Chapter 01 · 36 suggestions

Don't Die Young

[[A Cost-Effective Guide to Life]]

This section covers three things. The first is accidental and injury deaths, such as car crashes, fires, and poisoning. The second is a small number of vaccines and screenings with the strongest evidence. The third is what signals from your body mean you should go get checked. The numbers in the benefit column come from randomized trials, studies that followed a large group of people for many years, or official statistics. The cost column is the author's rough estimate based on market prices, meant only for comparing one against another—don't cite it.

1. Wear a seatbelt, in both the front and back seats

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Measure mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Wearing a seatbelt in the front seat cuts the chance of being killed in a car crash by about half. In the front seat of a light truck, it cuts it by 60%. Of the people who died in cars in the US in 2022, among those whose belt status could be determined, half weren't wearing one.

Cost

Costs nothing. An extra 2 seconds each time you get in the car.

Benefit

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that seatbelts reduce the risk of fatal injury for front-seat passenger car occupants by 45%. For front-seat light truck occupants, by 60%. Of the people who died in passenger vehicles (cars that carry people) in the US in 2022, among those whose belt status could be determined, 50% weren't wearing one. The World Health Organization (WHO) figure is that seatbelts reduce the risk of death for vehicle occupants by up to 50%. WHO estimates that 248,099 people died from road traffic crashes in China in 2021, equivalent to 17.4 deaths per 100,000 people

Notes

The back seat counts too. In the same report, 60% of people killed in the second row weren't wearing a belt. The 45% and 60% figures are estimates NHTSA calculated from crash databases (citing Kahane 2015), not randomized trials. The WHO figure for China's death toll is a projection, several times higher than the number registered by traffic police. The two sides count different scopes; here we only use the WHO figure.

Sources

NHTSA (2024). Occupant Protection in Passenger Vehicles: 2022 Data (DOT HS 813 573). https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication… ; WHO (2025). Road traffic injuries fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traff… ; WHO GHO RS_196/RS_198 (China, 2021). https://ghoapi.azureedge.net/api/RS_196?$filter=SpatialDim%…

2. Wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle or e-bike, and fasten the strap

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Measure mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Wearing a helmet and fastening the strap reduces the chance of death for motorcycle riders in a crash by about 40%. Head injuries drop by about 70%. The strap needs to be tight—hanging loosely on your head doesn't count as wearing it.

Cost

Buy one for 100 to 300 yuan. Takes 5 seconds to put on each time.

Benefit

Cochrane pooled multiple studies together. For motorcycle riders wearing helmets, the risk of death drops by 42%. Original value OR 0.58, confidence range 95% CI 0.50 to 0.68. Head injuries drop by 69% (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.38)

Notes

The helmet's strap must be fastened. Hanging it on the handlebars doesn't count as wearing it. The data above come from motorcycles. E-bikes are extrapolated from this—there's no direct research, but how the head gets injured in a crash is the same thing.

Sources

Liu BC et al. (2008). Helmets for preventing injury in motorcycle riders. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004333.pub3

https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004333.pub3

3. Install smoke alarms; if you burn coal or use gas heating indoors in winter, also install a carbon monoxide alarm

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Measure mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

A working smoke alarm can cut the chance of dying in a residential fire by about 60%. Forty percent of people are asleep when a fire starts—your nose alone won't wake you up. If you burn coal or use gas indoors in winter, add a carbon monoxide alarm. In China in 2018, 11,500 people died of carbon monoxide poisoning, and 70% of those deaths in the three winter months happened at home.

Cost

A smoke alarm costs 30 to 100 yuan. A carbon monoxide alarm costs 50 to 150 yuan. After installing, change the battery once a year.

Benefit

A study in the US state of North Carolina looked at a set of residential fires and compared households that had incidents with those that didn't. Having a working smoke alarm at home reduced the risk of death by about 60%. Original value OR 0.39, confidence range 95% CI 0.18 to 0.83. In the US from 2018 to 2020, of fatal fires in occupied homes, 24% had no smoke alarm, and 41% of the time people were asleep when the fire started. China reported 11,523 carbon monoxide poisoning deaths in 2018. Of these deaths, 72.59% in December, 67.42% in January, and 66.48% in February occurred at home

Notes

Why B: for smoke alarms there's only one study, and its method was comparing households that had incidents with those that didn't, not a randomized trial. For carbon monoxide alarms themselves, there's no research showing they reduce mortality. The benefit here is extrapolated from "poisoning deaths cluster in winter and at home."

Sources

Marshall SW et al. (1998). Fatal residential fires: who dies and who survives? JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.279.20.1633 ; USFA (2022). Fatal Fires in Residential Buildings (2018-2020), Topical Fire Report Series 22(2). https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v22i2.pdf ; You J et al. (2020). Number of Deaths due to Carbon Monoxide Poisoning by Month and by Place of Death — China, 2018. China CDC Weekly. https://doi.org/10.46234/ccdcw2020.008

4. Replace gas hoses and stoves when they expire, don't modify pipes yourself, and you can directly refuse door-to-door sales from the gas company

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Measure mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

A compliant hose costs a few dozen yuan. Replacing it when it expires is a user obligation written into the *Regulations on the Administration of Urban Gas*. Modifying pipes yourself or removing gas meters is explicitly prohibited by the regulations. The same regulations also state that the gas company cannot require you to buy its designated products and services. If someone comes to your door saying "you must replace this," you can directly refuse.

Cost

A compliant gas hose costs a few dozen yuan. Stoves are replaced every few years. When you do, glance at whether they've expired.

Benefit

The regulations make it a user obligation to "promptly replace gas combustion appliances and connecting hoses that the state has explicitly eliminated or whose service life has expired." That is, when stoves and hoses reach their age limit or are eliminated by the state, you must replace them. The regulations also list "unauthorized installation, modification, or removal of indoor gas facilities and gas metering devices" as prohibited acts—modifying pipes or removing gas meters yourself falls under this. The regulations also make clear that gas operators may not require users to buy their designated products, nor require users to accept the services they provide

Notes

Some people come to your door under the guise of a "safety inspection," then try to sell you an automatic shut-off valve and an alarm after checking. Article 20, Item 6 of the regulations directly blocks this path—you can refuse, and you can file a complaint. TODO (to be verified: the standard procedure after smelling gas—open windows, shut the valve, don't switch any electrical devices on or off, call from outside—this time no official text was obtained that could be verified word for word). Carbon monoxide poisoning is a separate matter; see Section 13.

Sources

State Council (2010). Regulations on the Administration of Urban Gas (State Council Decree No. 583), Article 27: "Gas users shall abide by safe gas use rules, use qualified gas combustion appliances and gas cylinders, and promptly replace gas combustion appliances, connecting hoses, etc. that the state has explicitly eliminated or whose service life has expired"; Article 28 prohibited acts include "(1) unauthorized operation of public gas valves," "(2) using gas pipes as load-bearing supports or grounding leads," "(4) unauthorized installation, modification, or removal of indoor gas facilities and gas metering devices"; Article 20: gas operators may not "(6) require gas users to buy their designated products or accept the services they provide"; Article 29: users may complain to gas management and other departments about charges and services, and "the relevant department shall handle it within 15 working days from the date of receiving the complaint." http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2010/content_1758214.htm

http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2010/content_1758214.htm

5. Don't pick, buy, or eat wild mushrooms, and no "folk method of identification" holds up

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Measure mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

In 2025 alone, there were 828 mushroom poisoning incidents nationwide, 2,165 people affected, and 13 deaths. That year, 34 species of mushrooms previously not recorded as poisonous to humans were newly identified. Testing with a silver needle, "if bugs ate it, it's not poisonous," "only brightly colored ones are poisonous"—none of these claims hold up.

Cost

Costs nothing. The hard part is giving up a seasonal wild delicacy.

Benefit

The China CDC investigated 828 mushroom poisoning incidents in 2025, involving 2,165 people and causing 13 deaths. The case fatality rate was 0.6%, meaning 0.6% of those poisoned died. From 2019 to 2024, there were 276 to 676 incidents per year, with case fatality rates between 0.87% and 2.86%. In 2025 alone, 138 poisonous mushroom species were identified, of which 34 were recorded for the first time in China as causing poisoning

Notes

If you eat the wrong one, induce vomiting immediately, then bring the remaining mushrooms or photos you took to the hospital. Mushroom poisoning comes in several types, and identifying which mushroom it was directly determines how the doctor treats you. New species are recorded as poisonous to humans every year, so the premise of "locals can tell them apart" doesn't hold up. Testing with a silver needle, boiling with garlic, "if bugs ate it, it's not poisonous," "only brightly colored ones are poisonous"—none of these claims hold up.

Sources

Mushroom Poisoning Outbreaks — China, 2025. China CDC Weekly (2026): "In 2025, China CDC investigated 828 mushroom poisoning incidents across 27 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs), affecting 2,165 individuals and causing 13 deaths - a case fatality rate of 0.6%, the lowest of the past six years. In total, 138 poisonous mushroom species were identified, including 34 newly recorded in poisoning incidents in China." "From 2019 to 2024, the annual number of incidents ranged from 276 to 676, and the case fatality rate ranged from 0.87% to 2.86%." https://doi.org/10.46234/ccdcw2026.120 ; same journal's 2024 annual report https://doi.org/10.46234/ccdcw2025.106

6. Don't push e-bikes into stairwells, into elevators, or charge them at home

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Measure mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

Pushing an e-bike into a stairwell, into an elevator, or charging it at home is explicitly prohibited by the Ministry of Emergency Management's *Regulations on Fire Safety Management of High-Rise Civil Buildings*. Those who don't correct it face a fine of 500 to 1,000 yuan for individuals and 2,000 to 10,000 yuan for businesses. The fine is the small matter—what's important is that this kind of fire burns right in your only escape route.

Cost

Costs nothing. The hard part is parking at the centralized charging point downstairs every time, walking a few dozen extra meters.

Benefit

The Ministry of Emergency Management regulation explicitly prohibits: "Parking electric bicycles or charging electric bicycles in public lobbies, evacuation walkways, stairwells, and safety exits of high-rise civil buildings is prohibited." That is, in these places—building lobbies, walkways, stairwells, and safety exits—you can neither park nor charge. Those who refuse to correct it face a fine of 500 to 1,000 yuan for individuals and non-business units, and 2,000 to 10,000 yuan for businesses

Notes

Don't buy modified batteries, don't use off-brand chargers, don't leave them charging all night unattended. Once a lithium battery catches fire, it bursts into flames across the whole area within tens of seconds, while giving off highly toxic smoke. A bike blocking the stairwell is like setting your only escape route on fire. TODO (to be verified: official annual figures for the number of e-bike fires and deaths nationwide)

Sources

Ministry of Emergency Management (2021). Regulations on Fire Safety Management of High-Rise Civil Buildings (Ministry of Emergency Management Decree No. 5, Articles 37 and 47). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-08/01/content_562…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-08/01/content_562…

7. Measure your blood pressure, and if it's high, take medication to bring it down to target

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Measure mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

For every 10 mmHg drop in blood pressure, the chance of major cardiovascular problems drops by about 20%, stroke by 27%, heart failure by 28%, and the risk of death by 13%. Among Chinese people aged 35 to 75, 44.7% have high blood pressure, but only 7.2% have it truly under control.

Cost

An electronic blood pressure monitor costs 100 to 200 yuan. One measurement takes 1 minute. Most blood pressure medications cost a few yuan to a few dozen yuan per month. The hard part is continuing to take them even without symptoms.

Benefit

Pooling 123 trials and more than 610,000 people together. For every 10 mmHg drop in systolic pressure, major cardiovascular events drop by about 20%. Original value RR 0.80, confidence range 95% CI 0.77 to 0.83. Systolic pressure is the higher of the two blood pressure numbers. Stroke drops by about 27% (RR 0.73). Heart failure drops by about 28% (RR 0.72). All-cause mortality drops by 13% (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.91). China screened 1.7 million people aged 35 to 75: 44.7% had high blood pressure. Among them, 44.7% knew they had it, 30.1% were being treated, and only 7.2% had it under control

Notes

Go measure your blood pressure once first. In China, fewer than 1 in 10 people with high blood pressure have it under control, so this one measurement is one of the most cost-effective actions in this book. How low counts as reaching target (130 or 140) is still debated, but "knowing you have high blood pressure and bringing it down" itself is not controversial.

Sources

Ettehad D et al. (2016). Blood pressure lowering for prevention of cardiovascular disease and death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01225-8 ; Lu J et al. (2017). Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in China (China PEACE Million Persons Project). Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32478-9

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01225-801225-8)
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32478-932478-9)

8. After age 35, if you're overweight, get a fasting blood glucose test once, and if it's normal, retest every three years

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Measure mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Spending a few dozen yuan on a blood draw can detect prediabetes when there are no symptoms at all. The US official screening recommendation is: people aged 35 to 70 who are overweight or obese should get tested. If it comes back normal, retest every three years.

Cost

Fasting blood glucose costs a dozen yuan. HbA1c costs a few dozen yuan. One blood draw at the hospital is all it takes.

Benefit

The US Preventive Services Task Force is the US body that issues official screening recommendations. Its current recommendation is: screen adults aged 35 to 70 who are overweight or obese for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, even with no symptoms at all. Overweight means body mass index ≥25, obese means ≥30. The recommendation grade for this is B. It also states: "For adults with normal blood glucose, screening every 3 years is a reasonable approach"

Notes

Being diagnosed with prediabetes doesn't mean you need medication. A substantial portion of people can reverse it just by changing their lifestyle. Among Chinese adults, those who know they have diabetes have always been a minority—many only find out once complications appear

Sources

US Preventive Services Task Force (2021). Screening for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recomm…

https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recomm…

9. Don't speed, don't drink and drive

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Measure mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

For every 1% increase in average speed, the chance of a fatal crash rises by about 4%. There is no "a little is fine" safety line for alcohol. The risk starts climbing even when blood alcohol concentration is still very low.

Cost

Costs nothing. Drive a bit slower, and a trip takes a few extra minutes. The hard part is drinking less at dinner gatherings.

Benefit

The World Health Organization (WHO) states: for every 1% increase in average speed, the risk of a fatal crash rises by 4%. The risk of drunk driving starts rising from very low blood alcohol concentrations

Notes

The 1% and 4% figures for speed and death are extrapolated from crash models, not randomized trials. For drunk driving, WHO only gives the direction, not numbers. The question of "how much you drink, how much the risk rises" was not verified against the original literature in this section.

Sources

WHO (2025). Road traffic injuries fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traff…

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traff…

10. Use a car seat for children under 4; do not hold them in your arms

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money low; Time low; Persistence no; Benefit large

Infants under one year old in car seats have about a 70% lower risk of fatal injury in a car crash. Children aged 1 to 4 have about half the risk. Holding them in your arms does not have this effect—you cannot hold onto them during sudden braking.

Cost

One costs 300 to 2,000 yuan and can be used for several years. Each time you get in the car, it takes an extra minute to buckle the child in.

Benefit

The U.S. traffic safety authority (NHTSA) estimates that using car seats reduces the risk of fatal injury for infants under 1 year old in passenger cars by 71%. For toddlers aged 1 to 4, it is reduced by 54%. The World Health Organization (WHO) figure is a 71% reduction in infant deaths.

Notes

Secure the seat according to the manual; installing it incorrectly is the same as not installing it. Children under 1 year old must be rear-facing, meaning the child faces the rear of the car. The numbers above were estimated by U.S. officials using crash data.

Sources

11. If you have children at home, install window and balcony limiters; screens do not count as protection

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money low; Time low; Persistence no; Benefit large

A set of limiters costs a few dozen yuan. New York City installed window guards for free in high-risk households and also did door-to-door education; reported child falls in one borough dropped by half in three years. Later New York simply legislated to require landlords to install guards in homes where children live. A screen pushes open with one push and does not count as protection.

Cost

A set of window limiters or child safety locks costs a few dozen yuan. Installation takes ten minutes.

Benefit

Since 1972, New York City has run a program called "Children Can't Fly," distributing window guards for free in high-risk urban areas and providing door-to-door education. Reported falls in the Bronx dropped 50% from 1973 to 1975. After that, New York City amended its health code to require landlords to install window guards in apartments where children aged 10 and under reside.

Notes

Do not place beds, sofas, boxes, or similar things that children can climb on near windows or balconies. A screen only keeps out mosquitoes and falls off with one push—do not treat it as a guardrail. It is also not only high-rise residents who need them: in the U.S. data, most falls occurred from the second floor or lower.

Sources

Spiegel CN, Lindaman FC (1977). Children can't fly: a program to prevent childhood morbidity and mortality from window falls. American Journal of Public Health: "Significant reduction in falls resulted, particularly in the Bronx, where reported falls declined 50 percent from 1973 to 1975"; the 1976 New York City health code revision "to require that landlords provide window guards in apartments where children ten years old and younger reside." https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.67.12.1143 ; (2021). Unintentional Window Falls in Children and Adolescents. Academic Pediatrics: 38,840 emergency department visits in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from January 2007 to August 2017, "The majority of falls occurred in children under the age of 6 and were related to falls from a second story or below." https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2020.07.008

12. Never let children near water out of sight; wear life jackets when boating or swimming in natural water

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money low; Time medium; Persistence no; Benefit large

When falling into water, wearing a life jacket cuts the probability of drowning to about half that of not wearing one. Drowning remains the number one cause of death for children aged 1 to 14 in China. The drowning mortality rate in rural areas is about twice that in urban areas.

Cost

A life jacket costs 50 to 200 yuan. You also need to put in the attention of watching the child.

Benefit

A study using U.S. Coast Guard data matched people with similar conditions in pairs for comparison. Among people who fell into the water from recreational boats, those wearing life jackets had about half the drowning risk. The original value was an adjusted RR of 0.51, with a confidence range of 95% CI 0.35 to 0.74. China's drowning mortality rate for people under 20 fell from 6.60 per 100,000 in 2013 to 3.28 per 100,000 in 2021. Rural areas are about twice urban areas. Drowning is still the number one cause of death for children aged 1 to 14. Among injury deaths for ages 0 to 19 in 2021, drowning accounted for 31.1% and road traffic for 27.9%.

Notes

Level A applies only to the life jacket half. "Never out of sight" is everyone's consensus, but on its own it is only Level C—there are no randomized trials and there never will be. Drowning deaths in China are concentrated in rural areas, in summer, and among males aged 15 to 19.

Sources

Cummings P et al. (2011). Association between wearing a personal floatation device and death by drowning among recreational boaters. Injury Prevention. https://doi.org/10.1136/ip.2010.028688 ; Li Z et al. (2023). Unintentional Drowning Mortality Among Individuals Under Age 20 — China, 2013–2021. China CDC Weekly. https://doi.org/10.46234/ccdcw2023.198 ; Zhou J et al. (2024). Injury Mortality of Children and Adolescents Aged 0–19 Years — China, 2010–2021. China CDC Weekly. https://doi.org/10.46234/ccdcw2024.057

13. For those over 60, practice balance and leg strength, and modify the bathroom and stairs at home

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money low; Time high; Persistence yes; Benefit large

Practicing balance two or three times a week, such as tai chi, reduces the number of falls in older adults by about 23% and the number of people who fall by 15%. Making the home slip-resistant and installing grab bars reduces it by another roughly 20%. Falls are the number one cause of injury death among people over 65 in China, and more than half happen in their own homes.

Cost

Practice tai chi or balance training 2 to 3 times a week, 30 minutes each time. Bathroom anti-slip mats, grab bars, and night lights cost from a few dozen to a few hundred yuan. The hard part is continuing to practice over the long term.

Benefit

Cochrane pooled 108 trials and 23,407 people. Exercise reduced the number of falls in older adults by 23%. The original value was a rate ratio of falls, RaR 0.77, with a confidence range of 95% CI 0.71 to 0.83. The number of people who fell decreased by 15% (RR 0.85). Having someone come to the home for a safety assessment and modifications reduced the fall rate by about 20% (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.97). Practicing tai chi reduced fall risk by about 29% (RR 0.71). In China, falls are the number one cause of injury death among people over 65. Of falls among older adults monitored in 2018, 55.97% occurred at home.

Notes

This applies to people over 60 who live in their own homes and not in nursing homes. The studies above counted the number of falls, not the number of deaths. For older adults, the path from a fall to a hip fracture to death is very short.

Sources

Sherrington C et al. (2019). Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012424.pub2 ; Gillespie LD et al. (2012). Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007146.pub3 ; Lu Z et al. (2021). Characteristics of Falls Among Older People — China, 2018. China CDC Weekly. https://doi.org/10.46234/ccdcw2021.013

14. Get tested for hepatitis B five-item panel; get vaccinated if you have no antibodies

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money low; Time low; Persistence no; Benefit large

A test costs a few dozen yuan. In the 30-year follow-up trial in Qidong, people who received the hepatitis B vaccine at birth had an 84% lower probability of later developing primary liver cancer and a 72% lower rate of carrying the hepatitis B virus. Adults found to have no antibodies can get three catch-up shots, completed over six months, for one to two hundred yuan.

Cost

A test costs a few dozen yuan. The adult hepatitis B vaccine, 3 shots combined, costs 100 to 300 yuan. Complete them within six months.

Benefit

The Qidong trial was randomized by group, not by individual, and followed up for 30 years. Newborn hepatitis B vaccination reduced primary liver cancer by 84%. The confidence range was 95% CI 23% to 97%. The hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg positivity rate fell by 72% (95% CI 68% to 75%); this positivity rate is the proportion of people found to be carrying the virus. China's HBsAg positivity rate for the whole population fell 52% from 1992 to 2014, and fell 97% among those under 5.

Notes

This applies to adults born before 1992 who were not vaccinated or whose antibodies have disappeared. The 84% liver cancer reduction figure comes from people vaccinated at birth. In the same trial, those who only received catch-up vaccination as adolescents had only 21% efficacy in preventing virus carriage. For adults, the main point of vaccination is to avoid becoming infected, and the 84% figure cannot be directly applied. Vaccination is useless for people already infected; they should go to a hepatology department for regular follow-up. How to tell if you are already infected: the hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg item on the lab report is positive.

Sources

Qu C et al. (2014). Efficacy of neonatal HBV vaccination on liver cancer and other liver diseases over 30-year follow-up of the Qidong hepatitis B intervention study. PLoS Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001774 ; Cui F et al. (2017). Prevention of Chronic Hepatitis B after 3 Decades of Escalating Vaccination Policy, China. Emerging Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2305.161477

15. If punctured by a nail or wood splinter, or if a wound gets soil on it, get it treated the same day and ask whether you need a tetanus shot

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money low; Time low; Persistence no; Benefit large

Once tetanus develops, about 1 in 10 people die. Deep wounds and wounds contaminated with soil carry the highest risk. Getting it treated the same day costs only a few dozen yuan; do not wait until the wound swells up.

Cost

Registration plus wound treatment costs a few dozen yuan. If the doctor says you need a shot, the vaccine or immunoglobulin costs a few dozen to a few hundred yuan.

Benefit

About 1 in 10 tetanus cases in the United States is fatal. Deep wounds and wounds contaminated with soil carry higher risk.

Notes

At the hospital, let the doctor judge; do not make the decision yourself, and do not skip asking because you find it troublesome. Not all wounds require a shot: the doctor will look at the nature of the wound and then at when you last received a vaccination, and then decide. "A shot in childhood protects you for life" is wrong; booster shots are counted once every 10 years. TODO (to be verified: the wound classification and immunization schedule table in the main text of China's "Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines for Non-Neonatal Tetanus (2024 Edition)"; the attachment is a PDF and cannot be read on this machine).

Sources

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tetanus: "Tetanus bacteria can get into someone's body through broken skin, usually through injuries." "Tetanus can lead to death (1 in 10 cases in the United States are fatal)." "People who didn't complete the primary series or who aren't up to date with their 10-year tetanus booster shots are also at increased risk." "Vaccination also helps prevent tetanus in people with wounds, depending on their tetanus vaccination history." https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/about/index.html ; General Office of the National Health Commission (2024). Notice on Issuing the Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines for Non-Neonatal Tetanus (2024 Edition) (Guo Wei Ban Yi Ji Han [2024] No. 381). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202410/content_6982262…

16. Women should get the HPV vaccine, the earlier the better

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money high; Time low; Persistence no; Benefit large

In data on 1.67 million Swedish women, those who received the HPV vaccine before age 17 later had only about one-eighth the probability of developing invasive cervical cancer compared with those who did not. Those who were vaccinated at ages 17 to 30 had only about half. So the earlier the vaccination, the more it is worth it.

Cost

The domestic bivalent vaccine costs about 300-plus yuan per shot, and the imported nine-valent vaccine costs about 1,300 yuan per shot. A total of 2 to 3 shots. Each trip takes half a day.

Benefit

Sweden followed 1.67 million women for the statistics: people who had been vaccinated had a lower incidence of invasive cervical cancer than those who had not. Those vaccinated before age 17 had about an 88% lower rate (IRR 0.12, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.34; the parentheses give the original value and its confidence range). Those vaccinated at ages 17 to 30 had about a 53% lower rate (IRR 0.47, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.75).

Notes

Vaccination at ages 9 to 14 gives the greatest benefit. Vaccination at ages 17 to 30 still gives a reduction of more than half. After age 30, the benefit keeps shrinking. Even after vaccination, cervical cancer screening is still necessary; the vaccine cannot replace screening. See item 18 (cervical cancer screening for women over 30).

Sources

Lei J et al. (2020). HPV Vaccination and the Risk of Invasive Cervical Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1917338

https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1917338

17. Women should start breast cancer screening at age 40, with a mammogram every two years

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money low; Time low; Persistence no; Benefit medium

Women aged 40 to 74 should get a mammogram every two years; this is explicitly recommended in the official U.S. screening recommendations. For those over 75, and for adding ultrasound and MRI for dense breasts, the official conclusion is that there is not yet enough evidence. When health check packages charge extra for these, you can decline.

Cost

A mammogram costs two to three hundred yuan each time. Many regions have free screening programs. It takes half a day every two years.

Benefit

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is the official U.S. body that issues screening recommendations. Its current recommendation is: "screening mammography every 2 years for women aged 40 to 74." Mammography is what is usually called a mammogram. The recommendation grade for this is B. For women aged 75 and older, and for supplemental ultrasound or MRI for dense breasts, it judged that "the current evidence is insufficient."

Notes

The age at which to start screening differs by country; some guidelines and local programs in China start at age 45. Those whose parents, children, or siblings have had breast cancer, and those with BRCA mutations, are high-risk and need to see a doctor separately to decide on a plan; this item does not apply.

Sources

US Preventive Services Task Force (2024). Breast Cancer: Screening. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recomm…

https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recomm…

18. Women over 30 should get cervical cancer screening, with HPV testing preferred

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money low; Time low; Persistence no; Benefit large

In the rural India trial, women who had only one HPV test in their lifetime had about half the probability of dying from cervical cancer and about 50% lower probability of being diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer. One test costs one to two hundred yuan, and a negative result is good for 5 years.

Cost

An HPV test costs 100 to 300 yuan each time. If the result is negative, testing once every 5 years is enough. Sampling takes a few minutes.

Benefit

The rural India trial was randomized by group, not by individual. The subjects were women aged 30 to 59. Screening with only one HPV test reduced the risk of dying from cervical cancer by about 48%. The original value was HR 0.52, with a confidence range of 95% CI 0.33 to 0.83. The risk of being diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer was about 53% lower (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.69).

Notes

People who have received the HPV vaccine also need screening, because the vaccine does not cover all virus types. What is rare about this study is that it was a randomized screening trial, it directly used the number of deaths as the outcome, and it screened for only one round.

Sources

Sankaranarayanan R et al. (2009). HPV screening for cervical cancer in rural India. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0808516

https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0808516

19. Start colorectal cancer screening at age 45 to 50, with a fecal immunochemical test for occult blood or a colonoscopy

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Moderate
Tags: Outcome mortality; Money low; Time medium; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Doing a few-dozen-yuan fecal occult blood test every one to two years lowers the probability of dying from colorectal cancer by about 16%. For those who participated in at least one round, it is 25% lower. In the group invited to undergo a colonoscopy, the probability of developing colorectal cancer over the following ten years dropped from 1.20% to 0.98%.

Cost

The fecal test costs a few dozen yuan, done every 1 to 2 years. Colonoscopy costs several hundred to over a thousand yuan, and if the result is negative, once every 10 years is enough. Before a colonoscopy, you need to set aside a day for bowel cleansing.

Benefit

Cochrane pooled multiple studies together. People who underwent fecal occult blood screening had about a 16% lower risk of dying from colorectal cancer. Original value RR 0.84, confidence range 95% CI 0.78 to 0.90. Those who participated in at least one round had about a 25% lower risk (RR 0.75). Now look at the NordICC randomized trial. In people invited to undergo colonoscopy, the incidence of colorectal cancer over 10 years dropped from 1.20% to 0.98%. Original value RR 0.82, confidence range 95% CI 0.70 to 0.93

Notes

Controversial. NordICC was calculated based on people "invited to undergo colonoscopy." Colorectal cancer death was 0.28% versus 0.31% (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.16). This difference is still within the margin of error. That is, the mortality benefit of colonoscopy was previously overestimated. The evidence for fecal testing on mortality is actually stronger. As for the age to start screening, national guidelines range between 45 and 50. Those with a family member who has had this disease should start earlier.

Sources

Hewitson P et al. (2007). Screening for colorectal cancer using the faecal occult blood test, Hemoccult. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001216.pub2 ; Bretthauer M et al. (2022). Effect of Colonoscopy Screening on Risks of Colorectal Cancer and Related Death. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2208375

20. People with cardiovascular disease and older adults should get a flu vaccine every year

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Outcome mortality; Money low; Time low; Willpower no; Benefit large

In the trial of flu vaccination after myocardial infarction, the proportion of deaths within one year dropped from 4.9% to 2.9%. People with cardiovascular disease and older adults should get a shot every autumn, 50 to 150 yuan.

Cost

One shot is 50 to 150 yuan. Get it once every autumn.

Benefit

One trial was conducted after myocardial infarction, with 2571 people randomized into groups. Neither the doctors nor the patients knew which shot was given. In people who received the flu vaccine, total mortality over 12 months was 2.9%. In those who received placebo, it was 4.9%. Original value HR 0.59, confidence range 95% CI 0.39 to 0.89. Placebo is a control shot containing no active ingredient. The HR for cardiovascular death was 0.59. Another study pooled multiple studies together. In people who received the flu vaccine, major cardiovascular events were 3.6%, versus 5.4% in controls. Original value RR 0.66, confidence range 95% CI 0.53 to 0.83. Cardiovascular death RR 0.74 (95% CI 0.42 to 1.30, this difference is still within the margin of error and cannot be considered statistically significant)

Notes

Controversial. Level A only applies to people with cardiovascular disease. For otherwise healthy older adults, the Cochrane review can only give one conclusion. The incidence of influenza in one season dropped from 6% to 2.4%. This review also rated the certainty of this evidence as "low," and rated the evidence on mortality as "very low." The review source is the 2018 paper by Demicheli V et al.

Sources

Fröbert O et al. (2021). Influenza Vaccination After Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Trial. Circulation. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.057042 ; Behrouzi B et al. (2022). Association of Influenza Vaccination With Cardiovascular Risk: A Meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.8873 ; Demicheli V et al. (2018). Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004876.pub4 (the Cochrane summary mentioned in the notes)

21. Get the shingles vaccine after age 50

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Moderate
Tags: Outcome mortality; Money high; Time low; Willpower no; Benefit medium

In the phase 3 trial, this vaccine blocked 97% of shingles cases, roughly the same across all age groups. The downside is that two shots cost three to four thousand yuan, all out of pocket. What this money buys back is a 97% reduction in incidence.

Cost

The recombinant shingles vaccine requires two shots, totaling about 3000 to 4000 yuan. This money is entirely self-paid.

Benefit

A phase 3 trial spanned 18 countries and included 15,400 people. The trial randomly divided people into two groups, one receiving the vaccine and one receiving a control shot, with an average follow-up of 3.2 years. The result was 6 cases of shingles in the vaccine group and 210 cases in the placebo group. Converted to per 1000 person-years, that is 0.3 versus 9.1; per 1000 person-years means the number of cases occurring while observing 1000 people for one year. The original text states "the overall efficacy of the vaccine against shingles was 97.2% (95% CI 93.7–99.0, P<0.001)." Efficacy across age groups ranged from 96.6% to 97.9%

Notes

This one ranks lower on cost-effectiveness, and the reason is simply that it is expensive. Shingles itself is rarely fatal; the real trouble is postherpetic neuralgia, which can hurt for months to years. After vaccination, the proportion of pain at the injection site and fever is not low. Among these, the most severe tier (grade 3 symptoms) was 17.0% versus 3.2%

Sources

Lal H, Cunningham AL, Godeaux O, et al. (2015). Efficacy of an adjuvanted herpes zoster subunit vaccine in older adults. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(22), 2087-2096. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1501184

https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1501184

22. Get the pneumococcal vaccine after age 65

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Moderate
Tags: Outcome mortality; Money low; Time low; Willpower no; Benefit medium

In a trial of 84,500 older adults, the 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine blocked about 46% of the pneumonia types the vaccine can cover, and blocked 75% of the most dangerous invasive infections. But no effect was seen on "pneumonia from all causes," so do not expect it to control all pneumonia.

Cost

Several hundred yuan. In some regions it is free for older adults.

Benefit

The Netherlands randomly divided 84,500 people over age 65 into two groups for comparison. It used the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Its efficacy against vaccine-covered pneumonia was 45.6%. The confidence range is 95.2% CI 21.8–62.5. Vaccine-covered means the several bacterial types this vaccine can control. Its efficacy against invasive pneumococcal disease was 75.0% (95% CI 41.4–90.8), which is the most dangerous category of infection. Against pneumonia from all causes combined, it had no effect

Notes

It only prevents the several types covered by the vaccine; it is not the case that once vaccinated you will not get pneumonia. Older adults in China commonly receive the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, which is not the same as the 13-valent conjugate vaccine used in this trial, and the efficacy data above cannot be directly applied to it

Sources

Bonten MJ, Huijts SM, Bolkenbaas M, et al. (2015). Polysaccharide conjugate vaccine against pneumococcal pneumonia in adults. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(12), 1114-1125. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1408544

https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1408544

23. Get tested for Helicobacter pylori, and if positive, eradicate it

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Outcome mortality; Money low; Time low; Willpower some; Benefit large

In the 22-year follow-up trial in Linqu, Shandong, people who eradicated Helicobacter pylori had about half the probability of later developing gastric cancer, and about 40% lower probability of dying from gastric cancer. A test costs one to two hundred yuan, and eradication requires two weeks of medication.

Cost

The carbon-13 or carbon-14 breath test is 100 to 200 yuan. Eradication requires taking four drugs at the same time, with two weeks of medication costing 200 to 500 yuan. The hard part is taking the two weeks of medication fully and on schedule.

Benefit

The randomized trial in Linqu, Shandong, followed up for 22 years. People who underwent Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment had about half the risk of developing gastric cancer. Original value OR 0.48, confidence range 95% CI 0.32 to 0.71. The risk of dying from gastric cancer was about 38% lower (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.99)

Notes

After eradication, reinfection is still possible, so family members should be tested and treated together. The population in this trial was residents of a high-incidence area for gastric cancer. For people living in low-incidence areas, the actual benefit obtained will be much smaller.

Sources

Li WQ et al. (2019). Effects of Helicobacter pylori treatment and vitamin and garlic supplementation on gastric cancer incidence and mortality: follow-up of a randomized intervention trial. BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l5016

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l5016

24. Heavy smokers should get a low-dose chest CT once a year

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Outcome mortality; Money low; Time low; Willpower no; Benefit large

For eligible heavy smokers, getting a low-dose CT once a year lowers the probability of dying from lung cancer by 20% compared with chest X-ray alone, and lowers overall mortality by 6.7%. The price is follow-up examinations after suspicious findings, and the period of anxiety during that time.

Cost

One scan is 200 to 400 yuan, completed in 10 minutes. In addition, you need to account for follow-up examinations after a false alarm, and the anxiety during that time.

Benefit

The U.S. NLST randomized trial enrolled 53,454 people, all aged 55 to 74, with a smoking history of 30 pack-years or more, and who had quit for no more than 15 years. Pack-year is a unit for calculating smoking amount; smoking one pack a day for one year counts as one pack-year. The results are as follows. People who received low-dose CT, compared with those who received chest X-ray alone, had a relative reduction in lung cancer death of 20.0%. Confidence range 95% CI 6.8 to 26.7. Total mortality had a relative reduction of 6.7%, confidence range 95% CI 1.2 to 13.6

Notes

This only applies to high-risk smokers. In the same trial, 24.2% of people who received low-dose CT had suspicious findings, and among these, 96.4% were false alarms, that is, false positives. For non-smokers, undergoing this examination is equivalent to spending money to buy anxiety.

Sources

National Lung Screening Trial Research Team (2011). Reduced Lung-Cancer Mortality with Low-Dose Computed Tomographic Screening. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1102873

https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1102873

25. When depressed or having suicidal thoughts, call 12356, and do not stockpile sleeping pills or pesticides at home

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Outcome mortality; Money 0; Time low; Willpower no; Benefit large

The evidence for approaches that remove lethal things from reach has been growing stronger: after controlling painkillers, related suicides dropped 43%; installing protection at places where people often jump from buildings reduced them by 86%. So do not stockpile sleeping pills or pesticides at home. When you are feeling desperate, first call 12356, which works nationwide and operates at least 18 hours a day.

Cost

No money. Make one phone call. Also lock up medications and do not keep pesticides at home.

Benefit

A review that systematically sorted through nearly 10 years of research: evidence for restricting people's access to lethal means has been continuously strengthening. After regulating painkillers, suicides related to painkillers dropped 43%. After adding protection at locations where people often jump from buildings, they dropped 86% (79% to 91%, the confidence range for this number is in parentheses). Cognitive-type programs carried out in schools lowered suicide attempts by about 55% (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.85). Medication and psychotherapy for treating depression are an important part of suicide prevention. In China, starting May 1, 2025, psychological assistance hotlines can be reached nationwide by dialing 12356, open no less than 18 hours per day

Notes

The reason for giving B: most of the evidence on restricting means is ecological research, and the approach is comparing numbers before and after a policy is introduced; the hotline itself has no evidence of reducing mortality. Suicidal impulses often last only minutes to hours, and moving lethal things one step farther away is itself an intervention. For data at this time scale, as well as long-term outcomes after an attempt, see item 32 in this section (when suicidal thoughts first appear, first tell one person around you). For what remains after being rescued, see item 33 in this section.

Sources

Zalsman G et al. (2016). Suicide prevention strategies revisited: 10-year systematic review. Lancet Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30030-X ; National Health Commission (2024). Notice on the Application of the "12356" Nationwide Unified Psychological Assistance Hotline Telephone Number (Guo Wei Yi Zheng Han [2024] No. 259). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202412/content_6994470…

26. Equip a fire extinguisher, fire blanket, escape respirator, and first aid kit, and check once a year

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Moderate
Tags: Outcome mortality; Money low; Time low; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Fire extinguishers, fire blankets, escape masks, and first aid kits are all in the Ministry of Emergency Management's 11-item household emergency list. A set costs several hundred yuan, and you only need to buy it once. In studies where home safety guidance was provided through home visits, the injury incidence rate was about one quarter lower.

Cost

A fire extinguisher, a fire blanket, one respirator per person, plus a first aid kit, a set costs several hundred yuan. Buy it once, and afterward spend ten minutes checking it once a year.

