Write for Us

ShanghaiExpat accepts submissions! Got a great idea for an article? ShanghaiExpat is always happy to hear from budding (or experienced freelance) writers who have an original story or angle on some aspect of living and working in Shanghai. In particular we are looking for articles about:

Food and Entertainment – from fancy new restaurants and glitzy bars to hole in the wall noodle joints; parties, events, you get the picture.

Arts and Culture – books, movies, TV, music; aspects of Chinese culture; art exhibitions, plays; learning languages.

Family Life – parenting tips; information about educational opportunities; helping families adjust to life in Shanghai; family friendly events.

Body and Health – having a healthy lifestyle in Shanghai; keeping body and mind in shape; beauty and personal grooming.

City Living – How to's, Tips and Ultimate Guides to finding what you want and getting around Shanghai with the least amount of hassle.

Business – tips about Shanghai business culture, job hunting, selling and marketing to the local audience; business news; networking events.

Science and Technology – gadgets, software, environmental concerns, new scientific or tech developments that have some impact upon expat life or are just really interesting.

Travel – in Shanghai, China, Asia, and beyond…in that order of relevance.

Contributors to ShanghaiExpat will have the benefit of reaching one of the largest online audiences in China, and our readers come from every corner of the globe. You will receive full credit for your original work, and we will not publish any material without permission from the writer. In most cases we can offer links to your blog or personal website and can help provide you with valuable exposure through our site. Those who produce outstanding content, exceptionally well-written articles, and research with an academic vigor will be given an opportunity to become one of our regular contributors, and can be paid for pre-approved writing assignments. However, your articles will be considered the exclusive property of ShanghaiExpat. If you submit material to ShanghaiExpat we expect you to refrain from seeking to publish substantially identical work elsewhere. Finally, plagiarism is taken very seriously, please do not copy another individual's sentences/articles and pass them off as your own. Not only would it make us really, really sad and angry, but we will also forever talk about you around our lunch table in hushed, disappointed tones.

Depending on the topic, keep in mind that our articles often range from 500-2500 words. Articles should be written in English and make sense to the average reader. Articles that are illustrated with pictures and other image-based content are better than just a bunch of words. Feel free to practice your photography skills and illustrate your article with pictures. Please send your document in MS Word format to our editor for approval: editor@shanghaiexpat.com.

Editorial Intern

ShanghaiExpat.com is China's most widely-read, privately-owned English-language website. For ten years we have proven to be an invaluable resource for expats young and old, new and veteran. We are currently accepting applications for an outstanding candidate to join our staff as an Editorial Intern.

Does this sound like you?:

-Recent college graduate or aspiring young professional

-Fluent in written and spoken English

-Have been living in Shanghai or China for at least 3 months

-Outgoing, open-minded, and work well with criticism

-Basic knowledge of Mandarin or strong willingness to engage in Chinese language

-Write well and provide a constant flow of ideas for unique material

Job Description:

As an editorial intern you will be part of the writing staff. Your duties will include:

-Updating and gathering information about events and listings

-Writing detailed articles dealing with expat-related topics of interest

-Editing user-submitted and contributed works

-Sourcing the web for valuable content and ideas

-Some very basic photography

It will not include:

-getting coffee for the office

-doing our dirty work

-dressing up in funny costumes and dancing for our pleasure

What you will gain:

-Experience in a bilingual work environment

-Media perks – openings, open bars, access to the movers and shakers of Shanghai, contacts, networking opportunities

-A body of literary work under the ShanghaiExpat brand

-Free lunches!

How you are managed / evaluated:

You will report directly to the Editor and your evaluation will be determined by your work output. The basic candidate should be able to write at least one well-researched article every two weeks while staying on top of other job functions. Lastly, because our internship is an unpaid assignment, it is critical that you have made the proper visa arrangements to reside within the country of China.

