After delaying it for a few years due to COVID and university studies, I finally decided to take a gap year to be an Au Pair… in China!

Now, after 7 months of experience, I can finally sit down and explain what makes being an Au Pair such a great choice — and especially why doing it through Masons Au Pair Agency was the best decision I could have made.

At the end of August 2025, I started researching agencies and came across many different options. Initially, I wanted to find one with placements in Hangzhou, but I soon realized that those large agencies managing programs across many cities don’t really take your preferences or interests into consideration. Most of them only ask for a quick 10‑minute call where they repeat information already written in their messages, and immediately start looking for a host family without considering what you actually want — such as the number of children, location preferences, or your personal interests.

Masons Au Pair stood out right away. Their replies were fast, and within a couple of days we scheduled a long, detailed video call. During that conversation, I got to know the agency properly, and they got to know me. They immediately started thinking about families that matched my personality and needs, and were completely honest and straightforward about both the positives and possible downsides of each option — for example, things like how far the house was from the school.

Everything moved quite smoothly: in less than two months I had collected all paperwork and obtained my visa. I only waited to wrap up some commitments at home before flying over to Chengdu.

Jason and Nadya picked me up directly at the airport. For the first two days, I stayed at a hotel while they guided me through everything I needed to know for daily life: how to use apps like Meituan and Taobao, rent shared bikes, or pay with QR codes everywhere. They also gave me practical training and advice on teaching English to children, as well as how to navigate misunderstandings or differences coming from different cultures.

Since the agency office is right next door to their Chinese language school, I quickly met other au pairs and students. My fear of struggling to meet people or build a social circle disappeared very fast! I am happy to say I built meaningful friendships with both foreigners and locals, bonds that will last long after I leave.

Beyond the support I found among friends, the agency itself was always there. Whenever I needed help, they were just a message or call away — day or night. I got sick a few times during my stay, and every single time they stepped in immediately to help me sort things out. I truly always felt safe, supported, and never alone.

Then there is Chengdu itself — a city that completely won me over. People here are warm, kind, and welcoming; daily life is comfortable and easy to get used to; and not to mention the highlights: Taobao, Meituan, the endless bubble tea shops, and how affordable everything feels compared to back home in Italy.

When I first started looking, I was drawn to Chengdu, but I seriously considered famous coastal cities like Shanghai or Shenzhen instead. I thought living near the sea would be better for me. But looking back, I am so happy I ended up exactly here — it turned out to be the perfect choice!

Chengdu balances modernity and history perfectly: you have all the convenience and services you could wish for, yet tradition and heritage are still visible everywhere. It is also an amazing base for traveling — you are very close to places like the Leshan Giant Buddha, Mount Emei, and many other fascinating towns and natural sites across Sichuan.

I also love how distinct this region feels. China is such a vast country, and Sichuan has its own unique culture, history, and character that sets it apart from other parts of the country.

Masons Au Pair works with many different families, so every experience will be different and personal. I myself changed host families after three months, and I was even happier with my second placement — so much so that I am still in close contact with them and planning to visit very soon. I think this flexibility and care is what truly sets this agency apart, or makes going through an agency better than arranging things privately: with Masons, you will never find yourself abandoned or left alone in a foreign country.

Overall, if I were to embark on such a big adventure on the other side of the world all over again, I would make sure to choose an agency that is truly reliable, transparent — and I really mean it, there are absolutely no hidden costs — and friendly. Luckily for me, I found exactly that right from the start in Masons Au Pair Agency.

P.S. Be careful! Jason and Nadya, as well as the teachers at the language school, are so friendly and easygoing that you will probably end up becoming friends with them during your stay!

Hyper-fixation to reality in less than 3 months. I found out about au pair opportunities in China last summer while doomscrolling on TikTok at 5AM; in a moment of intense confusion all I wanted was to quit my job and leave Rome after years of not loving it anymore. Infatuation got real, and I started getting in touch with various agencies around China. Most of them were average at best in terms of communication and social media presence, but then there was Masons Au Pair... Their website and Instagram account were far more intuitive, transparent (!!!) and aesthetically pleasing than any of their competitors', a massive green flag from the get-go. I then contacted them and they got back to me in no time, promptly scheduling an interview that also included a personality test. Their recruitment process is rather thorough and they really want to make sure they create the best possible match for both their au pairs and their partner host families. Rematches are very much possible and happening, so worry not! I was lucky enough to find a host family relatively quickly and we agreed to collaborate shortly after. The agency then took care of my flights, booking them upfront (another positive aspect that sets them apart from other providers) and helped me out with all the documentation needed for the X2 Visa. Less than three months later, I was landing in Chengdu, ready to meet Jason and Nadya and start my two-day orientation and training period. Hotel accommodation, local meals and experiences were also provided and very much appreciated. The first impression was honestly impeccable and I felt like I was in good hands. On day three I was introduced to my host family and instantly adored my two little host brothers. I spent 7 eventful months with them (a 6-month contract, and a 1-month extension) and they really made sure I had everything throughout my program. I was fortunate enough to travel around China quite a bit, having visited major cities like Chongqing, Xi'an, Wuhan, Changsha, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Sanya. I spent two beautiful weeks on the coast of Hainan with my host family, celebrating Christmas and New Years under the coconut trees for the first time in my life. During my time spent with the host family I jumped head-first into Chinese culture, cuisine, and mannerisms. I always tell people that this experience has been one of the greatest "social experiments" of my life, having witnessed all sorts of family dynamics over those 7 months. This being said, it hasn't always been fun 'n games, so I'd definitely encourage future au pairs to expect miscommunication at times, cultural differences on a daily basis and very long, demanding hours on the weekends and whenever the kids don't attend school. Thankfully, I have made lifelong friends that quickly became my support network when in need. Masons Au Pair exclusively operates in Chengdu, which guarantees connection with everyone in the same boat with you (the other au pairs) and proximity to the agency if any issues arise. Big shoutout and thank you to Jason and Nadya for everything they've done for me throughout my stay. Thanks for bearing with me and listening to my rants every now and then. Forever going to remember and cherish this side quest.