Benefit

The Ministry of Emergency Management's "National Basic Household Emergency Supplies Reserve Recommendation List" has 11 items in total. Among them, "fire extinguishers and fire blankets" are used for "extinguishing incipient fires," and the list also states that "fire blankets can be draped over the body to escape." "Respirator" refers to a "fire-filtering self-rescue respirator, used for fire escape." "External medicines" are "hemostatic powder, hemostatic patches, gauze bandages, etc., used to treat wounds." Cochrane pooled 98 studies and 2,605,044 people together. Home safety interventions reduced the injury incidence rate to IRR 0.89. The confidence range is 95% CI 0.78 to 1.01. Among them, interventions carried out through home visits reduced the injury incidence rate by about 25% (IRR 0.75, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.91)

Notes

Controversial. In the same Cochrane summary, the category of interventions that did not distribute equipment reduced the injury rate by about 20%. Original value IRR 0.78, confidence range 95% CI 0.66 to 0.92. The group that distributed equipment did not do better. What mainly reduces injuries is door-to-door education and modifications, so the benefit of equipment is recorded as "medium," not "large." When buying a fire extinguisher, look for the CCC mark, and for stored-pressure types the needle should stay in the green zone. For smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, see item 3 in this section. For how to use a tourniquet, see section 13, item 12. For how to choose each item, where to put it, and how often to replace it, see docs/家庭应急装备清单.md

Sources

Ministry of Emergency Management (2020). National Basic Household Emergency Supplies Reserve Recommendation List. https://www.mem.gov.cn/kp/shaq/202011/t20201129_372149.shtml ; Kendrick D et al. (2012). Home safety education and provision of safety equipment for injury prevention. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005014.pub3 ; Wusheng County Market Supervision Administration (2025). Consumer tips for portable fire extinguishers, fire doors (windows), and point-type heat (smoke) fire detectors. https://www.wusheng.gov.cn/gasylbzj/c109568/zzzq/content/co…

27. If visibly bloody urine appears, even if it does not hurt and even if it clears up the next day, you should still get it checked once

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Moderate
Tags: Outcome mortality; Money low; Time medium; Willpower no; Benefit small

For people over 60, after one episode of visibly bloody urine, the probability of ultimately finding bladder cancer is about 2.8%; for ages 40 to 59, about 1.2%. This number is not high, but it is also high enough that you must get it checked once. Even if there is no bleeding the next day, you should still get it checked.

Cost

A routine urine test is a few dozen yuan, and urinary system ultrasound is one to two hundred yuan. If the doctor considers it necessary, add a cystoscopy, around a thousand yuan.

Benefit

The UK conducted a study using electronic medical records from community general practice (primary care), with 4915 bladder cancer cases versus 21718 controls. Among people with visible hematuria, the proportion ultimately found to truly have bladder cancer was as follows. For over 60, it was 2.8%, confidence range 95% CI 2.5 to 3.1. For 40 to 59, it was 1.2%, confidence range 0.6 to 2.3. The technical name for this proportion is positive predictive value. Hematuria visible only under a microscope is likewise meaningful. Odds ratio 20, confidence range 95% CI 12 to 33. For over 60, this proportion was 1.6%, confidence range 1.2 to 2.1

Notes

"Not hurting" is key. Hematuria caused by stones and infection mostly comes with flank or abdominal colic at the same time, or urinary frequency, urgency, and pain. That caused by tumors often has no sensation at all, and will stop on its own for a few days and then reappear, and many people let it go just like that. Taking anticoagulants is not a reason to skip testing. For hematuria after intense exercise, or around a woman's menstrual period, you can first repeat the test once before deciding. The benefit is recorded as "small" because there is only a detection rate, with no effect size for "how much death can be reduced by early testing."

Sources

Price SJ, Shephard EA, Stapley SA, Barraclough K, Hamilton WT (2014). Non-visible versus visible haematuria and bladder cancer risk: a study of electronic records in primary care. British Journal of General Practice, 64(626), e584-e589. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp14X681409

https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp14X681409

28. If there's a problem with erectile function, check the cardiovascular system first—don't treat it as purely a "matter of that department"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money low; Time medium; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Men with erectile dysfunction are about 40% more likely than others to later develop cardiovascular disease, and about 60% more likely to have a heart attack. The younger the person, the greater the difference. This problem often appears before chest pain. So first check blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids—don't just buy medication yourself to suppress it.

Cost

Registration costs a few dozen yuan. Measuring blood pressure and drawing blood to check blood sugar and blood lipids costs one to two hundred yuan. One trip to the hospital, wait a few days for results.

Benefit

A meta-analysis combined 14 follow-up studies, totaling 92,757 men, with an average follow-up of 6.1 years. Compared with people without erectile dysfunction, those with the problem had the following later risks. Overall cardiovascular events were about 44% higher (RR 1.44, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.63, this is the credible range). Heart attack was about 62% higher (RR 1.62, 1.34 to 1.96). Cerebrovascular events were about 39% higher (RR 1.39, 1.23 to 1.57). All-cause death was about 25% higher (RR 1.25, 1.12 to 1.39). Cardiovascular death showed no gap (RR 1.19, 0.97 to 1.46). The younger the age, the higher the multiplier. The group whose baseline cardiovascular risk was moderate had a higher multiplier than both the high-risk and low-risk groups. Studies that used questionnaires to determine the condition calculated a multiplier of 1.61 (1.38 to 1.86). Studies that asked just one question got 1.27 (1.18 to 1.37)

Notes

These 14 studies all followed a group of people to observe outcomes—they were not randomized controlled trials. So "40% more" is an association, not causation. Occasional one or two times doesn't count; only if it persists for more than three months should it be treated as a problem. The things to check are the same batch as items 7 and 8 in this section: measure blood pressure, check fasting blood sugar, plus blood lipids, smoking, and waist circumference. Don't buy "virility" supplements online. The legitimate class of drugs is prescription-only, and the label lists nitrates as a contraindication—meaning people currently using drugs like nitroglycerin cannot take them, as using them together causes blood pressure to plummet. For how to improve, see item 29 in this section (weight loss and smoking cessation can improve erectile function). The benefit is recorded as "medium" not "large": 44% is the risk gap between two groups, not "how much death can be reduced by going for one check." Nor is it recorded as "small": item 27 in this section (visible blood in urine) is a signal with only a detection rate, whereas here the detected high blood pressure, diabetes, and dyslipidemia all have ready-made treatments.

Sources

Vlachopoulos CV, Terentes-Printzios DG, Ioakeimidis NK, Aznaouridis KA, Stefanadis CI (2013). Prediction of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality with erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 6(1), 99-109. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.112.966903 ; DailyMed (the drug label database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine). VIAGRA (sildenafil citrate) tablet, CONTRAINDICATIONS. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=d905…

29. Lose weight, quit smoking, and get blood pressure and blood sugar under control—erectile function can improve along with it

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time much; Willpower yes; Benefit small

Managing cardiovascular risk factors improves erectile function itself. Combining randomized controlled trials, questionnaire scores improved by an average of 2 to 3 points. This questionnaire has a total score of 25, and 22 or above is considered normal.

Cost

Costs no money, and may even save money. The hard part is long-term persistence: control your eating, get moving, and quit smoking.

Benefit

A meta-analysis combined 6 randomized controlled trials with 740 men. The interventions were lifestyle changes or medication to control cardiovascular risk factors, with follow-up of at least 6 weeks. Result: the erectile function questionnaire (IIEF-5) score improved by an average of 2.66 points (95% CI 1.86 to 3.47, this is the credible range). Removing the 2 trials that used statins (143 people), the remaining 4 that relied purely on lifestyle changes (597 people) still improved by 2.40 points (1.19 to 3.61). The IIEF-5 is a 5-question questionnaire with a total score of 5 to 25. The original text divides scores into five bands: 22 to 25 is considered no dysfunction, 5 to 7 is considered severe

Notes

The interventions in these 6 trials were different—some were weight loss plus exercise, some were medication to control blood pressure and blood lipids. There were only 740 people in total. So the direction is clear, but exactly how much one can improve varies from person to person. The benefit is recorded as "small" because the endpoint was only questionnaire scores, with no numbers on "how much less disease later." These same actions do have hard endpoints elsewhere: smoking cessation see Section 2 item 1 (quit smoking, the sooner the better), weight loss see Section 2 item 33 (keep BMI between 20–25), blood pressure see item 7 in this section (measure blood pressure, take medication if high). Taking medication itself is not off-limits, provided it is a doctor-prescribed medication. "Supplements" sold online often secretly add these ingredients, with unknown doses; for how to tell, see Section 28 item 4 (don't buy weight-loss drugs that promise rapid slimming).

Sources

Gupta BP, Murad MH, Clifton MM, Prokop L, Nehra A, Kopecky SL (2011). The effect of lifestyle modification and cardiovascular risk factor reduction on erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Internal Medicine, 171(20), 1797-1803. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.440 ; Rosen RC, Cappelleri JC, Smith MD, Lipsky J, Peña BM (1999). Development and evaluation of an abridged, 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) as a diagnostic tool for erectile dysfunction. International Journal of Impotence Research, 11(6), 319-326. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3900472

30. Use condoms throughout sexual activity, and don't share needles with others

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money low; Time low; Willpower some; Benefit large

Wearing one throughout every time reduces the probability of heterosexual HIV transmission by about 70% or more. The effect of "wearing it most of the time" is not much different from not wearing it. Syphilis, gonorrhea, and the like are also blocked along with it.

Cost

One or two yuan each. The hard part isn't the money—it's using it every time, and putting it on from the very start.

Benefit

One study combined 25 studies and 10,676 heterosexual couples. In these couples, one partner was infected with HIV and the other was not—the technical term is serodiscordant. Compared with people who never used condoms, those who consistently used condoms every time had about 71% lower risk of HIV transmission. The original value RR 0.29, credible range 95% CI 0.20 to 0.43. Compared with those who used them intermittently, about 77% lower (RR 0.23, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.40). The authors' conclusion is that although condoms are not perfect, "consistent use can reduce HIV transmission by more than 70%." The same layer of protection also covers syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and other sexually transmitted infections

Notes

The gap between "irregular use" and "no use" is very small; the entire power of this item lies in the four words "every time, throughout." Sharing needles is another independent highly efficient transmission route, unrelated to sexual activity—injecting drugs, tattooing, and piercing all count. For those in high-risk groups, there is also the path of pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is also called PrEP, which means taking medication in advance to block infection. Combining 18 studies: in all trials where more than 70% of people took the medication on time, those taking PrEP had about 70% lower risk of HIV infection than those taking placebo. The original value is hazard ratio 0.30, credible range 95% CI 0.21 to 0.45. In trials where fewer people took the medication on time, no protective effect was seen. PrEP is a prescription drug—go to an infectious disease department or CDC to ask, don't buy it online yourself. For what to do after already being exposed, see Section 13

Sources

Giannou FK, Tsiara CG, Nikolopoulos GK, et al. (2016). Condom effectiveness in reducing heterosexual HIV transmission: a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on HIV serodiscordant couples. Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research, 16(4), 489-499. https://doi.org/10.1586/14737167.2016.1102635 ; Fonner VA et al. (2016). Effectiveness and safety of oral HIV preexposure prophylaxis for all populations. AIDS. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0000000000001145 (pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP)

31. If you've had high-risk behavior, go get tested for HIV once—CDC testing is free and results are confidential

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time low; Willpower some; Benefit large

Getting tested for HIV at the CDC costs nothing, and according to the National HIV Testing Work Management Measures, staff must not disclose your name, address, or test results. Testing positive is not a death sentence either: people who persist with medication and suppress the virus to undetectable levels will not transmit it to sexual partners. That study followed more than seven hundred couples and more than seventy thousand condomless sexual acts, with zero partner-to-partner transmission.

Cost

Costs no money. One trip to the CDC or a designated medical institution, one tube of blood drawn. The hard part is the step of speaking up to go get tested.

Benefit

Article 23 of the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Regulations states clearly. Health authorities of local people's governments at or above the county level will designate certain medical and health institutions. These institutions "shall provide free counseling and initial screening testing for persons who voluntarily accept HIV counseling and testing." The significance of testing early is not psychological comfort: current antiviral treatment can suppress the virus to undetectable. The World Health Organization's position is that "people living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy and have an undetectable viral load will not transmit HIV to their sexual partners." The PARTNER study followed 782 same-sex couples, each with one partner infected and one not—the technical term is serodiscordant. A total of 1,593 couple-years, meaning adding up the years each couple was followed. During this period there were 76,088 condomless sexual acts, with 15 new infections. After phylogenetic analysis comparing viral genes, all 15 cases did not come from the partner—meaning partner-to-partner transmission was zero. The National HIV Testing Work Management Measures stipulate that laboratory staff for HIV testing must not disclose the name, address, test results, and other related information of AIDS patients or infected persons

Notes

The window period determines when testing counts. The Guangdong Provincial CDC's position is: nucleic acid testing about 1 week, fourth-generation antigen-antibody combination testing about 2 weeks, third-generation antibody testing about 3 weeks can detect. It is recommended to test at least after 2 weeks, and retest once at an interval of 2 to 4 weeks. After 3 full months from the last high-risk behavior, more than 99.99% can rule out infection. A positive self-test result does not equal a confirmed diagnosis—you must go to the CDC or a legitimate institution for verification. Article 3 of the regulations states clearly that no unit or individual may discriminate against infected persons and their family members, and rights to marriage, employment, medical care, and schooling are protected by law. Article 38 also stipulates that infected persons have the obligation to "promptly inform those with whom they have sexual relations of the fact of infection or onset of disease." For the three-disease screening during pregnancy and mother-to-child blocking, see Section 27

Sources

Ministry of Health (2006). National HIV Testing Work Management Measures. https://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2006-06/27/content_320458.htm ; State Council (2006). HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Regulations (Articles 3, 23, 38). https://wjw.beijing.gov.cn/zwgk_20040/zcwj2022/flfg/202304/… (reposted by Beijing Municipal Health Commission); Rodger AJ, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al. (2019). Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (PARTNER): final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study. The Lancet, 393(10189), 2428-2438. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0 ; Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV testing window period science popularization. https://cdcp.gd.gov.cn/jkjy/kpydjwjxz/content/post_3441820.… (the window period numbers)

32. The moment a suicidal thought appears, first tell one person around you, and hand over these few dozen minutes

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time low; Willpower some; Benefit large

Of 82 people who attempted suicide, 47.6% said that from the thought appearing to taking action was no more than 10 minutes. What you need to endure is not a lifetime of being unable to figure things out—it's a few dozen minutes. Among the same group, 76.8% had contact with someone during this period, they just didn't speak up. Looking forward, of people hospitalized for self-harm, about 2% died by suicide after 1 year, and about 7% after 9 years or more—the vast majority did not end up going this way.

Cost

Costs no money. The hard part is speaking up at that moment, and admitting that you cannot be alone for these few hours.

Benefit

82 people who attempted suicide were interviewed within 3 days of admission: 47.6% (39 people) said that from the first appearance of the suicidal thought this time to actually taking action was no more than 10 minutes. Those whose process dragged on longer had significantly higher suicide intent scores. Impulsivity scale scores had no relationship with the length of the process. 76.8% (63 people) said that during this period they had some kind of contact with a partner, family member, or friend. The authors' conclusion is: the window for intervention is usually very short, and professionals have limited room to intervene at this stage, so the identification of signals and intervention methods must be popularized to ordinary people. There is also a systematic review summarizing 90 follow-up studies. Of people who sought care for self-harm, the median proportion who self-harmed again but did not die after 1 year was 16%. Those who died by suicide after 1 year was 2%. For follow-up of 9 years or more, about 7% died by suicide

Notes

The reason for giving B: the Deisenhammer study had only 82 people, came from a single hospital, and relied on the parties' retrospective recall. The Owens paper gives the median proportion of 90 studies with varying methods, not combining them into one number. The same paper also clearly states that the suicide risk of people who self-harm is still several hundred times that of the general population. So "the vast majority did not end up going this way" refers to the overall trajectory of this group, not a promise to any one individual—the illness that should be treated still needs to be treated. For moving lethal means farther away and 12356, see item 25 in this section. For the first few things to do when feeling low, see Section 3 item 19. For the aftereffects after being rescued, see item 33 in this section. For what you can do when people around you show such thoughts, see Section 8 item 15

Sources

Deisenhammer EA, Ing CM, Strauss R, Kemmler G, Hinterhuber H, Weiss EM (2009). The duration of the suicidal process: how much time is left for intervention between consideration and accomplishment of a suicide attempt? Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 70(1), 19-24. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.07m03904 ; Owens D, Horrocks J, House A (2002). Fatal and non-fatal repetition of self-harm: systematic review. British Journal of Psychiatry, 181, 193-199. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.181.3.193

33. Don't Treat "Pulling Them Back" as a Safety Net: After Drinking Pesticide or Inhaling Gas, the ER Can Save the Life, Not the Lungs and Brain

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Paraquat has no antidote, gastric lavage should not be done, and hemoperfusion and dialysis cannot change the course of the disease. It is actively transported into the lungs, causing pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis, while also damaging the kidneys and liver. The case fatality rate across 257 cases in 10 hospitals in Bangladesh was 43.2%. Carbon monoxide is the other end: the group given normobaric oxygen had 46.1% with cognitive impairment after six weeks, versus 25.0% in the hyperbaric oxygen group. There is no clean outcome on this path; the more common product is the sequelae that remain.

Cost

Costs nothing. Just know this first.

Benefit

A systematic review of paraquat poisoning: the case fatality rate is extremely high, because it is inherently highly toxic and there is a lack of effective treatment. It is actively transported into lung tissue against the concentration gradient, known scientifically as active uptake against the concentration gradient, resulting in pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis, while also causing kidney injury and liver injury. The review states clearly: gastric lavage should not be performed. Hemodialysis and hemoperfusion are unlikely to change the clinical course. Evidence for the efficacy of steroids and immunosuppressants is very weak. The review also states: "The case fatality rate was high in all centers, despite wide variations in treatment." Ten tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh admitted 1,420 cases from 2013 to 2024, of which 257 were analyzable: case fatality rate 43.2%. Common presentations were lower limb swelling from acute renal failure in 71.2%, vomiting in 65.8%, and abdominal pain in 58.0%. The trial on acute carbon monoxide poisoning was double-blind randomized, with 76 people in each group. Neither doctors nor patients knew which group they were in. At six weeks, those with cognitive sequelae were 19/76 (25.0%) in the hyperbaric oxygen group. The normobaric oxygen group had 35/76 (46.1%), P=0.007. After adjusting for other factors, OR 0.45 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.92; the parentheses give the credible range for this number). Another study followed 73 consecutive cases: 30% had cognitive sequelae, and 12% developed white matter hyperintensities. China revoked the registration and production license for paraquat aqueous solution and stopped production as of July 1, 2014. As of July 1, 2016, the aqueous solution was stopped from being sold and used domestically. As of September 26, 2020, soluble gel formulations were prohibited from being sold or used within the country. The document states that "suicide incidents from ingesting paraquat have occurred from time to time" was the direct reason for strengthening regulation.

Notes

Reason for B: these studies involved poisoning patients, not a single population of suicide attempters, and the carbon monoxide trial also included people with accidental poisoning. So the sequelae proportions above cannot be directly taken as "the probability of consequences for suicide attempters." This entry does not compare the lethality of different methods, nor does it give any specific method. The only thing that can be confirmed is one sentence: none of them is clean. For on-site management of carbon monoxide, see Section 13, Item 19. For accidental ingestion of pesticides and drugs, do not induce vomiting first; bring the bottle and seek medical care, see Section 13, Item 20. For not stockpiling pesticides and sleeping pills at home, see Section 33, Item 25.

Sources

Gawarammana IB, Buckley NA (2011). Medical management of paraquat ingestion. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 72(5), 745-757. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2011.04026.x ; Chowdhury FR et al. (2026). Clinical and Laboratory Profile of Paraquat Poisoning: A Toxicological Crisis in Bangladesh. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 115, 176-182. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.25-0719 ; Weaver LK, Hopkins RO, Chan KJ, et al. (2002). Hyperbaric oxygen for acute carbon monoxide poisoning. New England Journal of Medicine, 347(14), 1057-1067. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa013121 ; Parkinson RB, Hopkins RO, Cleavinger HB, et al. (2002). White matter hyperintensities and neuropsychological outcome following carbon monoxide poisoning. Neurology, 58(10), 1525-1532. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.58.10.1525 ; General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (2018). Notice on Effectively Strengthening the Supervision and Management of Paraquat (Nong Ban Nong [2018] No. 17). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2018-12/31/content_544…

34. Don't Bet on "A Few Days in Bed and It'll Be Fine" with a Fall from Height: Most People Admitted to the Trauma ICU Survive, but the Cost Is Counted in Years

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Of 289 cases of falls from height admitted to a trauma ICU in southern Xinjiang, only 5.5% died in hospital or within 30 days. The vast majority survived, at the cost of: 47.1% had injuries to more than three body regions at the same time, 36% were put on ventilators, the median ICU stay was 8 days, and the longest stay was 132 days. The median fall height in this group was only 3 meters. Among those with severe injuries who were followed up, 58% were able to return to work.

Cost

Costs nothing. Just see this account clearly first.

Benefit

A trauma ICU in southern Xinjiang kept statistics; ICU means intensive care unit. From April 2020 to July 2024, it admitted a total of 289 cases of falls from height. The average age of this group was 40.3 years. The median fall height was 3 meters, 26.6% fell from above 5 meters, and 11.4% fell from above 10 meters. The median injury severity score ISS was 24; the higher this score, the more severe the injury, and 63.3% had ISS greater than 20. 47.1% had injuries involving more than 3 body regions, and 18.3% involved more than 4. 36% required a ventilator, that is, mechanical ventilation, with a median duration of 103.5 hours. The median ICU stay was 8 days, the shortest 1 day, and the longest 132 days. The in-hospital or 30-day mortality rate was 5.5% (16/289). A trauma center in Germany admitted 84 polytrauma patients with ISS ≥ 25; polytrauma means injuries to multiple body regions at the same time. The proportion returning to work during follow-up was 58%. Age, duration of ICU treatment, and self-rated health were predictive factors. In 2024, the national average hospital inpatient cost per admission was 9,870.0 yuan, that is, the average amount spent per hospitalization, down 4.3% from the previous year at current prices. In the same year, national total health expenditure was 9,089.55 billion yuan, of which personal health expenditure was 2,500.75 billion yuan, accounting for 27.5%.

Notes

Reason for B: the fall group was compiled from one hospital's old medical records, without separating accidents from self-harm. The return-to-work group had only 84 people, and it was in Germany. Neither group can be taken as "what will happen to a person after jumping from a building." The average inpatient cost per admission is an average calculated from all hospitalizations nationwide, not the cost of fall injuries; it is cited only to provide a verifiable lower bound. This entry does not write any correspondence between height and consequences, because the original text only gave the height distribution of this group. For pressure sores, the thing most worth watching during long-term bed rest, see Section 17, Item 8. For deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, see Section 13, Item 11 (one leg suddenly swelling). For what to do when the thought comes up, see Section 33, Item 32. For the poisoning side, see Section 33, Item 33 (Don't Treat "Pulling Them Back" as a Safety Net). The timeline in this entry is the author's personal experience: falling from the fourth floor, having thought beforehand "it'll be fine in a dozen days or so," but actually being hospitalized for a year, undergoing surgery in four places, having steel plates put in, and being unable to turn over or sit up on their own for half a year, with the family borrowing money for this.

Sources

Chen Y, Li W, Wang X, Zhong Q, Abudurexiti A, Qiu Q, Li J, Luo J (2025). Clinical features and prognostic predictors for patients admitted to trauma intensive care unit due to fall from height in South Xinjiang. International Journal of Emergency Medicine, 18, 142. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00959-4 ; Simmel S, Wurm S, Drisch S, Woltmann A, Coenen M (2020). Prädiktion der Rückkehr zur Arbeit nach Polytrauma bei Patienten mit einem ISS von mindestens 25. Die Rehabilitation, 59(2), 95-103. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0977-6853 ; National Health Commission (2025). Interpretation of the 2024 Statistical Bulletin on the Development of China's Health Undertakings. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202512/content_7050025.htm

35. Don't Trade Money for "It's No Big Deal to Have One Less Kidney": The Remaining One Has to Work for Two, and 86% of People Who Sold a Kidney Say Their Health Got Worse Afterwards

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

First look at the best case: formal donors who passed layer after layer of screening and had follow-up after surgery. In the U.S. dataset of 96,000 people, 15 years after donating a kidney, 31 per 10,000 progressed to uremia, while among equally healthy people who were equally eligible to donate but did not, it was 4 per 10,000. Now look at the kidney-selling end: among 305 people in India who had sold a kidney, followed up on average 6 years later, 86% said their health had gotten worse, and three-quarters were still in debt. Formal donors have screening and follow-up; kidney sellers have none of these.

Cost

Costs nothing. Just see this account clearly first.

Benefit

The United States compared 96,217 living kidney donors with 20,024 healthy non-donors of comparable status. The latter came from NHANES III, that is, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Now look at the estimated risk of progressing to uremia 15 years after donation. For donors, it was 30.8 per 10,000, credible range 95% CI 24.3–38.5. For healthy non-donors, it was 3.9 per 10,000, credible range 95% CI 0.8–8.9, P<0.001. The scientific name for uremia is end-stage renal disease, ESRD; once at this stage, one must rely on dialysis or transplantation to survive. Estimated lifetime risk of progressing to ESRD: donors 90 per 10,000, unscreened general population 326 per 10,000, healthy non-donors 14 per 10,000. Norway also did a comparison. One side was 1,901 kidney donors, with a median follow-up of 15.1 years. The other side was 32,621 controls who met donation criteria, with a median follow-up of 24.9 years. All-cause mortality among kidney donors was about 30% higher (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.11–1.52). Cardiovascular death was about 40% higher (HR 1.40, 1.03–1.91). Progression to ESRD was about tenfold higher (HR 11.38, 4.37–29.6). The overall incidence of ESRD in this donor group was 302 per million people. Another U.S. group had 3,698 kidney donors, of whom 11 developed ESRD, equivalent to 180 cases per million person-years of observation, compared with 268 in the general population over the same period. Of this group, 255 returned for follow-up on average 12.2±9.2 years after donation. Of these, 85.5% had kidney filtration function GFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m². 60 is the lower limit of clinical normal. 32.1% had hypertension. 12.7% had proteinuria, that is, protein leaking into the urine. A survey in Chennai, India, investigated 305 kidney sellers, on average surveyed 6 years after selling a kidney: 96% sold to repay debt, and the average amount received was 1,070 U.S. dollars. After nephrectomy, average household income fell by one-third (P<0.001), the number of people living below the poverty line increased, and three-quarters were still in debt at the time of the survey. 86% reported that their health status was worse than before nephrectomy, and 79% did not recommend that others sell a kidney.

Notes

Controversy: the Ibrahim study used ordinary people as the comparison group and concluded that kidney donors' survival and risk of progressing to uremia (ESRD) were similar to ordinary people. After Muzaale and Mjøen changed the comparison group to people who were "equally healthy and equally eligible to donate a kidney," the risk became clearly higher. The disagreement is about who is used for comparison, not about the donors themselves. All three studies agree that the absolute risk is not large (30.8 per 10,000 over 15 years, that is, 30.8 out of 10,000 people). So the point of this entry is not "kidney donation is very dangerous," but two things. First, the remaining kidney really is paying a price; the proportions of hypertension and proteinuria are right there. Second, these numbers all come from a population that was screened before surgery, had follow-up after surgery, and could return to the hospital if something happened; black-market kidney selling has none of these three things, and the Indian follow-up gives a different outcome. The original studies only provide self-reported worsening health, proteinuria, hypertension, and incidence of uremia; they do not have numbers like "how many people were bedridden," and this entry does not fill that in for them. For restrictions on relatives in legal donation, fines, and criminal liability, see Section 9, Item 22 (Do Not Sell Your Own Organs). For those already needing dialysis, cross-provincial direct settlement and long-term medication, see Section 16, Items 1 and 2 (take medication fully as prescribed, and off-site registration for chronic and special outpatient diseases).

Sources

Muzaale AD, Massie AB, Wang MC, Montgomery RA, McBride MA, Wainright JL, Segev DL (2014). Risk of end-stage renal disease following live kidney donation. JAMA, 311(6), 579-586. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.285141 ; Mjøen G, Hallan S, Hartmann A, et al. (2014). Long-term risks for kidney donors. Kidney International, 86(1), 162-167. https://doi.org/10.1038/ki.2013.460 ; Ibrahim HN, Foley R, Tan L, et al. (2009). Long-term consequences of kidney donation. New England Journal of Medicine, 360(5), 459-469. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0804883 ; Goyal M, Mehta RL, Schneiderman LJ, Sehgal AR (2002). Economic and health consequences of selling a kidney in India. JAMA, 288(13), 1589-1593. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.13.1589

36. Do Not Pick Up, Dismantle, or Sell Metal Parts of Unknown Origin; Stay Away from Those with the Trefoil Warning Sign

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Radiation has no smell, color, or temperature, and people cannot feel it, so "it looks fine" cannot be used to judge it. Most radioactive sources are just a piece of ordinary metal; they do not glow or give off heat. The probability of an ordinary person encountering one is extremely low: there are about 178,000 radioactive sources in use nationwide, and the accident rate has remained stable at fewer than 1 per 10,000 sources. But the one time you do encounter one is irreversible: in 1987 in Brazil, someone dismantled a radiotherapy machine from an abandoned clinic as scrap metal, about 112,000 people were monitored, and 4 died.

Cost

Costs nothing. If you see an unfamiliar metal cylinder, lead container, or component removed from equipment, go around it; do not pick it up, dismantle it, or put it in your pocket.

Benefit

As of 2025, there were about 178,000 radioactive sources in use nationwide and 355,000 units/sets of radiation-emitting devices. The annual incidence of radioactive source radiation accidents has remained stable at fewer than 1 per 10,000 sources. The classification is as follows. The loss, theft, or loss of control of Category I and Category II radioactive sources constitutes a major radiation accident. Category III is a relatively major radiation accident. The loss or theft of Category IV and Category V sources, or causing personnel to be exposed beyond the annual dose limit, is a general radiation accident. Official case: in June 2020, the ironmaking plant of Ningxia Iron and Steel Group was performing γ-ray radiographic testing on a blast furnace pipeline renovation project. A Category II iridium-192 radioactive source exposed three workers. Chen so-and-so suffered third-degree acute radiation skin injury of the left hand. Liu so-and-so suffered fourth-degree injury of the left thumb and index finger, and third-degree injury of the middle, ring, and little fingers. Fan so-and-so suffered first- to second-degree injury of the left hand. The exposure doses of all three severely exceeded the dose limits specified by national standards, and the two responsible units had their radiation safety licenses revoked and were fined 70,000 yuan. International case: in 1987 in Goiânia, Brazil, a teletherapy machine from an abandoned clinic was dismantled, and the 50.8 TBq cesium-137 source inside was removed, and the sealed capsule containing the source was also broken. About 112,000 people were monitored. Of these, 249 people were contaminated internally or externally. Among these 249, 129 had moderate to severe contamination, and 50 required close medical supervision. In the end, 4 died (national / international).

Notes

If you really encounter one: stay away, remember the location, do not move it, call 110. The regulations require reporting to the competent department of ecology and environment, the public security department, and the competent health department. Distance and time are the only effective protections; a pocket or plastic bag is of no use at all. Devices such as X-ray machines and CT scanners that generate radiation by being powered on do not retain radioactivity after the power is cut. What is truly dangerous is the sealed radioactive source inside the equipment. Hospital radiotherapy machines, γ radiographic testing machines on pipelines and boilers, logging instruments, and level gauges all contain sources. Opening the casing exposes the source. And their appearance is no different from ordinary metal parts. So the rule is not "recognize radioactive sources," but "never dismantle, sell, or bring home equipment parts of unknown origin." People in scrap recycling, dismantling, hardware, and construction sites are at much higher risk than ordinary people; if you see a warning zone marked with the trefoil sign at a construction site, go around it. This entry is about uncontrolled radioactive sources, which is a different matter from a nuclear power plant leak; the latter is even less likely for ordinary people to encounter. The beneficiaries are mainly yourself and the family members at the same scene.

Sources

Ministry of Ecology and Environment (2025). 2024 China Ecological Environment Status Bulletin. https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/sthjjcgl/hjzljcypj/202506/t2025… ; National Nuclear Safety Administration (2026). Achievements of China's Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision in 2025. https://nnsa.mee.gov.cn/tpxw/202601/t20260107_1140062.html ; Ministry of Ecology and Environment (2021). Notice on the Handling of a Case of a Radiation Accident Caused by Illegal and Non-compliant γ-ray Radiographic Testing Operations. https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk06/202101/t2021012… ; State Council (2019). Regulations on the Safety and Protection of Radioisotopes and Radiation-Emitting Devices (2019 Revision, Articles 34, 42, and 68). https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/fgbz/xzfg/201909/t20190918_7343… ; Ministry of Environmental Protection (2009). Notice on Establishing a System for Graded Handling and Reporting of Radiation Accidents Involving Radioisotopes and Radiation-Emitting Devices (Radiation Accident Classification Standards). https://www.mee.gov.cn/gkml/zj/wj/200910/t20091022_172414.htm ; International Atomic Energy Agency (1988). The Radiological Accident in Goiânia. IAEA, Vienna. https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub815_web.pdf

Evidence levels: A, B · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 02 · 40 suggestions

Don't Die Slowly

[[A Cost-Effective Guide to Life]]

This section covers only two kinds of chronic risk: those with a large impact on all-cause mortality, and those with hard evidence. Items are ranked from highest to lowest cost-effectiveness. A few are labeled "randomized trial," meaning people were randomly split into two groups for comparison; this kind of result is the most trustworthy. The remaining numbers all come from studies that only track and record, without grouping. The HR, RR, and similar risk ratios in these studies are mixed with two kinds of impurity: first, these people were different to begin with, and second, some people got sick first and then did this. So these numbers should be read as "the direction and roughly how large," not as "the discount you'll get if you follow along."

1. Quit smoking, the sooner the better

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower yes; Benefit large

Smokers live on average more than ten years less than non-smokers. Quitting before age 40 can wipe out about ninety percent of the death risk from continuing to smoke. The earlier you quit, the more you get back.

Cost

It costs nothing; on the contrary, it saves money. A pack a day is about 20–30 yuan; quit and this money stays with you. The hard part is enduring the withdrawal period, usually a few weeks to a few months.

Benefit

A U.S. study that tracked a group of people (recording only, no grouping) found: those still smoking had a life expectancy more than 10 years shorter than those who never smoked. Quitting before age 40 can eliminate about 90% of the death risk from continuing to smoke. Quitting at 25–34 gains about 10 years, at 35–44 about 9 years, at 45–54 about 6 years (the original reports in years of life). A similar study in China: in the 2010s, the death risk of urban male smokers was 1.65 times that of non-smokers (RR 1.65), and rural men 1.22 times. After actively quitting for a full 10 years, this portion of smoking-related risk nearly disappears.

Notes

Breathing other people's smoke also kills. In 2004, about 603,000 people worldwide died from secondhand smoke. This was about 1% of that year's global total deaths. Even if you don't smoke yourself, avoid other people's smoke. Especially don't let children breathe it. This item only says how much benefit quitting brings, not how to quit. The specific methods are in the next four items: item 3 (smoking-cessation drugs), item 4 (set a quit date), item 5 (go to a smoking-cessation clinic), item 6 (e-cigarettes)

Sources

Jha P et al. (2013). 21st-century hazards of smoking and benefits of cessation in the United States. NEJM. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa1211128 ; Chen Z et al. (2015). Contrasting male and female trends in tobacco-attributed mortality in China: evidence from successive nationwide prospective cohort studies. Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00340-2 ; Oberg M et al. (2011). Worldwide burden of disease from exposure to second-hand smoke: a retrospective analysis of data from 192 countries. Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61388-8 (the two secondhand-smoke numbers)

2. Don't smoke at home or in the car, and don't let guests smoke in your home

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

About 600,000 people worldwide die each year from breathing other people's smoke, nearly thirty percent of them children. People exposed to secondhand smoke long-term have roughly thirty percent higher risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Smoke breathed at home harms more than smoke breathed outside.

Cost

It costs no money and takes no time. The hard part is speaking up, telling family and guests not to smoke at home.

Benefit

In 2004, 603,000 people worldwide died from secondhand smoke, about 1.0% of global deaths, of which 28% were children. Combining 57 studies: people exposed to secondhand smoke had about 1.28 times the chance of high blood pressure as those not exposed (odds ratio). Heart disease was 1.39 times, myocardial infarction 1.50 times, stroke 1.36 times. The risk of secondhand smoke breathed at home is higher than that breathed outside the home

Notes

Start with the home. First, you spend a long time at home; second, combining multiple studies, secondhand smoke breathed at home is more harmful than that breathed outside. Of the health losses caused by secondhand smoke, 61% fall on children. For quitting yourself, see item 1 of this section.

Sources

Öberg M, Jaakkola MS, Woodward A, Peruga A, Prüss-Ustün A (2011). Worldwide burden of disease from exposure to second-hand smoke: a retrospective analysis of data from 192 countries. Lancet: "603,000 deaths were attributable to second-hand smoke in 2004, which was about 1·0% of worldwide mortality. 47% of deaths from second-hand smoke occurred in women, 28% in children, and 26% in men", "61% of DALYs were in children". https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61388-8 ; (2026). The Associations Between Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Various Cardiovascular Diseases: A Meta-Analysis. Nicotine & Tobacco Research: 57 studies, "hypertension (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.40), heart disease (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.28 to 1.50), myocardial infarction (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.84), stroke (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.54)" "Home exposure has a higher risk of CVD than non-home exposure". https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaf111

3. Don't quit smoking on willpower alone; get medication first: success rate more than doubles

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

On willpower alone, most people can't quit. The proportion of people taking varenicline who succeed is more than twice that of those taking placebo. Those using substitutes like nicotine patches and chewing gum succeed about fifty percent more than those not using medication. Using patches and gum together adds another twenty-plus percent.

Cost

Nicotine patches and chewing gum are over-the-counter drugs, available right at the pharmacy counter. One course is 8 to 12 weeks, a few hundred to over a thousand yuan. Varenicline and bupropion are prescription drugs, requiring a visit to a smoking-cessation clinic or respiratory medicine department. This money roughly offsets the cigarettes you don't buy over the same period.

Benefit

Combining 41 randomized trials and 17,395 people, the quit success rate of the varenicline group was 2.32 times that of the placebo group (RR 2.32, 95% CI 2.15–2.51, this is the confidence range; high-certainty evidence). Varenicline also beat bupropion (RR 1.36, about 36% higher) and a single type of nicotine replacement (RR 1.25, about 25% higher). Nicotine replacement versus no medication: 133 trials, 64,640 people, success rate about 55% higher (RR 1.55, 95% CI 1.49–1.61). A patch plus a fast-acting form (chewing gum, lozenge) is about 27% higher than using only one (RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.17–1.37, 16 trials, 12,169 people, high-certainty evidence).

