Why this exists
After moving from Guangzhou to Shanghai, I saw international friends spend hours on tasks that sounded simple: buying a train ticket, understanding a rental message, choosing a hospital, or finding food that met their needs. The information existed, but it was scattered across Chinese apps, local rules, and conversations. A translated answer alone often did not tell someone what to do next.
Adapt to China began as a way to turn those small moments of uncertainty into clear, usable steps. I am building it with feedback from newcomers connected to 25 countries and recurring questions in international communities. Their experiences help me decide what to explain, what to check, and what still needs a better answer.
Start with a free guide or tool
If you are preparing to arrive or settling in, start with the First 72 Hours checklist and Daily Life Guides for payments, phone access, transport, Chinese apps, and paperwork. The renting guide, Hospital Finder, and food finders help with more specific decisions. These pages are free to use and require no account.
The free House Planner is an early version of a more focused tool. It turns your budget, commute, move-in date, and essential living conditions into a search brief and a checklist of what to verify. It does not pull live listings or promise an available apartment.
Describe your situation
Sometimes you know the problem but not which page to open. In the Support Planner, you can describe your situation in your own words and receive an AI-assisted starting plan with suggested next steps and relevant resources. You do not need to enter your name, city, or email separately. Please leave out passwords, identity numbers, and sensitive records. The plan is a starting point to check, especially when a rule or local detail may have changed.
Learn from other newcomers
Adapt to China also has a community side. You can read practical lessons in Daily Guides, follow new explainers on Instagram, or find the WeChat community details on the home page. I hope people can share what worked for them and make the next person's arrival a little easier.
When you need a person
Some tasks depend on a particular landlord, service provider, Chinese message, or phone call. For those situations, I offer optional Personal Support with a defined scope. You can read the service details and prices before deciding; I confirm the task and deliverable before any paid work begins. You remain in charge of your choices, accounts, contracts, and payments.
Who is behind the site?
I study public administration at SJTU, speak Chinese and English, and have worked with international students. My interest is in the gap between information being available and someone being able to use it in a real situation. I research and maintain this project myself, check official sources where possible, and revise pages as people point out gaps or outdated details. If you spot something that needs correction, please tell me.
Adapt to China is my independent project, not an official SJTU service. For university procedures, immigration matters, emergencies, or professional advice, follow the relevant university office, authority, or qualified provider. Local details may change, so confirm important information before acting.
Want to see how the project develops? Follow @adapttochina on Instagram →
Martin Zhong
Shanghai, China