Frequently Asked Questions
So, what's this all about, eh?
Looking around the Web one day we saw a mammoth amount of information about China slamming into us from everywhere, and thought, "Hey, China Web sites are cool - we want one!"
Really we just got tired of cruising an endless number of sites, all with different yet somewhat related information, and decided we wanted to put it in an easily accessible spot where everyone could just sit down and enjoy it.
Our other agenda was to create a safe place for us Laowai to play. It's a crazy, mixed up world out there and we all need a spot to squat and reflect on it - we hope you like our squatting spot.
Don't you guys have a blog?
Yeah, doesn't everyone?
Ours is creatively named the Lost Laowai blog. Sometimes funny, sometimes scathing, it is a collaborative effort written by a number of authors around China interested in sharing their stories, opinions and advice about this rather massive nation.
If you're interested in writing for us, we're always looking for people that have something to say about China. Check out the "Wanna Write?" page for more details.
You look like you could use some help.
Hey, that's not a question. But yeah, we do need help - or so our therapists inform us. If there is anything you think you can bring to this site, you are welcome to contact us.
Also, if you have been in China for a while, or just happen to know stuff about the country, culture or language - please visit the Lost Laowai Expat Forum and share your wisdom.
So, is all this free?
100%. Hard to believe eh? Everything from the forums, the chat, the job postings, the classifieds, and all the helpful info of course. We even considered throwing in a free monkey with every membership, but shipping proved to be a problem.
It's a Web 2.0 world, and we're happy to be part of the "open" generation. Of course, it's not free for us, which is why you see advertising on the site.
What the heck is a 'Laowai' anyway?
Well, 老/lǎo and 外/wài, are two Chinese characters, that when separated mean "old" and "outside", but for some reason when you smash 'em together you get a colloquial term for foreigner. Next to 'ni hao', and rather poorly pronounced 'hellooooo!'s, it will be the term you hear most while walking down the street in China.
Can I advertise on Lost Laowai?
Yes. Just follow these simple instructions: first draft a proposal and edit it. Certify it with the administrative governing body for the district that your IP address entered the site from (not the IP address most commonly assigned to your e-mail domain). Once certified you will need to post it to us, in writing, by mail. Take the tracking number the post office gives you, and post that to us as well. Once your proposal has arrived, we will require 4 to 6 weeks to verify its certification with the proper authorities. Please be sure to fill out all required fields in the proposal, or we will be forced to return it, and the process will need to be started again.
Or, click here.
Are you affiliated with the Hao Hao Report?
We sure are. The Hao Hao Report originally started as a sub-section of Lost Laowai, but eventually grew to the point where it required its own home. It's still family however, which is why it's still mentioned here.
Don't know what the Hao Hao Report is? It's a listing of the highest rated English-language stories about China. There is no shortage of crap stuff being written about China out there, HHR is where you find the prodigious of the bunch (that's fancy talk for "the not crap ones").
Anyone can submit a post, and open it up for other visitors to read, comment on and vote for. The cream will rise to the top, and the chaff fades away. Cool huh?
Who designed this pretty site?
A relatively new design firm called Dao By Design. They're cool, check 'em out.
