Coming to China to study? Arrive prepared. Start confident.

The China Essentials Workshop is a live 90-minute pre-arrival session for international students who want clear answers before their first weeks in China.

Choose your session See what you’ll learn

Live online · August 6, 8 or 9 · $29 USD one-time

Joshua Johnson wearing a white Tsinghua shirt and looking directly at the camera
China Essentials Workshop $29 USD Three live sessions · China and Eastern times shown below
FormatLive online
Duration90 minutes
ForIncoming international students
Follow-upGroupchat and community
01

Know what to do before you need to do it.

Leave with a practical plan for the moments that create the most confusion before departure and during your first days.

01

What to do before coming

Prepare the right documents, accounts, devices and essentials while you still have time at home.

02

What to do as soon as you arrive

Understand airport transport, university registration and the first practical steps after reaching China.

03

Apps you need to survive

Get oriented with WeChat, Alipay, Meituan, maps, translation, payments and transport.

04

Payments and daily life

Approach mobile payments, SIM and internet setup, food ordering and everyday routines with confidence.

05

Your first week

Avoid common mistakes and know what to expect while settling into university and student life.

06

Live Q&A session

Bring the questions specific to your own journey and leave with clearer next steps.

Questions we’ll answer

  • What should I bring?
  • How do payments work?
  • Which apps do I need?
  • What happens during registration?
02

What’s included

This is a preparation package with ongoing support—not a one-time webinar that ends when the call does.

Choose your session
  • 01
    Live 90-minute workshop

    Focused guidance with time to ask questions.

  • 02
    What to do before coming

    A clearer plan for documents, devices and daily essentials.

  • 03
    What to do as soon as you arrive

    Arrival, transport, registration and first-week priorities.

  • 04
    Apps you need to survive

    Practical help for the systems you will use every day.

  • 05
    Live Q&A session

    Answers shaped around the students in the room.

  • 06
    Groupchat and community for follow-up questions

    Continue asking questions as you prepare and arrive.

  • 07
    China Essentials app Beta

    App guides, student resources, city knowledge and useful tools.

  • 08
    Preparation resources and checklists

    Practical reference material you can revisit after the session.

03

Choose your session

Select a time, enter your registration details and then continue to the one-time $29 USD PayPal payment.

One-time payment$29 USD
Select one live session

Your details are used only to process this workshop registration, confirm payment, register you for the selected Zoom session, and provide workshop access and follow-up support.

Secure registration is not yet connected. Your details will not be submitted or stored until a working form endpoint is configured.

Joshua Johnson inside Shenzhen Library

“I was once the confused international student. Now I help the next generation arrive prepared.”

04

I had to figure China out as I went.

When I first arrived, everyday tasks felt harder than they should have. Which apps did I need? How would I pay? What happened during registration? How was I supposed to get from the airport to campus?

Years later, after studying and living in China and building China Essentials, I created this independent workshop so the next group of international students can arrive with answers—not avoidable anxiety.

— Joshua Johnson, founder of China Essentials

Joshua Johnson at his Tsinghua University graduation
Joshua Johnson speaking from a podium at the China-Latin America and Caribbean friendship forum

From international student to helping the next cohort.

Joshua is from Barbados, has spent years studying and living in China, and is a Tsinghua University PhD student in Shenzhen. He created China Essentials from lived experience—not a distant course outline.

From BarbadosTsinghua PhD studentYears living in ChinaFounder of China Essentials
05

Why I Created China Essentials

Hear the story behind the platform—and why helping people feel ready for China matters to me.

06

Questions before you choose.

Still unsure? Email [email protected].

Who is this for?+

International students preparing to attend any university in China, whether this is your first visit or your first time living here.

Is this a university workshop?+

No. This is an independent China Essentials workshop and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Tsinghua University or any university.

Do I need to know Chinese?+

No. The workshop helps students prepare regardless of their current Mandarin level.

What happens after the workshop?+

Attendees receive groupchat and community access for follow-up questions, plus China Essentials app Beta and preparation resources.

How do I choose a date?+

Select one of the three sessions during registration. Both China Standard Time and Eastern Time are shown.

How long is the workshop?+

Each live session runs for 90 minutes, including the Live Q&A session.

How much does it cost?+

The workshop is a one-time $29 USD payment. There are no pricing tiers or recurring workshop charges.

What is China Essentials app Beta?+

It is early access to the China Essentials mobile app, including app guides, student and city resources, preparation tools, phrases and flashcards as available.

Your first weeks in China should feel exciting—not overwhelming.

Choose the live session that fits your time zone and arrive with a clearer plan.

Choose your session