18 Things To Know Before Living in China: What Growing Up in Chongqing Taught Me

I’m from Chongqing, China (proud home of spicy hotpot and spicy personalities). I lived there for the better part of 17 years of my life before moving to Singapore, and many of my fondest childhood memories are from there. I still consider Chongqing my first home.

Whenever I have friends over, one of the first things they ask me is about living in China and not just visiting. When you tell people that you’re moving to China (or already live there), their questions often go beyond culture, food, or history, and end up focusing on normal, everyday life. They are curious. (Fair enough, too — life in China is different, especially in a bustling metropolis like Chongqing.)

But here’s the thing: life in China is not just the high-speed trains and skyscrapers. It’s not even about the food. It’s about the little things. The things that are surprising, even to someone who grew up here, but that foreigners don’t often know in advance.

In this list, I want to share 18 things I think you should know before moving to China, from the perspective of a girl who grew up and studied in the middle of it all.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

1. The Internet Is Its Own Place in the Universe

Wait, what? You’re saying you can’t use Google? And YouTube is blocked, too? What about Instagram?

Welcome to life in China. If you’re using Google to search for “WeChat,” “Weibo,” or “VPN,” you are almost certainly not going to have a good time.

The internet as you know it doesn’t really work here. As in, it is blocked. Google, YouTube, Google Maps, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix… all blocked.

Most social media use centers around a few Chinese apps: WeChat, Weibo, and Douyin (China’s version of TikTok). For a while, I couldn’t even tell you how I took care of banking, shopping, or signing contracts. WeChat handled it all. So many features. So many potential problems if you didn’t have it.

The first time I realized how much of my digital life WeChat was (is) tied to was during my first trip overseas. No WeChat, no WeChat Pay, no WeChat Mini Programs? I felt like half my brain had been unplugged. (OK, slight exaggeration, but you get the point.)

Get a VPN. Like a good VPN. One that doesn’t randomly get blocked and is easy to use. You will use it every time you want to go to any international website.

Note: When you do eventually get a VPN to work, you may find yourself scrolling on YouTube in absolute bliss. (Shout out to the English learning videos. I miss you.)

2. Mobile Payment Is a Way of Life

WeChat Pay and Alipay. These two words have replaced the word “cash” in many Chongqingians’ vocabularies. They have almost complete dominance on the street vendors, the wet markets, the roadside barbecue stalls. Heck, even the buskers are starting to accept digital payment.

ATMs are everywhere, but chances are you won’t have any cash on you. (Especially when traveling around town.) The entire day-to-day shopping experience is set up around electronic payments now.

Don’t know how to get started? As a foreigner in China, you can now directly link your international debit or credit card in the Alipay International app.

Most banks these days let you pay digitally with a QR code scan, but if you’re an expat or haven’t set up your bank account in advance, the Alipay International app is your golden ticket.

Learn more on the official Alipay Website for Foreigners in China.

Note: You may find some cash-only places in more rural areas or more touristy spots. However, that is quickly changing. Physical cash in Chongqing is nearly obsolete.

3. Chongqing Was Built on Mountains — Literally

Look at any picture of Chongqing and what do you see first? Meandering rivers and rivers of skyscrapers? Beautiful park and hills everywhere?

Guess again.

The first thing that Chongqingians (that’s us, locals!) notice about new faces is usually the stairs. Where to park, where to get off, how to get back up. Stairs. Stairs everywhere you look.

And the metro system is literally built into some of these mountainside cliff-hanging spots. They used drills to carve out stations in the walls of these steep hills that plunge down to the river below.

There are natural elevators built out of the side of mountains… just to give you an idea of how insanely breathtaking and ambitious the metro system is.

4. The Weather Is Hot. And Sticky.

And by hot, I mean China’s three furnaces: Chongqing, Chengdu, and Wuhan. You can say which city you are in based on which one people complain about the most.

Temperatures often hit 38°C and the humidity makes the hot air feel like soup.

