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I spent 4 months in China with Masons Au Pair agency and honestly it passed sooo fast. One minute I was unpacking and the next I was trying to squeeze everything in my suitcase (I bought a loot of stuff on Taobao). My host kid taught me a thing or two about patience and negotiating skills. we played football and hide-and-seek literally everyday but he's a good boy and I'm happy I was his Au Pair. My Chinese is still in progress but my chopstick skills now is perfect haha

Masons team was always around when I needed a hand, which made everything feel a lot less overwhelming. I left with new friends, great memories, and a suitcase that really tested the airline’s weight limit but what can we do. Thanks to Masons agency for such a great adventure, I definitely will come back to see you guys!

My 6 months as an Au Pair in China with Masons Au Pair were honestly unforgettable! I had such a lovely time exploring China, making new friends, and becoming part of a wonderful host family. They even threw me a birthday party, which was so sweet and really made me feel like part of the family!

The Masons team were brilliant and always happy to help whenever I needed anything. I also really enjoyed the Mandarin classes and all the fun activities with the other Au Pairs. The whole experience was absolutely lovely, and I can't believe how quickly those 6 months flew by!

I'd definitely recommend Masons to anyone thinking about becoming an Au Pair in China! ❤️

I stayed in China for 6 months through Masons Au Pair agency and it was a good experience.
I'm especially grateful to the agency who helped me with all the documents and always were ready to help but also thanks to all Au Pair community where I met new friends from different parts of the world!

The Au Pair activities the agency provides really helped me to get to know Au Pairs faster, so we hanged out a lot.

It is nice that the agency's office is right next door to the language school where I studied Mandarin, so if I had any problems or needed an advice, it was very easy to find people from the agency to talk.
In general it was very nice experience and I'm happy I did it! Thank you, Masons agency for your help and support!

first ever au program for me went so well and smooth, no complaints, the agency really helped me with all documentation and organization and have been super supportive all the way through. i am so happy i decided to join masons au pair and not any other agency. the community is so friendly and warm, found a lot of international friends!! loved the whole atmosphere of the city, it is super safe and convenient. the prices are repetitively low.
thank for this wonderful experience that really helped me to evaluate many skills. would 100% highly recommend!!!!!!!!!

I spent a full year in China through Mason's Au Pair Agency and their au pair program. During that time, I had the opportunity to travel to Shanghai, Beijing, Lanzhou, Chongqing, Jiuzhaigou, Zigong, and many smaller cities around Chengdu.

The agency also organized monthly events where all of us could get together, spend time together, build friendships, and meet people from different countries. I made some amazing friends and got to try so many delicious foods.

The agency was always supportive of my choices and boundaries and helped me throughout my entire stay. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience that I would highly recommend!

I spent four months in China through Masons Au Pair Agency, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish. They were amazing every step of the way from helping me prepare for the journey to supporting me throughout my time in China whenever I needed anything at all. I met wonderful people, got to experience what it's like living on a completely different continent, and immersed myself in Chinese culture in a way I never expected. It was such a rewarding and eye-opening experience that I genuinely don't understand why anyone wouldn't want to try it. I don't regret going on this program at all if anything, my only regret is not finding out about it sooner.

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.