China Expat Briefing

A Spouse on an S Visa: What They Can and Cannot Legally Do in China

What spouses on S visas in China can and cannot legally do, including work, tutoring, remote work, volunteering, tax, and permit risks ...
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Expats in Haikou

Expats in Haikou

How to Apply Online for a Provisional Driving Permit in Hainan as a Foreign National

A complete guide, how to apply online for a provisional driving permit in Hainan as a foreign national, including the application steps, required documents, and the online learning module you must complete ...
Expats in Haikou

How to Claim Your Housing Provident Fund Before You Leave China

Foreign employees in China may have a Housing Provident Fund account they have never checked. The balance, employer contributions included, can be withdrawn in full when you leave. Here is how to claim it before you go …
Cycling and marathons

Hainan to Host Eight Marathons in 2026

Hainan will host eight marathon events in 2026, including A‑level full and half marathons in Danzhou, Haikou, and Sanya. Dates and locations at a glance for runners ...

Business & FTP Intelligence

Expats in Haikou

Supporting Foreign Entrepreneurs in Hainan’s Free Trade Port

From Slovakian mineral water to African trade facilitation, how a Haikou support centre is helping foreign nationals start businesses in Hainan's Free Trade Port ...
Business News

2026 Guide to Registering a Company in Hainan: Address Rules, Requirements, and Compliance

A comprehensive 2026 guide to registering a company in Hainan, covering new address rules, compliance requirements, registration steps, and practical options for businesses with or without a physical office …
Expats in Haikou

China’s New VAT Rules (Effective January 1, 2026)

You may have seen headlines about new VAT regulations coming into effect in China from January 1, 2026. For many foreigners living and working in China, the immediate question is “Does this affect me — and if so, how?” Here’s the short, simple answer ...
Business News

Hainan Releases 2026–2030 Masterplan: What the Next Five Years Mean for the Free Trade Port

Hainan has just released its 2026–2030 blueprint, a plan that will shape the Free Trade Port after customs closure. Here’s a clear breakdown of what to expect and what the next five years mean for business, investment and the island’s economic trajectory ...

Hainan FTP Intelligence

Business News

Why December 18? The Date that Defines Hainan’s Next Chapter

Discover why Hainan’s island-wide customs closure is set for December 18, 2025, a date echoing China’s historic 1978 Reform and Opening-Up ...
Business News

Hainan Free Trade Port Deepens ASEAN-Centric Regional Cooperation

With ASEAN rapidly emerging as one of the most dynamic and high-potential regions in the world, Hainan is taking decisive steps to deepen regional cooperation, placing ASEAN at the core of its strategic development ...
Business News

Hainan Unveils New Offshore Duty-Free Policy: Expanded Categories and Broader Benefits

Hainan unveils an upgraded offshore duty-free policy with new product categories, wider eligibility, and greater convenience for travelers and residents …
Business News

WCO Accreditation Positions Haikou Customs Laboratory at the Core of China’s Trade Strategy

With its new WCO designation, the Haikou Customs Laboratory is not just a technical asset for Hainan, it is becoming a cornerstone of China’s international trade strategy, blending advanced science with global cooperation at the very heart of the Free Trade Port project ...

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Events, notices and timely community updates from across Hainan.
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Explore Hainan

Go beyond the headlines with guides and features on Hainan’s minority traditions, historic towns, local temples, coastal communities, parks and places worth knowing.

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Sports and Outdoors
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Cycling and marathons

Hainan to Host Eight Marathons in 2026

Hainan will host eight marathon events in 2026, including A‑level full and half marathons in Danzhou, Haikou, and Sanya. Dates and locations at a glance for runners ...
Sports and Outdoors

The Asian Beach Games, April 22–30 in Sanya, Here’s Everything you Need to Know

The 6th Asian Beach Games bring 1,790 athletes from 45 nations to Sanya from April 22 to 30, for an accessible, world-class sports event with low ticket prices and venues concentrated all in one coastal district ...
Cycling and marathons

Wanning Marathon Returns on January 25 with a Scenic Coastal Course

The China Resources Shimei Bay 2026 Wanning Marathon returns on January 25, featuring full and half marathon routes through coastal roads, coconut groves, and beaches, with runner-friendly transport, local food, and scenic views across Wanning, Hainan ...

Historical Haikou

Historic sites, old streets and cultural landmarks in Hainan’s capital.

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Ancient Drum Tower: A Six-Century Guardian of Old Fucheng

For more than six centuries, Drum Tower has watched over old Fucheng, guarding the gates of Qiongzhou’s prefectural capital and enduring into modern Haikou ...