15 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Living in China as an American

Thinking about living in China? Whether you're planning to study, travel, or teach, there's a lot the internet doesn't quite prepare you for. 

As someone who spent over three years living there as an American, I'm here to fill in the gaps — the practical stuff, the cultural surprises, and a few things that have changed significantly in recent years. Here are 15 things I wish someone had told me before living in China!

Moving to China, I was very aware that there may be some animosity towards me as an American, especially since our leaders don't always see eye to eye. While sometimes I do hear negative comments about American politics and culture, these criticisms almost never come from people from China.

Whenever I mentioned I'm from the US, it would spark conversations about American pop culture or the NBA. They might ask what the average salary is back home, or how much it costs to buy a house per square meter (if anyone has a good answer to that question, please let me know!).

Ultimately, nobody in China hates you for being American. It will help, though, to read up on common Chinese social customs before you arrive.

Growing up, I was obsessed with Chinese food. Since I'm from Seattle, our Chinese food wasn't half bad. But beef and broccoli, General Tso's chicken, and fortune cookies? Nonexistent in China.

I was shocked by how different the actual staples were — not just tofu (which I expected), but the sheer variety of preparations, textures, and flavors I had no frame of reference for. Silken tofu braised in chili oil hits completely differently than the bland block you'd find in a US grocery store. I also had no idea there were so many regional cuisines: Sichuan, Yunnan, Beijing, Hunan, Xinjiang, Tibetan, Mongolian, and more. Some of my favorite dishes in China are things I likely wouldn't have tried back home.

For example, I fell in love with mapo tofu, a soft tofu simmering in a spicy sauce with chili peppers that numb your tongue. Another favorite was Liangfen, a cold noodle dish made from mung beans.

When I moved to China, I had no idea what the pollution level was going to be like. Here's the good news: air quality in major eastern cities like Beijing and Shanghai has improved significantly over the past decade. China reduced its national average PM2.5 concentration by about 5% year-over-year in 2025. That said, pollution can still spike — especially in northern cities and during winter months — so it's smart to be prepared.

If you do wear a mask for pollution, skip the disposable surgical masks. They're great for germs on a crowded subway but do not offer adequate protection from PM2.5 particles. You want an N95 or KN95 mask. Pick up a few before you leave home, and you can also buy them easily on Taobao or in Chinese pharmacies once you're there.

On days when the air quality index is elevated, it's smart to stay indoors, but indoor air can be just as bad as outdoor air. If you're living or working in China for an extended period, invest in a good air purifier for your apartment. It's one of the better quality-of-life investments you'll make.

Before you arrive, make sure your smartphone is unlocked, because WeChat is absolutely essential.

WeChat is China's all-in-one app: messaging, video calls, a digital wallet, bank transfers, e-commerce, ticket booking, and more. Most people don't text; they WeChat! Even the tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant across the street from my apartment had a QR code for WeChat Pay.

The big update for 2026: foreigners can now link international credit and debit cards directly to WeChat Pay — Visa, Mastercard, and Amex are all supported, no Chinese bank account required. Alipay offers the same. Set both up before you leave home, since the verification process is smoother on a foreign connection. You'll also want some cash as a backup for smaller vendors, but cashless payments are the norm everywhere now.

Read more: The Essential Packing List for Study Abroad in China

I was absolutely shocked to find that free hot tea does not come with every meal in China, unlike Chinese restaurants in the US. Not only is tea rarely included, many restaurants don't even serve it — and even if it's on the menu, it may not actually be available that day.

What most restaurants will serve is hot boiled water. You'll usually have to ask for it. If you want cold water, buy a bottle.

China is the birthplace of tea culture, but the good stuff is expensive. You can find affordable loose-leaf tea at grocery stores, or visit a tea shop for a tasting where you can buy it in brick form — always loose leaf, always without a strainer.

If you need tampons while in China, you're best off bringing them from home. While it is possible to find them online or in large stores, they'll be more expensive and your go-to brand may not be offered. 

Finding pads is also difficult in China. Most of them are very large and aren't as sleek as brands like Always. For me, I decided to avoid this problem altogether by purchasing a Diva Cup. It was one of the best expat decisions I have ever made!

Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Netflix, and most Western apps and news sites are blocked in China. If you want access, you'll need a VPN.

Free VPNs won't cut it — they're too slow and increasingly unreliable. A good paid VPN runs anywhere from $30–$100 USD per year depending on the provider. In 2026, well-tested options include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, and Astrill (the most reliable during crackdown periods, though pricier).

