Money and budgeting is one of the things on most people’s minds. Whether it is due to a change a of jobs when the income is tight, or whether you are just trying to save as much as possible to send back home, many people will reach times when they need to pull down on the purse strings and really save some money. So all of this begs the question, how much does it cost to live minimally in Xi’an.
While it seems like the Craic Irish Pub has been around forever, in reality it has only been a year since they first opened their doors starting this month. While many of us have passed through their doors more times than can be counted, many of us may not be as familiar with the people behind the magic. So, in an effort to better get to know this mainstay of the Xi’an scene, we sat down with the staff of the Craic to find out more about them.
The locals in Xi’an love their barbeque, so much so that barbeque restaurants spring from alleyways and street corners throughout the summer months. Bursting forth from the flames is a bouquet of flavors and textures, all washed down with icy-cold local beers and an unquenchable hunger for more. For a first timer, or even an unadventurous old-hand, the world of barbeque can be intimidating, as you don’t know exactly what you are getting when you order. You’re Chinese lessons telling you of 猪肉 and 鸡肉 seem to fail you as you stare a menu of unfamiliar words and combinations. Well, don’t worry. We’ve put together a quick descriptive guide on what to do when hitting the barbeque restaurant.
Many groups were formed in the wake of COVID-19, as many of us looked to bond with others after our time in lockdown. Now, a year later, many of those groups are still going strong. Amongst them is the Xi’an Foreign Parents Community, a support and socialization group for families living in Xi’an. To better get to know this group, we talked to the founders, Gary Wood and Alex Rambaud, to see what this group is all about.
So you’ve found out that you’re having a baby. What do you do next?
This question can be a difficult one, even when a language barrier is not present, but when living in a country that is not your home country, it can seem like an insurmountable task to prepare for the birth of your little one.
There is plenty of advice out there about what you should do, much of it conflicting, so we are for the most part going to steer clear of all the little tidbits of wisdom that are often passed around and focus instead on the major steps and where you can get them done.
Once you kick off work, especially once you reach your weekend, it’s nice to be able to get your evening started off right. While the tradition of happy hour hasn’t caught on in every establishment in the city, there are still a fair few places where you can go to loosen up your tie an let your stress begin to melt away, at a price that won’t cause you more stress on the back end. To help you in finding such establishments, we have rounded up the Top Five Happy Hours in Xi’an for May of 2021.
The Xi’an City Wall is a symbol of the city’s ancient past, and constant reminder of days gone by. Stretching 14 kilometers in length and encompassing 36 square kilometers of the city center, the city wall has protected the heart of Xi’an for over 600 years.
The law in any country can be difficult to understand, so it’s not unusual that people who are living and working in China are often unaware of the benefits that they are entitled to while working here. This is especially true for foreigners, as there are fewer resources to let them know the exact laws and how they are applied. This is often compounded by the fact that some unscrupulous companies deliberately hide some of this information from their employees so that they will have fewer out of pocket expenses.
However, as foreign employees, those working in China are required to abide by the same laws and are also entitled to most of the benefits of their Chinese counterparts (there are some exceptions, such as National Health Insurance, etc.). So, we’ve put together a rundown of some of the benefits that you, as an employee working legally in China, are entitled to.
NOTE: We are not lawyers, and cannot speak to the actual application and interpretation of the law. If you are seeking advice on legal matters or similar issues, contact a lawyer.
What is the Sunday Club?
Essentially, it’s a WeChat group that promotes social events and aims to present Xi’an as an inclusive and friendly city. The group is for like-minded international and local people who want to go out, make friends at events and pursue their interests. We showcase a wide variety of events, from DJ and music parties, to board game evenings, comedy nights, creative writing meetings, art exhibitions, cinema screenings and anything else that brings people together.
Parks and Spring go together like any number of cliché pairings. It’s this brief period of time when the parks explode in a riot of color and greenery, and when it is not too hot to enjoy it. People head out in droves to enjoy those little slices of manicured nature, whether flying kites, piloting paddle boats, or simply strolling around and enjoying the views and the weather. There are over 146 different parks in Xi’an, but with so many people trying to enjoy the same kinds of activities, it can get a bit cramped. That’s why we’ve gathered together a list of the biggest parks in Xi’an, so you’ll have a bit of room to enjoy your Spring.