Notes

The smoking-cessation drugs sold domestically are just the three types above, and only nicotine replacement is over-the-counter. Common reactions to varenicline are nausea, vivid dreams, poor sleep; those with a psychiatric history should tell the doctor. The course of nicotine replacement is generally 8 to 12 weeks; don't suddenly stop on your own, taper as the doctor says. Medication only solves the discomfort of the withdrawal weeks, not the situations that make you "want to smoke," so use it together with item 4 of this section (set a quit date) and item 5 (go to a smoking-cessation clinic).

Sources

Livingstone-Banks J, Fanshawe TR, Thomas KH, et al. (2023). Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 5, CD006103. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006103.pub8 ; Hartmann-Boyce J, Chepkin SC, Ye W, Bullen C, Lancaster T (2018). Nicotine replacement therapy versus control for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 5, CD000146. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000146.pub5 ; Theodoulou A, Chepkin SC, Ye W, et al. (2023). Different doses, durations and modes of delivery of nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 6, CD013308. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013308.pub2 ; Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (2021). Choose the right medication to make quitting easier: "The main smoking-cessation drugs visible on the market are three types, namely nicotine replacement therapy drugs, bupropion, and varenicline", "Nicotine replacement therapy drugs are over-the-counter (OTC), purchasable at the pharmacy counter; while bupropion and varenicline are prescription drugs, requiring a visit to a hospital smoking-cessation clinic or respiratory medicine department, and obtainable only after a physician's prescription is dispensed by a pharmacist". https://wsjkw.sh.gov.cn/jtyx/20211119/df50681e01ba49f896d54…

4. Set a quit date, stop all at once on that day, don't taper down first

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower yes; Benefit medium

Many people plan to cut down a few cigarettes a day first, gradually reducing to zero. A randomized trial of 697 people compared the two methods once. By the sixth month, 22% of those who set a date and stopped all at once hadn't smoked again, versus only 15.5% of those who tapered. Even people who originally preferred tapering quit better when assigned to the stop-all-at-once group.

Cost

It costs nothing. Just pick a day on the calendar and tell family and colleagues in advance.

Benefit

697 British smokers were randomly split into two groups. One group stopped all at once on the quit date; the other reduced cigarette amount by 75% in the two weeks before the quit date. Both groups had nurse behavioral support and used nicotine replacement before and after the quit date. At week 4, 49.0% (95% CI 43.8–54.2, this is the confidence range) of the stop-all-at-once group hadn't relapsed, versus 39.2% (34.0–44.4) of the taper group, relative risk ratio 0.80 (0.66–0.93). By month 6, 22.0% (18.0–26.6) of the stop-all-at-once group, versus 15.5% (12.0–19.7) of the taper group, relative risk ratio 0.71 (0.46–0.91). People who originally preferred tapering also had a lower week-4 success rate than those who preferred stopping all at once (38.3% vs 52.2%).

Notes

Controversy. Cochrane originally had a review specifically comparing these two methods, concluding they were about the same (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.79–1.13, 10 trials, 3,760 people), but that review was retracted in 2019 and is no longer updated. So the best evidence at present is the randomized trial above, whose direction supports stopping all at once. Also, in that trial both groups began using nicotine replacement before the quit date, and this practice itself has evidence: starting early versus starting only on the quit date gives about a 25% higher success rate (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.08–1.44, 9 trials, 4,395 people, moderate-certainty evidence). So the reasonable order is to set the date first, put on the patch two weeks early, and stop all at once on the day.

Sources

Lindson-Hawley N, Banting M, West R, Michie S, Shinkins B, Aveyard P (2016). Gradual Versus Abrupt Smoking Cessation: A Randomized, Controlled Noninferiority Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 164(9), 585–592. https://doi.org/10.7326/M14-2805 ; Theodoulou A, Chepkin SC, Ye W, et al. (2023). Different doses, durations and modes of delivery of nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 6, CD013308 (the passage on using nicotine replacement early). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013308.pub2

5. Go to a smoking-cessation clinic, or call 12320 to ask whether your area has cessation services

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time medium; Willpower some; Benefit large

Medication and "someone checking in on you regularly" are two things, and together they work best. People taking medication while also having someone follow up had a quit success rate nearly double that of people who only heard a brief piece of advice. Phone counts too: a quitline that calls back on its own can raise the success rate by another twenty to thirty percent.

Cost

A registration visit is a few yuan to a few dozen yuan. Behavioral support is generally 4 to 8 interviews, each half an hour to an hour, totaling mostly under 5 hours. Calling the hotline costs nothing.

Benefit

Combining 52 trials and 19,488 people, the quit success rate of the medication-plus-behavioral-support group was 1.83 times that of the usual care or brief-advice group (RR 1.83, 95% CI 1.68–1.98, this is the confidence range; high-quality evidence). Among the 43 trials recruited in medical institutions it was 1.97 times (1.79–2.18). Telephone counseling counted separately: among people who called a quitline themselves, those receiving multiple proactive callbacks were about 38% higher than those who only got materials or a single talk (RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.19–1.61, 14 trials, 32,484 people); among those who hadn't called a quitline themselves and were offered telephone counseling by the researchers, about 25% higher (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.15–1.35, 65 trials, 41,233 people). Both are moderate-certainty evidence.

Notes

How to find it domestically: search "China Quit Smoking Platform" mini-program on WeChat; it has lists of local quitlines and smoking-cessation clinics; you can also call 12320 to ask whether your area has a smoking-cessation clinic. Most of the trials above were done abroad, and the service intensity of smoking-cessation clinics varies greatly by place, so the numbers can only be read for direction. For the medication to pair, see item 3 of this section (smoking-cessation drugs).

Sources

Stead LF, Koilpillai P, Fanshawe TR, Lancaster T (2016). Combined pharmacotherapy and behavioural interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3, CD008286. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008286.pub3 ; Matkin W, Ordóñez-Mena JM, Hartmann-Boyce J (2019). Telephone counselling for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 5, CD002850. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD002850.pub4 ; Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2021). The "China Quit Smoking Platform" WeChat mini-program officially launched: "Under the guidance of the Tobacco Control Action Working Group of the Healthy China Action, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization Representative Office in China jointly produced China's authoritative smoking-cessation resource library, the 'China Quit Smoking Platform' WeChat mini-program. The mini-program content mainly includes: quitlines, detailed information on smoking-cessation clinics, and online smoking-cessation service resources, etc."; the same site's footer notes "Health consultation phone: 12320". https://www.chinacdc.cn/jkyj/yckz/gzdt/202203/t20220310_296…

6. Consider e-cigarettes only if you already can't quit; people who never smoked shouldn't touch them

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

Switching cigarettes for nicotine-containing e-cigarettes does give a higher quit success rate than nicotine patches; this has high-quality randomized trials. But it isn't harmless: long-term safety data is still lacking. People who never smoked get no benefit at all from vaping it.

Cost

Device plus pods is a few dozen to a few hundred yuan a month. Domestically you can only buy tobacco-flavored ones, and only in stores with a tobacco monopoly retail license.

Benefit

A continuously updated review included 80 randomized trials and 29,861 people. Nicotine-containing e-cigarettes versus nicotine replacement therapy gave about a 61% higher quit success rate (RR 1.61, 95% CI 1.23–2.12, this is the confidence range; high-certainty evidence, 11 trials, 4,114 people). In absolute numbers, that's about 4 more people quitting per 100 (1 to 7 more). The proportion of serious adverse events was roughly equal between the two groups (risk difference 0.01, 95% CI −0.01 to 0.02, moderate-certainty evidence). Versus behavioral support only or no support, about 75% higher (RR 1.75, 95% CI 1.39–2.20, low-certainty evidence).

Notes

Controversy. The World Health Organization does not recommend e-cigarettes as a smoking-cessation method. The reason is insufficient long-term safety data, and it also gets young people started on nicotine. The UK, by contrast, has put it into its smoking-cessation services. Domestically e-cigarettes are not fully banned from sale, but are tightly regulated, with the rules written in the "E-Cigarette Management Measures." Only tobacco-flavored ones may be sold; fruit-flavored ones and those you can add your own e-liquid to are not allowed. They can only be bought in physical stores that have obtained a tobacco monopoly retail license. Apart from the national unified e-cigarette transaction management platform, selling on other websites, online shops, and social software is illegal. Selling to minors is also prohibited. So fruit-flavored e-cigarettes still available are on illegal channels, outside regulation. "Head-high e-cigarettes" laced with synthetic cannabinoids leak out exactly this way; see item 4 of section 22 (don't accept pods handed to you by others). The review tested only regulated nicotine-containing products; e-liquids of unknown origin are not included. In order, try item 3 of this section (smoking-cessation drugs) first; the evidence there is harder and cheaper.

Sources

Lindson N, Livingstone-Banks J, Butler AR, et al. (2026). Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 8, CD010216. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub11 ; State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (2022). E-Cigarette Management Measures (State Tobacco Monopoly Administration Announcement No. 1 of 2022, effective May 1, 2022) Article 18: to engage in e-cigarette retail business, one must apply to the tobacco monopoly administrative department for a tobacco monopoly retail license. Article 22: "It is prohibited to sell e-cigarette products to minors." Article 23, paragraph 2: "No individual, legal person, or other organization may sell e-cigarette products, aerosols, and nicotine for e-cigarettes, etc., through information networks other than the e-cigarette transaction management platform stipulated in these Measures." Article 26: "It is prohibited to sell flavored e-cigarettes other than tobacco flavor and e-cigarettes to which aerosols can be added by oneself." http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2022/content_5697988.htm

7. Not drinking sugary drinks; switching to sugar-free ones doesn't count as a solution either

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

People who drink two or more bottles of sweetened beverages a day have about a twenty percent higher probability of death during the same period than those who hardly drink any. Those who drink one to two bottles a day also have a ten-plus percent higher risk. Switching to sugar-free ones shows no benefit either: people who drink two or more cups of artificially sweetened beverages a day actually have about a quarter higher risk.

Cost

Costs no money and takes no time. Switching to plain water or unsweetened tea even saves money. The hard part is breaking the habit of drinking sweetened beverages, including the sugar-free ones.

Benefit

There are two large studies in the United States that tracked groups of people. These two only recorded, without grouping, about 118,000 people and 36,000 deaths. People who drank 2 or more servings a day had about a 21% higher risk of death than those who drank less than 1 serving a month (HR 1.21). Those who drank 1–2 servings a day had about a 14% higher risk (HR 1.14). The European EPIC tracking study only recorded, without grouping, with 450,000 people across 10 countries. Comparing people who drank 2 or more cups a day with those who drank less than 1 cup a month: the sugar-sweetened soft drink item was about 8% higher (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.16). Artificially sweetened beverages, that is, the sugar-free versions, were about 26% higher (HR 1.26, 1.16–1.35). All soft drinks combined came to about 17% higher (HR 1.17, 1.11–1.22).

Notes

The controversy is on the sugar-free side. The association for artificially sweetened beverages is actually stronger than for sugar-sweetened ones, which is very likely reverse causation: people who are already overweight or have diabetes are the ones who switch to the sugar-free versions. So don't use this to say artificial sweeteners are more toxic. But it at least shows that the claim "switching to sugar-free means you're fine" has no evidence to support it. Switching to plain water or unsweetened tea is the safest. Also, this type of study only tracks and records, without doing grouped trials, and people who drink more sweetened beverages already have worse lifestyles to begin with, so the numbers may be inflated.

Sources

Malik VS et al. (2019). Long-Term Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Mortality in US Adults. Circulation. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.037401 ; Mullee A, Romaguera D, Pearson-Stuttard J, et al. (2019). Association Between Soft Drink Consumption and Mortality in 10 European Countries. JAMA Internal Medicine, 179(11), 1479-1490. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.2478

8. Not chewing betel nut

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

People who chew betel nut have about a twenty percent higher probability of death during the same period than those who don't chew. The risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome is nearly fifty percent higher. The risks of oral cancer and esophageal cancer are counted separately.

Cost

Costs no money and takes no time, and you even save the money you'd spend buying betel nut. The hard part is quitting the chewing habit.

Benefit

Combining 17 Asian studies with 388,000 people. People who chew betel nut have about a 21% higher risk of death than those who don't chew (relative risk 1.21, P=0.02). The death item was calculated from 179,600 of them. The risk of developing diabetes is about 47% higher (1.47). The risk of developing metabolic syndrome is about 51% higher (1.51). Betel nut itself is also a known risk factor for oral cancer and esophageal cancer

Notes

The longer you chew and the more you chew each day, the higher the oral cancer risk. After quitting, the risk goes down over time. Betel quid containing tobacco is more dangerous

Sources

Yamada T, Hara K, Kadowaki T (2013). Chewing betel quid and the risk of metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis. PLoS One, 8(8), e70679. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070679

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070679

9. Replace household table salt with low-sodium salt (potassium salt)

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

In a randomized trial of twenty thousand people, those who replaced household salt with low-sodium salt had about a 12% lower probability of death within five years and about a 14% lower rate of stroke. This was obtained by randomly dividing people into two groups for comparison, which is more credible than numbers obtained from tracking and recording alone.

Cost

A bag costs a few yuan more than regular salt. You just swap it when buying, taking no extra time. The taste is almost unchanged.

Benefit

A trial that randomly divided people into two groups, done in rural China, with 20,995 people, all of whom had had a stroke or were hypertensive patients over 60, followed for 4.74 years. Results: the group using low-sodium salt had about a 12% lower risk of death than the group using regular salt (RR 0.88). Stroke was about 14% lower (RR 0.86). Major cardiovascular events were about 13% lower (RR 0.87). For hyperkalemia events, the two groups showed no statistical difference.

Notes

Controversy. The PURE study only tracked and recorded long-term, without grouping. It reported: people excreting less than 3 g of sodium a day had about a 27% higher risk of death plus cardiovascular events. People excreting more than 7 g of sodium a day had about a 15% higher risk. That is, eating too little and eating too much are both bad, and the middle is best. But in the rural China randomized trial cited in this item, low-sodium salt only replaces a portion, and won't push sodium that low. Also note that the trial subjects were high-risk elderly people. Healthy young people get much smaller benefits from switching salt. People with impaired kidney function, or those taking potassium-sparing medications, should ask a doctor before switching salt.

Sources

Neal B et al. (2021). Effect of Salt Substitution on Cardiovascular Events and Death. NEJM. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2105675 ; O'Donnell M et al. (2014). Urinary sodium and potassium excretion, mortality, and cardiovascular events. NEJM. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1311889 (the controversial side, PURE)

10. Brush your teeth carefully, clean between your teeth once a day, and get missing teeth filled promptly

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

People who use dental floss or interdental brushes every day have about a ten percent lower probability of death during the same period. Elderly people who have lost all their teeth have about a ninety percent higher probability of death. Those with fewer than 20 teeth remaining have about double the risk.

Cost

Dental floss or interdental brushes cost a few dozen yuan a year, and a dental cleaning costs one to two hundred yuan each time. It takes an extra two to three minutes a day. The hard part is making cleaning between your teeth something you do every day.

Benefit

There is a study in Japan, with 9,676 people, followed for 6 years. People who used interdental cleaning tools had about an 11% lower risk of death (hazard ratio 0.89). People who used tongue coating cleaning tools had about a 23% lower risk (0.77). In addition, combining multiple studies, with community-dwelling elderly people as subjects. People with no teeth at all had about 1.87 times the chance of death (odds ratio, 95% CI 1.35–2.59, this is the credible range). Those with fewer than 20 teeth had about 2.04 times (1.67–2.49)

Notes

Controversy. This type of study only tracks and records. People with bad teeth often also have worse overall health and economic conditions. Whether it's the teeth dragging down the body, or the body being unwell dragging down the teeth, is unclear. But this thing costs extremely little, and periodontitis and missing teeth themselves affect eating

Sources

Wang K, Matsuyama Y, Kiuchi S, et al. (2026). Routine oral health practices and all-cause mortality. Journal of Dentistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2026.106789 ; Ko MJ, Seo S, So JS, et al. (2026). Deteriorated oral health and function as risk factors for physical disability and mortality in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Geriatric Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-025-01319-4

11. Walk 7000–8000 steps a day

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time much; Willpower some; Benefit large

People who walk 5800 steps a day have about a forty percent lower probability of death during the same period than those who walk only 3500 steps. At 7800 steps, it's about forty-five percent lower. Going higher can lower it a bit more, but after a certain number of steps it stops going down. People over 60 only need to walk 6000–8000 steps.

Cost

Costs no money. Walking 60–90 minutes a day can be split into commuting and grocery shopping. The hard part is walking every day.

Benefit

Combining 15 studies that tracked groups of people, only recording, without grouping. These 15 studies had a total of 47,471 people and 3,013 deaths. People were divided into four tiers by daily steps, with the lowest tier's median at 3553 steps/day. The medians of the other three tiers were 5801, 7842, and 10901 steps/day. The death risk of these three tiers was about 40%, 45%, and 53% lower than the lowest tier respectively (HR 0.60, 0.55, 0.47). For people over 60, after walking 6000–8000 steps, walking more yields flattening benefits. For people under 60, it flattens after 8000–10000 steps. Another analysis combined multiple studies: it becomes effective starting at about 3867 steps/day. After that, every additional 1000 steps/day lowers death risk by about 15%.

Notes

The stretch from 4000 steps up to 7000 steps is the most cost-effective; there's no need to force yourself to reach ten thousand steps. Note that this type of study only tracks and records: among the group that walks the least, there are mixed in people who were already sick and couldn't walk. They walked little because they were about to die, not because they walked little and thus died early. So the calculated differences are often inflated. But the trend of doing better the more you walk is clear. This item and item 14 (150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week) are talking about the same thing, just counted differently; meeting either one is enough.

Sources

Paluch AE et al. (2022). Daily steps and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis of 15 international cohorts. Lancet Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00302-9 ; Banach M et al. (2023). The association between daily step count and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: a meta-analysis. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwad229

12. If you have high blood pressure or high blood lipids, take medication regularly as prescribed by your doctor, and don't stop on your own

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

For every 10 mmHg drop in blood pressure, the probability of death drops by about 13%, and stroke drops by about 27%. Statins lowering LDL cholesterol by 1 unit lowers the probability of death by about ten percent. People who take medication on time have a thirty to forty-five percent lower probability of death than those who frequently miss doses.

Cost

Generic-collected antihypertensive drugs and statins cost a few yuan to a few dozen yuan a month. Taking once a day doesn't take much time. The hard part is having to keep taking them, and not stopping just because you feel fine.

Benefit

Combining multiple randomized grouped trials: for every 10 mmHg drop in systolic blood pressure, death risk is about 13% lower (RR 0.87). Systolic blood pressure is the high number in a blood pressure reading. Major cardiovascular events are about 20% lower (RR 0.80). Stroke is about 27% lower (RR 0.73). Heart failure is about 28% lower (RR 0.72). Taking statins lowers low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL). For every 1.0 mmol/L drop in LDL, death risk is about 10% lower (RR 0.90). For the same drop, major vascular events are about 22% lower (RR 0.78). In addition, combining multiple tracking studies, only recording, without grouping. People who took ≥80% as prescribed had lower death risk than those who frequently missed doses. The statin item was about 45% lower (RR 0.55). The antihypertensive drug item was about 29% lower (RR 0.71).

Notes

This item only holds for people whom a doctor judges should take medication; healthy people don't need to take it. The numbers in the "adherence to medication" group come from tracking records, and people who can adhere to medication are themselves more self-disciplined, so the benefits get overstated. The numbers from the earlier two randomized grouped trials are more reliable. This section does not separately list a blood sugar control item: the benefit of pushing blood sugar lower for all-cause mortality does not have evidence as consistent as that for blood pressure and blood lipids.

Sources

Ettehad D et al. (2016). Blood pressure lowering for prevention of cardiovascular disease and death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01225-8 ; Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration (2010). Efficacy and safety of more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol: a meta-analysis of data from 170 000 participants in 26 randomised trials. Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61350-5 ; Chowdhury R et al. (2013). Adherence to cardiovascular therapy: a meta-analysis of prevalence and clinical consequences. European Heart Journal. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/eht295

13. Sleep about 7 hours a night, with a fixed schedule

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time much; Willpower some; Benefit medium

People who chronically sleep less than 7 hours have about a ten percent higher probability of death during the same period. The more irregular the schedule, the higher the risk. The most regular sleepers are twenty percent to nearly fifty percent lower than the least regular. That is, whether your schedule is regular or not reveals death risk better than how long you sleep.

Cost

Costs no money. You need to set aside time to sleep; most people swap scrolling on their phone for sleeping. The hard part is fixing the times you go to bed and get up.

Benefit

Combining 16 tracking studies, only recording, without grouping, 1.38 million people and 113,000 deaths. Short sleepers have about a 12% higher death risk (RR 1.12). Long sleepers have about a 30% higher risk (RR 1.30). Another summary divided people into tiers by sleep duration: the 7-hour tier had the lowest risk. For those with less than 7 hours, each hour less was about 6% higher (RR 1.06). For those with more than 7 hours, each hour more was about 13% higher (RR 1.13). The UK Biobank has wristwatch records for about 61,000 people, only recording, without grouping. People were divided into five tiers by degree of schedule regularity. The four more regular tiers had 20%–48% lower death risk than the least regular tier. Whether the schedule is regular or not predicts death better than how long you sleep. Another UK Biobank study used wristwatches to measure the sleep timing of 51,562 people, during which 3,853 developed new cardiovascular disease. Social jet lag refers to how much the midpoint of sleep differs between weekdays and weekends. People with social jet lag of 2 hours or more had about a 30% higher cardiovascular disease risk (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.11–1.54). This association also exists among people with normal sleep duration.

Notes

What needs changing is sleeping too little and having an irregular schedule; there's no need to deliberately compress sleep time. The higher risk for long sleepers is mostly reverse causation: depression, chronic illness, and sleep apnea make people sleep more. Also, the schedule regularity point is currently supported by two tracking studies, both only recording, without grouping, and viewed alone it belongs to level B evidence. For how to catch up after staying up late, see item 39 in this section (after staying up late, catch up on sleep the next night).

Sources

Cappuccio FP et al. (2010). Sleep duration and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Sleep. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/33.5.585 ; Yin J et al. (2017). Relationship of Sleep Duration With All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Events: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. JAHA. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.117.005947 ; Windred DP et al. (2024). Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration: A prospective cohort study. Sleep. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsad253 ; Kumar N, Krishnamurthy S (2026). Social jet lag is associated with incident cardiovascular disease independent of sleep duration and cardiac genetic risk. Journal of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.70133

14. Accumulate 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week; brisk walking is enough

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time a lot; Willpower some; Benefit large

People who brisk walk 150–300 minutes per week have about a 30% lower probability of dying during the same period than people who don't exercise. Even if you don't hit that amount, it's still about 20% lower. At three to five times that amount, it bottoms out, at about 40% lower. Adding more won't lower it further, but it won't hurt either.

Cost

No money. 20–45 minutes per day. The hard part is sticking with it long-term.

Benefit

Pooling multiple tracking studies together (recording only, no grouping): people whose exercise amount reaches 1–2 times the guideline minimum have about a 31% lower mortality risk than people who don't exercise (HR 0.69). This amount is 7.5–15 MET·h/week, roughly equivalent to brisk walking 150–300 minutes/week. People who don't reach the minimum also have about a 20% lower risk (HR 0.80). People who reach 3–5 times the minimum have about a 39% lower risk (HR 0.61), which is the peak of the reduction. Adding more won't lower it further, but it won't hurt either (10 times or more is HR 0.69). Another pooled study using accelerometer measurements: the quarter of people with the most moderate-to-vigorous activity have about a 48% lower mortality risk than the quarter with the least (HR 0.52). An accelerometer is a device worn on the body that actually measures activity amount.

Notes

Just pick one of this item and item 11 (walk 7000–8000 steps per day). Note that this type of study is only tracking and recording. The few that actually measured activity with devices had short tracking times, participants skewed older, and the numbers are mixed with a component of "got sick first, then stopped moving." The real benefit is not as large as "risk reduced to 0.52 times."

Sources

Arem H et al. (2015). Leisure time physical activity and mortality: a detailed pooled analysis of the dose-response relationship. JAMA Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.0533 ; Ekelund U et al. (2019). Dose-response associations between accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time and all cause mortality: systematic review and harmonised meta-analysis. BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l4570

15. Play racket sports three times a week, 45 minutes each time

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time medium; Willpower some; Benefit large

People who often play tennis, badminton, or table tennis have about half the probability of dying during the same period as people who don't play, and about 56% lower cardiovascular mortality. Swimmers have about 28% lower. Running and soccer showed no difference in this dataset.

Cost

Court fees are a few dozen yuan each time. About 2 hours per week. The hard part is getting people and a venue together, and having to go every week.

Benefit

A UK tracking study of 80,300 people compared people who did a certain sport with people who didn't do that sport. People who played racket sports had about 47% lower mortality risk (hazard ratio 0.53). The credible range for this number is 95% CI 0.40–0.69. Cardiovascular mortality was about 56% lower (0.44, 0.24–0.83). Racket sports refer to tennis, badminton, and table tennis. For swimmers, these two numbers were 0.72 and 0.59 respectively. For aerobics they were 0.73 and 0.64. For cycling it was 0.85. Running and soccer showed no statistically detectable difference

Notes

Controversial. This type of study is only tracking and recording. People who play sports are themselves healthier and more social. The fact that the running group showed no difference also suggests that what may be at work is "what kind of people chose what sport." Don't conclude from this item that running is useless; this section has another item calculated by total exercise amount

Sources

Oja P, Kelly P, Pedisic Z, et al. (2017). Associations of specific types of sports and exercise with all-cause and cardiovascular-disease mortality: a cohort study of 80 306 British adults. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51(10), 812-817. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096822

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096822

16. Accumulate fragmented exertional activities like stair climbing and brisk walking commutes to four or five minutes per day

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

People who normally don't exercise at all, as long as they have three one-to-two-minute exertional activities per day, have about a 40% lower probability of dying during the same period than people with none at all, and nearly half the cardiovascular mortality. Exertional activities refer to things like stair climbing and brisk walking commutes.

Cost

No money, and no need to carve out extra exercise time. The hard part is remembering to take the stairs and walk faster, rather than taking the easy way out.

Benefit

There is a UK Biobank study whose subjects were 25,200 people who normally didn't specifically exercise. Average tracking was 6.9 years, during which 852 people died. Some people had 3 fragmented vigorous activities per day, each 1–2 minutes. Compared with people who had none at all, their mortality risk and cancer mortality risk were 38%–40% lower. Cardiovascular mortality risk was 48%–49% lower. People who accumulated 4.4 minutes of this type of activity per day had 26%–30% lower mortality risk and cancer mortality risk. Cardiovascular mortality risk was 32%–34% lower

Notes

Controversial. This study used wearable devices to actually measure activity amount, which is more reliable than having people fill out questionnaires from memory. But it is still only tracking and recording, with no grouping trial, and it only followed for 6.9 years. The subjects were people who didn't exercise at all; this item does not apply to people already exercising regularly

Sources

Stamatakis E, Ahmadi MN, Gill JMR, et al. (2022). Association of wearable device-measured vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity with mortality. Nature Medicine, 28, 2521-2529. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02100-x

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02100-x

17. Do 30–60 minutes of strength training per week

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time medium; Willpower some; Benefit medium

People who train strength 30–60 minutes per week have a 10%–20% lower probability of dying during the same period than people who don't train. Training more won't be better. Doing strength and aerobic exercise together works best.

Cost

Bodyweight squats and push-ups cost no money. Train 1–2 times per week, 20–30 minutes each time. The hard part is scheduling it into your week.

Benefit

Pooling multiple tracking studies together (recording only, no grouping): people who do strength training have a 10%–17% lower mortality risk than people who don't. More training is not better; the reduction is greatest at about 30–60 minutes per week, about 10%–20%, and training more won't add benefit. People who do both strength and aerobic exercise have lower mortality risk than people who do neither.

Notes

This type of study is only tracking and recording, and the exercise amount is still self-reported by participants. The evidence for the "overtraining makes it worse" part is very weak, so there's no need to limit training volume because of it. Strength training also has benefits for older adults in preventing falls and preserving muscle, which are written in item 1.

Sources

Momma H et al. (2022). Muscle-strengthening activities are associated with lower risk and mortality in major non-communicable diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. British Journal of Sports Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-105061

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-105061

18. Don't sit continuously for too long; get up and move around every so often

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

People who sit the longest have 2.6 times the probability of dying during the same period as people who sit the least. Sitting continuously for a long time at one stretch carries an additional separate risk. But as long as you have 60–75 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per day, the extra risk from prolonged sitting is basically offset.

Cost

No money, and getting up a few times doesn't take much time. The hard part is forgetting about time once you sit down, so you need to set a reminder.

Benefit

There is a US tracking study, recording only, no grouping, measured with accelerometers. People were divided into four groups by total daily sitting time. The group that sat the most had 2.63 times the mortality risk of the group that sat the least (HR 2.63). Then divided into four groups by how long they sat at one stretch: the group that sat the longest at one stretch had 1.96 times that of the group that sat the shortest at one stretch (HR 1.96). In other words, total sitting amount and how long you sit at one stretch are each independently associated. Another pooled analysis combined studies of over a million people, recording only, no grouping. People who sat more than 8 hours per day and hardly exercised had 1.59 times the mortality risk of another group (HR 1.59). That other group sat less than 4 hours per day and was the most active. About 60–75 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per day can offset the extra risk from prolonged sitting. Even if the most active group sat more than 8 hours per day, their HR was only 1.04, with no statistically detectable difference.

Notes

The reliable conclusion is: how much you move matters more than how long you sit, and when exercise amount is sufficient, the risk of prolonged sitting basically disappears. Note that this type of study is only tracking and recording, and among the people who sit the most there are many who were already sick, so "risk as high as 2.63 times" clearly contains "got sick first, then sat for long periods." In addition, in the same pooled analysis, the risk of watching TV more than 3 hours per day existed across people at all exercise amounts; the most active group merely pushed this starting point to 5 hours.

Sources

Diaz KM et al. (2017). Patterns of Sedentary Behavior and Mortality in U.S. Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A National Cohort Study. Annals of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.7326/M17-0212 ; Ekelund U et al. (2016). Does physical activity attenuate, or even eliminate, the detrimental association of sitting time with mortality? A harmonised meta-analysis of data from more than 1 million men and women. Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30370-1

19. Eat less processed meat (ham, bacon, sausage, luncheon meat)

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

People who eat the most ham, bacon, and sausage have about a 20% higher probability of dying during the same period than people who eat the least. For each additional serving of processed meat per day, the probability is also 20% higher.

Cost

No money, even saves money, and takes no time. The hard part is eating less of the thing you love.

Benefit

Pooling multiple tracking studies together (recording only, no grouping): the group that ate the most processed meat had about 23% higher mortality risk than the group that ate the least (RR 1.23). Total red meat was about 29% higher (RR 1.29). Unprocessed red meat was about 10% higher (RR 1.10), but this item showed no statistically detectable difference. Another pooled analysis calculated by daily intake amount. For each additional serving of processed meat per day, mortality risk was about 23% higher (RR 1.23). For each additional serving of red meat per day, it was about 10% higher (RR 1.10).

Notes

Controversial. The NutriRECS guideline used a common evidence grading method (GRADE) and rated these studies as "not very reliable." It only gave a very weak recommendation: just keep eating as you currently do. What the two sides are arguing about is whether the evidence is strong enough, not the direction. No study says processed meat has benefits. Unprocessed red meat has a small effect and also shows no statistically detectable difference. What needs to be controlled is processed meat.

Sources

Larsson SC, Orsini N (2014). Red meat and processed meat consumption and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis. American Journal of Epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwt261 ; Schwingshackl L et al. (2017). Food groups and risk of all-cause mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.117.153148 ; Johnston BC et al. (2019). Unprocessed Red Meat and Processed Meat Consumption: Dietary Guideline Recommendations From the NutriRECS Consortium. Annals of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.7326/M19-1621 (controversial side NutriRECS guideline)

20. Drink less or don't drink alcohol

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

After more than 100 g of pure alcohol per week, the more you drink, the earlier you die. 100 g of pure alcohol is about 2.5 L of beer. People who drink 100–200 g per week at age 40 live about half a year less; those who drink 200–350 g live one to two years less; those over 350 g live four to five years less. In terms of overall health, the most cost-effective amount is none.

Cost

No money, and saves money, and takes no time. The hard part is a bit of awkwardness when declining drinks in social settings.

Benefit

Pooling 83 prospective tracking studies together, recording only, no grouping, 600,000 current drinkers. The lowest point of mortality risk is at no more than 100 g of pure alcohol per week. This amount is about 2.5 L of 5% beer, or 300 mL of 40-proof liquor. People who drink 100–200 g per week at age 40 have about 6 months less life expectancy. Those who drink 200–350 g per week have 1–2 years less. Those over 350 g have 4–5 years less. The above three items were reported in the original text as years of life. The Global Burden of Disease Study GBD 2016 combined all kinds of health losses together, and the drinking amount with the lowest risk was 0 cups/week. There is also a pooled analysis that corrected for bias in study design. People who drink 1.3–24 g per day had about 7% lower mortality risk than people who never drank in their lives (RR 0.93). But this item showed no statistically detectable difference. Drinking 45–64 g per day was about 19% higher (RR 1.19). Drinking more than 65 g per day was about 35% higher (RR 1.35).

Notes

Controversial. The side that believes "drinking a little has benefits" is a pooled analysis of 34 long-term tracking studies. It reported: light drinkers had up to 17%–18% lower all-cause mortality. The amount it gave was no more than 4 drinks per day for men and no more than 2 for women. Within this amount, people who drank more actually had lower mortality. The opposing side believes that the "non-drinkers" group was mixed with people who quit drinking due to illness and people who were already in poor health. One pooled analysis specifically subtracted these confounders, and after doing so the protective effect disappeared. The Global Burden of Disease Study also gives 0 as safest. The prudent reading is: drinking a little won't noticeably shorten lifespan, drinking a lot definitely will. "Starting to drink for health" has no basis. For what to do if you want to drink less, see item 22 in this section (count your drinks first, then see a doctor). People who drink every day cannot quit abruptly on their own; see item 21 in this section (don't quit abruptly on your own)

Sources

Wood AM et al. (2018). Risk thresholds for alcohol consumption: combined analysis of individual-participant data for 599 912 current drinkers in 83 prospective studies. Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30134-X ; GBD 2016 Alcohol Collaborators (2018). Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31310-2 ; Zhao J et al. (2023). Association Between Daily Alcohol Intake and Risk of All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.6185 ; Di Castelnuovo A et al. (2006). Alcohol dosing and total mortality in men and women: an updated meta-analysis of 34 prospective studies. Archives of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.22.2437 (controversial side)

21. If You Drink Every Day and Get the Shakes and Palpitations When You Stop, Don't Quit Cold Turkey on Your Own

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Measure mortality; Money low; Time medium; Willpower some; Benefit large

People who drink heavily every day and stop suddenly will experience withdrawal reactions. Mild ones include tremors, sweating, palpitations, and inability to sleep; severe ones include seizures or delirium tremens, which is a life-threatening emergency. Norway followed more than 30,000 people, and among those who had experienced delirium tremens, 8% died each subsequent year. If you want to quit, go to the hospital first and clearly state how much you drink daily.

Cost

A single appointment in psychiatry or addiction medicine costs a few yuan to a few dozen yuan. Severe cases require a few days of hospitalization.

Benefit

A 2026 clinical review states: people who drink heavily long-term will develop withdrawal syndrome after suddenly stopping or significantly reducing alcohol, with manifestations including tremors, autonomic hyperactivity, anxiety, insomnia, perceptual disturbances, seizures, and delirium tremens, which is "common and potentially life-threatening" in general internal medicine practice. A Norwegian national registry cohort included 36,287 people diagnosed with alcohol dependence, alcohol withdrawal state, or delirium tremens between 2009 and 2015: the delirium tremens group had an annual mortality rate of 8.0%, the withdrawal state group 5.0%, and the alcohol dependence group 3.6%. The delirium tremens group had a standardized mortality ratio of 9.8 (95% CI 8.9–10.7, this is the credible range), meaning the risk of death is approximately 9.8 times that of the general population of the same age.

Notes

How to judge for yourself: drinking almost every day, getting tremors, sweating, palpitations, and inability to sleep after one day without drinking, needing a drink in the morning to feel comfortable—if you meet even one of these, don't stop on your own. The standard hospital approach is to use benzodiazepines to get through these few days while supplementing thiamine (vitamin B1). This is rated B because the Norwegian cohort describes "what happens later to people who have had delirium tremens," not "what happens if you quit cold turkey on your own"—the connection between the two is an inference. This item is not telling you to keep drinking; it's telling you to change how you stop. For how much weekly drinking counts as heavy, see item 20 in this section (drink less or not at all); for what to do if you want to drink less, see item 22 in this section (count your drinks first, then see a doctor).

Sources

Caputo F, Lungaro L, Costanzini A, De Giorgio R, Addolorato G (2026). Alcohol withdrawal syndrome in hospitalized patients: a practical review. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 107103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2026.107103 ; Bramness JG, Heiberg IH, Høye A, Rossow I (2023). Mortality and alcohol-related morbidity in patients with delirium tremens, alcohol withdrawal state or alcohol dependence in Norway: A register-based prospective cohort study. Addiction, 118(12), 2352–2359. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16297

22. If You Want to Drink Less, First Count How Much You Drink in a Week, Then Talk to a Doctor for a Few Minutes

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Measure mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit small

A doctor spending a few minutes looking at your drinking amount, explaining the risks, and helping you set a goal results in an average reduction of 20 grams of pure alcohol per week after one year, about half a liter of beer. Talking longer does not provide more benefit. For those who already can't stop, two medications abroad have been proven effective—approximately every 12 people treated results in 1 additional person who no longer returns to heavy drinking once they start.

Cost

No money needed. Just count your drinks and jot down a note each day. Asking a quick question during an outpatient visit costs nothing extra.

Benefit

Combining 34 randomized trials with 15,197 people: those who received brief interventions drank 20 grams less pure alcohol per week after one year compared to those who received minimal or no intervention (95% CI 12 to 28 grams less, this is the credible range; moderate quality evidence). The average baseline drinking amount of subjects in these studies was 244 grams per week. Brief intervention means advice or lifestyle counseling of no more than 5 sessions and less than 60 minutes total; talking longer did not add benefit. Regarding medications: combining 122 randomized trials with 22,803 people, acamprosate for every 12 people treated (95% CI 8 to 26) results in 1 additional person who no longer returns to any drinking; oral naltrexone 50 mg daily, for every 12 people treated (8 to 26) results in 1 additional person who no longer returns to heavy drinking.

Notes

The benefit magnitude is rated "small" because both pieces of evidence measured how much people drank, not mortality—according to this book's rules, if only surrogate endpoints are available, it's recorded as "small." The medication trials were mostly conducted abroad, most subjects already met diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence, and all trials simultaneously provided psychosocial interventions—the numbers represent "the additional benefit on top of that." Whether these two medications are indicated and can be prescribed in China should be based on doctors and drug labels; don't buy them online yourself. For those who already have withdrawal reactions, see item 21 in this section (don't quit cold turkey on your own).

Sources

Kaner EF, Beyer FR, Muirhead C, et al. (2018). Effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions in primary care populations. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2, CD004148. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004148.pub4 ; Jonas DE, Amick HR, Feltner C, et al. (2014). Pharmacotherapy for adults with alcohol use disorders in outpatient settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA, 311(18), 1889–1900. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2014.3628

23. Eat a Small Handful of Nuts Every Day

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Measure mortality; Money low; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

People who regularly eat nuts have about a 20% lower probability of death during the same period compared to those who don't. Eating once a week already shows a difference—about 10% lower. Eating a handful a day shows the most obvious difference.

