9 Side Hustles in China That You Can Start

One of the greatest perks of living in China is that you will find plenty of opportunities to make money. 

If you’re still hungry for more prospects and some extra cash after your office hours, here are a few ideas you might want to consider as your next side hustle…

 Blogging/ vlogging/ influencer

Expats living in China aren’t short of developed knowledge and experiences that others may care about. Creating your own channel and content around your China experiences may lead you to internet fame within the Great Firewall and beyond.

And if your Mandarin is solid enough, you might even want to consider creating an account on some of China’s most coveted social platforms like Douyin and Weibo. Chinese users enjoy learning about expats and their foreign cultures, so think of a few topics you could start creating content around, and the sky is the limit!

Once you’ve made a name for yourself, sponsorships and advertisements can transform your web content into a steady revenue stream.

Language exchange/ home tutoring

In China, the mere ability to speak proper English can open up countless new opportunities. The great news is that you don’t necessarily have to teach a curriculum – many Chinese students are simply looking for opportunities to practice their conversational skills online. 

Also, if you happen to know some Chinese friends whose kids need a teacher to learn a foreign language, then it might be worth considering private tutoring.

Cha-ching! $$$

 Import & export & seller

Living in China gives you the advantage of being physically close to Chinese suppliers, but you have to be willing to invest your time and efforts into growing it. 

As you know, many of today’s manufactured goods are made in China.  things are made in China. If you can find low-cost suppliers and sell your stuff abroad for a higher price, including possibly your home country, then you’ve got yourself a business opportunity. 

 Expat-catering

In China's major cities, expats are constantly on the lookout for a taste of home. This creates a demand for venues, events, organizations, and websites that cater specifically to their expectations and demands. Find what that niche is, and go get 'em. 

Consulting

You can leverage your professional experience to offer consulting services.

Proofreader/ editor

Many Chinese companies may be looking to expand their business overseas and target foreign consumers, or simply reach out to the expat communities in China. As such, their organizations will be looking for native speakers to help double-check their materials, edit them if need be, and create copy.

Audio recorder

Many Chinese companies need foreign-language speakers to create audio content with voice-overs, such as educational learning materials, and so on.

Modeling

Chinese e-commerce is booming and needs a lot of models for product shoots.

Teacher

This one’s pretty straightforward…

What other side hustles have you found to be promising and rewarding in China? Whether it be socially or financially… 

Let us know in the comment section below!

Editor: Crystal Huang

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