The critical tip: download and install your VPN before you arrive. VPN websites are blocked inside China, so you can't sign up or download once you're there. I'd recommend setting up two or three options — reliability varies, and having a backup matters.

Over my lifetime I've become very accustomed to fitted sheets, and I was shocked to find that China does not share my love for a bottom sheet that doesn't move around while you're sleeping.

For me personally, the lack of fitted sheets bothered me so much, I actually packed a set with me from home. I'm sure you can also find them online or possibly at IKEA, but you won’t find them in the grocery stores in China -not even at Walmart, TESCO, and Carrefour! You've been warned.

I came to China to learn to speak Chinese, and I can't tell you how many expats I met who thought they could just absorb it by living there. Chinese is unlike any language most English speakers have encountered before: the grammar is structurally different, the tones are tricky, and becoming even conversational takes consistent study.

You'll pick up survival phrases quickly. Actual fluency requires classes. Fortunately, affordable Mandarin courses and private tutors are easy to find all over the country.

Read more: Where to Study Chinese Abroad: Top 8 Language Programs in China

In the US, we hear a lot about China's government that can leave people with an exaggerated picture of daily life as an expat. Most people living, teaching, or studying in China will do so without incident, and locals are genuinely welcoming.

That said, the situation has evolved, and it's worth going in with accurate information rather than a dismissive "nothing to worry about."

For everyday expats: The government is not monitoring your personal blog or your VPN usage. You're not going to be arrested for complaining about the food on Instagram. Normal life is normal.

What's worth knowing:

• Exit bans are real. In June 2026, the US State Department issued a series of travel warnings specifically about exit bans — cases where foreign nationals are prevented from leaving China, sometimes tied to commercial disputes, opaque legal reviews, or connections to sensitive industries. This is a low-probability risk for most expats, but it's worth understanding.
• Digital surveillance is extensive. China operates one of the world's most sophisticated surveillance systems, and as of 2026, this includes near real-time tracking of foreign nationals through a platform integrating facial recognition, hotel registration, travel records, and telecom data. This isn't targeted at tourists — it's infrastructure. Understand that you're operating in a monitored environment.
• Journalists, activists, and anyone with ties to sensitive industries or government work should research the current US State Department advisory before traveling and take additional precautions.

The practical rule: Register your address with the local police station within 24 hours of arriving at any new accommodation (hotels handle this for you automatically). If you change addresses, re-register. Some major cities including Beijing and Shanghai now offer online registration, so check local guidelines. I know from personal experience what happens when you forget. (Oops!)

While many of the foreign restaurants are only expensive by comparison, imported foods and coffee are much more expensive than they are back home. Thanks to tariffs on either side, you can expect to pay up to two or three times the original price for items like coffee, cheese, peanut butter, and cereal. There's a reason why I pack a suitcase full of food and nice toiletries whenever I return from a visit home!

Sunscreen in China tends to be hard to find, comes in small bottles, and is expensive when you do track it down. Most people cover up to avoid sun exposure rather than applying SPF. If you're someone who wears tank tops and shorts, pack sunscreen from home.

Food safety concerns in China are real, but street food doesn't deserve a negative reputation. If there's a long line, the food is almost certainly fresh and good. I ate street food regularly for three years, and the only time I was hospitalized with food poisoning was from a bacon cheeseburger.

One non-negotiable: don't drink tap water. Locals don't do it either. Stick to boiled water, bottled water, or filtered water.

While I knew about squat toilets, no one ever told me not to flush my toilet paper. Next to every toilet you'll find a small bin where you can throw your paper. Older plumbing systems throughout much of the country aren't built to handle it, and a clogged toilet is a much worse problem than remembering to use the bin.

This is especially true in older buildings and outside major Tier 1 cities. Many public restrooms also don't have toilet paper or soap, so you'll probably want to bring some hand sanitizer from home and pick up a mini pack of tissues when you arrive.

Read more: 10 Don'ts While Teaching Abroad in China

While there are a lot of things I wish I knew before coming to China, I think the surprise of discovering new things every day has made my life here an adventure. The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to arrive in China with an open mind. China is so large and complex, and whether you're studying, traveling, or teaching in China, discovering new aspects of life and culture are just part of the fun!

Read more about living abroad in China:

• The Ultimate Guide to Teaching English in China
• 10 Best Universities in China for International Students
• 10 Useful International Travel Tips for First-Time Travelers