Cost

Eating 28 grams per day costs about two to three hundred yuan per year. Just eat them casually; doesn't take time.

Benefit

Two U.S. follow-up studies, 119,000 people, over 3 million person-years. Person-years is the number of people multiplied by their respective follow-up years. Compared to people who don't eat nuts: those who eat less than once a week have about 7% lower mortality risk (hazard ratio 0.93, 95% CI 0.90–0.96, this is the credible range). Those who eat once a week have about 11% lower (0.89, 0.86–0.93). Those who eat 2–4 times a week have about 13% lower (0.87, 0.83–0.90). Those who eat 5–6 times a week have about 15% lower (0.85, 0.79–0.91). Those who eat 7 or more times a week have about 20% lower (0.80, 0.73–0.86)

Notes

Buy plain, unsalted ones. Nuts are not low in calories; don't eat them freely as snacks. Note that this type of research only follows a group of people long-term—nut eaters generally have better lifestyles overall, so the numbers should be discounted.

Sources

Bao Y, Han J, Hu FB, et al. (2013). Association of nut consumption with total and cause-specific mortality. New England Journal of Medicine, 369(21), 2001-2011. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1307352

https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1307352

24. Replace Some Red Meat with Fish and Poultry

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Measure mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit small

Eating two more servings of processed meat or red meat per week is associated with about 3% higher probability of death during the same period. Replacing with the same number of servings of fish or poultry shows no observable increase. The effect size of this item is on the smaller side within this section—it's something to swap casually, not something to stress over.

Cost

No money, no time. This is swapping one type of meat for another, not buying more. The difficulty is changing taste preferences a bit.

Benefit

Combining 6 U.S. follow-up studies with nearly 30,000 people. Eating two more servings of processed meat per week is associated with about 3% higher mortality risk (hazard ratio 1.03). The credible range for this number is 95% CI 1.02–1.05. Eating two more servings of unprocessed red meat per week is also about 3% higher (1.03, 1.01–1.05). The same consumption pattern replaced with poultry is 0.99 (0.97–1.02); replaced with fish is 0.99 (0.97–1.01). Neither showed a statistical difference.

Notes

The difference from two servings per week is very small—don't expect to live several more years by swapping meat. The usefulness of this item is: when spending the same money on meat, which type to choose.

Sources

Zhong VW, Van Horn L, Greenland P, et al. (2020). Associations of Processed Meat, Unprocessed Red Meat, Poultry, or Fish Intake With Incident Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality. JAMA Internal Medicine, 180(4), 503-512. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.6969

https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.6969

25. Replace Some Refined Rice and White Flour with Whole Grains

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Measure mortality; Money low; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

People who eat 90 g more whole grains per day have about 17% lower probability of death during the same period. 90 g is about three servings. At around 200 g per day, it continues to decrease further.

Cost

Brown rice, oats, and whole wheat flour are a bit more expensive than refined rice and white flour; doesn't take time. The difficulty is slowly adapting to the taste.

Benefit

Combining multiple follow-up studies (recording only, no grouping): eating 90 g more whole grains per day is associated with about 17% lower mortality risk (RR 0.83). 90 g is about 3 servings. This benefit continues up to 210–225 g per day. In another pooled analysis, eating 1 more serving per day is about 8% lower (RR 0.92).

Notes

You don't need to switch entirely to whole grains—switching half already puts you in the range where the benefit is most obvious. Note that this type of research is only observational recording—people who eat whole grains are already healthier to begin with, so the numbers are inflated. The results across studies also vary widely (I² 83%, the larger this number, the more inconsistent the conclusions across studies).

Sources

Aune D et al. (2016). Whole grain consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all cause and cause specific mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i2716 ; Schwingshackl L et al. (2017). Food groups and risk of all-cause mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.117.153148

26. Drink Tea More Than Three Times a Week

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Measure mortality; Money low; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

People with a tea-drinking habit have about 15% lower probability of death during the same period. Starting from age 50, they live an average of 1.26 years longer, with 1.41 additional years free of cardiovascular disease.

Cost

A few dozen to a few hundred yuan per year. Brewing a cup takes a few minutes; doesn't take much time.

Benefit

A Chinese study of 100,900 people (China-PAR), half of whom were followed for a full 7.3 years. People with a tea-drinking habit have about 15% lower mortality risk (hazard ratio 0.85, 95% CI 0.79–0.90, this is the credible range). Starting from age 50: people with a tea-drinking habit have 1.41 more years without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and 1.26 more years of life expectancy.

Notes

The controversy is: this type of research is only observational recording—Chinese men who drink tea have a higher proportion of smokers and drinkers. The authors have already adjusted for some of these effects, but not completely. One more point: don't drink it scalding hot; for hot beverage temperature, see the item in this section about hot beverage temperature. Some people worry about mycotoxins in tea leaves. A domestic study tested 158 samples of dark tea; 2 tested positive for aflatoxin. Calculated by the amount of tea people drink, the intake is below international acceptable values. Another study tested 352 tea samples for 16 mycotoxins; only ochratoxin A in dark tea had an average content exceeding the limit. Calculated by the amount Chinese people drink tea, neither study found a dietary risk. Store tea leaves in a dry place; don't drink moldy ones that have gotten damp. Green tea extract capsules are a different matter: high concentrations of catechins swallowed in large amounts at once can damage the liver; brewed tea doesn't have this problem. So this item only counts brewed tea—don't substitute extract supplements.

Sources

Wang X, Liu F, Li J, et al. (2020). Tea consumption and the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: The China-PAR project. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 27(18), 1956-1963. https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487319894685 ; Tea mycotoxins: Cui P et al. (2020). Quantitative analysis and dietary risk assessment of aflatoxins in Chinese post-fermented dark tea. Food and Chemical Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2020.111830 ; Zhou H et al. (2022). Mycotoxins in Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze): Contamination and Dietary Exposure Profiling in the Chinese Population. Toxins. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14070452 ; Green tea extract and liver damage: Hu J et al. (2018). The safety of green tea and green tea extract consumption in adults - Results of a systematic review. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.03.019

27. Drink Three to Four Cups of Coffee Every Day, No Sugar, No Milk Cap

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Measure mortality; Money low; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

People who drink three to four cups of coffee per day have about 17% lower probability of death during the same period compared to those who don't drink coffee.

Cost

Brewing your own costs one to two yuan per day. Brewing a cup takes a few minutes; doesn't take much time.

Benefit

An umbrella review combined the results of 201 meta-analyses, whose underlying original studies were all observational recordings without grouping. Result: people who drink 3–4 cups of coffee per day compared to those who don't drink coffee have 17% lower mortality risk (relative risk 0.83, 95% CI 0.79–0.88, this is the credible range)

Notes

The controversy is: the original authors explicitly state that the evidence comes almost entirely from observational recordings and also say "reliable randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether it is causal." This means randomly dividing people into two groups for comparison—observational recordings alone cannot establish causation. When drinking, have it black; adding sugar or milk cap will offset the benefits. Pregnant women, and people with arrhythmias, anxiety, or insomnia, should not apply this item.

Sources

Poole R, Kennedy OJ, Roderick P, et al. (2017). Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes. BMJ, 359, j5024. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j5024

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j5024

28. Eat Enough 5 Servings (About 400 g) of Fruits and Vegetables Every Day

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Measure mortality; Money low; Time medium; Willpower some; Benefit medium

Eating 200 g more fruits and vegetables per day is associated with about 10% lower probability of death during the same period. People who eat 5 servings per day have about 13% lower than those who eat only 2 servings. Eating more than that won't lower it further.

Cost

A few yuan to a dozen yuan per day. Takes some time each day to wash and cut. The difficulty is buying and eating enough every day.

Benefit

Combining multiple follow-up studies (recording only, no grouping): eating 200 g more fruits and vegetables per day is associated with about 10% lower mortality risk (RR 0.90). This benefit continues up to 800 g per day. Two large U.S. follow-up studies plus a pooled analysis of 26 studies: people who eat 5 servings per day have about 13% lower mortality risk than those who eat only 2 servings (HR 0.87). The best combination is 2 servings of fruit plus 3 servings of vegetables; more than that doesn't lower it further.

Notes

Eating 5 servings is enough—no need to reach 10 servings; both studies agree on this point. Note that this type of research is only observational recording, with obvious confounding: people who eat more vegetables differ from others in income, education, and exercise. So "about 10% lower risk" is already the upper limit.

Sources

Aune D et al. (2017). Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. International Journal of Epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyw319 ; Wang DD et al. (2021). Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mortality: Results From 2 Prospective Cohort Studies of US Men and Women and a Meta-Analysis of 26 Cohort Studies. Circulation. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.048996

29. Eat Less Ultra-Processed Food (Chips, Instant Noodles, Pastries, Fast Food)

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Measure mortality; Money 0; Time much; Willpower yes; Benefit large

People who eat the most ultra-processed food have about 20% higher probability of death during the same period compared to those who eat the least, and 50% higher cardiovascular death. However, this type of evidence is rated as not very certain, so the numbers should be discounted.

Cost

No money—just buying differently. You need to cook yourself, or spend time choosing minimally processed ingredients, which takes some time every day. The difficulty is long-term resistance to the "convenient is better" inertia.

Benefit

An umbrella review combined multiple meta-analyses, whose underlying original studies were all observational recordings without grouping. Result: people who eat more ultra-processed food compared to those who eat less have about 21% higher mortality risk (RR 1.21) and about 50% higher cardiovascular disease mortality (RR 1.50). The evidence grades for these two are "highly suggestive" and "convincing" respectively. But rated by the standard evidence grading method (GRADE), the certainty is low or very low.

Notes

The controversy is in three points. First, this classification system (NOVA) groups foods with very different nutritional profiles into one category. Second, it overlaps heavily with sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meat (items 7 and 19), making it unclear which one is actually having the effect. Third, rated by the standard evidence grading method (GRADE), the grade is also low. So after achieving those two items, how much additional benefit this item can bring is uncertain. The opposing evidence is the low rating given by the same umbrella review itself; currently there are no original studies reaching the opposite conclusion. So first achieve items 7 and 19 (don't drink sugar-sweetened beverages, eat less processed meat), then look at this item.

Sources

Lane MM et al. (2024). Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses. BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-077310

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-077310

30. Don't burn coal or wood for cooking or heating—switch to electricity or gas

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money more; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

People who burn coal or wood for cooking have about a one-tenth higher probability of dying during the same period; those who burn coal or wood for heating have about a 14% higher probability. People who have already switched to electricity or gas have a 13%–33% lower probability of death than those still burning coal or wood.

Cost

Rural households need to replace their stoves, plus fuel costs, amounting to several hundred to over a thousand yuan per year. Once replaced, it's done, and it doesn't take up time long-term. Urban residents are basically already using electricity or gas.

Benefit

There is a study in China that followed chronic diseases forward, recording only without grouping, of 271,000 adults without cardiovascular disease. People who used solid fuels like coal and wood for cooking had about an 11% higher risk of death than those using electricity or gas (HR 1.11). Those using solid fuels for heating had about a 14% higher risk (HR 1.14). Some people had already switched from solid fuels to clean fuels. Compared with those still burning solid fuels, their cooking-related risk was about 13% lower (HR 0.87). The heating-related risk was about 33% lower (HR 0.67). Outdoor PM2.5 is a separate account. Combining 104 follow-up studies. For every 10 µg/m³ higher in long-term exposure concentration, the risk of death from natural causes is about 8% higher (RR 1.08). Natural causes means non-accidental disease death.

Notes

This type of study is only tracking and recording. Households that switched fuels tend to be wealthier, so the figure "risk reduced to 0.67 times" is mixed with the influence of family circumstances. As for outdoor PM2.5, what an individual can do is limited—nothing more than moving, wearing a mask, using a purifier. There are no studies on air purifiers with mortality as the endpoint, so this section gives no numbers.

Sources

Yu K et al. (2018). Association of Solid Fuel Use With Risk of Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality in Rural China. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.2151 ; Chen J, Hoek G (2020). Long-term exposure to PM and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Environment International. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105974

31. Let hot things cool a bit before drinking—don't drink scalding tea, soup, or coffee

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

Drinking very hot tea gives you about 8 times the probability of getting esophageal cancer compared with drinking warm tea. Even just "hot" gives about 2 times. Drinking within less than two minutes after pouring gives about 5 times the risk of waiting more than four minutes.

Cost

Costs no money, just wait an extra two or three minutes each time. The hard part is resisting the urge to drink when you're craving it.

Benefit

In a high-incidence area for esophageal cancer in northern Iran, 300 patients were compared with 571 people who didn't get the disease. All the following are compared with people who drank warm tea. People who drank "hot" tea had about 2.07 times the chance of getting esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (odds ratio). The credible range for this number is 95% CI 1.28–3.35. Those who drank "very hot" had about 8.16 times (3.93–16.9). Those who drank within less than 2 minutes after pouring had about 5.41 times (2.63–11.1) that of those who waited more than 4 minutes.

Notes

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies hot drinks above 65 °C as Group 2A, meaning probably carcinogenic. The same assessment concluded that coffee itself is not carcinogenic. China's Chaoshan and Taihang Mountain areas have high rates of esophageal cancer, related to the habit of drinking while scalding hot.

Sources

Islami F, Pourshams A, Nasrollahzadeh D, et al. (2009). Tea drinking habits and oesophageal cancer in a high risk area in northern Iran: population based case-control study. BMJ, 338, b929. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b929 ; Loomis D, Guyton KZ, Grosse Y, et al. (2016). Carcinogenicity of drinking coffee, mate, and very hot beverages. Lancet Oncology, 17(7), 877-878. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(16)30239-X

32. Go out in the daytime and get some sun—don't stay out of the light all day

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Women who deliberately avoid the sun have a life expectancy 0.6–2.1 years shorter than those who get the most sun. The original text also says that non-smokers who avoid the sun have a life expectancy similar to smokers in the group that gets the most sun.

Cost

Costs no money. A dozen or so minutes a day, enough during the commute and lunch break.

Benefit

A Swedish study of 29,500 women, followed for 20 years. Compared with the group that got the most sun, those who deliberately avoided sun exposure had a life expectancy 0.6 to 2.1 years shorter. The authors wrote "non-smokers who avoid sun exposure have a life expectancy comparable to smokers in the group with the most sun exposure."

Notes

The controversy is: Sweden is at a high latitude with little sunshine, so the conclusion can't be directly transplanted to China. Also, people who avoid the sun may already be frail and not like going out. Also, don't get sunburned—still use protection under strong midday light, because sun exposure increases skin cancer risk.

Sources

Lindqvist PG, Epstein E, Nielsen K, et al. (2016). Avoidance of sun exposure as a risk factor for major causes of death: a competing risk analysis of the Melanoma in Southern Sweden cohort. Journal of Internal Medicine, 280(4), 375-387. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12496

https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12496

33. Keep BMI between 20–25, and lose weight if overweight

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time much; Willpower yes; Benefit large

The probability of death is lowest in the BMI 20–25 range. BMI 27.5–30 is about two-tenths higher, 30–35 is about four-and-a-half tenths higher, and 35–40 is nearly double. East Asians are more sensitive to overweight; for every 5 higher in BMI, the risk is about four-tenths higher.

Cost

Costs no money. Diet plus exercise takes time every day. This is the most willpower-demanding item in the whole section: you have to control your mouth and move your legs long-term, and maintaining after losing is harder than losing.

Benefit

Combining individual data from 239 follow-up studies (recording only, no grouping). This analysis kept only three types of people: never-smokers, those without chronic disease at enrollment, and those who survived more than 5 years after enrollment. Result: death risk is lowest at BMI 20–25. BMI 25–27.5 is about 7% higher (HR 1.07). 27.5–30 is about 20% higher (HR 1.20). 30–35 is about 45% higher (HR 1.45). 35–40 is about 94% higher (HR 1.94). 40–60 is 2.76 times (HR 2.76). For people with BMI above 25, for every 5 kg/m² higher, the risk in East Asian populations is about 39% higher (HR 1.39).

Notes

Controversy. One side believes "a bit fatter actually lives longer." Their pooled result: overweight people have about 6% lower death risk, mildly obese about 5% lower. That is, slightly chubby is actually slightly lower. The disagreement between the two sides is mainly about whether to exclude three types of data: smokers, people who already have disease, and data from the first few years after enrollment. The reason to exclude is that seriously ill people lose weight first. After that analysis pooling 239 studies excluded these three types, the risk from overweight reappeared. Also note that no randomized trial proves that weight loss itself lowers all-cause mortality. The benefit above is from comparing people of different weights cross-sectionally, and can't be directly treated as a "discount you get just by losing it." People who want to lose weight don't need to put effort into meal timing—breakfast and 16:8 intermittent fasting have no extra benefit, see Section 6 Item 26 (don't expect breakfast or 16:8 to help you control weight).

Sources

Global BMI Mortality Collaboration (2016). Body-mass index and all-cause mortality: individual-participant-data meta-analysis of 239 prospective studies in four continents. Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30175-1 ; Flegal KM et al. (2013). Association of all-cause mortality with overweight and obesity using standard body mass index categories: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.113905 (the controversial side)

34. Eat chili more than four times a week

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

People who eat chili more than four times a week have about a 23% lower probability of dying during the same period than those who rarely eat it, and about one-third lower cardiovascular death.

Cost

Costs no money, and takes no time.

Benefit

An Italian study of 22,800 people, half of whom were followed for a full 8.2 years, with 1,236 deaths in total. People who ate chili more than 4 times a week had about a 23% lower death risk than those who rarely ate it (hazard ratio 0.77). The credible range for this number is 95% CI 0.66–0.90. Cardiovascular death was about 34% lower (0.66, 0.50–0.86).

Notes

The controversy is: this is tracking and recording done in the context of the Mediterranean diet, and people who eat spicy food may have an overall diet closer to the local traditional way of eating. Also note that people with gastroesophageal reflux, hemorrhoids, or irritable bowel will have worsened symptoms from eating spicy food, so there's no need to force it.

Sources

Bonaccio M, Di Castelnuovo A, Costanzo S, et al. (2019). Chili Pepper Consumption and Mortality in Italian Adults. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 74(25), 3139-3149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.09.068

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.09.068

35. Drink one or two servings of milk or yogurt a day

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

People who drink more than two servings of milk or yogurt a day have about a 17% lower probability of dying during the same period than those who don't drink it.

Cost

A few yuan a day, takes no time.

Benefit

The PURE follow-up study covered 21 countries and 136,000 people, with an average follow-up of 9.1 years, and 6,796 deaths in total. People who ate more than two servings of dairy a day had about a 17% lower death risk than those who ate none (hazard ratio 0.83). The credible range for this number is 95% CI 0.72–0.96, trend P=0.0052.

Notes

The controversy is: PURE included a large number of low- and middle-income countries, where being able to drink milk every day itself indicates a decent family situation, and this layer of confounding is hard to clean out. Also, people with lactose intolerance can switch to yogurt or low-lactose milk, and don't need to force themselves to drink milk.

Sources

Dehghan M, Mente A, Rangarajan S, et al. (2018). Association of dairy intake with cardiovascular disease and mortality in 21 countries from five continents (PURE): a prospective cohort study. Lancet, 392(10161), 2288-2297. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31812-9

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31812-931812-9)

36. No need to give up eggs, but don't eat three or four a day

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit small

For every extra half a whole egg eaten per day, the probability of dying during the same period is about 7% higher. Replacing that half with egg whites, fish, poultry, or nuts actually lowers all the death risks. No need to give up eggs, just don't eat three or four a day.

Cost

Costs no money, and takes no time.

Benefit

A U.S. follow-up study of 521,000 people, with 129,000 deaths in total. For every extra half a whole egg eaten per day, death risk is about 7% higher (hazard ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.06–1.08, this is the credible range). Replacing that half a whole egg with an equal amount of egg whites, poultry, fish, dairy, or nuts and legumes lowers death risk further, and also lowers death risk from cardiovascular, cancer, and respiratory causes.

Notes

Highly controversial: there are also studies following large numbers of people long-term, and pooled analyses of multiple studies, that found no link between eggs and mortality. The U.S. dietary guidelines have already removed the daily upper limit on cholesterol. This item only opposes eating three or four a day; one a day is nothing to be anxious about.

Sources

Zhuang P, Wu F, Mao L, et al. (2021). Egg and cholesterol consumption and mortality from cardiovascular and different causes in the United States: A population-based cohort study. PLoS Medicine, 18(2), e1003508. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003508

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003508

37. If you can, take a bath—don't just shower

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time medium; Willpower no; Benefit large

People who take a bath almost every day have about a 28% lower risk of cardiovascular events than those who bathe less than twice a week, and about 46% lower cerebral hemorrhage.

Cost

Spend a bit more on water and electricity. Half an hour each time.

Benefit

A Japanese study of 30,000 people, followed for 19 years, with 2,097 cardiovascular events in total. People who took a bath almost every day had about a 28% lower risk of cardiovascular events than those who bathed no more than twice a week (hazard ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.62–0.84, this is the credible range). Coronary heart disease was about 35% lower (0.65, 0.45–0.94). Stroke was about 26% lower (0.74, 0.62–0.87). Cerebral hemorrhage was about 46% lower (0.54, 0.40–0.73).

Notes

The controversy is: this result was produced in the Japanese population and bathtub culture, and most Chinese households don't have the conditions to bathe every day. Also, don't make the water too hot, and don't soak too long. For the elderly and people with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, water that's too hot and soaking too long are actually dangerous; every year in Japan a large number of elderly people die suddenly in bathtubs.

Sources

Ukai T, Iso H, Yamagishi K, et al. (2020). Habitual tub bathing and risks of incident coronary heart disease and stroke. Heart, 106(10), 732-737. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2019-315752

https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2019-315752

38. Keep naps under half an hour, don't exceed one hour, and if you absolutely must sleep one or two hours to get by, go check the cause

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

People who nap no more than one hour have no elevated risk of death and chronic disease, and their minds are a bit clearer. People who sleep more than an hour have about three-tenths higher coronary heart disease risk, and about two-tenths higher diabetes and obesity. So set an alarm and wake yourself at half an hour. If you absolutely must sleep one or two hours every day to get by, that's a signal you should go get your body checked.

Cost

Costs no money. Just set an alarm before sleeping, almost no willpower needed.

Benefit

An umbrella review pooled 16 meta-analyses and 244 health outcomes. An umbrella review is pooling the existing pooled studies again. Conclusion: people who nap less than 60 minutes have no elevated all-cause mortality or chronic disease risk, and the mental improvement is also most obvious (SMD 0.69, 95% CI 0.37–1.00, this is the credible range). Short naps of 20 to 30 minutes improve athletic performance the most (SMD 0.99, 0.67–1.31). People who nap more than 60 minutes have about 30% higher coronary heart disease risk, and about 20% higher diabetes and obesity risk. Another study had 1,338 elderly people over 56 wear wrist devices to actually measure naps, not relying on self-filled questionnaires. Followed for up to 19 years, during which 926 people died. For every extra 1 hour of napping, death risk is about 13% higher (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04–1.23). For every extra nap per day, about 7% higher (HR 1.07, 1.02–1.13). People who napped in the morning had about 30% higher than those who napped in the early afternoon (HR 1.30, 1.03–1.64).

Notes

Controversy. Both of the above are recording-only, no-grouping studies. People who nap long are inherently more likely to have sleep apnea, anemia, hypothyroidism, depression, or other chronic diseases. So how much of "people who sleep long die more" is caused by napping itself is unclear. Causal inference using genes (Mendelian randomization, 453,000 plus 541,000 people) supports only one thing: the more frequent the napping, the slightly higher the blood pressure and waist circumference. It did not find a causal effect of napping on coronary heart disease and diabetes. So don't treat "nap less" as a means to lower mortality. The "go check the cause" half is the author's suggestion, belonging to level C: if you're sleepy enough during the day that you must sleep long, first check nighttime sleep—snoring and gasping during sleep should be checked for sleep apnea, then check blood count and thyroid. For how short naps refresh you, see Section 3 Item 11 (nap 10 minutes when sleepy in the afternoon). For how long to sleep at night, see this section Item 13 (sleep 7 hours a night).

Sources

Du P, Li J, Hua Z, et al. (2026). Multiple Health Outcomes of Daytime Napping: A Comprehensive Umbrella Review. Public Health Reviews. https://doi.org/10.3389/phrs.2026.1609013 ; Gao C, Cai R, Zheng X, et al. (2026). Objectively Measured Daytime Napping Patterns and All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.7938 ; Dashti HS et al. (2021). Genetic determinants of daytime napping and effects on cardiometabolic health. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20585-3

39. After staying up late, catch up on sleep the next night, don't save it for the weekend

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

More than 80,000 people wore wrist devices that recorded how long they slept each day. Among those who didn't catch up the next day after sleeping too little, the mortality risk during the same period was about 15% higher than among those with regular sleep schedules. Among those who slept much too little and didn't catch up, it was about 42% higher. The two groups that did catch up showed no detectable increase in risk. So if you've stayed up late, go to bed earlier the next night.

Cost

Costs nothing. The hour or two of catch-up sleep is time you wanted to sleep anyway.

Benefit

UK Biobank, 85,618 people, average age 61.8 years, wearing wrist devices that recorded daily sleep, median follow-up 8 years. The study first calculated each person's own sleep need to define "short-sleep nights," meaning sleeping more than 2.5 hours less than what they needed. The first night after the short-sleep stretch counted as a "catch-up night," and if that night's sleep exceeded what they needed, it counted as caught up. Based on this, participants were divided into five patterns. Compared with people with regular sleep schedules, those who slept too little and didn't catch up had about 15% higher all-cause mortality risk (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01–1.31, this is the credible range). Those with cumulative short sleep exceeding 3.5 hours who didn't catch up had about 42% higher risk (HR 1.42, 1.24–1.63). Neither of the two catch-up groups showed a significant association, with the short-sleep-then-catch-up group at HR 1.12 (0.98–1.28). Among people who were already short sleepers, those who slept too little without catching up had about 19% higher risk (1.19, 1.01–1.40), and those with severe short sleep without catching up had about 38% higher risk (1.38, 1.17–1.63). This result was also replicated in another U.S. health survey of 4,586 people.

Notes

This is an observational, non-randomized study. People who couldn't catch up may have been busier and in worse health to begin with, and this layer can't be fully cleaned out. "The two catch-up groups showed no detectable increase in risk" means no difference was detected, not that catching up makes everything fine—their point estimates are still greater than 1. So this item says that after staying up late you should repay the sleep debt as soon as possible, not that you can stay up late freely. Also, two things need to be distinguished. The catch-up sleep in this study refers to sleeping a bit more on the first night after short sleep, not saving it up to catch up all at once on the weekend. Fixing "stay up late on weekdays, catch up on weekends" as a weekly rhythm is a different matter—that's called social jet lag, which itself is associated with cardiovascular disease; see item 13 of this section (sleep about 7 hours a night, with a fixed schedule). For the item about also getting up at a fixed time on weekends, see item 2 of section 3 (fixed wake-up time, same on weekends), which doesn't conflict with this item: this item tells you to go to bed earlier that night, not to sleep until noon the next day.

Sources

Li X, Zhang M, Li Z, et al. (2026). Acute sleep rebound following sleep restriction is associated with reduced mortality risk. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-72461-1

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-72461-1

40. The longer you work night shifts, the higher your cardiovascular risk—if you can transfer to another position, do it early

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money much; Time medium; Willpower yes; Benefit large

People who work night shifts have about 13% more cardiovascular disease and about 27% more cardiovascular deaths than those who don't work night shifts. And the longer you do it, the more it adds up: for every additional 5 years of night shifts, cardiovascular disease increases by about another 7%. So this account is calculated by years—if you can transfer to another position, do it early. As for night shifts causing cancer, the evidence is much softer than the circulating claims.

Cost

Transferring positions or changing jobs may mean less pay, and the night shift allowance is gone too. Job hunting takes time, and making the decision is hard. If you factor this into your calculations when choosing a job, the cost is zero.

Benefit

Pooling 23 follow-up studies, observational, non-randomized. People who work night shifts have about 13% higher risk of cardiovascular events (RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.10–1.16, this is the credible range). Cardiovascular death is about 27% higher (RR 1.27, 1.18–1.36). By years: for every additional 5 years of night shifts, cardiovascular disease incidence is about 7% higher (RR 1.07, 1.04–1.09), and cardiovascular death is about 5% higher (RR 1.05, 1.03–1.06). By disease: coronary heart disease incidence is about 22% higher (1.22, 1.16–1.28), coronary heart disease death is about 22% higher (1.22, 1.10–1.36), ischemic heart disease death is about 39% higher (1.39, 1.06–1.84), and stroke death is about 49% higher (1.49, 1.04–2.12). The stroke incidence item was not significant (1.06, 0.95–1.18).

Notes

These are all observational, non-randomized studies. Night shift workers already differ from others in smoking, weight, and income, and these can't be fully adjusted for. As for night shifts causing cancer, the evidence is much softer than the circulating claims. In an analysis pooling 12 studies and 12,132 breast cancer cases, people who had worked night shifts had only about 5% higher risk, with the credible range crossing 1 (RR 1.05, 0.96–1.14). The category of 20 or more years showed about 25% higher risk (1.25, 1.01–1.55), but after the authors performed influence analysis this item became non-significant, and after adjusting for possible publication bias it approached 1; the original wording is that this association is "far from established." In another study following Chinese men for 16.1 years with 8,202 cancer cases, night shifts were not associated with total cancer or most common cancers; only pancreatic cancer showed about 59% higher risk in the category of 11 to 20 cumulative years (HR 1.59, 1.09–2.31). So this item calculates the account based on cardiovascular risk, not cancer. This item does not claim that everyone should leave night shift positions; it just lays out the years-based account for you to calculate yourself. If you're already doing it, first fix what can be fixed: for quitting smoking see item 1 of this section (quit smoking, the sooner the better), for blood pressure and blood lipids see item 12 of this section (if you have high blood pressure or high blood lipids, take medication regularly as prescribed), and for how to catch up on sleep after night shifts see item 39 of this section (after staying up late, catch up on sleep the next night). There are also two countermeasures worth trying: concentrating eating during the daytime, and using bright light plus strict daytime blackout to shift the biological clock over. The latter is the only method proven to actually move the clock—under ordinary indoor lighting, after six consecutive night shifts the biological clock doesn't budge at all; switch to 7000 to 12000 lux bright light plus near-total darkness during the day, and it completely flips over in four days. The light at night must be bright enough, daytime sleep must have strict blackout, and you must wear sunglasses on the commute home to block morning light—all three are indispensable; missing the last one is as good as doing nothing. The endpoints of both countermeasures only go as far as metabolic indicators and sleep; no trial has tested whether following them can actually reduce cardiovascular risk. If you go back to daytime living on rest days, the clock gets pushed back again. Dosages, raw numbers, and the remaining sources, along with how the body tells time, are all in docs/生物钟和夜班.md.

Sources

Xi J, Ma W, Tao Y, et al. (2025). Association between night shift work and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1668848 ; Esposito G, Bravi F, Santucci C, et al. (2025). Night shift work and breast cancer risk in healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Occupational Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqaf040 ; Shen QM, Li ZY, Tan YT, et al. (2026). Night shift work and risk of total and site-specific cancer: results from a prospective cohort study among Chinese men. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4290 ; Czeisler CA, Johnson MP, Duffy JF, et al. (1990). Exposure to bright light and darkness to treat physiologic maladaptation to night work. New England Journal of Medicine, 322(18), 1253-1259. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199005033221801

Evidence levels: A, B · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 03 · 25 suggestions

Don't Waste Energy

[[A Cost-Effective Guide to Life]]

This section only accounts for energy and time. It looks at four things: the attention you can use each day, how quickly you react, how often you make mistakes, and how long it takes you to get back after being interrupted. All numbers are directly measured, from experiments, or from records tracking a group of people (cohort studies). These numbers are not converted into lifespan, nor into mortality rates. The evidence level for most items in this section is B. This is just how the field is; it does not mean the recommendations don't hold. Item 20 is about the expectations you should have when dealing with police, doctors, and bank tellers; it cites regulations, not experiments, so it is rated C. Item 15 (treating pessimistic thoughts as a symptom) and Item 23 (treating "others demand that I be perfect" as a symptom) cite mortality and suicide risk numbers, which are on a different footing from the other items in this section and are not compared together.

1. Turn off non-essential notifications, and keep your phone out of sight while working

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

When your phone rings once, even if you don't look at it or touch it, your performance on attention tasks drops. The drop is about the same as if you actually answered the call or sent a text. There is another situation: the phone is just sitting on the desk, and you resist looking at it, yet the available capacity of your brain still shrinks. The more attached you are to your phone, the more you drop.

Cost

Costs no money. Spend a few minutes changing your settings; it requires almost no willpower.

Benefit

Just receiving a notification, without looking at it or touching it, noticeably worsens performance on attention tasks. The magnitude of the worsening is comparable to actually answering calls and sending texts. This was done in a lab, with college students as subjects. Two other experiments showed that even when you successfully resist looking at your phone, having your own phone nearby also reduces the available capacity of your brain. People with strong phone dependence drop the most.

Notes

These are all single tasks in the lab. What the results are when accumulated day after day, no one has tested. For positions that truly require being on call, you can keep notifications only for a few contacts.

Sources

Stothart, Mitchum & Yehnert (2015). The attentional cost of receiving a cell phone notification. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance. https://doi.org/10.1037/xhp0000100 ; Ward, Duke, Gneezy & Bos (2017). Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One's Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity. Journal of the Association for Consumer Research. https://doi.org/10.1086/691462

2. Fix your wake-up time, even on weekends

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Moderate
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

The fifth of people with the most irregular schedules have a body clock about 2.5 hours later than the fifth with the most regular schedules. It's like living with jet lag long-term. Students with more regular schedules also perform better academically.

Cost

Costs no money. You have to sleep in less on weekends, which requires a bit of willpower.

Benefit

61 college students recorded for 30 days. The fifth with the most irregular schedules had a body clock (circadian rhythm) about 2.5 hours later than the fifth with the most regular schedules. Specifically, the time melatonin started secreting was 00:08 versus 21:32. The most sleepy, most sleep-desiring period was also about 1.8 hours later. The more regular the schedule, the better the academic performance (correlation coefficient r = 0.37).

Notes

There is only this one study, with few participants, and no control group. The researchers estimated that the difference in body clocks mainly comes from differences in daily light exposure. So fixing your wake-up time needs to be paired with morning light exposure to be effective. For how to recover after occasionally staying up late, see Section 2, Item 39 (after staying up late, make up for it the next night): the method is to go to bed earlier that night, not to sleep until noon the next day.

Sources

Phillips et al. (2017). Irregular sleep/wake patterns are associated with poorer academic performance and delayed circadian and sleep/wake timing. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-03171-4

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-03171-4

3. Sleep 7 to 8 hours every night, and don't treat 6 hours as enough

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Moderate
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Much; Willpower Some; Benefit Large

Sleeping only 6 hours a night for two weeks straight will drop your brain's performance to the level equivalent to two full nights without sleep. The trouble is you can't feel it. Your self-rated sleepiness rises for the first few days and then stops rising; people sleeping 6 hours and people sleeping 4 hours rate themselves as equally sleepy. So the statement "6 hours is enough for me" is itself a symptom of sleep deprivation.

Cost

Costs no money. You need to set aside 1 to 2 more hours each day for sleep. Going to bed earlier requires a bit of willpower.

Benefit

48 healthy adults aged 21 to 38 slept only 6 hours a night for 14 consecutive days. Their mental performance declined cumulatively, dropping to the level equivalent to 2 consecutive nights of no sleep at all. Yet their self-rated sleepiness rose only in the first few days and then barely increased afterward. The 6-hour group and the 4-hour group showed no difference in self-rated sleepiness. This was a controlled trial (RCT) with people randomly divided into two groups. In addition, short-term sleep deprivation (acute sleep deprivation, no more than 48 hours) had an effect size of g = -0.776 on simple attention lapses and g = -0.125 on reasoning accuracy. This part pooled 70 studies.

Notes

The most important point is that "I don't feel sleepy" is not evidence of getting enough sleep. People who sleep 6 hours long-term have only gotten used to the feeling; their performance has not kept up. The part that pooled multiple studies refers to staying up all night. "Long-term short sleep" is supported by only one randomized controlled trial.

Sources

Van Dongen, Maislin, Mullington & Dinges (2003). The cumulative cost of additional wakefulness. Sleep. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/26.2.117 ; Lim & Dinges (2010). A meta-analysis of the impact of short-term sleep deprivation on cognitive variables. Psychological Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018883

4. No caffeine after 2 p.m.

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Large

Drinking a large cup of coffee (400 mg) 6 hours before bed reduced instrument-measured sleep that night by more than 1 hour. Yet the sleep diaries people wrote themselves showed no difference at all. A regular cup of coffee (107 mg) must be finished more than 8.8 hours before bed to not affect sleep. For someone going to bed at eleven, 2 p.m. is the cutoff.

Cost

Costs no money. People used to drinking coffee in the afternoon have to resist, which requires a bit of willpower.

Benefit

Drinking 400 mg of caffeine 6 hours before bed reduced instrument-measured total sleep time by 1.1 to 1.2 hours compared with a placebo drink. Placebo means a control drink containing no caffeine. But the sleep diaries the subjects wrote themselves reported no difference, meaning they couldn't perceive it. Pooling multiple studies (meta-analysis): caffeine reduced total sleep time by an average of 45 minutes. The proportion of time actually asleep while lying in bed (sleep efficiency) dropped by 7%. A cup of coffee (107 mg) must be finished more than 8.8 hours before bed to not affect sleep.

Notes

The Drake study was done in only one lab, and the 400 mg used is on the large side, about two or three cups of coffee. For people who metabolize caffeine slowly, the cutoff should be even earlier. This item buys back sleep duration, and stacks with Item 3 (sleep 7 to 8 hours every night).

Sources

Drake, Roehrs, Shambroom & Roth (2013). Caffeine effects on sleep taken 0, 3, or 6 hours before going to bed. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.3170 ; Gardiner et al. (2023). The effect of caffeine on subsequent sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2023.101764

5. Change email and messages to fixed batch processing a few times a day

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Moderate
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

The same group of people was compared across two weeks. During the week when email was limited to checking only 3 times a day, daily stress was noticeably lower, while the number of emails sent and received was the same. When unrestricted, people checked an average of 15.5 times a day.

Cost

Costs no money. It takes a bit of time to make clear to colleagues how often you reply. Resisting the urge to check email constantly requires a bit of willpower.

Benefit

124 adults, compared before and after within the same group over two weeks (within-subject comparison). During the week limited to checking email 3 times a day, daily stress was noticeably lower than during the unrestricted week (effect size Cohen's d = 0.37). The number of emails received and replied to over the two weeks did not differ. At the start, when unrestricted, people checked email an average of 15.5 times a day.

Notes

Only one study, with a small-to-medium effect, measuring stress, not work accomplished. Instant messaging has not been directly studied by anyone; here it is only extrapolated.

Sources

Kushlev & Dunn (2015). Checking email less frequently reduces stress. Computers in Human Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.11.005

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.11.005

6. When doing work that requires continuous thought, block out even interruptions of just a few seconds

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

An interruption averaging 2.8 seconds doubles the error probability of the next operation. A 4.4-second interruption triples it. On-site tracking also found that the interrupted task took an average of 25 minutes to return to, with two other things inserted in between. Interrupted people worked faster, but stress, frustration, and effort were all higher.