P.S. Do not despair if you're a guy in your late 20s!!! It is entirely possible for you to become an au pair. A lot of families would rather work with someone that has already had some life experience and bro pairs (male au pairs) are totally a thing, contrary to popular belief.

I have spent almost half of the last year, when I took a gap year, a well-needed break from my uni studies, living as an aupair in Chengdu, where I ended up in the early spring as a result of getting in contact with Masons.

Having many different locations and accommodations in my mind before connecting with them, I have never thought about spending my gap year in China, it just simply was not on my radar. Still, thankfully, I seized a great opportunity!

It is owed to the great care and support I have received from the agency and the other au pairs with whom I have made great friendships while we studied Mandarin together in classes that are conveniently located in the closest proximity to the office that the agency holds, that I have had one of the best experiences I could hope for, as I found a new home away from home - a safe and reliable community is the reason I still hold many beautiful memories of my time there. An understatement would be to say that I got help with the necessity of arranging my travel and arrival beforehand, regarding my visa and flight tickets, as the support persisted throughout my whole stay, be it problems with the VPN or getting some medicine and visiting a doctor.

I have returned to pay a visit to the host family, friends from the agency, and the city around the time of the Chinese New Year celebration, and I was greeted with such a lovely welcome and hospitality. The experience shaped me in ways I did not expect, and the people I can now consider very dear. As of now, I do not know when my next travel will be, but I am already looking forward to the summer, as my host family is planning a trip to Europe, and then we will meet again, and they will be able to see what I mean when I say I miss the Sichuan spice, 麻婆豆腐 and 汤圆.

I had a host family with an 8y.o. girl who could speak English quite well. My relationship with the host parents was also good, they were open to communication and always ready to help when I needed it.

The whole matching process took around 2,5 months. The agency asked me about my preferences, explained the positive and challenging parts of the family before I joined them, and went through the contract and schedule with me. They also assisted with my visa application.

Sometimes we had lunch together after Chinese classes with the agency staff, which was really nice. I always felt comfortable communicating with the agency, so I’m happy I had this experience.

I spent 6 months in China as an Au Pair with Masons Au Pair agency, and I'm happy I took this chance.

From the very start they made everything feel easy and well-organized, especially the visa process and matching me with my host family. Living with them gave me a real insight into daily life in China. The asian way of household and education is very different compare to my country, so I learned a lot of new things.

I really like my host kids even though sometimes they were a bit too energetic and I'm not this young anymore haha
I improved my Chinese and gained a deeper understanding of the culture. Whenever I had questions or needed support, the agency was always there to help, so I'm really grateful for their support.

Overall, this experience helped me grow in confidence and independence, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something unique and enriching. China is the best!

I spent five months in China as an Au Pair, and it was a really meaningful experience. Masons Au Pair Agency supported me throughout the process, from finding a host family to settling into a new environment. Living in China helped me become more independent, improve my Chinese, and better understand the culture. I also met people from different countries and created great memories. I still keep in touch with my host family and some Au Pairs from the program!
I’m very grateful for this experience and would recommend it to anyone looking for something new.

It was a wonderful experience. I spent six months in China and loved it very much.
The agency helped me match with my host family and was always in touch whenever I had questions or needed help or advice. What truly made this program stand out for me was the level of personalized support throughout the entire journey — not just before departure, but also during my stay. My host family felt like my second real family from the very first week; they introduced me to local traditions, taught me how to cook authentic dishes. Whenever cultural misunderstandings came up (which happens naturally when you live abroad), the agency’s local coordinator responded within hours and helped mediate with kindness and professionalism.

I fell in love with China! Thanks to Masons Agency, I stayed in Chengdu for six months and had a really great time with other Au Pairs and my host family. My host family took me to different cities like Beijing, Kunming, Shenzhen, and small villages in Sichuan. I improved my Chinese skills and saw how Chinese people really live. I experienced a lot of cultural shocks, but it was fun and interesting to learn.

It was definitely an enriching experience. I made a lot of friends from different countries and, after the program, even visited South Korea and Japan! If you want to try something new and get international experience, then it’s a great choice for you. Thanks to the agency for the support and for helping with my visa, tickets, and, of course, my host family! Hope to see you soon!