Tourism to Play Prominent Role for China’s Economic Transformation
More people from across the globe learn more about the country by visiting and seeing the real China up close and personal.
Mar 13, 2024
Green Cards and Brain Drains
Are you are foreigner, living in China? Have you mastered two out of the four tones? Learned love gulping hot water on a sizzling summer evening? Are you dreaming of settling down here? Well, fantasize no more! It’s time to wake up and smell the Baijiu! Your Chinese green card may be lurking just around the corner. Why, yes! China’s leadership have vowed to relax the requirements and ease the application process for its permanent residence permit. On Tuesday the 15th of September, China’s key decision-making institution known as the Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform (indeed, a rather eloquent name), professed that “China will manage foreigners’ permanent residence in a reasonable, open and pragmatic manner.” The permit bestows foreigners with the same rights as Chinese nationals on matters including investment, property purchases and education. The decision was made in order to attract more foreign talent and investment to the nation. At present, obtaining a Chinese green card is a notoriously difficult feat. In fact, in 2013, merely 4,900 foreigners living in China had successfully gained the golden ticket. A great part of the challenge lies in the extremely selective requirements that are demanded. In order to qualify under the present rules, a candidate must meet one of the following for standards: 1. Be a ‘top talent’. No, this, […]
Dec 17, 2015
Wanna escape the Airopocalypse? Head for Taipei!
Why I have not come here sooner!? During a recent trip to Taipei, it was impossible to stop repeatedly posing myself this question. Having lived in Beijing for four years, I strongly regretted waiting so long before finally discovering the charming capital of Taiwan. After all, the two cities are only a mere three and half hour flight apart. It’s that easy to swap the hazy, bitter Beijing winter for the crystal-clear skies of exotic Taipei. However, when learning from the Wechat updates of Beijing friends that it had snowed in the northern Chinese city on the very same morning of my visit to Taipei, a little confidence in my sense of timing was regained. After all, exploring the calm, sun-kissed streets of Taipei whilst clad in just shorts and a t-shirt sure does beat trudging through Beijing’s grey, slushy snow to the subway station and then fighting your way through the masses for a space on the train during the city’s notorious rush hour. And it’s not just the lack of crowds, clean air and warm weather that make Taipei attractive, but the Taiwanese culture that is also very alluring. Very likely due to the city’s miniscule crime rates, the locals are incredibly friendly and approachable. Smiling faces greet you in the streets. It’s very easy to strike up […]
Dec 16, 2015