How to visit China without actually going there?

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives dramatically. It has affected not only the way we work, study or consume but also… the way we travel. Before the pandemic, visiting a country for tourism or business might have been a pleasurable experience, which allowed us to relax and forget about the daily struggles. However, nowadays travelling itself has become a struggle on its own. Tests, checks and quarantine has made travelling less appealing than it used to be. Additionally, many entrepreneurs were visiting China on a regular basis to find new suppliers in Yiwu, meet business partners during the Canton Fair or just improve their Chinese with the locals. Now, it is very difficult for international travelers to visit China because it requires a lot of documentation and long-periods of quarantine at your own expenses. That is why I am writing this short article entitled “how you can ‘visit China’ without actually going there”.

1. Online events. Although it is very difficult to visit Guangzhou now, you can still take part in i.e. an online edition of Canton Fair. Yes, it is not the same experience as going there in person. However, it will still allow you to see where your industry is heading and what innovative solutions have been developed. Additionally, many of the sellers provide live streaming service, which allows you to ask questions in Chinese or English. For those who just started their journey as entrepreneurs, it might be even a more affordable solution than going to the Canton Fair, which usually involved a high cost. So why not give it a chance?

2. Multimedia. In order to improve your Chinese skills, stay in touch with the language on a daily basis. Don’t allow the current situation to make you feel too relaxed. Although you cannot go to China and communicate with locals face to face, you can still use radio, movies and social media to stay in touch with Chinese people and practice it every day. Remember, spending today complaining about yesterday will not make tomorrow any better. So just make most of the resources available and look forward to visiting China again when the whole situation calms down.

3. OKE Club. Our club was created to solve exactly the problem described in this article. It was established by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs who are experiencing difficulties with travelling abroad, meeting new business partners and developing their professional skills under the current circumstances. OKE Club provides a range of online resources including inspiring events, supportive groups and informative articles. Additionally, the club organises regular offline events in London, creating a platform for networking and developing long-lasting friendships.