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We Ignored the Western Media… and Chose China as Our Base
Guangzhou Daily Life: Honest Expat Experience in China's
After hearing so many opinions about China, we decided to experience it for ourselves—and it completely changed our perspective.
In this vlog, we’re taking you through a typical day in our new life in Guangzhou, as we continue turning our apartment into a home. From shopping for furniture and...
After hearing so many opinions about China, we decided to experience it for ourselves—and it completely changed our perspective.<br><br>In this vlog, we’re taking you through a typical day in our new life in Guangzhou, as we continue turning our apartment into a home. From shopping for furniture and household essentials to exploring local stores, trying great food, and sharing what everyday life is really like as foreigners living in China, this is an honest look at our new base.<br><br>No scripts. No agendas. Just our real experiences living in one of China’s biggest and most modern cities.<br><br>June 2026 | Vlog 621 | Guangzhou, China<br><br>Road to Every Province in China: 21/34 so far<br><br>When we finally started our adventure
Reanne and Ben took a bold step: they ignored Western media and made China their home. This vlog captures a typical day in Guangzhou—furniture shopping, exploring local stores, and savoring great food. It's an honest, unscripted look at expat life in a modern Chinese city. A refreshing perspective that challenges preconceptions.
After hearing so many opinions about China, we decided to experience it for ourselves—and it completely changed our perspective.<br><br>In this vlog, we’re taking you through a typical day in our new life in Guangzhou, as we continue turning our apartment into a home. From shopping for furniture and household essentials to exploring local stores, trying great food, and sharing what everyday life is really like as foreigners living in China, this is an honest look at our new base.<br><br>No scripts. No agendas. Just our real experiences living in one of China’s biggest and most modern cities.<br><br>June 2026 | Vlog 621 | Guangzhou, China<br><br>Road to Every Province in China: 21/34 so far<br><br>When we finally started our adventure
In this vlog, the editor follows Reanne and Ben as they settle into their new base in Guangzhou, China. The day starts with a comedic struggle: the couple gets hopelessly lost in a massive underpass, circling the same exits multiple times. Ben and Reanne share their backstory – they arrived in China two and a half years ago with no internet, ended up walking home at 1 a.m., and even appeared on Chinese TV, earning the nickname “the night walking couple.”<br><br>The main mission is to get a Chinese driver’s license for an upcoming collaboration with Xpeng. But after forgetting their passports, they’re turned away. They pivot to shopping for household essentials. They visit a discount store called Hot Max, where the pricing is confusing (items labeled by weight or piece?), but they pick up crocs for £2 and a brush without a dustpan. The couple also explores their neighborhood, noting how safe and pleasant it feels – no aggressive sellers, just people going about their day.<br><br>Back at the apartment, they show off their new home: a balcony with a view of the hills, a communal gym, and a friendly stray cat named Terry (whom they feed fish treats). A highlight is the electricity bill calculation – only £2.14 for three nights, which seems astonishingly cheap. The evening brings a fright: a massive flying cockroach buzzes over their bed, leaving Reanne terrified. They also unpack parcels from Pinduoduo, including a ridiculous haul of 30 pairs of socks and a boring white kettle. A friend, May, sends a care package of fresh fruit, which they enjoy on the balcony just as a storm approaches.<br><br>Ultimately, the couple returns to the driver’s license office, gets a translation at the Justice Bureau, and after a short waiting period, Reanne officially receives her Chinese driving license – valid for a year. The editor captures the chaos, the small victories, and the genuine warmth of local interactions, from the helpful security guard to the English-speaking lady at the translation office. The vlog ends with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation for future adventures from their new Guangzhou base.
After ignoring Western media warnings, Reanne and Ben landed in Guangzhou and are turning a rental into a home. From getting hopelessly lost in an underpass to scoring a pair of crocs for £2, they show the real, messy, wonderful side of starting fresh in China. Watch them battle a flying cockroach, befriend a stray cat, and finally score a Chinese driver's license – all in one chaotic day.
Moving to Guangzhou, Reanne and Ben navigate apartment setup, a chaotic driver's license run, and local shopping – all with humor and honesty.
Life in Guangzhou: Moving to China as Expats, Apartment Setup & Driver
42:18 To get a Chinese driver's license, first translate your foreign license at the Justice Bureau. Then bring your passport, visa, and a photo to the vehicle management office. Expect to watch a 30-minute safety video and pay about 160 yuan.
27:39 Shop at local discount stores like Hot Max for household items. Prices are often per 500g, so check the numbers. You can find crocs, cleaning supplies, and snacks for a fraction of UK prices.
10:57 Use apps like Pinduoduo (similar to Temu) for cheap household items. Parcels are delivered to lockers in apartment complexes – scan the QR code and enter the code sent to your phone.
2:10 Guangzhou's underpasses can be confusing. Use Amaps (Gaode Maps) which shows exit letters. If you get lost, just ask locals – they're usually friendly and helpful.
42:18 To get a Chinese driver's license, first translate your foreign license at the Justice Bureau. Then bring your passport, visa, and a photo to the vehicle management office. Expect to watch a 30-minute safety video and pay about 160 yuan.
27:39 Shop at local discount stores like Hot Max for household items. Prices are often per 500g, so check the numbers. You can find crocs, cleaning supplies, and snacks for a fraction of UK prices.
10:57 Use apps like Pinduoduo (similar to Temu) for cheap household items. Parcels are delivered to lockers in apartment complexes – scan the QR code and enter the code sent to your phone.
2:10 Guangzhou's underpasses can be confusing. Use Amaps (Gaode Maps) which shows exit letters. If you get lost, just ask locals – they're usually friendly and helpful.
0:47 Getting lost in the underpass
4:48 Expired Muji store hunt
6:36 Failed driver license attempt
10:18 Apartment tour and parcel pickup
23:48 Meeting cat Terry
27:39 Shopping at Hot Max
32:00 Buying crocs and cleaning supplies
43:49 Successfully getting license
45:33 Opening parcels and friend's gift
0:47 Getting lost in the underpass
4:48 Expired Muji store hunt
6:36 Failed driver license attempt
10:18 Apartment tour and parcel pickup
23:48 Meeting cat Terry
27:39 Shopping at Hot Max
32:00 Buying crocs and cleaning supplies
43:49 Successfully getting license
45:33 Opening parcels and friend's gift
What was the massive thing that flew over you in bed?
It was a massive cockroach that flew above us. I didn't know they could fly, and it showed its teeth!
How do you get a Chinese driver's license as a foreigner?
You need to get your UK license translated into Chinese, then go to the vehicle office with a photo, passport, and visa. It took us a few trips but we got a one-year license.
What's a good snack shop in Guangzhou?
We found one called Hot Max – it's a discount shop with loads of snacks. But the pricing is confusing, some items have numbers that might be per 500g.