Cost

Costs no money. Close the door, put on headphones, or hang a "Do Not Disturb" sign.

Benefit

An interruption averaging 2.8 seconds doubles the step error rate of tasks done step by step in sequence (sequential tasks). A 4.4-second interruption triples it. This was done in the lab. Another was an on-site observation of 24 office white-collar workers (information workers). They switched work topics an average of every 11 minutes. 57% of work topics were interrupted. Returning to the interrupted task that day took an average of 25 minutes 26 seconds. In between, 2.26 other things were inserted. There was also an experiment with 48 people: interrupted people worked faster, but reported higher stress, frustration, time pressure, and effort.

Notes

That on-site study divided interruptions into two types: one where others come to you, and one where you click on it yourself. Closing the door only blocks the former. The latter needs to be used together with Item 1 (turn off non-essential notifications) and Item 5 (batch process messages).

Sources

Altmann, Trafton & Hambrick (2014). Momentary interruptions can derail the train of thought. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030986 ; Mark, Gonzalez & Harris (2005). No task left behind? Examining the nature of fragmented work. CHI 2005. https://doi.org/10.1145/1054972.1055017 ; Mark, Gudith & Klocke (2008). The cost of interrupted work: More speed and stress. CHI 2008. https://doi.org/10.1145/1357054.1357072

7. Do one thing at a time; don't reply to messages while in meetings

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Moderate
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

When tasks switch, reactions become slower and mistakes become more likely. People who often have several screens open at once have not trained the ability to do several things at once; instead, they perform worse on task-switching tests.

Cost

Costs no money. Resisting replying to messages during meetings requires a bit of willpower.

Benefit

After task switching, reactions are noticeably slower and mistakes are more likely. This part comes from a review of multiple studies. The subjects of another lab study were college students. People who often use several media at once are called heavy media multitaskers. These people are more easily distracted by irrelevant things and irrelevant memories. They actually perform worse on task-switching tests.

Notes

How much extra switching back and forth costs varies greatly depending on the work; no uniform number is given here. The Ophir study is a comparison at the same point in time, so it can't distinguish whether "multitasking makes attention worse" or "people with worse attention prefer multitasking more."

Sources

Monsell (2003). Task switching. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1364-6613(03)00028-7 ; Ophir, Nass & Wagner (2009). Cognitive control in media multitaskers. PNAS. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0903620106

8. Don't look at glowing screens for an hour before bed; if you read, read paper books or e-ink

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Moderate
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Yes; Benefit Medium

Reading a glowing screen before bed makes you fall asleep about 10 minutes later than reading a paper book. Melatonin is suppressed by 55%. The next day the body clock is pushed back by more than 1.5 hours, you're sleepier in the morning, and it takes longer to become alert.

Cost

Costs no money. Putting down the phone an hour before bed requires long-term resistance to inertia, which requires willpower.

Benefit

In the lab, the same group of people did both conditions in turn (crossover trial). Reading a glowing e-book before bed made falling asleep about 10 minutes slower than reading a paper book (25.7 minutes versus 15.8 minutes). Evening melatonin was suppressed by 55%. The next day's body clock (circadian rhythm) was delayed by more than 1.5 hours; the time melatonin started secreting was 22:31 versus 21:01. The next morning they were sleepier and took longer to become fully alert.

Notes

Few participants, done in the lab with conditions well controlled. At everyday phone brightness and usage duration, the impact may not be this large. How much phone night mode helps was not tested in this study.

Sources

Chang, Aeschbach, Duffy & Czeisler (2015). Evening use of light-emitting eReaders negatively affects sleep, circadian timing, and next-morning alertness. PNAS. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1418490112

https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1418490112

9. Go to sleep on time; don't stay up late for games, short videos, or pornographic content

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Yes; Benefit Large

In 2025 Chinese people slept an average of 6.97 hours at night, and fell asleep at an average of 0:10. People who use phones and tablets before bed have more than twice the probability of not getting enough sleep, and 2.7 times the probability of daytime sleepiness. Even if the device is just placed in the bedroom without being used, the numbers are about the same. So the easiest method is to keep the phone out of the bedroom.

Cost

Costs no money. The hard part is long-term resistance to the inertia of "watch one more episode." Keeping the phone out of the bedroom is the least effort.

Benefit

In 2025, Chinese residents slept an average of 6.97 hours at night, with an average sleep onset time of 0:10 (Chinese Sleep Research Society). People who use portable devices before bed have about 2.17 times the likelihood of not getting enough sleep (OR 2.17). Poor sleep quality is about 1.46 times (OR 1.46). Daytime sleepiness is about 2.72 times (OR 2.72). Even if the device is just placed in the bedroom without being used, the numbers are about the same, about 1.79, 1.53, and 2.27 times (OR 1.79/1.53/2.27). This part pooled 20 cross-sectional surveys and 125,198 children and adolescents. Another cross-sectional survey: among 844 adults aged 18 to 94, those who still used their phones after turning off the lights fell asleep more slowly, had a lower proportion of time actually asleep while lying in bed, and were more fatigued during the day.

Notes

Controversial. The cost of staying up late itself is covered in Item 3 of this section (sleep 7 to 8 hours every night). As for what effect pornographic content has on ordinary people's energy and mental capacity, there is currently no reliable evidence that can clearly say whether it is caused by it. An analysis pooling multiple studies holds that the so-called "pornography problem" comes more from a mismatch between a person's beliefs and their own behavior. The problem is not the content itself. Another study pooled data from 280 men. The result was that viewing duration had no relationship with erectile function during sex with a partner. This item only targets its crowding out of sleep time. TODO (to be verified: the original page on the Chinese Sleep Research Society's official website is dynamically loaded and could not be captured; the numbers are based on the provincial health commission's reprint)

Sources

Carter et al. (2016). Association Between Portable Screen-Based Media Device Access or Use and Sleep Outcomes. JAMA Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.2341 ; Exelmans & Van den Bulck (2016). Bedtime mobile phone use and sleep in adults. Social Science & Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.11.037 ; Chinese Sleep Research Society (2026). 2026 China Sleep Health Research White Paper (reprinted by the Fujian Provincial Health Commission from a Health News report). https://wjw.fujian.gov.cn/jggk/csxx/xcc/mtbd/202603/t202603… ; Grubbs JB et al. (2018). Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence: An Integrative Model with a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Archives of Sexual Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1248-x (one of the disputing parties in the notes); Prause N, Pfaus J (2015). Viewing Sexual Stimuli Associated with Greater Sexual Responsiveness, Not Erectile Dysfunction. Sexual Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1002/sm2.58 (the second disputing party in the notes)

10. Don't make major decisions or send important messages late at night

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Small

People who stayed awake for 49.5 hours did a risky decision-making experiment. When well-rested, they quickly learned to avoid high-risk options; after sleep deprivation, they instead chose high-risk options again and again. The older they were, the more pronounced the effect. This tested the extreme case of two consecutive nights without sleep; how much a few hours of lost sleep matters hasn't been directly tested, but the direction suggests it's worth pushing important decisions to the next day.

Cost

Costs no money. Just push things to after you wake up.

Benefit

34 healthy people did the Iowa Gambling Task after 49.5 hours without sleep. This is an experiment measuring risky decision-making. When well-rested, they quickly learned to avoid high-risk options. After sleep deprivation, they instead chose high-risk options more often. Older people were more affected. This is one experiment, only this one study.

Notes

The study examined the extreme case of two consecutive nights without sleep. What happens to an ordinary person who stays up until 2 a.m. hasn't been directly tested. The "don't send messages" half is the author's experience (level C); sending it the next day isn't too late.

Source

Killgore, Balkin & Wesensten (2006). Impaired decision making following 49 h of sleep deprivation. Journal of Sleep Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2006.00487.x

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2006.00487.x

11. If you're sleepy in the afternoon, nap for 10 minutes, not half an hour

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

A 10-minute nap refreshes you on the spot, and the effect lasts about two and a half hours. A 5-minute nap is basically useless. A 20-minute nap doesn't take effect until half an hour later. With a 30-minute nap, you first have a groggy period upon waking, during which your performance is worse than not napping at all.

Cost

Costs no money. Spend 10 minutes, and find a place where you can lie down or lean over.

Benefit

After not getting enough sleep the night before, a 10-minute nap immediately improves drowsiness, fatigue, energy, and mental performance, with some of the benefit lasting past 155 minutes. A 5-minute nap has almost no benefit. The benefit of a 20-minute nap doesn't appear until after 35 minutes. After a 30-minute nap, there's first a period of sleep inertia—that is, performance is actually worse right after waking—before it improves.

Notes

Only one laboratory study, and the subjects were all healthy young people. If you can't fall asleep, don't force it. Whether lying with your eyes closed for 10 minutes helps has no research support. Napping for over an hour is instead linked to higher mortality and coronary heart disease risk; see Section 2, Item 38 (keep naps within half an hour).

Source

Brooks & Lack (2006). A brief afternoon nap following nocturnal sleep restriction: Which nap duration is most recuperative? Sleep. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/29.6.831

https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/29.6.831

12. When working in an open-plan office, use earplugs or find a quiet room for memory-intensive work

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money Little; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Small

When background noise rose from 39 decibels to 51 decibels, people remembered fewer words, felt more tired, and were less willing to work. During breaks, watching nature footage with sound restored energy better than continuing to listen to office noise.

Cost

Earplugs cost a few dozen yuan. Booking a quiet meeting room takes some time.

Benefit

Students worked in a simulated open-plan office. When background noise rose from 39 decibels to 51 decibels (dB, LAeq), they remembered fewer words, rated themselves as more fatigued, and were less willing to work. During breaks, watching nature films with sound restored energy ratings better than listening only to river sounds or office noise.

Notes

Only one laboratory study. The most disruptive part of noise is speech whose content you can make out. White-noise headphones help with this, but this study didn't test headphones.

Source

Jahncke, Hygge, Halin, Green & Dimberg (2011). Open-plan office noise: Cognitive performance and restoration. Journal of Environmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2011.07.002

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2011.07.002

13. Don't work more than 49 hours per week

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Time; Money Little; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Large

British munitions factory output records during World War I show: within 49 hours per week, the more you worked, the more you produced. Beyond 49 hours, the growth rate began to fall. Working 70 hours a week and 56 hours a week produced almost the same output; the extra 14 hours were wasted.

Cost

You may earn less overtime pay. You may also need to spend effort negotiating with your superiors.

Benefit

Output records of British munitions factory workers during World War I: within 49 hours per week, output was proportional to hours worked. Beyond 49 hours, output growth began to slow. Maximum was reached at about 63 hours. Output from working 70 hours was almost no different from working 56 hours—that is, the extra 14 hours were wasted.

Notes

The data come from a factory a hundred years ago, doing physical labor, and the workers were mostly women. This threshold doesn't necessarily carry over the same way to knowledge work; the author himself says other types of work might be higher or lower. What's reliable is the direction: past a certain point, working more produces almost no extra output. The specific number 49 is not reliable.

Source

Pencavel (2015). The Productivity of Working Hours. The Economic Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecoj.12166

https://doi.org/10.1111/ecoj.12166

14. When you notice you're repeatedly dwelling on the same upsetting thing, switch to a hands-on task

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

Repeatedly dwelling on the same upsetting thing won't produce an answer. It only worsens depression, nails negative thoughts down more firmly, makes people less able to solve problems and less likely to actually act, and also drains the people around you who are willing to listen. When you notice you're going in circles, go do something hands-on.

Cost

Costs no money. The hard part is first noticing that you're ruminating (this is called rumination); noticing itself takes practice.

Benefit

A review of multiple studies says that repeatedly dwelling on the same upsetting thing worsens depression. This kind of dwelling is also called rumination. It also reinforces negative thinking and weakens problem-solving ability. It hinders practical action and drains the people around you who are willing to listen. It is associated with anxiety, binge eating, alcohol abuse, and self-harm.

Notes

This is the hardest item in this section to attach numbers to; the review only gives direction. "Switch to another task" is the author's own approach. The literature can only support one sentence: distracting your attention is better than continuing to go in circles. As for what task to switch to, no one has compared.

Source

Nolen-Hoeksema, Wisco & Lyubomirsky (2008). Rethinking Rumination. Perspectives on Psychological Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6924.2008.00088.x

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6924.2008.00088.x

15. Treat thoughts like "things will definitely get worse" as symptoms, not facts

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

In a twin study that followed people for 20 years, for each step higher in pessimism, the probability of death during the same period was about 13% higher, and the probability of dying from cardiovascular disease was about 20% higher. Conversely, a high optimism score did not bring corresponding benefits. So what needs to be addressed is pessimism, not "not being positive enough."

Cost

Costs no money. The hard part is treating this kind of thought as a symptom rather than as a fact.

Benefit

2,978 twins over 50 in Australia, followed for an average of 20 years, during which 1,068 died. For each 1 standard deviation higher on the pessimism scale, the risk of death during the same period was about 13% higher (hazard ratio 1.134). The credible range for this number is 95% CI 1.065–1.207, P=8.85×10⁻⁵. Cardiovascular death was about 20% higher (1.196, 1.045–1.368, P=0.0093). It was unrelated to cancer death. Optimism scores also showed no clear association with mortality.

Notes

Controversial. This is only observational, with no grouping. Some would say "it's actually that illness comes first, then pessimism"; the author rebuts that if that were true, cancer death should also be related. But there may still be unmeasured factors. Note that optimism had no protective effect, so there's no need to force yourself to "think positively." What you need to do is not treat pessimistic expectations as accurate predictions of the future.

Source

Whitfield JB, Zhu G, Landers JG, Martin NG (2020). Pessimism is associated with greater all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but optimism is not protective. Scientific Reports, 10, 12609. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69388-y

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69388-y

16. Reduce relationships that drain you, and learn to refuse requests you don't want to take on

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Yes; Benefit Medium

The harm caused by one person who drains you is greater and more consistent than the benefit brought by one person who supports you. So do subtraction first, then addition.

Cost

Costs no money. In the short term there will be social friction, and you may lose some relationships. Speaking up to refuse takes considerable willpower.

Benefit

A survey of 120 widowed women aged 60 to 89: the association between distressing interactions and psychological well-being was more consistent and stronger than that of pleasant interactions. That is, the harm caused by one person who drains you is greater than the benefit brought by one person who supports you.

Notes

The respondents are a special population, and it was a one-time questionnaire, so the sequence can't be determined. It measured well-being, not energy. Placing it in this section is the author's inference. There is no objective standard for which relationships count as "draining"; only you can judge.

Source

Rook (1984). The negative side of social interaction: Impact on psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.46.5.1097

https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.46.5.1097

17. Fix low-value decisions like what to wear and what to eat

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Small

This item has no hard evidence. The original experiment behind "making choices depletes willpower" failed to replicate in two large-scale replications. Those two involved 2,000 people and 3,000 people respectively, with multiple labs working together, and the effect was basically zero. Fixing what to wear and what to eat is still worth doing, for the reason of saving those few minutes and a few rounds of agonizing—not "saving willpower."

Cost

Costs no money. At first it takes a bit of time to set the default options.

Benefit

Cannot be quantified. The original experiment claimed that making choices and self-control consume a shared limited resource (ego depletion). But later there were two large-scale replications, both with pre-registered protocols and multiple labs redoing it as-is, and neither produced the same result. One was 23 labs and 2,141 people, effect size d = 0.04, 95% CI [-0.07, 0.15] (credible range). The other was 36 labs and 3,531 people, d = 0.06. The difference is too small to count.

Notes

Controversial. "Decision fatigue" is treated as settled in popular reading, but when others later redid the original experiment, most couldn't produce the same result. This item is kept only because it costs almost nothing and the time saved is real. Don't expect it to improve your afternoon judgment.

Source

Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Muraven & Tice (1998). Ego depletion: Is the active self a limited resource? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.5.1252 ; Hagger et al. (2016). A Multilab Preregistered Replication of the Ego-Depletion Effect. Perspectives on Psychological Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691616652873 ; Vohs et al. (2021). A Multisite Preregistered Paradigmatic Test of the Ego-Depletion Effect. Psychological Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797621989733

18. When angry, leave the scene first, and treat the other person as weather rather than as an enemy

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

Reinterpreting what just happened from a different angle, or putting yourself in the other person's position for a moment, can both genuinely bring emotions down, and the latter works better. Suppressing it without showing it has no effect. Also, people who punished the offender afterward instead dwelled on the matter longer; people who didn't retaliate moved on faster. The satisfaction revenge brings is overestimated in advance.

Cost

Costs no money. In the moment you have to hold back from talking back, turn and walk away, and decide later whether to deal with it. This takes some practice.

Benefit

Combining 306 experimental comparisons (meta-analysis): reinterpreting what happened (cognitive reappraisal) had an effect size on emotion of d = 0.36. Taking the other person's perspective gave d = 0.45. Distraction gave d = 0.27. Suppressing feelings was ineffective (d = -0.04). Another three experiments showed: people who punished the offender instead dwelled on the other person longer afterward; people who didn't punish moved on faster. People overestimated in advance the satisfaction revenge would bring.

Notes

The part that pooled multiple studies measured emotional intensity, not energy, and the effect was small to medium. The revenge part had only one set of experiments, so it's rated B. The "empty boat" is a parable from Zhuangzi's "Shan Mu": an empty boat bumping into you doesn't make you angry, but a boat with someone in it does, even though the bump is the same. This is an analogy, not evidence. If there's real loss, go through the legal paths in Sections 8 and 9; it's much cheaper than blowing up on the spot.

Source

Webb TL, Miles E, Sheeran P (2012). Dealing with feeling: A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of strategies derived from the process model of emotion regulation. Psychological Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027600 ; Carlsmith KM, Wilson TD, Gilbert DT (2008). The paradoxical consequences of revenge. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012165

19. When feeling down, first do the few things with the best cost-effectiveness: move, get sunlight, sleep on schedule, talk to someone, call 12356

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Medium; Willpower Some; Benefit Large

For depression, in an analysis pooling 218 randomized trials, brisk walking and jogging had the best effect, yoga and strength training were slightly less, and the greater the intensity, the more effective. Light exposure had a very strong effect on seasonal depression and was also effective for non-seasonal depression. Online self-help cognitive behavioral courses work, and when symptoms are more severe, doing them with guidance is better. If you're having dark thoughts, call 12356 first.

Cost

Costs no money, or very little. Brisk walking, jogging, or strength training several times a week. Go outside for sunlight during the day. Fix your schedule. Call a phone number when you're having dark thoughts.

Benefit

Pooling 218 randomized controlled trials and 14,170 people (network meta-analysis). The control group consisted of people also doing other activities. Compared with them, walking or jogging had an effect size on depression of g = -0.62 (95% credible interval -0.80 to -0.45). Yoga -0.55, strength training -0.49. The greater the intensity, the better the effect. Pooling multiple light therapy studies: effect size for seasonal depression 0.84 (0.60 to 1.08), for non-seasonal depression 0.53 (0.18 to 0.89). There was also an analysis pooling individual patient data from each study. It looked at internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, that is, online self-help courses. Both guided and unguided were better than the control group. For moderate to severe cases, guided was better. Moderate to severe means PHQ-9 greater than 9. 12356 is the national psychological assistance hotline, open no less than 18 hours daily.

Notes

These are all adjunctive means for mild to moderate depression. For moderate to severe cases or with suicidal thoughts, seek medical care, and call 12356 first (see Section 1, Item 25). Exercise trials mostly had few participants, and there was no way to blind who was exercising like in drug trials. Light studies only go up to 2003, and had few participants. "Sleep on schedule" and "talk to someone" are the author's experience, with no separate literature. Don't turn "move" into a demand on depressed people; being able to walk ten minutes counts.

Source

Noetel M et al. (2024). Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-075847 ; Golden RN et al. (2005). The efficacy of light therapy in the treatment of mood disorders: a review and meta-analysis of the evidence. American Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.4.656 ; Karyotaki E et al. (2021). Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression: A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Network Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.4364 ; National Health Commission (2024). Notice on the Application of the "12356" National Unified Psychological Assistance Hotline Telephone Number (Guo Wei Yi Zheng Han [2024] No. 259). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202412/content_6994470…

20. Treat police officers, doctors, and bank tellers as people working a job by the rules, not as characters: what moves things forward is paperwork and deadlines, not emotions

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Small

A child's way of thinking is "police officers catch bad guys, doctors save lives." An adult's way of thinking should be: they are people working a job by the rules of their position, boxed in by paperwork, deadlines, and oversight. Whether the other person has a good attitude and whether your matter gets handled and how many days it takes are basically two separate things. So what you should do is get receipts, note deadlines, and appeal through the proper channels—not argue until the other person agrees with you.

Cost

Costs no money. What changes is your expectations and the order of your actions. The first time, you have to resist the urge to "argue until the other person agrees with you."

Benefit

Swap out your actions when dealing with institutions: from "begging, getting angry, repeatedly retelling your grievances" to "getting paperwork, noting deadlines, appealing through the proper channels." What you save is the time spent on repeated communication and repeatedly replaying things in your head. This is a one-time adjustment in mindset, not a daily time saver. What you can use to verify this are the deadlines themselves—they are all written in the documents. For public security cases, counting from the day of acceptance, the handling period shall not exceed 30 days; if the case is major and complex, it may be extended by 30 days upon approval by the public security organ at the next higher level. For cases with a complainant where a decision is made not to file the case, the notice of non-filing shall be served within 3 days. The complainant may apply for reconsideration within 7 days, and the public security organ shall make a decision within 30 days. If still dissatisfied, they may apply to the next higher level for review within another 7 days.

Notes

Reason for rating C: the judgment that "many people treat the person behind the counter as a character, not as someone working a job" itself has no literature to cite. What can be cited is only the rules half: deadlines, paperwork, and remedy channels are all in writing. All the numbers cited in this entry come from the two Ministry of Public Security regulations in Section 8, Entry 39 (the process after calling the police). This entry does not solve "the other person has a bad attitude," nor does it promise that "following the process will definitely get it done." What it swaps out is only your expectations and your first action. Bank tellers and government service windows are the same: their operations leave a trail, require review, and errors are subject to accountability. So what you should do is keep receipts, ask for return slips, and complain through the proper channels—not guess wildly based on "will he screw me over." Legitimate priorities are all written in the open, such as emergency care being triaged by severity of condition rather than first-come-first-served (Section 24, Entry 8, emergency pre-triage). If you want to thank a doctor who saved you, go through thank-you letters and satisfaction evaluations, see Section 24, Entry 12. If you want to "give them something so they pay more attention," for people handling law enforcement cases that is bribery, and it is explicitly aggravated, see Section 8, Entry 40. If you encounter obvious differential treatment, that is the object of complaints and oversight, not an unspoken rule to imitate.

Sources

Ministry of Public Security (2020). Provisions on Procedures for Handling Criminal Cases by Public Security Organs (after amendment by Ministry of Public Security Order No. 159, Articles 171, 178, 179). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2020/content_5549884.htm ; Ministry of Public Security (2013/2019 amendment). Provisions on Procedures for Handling Administrative Cases by Public Security Organs (Ministry of Public Security Orders No. 125, No. 149). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2013/content_2321117.htm

21. Don't treat "how others are doing" as daily required reading: set limits on or turn off apps for scrolling through peers' updates

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Yes; Benefit Large

People who habitually compare upward online have worse moods and lower self-esteem; combining more than 36,000 people gives a moderate-strength correlation. Correlation is not causation, but there are also randomized trials: deactivating Facebook for four weeks slightly improved happiness. Another study limited three platforms to 10 minutes each per day, and after three weeks loneliness and depression both dropped. Count the costs together: during those four weeks of deactivation, knowledge of current events also dropped by a chunk.

Cost

Costs no money. Setting limits on apps, or deactivating accounts, takes only a few minutes. The hard part is not opening them afterward—you have to fight inertia long-term.

Benefit

Combining multiple studies (meta-analysis): 54 independent samples, 94 effect sizes, N = 36,583, using a three-level random-effects model. The average correlation between online upward social comparison and psychological maladjustment is r = 0.330 (95% CI 0.289–0.370, credible range). Broken down by specific outcome: socially evaluative negative emotions such as fear of being looked down on, 0.438; anxiety, 0.382. Depression, 0.306; low well-being, 0.268; low self-esteem, 0.263. Age, cultural background, and year of data collection do not affect the strength of this association. Longitudinal studies did not find stronger results than cross-sectional surveys. There is also a randomized controlled trial with 2,743 U.S. Facebook users as subjects. Of these, 61% were willing to deactivate for less than $102. These people were randomly assigned to a four-week deactivation group or a control group. Deactivation freed up 60 minutes per day for ordinary subjects. The subjective well-being index increased by 0.09 standard deviations. Sub-items were life satisfaction 0.12, anxiety 0.10, depression 0.09, happiness 0.08. After subtracting the component that is coincidental from multiple comparisons, these still hold. The authors provide a reference point: psychological interventions that make people more positive. Such interventions produce about +0.34 standard deviations for subjective well-being and about -0.23 standard deviations for depression. So this effect is about 25% to 40% of conventional psychological interventions. The concurrent cost is: current events knowledge index dropped 0.19 standard deviations, and degree of political polarization dropped 0.16 standard deviations. After the experiment ended, the deactivation group's Facebook use was still 12 minutes/day lower than the control (0.31 standard deviations, a 23% reduction). There is also another randomized controlled trial with 143 undergraduates as subjects. They were randomly divided into two groups. One group limited Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat to 10 minutes per day each. The other group used them as usual. After three weeks, the limited group's loneliness and depression dropped significantly. Both groups' anxiety and fear of missing out were lower than at the start.

Notes

The "correlation" half only shows that two things appear together; it cannot be read as one causing the other, and the authors themselves say more longitudinal studies are needed. The randomized half can speak to causation, but the subjects were Facebook users before the 2018 U.S. midterm elections, so transplanting it to Chinese platforms is a forced fit. The Hunt study had only 143 undergraduates, and it is just this one study. The effect sizes are all small—don't expect that turning off apps will solve emotional problems. What this entry aims to block is the category of use that is "seeing how others are doing." Contacting family and friends, looking up information, and job hunting are not included. If you really can't hold back, start with turning off push notifications, "people you may know," and homepage recommendations. For the overall screen time ledger, see Section 4, Entries 15 and 16 (hard cap on short videos, don't read rolling news). For what to do first when you're feeling down, see Entry 19 of this section (get moving, get sunlight, sleep on time). For regaining a sense of identity by buying things, see Section 6, Entry 23. For spending more money to "move up a notch," see Section 6, Entry 24.

Sources

Lei Y, Hu S, Sun Y, Zheng L (2026). "Looking up" linked to feeling down: a meta-analysis of online upward social comparison and psychological maladjustment. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1825169 ; Allcott H, Braghieri L, Eichmeyer S, Gentzkow M (2020). The Welfare Effects of Social Media. American Economic Review, 110(3), 629–676. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20190658 ; Allcott H, Braghieri L, Eichmeyer S, Gentzkow M (2019). The Welfare Effects of Social Media. NBER Working Paper No. 25514 (the specific numbers cited in this entry were checked word by word against this version; the published abstract does not contain the numbers). https://www.nber.org/papers/w25514 ; Hunt MG, Marx R, Lipson C, Young J (2018). No More FOMO: Limiting Social Media Decreases Loneliness and Depression. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 37(10), 751–768. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2018.37.10.751

22. When you feel "everyone saw me embarrass myself," divide that estimate by two

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Small

Have people put on an embarrassing T-shirt and walk into a room with other people. The wearers estimated that 46% of onlookers would recognize who was printed on the shirt; in reality only 23% did—exactly double. Switching to a T-shirt they picked themselves and considered presentable, the estimate was 48% and the actual was 8%, a sixfold difference. In another set of studies, after conversations people generally underestimated how much their conversation partner liked them. So the judgment "I just said something stupid and everyone remembers it" is itself inflated; cutting it in half is still inflated.

Cost

Costs no money. It's just asking yourself one more question when you're nervous: did they really see it?

Benefit

Experiment 1: participants were asked to wear a T-shirt with Barry Manilow's face printed on it and walk into a room with other participants. The wearers estimated on average that 46% of onlookers could correctly identify who was on the shirt. The onlookers' actual accuracy was 23%, and the estimate was exactly twice the actual value. Subtracting the actual value from the estimate for each session, the average overestimate was 23 percentage points (95% CI 9–38, credible range). After excluding the two sessions with only two and three onlookers, it was 27 percentage points (11–43). Experiment 2: participants instead wore a T-shirt they chose themselves and considered positive. The average estimate was 48%, and the onlookers' actual accuracy was 8%, a sixfold difference. Another series of studies had three scenarios: stranger paired conversations, college freshman roommates, and adult workshops. The result was that people systematically underestimated how much their conversation partner liked them, and also underestimated how much the other person enjoyed the conversation. The authors call this the "liking gap." It exists in conversations of different lengths and persists for months between freshman roommates.

Notes

Reason for rating B: these are all small laboratory and campus studies, with scenarios involving clothing and chatting with strangers. Transplanting them to "being talked about by colleagues" or "saying the wrong thing in a meeting" has no direct evidence. These numbers only show the direction and rough magnitude of the overestimate; they do not give you a coefficient you can apply. This entry is not saying that others' opinions don't matter at all. In situations that genuinely evaluate you, such as interviews, defenses, assessments, and physical exam reports, the evaluation is real, and you should prepare as needed. What it targets is the everyday feeling that "everyone is looking at me"—the opponent in that part is your own estimation bias.

Sources

Gilovich T, Medvec VH, Savitsky K (2000). The spotlight effect in social judgment: An egocentric bias in estimates of the salience of one's own actions and appearance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 211–222. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.78.2.211 ; Boothby EJ, Cooney G, Sandstrom GM, Clark MS (2018). The Liking Gap in Conversations: Do People Like Us More Than We Think? Psychological Science, 29(11), 1742–1756. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797618783714

23. Treat "others demand that I be perfect" as a symptom, not as a fact

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Small

The feeling that "people around me demand that I be perfect and I'll be rejected if I can't do it" has a correlation of 0.28 with suicidal thoughts. Switch it to "I demand that I be perfect," and the correlation is only 0.10. The dangerous half is not high standards themselves; it is feeling that the standards are imposed on you by others. After subtracting pre-existing suicidal thoughts, the former feeling still predicts an increase in thoughts at follow-up.

Cost

Costs no money. The hard part is treating this kind of thought as something that needs to be handled, rather than as an accurate measurement of others' real demands.

Benefit

Combining multiple studies (meta-analysis): 45 studies, N = 11,747, with populations of undergraduates, medical students, community adults, and psychiatric patients, using a random-effects model. Below are the weighted average correlations with suicidal thoughts. Perfectionistic concerns r = .28 (95% CI .24–.32, credible range; 42 studies, 7,936 people). Perfectionistic concerns is a composite including socially prescribed perfectionism, concern over mistakes, doubts about actions, and the discrepancy between reality and standards. Among these, socially prescribed perfectionism calculated separately is also r = .28 (.25–.32, 30 studies, 3,640 people). Perfectionistic strivings r = .10 (.07–.13, 31 studies, 4,588 people), which is a composite of self-oriented perfectionism and personal standards. Parental criticism r = .20 (.11–.29). Now look at the relationship with suicide attempts. Perfectionistic concerns r = .12 (.07–.17, 15 studies, 5,275 people). Socially prescribed perfectionism r = .19 (.08–.29, 8 studies, 689 people). The longitudinal part: after subtracting pre-existing suicidal thoughts, socially prescribed perfectionism still changed in the same direction as suicidal thoughts at later follow-up, with a small magnitude. Neither self-oriented nor other-oriented perfectionism showed an association.

Notes

Reason for rating B: most included studies are one-time questionnaires and cannot show temporal order. The correlation strength is moderate (r about .28), roughly explaining only a few percent to about ten percent of variance. What is measured is suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, not death itself, so the benefit magnitude is recorded as small on the basis of "surrogate endpoint only." The authors themselves say that the set of perfectionistic concerns and suicide attempts appears to have publication bias, meaning studies with unimpressive results were not published; after adding back estimated missing studies, the direction of the conclusion does not change. This entry does not oppose high standards, nor is it telling people to lower their demands. The difference lies in where the standards come from, and whether failing to meet them makes you feel "I as a person am finished." Like the pessimistic expectations in Entry 15 (treat thoughts such as "things will definitely get worse" as symptoms), it is something that can be handled as a symptom. If you have suicidal thoughts, first call 12356 and move lethal means farther away, see Section 1, Entry 25. For what you can do when people around you show such thoughts, see Section 8, Entry 15. For depression screening on the child side, see Section 30, Entry 8.

Sources

Smith MM, Sherry SB, Chen S, Saklofske DH, Mushquash C, Flett GL, Hewitt PL (2018). The perniciousness of perfectionism: A meta-analytic review of the perfectionism-suicide relationship. Journal of Personality, 86(3), 522–542. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12333

https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12333

24. When angry, don't vent by smashing things, hitting a punching bag, or going for a run—first slow your body down

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Medium

Venting methods that make the body more aroused, such as hitting a punching bag, throwing things, or going for a run, generally do not reduce anger. Methods that calm the body down, such as slow breathing, mindfulness, and meditation, can significantly reduce anger and the urge to act out.

Cost

Costs no money. When angry, switch to doing something for a few minutes that slows your heartbeat: breathe slowly, sit down, be still. The hard part is that what you most want to do in the moment is exactly to vent.

Benefit

Combining 154 studies (meta-analysis), totaling 184 samples and 10,189 people. Methods that calm the body down, such as deep breathing, mindfulness, and meditation, can reduce anger and aggression. Effect size g = -0.63, 95% CI -0.82 to -0.43 (credible range). This result is stable across people of different genders, races, ages, and cultures. Methods that make the body more aroused, such as hitting a punching bag, jogging, and cycling, are ineffective overall. Their effect size is g = -0.02, 95% CI -0.13 to 0.09. The authors' conclusion is: venting anger and going for a run are not effective ways to cool down.

Notes

What is measured is anger and aggression, not energy. The scope is recorded as time because of the authors' categorization: one fewer argument means one fewer mess to clean up. For methods usable on the spot, see Section 22, Entry 9 (cyclic sighing), and Entry 18 of this section (leave the scene first when angry). Running is not useless. Long-term, it is effective for low mood, see Section 22, Entry 7 (when you're in a bad mood, go walk or run). It is just not suitable for cooling down on the spot. When angry, don't drive, don't send messages, don't make decisions. If someone is hitting you, leave first and call the police. At that point what needs handling is not your emotions, see Section 8, Entry 43 (being a victim of domestic violence).

Sources

Kjærvik SL, Bushman BJ (2024). A meta-analytic review of anger management activities that increase or decrease arousal: What fuels or douses rage? Clinical Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102414

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102414

25. If something is weighing on your mind, you can write down your thoughts and feelings for several days in a row, but don't expect it to cure illness

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Small

Writing down your troubles has a small average benefit, but it is very small. Pooled conclusions are also inconsistent; two pooled analyses found no effect. It costs almost nothing, so you can try it. If your emotional problems are severe, don't use it as a substitute for seeing a doctor.

Cost

Costs no money. The common approach in studies is to write 3 to 4 times, 15 to 20 minutes each time. Write about something that upsets you, writing your deepest thoughts and feelings.

Benefit

One analysis pooled 146 randomized studies (meta-analysis). People in the studies wrote about or spoke about matters important to them. The average effect was positive and significant, but very small, effect size r = .075. Another pooled analysis included only randomized controlled trials; combining 30 trials, there was no significant effect on either physical health or mental health. Combining 16 randomized trials targeting cancer patients and survivors, there was no significant effect on psychological, physical, or quality-of-life outcomes. Among these, the psychological aspect was g = 0.04, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.14 (credible range).

Notes

Controversial. The supporting side is the pooled analysis of 146 studies, with a positive but very small effect. The opposing side is two pooled analyses that included only randomized controlled trials, neither of which found a significant effect. The number of sessions and duration per session in the cost section come from the earliest experimental design, as written in the abstract of the Mogk pooled analysis. This entry is included because it costs almost no money and doesn't take much time, and one person can do it alone. When you don't want to talk to anyone and have no one around to talk to, you can use it. What is measured is not energy; the scope is recorded as time because of the authors' categorization. If writing makes you feel worse and worse, stop and call 12356 instead, see Section 1, Entry 25 (12356).

Sources

Frattaroli J (2006). Experimental disclosure and its moderators: a meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.132.6.823 ; Mogk C, Otte S, Reinhold-Hurley B, Kröner-Herwig B (2006). Health effects of expressive writing on stressful or traumatic experiences - a meta-analysis. Psycho-Social Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2736499/ ; Zachariae R, O'Toole MS (2015). The effect of expressive writing intervention on psychological and physical health outcomes in cancer patients--a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psycho-Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3802

Evidence levels: B, A, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 04 · 18 suggestions

Don't Waste Time

[[A Cost-Effective Guide to Life]]

This section only accounts for time. It looks at how many hours can be saved back each day, each week, each year, or how much the proportion of a task finished on time can be raised. It does not convert time into lifespan, nor into money. Where money is involved, only the method is given, not the conclusion. The evidence for most entries in this section is a single study, or aggregate statistics from a time-use survey, so the grades are mostly B and C.

1. Write "intend to do" as "at what time, where, and what to do when encountering what"

Evidence grade: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Rewrite "I want to do this thing" as "sit down at the desk at 8 a.m. Tuesday and first write the introduction." Pooling 94 tests together, people who write it this way achieve their goals at a noticeably higher rate, a medium-to-large effect. What changes is only how one sentence is written; it costs no money and takes no effort.

Cost

No money. Spend 1 to 2 minutes per item writing one sentence of "if... then...". For example, "sit down at the desk at 8 a.m. Tuesday and first write the introduction."

Benefit

Pooling 94 independent tests together, people who first write their intentions as "if... then..." have a higher goal-achievement rate. This way of writing is called implementation intentions in psychology. The effect size is d = 0.65, considered medium to large. There are three links where it works: getting started, holding up when interrupted, and withdrawing from courses of action that are doomed to fail.

Notes

This trick only works for things you genuinely want to do. If you don't want the goal itself, writing more sentences is useless. Also, these studies mostly recruited students and mostly looked at health-related habits; transplanting them to work scenarios may not work equally well.

Source

Gollwitzer, P. M., & Sheeran, P. (2006). Implementation intentions and goal achievement: A meta-analysis of effects and processes. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 69–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(06)38002-1

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(06)38002-138002-1)

2. Write down the exit condition before starting

Evidence grade: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

Before starting, first write one sentence: if by a certain date a certain metric has not been reached, stop. Pooling multiple studies together, this way of writing really does help people withdraw from courses of action that are doomed to fail. What is saved is all the time you would otherwise have kept pouring in.

Cost

No money. Spend 5 minutes at the start writing clearly "if by a certain date a certain metric has not been reached, stop." The hard part is owning up on that day; stopping in front of people is a bit of a loss of face.

Benefit

Pooling multiple implementation-intention studies together, the result is: a pre-set "if... then..." can likewise help people withdraw from courses of action that are doomed to fail. The original wording is disengagement from failing courses of action. The time saved is what you would otherwise have continued to invest.

Notes

The exit condition should be set right at the start, while emotions are still calm. Setting it afterward will be biased by the costs already invested; one should look only at future investment and future return, see item 3. Also, "willingness to withdraw" is only a sub-conclusion in a pooled summary of multiple studies; no one has separately calculated how much time it can save.

