The main difficulty in setting up as a freelancer is obtaining a working visa. The best method is to find a company or school to serve as a basic employer who can help you fulfill the official requirements. The government introduced a new Labour Law at the start of 2008 which may make working as a freelancer more difficult. The law requires freelancers to sign a contract with the commissioning company, but precise details of how this will work in practice haven’t yet emerged.

Once you are in Beijing there are plenty of freelance opportunities, in areas such as journalism, teaching or IT. If you want to develop your own business, some of the best opportunities are in providing services to the ever-expanding expat population. Other openings can be found providing English language services such as translating or editing.