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Laowai Comics: Expat and Traveler Life In China

If you’re ever wondering what it’s like to live in China, cut right to the point and go to Laowai Comics. Twice weekly, this site presents us with the comedic fodder that make us expats and travelers in China exclaim: “It’s true! It’s really like that!” They are the product of a long term traveler that [...]

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If you’re ever wondering what it’s like to live in China, cut right to the point and go to Laowai Comics. Twice weekly, this site presents us with the comedic fodder that make us expats and travelers in China exclaim: “It’s true! It’s really like that!” They are the product of a long term traveler that we already know well here at Vagabond Journey, but who we’ll just call “The Laowai” here (which is Chinese for foreigner).

The main protagonist of these comics is The Laowai himself, but could be a stand in for just about any foreigner who has been in China for the long term. He is often shown venturing into all of the uncomfortable, intriguing, perplexing, frustrating, and downright funny situations that foreigners in China often know so well.

It’s my impression that for humor to work properly it needs to hit at the collective experience of the audience it’s made for. There simply isn’t that much comedy directed at travelers — especially those who are in China. For those of us who live here or have spent a good amount of time traveling through the Sino world, these comics hit the nail of our experience on the head and are something most of us can relate to. They show the little things that we all notice and experience here day to day and twists them in a way that reveals the underlying humor of life in China.

If you’re interested in coming to China, begin your preparation with these comics, as they are truly comedic rendition of the reality of living here. A sample from Laowai Comics:

The Mutual Stare

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The Club

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The Same Questions

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TRANSLATION
1. Canada       2. Three years       3. Work       4. 27 years old
5. I’m used to it        6. I’m not telling you        7. Of course, they’re China’s

Chinese New Year

laowai-comics_DCE

Child tamer

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Interesting Insults

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Other Foreigners

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The Laowai is currently traveling for the Chinese New Year, but will resume publication when he returns at the end of February. This is a good time to dig through his archives and find out what he’s all about.

Filed under: China, Humor

About the Author:

I am the founder and editor of Vagabond Journey. I’ve been traveling the world since 1999, through 91 countries. I am the author of the book, Ghost Cities of China and have written for The Guardian, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Diplomat, the South China Morning Post, and other publications. has written 3699 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

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VBJ is currently in: New York City

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  • the candy trail January 31, 2013, 10:42 am

    Some classics here .. really love The Club, Child Tamer & Question T-shirt ones. 
     
    Great work F.

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    • Vagabond Journey January 31, 2013, 9:15 pm

      @the candy trail Absolute classics.

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  • Jaunty Tom February 21, 2013, 9:00 am

    I’m so glad that I’m not in a tea house or in a crowded public bus right now. Otherwise not only everyone inside would stare at me and take sneaky shots because I’m simply a laowai but on top of that – a retarded laowai bursting out laughing looking at some illegible bits of 英文 accompanied by weird pics.Thank you for sharing this, Wade. Laowai Comics made my day, the day which otherwise would be just the same as all the others in Chengdu –  full of hilarious experiences, smell of hot pot and all these famous Sichuanese 美女 looking like if they just saw a Martian. A “handsome” one.Just curious – where about in China are you staying now?

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    • Vagabond Journey February 21, 2013, 8:15 pm

      @Jaunty Tom For sure! I’m in Taizhou, Jiangsu, but I’m on the road often. Should be going out west right after The Laowai comes for a visit.

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