Source

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(06)38002-138002-1)

3. When deciding whether to continue, look only at future investment and future return, not at how much has already been invested

Evidence grade: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

Money and time already invested make people more inclined to keep going. Pooling 98 sets of data together, this tendency exists stably. So to judge whether to continue, calculate only how much more will be invested going forward and how much can still be recouped. What has already been spent should not be counted in.

Cost

No money. The hard part is accepting one thing: the time already invested is gone and cannot be recovered.

Benefit

Money, energy, and time already invested make people more inclined to keep doing it. This is called the sunk cost effect in psychology. Pooling 98 sets of data together, the analysis confirms this tendency exists stably. Avoiding it saves the subsequent stretch of time bound by "not wanting to waste."

Notes

For the Arkes and Blumer theater experiment, we only verified the direction: people who paid a higher ticket price attended more plays over half a year. How many plays each group specifically attended has not yet been verified against the original text (to be verified). Roth et al. found that this influence fades over time, and older people are less affected.

Source

Arkes, H. R., & Blumer, C. (1985). The psychology of sunk cost. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 35, 124–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(85)90049-4 ; Roth, S., Robbert, T., & Straus, L. (2015). On the sunk-cost effect in economic decision-making: A meta-analytic review. Business Research, 8(1), 99–138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40685-014-0014-8

4. When estimating a work period, estimate by the actual time past similar tasks took, not by plan-derived inference

Evidence grade: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Students estimated 33.9 days to finish their thesis, but actually took 55.5 days; only 29.7% finished within their own estimated time. Another group, asked to first recall how long the last similar thing took before estimating, raised the on-time completion rate from 29.3% to 60.0%.

Cost

No money. Before estimating, spend a few minutes flipping back to how long the last similar thing actually took.

Benefit

Students expected to finish the thesis in 33.9 days, but actually took 55.5 days. Only 29.7% finished on time according to their own estimate. The researchers asked another group to first link past experience to the current matter before estimating. This group's on-time completion rate rose from the control group's 29.3% to 60.0%. The optimism of underestimating the work period no longer appeared in this group.

Notes

The Buehler study only recruited Canadian university students; it is a single study, and the number of people was small, 37 people and about 40 people per group. Estimating by historical data from similar projects is called reference class forecasting; for how it is specifically done in engineering, see Flyvbjerg. Halkjelsvik, after pooling multiple studies, pointed out that underestimating is more common than overestimating, but by how much varies greatly with the task and research method.

Source

Buehler, R., Griffin, D., & Ross, M. (1994). Exploring the "planning fallacy": Why people underestimate their task completion times. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(3), 366–381. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.67.3.366 ; Flyvbjerg, B. (2006). From Nobel Prize to project management: Getting risks right. Project Management Journal, 37(3), 5–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/875697280603700302 ; Halkjelsvik, T., & Jørgensen, M. (2012). From origami to software development: A review of studies on judgment-based predictions of performance time. Psychological Bulletin, 138(2), 238–271. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025996

5. Send an agenda before a meeting; don't hold meetings without an agenda; if you can hold it standing, hold it standing

Evidence grade: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

For meetings where an agenda was sent beforehand, attendees were more likely to feel the meeting was useful. In the experiment, sit-down meetings ran 34% longer than stand-up meetings, while the decisions made in the two formats showed no difference in quality.

Cost

No money. The organizer spends 5 to 10 minutes writing an agenda before the meeting. Stand-up meetings require attendees' cooperation.

Benefit

The two surveys had 958 people and 292 people respectively. The result is: for meetings where an agenda was sent beforehand, attendees were more likely to feel the meeting was effective, and this relationship holds up statistically. In another experiment, 55 groups held sit-down meetings and 56 groups held stand-up meetings; sit-down meetings ran 34% longer. The decisions made in the two formats showed no difference in quality.

Notes

The stand-up meeting experiment was a 5-person group task in a laboratory. Long meetings and large conferences cannot directly copy this conclusion. Leach measured how effective attendees themselves felt it was, not how much work was actually produced.

Source

Leach, D. J., Rogelberg, S. G., Warr, P. B., & Burnfield, J. L. (2009). Perceived meeting effectiveness: The role of design characteristics. Journal of Business and Psychology, 24(1), 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-009-9092-6 ; Bluedorn, A. C., Turban, D. B., & Love, M. S. (1999). The effects of stand-up and sit-down meeting formats on meeting outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 84(2). https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.84.2.277

6. Cut the number of meetings; what can be solved asynchronously in writing should not be a meeting

Evidence grade: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

The more meetings held on a given day, the more tired people are, and the more work they feel they have on hand. Cut one meeting, and the time saved is exactly the length of that meeting itself, not discounted at all.

Cost

No money. It requires colleagues' and superiors' cooperation. The hard part is writing a passage clearly, which takes more energy than saying a sentence out loud.

Benefit

The two surveys recruited employees working more than 35 hours per week, 676 people and 304 people respectively. How much time meetings take up does not have a fixed effect on work attitudes and well-being; it depends on two things: how well the meeting is run, and how much the job's work depends on others. Another study had people keep a diary for a week, and the result was that the more meetings on a given day, the higher the fatigue and self-perceived workload. The time saved equals the meeting length you cut.

Notes

Controversy: Rogelberg 2006 found that the relationship between the amount of meetings and well-being is not one-sided. For jobs that are highly dependent on others, more meetings are actually not a bad thing. Also, no study has directly compared "switching to asynchronous written communication" with holding meetings; this item is the author's own inference.

Source

Rogelberg, S. G., Leach, D. J., Warr, P. B., & Burnfield, J. L. (2006). "Not another meeting!" Are meeting time demands related to employee well-being? Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(1). https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.91.1.83 ; Luong, A., & Rogelberg, S. G. (2005). Meetings and more meetings: The relationship between meeting load and the daily well-being of employees. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2699.9.1.58

7. Break a large task into subtasks before estimating time, then start

Evidence grade: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

When people estimate a work period, they do not automatically break the task apart and calculate it piece by piece. Listing the subtasks first and then estimating can shorten the underestimation by a chunk. After breaking it apart, each small step can be started immediately, so it is also less prone to procrastination.

Cost

No money. The breaking apart itself takes 5 to 15 minutes.

Benefit

When people estimate a work period, they do not themselves break a task with several heads into several pieces. For example, writing a literature review, writing the discussion, and organizing the references are originally several things. Listing the subtasks first and then estimating can reduce the habit of underestimating the work period, a habit called the planning fallacy. After breaking it apart, each small step becomes an action that can be started immediately, and procrastination decreases accordingly. The factors in the study that best predicted procrastination included aversion to the task, and the task itself being pushed back.

Notes

To what degree is breaking apart appropriate: use "each subtask can be finished in one sitting" as the standard; breaking it too finely itself consumes time. Also, for the Kruger and Evans study, only the direction was verified from the abstract; the specific percentages were not verified against the original text.

Source

Kruger, J., & Evans, M. (2004). If you don't want to be late, enumerate: Unpacking reduces the planning fallacy. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 40(5), 586–598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2003.11.001 ; Steel, P. (2007). The nature of procrastination: A meta-analytic and theoretical review of quintessential self-regulatory failure. Psychological Bulletin, 133(1). https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.65

8. Set a date yourself for things without an external deadline

Evidence grade: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

When there is a deadline set by others, 80.6% of students can finish before it. Only 38.7% finish within their own estimated time. When it gets done is almost determined by the deadline, and has little to do with one's own estimate. So for things without a deadline, set one for it yourself, and own up to it.

Cost

No money. The hard part is that once set, you must own up. If you don't take it seriously on that day, it is as if it was never set.

Benefit

Of students with an external deadline, 80.6% finished before the deadline. But only 38.7% finished within their own estimated time. When it gets done almost follows the deadline, with a correlation coefficient r = 0.82; the closer this number is to 1, the more tightly it follows. It has only a very weak relationship with one's own estimate.

Notes

Telling others about a date you set yourself makes it closer to the kind set by others. It should be noted that the study verified that deadlines set by others work. The kind you set for yourself, such as timeboxing and the Pomodoro Technique, no one has directly tested; this is inferred accordingly.

Source

https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.67.3.366

9. Treat procrastination as avoiding discomfort, not as not trying hard enough

Evidence grade: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

Procrastination has little to do with laziness or personality. What best reveals whether a person procrastinates is how much the thing itself makes them uncomfortable, whether they feel they can do it, and how easily they are carried away by what is in front of them. So what is useful is making the task less uncomfortable and making the first step smaller, not scolding yourself and then forcing yourself on.

Cost

No money. What changes is only the direction of judgment: first ask where this thing makes you uncomfortable, then find a way.

Benefit

A meta-analysis pooling 691 correlation coefficients found that several things have a strong and stable relationship with procrastination: the degree to which the task is aversive, how far the deadline is, self-efficacy (feeling you can do it), impulsiveness, and conscientiousness and its subordinate self-control, distractibility, organization, and achievement motivation. But neuroticism, rebelliousness, and sensation-seeking have only a very weak association with procrastination. The authors use temporal motivation theory to explain this set of results: the present attractiveness of a thing rapidly diminishes as the reward grows distant.

Notes

This item only gives direction, not actions, so the benefit magnitude is recorded as "medium"—it has not measured how many hours are saved. The specific actions are in this section's item 1 (write it as "at what time, where, and what to do when encountering what"), item 7 (break a large task into subtasks), and item 8 (set a date for things without an external deadline). Note that this is a pooling of correlational studies and cannot be read as one causing the other.

Source

Steel P (2007). The nature of procrastination: a meta-analytic and theoretical review of quintessential self-regulatory failure. Psychological Bulletin, 133(1), 65–94. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.65

https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.65

10. Put what you need within reach, move what you don't want to touch farther away, and don't count on holding back on the spot

Evidence grade: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

The farther away a thing is, the less people take of it. Putting the same snack farther away noticeably reduces how much is eaten, a medium-sized effect. Offering fewer options also noticeably reduces how many people take it. This kind of method does not require you to hold back on the spot, and can be set up in a few minutes.

Cost

No money, a few minutes once. Put the phone in another room, spread the books and computer on the desk.

Benefit

A Cochrane review including 24 randomized trials. Putting food farther away reduced the amount eaten, standardized mean difference −0.60 (95% CI −0.84 to −0.36, this is the credible range; 12 studies, 1098 people, low-certainty evidence), a medium effect. Reducing the available options made the decrease in choosing that food more pronounced, standardized mean difference −1.13 (95% CI −1.90 to −0.37, 3 studies, 154 people, low-certainty evidence). Regression analysis showed: the farther away it is placed and the more singular the available options, the stronger the effect.

Notes

Reason for grade B: all 24 studies included in this review were on food; not a single one was on alcohol or tobacco; 14 were done in the laboratory, and all came from high-income countries. So "move it farther away and you touch it less" being transplanted to phones and games is an extrapolation, with no direct trial. The one thing of putting the phone out of sight has been directly tested, see Section 3 item 1 (turn off non-essential notifications, and put the phone out of sight while working).

Source

Hollands GJ, Carter P, Anwer S, et al. (2019). Altering the availability or proximity of food, alcohol, and tobacco products to change their selection and consumption. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 9, CD012573. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012573.pub3

https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012573.pub3

11. If you want to make yourself do it, put money on the line—but first ask whether you're willing to

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money low; Time low; Willpower some; Benefit medium

A randomized trial of 2,538 people compared two approaches: pay a bonus for doing it, versus pay a deposit up front that's refunded plus a bonus only if you do it. Among those willing to participate in both, the deposit type had a 13 percentage point higher completion rate. But only 13.7% were willing to pay a deposit, while 90% were willing to take a bonus. Deposits work best for those willing to put money down; for those unwilling, they may as well not exist.

Cost

Deposit-style programs require putting up your own money first, which is forfeited if you fail. In the trial, the deposit was $150.

Benefit

A U.S. randomized trial of 2,538 people randomly assigned employees and their friends and family to four incentive programs or usual care. The reward type (about $800 for doing it) had a 90.0% acceptance rate; the deposit type ($150 up front, plus a $650 bonus) had 13.7%. Six-month sustained smoking cessation rates: the four incentive programs ranged from 9.4% to 16.0%, versus 6.0% for usual care. The reward type was 15.7%, the deposit type 10.2%. But among the 13.7% who were willing to participate in both, the deposit type's six-month cessation rate was 13.2 percentage points higher than the reward type (95% CI 3.1 to 22.8, this is the credible range).

Notes

This trial measured smoking cessation; extending it to things like writing papers or exercising is an extrapolation, so the benefit magnitude is recorded as "medium." The point isn't "which is more effective" but "will you actually use it": a strong method most people won't accept equals zero for most people. So pick the type you're willing to accept first; a small deposit is still better than none. For how to quit smoking itself, see Section 2, Item 3 (smoking cessation medication).

Sources

Halpern SD, French B, Small DS, et al. (2015). Randomized trial of four financial-incentive programs for smoking cessation. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(22), 2108–2117. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1414293

https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1414293

12. Count new habits by the month, not by "21 days"

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time low; Willpower yes; Benefit medium

"21 days to form a habit" has no basis. A 12-week tracking study calculated that an action becoming automatic takes as little as 18 days, or as long as 254 days. It's normal for it not to feel easier after two or three weeks. Missing a day in between won't reset your progress to zero.

Cost

No money. What's needed is repeating the same action daily in the same context, for several months.

Benefit

96 volunteers each picked one eating, drinking, or activity behavior and did it daily in a fixed context (e.g., "after breakfast") for 12 weeks, rating their own automaticity each day. Data from 82 people were sufficient for analysis, and the model fit successfully for 62 people. The number of days needed to reach 95% of each person's automaticity ceiling ranged from 18 to 254 days. The study also found that missing one opportunity to perform had no substantial effect on the habit formation process.

Notes

There's only this one study, 96 people, all doing simple actions (like eating a piece of fruit after a meal). How long complex things take—like running three times a week or writing daily—hasn't been tested. The use of this item is to give yourself a reasonable expectation: don't treat "still hard after two weeks" as evidence of failure. To make repetition actually happen, tie the action to a fixed context, see Section 1, Item 1 (write it as "what time, where, and what you'll do when you encounter X").

Sources

Lally P, van Jaarsveld CHM, Potts HWW, Wardle J (2010). How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40(6), 998–1009. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.674

https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.674

13. If procrastination is already affecting your life, use self-help materials backed by randomized trials—no need to insist on seeing a therapist

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time medium; Willpower some; Benefit medium

Procrastination severe enough to cause distress is treatable. A randomized trial of 150 people used ten weeks of cognitive-behavioral self-help materials, both with support and completely on your own; both groups were significantly better than a do-nothing control group. No difference was seen between the two groups, meaning doing it yourself also works.

Cost

A self-help book costs a few dozen yuan, some are free. You need to invest about ten weeks, reading one section and doing one exercise per week.

Benefit

150 people were randomly divided into three groups: therapist-guided self-help, unguided self-help, and waitlist control. After ten weeks, on the Pure Procrastination Scale, the between-group effect sizes were d = 0.70 (95% CI 0.29–1.10, this is the credible range) for the guided group and d = 0.50 (0.10–0.90) for the unguided group; on the Irrational Procrastination Scale they were 0.81 (0.40–1.22) and 0.69 (0.29–1.09) respectively. Proportions achieving clinically meaningful improvement: 31.3% to 40.0% for the guided group, 24.0% to 36.0% for the unguided group. The two groups showed no significant difference on any outcome.

Notes

The subjects were Swedish adults using Swedish-language materials; there's no ready-made identical set in Chinese, so the benefit magnitude is recorded as "medium." The components in the materials are the usual few: behavioral activation, behavioral experiments, stimulus control, and instruction on motivation and work methods. For stimulus control, see Section 10 (move what you don't want to touch farther away). If procrastination is accompanied by obvious low mood or anxiety, first follow Section 3, Item 19 (get moving, get sunlight, sleep on time, talk to someone, call 12356).

Sources

Rozental A, Forsell E, Svensson A, Andersson G, Carlbring P (2015). Internet-based cognitive-behavior therapy for procrastination: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 83(4), 808–824. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000023

https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000023

14. Use your hourly wage to decide which chores to outsource

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money high; Time low; Willpower no; Benefit large

Chinese people spend an average of 1 hour 17 minutes per day on housework. Among those who actually did it that day, it's 1 hour 59 minutes. People who buy time with money have higher life satisfaction. The same amount of money, spent on buying time rather than buying things, makes people happier in the moment.

Cost

You need to spend money on outsourcing, the amount depending on what service you buy. Also, you first need to spend time once to calculate your hourly wage clearly.

Benefit

Chinese residents spend an average of 1 hour 17 minutes per day on housework. Counting only those who did housework, the average is 1 hour 59 minutes. This is a 2024 survey covering 38,500 households and 107,000 people. Another study took a sample of 6,271 people across four countries and found that people who buy time with money have higher life satisfaction. Researchers also conducted experiments in real life: the same amount of money, spent on buying time rather than buying physical goods, brings higher momentary happiness.

Notes

First calculate your hourly wage: monthly after-tax income ÷ actual monthly working hours. Then look at how much outsourcing this chore costs. If the outsourcing unit price is below your hourly wage, and the time saved will genuinely be used for earning money or resting, then outsource. This only gives the method, not the conclusion, because everyone's hourly wage and outsourcing price differ. Also, Whillans measured whether people were happy after buying time, not how many hours were saved.

Sources

Whillans, A. V., Dunn, E. W., Smeets, P., Bekkers, R., & Norton, M. I. (2017). Buying time promotes happiness. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1706541114 ; National Bureau of Statistics (2024). Third National Time Use Survey Bulletin (No. 2). https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202410/t20241031_1957216.html

15. Set hard limits on short videos and aimless scrolling

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time low; Willpower yes; Benefit large

Chinese people spend an average of 5 hours 37 minutes per day online. Among those who actually went online that day, it's 6 hours 3 minutes. In 2018, by the same calculation, it was only 2 hours 42 minutes. This is the largest figure in this section. Cut one hour a day, and you gain 365 hours a year.

Cost

No money. The action takes only a few minutes: turn off notifications, delete the app, or set a daily time limit for the app. The hard part is controlling your hands and resisting the urge to tap open.

Benefit

Chinese residents spend an average of 5 hours 37 minutes per day online. Counting only those who actually went online that day, the average is 6 hours 3 minutes. Those who used the internet that day accounted for 92.9%. These are 2024 figures. In 2018, by the same calculation, it was only 2 hours 42 minutes. This is the largest figure in this section. Cutting one of those hours a day equals 365 extra hours a year. Also, according to the China Internet Network Information Center, by June 2025, netizens spent an average of 30.6 hours per week online, 1.9 hours more than half a year earlier. Short video users number 1.068 billion, 95.1% of netizens.

Notes

Online time includes work, study, and socializing—not all of it is wasted. It's rated C because no study has calculated "how much is saved after limiting, and where that time goes"; only aggregate statistics are available. For the "scrolling through how others are doing" category, randomized trials have measured how much is saved and how much mood changes, see Section 3, Item 21.

Sources

National Bureau of Statistics (2024). Third National Time Use Survey Bulletin (No. 2). https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202410/t20241031_1957216.html ; National Bureau of Statistics (2019). 2018 National Time Use Survey Bulletin. https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202302/t20230203_1900224.html ; China Internet Network Information Center (2025). The 56th Statistical Report on China's Internet Development. https://www.cnnic.net.cn/NMediaFile/2025/0730/MAIN175384666…

16. Skip TV and rolling news; check needed information in scheduled batches

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time low; Willpower some; Benefit large

Americans aged 15 and over watch 2.6 hours of TV per day, half of all their leisure time. Chinese people watch an average of 1 hour 40 minutes per day; those aged 75 to 84 watch 3 hours 16 minutes. Switching to scheduled batch-checking of information saves this entire block.

Cost

No money. The hard part is breaking the habit of opening it casually, and you may miss some instant messages.

Benefit

Americans aged 15 and over watch 2.6 hours of TV per day. Their total leisure time is 5.2 hours, and TV takes up half. This is a 2025 figure. Chinese residents watch an average of 1 hour 40 minutes of TV per day; those aged 75 to 84 watch 3 hours 16 minutes. This is a 2018 figure.

Notes

Only aggregate statistics are available. No study has calculated where the time saved from watching less TV and news goes. The "batch-checking" approach is the author's experience.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026). American Time Use Survey — 2025 Results. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htm ; National Bureau of Statistics (2019). 2018 National Time Use Survey Bulletin. https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202302/t20230203_1900224.html

17. Spend time once learning keyboard shortcuts and automation for software you use often

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time medium; Willpower some; Benefit medium

Most people who've used Word for many years still click toolbar icons. In grouped comparison experiments, keyboard shortcuts were faster than menus and icons. Learning this is a one-time cost; afterward, every operation every day pays it back. The longer you do the same kind of work, the more you earn back.

Cost

No money. You need to invest a one-time few hours to dozens of hours to learn. The hard part is that at first it's slower than using the mouse.

Benefit

The study looked at 251 experienced Word users; most rarely used the faster keyboard shortcuts, still mainly clicking the icon toolbar. Grouped comparison experiments confirmed that among menus, icons, and shortcuts, shortcuts are fastest. The time saved accumulates bit by bit with the number of daily operations. People who do the same kind of work long-term benefit most.

Notes

Only learn the operations you use more than ten times a day; learning everything is another kind of waste. It should be noted that the efficiency experiment had only 6 participants, and the abstract didn't give the seconds saved per operation.

Sources

Lane, D. M., Napier, H. A., Peres, S. C., & Sándor, A. (2005). Hidden costs of graphical user interfaces: Failure to make the transition from menus and icon toolbars to keyboard shortcuts. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327590ijhc1802_1

https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327590ijhc1802_1

18. When choosing where to live, put commute time first and shorten one-way commutes

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money high; Time medium; Willpower no; Benefit large

People with longer commutes feel they're doing worse. This loss isn't compensated by wages or housing. Cutting 30 minutes off one-way saves 5 hours a week.

Cost

High cost. You may have to pay higher rent, or switch to a smaller place. Moving itself also takes time.

Benefit

Chinese residents spend an average of 50 minutes per day on transportation. Counting only those who traveled that day, it's 1 hour 2 minutes. This is a 2024 figure. Long-term tracking data from Germany on the same group of people shows that people with longer commutes have consistently lower subjective well-being—that is, they feel they're doing worse. And this loss isn't compensated by income or housing. A review combining multiple studies also confirms that the longer the commute, the less satisfied people are with it, regardless of the mode of transportation. Cutting 30 minutes off one-way saves about 5 hours a week.

Notes

Controversy: After aggregating multiple studies, Chatterjee et al. point out that no stable relationship can yet be seen between commute length and overall life satisfaction. They believe people can largely trade the loss of a long commute back through a better job or housing. Also note that transportation statistics count all travel, not just commuting. Additionally, if you can stagger your commute, the same route can also be traveled faster.

Sources

Stutzer, A., & Frey, B. S. (2008). Stress that doesn't pay: The commuting paradox. Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 110(2), 339–366. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9442.2008.00542.x ; Chatterjee, K., et al. (2020). Commuting and wellbeing: A critical overview of the literature with implications for policy and future research. Transport Reviews, 40(1), 5–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2019.1649317 ; National Bureau of Statistics (2024). Third National Time Use Survey Bulletin (No. 2). https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202410/t20241031_1957216.html

Evidence levels: A, B, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 05 · 38 suggestions

Don't Waste Money

[[A Cost-Effectiveness Guide to Life]]

This section is about money. It looks at three things: how much you can save, how much the annual return differs, and how much you get back on average over the long run from a sum of money. None of this is converted into lifespan or into time. For any item involving investment, it only covers how to do the math, and only uses already-verified historical data. None of this constitutes investment advice.

1. Turn off all auto-renewals and switch to manual renewal at expiry

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

What you save is the money from those subscriptions you stopped using long ago but that are still being deducted every month. Going through the auto-debit lists in Alipay, WeChat, Apple, and Android takes less than 20 minutes. By regulation, merchants must clearly remind you before charging, and must also give you an entry point to cancel at any time, and it must be easy to find and easy to click.

Cost

Costs no money. Go through the "auto-debit" lists in Alipay, WeChat, Apple, and Android once, 10 to 20 minutes. From then on, each renewal requires you to click one extra time yourself.

Benefit

The money you save equals the total of those subscriptions you no longer use but are still being charged for. It differs from person to person; there is no uniform number. Regulation requires merchants to clearly remind you before renewal. Merchants must also give you a "simple, cancel-anytime" option. Canceling costs no additional money (China, in effect since 2021).

Notes

For services you genuinely use often, annual payment is generally cheaper than monthly, so keeping auto-renewal is actually more cost-effective. This item targets the other kind: the ones you long ago forgot, yet they are still deducting money.

Sources

State Administration for Market Regulation (2021, 2025 amendment). Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Online Transactions (SAIC Order No. 37, Article 18). https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/fgs/art/2025/art…

https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/fgs/art/2025/art…

2. Do an annual individual income tax settlement between March and June each year, and fill in the special additional deductions you should

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

These kinds of people usually get money back after doing it: those who only worked a few months of the year, those who changed jobs mid-year, or those who didn't fill in deductions such as children's education, mortgage, rent, or support for the elderly. It can be done on a phone in just over ten minutes. If your annual comprehensive income is under 120,000 yuan, or the tax you should pay is under 400 yuan, you can skip it.

Cost

Costs no money. Do it on the "Individual Income Tax" App, and it's done in just over ten minutes.

Benefit

Add up the four items—wages and salaries, remuneration for labor services, author's remuneration, and royalties—and settle the total once. Overpaid tax is refunded to you; underpaid tax must be made up. There are two situations where you can skip it. First, your annual comprehensive income does not exceed 120,000 yuan. Second, the tax to be made up does not exceed 400 yuan. These two rules were set by a 2023 announcement of the State Taxation Administration and apply through December 31, 2027. Conversely, these kinds of people usually get money back after doing it: those who had income for only a few months of the year, those who changed jobs mid-year, and those who didn't fill in deductions such as children's education, mortgage, rent, or support for the elderly.

Notes

People who should make up tax must also do it; not doing it is illegal. There are seven special additional deductions in total: children's education, continuing education, major medical expenses, housing loan interest, housing rent, support for the elderly, and care for infants under 3 years old. Among these, mortgage and rent can only be chosen one or the other, not both.

Sources

State Taxation Administration (2025). Measures for the Administration of the Annual Comprehensive Income Settlement and Payment of Individual Income Tax (Article 6) and its interpretation. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202502/content_7006465.htm ; Ministry of Finance, State Taxation Administration (2023). Announcement on Continuing the Implementation of Policies Concerning the Annual Comprehensive Income Settlement and Payment of Individual Income Tax. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202308/content_6900594…

3. Housing provident fund is not only for buying a home: rent, renovation, and property fees can all be withdrawn, handled under the new regulations from September 20, 2026

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

The housing provident fund is not something you can only touch to buy a home. The new regulations list nine situations in which it can be withdrawn, including renting, renovating the home you live in, and paying property fees. Once you submit an application, the provident fund center must reply within 3 days on whether withdrawal is approved.

Cost

Costs no money. Just go once to handle the withdrawal procedure.

Benefit

The amended regulations list nine situations in which withdrawal is allowed. These include: paying rent, renovating the home you live in, and paying property fees for the home you live in. The housing provident fund management center must, counting from the day it accepts your application, make a decision to approve or not approve the withdrawal within 3 days.

Notes

The money in the account is your own wages plus the portion your employer matches for you. If this money just sits there, it only earns interest at a very low rate. The regulations also state: if an employee dies, or is declared dead, the heirs and donees may withdraw the account balance. What materials are required and exactly how to handle it are determined by the local provident fund management center in each place. Before going, check the service guide of your local center.

Sources

State Council (2026). Decision of the State Council on Amending the Regulations on the Management of Housing Provident Funds (State Council Order No. 844, adopted at the 93rd executive meeting of the State Council on July 31, 2026, "effective from September 20, 2026"): amended Article 24, "An employee may withdraw the balance deposited in the employee's housing provident fund account under any of the following circumstances: (1) paying rent; (2) purchasing, constructing, rebuilding, or majorly renovating self-occupied housing; (3) repaying the principal and interest of a home purchase loan; (4) renovating self-occupied housing; (5) paying property fees for self-occupied housing; (6) retiring or leaving office; (7) completely losing the ability to work and terminating the labor relationship with the employer; (8) settling abroad; (9) other housing consumption circumstances approved by the State Council."; Article 25, "The housing provident fund management center shall, within 3 days from the date of accepting the application, make a decision to approve or not approve the withdrawal"; Article 18 contribution ratio "shall not be lower than 5% of the employee's average monthly wage of the previous year." https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2026/issue_12946/202608/content_…

https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2026/issue_12946/202608/content_…

4. Recalculate your mobile and broadband plan once a year, downgrade what you don't use, and complain if the carrier won't let you switch

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

The old plan you use is often several tens of yuan more expensive than what is sold now. Several tens a month is several hundred yuan a year thrown away for nothing. By regulation, carriers may not, without justified reason, refuse to let you switch networks, nor delay handling it for you, and may not set up a separate pricing scheme specifically for people switching networks. If it blocks you and won't let go, you complain.

Cost

Costs no money. Check your bill once, just over ten minutes. The hard part is standing firm when customer service won't let you downgrade.

Benefit

The MIIT regulation states that carriers may not "refuse, block, or delay providing users with mobile number portability service without justified reason." Nor may they "use technical means such as interception and restriction to affect the communications service quality of mobile number portability users." Nor may they "set up special pricing schemes and marketing schemes for mobile number portability users." Old plans are often several tens of yuan more expensive than plans currently on sale. Never switching means throwing away several hundred yuan every year for nothing.

Notes

First check in the business hall App how much data and calling you actually used in the past half year, then choose a plan based on that usage. If customer service says "downgrading must be done at the business hall" or "it can't be changed during the contract period," ask them to provide written grounds. If they can't, call 12300 to complain.

Sources

Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (2019). Provisions on the Administration of Mobile Number Portability Service (MIIT Information Management [2019] No. 242). http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-11/13/content_5451…

http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-11/13/content_5451…

5. Don't buy lottery tickets

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

By regulation, for lotto number-type lottery tickets, the money set aside as prizes is at least 50% of sales, and for Double Color Ball it is 51%. That is, for every 1 yuan you put in, on average over the long run you can only get back 0.51 yuan, a steady loss of 49%. In 2024 the whole country sold 623.486 billion yuan of lottery tickets, of which 161.031 billion yuan went directly into public welfare funds, and this portion is not part of the prizes.

Cost

Costs no money. Not buying is saving money.

Benefit

The Ministry of Finance set the minimum proportion of sales that goes to prizes: lotto-type and number-type lottery tickets 50%, instant-type 65%, and betting-type 73%. Double Color Ball sets aside 51% of sales as prizes, meaning for every 100 yuan sold only 51 yuan is put out as prizes. Converted to you: for every 1 yuan you put in, on average over the long run you can only get back 0.51 yuan, that is, on average over the long run you lose 49%. In 2024 the whole country sold 623.486 billion yuan of lottery tickets, of which 161.031 billion yuan went into public welfare funds and did not return to the hands of lottery buyers (China, 2024).

Notes

On average over the long run you will definitely lose; this is fixed by the system, not a matter of good or bad luck. If you want to buy, that's fine, but it can only be treated as entertainment spending of 2 yuan at a time, not as financial management.

Sources

Ministry of Finance (2015). Notice on Standardizing and Strengthening the Management of the Composition Ratio of Lottery Funds (Cai Zong [2015] No. 94). http://m.mof.gov.cn/czxw/201511/t20151113_1560814.htm ; Ministry of Finance (2025). Ministry of Finance Announcement No. 8 of 2025 (Fundraising and Distribution of Lottery Public Welfare Funds in 2024). http://zhs.mof.gov.cn/zhengcefabu/202508/t20250828_3970977.htm ; Rules of the China Welfare Lottery Double Color Ball Game (Article 14). https://mzj.nc.gov.cn/ncsmzj/flcp/202111/5dccc1a5da89434e94…

6. When you see "high yield," "capital guaranteed," or "steady profit," walk away immediately

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

The regulators' own statement is: a yield above 6% should raise questions, above 8% is very dangerous, and above 10% means you should be prepared to lose all your principal. Legitimate wealth management products are no longer allowed to promise capital or returns. Money lost in illegal fundraising is, by regulation, borne by you yourself; when something goes wrong, no one covers for you.

Cost

Costs no money. Just pause when you hear these words.

Benefit

The former chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission said something at the 2018 Lujiazui Forum. The original words were: "A yield above 6% should raise questions, above 8% is very dangerous, and above 10% means you should be prepared to lose all your principal." The new asset management rules require financial institutions to "not promise capital or returns," and also require that "when redemption difficulties arise, financial institutions may not advance funds for redemption in any form." That is, legitimate wealth management no longer has any such thing as capital guarantee. Losses from participating in illegal fundraising "are borne by the fundraising participants themselves." After something goes wrong, no one covers for you (China, 2018, 2021).

Notes

The three lines of 6%, 8%, and 10% were drawn by regulators based on experience, not legal provisions. TODO (to be verified: the original speech page on the former CBIRC official website is dynamically loaded and could not be captured; this quotation is based on the reprint by the Tianjin Local Financial Administration). Not investment advice.

Sources

Guo Shuqing's speech at the 10th Lujiazui Forum (June 2018), reprinted by the Tianjin Local Financial Administration. https://jrgz.tj.gov.cn/ztlm/ztzl/jrjfwphjr/202006/t20200625… ; People's Bank of China et al. (2018). Guiding Opinions on Regulating the Asset Management Business of Financial Institutions (Yin Fa [2018] No. 106, Articles 2 and 6). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2018/content_5323101.htm ; State Council (2021). Regulations on Preventing and Handling Illegal Fundraising (State Council Order No. 737, Article 25). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2021/content_5588815.htm

7. Don't use credit card minimum repayment, and don't open installments or consumer loans for consumption

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

Minimum repayment is not a perk; it is a loan with interest calculated by the day, equivalent to around 18% a year. Once you use it, the interest-free period is voided on the spot, and the unpaid portion of the principal accrues interest from beginning to end. When looking at rates, only recognize the number calculated on an annual basis. The central bank already requires card issuers to clearly display the annualized rate, and not to write only the "daily rate."

Cost

Costs no money. You need to keep enough cash for full repayment before the billing date. The hard part is resisting the urge to use installments to spread out large expenses.

Benefit

Before 2020, credit card overdraft rates had upper and lower limits: the upper limit was "a daily rate of five ten-thousandths," and the lower limit was 0.7 times the upper limit. Five ten-thousandths converted to a year is 18.25%; this is simple interest, that is, calculated at 18.25% a year, with interest no longer rolling into the principal. From 2021 it changed to pricing negotiated between the card issuer and the cardholder. After using minimum repayment, the unpaid portion of the principal accrues interest on the full amount by the day, that is, interest is generated every day, and the interest-free period is voided at the same time. The central bank already requires card issuers to display the annualized rate—that is, the rate converted over a full year—in a prominent way, and "may not display only the daily rate or daily repayment amount." Look at this annualized number before deciding (China, 2020 notice).

Notes

18.25% is directly multiplied out as "five ten-thousandths × 365," without calculating compound interest. If it truly rolls monthly, it would be even higher. Individual banks have discounts; the annualized rate stated on your own bill prevails. When you truly can't make ends meet, prioritize borrowing from legitimate channels with lower rates, and don't drag out minimum repayment and let interest roll.

Sources

People's Bank of China (2020). Notice on Advancing the Market-Oriented Reform of Credit Card Overdraft Rates (Yin Fa [2020] No. 327). https://xining.pbc.gov.cn/zhengwugongkai/4081330/4406346/46…

https://xining.pbc.gov.cn/zhengwugongkai/4081330/4406346/46…

8. Don't tip streamers, don't top up games, don't make impulse purchases

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

In 2024 domestic game revenue was 325.783 billion yuan, with 674 million users, about 480 yuan per person. Once money is spent, it is basically impossible to get back. The law only supports one kind of refund: the portion spent by minors without parental consent. There is no such provision for adults. The least effortful approach is to set up defenses in advance: turn off password-free payment, set per-transaction and daily limits, and unbind payment methods.

Cost

Costs no money. Spend a few minutes doing three things: turn off password-free payment, set per-transaction and daily limits, and delete the bound payment methods in the platforms. The hard part is resisting the urge to click that one time in the moment.

Benefit

This is a very large expense. In 2024 the actual sales revenue of the domestic game market was 325.783 billion yuan, with 674 million users, about 480 yuan per person (this is calculated by dividing the previous two numbers). Money spent is basically impossible to get back. There is only one exception: for tips and top-ups by persons with limited civil capacity (that is, minors) without guardian consent, when the guardian requests a refund, "the people's court shall support it." For adults' own tips and top-ups, there is no such provision. In addition, minors playing online games can only play on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory holidays, for the 1 hour from 20:00 to 21:00 each day (China, 2020, 2021).

Notes

It is rated B because no one has directly measured "how much money you can save by not tipping"; there are only total figures for the game industry. The two tricks of turning off password-free payment and setting limits are empirical practices, and on their own would be rated C. The original text of Articles 19 and 145 of the Civil Code has already been quoted verbatim in item 9 (children using phones to top up and tip). Not investment advice.

Sources

National Press and Publication Administration (2024). China's game market revenue exceeds 325.7 billion yuan this year, a new high (China Audio-video and Digital Publishing Association Game Publishing Committee, "2024 China Game Industry Report"). https://www.nppa.gov.cn/xxfb/ywdt/202412/t20241216_877445.html ; Supreme People's Court (2020). Guiding Opinions on Properly Trying Civil Cases Involving the COVID-19 Pandemic in Accordance with the Law (II) (Fa Fa [2020] No. 17, Article 9). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/230181.html ; National Press and Publication Administration (2021). Notice on Further Strictly Managing and Effectively Preventing Minors from Addicting to Online Games (Guo Xin Chu Fa [2021] No. 14). https://www.nppa.gov.cn/xxfb/tzgs/202108/t20210830_666285.html

9. If a child uses a phone to top up or tip, large expenditures by those over eight years old without parental ratification can be claimed for refund

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

For money spent by a child over eight years old, as long as the amount is clearly disproportionate to his age and intelligence, and the parent neither agrees nor acknowledges the charge, the transaction is invalid and a refund can be demanded. A child under eight years old cannot make spending decisions on his own in the first place. If the parent never expresses a position, legally it counts as not acknowledging the charge.

Cost

Costs no money. It takes time to collect evidence and negotiate with the platform; the platform usually refuses first and refunds later. If you can't reach agreement, you can only sue, which is a matter of months at minimum, and attorney fees are on you. So gather the materials first; going through the platform and 12315 is more cost-effective. The hard part is that the child won't say, and you have to patiently ask clearly.

Benefit

A minor over eight years old is a person with limited civil capacity, meaning he can only do things on his own that match his age and intelligence. Civil juristic acts disproportionate to his age and intelligence require the consent or ratification of the legal agent, that is, the parent must nod in advance or acknowledge afterward. A child under eight years old is a person with no civil capacity, cannot make decisions on his own, and his affairs are handled on his behalf by the legal agent. If the legal agent does not express a position, it is deemed a refusal to ratify, that is, if the parent stays silent, it counts as not acknowledging the charge.