How to apply:

Send in one sample piece of writing (this can be on any topic and does not need to be a published piece) and one sample article which you think is appropriate for the ShanghaiExpat site (Have a look at our Channels: City Living, Travel, Science, Body & Health, Arts & Culture, Business, Food & Entertainment, and Family). The latter article should be between 500-1000 words and you may use either US or UK English. Send us the document in MS Word format. Just to reiterate, we promise that we will not use your work without your permission.

If you're interested, please send your document in MS Word format to editor@shanghaiexpat.com

ShanghaiExpat Writers’ Guidelines

We don’t want to tell you how to string a sentence together，but here are a few guidelines to let you know what we’re looking for in our articles:

ShanghaiExpat is a site aimed at expats – That’s obvious, yes, but it’s something you should keep in mind when you are writing. We have many valued Chinese members，but our primary audience is expats who live and work in Shanghai, or who have already done so. Therefore, a lot of our content is focused upon helping these people to adjust and grow in Shanghai, whether it’s informing them how to take a public bus, find a hot new restaurant in town, or open a business.

Structure and Style – Please consult previously submitted content on ShanghaiExpat to gauge the style of our site, but remember that we are always open to publishing different writing styles and subject-matter. You’re free to write in a journalistic style, from a personal perspective, in a humorous style... but it must be informative and helpful to our (your) readers. Depending upon your topic, there are lots of ways you could structure your article. For example:

Essay – meaning a straightforward piece with a clear argument running through an introduction, body, and conclusion. This is the form most used and with the most potential – keep to traditional rules or subvert them (cleverly).

Interview – Your interviewee’s replies could be woven into a broader profile or you could simply stick with the Q&A format.  

How-To Guide – Articles of these sort need to be well thought out and convey more than a few simple steps to, say, “cross the street in Shanghai.” Articles need to be a well-researched and clearly structured for long-term value. In other words, a “How-to” article submitted on our site in 2011 should also be relevant to a reader in 2012. Bullet points or numbers may help to make your advice clearer, but talented writers are able to use sentences to transition from point to point in more creative ways.

Opinion – Have a rant…but make sure you’ve got some evidence to back it up. Also make sure that your opinion piece is clearly，and logically，argued and respectful of your bête noir. Moreover, special consideration will be given to articles that balance their objective with some information about an opposing viewpoint.

Photo Essay – Send us a series of photos about an event or place in Shanghai (or elsewhere if you think it is suitable for our site). Provide clear and illuminating captions that give your photos context and inform.

* Another point to remember is that you are writing for a website and not a magazine. Although most articles in any format typically begin with a few introductory sentences, please keep in mind that we will take 2-3 sentences for use as ‘teasers’ in a link to your article on our homepage. These ‘teasers’ can come from your introduction or from elsewhere in your article. If you have a specific preference, let us know. Otherwise we will choose for you.

These are just a few suggestions but if you would like advice about your article, please don’t hesitate to contact the Editor of ShanghaiExpat.

Language – ShanghaiExpat embraces all kinds of (clear and grammatical) English – whether it’s American, British, Australian, Hillbilly, Canadian, or otherwise. Just make sure your writing flows well and is easy to understand. For example, if you use any culturally specific slang terms that might be unclear, explain their meaning or provide an embedded link to a site that does.

TIC – This is China, an annoying phrase for sure, but it is something you need to keep in mind. Please ensure that your article does not express opinions that will get our website censored. We have principles, too, but we would also like to pay our rent. This does not mean, however, that you have to be blindly uncritical.

Format – We would prefer it if you could send your document to us in MS Word format.

Length – Your article can range from 500-2500 words depending upon the topic. If it is at either end of this spectrum, aim to include a number of photographs – a 500 word piece looks impoverished on its own and is visually improved with a few photos; a 2500 word piece will need to be spread across a few pages and it will also become monotonous, if it is not broken up visually with some photos.

You: Writers are encouraged to provide a short biography at the end of their article. This should be about 4 sentences long and can include contact details or links to your blog or personal website, but please keep the TIC rule in mind (above). This part is usually written in the third person but if that gets on your nerves, you’re free to do otherwise. We will not publish anonymous work. Please also provide us with a small profile photo of yourself should you wish to include next to your byline.