On the plus side, the winters are mild and warm enough to enjoy hotpot. (Which means you won’t have many chances to ever leave home…)

5. People Are Friendly — and Loud

Chongqing-ians are friendly and we are loud. (We know, it’s a weird combination.) We love to chit-chat, laugh, share a good story, and eat together. Talking loudly in public places? That’s just our way of having a fun and carefree attitude towards life.

One unique thing about people in Chongqing is that they shout (don’t confuse with angry shouting, that’s a common misconception about us). We shout in joy. We shout to say hello. We shout just because we like to talk.

Note: When locals do argue or fight, they might still be loud and shouting, but their body language changes. You’ll see their hands drop or their shoulders lower. It is a very subtle change, but there is a clear difference between loud joking and actual fighting. Trust me on this.

6. Hotpot Is Religion

Did you really just move to Chongqing? Or China? And you have not yet tried the glorious, spicy goodness of hotpot?

Trust me, dear reader, you will find your way into this beloved Chinese cooking/eating tradition before you realize it.

In fact, many locals take great pride in making the right kind of numbing-hot spicy broth for hotpot, topped with chili oil and peppercorns. Any toppings will do — but the meat has to be fresh!

Fun fact: If you find yourself in a Chongqing hotpot restaurant without knowing what you’re doing, ask for the “red oil king” (红油皇) option.

Note: For those new to spicy food, the custom broth base is usually good to start with. The hotpot meats are cut thinly for even cooking in the broth. (Trust me on this too — there is a real art to hotpot meat!)

7. Street Food Is Cultural Heritage

Skewers. Hot spicy noodles. Grilled squid. Freshly-made dumplings. Chinese stinky tofu. The late-night street food scene in Chongqing never sleeps.

Don’t know what to eat? Follow the locals. If they are flocking to a tiny alley for Chinese doughnuts with salted duck yolk (or some other mouth-watering food), follow them.

8. WeChat for Life

WeChat (微信) is the lifeblood of life in China. It’s our messaging platform. It’s where we pay bills, order food, make doctor’s appointments, buy train tickets, even show our health codes when we leave our apartment buildings.

If you plan to make the move to China, get familiar with WeChat first. You will need it as soon as you get here to communicate and get around on a daily basis. Start getting comfy with it before you go, it’ll make your transition much easier.

9. Know a Little Mandarin

Speaking some Mandarin Chinese (华语) is a great place to start when it comes to navigating life in Chongqing (and China as a whole). Not everyone you’ll meet in Chongqing city speaks English fluently (unless you are in a popular tourist area), and many don’t.

The local dialect (重庆话) is no joke. The local dialect is a variant of the Sichuanese dialect, and even people who speak Mandarin fluently can find it a challenge.

On the bright side, the Chinese people will love your best Mandarin efforts. Show a little interest and willingness to speak with them in their mother tongue, and you’ll be golden.

Recommended apps: Pleco (Chinese dictionary), Baidu Maps (maps better than Google Maps)

Note: If you’re traveling with your family, you may not know what “children of 12 tons” means. Don’t worry. They are talking about you. 😊

10. Public Transportation is World Class

Modern. Easy. Cheap. Well-connected. Fun. The public transportation in Chongqing is a revelation. Literally.

The metro system carves its way through mountainsides (I know I mentioned this before, but it deserves a second shoutout). There are giant cable car gondolas, scenic boat rides along the rivers, and high-speed trains.

And don’t be fooled by its size. Public transportation is a breeze to navigate and easy on the wallet.

Note: Buses and subways in Chongqing have a tiny air conditioner trick. Open the window a little. Air-con comes with a little fan. Turn that baby on, crank the AC all the way down. Win.

11. Air Pollution Is Getting Better

Growing up in Chongqing, I still remember a time when pollution was a BIG deal. Hazy gray days were all too common, and we would have to bundle up in masks and scarves just to go outside.

Not so much anymore.

In recent years, air pollution has improved a lot, thanks to many cleaner sources of energy and stricter regulations. Yes, it can still be hazy when all the fog from the rivers meets the smog from the factories, but for the most part, the air quality in Chongqing has come a long way.