Notes

The key is proof, that is, you must produce evidence proving that the person operating the phone was the child, not you. Useful materials include these: top-up times concentrated during class hours or the parent's work hours, device usage records, the child's chat records and game records, and the child's own statement. There is no uniform monetary line for "commensurate with age and intelligence"; a game skin of a few dozen yuan and a tip of tens of thousands of yuan are not the same thing. Preventing it in advance is more effort-saving: set a password-free limit for payment methods, turn on youth mode, and don't tell the child the payment password. For your own side of impulsive tipping and top-ups, see the item "Don't tip streamers, don't top up games, don't make impulse purchases" in this section.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code. Full text reprinted by the Supreme People's Procuratorate. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml Article 19: "A minor over eight years old is a person with limited civil capacity; the performance of civil juristic acts is represented by his legal agent or requires the consent or ratification of his legal agent; however, he may independently perform civil juristic acts that are purely beneficial or commensurate with his age and intelligence." Article 20: "A minor under eight years old is a person with no civil capacity, and civil juristic acts are performed on his behalf by his legal agent." Article 145: "Civil juristic acts performed by a person with limited civil capacity that are purely beneficial or commensurate with his age, intelligence, and mental health condition are valid; other civil juristic acts performed are valid after the consent or ratification of the legal agent." "If the legal agent does not express a position, it is deemed a refusal to ratify."

https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

10. Teach your child one sentence: anyone who asks you to take your parent's phone and do something on it, or to read out a verification code, is a scammer

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

These six types of scams work in different ways, but the final step is always the same move: getting the child to take the parent's phone and transfer money, or to read out a verification code. So teaching one sentence is enough: whoever tells you to touch your parent's phone or read out a verification code is a scammer. Add one more sentence: "If you get scammed, tell me first, I won't scold you." Only if the child dares to speak up the same day is there a chance of getting the money back.

Cost

Costs nothing. Go through the six types below with your child, then agree with him on one sentence: "If you get scammed, tell me first, I won't scold you." At the same time, set a no-password limit on payments, turn on youth mode, and don't tell the child the payment password. The hard part is holding back your temper after a scam actually happens.

Benefit

The Quanzhou Anti-Fraud Center, together with the Quanzhou Municipal Education Bureau, broke down six types of scams that specifically target teenagers. Their tricks differ, but the final step is the same move: getting the child to take the parent's phone and transfer money. Type one, low-price private transactions for game accounts and equipment. Xiao Wang privately transferred 260 yuan, the other side said "minors transferring money is a violation, the account will be frozen," he used his father's phone to click the "verification link," and more than 30,000 yuan in the account was transferred away. Type two, "removing anti-addiction." The other side threatened "if you don't transfer money to cancel it, your parent will go to jail," and the child used his mother's phone to transfer 7,000 yuan. The original text states clearly that anti-addiction is set officially, and "there is simply no 'private unlock' channel." Type three, tipping refunds. The scammer impersonates "official customer service," says minors' tips can be refunded, and demands "using the parent's Alipay to send gifts to a designated livestream room before the refund can be made," 73,000 yuan in the mother's account was sent as gifts, and the person was blocked. The original text says "anyone who adds you and asks you to 'send gifts for a refund' is 100% a scam." Type four, impersonating classmates or teachers. The scammer steals an account, sends voice messages and states a name to borrow money. During the school-opening season they also sneak into class groups impersonating teachers, sending "pay 500 yuan for school fees," with the avatar and nickname identical to the real teacher, and even arrange "shills" in the group to say "already paid." Type five, celebrity worship. The scammer pulls the child into a "celebrity fan group, claim an 888 yuan red packet." First the child is told to transfer 48.88 yuan to "verify." Then they scare them by saying "minors participating is a violation, the platform will freeze 80,000, and the parent will go to jail." A total of 16,000 yuan was scammed away. The original text says "real police officers and lawyers will never contact minors online to investigate, let alone ask them to operate a parent's phone." Type six, on second-hand platforms, using low-priced goods to lure people off the platform and transfer money privately. The same material also lists three red lines children themselves should not cross. First, bank cards and phone cards must not be lent, sold, or rented out; if a card is used to transfer illicit funds, it may constitute the crime of aiding information network criminal activities, and leaving a criminal record can affect graduate school entrance exams and civil service exams. Second, "phone mouth" part-time work is illegal and criminal. Third, overseas "high-salary recruitment," where a person may be controlled as soon as they arrive abroad (nationwide, October 2025)

Notes

It is set at level B because what the authorities provided is a breakdown of scammer scripts and individual cases, with no crime rate and no statistics on prevention effectiveness. It must be distinguished from item 9 (children using phones to top up and send tips). Money that children spend themselves on top-ups and tips can be refunded according to the Civil Code. Money scammed away by fraudsters does not fall under that provision. That kind of money can only be handled by reporting to police for payment suspension according to Section 8, item 2. Whether it can be recovered depends on whether the money is still in the account. The core script scammers use to frighten children is "you violated the rules, your parent will go to jail." Tell the child clearly in advance that this sentence itself is a sign of a scam, which works better than questioning afterward. The sentence "if you get scammed, say it first, I won't scold you" must truly be followed. Children fearing a scolding and hiding it is the common reason losses snowballed in these cases. For the adult version of impersonating acquaintances, and AI face-swapping, see Section 8, items 3 and 4 (hard anti-fraud rules, hang up first when transfers are involved).

Sources

Quanzhou Anti-Fraud Center (2025). First Lesson of the School Year | Anti-Fraud Is a Required Course for Teenagers, These 6 Major Traps Must Be Avoided! http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202510/t20251… (reposted by the Fujian Provincial Public Security Department)

http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202510/t20251…

11. Refuse extended warranties (extended service contracts) for electronics

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

Extended warranties generally sell for 10% to 50% of the product's original price. The profit from selling extended warranties is more than ten times that of selling ordinary goods. In 2003, Best Buy in the United States earned more than half its profit from extended warranties, while extended warranties accounted for only 3% to 4% of its revenue. This price difference is the extra money you pay.

Cost

Costs nothing. The trade-off is that after the warranty period ends, if repairs are needed, you have to pay out of pocket, though the probability of this is not high.

Benefit

Extended warranties are usually priced at 10% to 50% of the product's original price. Industry estimates cited in the research say the average gross margin on extended warranties is 50% to 60%, meaning that out of every 100 yuan sold, 50 to 60 yuan is profit. This is about 18 times the gross margin of ordinary goods. In 2003, extended warranties accounted for only 3% to 4% of Best Buy's revenue but contributed more than 50% of its profit (United States, 2000s retail data)

Notes

That gross margin figure is an industry estimate cited by the paper from others (Business Week 2004), not something the paper measured itself. This item applies to ordinary people who can afford one repair out of pocket. People who make a living from one device and have no backup device need to calculate separately. Phone screen insurance and similar products should also be calculated separately: first estimate how often you drop it, then see whether the premium is worth it.

Sources

Chen T, Kalra A, Sun B (2009). Why Do Consumers Buy Extended Service Contracts? Journal of Consumer Research 36(4):611-623. https://doi.org/10.1086/605298

https://doi.org/10.1086/605298

12. Prioritize generic drugs that have passed consistency evaluation and drugs selected in centralized procurement

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit large

The second batch of centrally procured drugs dropped in price by an average of 53%, with the largest drop at 93%. By April 2026, 11 batches had been carried out, covering 490 drugs. When prescribing or buying medicine, ask one more question: "Is there a centrally procured one, a generic-name one?" The ingredients are the same, and you can spend a lot less.

Cost

Costs nothing. When the doctor prescribes medicine or you go to buy medicine, ask one more question: "Is there a centrally procured, generic-name drug?"

Benefit

In the national organized drug centralized procurement, the second batch dropped in price by an average of 53%, with the highest drop at 93%. As of April 2026, 11 batches had been carried out, covering 490 drugs. Drugs that have passed or are deemed to have passed consistency evaluation reached 1,695. This is about 2/3 of commonly used clinical chemical drugs, that is, two-thirds (China, 2020 to 2026 official data)

Notes

Controversy: people often say "consistency evaluation only compares ingredients, not efficacy." That is half right. The evaluation method is to find healthy people to take the drug, draw blood, and look at the concentration curve after the drug enters the bloodstream, then compare this curve with that of the original drug; falling between 80% and 125% counts as passing. For drugs where a small dose difference causes problems, the requirements are stricter. Excipients, that is, the fillers and coatings other than the active ingredient, are allowed to differ from the original drug. Regulations only require the same active ingredient, dosage form, method of use, and therapeutic effect. So it is indeed not "finding patients to take it for a period and see whether they get better." The effect in patients is answered by another set of research. The National Healthcare Security Administration organized hospitals to conduct real-world studies. By December 2024, it covered 63 centrally procured drugs, nearly a hundred top-tier hospitals, and more than 300,000 patients. The results all showed no difference from the original drugs. For example, for metformin, the glycated hemoglobin compliance rate was 83.4% in the generic group and 78.9% in the original group; the fasting blood glucose compliance rate was the reverse, 83.8% in the generic group and 87.6% in the original group. The two groups were higher or lower in turn. In January 2025, some doctors publicly said centrally procured drugs "don't lower blood pressure, don't put you to sleep for anesthesia, don't cause bowel movements for laxatives." The healthcare security and drug regulatory authorities went to 7 hospitals in Shanghai to investigate, and concluded that these claims mostly came from hearsay and personal feelings, and the laxative named at the time had not yet begun to be used in hospitals. The same investigation also acknowledged that problematic drugs had indeed been sampled. Among the more than 1,600 selected products in the first 9 batches, 9 were disqualified due to quality risks. Of these 9, 6 were imported drugs (including 3 original drugs) and 3 were domestic drugs. There are two things you can put into practice. First, if you want to continue using the original drug, it can usually still be prescribed: centralized procurement accounts for only 60% to 80% of hospital procurement volume, and the rest is decided by the hospital itself; original drugs are not banned, the cost is that you pay more yourself. Second, after switching drugs for a chronic disease, do not judge by feeling; follow Section 16, item 3 (record each indicator in the same notebook) to monitor blood pressure, blood sugar, and glycated hemoglobin. If it really gets worse, go to the doctor and ask the doctor to report the adverse drug reaction; do not stop the drug yourself.

Sources

National Healthcare Security Administration (2020). Q&A with reporters on the second batch of national organized drug centralized procurement and use. https://www.nhsa.gov.cn/art/2020/1/17/art_38_2264.html ; National Healthcare Security Administration (2026). State Council policy routine briefing: improving the full-cycle, full-channel drug price formation mechanism. http://www.nhsa.gov.cn/art/2026/4/15/art_14_20221.html ; General Office of the State Council (2016). Opinions on carrying out consistency evaluation of the quality and efficacy of generic drugs (Guobanfa [2016] No. 8). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2016-03/05/content_504… ; China Food and Drug Administration (2016). Announcement on issuing 3 technical guiding principles including the selection and determination of reference preparations for ordinary oral solid preparations (2016 No. 61), Annex 1 and Annex 3, reposted by the Hainan Provincial Medical Products Administration. https://amr.hainan.gov.cn/himpa/ztzl/fzy/201607/t20160720_1… ; National Healthcare Security Administration (2024). Strict quality supervision of centrally procured drugs, two "full coverages" of enterprise inspection and variety sampling. https://www.nhsa.gov.cn/art/2024/12/30/art_52_15287.html ; National Healthcare Security Administration (2025). Relevant comrades from the healthcare security department and drug regulatory department accepted an interview with reporters from People's Daily Health Client on issues related to centrally procured drugs. https://www.nhsa.gov.cn/art/2025/2/9/art_14_15647.html

13. Do a one-time family mutual aid binding on the medical insurance app, and the money in the employee medical insurance personal account can be used for your spouse, parents, and children to see a doctor and buy medicine

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

Do the binding once, and the money in your employee medical insurance personal account can be used for your spouse, parents, and children to see a doctor and buy medicine. If you do not do it, this money can only be used by yourself, lying in the account all the time.

Cost

Costs nothing. On the medical insurance app of the place where you are insured, or at the handling agency, do a one-time family mutual aid binding.

Benefit

The money in the personal account can be used to pay the part of medical expenses you bear yourself when you and your spouse, parents, and children see a doctor at designated medical institutions. It can also be used to pay the part you bear yourself when buying drugs, medical devices, and medical consumables at designated retail pharmacies. The document also proposes exploring the use of the personal account to pay the individual contributions for family members to participate in urban-rural resident medical insurance

Notes

Many people have several thousand yuan lying in their personal account, while elderly family members are buying medicine at their own expense. After binding once, it is valid for a long time. Most places call it "family mutual aid," and it can be done in the local medical insurance app. Note the red line in the opposite direction: the personal account cannot be used for consumption such as fitness and health care. Using it to buy health products at a pharmacy to cash out is insurance fraud.

Sources

General Office of the State Council (2021). Guiding opinions on establishing and improving the outpatient mutual aid guarantee mechanism for employee basic medical insurance (Guobanfa [2021] No. 14), item (5): "The personal account is mainly used to pay the out-of-pocket expenses within the scope of policy incurred by insured persons at designated medical institutions or designated retail pharmacies. It can be used to pay the medical expenses borne by the individual incurred by the insured person himself and his spouse, parents, and children when seeing a doctor at designated medical institutions, as well as the expenses borne by the individual for purchasing drugs, medical devices, and medical consumables at designated retail pharmacies. Explore the use of the personal account for the individual contributions of the spouse, parents, and children to participate in urban-rural resident basic medical insurance, etc. The personal account shall not be used for expenditures such as public health expenses, sports and fitness, or health care consumption that do not fall within the scope of basic medical insurance coverage." https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-04/22/content_560…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-04/22/content_560…

14. Drink boiled tap water, do not buy bottled water year-round

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

Beijing's first-tier water price is equivalent to 0.005 yuan per liter. Bottled water at 1 yuan per 500 milliliters is 2 yuan per liter. The difference between the two is 400 times. Tap water implements a mandatory national standard, and normally you just boil it and drink it. If there really is a problem with the water source and the water smells or is cloudy, that is not something a few extra minutes of boiling can solve; you should stop drinking it and report it outward.

Cost

Buy a kettle. Boiling water each time takes a little time, plus a small amount of gas or electricity cost.

Benefit

Beijing's first-tier residential water price is 5 yuan per cubic meter, equivalent to 0.005 yuan per liter. If bottled water is calculated at 1 yuan per 500 milliliters, that is 2 yuan per liter, 400 times that of tap water. Drinking water implements the mandatory national standard GB 5749-2022. This standard was issued on March 15, 2022, and took effect on April 1, 2023. The competent authority is the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration (China, 2015 water price and 2022 standard)

Notes

The controversy is that the so-called "meeting the standard" checks the water coming out of the plant and the water at the end of the pipes. When there is a problem with the water source or pipe network, it can briefly fail. On July 16, 2025, the raw water entering the Hangzhou Yuhang Renhe Water Plant had an abnormal odor, and tap water in some communities in Renhe and Liangzhu smelled bad. The official conclusion was that algae decomposed under anoxic conditions, producing thioether compounds. After switching water sources, total coliforms and Escherichia coli in the finished water were not detected, and all items met the drinking water standard GB 5749-2022. Afterward, 7 officials were held accountable, July water fees were fully waived, and filter elements were replaced for free. But fecal coliforms in the same water source had already been rising for several consecutive months before the incident. At the Yongsheng intake of the Tiaoxi River, it was 10 per L in April, 7,300 per L in May, and 16,000 per L in June. The limit for Class III surface water standard GB 3838 is 10,000 per L. In the same month, Siling Reservoir at 28,000 per L and Mantoushan Reservoir at 24,000 per L also exceeded the limit. So remember: boiling can only kill microorganisms; it cannot remove odor substances, nor can it remove chemicals dissolved in the water. If you smell an abnormal odor, or the water is yellow or cloudy, stop drinking it, report it to the water supply company and 12345, temporarily switch to bottled water, and do not expect a few extra minutes of boiling to suppress it. But this is a local accidental incident, and the local area also compensated on a per-incident basis, so it still does not constitute a reason to buy bottled water year-round. The online claim that "the sewage pipe was connected incorrectly" is a forged police alert, and the publisher has already been criminally detained (see Section 9). Bottled water at 1 yuan per 500 milliliters is an assumed price set for calculation; recalculate according to the actual price in your city. For old residential communities where secondary water supply facilities do not meet standards, you can install filtration, or buy water to drink only in this situation. Water prices differ by place; this Beijing figure is only for looking at the order of magnitude.

Sources

Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission. Residential water price table. https://fgw.beijing.gov.cn/bmcx/djcx/jzldj/202003/t20200331… ; State Administration for Market Regulation National Standard Full Text Public System. GB 5749-2022 Sanitary Standard for Drinking Water. https://openstd.samr.gov.cn/bzgk/std/newGbInfo?hcno=99E9C17… ; Hangzhou Joint Investigation Team (2025). Notice on the investigation of abnormal water supply in some communities in Yuhang District, Hangzhou (July 23, 2025), reposted by Xinhua Net http://www.news.cn/20250723/1be62dac3b0b4461a643791ff552e93… ; Hangzhou Yuhang District People's Government. Yuhang District April/May/June 2025 source water quality monitoring data (disclosed by Hangzhou Yuhang Water Affairs Holding Group, testing unit Hangzhou Jiashu Environmental Monitoring Co., Ltd., Annex PDF Table 1 item 24 "fecal coliforms") https://www.yuhang.gov.cn/art/2025/5/8/art_1229204072_59140… , https://www.yuhang.gov.cn/art/2025/6/5/art_1229204072_59142… , https://www.yuhang.gov.cn/art/2025/7/3/art_1229204072_59146… ; Cybersecurity Protection Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security (2025). Fabricating a false "police alert," concocting the "sewage" rumor, Shao Mouhao was criminally detained http://www.news.cn/politics/20250722/3178b3bd189c4eb4b29398…

15. Do not trade stocks frequently

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

In data from 66,000 U.S. accounts, the group that traded most frequently earned on average only 11.4% per year, while the overall market in the same period was 17.9%. The gap of more than 6 percentage points was almost entirely eaten up by the fees paid when buying and selling. Without these fees, the two groups actually earned about the same. Once your hand moves, your money shrinks.

Cost

Costs nothing. The hard part is wanting to act as soon as you see news; you have to hold back.

Benefit

This study looked at 66,465 household accounts at U.S. discount brokers from 1991 to 1996. The group that traded most frequently had an annualized return of 11.4%, that is, an average of 11.4% per year. The overall market in the same period was 17.9%, and the average household was 16.4%. The average household turnover rate in a year was 75%, meaning that in one year three-quarters of the stocks held were turned over. The difference in gross returns between the frequent-trading group and the infrequent-trading group was very small. Gross return is the money earned before deducting fees. So the gap mainly comes from the transaction costs paid when buying and selling (United States, 1991 to 1996)

Notes

This data is from the United States in the 1990s. The commission and stamp tax structure of A-shares is different, but the principle that "the higher the turnover, the lower the take-home return" is the same. This does not constitute investment advice.

Sources

Barber BM, Odean T (2000). Trading Is Hazardous to Your Wealth: The Common Stock Investment Performance of Individual Investors. The Journal of Finance 55(2):773-806. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-1082.00226

https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-1082.00226

16. Don't invest with borrowed money, don't use leverage, don't buy what you don't understand

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Large

If you borrow money to buy stocks and the price falls below the line, and you can't put up more money, you'll be forced to sell. The paper loss instantly becomes a real loss, and you don't even get the chance to "wait for it to come back." Regulations stipulate that people who have had an account for less than half a year and whose average daily assets over the most recent 20 trading days are under 500,000 yuan cannot open a margin account. This threshold itself shows that it isn't meant for ordinary people.

Cost

Costs nothing. The hard part is resisting the urge to think "I'll borrow a bit and earn a bit more" when the market is doing well.

Benefit

Leverage means borrowing money to buy, and it magnifies losses. After you buy on margin, the market value of your collateral may fall below the maintenance margin line. This line is set by the brokerage, and it governs what you've pledged to them. If it falls below this line and you fail to add collateral to bring it back up, you'll be forcibly liquidated—the brokerage will sell on your behalf directly. The paper loss instantly becomes a real loss, with no chance to "wait for it to come back." Regulations stipulate that clients who "have engaged in securities trading for less than half a year, lack the ability to bear risk, and have average daily securities assets below 500,000 yuan over the most recent 20 trading days" may not open a credit account. This threshold itself shows that it isn't a tool meant for ordinary people (China, 2015).

Notes

The phrase "don't buy what you don't understand" has no direct literature support; it's a consensus view, and on its own it counts as level C. Using consumer loans or credit card cash advances to invest is also a form of disguised leverage; their interest rates are covered in item 7 of this section (don't use credit card minimum payments). Not investment advice.

Sources

China Securities Regulatory Commission (2015). Administrative Measures for the Margin Trading and Securities Lending Business of Securities Companies (CSRC Order No. 117, Article 12). https://www.csrc.gov.cn/csrc/c106256/c1654005/content.shtml ; Shanghai Stock Exchange. Interpretation of the "Implementation Rules for Margin Trading and Securities Lending of the Shanghai Stock Exchange" (investor education material). https://www.sse.com.cn/services/tradingservice/margin/edu/c…

17. Use broad-based index funds instead of actively managed funds as your long-term core holding (the portion of money you hold and don't touch for the long term)

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Large

The pile of stocks that active funds collectively buy is already very close to the entire market. But the extra management fee they charge is genuinely deducted from the returns you receive. If you treat fund performance as luck and repeatedly recalculate to compare, very few funds can earn back the fees they charge through the extra returns they generate.

Cost

Costs nothing. The price is that you give up the possibility of "picking a star fund manager." The hard part is that when the index falls, you have to bear it along with it and can't bail out midway.

Benefit

The overall portfolio of actively managed U.S. equity funds is close to the market portfolio—that is, the stocks these funds collectively hold are similar to the entire market. But the high cost of active management translates directly into lower net returns for investors; net return is what you get after fees are deducted. The study used bootstrap simulations—repeatedly randomly reshuffling performance to see what could be achieved by luck alone. The results showed that few funds generate excess returns sufficient to cover costs—that is, the extra they earn over the market isn't enough to cover the fee they charge (U.S., published 2010). S&P Dow Jones Indices publishes a statistic every year: in 2024, 65% of actively managed U.S. large-cap equity funds underperformed the S&P 500. Over 24 years of statistics, an average of 64% underperformed each year. Over the 15 years ending at the end of 2024, no category in any category had a majority of active funds outperforming.

Notes

Controversy: one article reexamined this conclusion. It pointed out that the Fama-French method of repeatedly resampling isn't thorough enough. By its algorithm, even if a fund's extra returns are genuinely obvious, it could still be judged as "indistinguishable from luck." So the conclusion that "almost no funds have skill" may be overstated. Whether China's active funds as a whole underperform the index—this section has not yet found citable primary literature. Not investment advice.

Sources

Fama EF, French KR (2010). Luck versus Skill in the Cross-Section of Mutual Fund Returns. The Journal of Finance 65(5):1915-1947. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.2010.01598.x ; S&P Dow Jones Indices (2025). SPIVA U.S. Scorecard Year-End 2024. https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/spiva/article/spiva-us/ (the official website refuses automated scraping; figures verified against the 2025-05-12 archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20250512071051/https://www.spgl… ); TODO (to be verified: similar research on the Chinese market, no citable primary literature found); Harvey CR, Liu Y (2022). Luck versus Skill in the Cross Section of Mutual Fund Returns: Reexamining the Evidence. The Journal of Finance, 77(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/jofi.13123 (the dissenting side)

18. Among similar funds, prioritize the one with lower fees

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

For every 1 percentage point higher annual fee, the money you receive after 20 years is about 18% less, and after 30 years about 26% less. Choosing the lower-fee option within the same category of funds is the only thing in this matter that you can determine in advance.

Cost

Costs nothing. Before buying, take one extra look at how much "management fee + custody fee + sales service fee" adds up to.

Benefit

The difference in fees will gradually eat away at your principal through compounding—meaning the bit deducted each year stacks up year after year. With a 1 percentage point higher annual fee, the terminal value after 20 years is 0.99^20 ≈ 18.2% less; terminal value is the money left in the account at that point; after 30 years it's about 26% less. Since 2023, China has been promoting public fund fee reform, lowering the upper limits on management fee rates and custody fee rates for active equity funds (specific upper limit figures to be verified).

Notes

This calculation is just what the formula produces; the premise is that the two funds earn the same before fees. In practice you also have to factor in subscription fees, redemption fees, and the sales service fee of Class C shares. Not investment advice.

Sources

China Securities Regulatory Commission (2023). CSRC Relevant Department Head Answers Reporters' Questions on Public Fund Fee Reform. http://www.csrc.gov.cn/csrc/c100028/c7418692/content.shtml ; Fama EF, French KR (2010). See item 11. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.2010.01598.x

19. Don't bet your money on a single stock, a single platform, or a single property

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Large

As long as several things don't all rise and fall completely together, spreading your money out keeps the average you can earn unchanged while making your account fluctuate less. Conversely, if all your money is bet on a single stock, a single platform, or a single property, then when it runs into trouble, it's as if everything of yours runs into trouble.

Cost

Costs nothing. The hard part is accepting one thing: you won't happen to bet on exactly the one that earns the most.

Benefit

As long as several assets don't rise and fall completely in sync, spreading your money out keeps expected returns unchanged while reducing volatility. That means the average you can earn stays the same, while the magnitude of your account's ups and downs gets smaller. This is the basic conclusion of portfolio selection proposed by Markowitz in 1952, and it has been used ever since for decades. Conversely, if all your money is bet on a single stock or a single platform, its variance is your entire variance—however much it rises or falls, you rise or fall with it. When trouble hits, there's no hedge at all, nothing else to help you make it back.

Notes

It's rated B because that classic paper is a pure mathematical derivation and doesn't calculate actual figures for "how much less you'd lose by diversifying." Diversification can only make your account's ups and downs smaller; it doesn't guarantee you won't lose. Buying broad-based index funds (see item 17 of this section) is itself the least troublesome way to diversify. Not investment advice.

Sources

Markowitz, H. (1952). Portfolio Selection. The Journal of Finance, 7(1), 77–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1952.tb01525.x

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1952.tb01525.x

20. If you pay individual income tax, opening a personal pension account lets you deduct 12,000 yuan a year pre-tax; if you don't pay individual income tax, opening one isn't worthwhile

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

The money you save equals "the tax bracket rate you pay on each extra yuan you earn, minus 3%," multiplied by the money you actually deposit. Someone in the 10% bracket saves at most 840 yuan a year; 20% saves 2,040 yuan; 30% saves 3,240 yuan. Someone who wouldn't owe individual income tax anyway saves nothing by depositing, and instead has to pay 3% tax when withdrawing—a net loss. The money is locked until retirement and can't be withdrawn midway.

Cost

Opening an account costs nothing. The real price is that this money is locked until you retire and can't be withdrawn midway.

Benefit

The money you deposit, up to 12,000 yuan a year, can be truthfully deducted from comprehensive income or business income—that is, however much you deposit, that much can be subtracted from your taxable income. The investment returns this money earns in the account are temporarily exempt from individual income tax. When you withdraw it in the future, it isn't merged into comprehensive income but taxed separately at 3%. So what you save is "your marginal tax rate minus 3%" multiplied by the money you actually deposit. The marginal tax rate is the bracket rate you pay on each extra yuan you earn. Calculated out: someone with a 10% marginal tax rate saves at most 840 yuan a year, 20% saves 2,040 yuan, 30% saves 3,240 yuan. Someone who wouldn't owe individual income tax anyway (annual comprehensive income after all deductions doesn't reach the threshold) saves nothing when contributing, and instead has to pay 3% when withdrawing—a net loss. The annual contribution limit accumulates by calendar year and resets the next year; amounts not fully contributed in a given year cannot be carried over to the next. This policy has been implemented nationwide since December 15, 2024 (nationwide).

Notes

This account operates on a "closed" basis—once money goes in, it can't come out. Only four situations allow withdrawal: reaching the age for receiving basic pension, completely losing the ability to work, emigrating (leaving the country) to settle, and other situations stipulated by the state. So it isn't wealth management; it's a tax arrangement that locks up money for many years. First calculate clearly how much tax you pay on each extra yuan you earn, then decide how much to contribute. Don't lock up your emergency fund just to "game the system" (for the emergency fund, see item 27). The money in the account still requires you to choose products to invest in yourself, and it can lose money. The rules for choosing products are the same as items 17 and 18 of this section (broad-based index funds, prioritize lower fees). The deduction certificate is issued by the personal pension information management service platform. You can choose the timing of the deduction: one option is to deduct it when tax is withheld from your salary that year, the other is to deduct it during the next year's annual reconciliation (for reconciliation, see item 2).

Sources

Ministry of Finance, State Taxation Administration (2024). Announcement on Implementing the Individual Income Tax Preferential Policy for Personal Pensions Nationwide (Ministry of Finance and State Taxation Administration Announcement No. 21 of 2024, December 12, 2024). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202412/content_6992498… ; Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and four other departments (2022). Implementation Measures for Personal Pensions (Articles 7, 8, 9, 12, 13). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-11/05/content_572…

21. Pay per visit or for short cycles at the gym, unless you have a stable record of more than a year

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money Little; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

In that three-year U.S. dataset, members who chose contracts with a monthly fee above $70 went on average only 4.3 times a month, working out to more than $17 per visit. Meanwhile, buying a 10-visit pass costs only $10 per visit. These people overpaid by an average of $600 during their membership. Unless you already have a record of going steadily for more than a year, paying per visit or buying short-term is more cost-effective.

Cost

Paying per visit, the per-visit price is somewhat more expensive than an annual pass amortized. You have to honestly estimate how many times a month you'll actually go.

Benefit

This study looked at three years of data on 7,752 members across 3 U.S. fitness clubs. Members who chose contracts with a monthly fee above $70 went on average only 4.3 times a month, working out to more than $17 per visit. Meanwhile, a 10-visit pass costs only $10 per visit. These people overpaid by an average of $600 during their membership. In addition, the proportion of monthly-pay members who still hadn't canceled after more than a year was 17% higher than annual-pay members (U.S., three-year panel data).

Notes

This is just one study, using U.S. data. But the underlying principle is universal: people overestimate their future self-control. If you already have a record of going more than twice a week for a full year, then an annual pass really is cheaper.

Sources

DellaVigna S, Malmendier U (2006). Paying Not to Go to the Gym. American Economic Review 96(3):694-719. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.96.3.694

https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.96.3.694

22. Sign a written contract when paying in advance; if the merchant runs into risk, they must stop collecting; before absconding, you have the right to demand back the unconsumed balance

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

When a merchant collects your prepayment, they must sign a written contract, and the contract must clearly state how refunds work. If the merchant faces major business risk, they should stop collecting money. If they decide to close or relocate, they must notify you in advance. You have the right to demand they continue providing the service, or refund the unconsumed balance to you. If they violate these rules, the fine is 1 to 10 times the illegal gains; if there are no illegal gains, a fine of up to 500,000 yuan.

Cost

Costs nothing. The hard part is insisting on the spot on a written contract and not accepting "just top up first, we'll talk later."

Benefit

The regulation stipulates that when a merchant collects prepayments, they must conclude a written contract and agree on the refund method in the contract. If the merchant faces major business risk, they should stop collecting prepayments. If the merchant decides to close or relocate, they should notify consumers in advance. Consumers have the right to demand continued performance, or a refund of the unconsumed balance. Violators may be fined 1 to 10 times the illegal gains; if there are no illegal gains, a fine of up to 500,000 yuan.

Notes

This item gives you the basis for a lawsuit after the fact, not a sense of security beforehand. If the merchant really absconds, the money is most likely no longer in the account. So the order is still: first, per this section's item "Pay per visit or for short cycles at the gym," top up less; if something really happens, then rely on this item to defend your rights. Article 27 of the same regulation also stipulates that when a merchant collects a deposit, they must agree in advance on the method, procedure, and time limit for refunding it, and must not set unreasonable conditions for the refund.

Sources

State Council (2024). Implementation Regulations of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests (State Council Order No. 778, effective July 1, 2024). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202403/content_6940159… Article 22: "Where a business operator provides goods or services by collecting prepayments, it shall conclude a written contract with the consumer, agreeing on matters such as the specific content of the goods or services, the price or fee, the method of refunding the prepayment, and liability for breach of contract." "Where a business operator fails to provide goods or services as agreed, it shall perform the agreement or refund the prepayment at the consumer's request." "Where a business operator faces major business risk that may affect its normal provision of goods or services as agreed in the contract or according to trade practice, it shall stop collecting prepayments. Where a business operator decides to close or relocate its service premises, it shall notify consumers in advance… consumers… have the right to demand that the business operator continue to perform its obligation to provide goods or services, or demand a refund of the unconsumed prepayment balance." ; Article 50 penalties

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202403/content_6940159…

23. Set a 24-hour cooling-off period for large non-essential purchases; make good use of the seven-day no-reason return for online shopping

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

What you save is the stuff you no longer want the next day. For things bought online, you can return them without reason within seven days from the day you receive the goods. There are several categories that can't be returned: custom-made to your specifications, fresh and perishable goods, digital products that have already been unsealed, and newspapers and periodicals.

Cost

Costs nothing. The thing you want, you have to wait an extra day to get. Return shipping is usually paid by you. The hard part is resisting placing the order that day.

Benefit

What you save is the portion of impulse purchases that you "no longer want the next day." How large that portion is, no uniform ratio can be given. Goods bought online can be returned without reason within seven days from the day of receipt. Four categories are excluded: custom-made, fresh and perishable, digital products already unsealed, and newspapers and periodicals (China, effective since 2017).

Notes

The "cooling-off period" itself is an empirical practice with no direct literature support. The seven-day no-reason return is its institutional backstop. Before returning, confirm two things first: whether this item is on the non-returnable list, and whether the packaging is still intact.

Sources

State Administration for Market Regulation (2020 revision). Interim Measures for the Seven-Day No-Reason Return of Goods Purchased Online (SAIC Order No. 31). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2020-11/03/content_555…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2020-11/03/content_555…

24. Don't stock up for "strikethrough prices" and big sales

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

People judge whether something is expensive based on the first number they see, and afterward no matter how they adjust, they don't adjust enough. So "original price 999, now 499" will make you systematically overestimate how cheap it is. And by regulation, the benchmark for a discount should only be the lowest transaction price in this store during the seven days before the promotion. That crossed-out price may not have actually sold at that price.

Cost

Costs nothing. The price is that you also let some real discounts go. You have to remember the everyday prices of the few things you regularly buy. The hard part is resisting stocking up on the day of the big sale.

Benefit

People's judgment gets anchored by the first number they see, and afterward adjustments usually don't adjust enough. So "original price 999, now 499" systematically inflates your estimate of "how much cheaper it is." Regulatory rules stipulate that the benchmark for a discount should be the lowest transaction price at the same store within the seven days before the promotion. That is, to determine the discount percentage, you should use the lowest price actually sold at this store in the seven days before the promotion as the reference. In other words, the crossed-out price may not have actually sold at that price (China, effective since 2020).

Notes

The anchoring effect is a conclusion drawn in the laboratory; no one has calculated how much money stocking up actually loses. Stocking up also has several costs you won't record in your accounts: things expiring, taking up space, and "since we have it at home anyway, let's use more." Only stock up on things that satisfy all three: long shelf life, certain to be used up, and unit price genuinely lower than the previous price.

Sources

Tversky A, Kahneman D (1974). Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases. Science 185(4157):1124-1131. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.185.4157.1124 ; State Administration for Market Regulation (2020). Interim Provisions on Regulating Promotional Behavior (SAIC Order No. 32, Article 21). https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/fgs/art/2023/art…

25. Buy consumption-type insurance first; treat "return" and "dividend" as non-guaranteed parts

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

The money from dividends and returns is not guaranteed to be paid to you. Regulators require that the prospectus must warn in bold that "future policy dividends are non-guaranteed benefits." The extra premium you pay for the return feature is essentially having the insurance company save money on your behalf: the returns are not guaranteed, and it is not easy to withdraw.

Cost

With consumption-type insurance, you get nothing back at maturity, and it feels like "the money was wasted." Saving is something you have to arrange yourself. The hard part is accepting that this money will not come back.

Benefit

Regulatory rules require that the prospectus for dividend-type products warn in bold that "future policy dividends are non-guaranteed benefits, and their dividend distribution is uncertain." The dividend illustration is the dividend projection table the insurance company shows you, and its upper limit on the interest spread is 4.5% minus the product's guaranteed interest rate. The guaranteed interest rate is the fixed rate of return set in the contract. The extra premium paid for return-type and dividend-type products is essentially savings handed to the insurance company to manage. Its returns are not guaranteed, and its liquidity is poor, so withdrawing it is not easy (China, effective from 2023)

Notes

Controversy: for people who simply cannot save money at all, return-type insurance forces them to pay on schedule, and that effect has real value. This item is aimed at ordinary people who can control themselves. How much better "buy consumption-type and invest the saved premium yourself" is than "buy return-type" depends on the specific product, and this section has no citable systematic data. This is not investment advice.

Sources

China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (2022). Rules on Information Disclosure of Life Insurance Products with a Term of More Than One Year (CBIRC Regulation [2022] No. 24). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2023-01/04/content_573…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2023-01/04/content_573…

26. Buy enough third-party liability insurance: compulsory traffic accident insurance limits are uniform nationwide and not high, and anything beyond them comes out of your own household

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money much; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

When you are liable, compulsory traffic accident insurance pays at most these three items: death and disability 180,000 yuan, medical expenses 18,000 yuan, and property damage 2,000 yuan. These three items are calculated separately and cannot be shifted between one another, with a combined cap of 200,000 yuan. If you injure one person, medical fees plus lost wages can easily exceed the 18,000 yuan item. If there is an actual death, it is far more than 180,000 yuan. The excess must come out of your own household, so commercial third-party liability insurance must be bought in sufficient amount.

Cost

Commercial third-party liability insurance costs several hundred to over a thousand yuan a year. The higher the coverage purchased, the cheaper the premium spread over each yuan of coverage actually becomes.

Benefit

Compulsory traffic accident insurance applies a uniform liability limit nationwide. The limit is divided into four items calculated separately: death and disability, medical expenses, property damage, and compensation when you are not liable. After the 2020 comprehensive auto insurance reform, the current total liability limit is 200,000 yuan. Within that 200,000 yuan, death and disability is 180,000 yuan, medical expenses 18,000 yuan, and property damage 2,000 yuan. When you are not liable, death and disability is 18,000 yuan, medical expenses 1,800 yuan, and property damage 100 yuan. The portion exceeding the limit is borne by the tortfeasor, that is, the party who hit the person pays it. If compulsory traffic accident insurance was not purchased, the vehicle will be impounded, and a fine of twice the insurance premium payable will also be imposed

Notes

The limits are set by the financial regulatory authorities and may be adjusted. These figures are the current values after the September 2020 comprehensive auto insurance reform, and you can verify them again before buying insurance. The key is its structure: compulsory traffic accident insurance pays separately by item, and if one item is not fully paid out, the remaining quota cannot be moved to cover another item. The total compensation for injuring a person can far exceed it, and there is no backstop at all for the excess difference. This book does not give a number for exactly how much third-party liability coverage to buy. But it is one of the few places in this book where "spending a few hundred yuan more removes a matter that has a very small probability but can crush a family if it really happens."

