Meeting people & social in China
How to meet locals and other travellers, and what to be wary of.
What everyone needs to know
- Language-exchange meetups are the most reliable way to meet locals genuinely.
- Expat bars in tier-1 cities are easy entry points but a narrow slice of the country.
- WeChat groups are the main organising channel for local events.
- Unsolicited friendly approaches in tourist areas are usually commercial.
The numbers
| Item | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Language exchange | Weekly in tier-1 cities |
| Typical cost | Free or ¥20–60 cover |
| Main platform | WeChat groups |
| Best cities | Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Shenzhen |
Do it in this order
- Search for local language-exchange or expat groups on Meetup and WeChat before you arrive.
- Start with a hostel or hotel common area — travellers organise outings there.
- For genuine local contact, join a hobby group (hiking, board games, running).
- Agree where you are going before you go; decline anything that involves a "friend’s shop".
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating every friendly stranger as a friend — in tourist areas, some are touts.
- Lacking WeChat and therefore missing every local group.
- Meeting someone alone in an unfamiliar district on your first night.
Sources
Meeting people & social city by city
- Beijing
- Shanghai
- Xi'an
- Chengdu
- Chongqing
- Guilin
- Zhangjiajie
- Hangzhou
- Guangzhou
- Shenzhen
- Harbin
- Sanya
- Lijiang
- Kunming
- Suzhou
- Xiamen
- Zhengzhou
- Taiyuan
- Guiyang
- Fuzhou
- Yiwu
- Tianjin
- Nanjing
- Wuhan
- Changsha
- Qingdao
- Jinan
- Shenyang
- Dalian
- Changchun
- Hohhot
- Urumqi
- Lhasa
- Xining
- Lanzhou
- Yinchuan
- Dunhuang
- Luoyang
- Kaifeng
- Datong
- Pingyao
- Qufu
- Tai'an
- Huangshan
- Hefei
- Nanchang
- Wenzhou
- Ningbo
- Wuxi
- Yangzhou
- Shaoxing
- Zhuhai
- Foshan
- Dongguan
- Haikou
- Nanning
- Yangshuo
- Dali
- Shangri-La
- Xishuangbanna