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China / 中国

From the visa to the first meal: a cheap flight from Europe, the tourist visa step by step, the apps to install before you land, and how to pay as a foreigner. Plus an illustrated corgi story in English, Chinese and German, and free tools to learn your first 300 Chinese words.

You should note that China is really gigantic, and the food and culture on this website is only a part of that. There will be elements from the north and the south, also Sichuan and Chongqing, which I do like. The more time will progress, the more I will add.

In the meantime, here are a few pictures that demonstrate my authenticity.

A plate of fried chicken pieces buried in dried chillies and Sichuan pepper
A split hotpot on the table with sliced beef, greens and side dishes ready to cook
Platter of hotpot ingredients: lotus root, tofu, wood ear mushrooms, noodles and bean sprouts
A wok of home-cooked vegetables on the hob in front of a shelf of Chinese sauces
Braised pork belly simmering in a dark pan with spring onion
A plate of pan-fried dumplings
Stir-fried meat with green and red peppers on an oval plate
Chicken pieces with dried chillies served on a white plate
A roujiamo, flatbread filled with braised pork, held in the street
A filled flatbread with lettuce in its paper wrapper
A slice of black sesame roll cake on a floral plate
A small round bun topped with black sesame
A stone pot of stir-fried noodles with peppers, served sizzling
Pan-fried dumplings on a hot iron plate beside a bowl of greens in broth
A glass of sweet corn drink with a spoon
A plate of steamed bun and dumplings with the dipping sauces beside them
Takeaway boxes with stir-fried vegetables, sweet and sour chicken and rice
A home-cooked meal on a checked tablecloth: a stew, greens, meat and bowls of rice
Hotpot at home with the red broth in the middle and the ingredients laid out around it
Illuminated menu board of a Chinese street-food counter with prices in euros
A corgi in monk's robes meditating in a mountain temple

Agent Nezha and the Holy Baozi

An illustrated corgi story told in English, Chinese and German: a mountain monastery, a stolen baozi and one very determined agent.

Read the story

Learn Chinese, free

Your first 300 words and the 346 characters behind them: stroke order you can trace, flashcards with sound and eight easy stories. About ten minutes a day, no sign-up, progress saved in your browser.

Start learning

All articles about China

The full list, including the ones not linked above.