Keep an eye on the Air Visual app to check the daily AQI. (Happy to report that at the time of writing, I see “good” every day!)

12. Healthcare is Affordable — but Busy

Hospitals and clinics in China are high-tech and well-equipped. (Many are even air-conditioned inside and out.) What they are not is exactly what you might expect in terms of waiting around.

Most local people get up early and queue for their morning clinic appointments with their pharmacy list in hand. They are a very efficient system.

Foreigners can still access private hospitals for a higher convenience fee, but you’ll still need your passport and insurance card.

One note for expats moving to Chongqing: Bring any prescription medication you rely on. Not every Western brand is available, so better to be safe.

13. Bureaucracy Can Be a Headache

Like many things in China, paperwork is a passion. Visa registration, SIM cards, apartment contracts — you name it. It all requires multiple forms and official stamps.

Paperwork and bureaucracy can be frustrating and confusing but remember it isn’t impossible. (Just time-consuming.)

Moving in? Have a friendly landlord or local colleague to guide you through the steps and walk you through the details. Trust me, it will make the process much smoother.

14. Education and Hard Work Are Deeply Respected

I can’t talk about growing up in Chongqing without bringing up the education system. Most of my classmates were in school from the morning to late in the evening.

Weekends and evenings were study hall times, and many kids took private tutoring on top of that.

Even now, parents will spend as much money as they can afford on their kids’ education, from elementary school up to higher learning. As you can imagine, this also has driven our work culture to the 996 office standard — nine-to-nine, six days a week. (You heard that right.)

15. Personal Space Is a Fuzzy Concept

This one’s not for the faint of heart. Crowds. Masses of humanity, shoulder to shoulder, elbow to elbow.

Expect crowds. In buses. In trains. On elevators. Standing in line at restaurants.

People are not being rude or inconsiderate. They are used to less personal space. (Same with bikes, scooters, and all sorts of outdoor parking.)

16. Don’t Drink the Tap Water

China’s tap water isn’t potable. (Is that a word? Hmmm…) It can be safe in some cities, but it’s not guaranteed and highly depends on where you live.

One test: take a sip straight from the faucet. If it tastes good to you, you’re better off boiling the water first before drinking it. Bottled water is super cheap here. (Buy a reusable bottle and just filter the water, for the environment.)

Bring a quality water filter for your kitchen if you plan to stay in Chongqing for more than a couple of months. It’s the easiest lifehack.

17. Safety Is a Very Big Deal

Safer than you think. Safer than most of your home countries.

China feels like one of the safest countries I’ve ever lived in (my other being Canada). I’ve never felt unsafe walking home alone late at night through one of the city’s busiest neighborhoods.

Petty crime exists. As everywhere. You can be an easy target if you flash your fancy gadgets or don’t know the area. But compared to other countries I’ve lived in or visited, it is rare.

18. China Changes Fast

China is in a state of rapid change. All. The. Time. Seriously. One of the best parts of moving here (for me at least) is feeling the city and the country evolving right in front of my eyes. (The downsides are a different story. 😅)

Every time I return to Chongqing, something has opened up: a new mall, a new metro line, a new app on WeChat I didn’t even know existed.

Change is the norm. New tech, new trends, new consumer habits — and that’s just the surface.

If you move here, bring an open mind and the willingness to adapt to new ways of doing things. You’ll be richly rewarded for it.

Final Thoughts

Living in China is one of the most unique and rewarding experiences I have ever had. The culture, the language, the food, and the history — it’s all there in a giant melting pot of an adventure waiting for you.

For me, China will always be more than home. It’s a country and a people who taught me to appreciate what matters most to me: the people I care about, working hard, and eating spicy food. (All in that order.)

So if you have ever considered moving to China, come here with an open mind, heart, and a thick skin. It will be some of the best and most challenging years of your life. But I promise: it is worth it.

Trust me, you will fall in love with the rhythm of the land before you know it.