all the good stuff hides some not so pleasant stuff. Well, sometimes it doesn’t hide, it is just out there, right in your face.

Do you want to discover a new side of Beijing? Or have visitors that already checked the usual sights off their list? Well, there are off the beaten path Beijing tours that explore the hutongs, parks, architecture and more.

There are many different ways to get around in Beijing, most are easy to use and inexpensive. This post gives you an overview over Beijing transportation. For more specifics follow the links within.

Wherever you live, buying clothes will eventually be on your agenda, either for fun or as a necessity. You have many options for clothes shopping as a Westerner in Beijing, from foreign brands to domestic labels and specialty clothes. Learn also what you need to know about sizes, sales and bargaining.

This automated message often greets you when getting into a Beijing taxi. It was part of the 2008 Olympics preparation. Don’t expect any more English than that though.

We don’t really want to think about a medical emergency happening to us in Beijing. We all hope that we will never need an ambulance. Or an emergency room. But we should be prepared.

Despite the disgusting reality of dog meat dishes in the Chinese cuisine, Chinese people generally are pet friendly. But there are a few things you should know about having pets in Beijing.

Do all the food scandals in China make you nervous about the quality or safety of produce here? If you rather want to make sure that your food isn’t contaminated with pesticides and other chemicals, you can buy organic food in Beijing.

Are you interested in pet sitting for someone? Or better yet, are you looking for someone to watch your pet while you travel?

I’m a blonde (I mean my hair color!). At least I used to be. By now, my blonde needs a little bit of maintenance, if you understand, and also some highlights to lighten up the mutt color. No big deal, right? That’s what I thought.

“Don’t do it – or at least don’t expect anything” “There is no dating in Beijing, just casual hook ups” “Getting laid is easy, finding a boyfriend is hard” “Dating is so difficult in Beijing” “You can’t even get a one-night stand here”

Air pollution in Beijing often reaches hazardous levels. Therefore almost everyone coming to Beijing is concerned about the smog and its impact on your health. But a very different and often overlooked danger is also lurking here – to assault the health of your relationship.

Office hours in Beijing seem to be much more rigid than anything I have experienced in the US or Europe. Typical work hours are 9 am to 6 pm, and there seem to be very little flexibility. This also impacts rush hour as everyone is trying to get to work at the same time.

If you think a mobile phone is just good for making phone calls, and re-purposing an old flip-phone with a Chinese SIM card will do, think again. You are missing out on the little life savers that a smart phone offers.

Beijing is quite notorious for its bad air quality. The smog is especially frequent and thick in winter, when more coal burning and stagnant weather patterns contribute to the accumulation of particles over the city.

We love to eat. And fortunately, my husband loves to cook. Even before we moved to China, he cooked many Chinese dishes at home – really tasty! Now in China, it is even easier than before, with easy access to cheap local ingredients.

Having access to quality healthcare is always on top of mind when moving to a foreign country, if not on yours, it will be on your parents, friends or other loved ones who want you to be safe. Lets look at healthcare for foreigners in Beijing.

If you have traveled a bit, you know that bathroom/toilet standards can vary – a lot, even within a country. So, how are Chinese toilets? Well, this requires a long answer because the standards span a very wide range.

Going shopping is ingrained in our everyday lives, whether for daily necessities, favorite items, or just some window shopping or retail therapy. Part of the fun of exploring other countries is to check out what is being sold, how and where. Here is an overview of what to expect when going shopping in Beijing.

When living in or travelling to China, the Beijing Smog is always a hot topic. Environmental issues in China recently made international news, especially in January 2013, when Beijing was blanketed by heavy smog. Air pollution is a serious concern and can affect everyday life.

Beijing buses go pretty much everywhere but it can be a bit tricky to figure out the bus routes and stops. This post will make you an expert in taking buses in Beijing.

Because not many people own a car, public transportation is very well developed with an extensive subway and bus network. During rush hour Beijing subways and buses can be incredibly crowded with barely any room to even turn around or reach your own pant pockets.

Chinese like to eat out and there are restaurants on every corner of a Chinese neighborhood, from hole-in-the-wall to multilevel banquet halls. In Beijing restaurants you can explore authentic Chinese food (not what is served as Chinese food in Western countries) or fall back on the more familiar Western cuisine.

Cooking authentic Chinese food at home is a great and tasty way to immerse in the local culture. And with the right tools, ingredients and recipes, and maybe some hands-on instructions, Chinese cooking is not difficult.