Sources

State Council (2006, revised 2012). Regulations on Compulsory Motor Vehicle Traffic Accident Liability Insurance (State Council Order No. 462, amended by Order No. 618), Article 23: "Compulsory motor vehicle traffic accident liability insurance applies a uniform liability limit nationwide. The liability limit is divided into the death and disability compensation limit, the medical expenses compensation limit, the property damage compensation limit, and the compensation limit when the insured is not liable in a road traffic accident." "The liability limit shall be prescribed by the CIRC together with the public security department of the State Council, the health authorities of the State Council, and the agriculture authorities of the State Council." Article 21 compensation within the limit; Article 39 for failure to insure, "the public security organ's traffic management department shall impound the motor vehicle... and impose a fine of twice the insurance premium payable for the minimum liability limit required under the regulations." http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2012/content_2131962.htm ; China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (2020). Guiding Opinions on Implementing the Comprehensive Auto Insurance Reform (CBIRC Issuance [2020] No. 41, IV(4): "Raise the total liability limit of compulsory traffic accident insurance from 122,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan, among which the death and disability compensation limit is raised from 110,000 yuan to 180,000 yuan, the medical expenses compensation limit is raised from 10,000 yuan to 18,000 yuan, and the property damage compensation limit remains unchanged at 2,000 yuan"). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2020/content_5567758.htm (State Council Gazette)

27. First save an emergency fund of 3 to 6 months of living expenses, placed somewhere you can withdraw at any time

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

Put 3 to 6 months of living expenses somewhere you can withdraw at any time. That way, if you lose your job or get sick, you will not need to borrow money at 18% interest a year, and you will not need to sell your investments at a loss. Money deposited in a bank has deposit insurance, with a maximum payout of 500,000 yuan at the same bank.

Cost

It costs no money. The price is that this money must give up higher returns and can only be placed in demand deposits, money market funds, or deposits that can be withdrawn at any time. The hard part is resisting the urge to touch it while saving it up.

Benefit

With an emergency fund, if you lose your job or get sick, you will not need to borrow money, and you will not need to sell investments at a loss. For the annualized interest rates of consumer loans and credit card minimum repayments, see item 7 of this section (do not use credit card minimum repayments). Money deposited in a bank is protected by deposit insurance, with a maximum reimbursement of 500,000 yuan at the same bank (China, 2015)

Notes

"3 to 6 months" is a common rule of thumb, and no official or academic original source was found, so it is marked level C. The amount is calculated based on your own monthly fixed expenses, not income. This is not investment advice.

Sources

State Council (2015). Deposit Insurance Regulations (State Council Order No. 660, Article 5). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2015-03/31/content_9562.htm

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2015-03/31/content_9562.htm

28. Before prepaying your mortgage, do a comparison problem first; do not go by feeling

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Prepayment earns a certain return, and its value is exactly equal to your mortgage rate. So you only need to answer one question: is the after-tax return you can reliably obtain over the long term higher than the mortgage rate? If it is higher, do not rush to repay; if it is not higher, or you cannot say for sure, then repay. With equal principal and interest, interest accounts for a large share in the early period, so the earlier you repay, the more you save. You can directly see the numbers using the bank app's "prepayment calculator."

Cost

It costs no money. It takes half an hour to work out an account. You need to honestly estimate the stable after-tax rate of return you can obtain.

Benefit

The calculation is like this. First set the annual mortgage rate as r, according to your contract. On August 20, 2026, the LPR for terms over 5 years was 3.5%, and the actual executed rate is the LPR plus or minus a spread. Then set g as the annualized after-tax return of another investment available to you, that is, the average percentage this money could earn per year if invested elsewhere. The certain rate of return on prepayment is r, and each repayment is equivalent to steadily earning r. If g is stably greater than r, keeping the money in the investment is more cost-effective. If g is less than r, or g simply cannot be determined, then prepayment is equivalent to locking in a risk-free r, obtained without taking any risk. With equal principal and interest, interest accounts for a large share in the early period, that is, in the first few years, interest makes up a large part of what you pay in, so the earlier you repay, the more interest you save. For this point, look directly at the numbers using the bank app's "prepayment calculator" (China, 2026 rates)

Notes

Here only the calculation method is given, not a conclusion. It is a minority of cases where investment returns can stably exceed the mortgage rate. But no matter which side you choose, you must first keep enough emergency cash. Also pay attention to whether the contract has a clause on prepayment penalty fees. This is not investment advice.

Sources

National Interbank Funding Center, authorized by the People's Bank of China (2026). Announcement of the Loan Prime Rate (LPR) on August 20, 2026. https://www.chinamoney.com.cn/chinese/rdgz/20260820/3399885…

https://www.chinamoney.com.cn/chinese/rdgz/20260820/3399885…

29. For online shopping, trust platform rules and legal provisions, not streamers and "positive reviews"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

If a merchant defrauds you, they compensate three times the price you paid, and if that is less than 500 yuan, it is counted as 500 yuan. If a platform clearly knows the seller is infringing but does not act, it must compensate together. Fake orders, fake positive reviews, and false information in livestream rooms all carry liability; organizing fake orders carries a maximum fine of 2 million yuan and may also result in license revocation. A deposit can be at most 20% of the contract amount. If you breach the contract, the deposit is not refunded; if the seller breaches, it must be returned to you double. Big data price discrimination against regular customers is explicitly prohibited.

Cost

It costs no money. Before ordering, take one more look at the after-sales terms and deposit rules. After receiving the goods, keep the order, screenshots of the livestream replay, and chat records. The hard part is not being carried away by the streamer's atmosphere.

Benefit

If an operator commits fraud, compensation is three times the price, and if less than 500 yuan, it is counted as 500 yuan. If a platform clearly knows or should know that a seller is infringing but does not handle it, it bears joint and several liability, meaning you can directly seek this compensation from the platform. Livestream rooms and streamers may not fabricate transactions, follows, views, likes, or other traffic, nor publish false information, and if damage is caused they bear civil liability. Those who organize fake transactions or fake reviews to help others inflate publicity are fined up to 1 million yuan; if the circumstances are serious, the fine is 1 million to 2 million yuan, and the license may also be revoked. A deposit may not exceed 20% of the contract subject amount. If you do not perform the contract, the deposit is not refunded; if the seller does not perform, it must return double to you. Those using personal information for automated decision-making may not engage in unreasonable differential treatment in transaction prices and other conditions, which is commonly known as big data price discrimination against regular customers (nationwide)

Notes

On the question of "which platform has the best cost-effectiveness and is least likely to sell inferior goods," there is no citable official comparative data, so this book does not rank platforms. What can be found is only overall spot-check results (see item 32, check national spot-check notices). After the 2025 revision of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, false publicity moved from the old Article 8 to Article 9. The penalty provisions moved from Article 20 to Article 25. The new law took effect on October 15, 2025. When writing materials, do not copy the old article numbers. In that batch of Shandong cases, one company organized "brushing hands" to conduct 75 fake transactions with principal of more than 680,000 yuan and was investigated and punished; the fine amount was not written in the notice. For seven-day no-reason returns, see item 23 of this section (make good use of seven-day no-reason returns in online shopping).

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2013 amendment). Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests (Articles 44 and 55). https://www.samr.gov.cn/zfjcj/tzgg/art/2023/art_615af9ed6bc… (reposted by the State Administration for Market Regulation); Cyberspace Administration of China and six other departments (2021). Measures for the Administration of Online Livestream Marketing (Trial) (Articles 18 and 28). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-04/23/content_560… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025 revision). Anti-Unfair Competition Law (Articles 9 and 25). https://www.ssf.gov.cn/portal/rootfiles/2025/09/01/17584449… (reposted by the National Council for Social Security Fund); National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 586 and 587). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/233181.html ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021). Personal Information Protection Law (Article 24). https://www.stats.gov.cn/gk/tjfg/xgfxfg/202503/t20250310_19… (reposted by the National Bureau of Statistics); Shandong Provincial Administration for Market Regulation (2025). Six Typical Cases of Online Unfair Competition. https://www.samr.gov.cn/jjj/fbzdjz/art/2025/art_cbaed1c0065…

30. If something bought in a livestream room has a problem, first ask the platform for the seller's and the salesperson's information; the platform must provide it

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

The most common deadlock when something bought in a livestream room has a problem is that you cannot find whom to sue. At that point you can directly demand that the platform provide information on the livestream room operator and the salesperson, as well as the relevant business records. The platform must provide it.

Cost

It costs no money. Just make the request to the platform.

Benefit

When a consumer dispute arises, the operator of a livestream marketing platform shall, according to the consumer's request, provide relevant information on the livestream room operator and livestream marketing personnel, as well as relevant business activity records. This article solves exactly the most common deadlock in livestream rights protection: not being able to find whom to sue

Notes

Before ordering, record the livestream screen and the streamer's promises. If a problem arises, first ask the platform for the seller's and salesperson's information, then decide whether to complain or sue. The same regulation also provides three things. First, merchants may not expand on their own the scope of goods that "do not apply to seven-day no-reason returns." Second, they may not set "no-reason returns do not apply" as the default option. Third, without your confirmation, they may not refuse your return.

Sources

State Council (2024). Implementing Regulations of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests (State Council Order No. 778, effective July 1, 2024). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202403/content_6940159… : "Where an operator provides goods or services through online livestreaming or other means, it shall perform the relevant obligations for the protection of consumer rights and interests in accordance with law. The operator of a livestream marketing platform shall establish and improve a consumer rights and interests protection system and clarify the mechanism for resolving consumer disputes. Where a consumer dispute arises, the operator of a livestream marketing platform shall, according to the consumer's request, provide necessary information such as relevant information on the livestream room operator and livestream marketing personnel and relevant business activity records." "Where the livestream content published by a livestream room operator or livestream marketing personnel constitutes a commercial advertisement, they shall perform the obligations of an advertisement publisher, advertisement operator, or advertisement endorser in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Advertising Law of the People's Republic of China."

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202403/content_6940159…

31. If you buy unsafe food, besides a refund you can also demand ten times the price, and if the increased compensation is less than 1,000 yuan, it is counted as 1,000 yuan

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

If you eat food that is expired, spoiled, or contains foreign objects, the item itself, the packaging, and the receipt are all your evidence; do not rush to throw them away. The compensation provided by the legal provision is "ten times the price or three times the loss," and if the increased compensation amount is less than 1,000 yuan, it is counted as 1,000 yuan. So for a pack of expired food costing a few yuan, what you are actually negotiating is that 1,000 yuan. Whether to go to the seller or the manufacturer is your choice, and the party you approach must compensate first and may not push you to the other party.

Cost

It costs no money. Keep the food, packaging, and receipt; do not throw them away or wash them, and take photos on the spot. First contact the merchant or platform, and if negotiations fail, call 12315. If it really goes to litigation, it takes several months. The hard part is resisting the urge to throw the item away first.

Benefit

If you suffer harm because food does not meet food safety standards, you may demand compensation for losses from the operator, or from the producer. The party receiving your compensation demand applies the first-responsibility system and must pay first and may not shirk. This means whoever you approach must pay the money first and cannot push you to the other party. In addition to demanding compensation for losses, you may also demand that the other party pay compensation of ten times the price or three times the loss, and "if the increased compensation amount is less than 1,000 yuan, it is 1,000 yuan." But there is one exception: "except where defects in the food's labels or instructions do not affect food safety and will not mislead consumers." Judicial interpretations also set several points. First, three conditions must be met simultaneously. The purchaser bought it for personal or family daily consumption needs. The food does not meet food safety standards. And there is no evidence proving that he knew when buying. If these are met, then "the punitive compensation of ten times the price shall be calculated based on the price actually paid." Second, if someone knowingly buys food that does not meet standards and then claims compensation, the people's court supports it only "within the scope of reasonable daily consumption needs." For continuous purchases and repeated lawsuits, the total of multiple purchases is assessed within the same scope. Third, there are several defects for which courts do not support punitive compensation, provided they will not cause consumers to misunderstand food safety. These defects are: nonstandard wording and font size, with typos, extra characters, or missing characters. Also nonstandard labeling of net content and specifications. Also failure to label storage conditions for food that has no special storage condition requirements (nationwide)

Notes

The order of evidence matters more than the amount. First take photos and videos, capturing the packaging, production date, foreign objects, and purchase records, then contact the merchant or platform. Do not throw away or wash the item before communicating. 12315 does mediation, not adjudication. If the merchant stubbornly denies it, the only path left is litigation; for how to calculate small claims, see Section 8, item 22 (defrauded in online shopping or second-hand transactions). Also note: whether finding foreign objects such as hair or insects counts as "not meeting food safety standards" usually must be determined by the market regulation department or through appraisal; it is not up to you to decide. So the statement "find one hair and you are guaranteed 1,000 yuan" does not hold. Fraud for ordinary goods is compensated at three times, and if less than 500 yuan, counted as 500 yuan; see item 29 of this section (for online shopping, trust platform rules and legal provisions). For those on the side of making food themselves to sell, which licenses to obtain, how to write labels, and why claims of curing disease are not allowed are separately regulated. For details, see Section 12, items 8 to 11 (food licensing, labels, the red line on therapeutic claims, and the criminal line). Conversely, turning claims into a business has a clear red line. First, maliciously creating the false appearance that a merchant is illegally producing or operating, then using complaints or lawsuits to threaten and extort compensation, is suspected of extortion, and the court must transfer the clues and materials to the public security authorities. Second, if one files a lawsuit using a fabricated appearance, the court dismisses the claim; if it constitutes false litigation, a fine or detention is imposed according to the severity of the circumstances, and the merchant can also countersue you for infringement of reputation rights. The beneficiaries of this item are yourself and your family.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (third amendment in 2025). Food Safety Law (Article 148). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=7b5a76d0461745a08d3f964916… (National Database of Laws and Regulations, effective December 1, 2025); Supreme People's Court (2024). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Cases Involving Punitive Compensation Disputes over Food and Drugs (Fa Shi [2024] No. 9, Articles 1, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, effective August 22, 2024). http://gongbao.court.gov.cn/Details/bf531a70471f10d377788f2… (Supreme People's Court Gazette)

32. Before Buying Big-Ticket Items, First Check National Spot-Check Bulletins, 3C Certification, and Energy Efficiency Labels

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

In 2024, the state conducted spot checks on 25,250 batches of products, with 14.3% failing. E-commerce channels were worse: 7,297 batches were checked, with 23.5% failing; physical stores were at 15.1%. Before buying big-ticket items, spend a few minutes checking the spot-check bulletins, then check whether the 3C certificate is genuine. For products that should carry an energy efficiency label, it must not be missing.

Cost

No money spent. Spend a few minutes checking on the official websites of the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Certification and Accreditation Administration.

Benefit

In 2024, national supervisory spot checks covered 25,250 batches of products, with a failure rate of 14.3%. Of these, 7,297 batches were checked in e-commerce channels, with a failure rate of 23.5%, up 1.8 percentage points from the previous year. Physical stores were checked in 8,055 batches, with a failure rate of 15.1%. The authenticity of compulsory product certification (i.e., 3C) certificates can be verified in the "Certification Results" section on the official website of the Certification and Accreditation Administration. Energy efficiency labels are subject to mandatory management according to the product catalog, and the label must include the energy efficiency grade, energy efficiency indicators, and energy efficiency information code. Forging or fraudulently using energy efficiency labels, or failing to label when required, is punished under the Energy Conservation Law (nationwide)

Notes

Spot checks involve regulators selecting a portion of goods for inspection; the results do not equal the qualification rate of the entire market, nor can they be used to rank platforms. There is no research on "how many inferior products can be avoided by checking," so it is rated B. The Certification and Accreditation Administration's query platform cx.cnca.cn could not be opened when this section was verified; the entry point is based on the homepage of cnca.gov.cn. The figures in spot-check bulletins are updated annually; check the latest issue when using them.

Sources

State Administration for Market Regulation (2025). Bulletin on the 2024 National Supervisory Spot Checks of Product Quality. https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/zljds/art/2025/a… ; Certification and Accreditation Administration of the PRC. "Certification Results" query entry on the official website. https://www.cnca.gov.cn/ ; National Development and Reform Commission, General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (2016). Measures for the Administration of Energy Efficiency Labels (Order No. 35, Articles 3, 7, and 27). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2021-11/30/content_5713245.htm

33. Calculate Bracelets, Jade, Luxury Watches, and Trendy Toys by "Money Spent," Not "Money Saved"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

The moment you buy these things, a chunk of tax is already deducted from the price. Watches priced at 10,000 yuan or more each (excluding VAT) are subject to a 20% consumption tax as "high-end watches." Gold, silver, and platinum jewelry and diamonds are taxed at 5%, while other precious jewelry and gems are taxed at 10%. VAT is on top of that. This money cannot be recovered when you resell to the next person. If you truly like it, buy it as consumption; don't count it as an investment.

Cost

No money spent. Just don't include "it will appreciate in the future" as a reason for buying it. The hard part is resisting the urge to increase your budget for "preserving value."

Benefit

First, look at the buying side. The tax rates set in the Consumption Tax Taxable Items and Rates Table are as follows. "High-end watches" 20%. Under "precious jewelry and gems," gold and silver jewelry, platinum jewelry, diamonds, and diamond ornaments 5%. Other precious jewelry and gems 10%. The definition of "high-end watches" is "all types of watches with a sales price (excluding VAT) of 10,000 yuan (inclusive) or more per watch." Now look at the liquidation side, based on the Measures for the Administration of Pawnshops. Article 36: The maximum pawn period shall not exceed 6 months. Article 37 addresses the loan interest rate, i.e., the interest on the money the pawnshop lends you. This interest is calculated based on the 6-month statutory loan interest rate published by the People's Bank of China and the pawn period. Interest must not be deducted in advance, i.e., it cannot be deducted from the money given to you. Article 38 addresses pawns of movable property pledges, i.e., pawning things like watches and jade. The monthly comprehensive fee rate for such pawns shall not exceed 42‰ of the loan amount. That is, the additional comprehensive fee per month shall not exceed 4.2% of the loan amount. Real estate mortgages are 27‰, and property rights pledges are 24‰. Article 40: If within 5 days after the term expires, the pawn is neither redeemed nor renewed, it is deemed a dead pawn, and the item no longer waits for you to redeem it. Article 43: For dead pawn items appraised at 30,000 yuan or more, auction may be entrusted. The auction proceeds shall first deduct auction fees and the principal and interest of the loan. The remainder is returned to the pawner, and if insufficient, the pawner shall be pursued for the shortfall (nationwide)

Notes

The pawnshop route must be calculated clearly: the monthly comprehensive fee cap is 42‰ of the loan amount, which is about 50% of the loan amount per year, and the loan interest is calculated separately. This "50% per year" is a rough calculation by directly multiplying the monthly rate by 12, used to gauge the order of magnitude, not an exact annual interest rate. Tax rates and fee rates are figures explicitly written in the law. However, there is no citable official statistic on "whether such items can appreciate long-term," and this book makes no predictions and does not comment on any category. What this item aims to block is only the part of the reasoning that treats consumption as investment: if you like it and enjoy wearing it, buying it as consumption is fine; increasing your budget on the grounds of "preserving value" or "selling higher later" is where you lose money. Gold also has two sides: investment gold bars bought and sold by weight are not the same as jewelry sold by piece. Jewelry prices include design and labor fees, which are usually not counted when recycling. Listing prices on second-hand platforms are not transaction prices; don't treat them as market prices.

Sources

State Council (2008). Interim Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Consumption Tax (State Council Order No. 539, with the attached Consumption Tax Taxable Items and Rates Table). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2008-11/14/content_179… ; Ministry of Finance, State Administration of Taxation (2006). Notice on Adjusting and Improving Consumption Tax Policy (Cai Shui [2006] No. 33). http://www.mof.gov.cn/zhengwuxinxi/zhengcefabu/2006zcfb/200… ; Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Public Security (2005). Measures for the Administration of Pawnshops (Order No. 8 of 2005, Articles 36, 37, 38, 40, and 43). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2005/content_93074.htm

34. For Gems and Jade, Only Accept Test Reports with the CMA Mark, and Verify the Institution on the Issuing Authority's Official Website

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

The certificate itself can be forged, so what really needs checking is the institution that issued it. A testing institution must first obtain qualification accreditation to issue reports to the public, and the report must bear the CMA mark. The issuing authority must publish the list and certificate status on its official website, so you can check yourself whether this institution is on the list. In the 2026 "cracking down on counterfeits and clearing sources" cases, some accompanying "national inspection certificates" were made by someone they hired themselves, and even the signage was fake.

Cost

No money spent. Check the qualification of the issuing institution once before ordering; a few minutes is enough.

Benefit

First, look at the rules, based on the Measures for the Administration of Qualification Accreditation of Inspection and Testing Institutions. Article 2: Qualification accreditation is the evaluation and licensing of inspection and testing institutions that "issue data and results with probative effect to society," i.e., first reviewing them, then granting them the qualification to issue certificates. Article 15: The qualification accreditation mark consists of two parts: the CMA pattern and the qualification accreditation certificate number. Article 21: When an institution issues data and results with probative effect to the public, it shall mark the qualification accreditation mark on the inspection and testing report. Article 22: The qualification accreditation department shall publish information on institutions that have obtained qualification accreditation on its official website and indicate the certificate status. Article 34: Those who, without obtaining qualification accreditation according to law, arbitrarily issue data and results with probative effect to the public shall be fined 30,000 yuan. Article 37: Those who forge, alter, or fraudulently use qualification accreditation certificates or marks shall be fined up to 30,000 yuan. Now look at official cases, from the typical cases of "cracking down on counterfeits and clearing sources" in the traditional craft market published by the State Administration for Market Regulation on June 4, 2026. One: A livestream room in Donghai, Jiangsu, claimed to sell "natural, acid-free, unoptimized, Myanmar A-grade goods." The livestream room also provided a "national inspection certificate." However, the test results were quartzite jade (dyed), jadeite (treated), glass, and plastic. That certificate was made by someone the party contacted themselves. Two: In the same county, there was another case where 469 suspected counterfeit natural crystal products were seized, and testing found 210 were natural crystal and 259 were synthetic crystal. Three: A shop in Zhenping, Henan, privately made a display board for livestreaming. The board read "GIA CMA Zhongyu Jewelry and Jade Appraisal Center Certified Cooperative Unit." This shop also bought 181 "National Jewelry and Jade Quality Supervision and Inspection Center" qualification labels online. These labels were sold together with bracelets (nationwide)

Notes

There are national standards for the names of gems and jade. Test conclusions are written in forms like "quartzite jade (dyed)" and "jadeite (treated)" with parentheses, and the two characters in the parentheses are where the price difference lies. "A-grade," "old pit," and "unoptimized" are seller rhetoric, not appraisal conclusions. The livestream room selling dyed quartzite jade mentioned earlier used exactly this set of words. In the same batch of cases, there were other tricks: faking mining site scenes, arranging people to pose as "miners" for livestreams, arranging paid commenters to hype the atmosphere in livestream rooms, and scripting "urgent need for money" or "seriously ill relative" stories. There were also claims that products could "prevent and treat rheumatism, boost immunity, improve sleep quality, and unblock blood vessels," which are investigated and punished as false advertising. For the general method of checking before buying big-ticket items, see item 32 of this section (check spot-check bulletins and 3C certification). For whom to seek out when something goes wrong in a livestream room, see items 29 and 30 (for online shopping, recognize platform rules; when a livestream room has problems, ask the platform for information).

Sources

General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (promulgated 2015, amended 2021). Measures for the Administration of Qualification Accreditation of Inspection and Testing Institutions (Articles 2, 15, 21, 22, 34, and 37). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2021-04/22/content_5723677.htm ; State Administration for Market Regulation (2026). SAMR Publishes a Batch of Typical Cases of "Cracking Down on Counterfeits and Clearing Sources" in the Traditional Craft Market. https://www.samr.gov.cn/xw/zj/art/2026/art_1529399cfe874b87… ; Standardization Administration of China. GB/T 16552—2017 "Gems and Jade—Nomenclature" (current, implemented May 1, 2018). https://openstd.samr.gov.cn/bzgk/gb/newGbInfo?hcno=18FFB042…

35. For Random Sales Like Blind Boxes and Card Draws, Calculate by "This Money Will Not Come Back"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Small

The rules give you the right to know, not the right to regret. Draw rules, product distribution, draw probabilities, and the quantity of limited-edition releases must all be prominently disclosed by merchants, and they are not allowed to manipulate results behind the scenes or set empty boxes. But "guaranteed minimums, spending caps, and attempt caps" are only "encouraged" in the document, not mandatory. For blind boxes bought online, the moment you unbox them is the last moment you can back out.

Cost

No money spent. Just set your budget firmly before buying. The hard part is stopping even when you didn't draw the one you wanted.

Benefit

The basis is the Guidelines for Regulating Blind Box Business Practices (Trial). Article 9 lists a series of key information that should be publicly disclosed in a prominent manner to ensure consumers know before buying. This information is: product name, type, style, draw rules, product distribution, quantity of limited-edition products released, draw probability, and product value range. The same article also stipulates three prohibited actions. First, it is prohibited to induce consumption in disguised form by manipulating draw results behind the scenes or arbitrarily adjusting draw probabilities. Second, it is prohibited to refuse or deliberately delay the distribution of blind boxes by means of cash conversion, buyback, or exchange purchase. Third, it is prohibited to set empty boxes. Article 11 only "encourages" operators to establish guaranteed minimum mechanisms and guide rational consumption by setting draw times, spending caps, and attempt caps. Article 17 governs blind box products sold in internet form. If the operator has fully informed and prompted, and the consumer has confirmed at the time of a single purchase, such blind boxes may not be subject to the seven-day no-reason return after unboxing. Operators must not use default checkboxes to replace the consumer's confirmation step. Article 21: It is prohibited to engage in or disguisedly engage in gambling activities under the name of blind boxes. Article 23: Blind boxes must not be sold to minors under 8 years old; for sales to minors aged 8 and above, it shall be confirmed according to law that the consent of the relevant guardian has been obtained (nationwide)

Notes

This document is a guideline; it governs what operators should do and is not itself a basis for punishment. If something actually goes wrong, handle it under the Product Quality Law, Anti-Unfair Competition Law, and Consumer Rights Protection Law. There are three situations that are concrete grounds for complaint: probabilities not disclosed, disclosed probabilities not matching reality, and buying an empty box. Before complaining, first record the rules on the page and the unboxing process. The condition for not applying the seven-day no-reason return after unboxing is: the merchant fully informed you, you also confirmed at the time of a single purchase, and default checkboxes must not be used to confirm on your behalf. There are separate rules for minors: merchants must not sell to children under 8 years old, and for those aged 8 and above, it must first be confirmed that guardian consent has been obtained. For how to get refunds when children use phones to top up and tip, see item 9 of this section (children using phones to top up and tip). For the 24-hour cooling-off period for large non-essential purchases, see item 23 (set a cooling-off period for large non-essential purchases). For the cycle of "losing interest once bought, so you keep buying," see Section 6, item 23 (don't expect shopping to improve your mood).

Sources

State Administration for Market Regulation (2023). Guidelines for Regulating Blind Box Business Practices (Trial) (Guo Shi Jian Ji Fa [2023] No. 39, Articles 9, 11, 17, 21, and 23). https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/zfjcs/art/2023/a…

https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/zfjcs/art/2023/a…

36. If You Care About What's Added to Food, Buy Prepackaged: Bulk Counters Are Not Legally Required to List Ingredients

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money Little; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Small

The law only requires prepackaged food to list ingredients; bulk food is not required. Bulk counters only need to label the name, production date, shelf life, and who produced it. So "no additives listed" does not equal "no additives added"; it only means the law does not require listing them. If you care, buy the prepackaged version, where the ingredient list and additive names are printed on it.

Cost

No money spent. For the same item, prepackaged is usually a bit more expensive than bulk. Looking at the ingredient list takes a few seconds.

Benefit

Article 67 of the Food Safety Law stipulates that prepackaged food packaging shall have labels. The label must indicate nine items. Among them, the second item is "ingredients or ingredient list," and the seventh item is "the common names in national standards of the food additives used." Article 68 has much fewer requirements for bulk food. The original text is: food operators selling bulk food shall indicate on the containers or outer packaging of the bulk food "the name of the food, production date or production batch number, shelf life, and the name, address, and contact information of the producer or operator." This article does not mention the ingredient list, nor does it mention additives. Frozen aquatic products are where this difference is most obvious. GB 2760—2024 allows phosphoric acid and phosphates to be used as moisture retention agents, commonly known as water-retention agents, in frozen aquatic products. The maximum use amount is 5.0 g/kg, calculated as phosphate radicals. Use within this amount is legal. The problems are excessive use and glazing to increase weight. After CCTV's 2025 3·15 Gala exposed shrimp "illegally adding excessive water-retention agents (compound phosphates) and glazing to increase weight," market regulators required enterprises to "clearly label on product labels the components of water-retention agents (such as phosphates), net content (excluding the weight of the ice glaze), and ingredient list" (nationwide, Food Safety Law third amendment in 2025, effective December 1, 2025)

Notes

"Not labeled" does not equal "not added"; it only means the law does not require labeling. If you want to know the ingredients, buy the prepackaged version. For frozen shrimp and frozen fish fillets, the net content on prepackaged products is the weight after deducting the ice glaze. Calculating the unit price by that is the real price. Bulk products are calculated by the marked price, and after thawing they may shrink a lot. Water-retention agents within the limit are legal and not a safety issue; don't treat them as poison. Excessive addition and glazing to increase weight are money problems: you bought water at the price of aquatic products. Conversely, the four things that bulk counters should label may also be missing. Name, production date, shelf life, and the producer or operator's name, address, and phone number—missing any one violates Article 68. You can choose not to buy, or call 12315. For how to label when you run your own shop selling bagged food, see Section 12, item 9 (prepackaged food labels). The beneficiaries of this item are you and your family, which belongs to the highest two tiers.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (third amendment in 2025). Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China (Articles 67 and 68, promulgated September 12, 2025, effective December 1, 2025). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=7b5a76d0461745a08d3f964916… ; National Health Commission, State Administration for Market Regulation (2024). National Food Safety Standard—Standard for the Use of Food Additives (GB 2760—2024, Appendix A Table A.1 under "phosphoric acid and phosphates," food category number 09.02.01 frozen aquatic products; A.3 stipulates that food additives listed in Table A.1 shall be used according to the specified scope of use and maximum use amount). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202403/content_7001729… ; Lu'an Municipal Market Supervision Administration (2025). Letter of Reminder and Warning to Relevant Enterprises on Aquatic Products and the Use of Water-Retention Agents (March 24, 2025). https://scjgj.luan.gov.cn/zwzx/tzgg/5414606.html

37. Sell Losing Stocks According to Pre-Set Rules, Not by Averaging Down to Turn Things Around

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

Human instinct is to sell winners and hold losers. In seven years of records from 10,000 U.S. accounts, stocks that rose were more than 50% more likely to be sold than those that fell. The same people were also more inclined to add to losing stocks. But the losing stocks they kept performed on average 3.4 percentage points worse over the following year than the ones they sold.

Cost

No money spent. The hard part is admitting that this position has already lost and then selling it.

Benefit

This study looked at all transaction records from 10,000 accounts at a U.S. discount brokerage from 1987 to 1993. The proportion of gains realized (PGR) was 0.148. The proportion of losses realized (PLR) was 0.098. The difference was 0.050, with a t-value exceeding 35. In other words, on a daily basis, stocks that rose were more than 50% more likely to be sold than those that fell. The same accounts were also more active in adding to losing stocks. The proportion of losing stocks repurchased was 0.135, versus 0.094 for winning stocks, with a t-value of 19. The study also tested the idea that "the ones kept will come back." The result was the opposite: the winning stocks that were sold had average excess returns over the following year 3.4 percentage points higher than the losing stocks that were kept. Excess return refers to the portion above the market index. The author also calculated an example based on averages. Selling 1,000 dollars' worth of stock, selling the losing one rather than the winning one, yielded about 4.4% higher return over the following year. This 4.4% includes the money saved from tax deductions by selling losing stocks early. The tax deduction is calculated under the U.S. tax system (United States, 1987 to 1993)

Notes

This item governs "whether to sell," while item 15 (don't trade stocks frequently) governs "don't act too often"; the two do not conflict. Setting rules in advance and then following them actually results in fewer actions. Averaging down to lower costs is arithmetically correct; buying a bit more does lower the average cost. What is wrong is treating it as a way to turn things around: its real effect is to increase the money you have riding on this one stock, see item 19 (don't put your money on one stock). The tax deduction part is calculated under the U.S. tax system, and China does not copy it, but the rest still holds. This is account data from the United States in the 1980s and 1990s, and A-shares have different trading costs and tax systems. This does not constitute investment advice.

Sources

Odean T (1998). Are Investors Reluctant to Realize Their Losses? The Journal of Finance 53(5):1775-1798. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-1082.00072

https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-1082.00072

38. When the market surges or plunges, act less; don't ramp up buying and selling at the hottest moment

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Payoff Large

The Shanghai Stock Exchange ran the numbers on 40 million accounts for the 2014 to 2015 boom-and-bust cycle. The smallest 85% of households, because of frequent trading, earned 250 billion yuan less than if they had just held on without moving. That is roughly 30% of their stock market value at the start. During the two and a half calmer years, that gap was only 1% to 3%.

Cost

Costs no money. The hard part is not adding to your position when everyone else is making money.

Payoff

The study used daily account data from the Shanghai Stock Exchange, covering all roughly 40 million accounts. The sample period is July 2014 to December 2015, 18 months in total. Over these 18 months, the Shanghai Composite Index first rose more than 150%. It peaked at 5,166.35 points on June 12, 2015, then fell another 40% by the end of December. Household accounts were divided into four tiers by initial market value. The smallest tier made up 85% of all household accounts, and the largest tier made up 0.5%. The two tiers had roughly similar total initial stock market value, 880 billion yuan and 808 billion yuan respectively. The result is that the smallest 85% lost 250 billion yuan through active trading, while the largest 0.5% gained 254 billion yuan. The "loss" here is measured against just holding on without moving, that is, doing nothing over the same market run. Each figure is about 30% of that group's initial stock market value, 28% for the former and 31% for the latter. As a comparison, the two and a half years before June 2014 were a relatively calm market. In any 18 months during that period, the same kind of difference was only 1% to 3% of initial market value. During this market run, household accounts turned over their stocks about every three weeks on average, nearly 18 times a year (Shanghai, China, 2014 to 2015; comparison period 2012 to 2014)

Notes

This item is not saying don't buy stocks. It is saying that over the same market run, the more actively the smaller-account end trades, the more money flows to the counterparty, and "just holding on without moving" is the baseline in this study. The ones who took this money were not institutions either, but the largest individual accounts: during this period about 90% of Shanghai Stock Exchange trading volume came from retail accounts. The widely circulated claim that "90% of retail investors lose money" has no verifiable official statistic, so this item does not use that number. Turnover can be compared for reference. During this market run, household accounts turned over nearly 18 times a year, while in item 15 (don't trade stocks frequently) American households turned over only three quarters in a year. Not investment advice.

Sources

An L, Lou D, Shi D (2022). Wealth redistribution in bubbles and crashes. Journal of Monetary Economics 126:134-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmoneco.2022.01.001 ; the same authors' publicly available working paper version (October 2021, the figures in this item were checked word by word against it). https://personal.lse.ac.uk/loud/AnLouShi.pdf

Evidence levels: C, A, B · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 06 · 26 suggestions

Negative List

[[High Cost-Performance Life Guide]]

This section collects things that "look cheap and effective." Once you open the original research, their benefits are close to zero, equal to zero, and some are even negative. The order is based on two things: how much money people spend on them, and how solid the evidence supporting them is. The earlier in the list, the more worth stopping first.

1. Don't take multivitamins for longevity or cardiovascular disease prevention

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

14,000 male doctors took multivitamins for eleven years. The number of those who had major heart and blood vessel events, and those who died, was the same as those who didn't take them. Pooling 9 trials and over 50,000 people together, no effect on death could be seen either. Not buying them saves 200 to 700 yuan a year. People who are actually found to be deficient in some nutrient, and pregnant women supplementing folic acid, are not included in this item.

Cost

About 0.5 to 2 yuan a day, 200 to 700 yuan a year. Taking it doesn't take time, just one pill. Taking it long-term easily creates dependence, feeling that a day without it is like missing something.

Benefit

The PHS II trial recruited 14,641 male doctors. They were followed for 11.2 years (this is the median, half were longer and half were shorter). The proportion of those who took it and those who didn't having major cardiovascular events was the same. Major cardiovascular events HR 1.01 (HR is hazard ratio, 1 means both sides are the same). 95% CI 0.91–1.10 is the credible range for this number. Death was the same, all-cause death HR 0.94 (0.88–1.02). There is an American agency called USPSTF, responsible for grading preventive measures. In 2022 it pooled 9 randomized controlled trials and 51,550 people. The result was that multivitamins had no association with total death. Rating I, meaning the evidence is insufficient and unclear. It looks cost-effective because "one pill covers all nutrients" sounds smooth, and it only costs a few cents a day

Notes

Controversy: In the same group of male doctors, cancer was also examined. The proportion of those who took it getting cancer was about 8% lower (0.86–0.998, P=0.04, barely reaching the line of "not like coincidence"). The proportion dying of cancer was about 12% lower (0.77–1.01). This range crosses 1, so it may just be chance. This benefit is very small, and has only been seen in male doctors. People who are actually found to be nutrient-deficient, pregnant women (supplementing folic acid), and people whose regular diet is really very skewed, are not included in this item, and should supplement as the doctor says

Sources

Sesso HD et al. (2012). Multivitamins in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in men: the Physicians' Health Study II randomized controlled trial. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.14805 ; US Preventive Services Task Force (2022). Vitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.8970 ; Gaziano JM et al. (2012). Multivitamins in the Prevention of Cancer in Men. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.14641 (the cancer result in the notes)

2. Don't take ordinary fish oil for cardiovascular disease prevention

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Two large trials recruited 26,000 people and 15,000 diabetes patients respectively. Those who took 1 gram of fish oil daily had the same number of major heart and blood vessel events and deaths as those who didn't. "Eating fish is good" does not equal "taking fish oil capsules is good." Not buying them saves 400 to 1,000 yuan a year.

Cost

About 1 to 3 yuan a day, 400 to 1,000 yuan a year. Taking it doesn't take time.

Benefit

The VITAL trial recruited 25,871 people, taking 1 gram of fish oil daily, followed for 5.3 years (median). No difference was seen in either major cardiovascular events or death. Major cardiovascular events HR 0.92 (HR is hazard ratio, 1 means both sides are the same). 95% CI 0.80–1.06 is the credible range for this number. It crosses 1, meaning no difference can be seen. All-cause death HR 1.02 (0.90–1.15). The ASCEND trial recruited 15,480 diabetes patients, also 1 gram daily, average follow-up 7.4 years, likewise no difference seen. Serious vascular events RR 0.97 (0.87–1.08). All-cause death RR 0.95 (0.86–1.05). It looks cost-effective because many people directly take "eating fish is good" as "taking fish oil capsules is good"

Notes

Controversy: One trial was effective. The REDUCE-IT trial recruited 8,179 people who already had cardiovascular disease or diabetes, were all taking statins, and still had high triglycerides (135–499 mg/dL). They took 4 g daily of a prescription drug of pure EPA, and the proportion having events was 17.2% versus 22.0%. Risk was about a quarter lower (HR 0.75, 0.68–0.83). But that is a high-dose prescription drug given to high-risk patients, not the same as ordinary people taking health-supplement fish oil. Eating fish itself is not included in this item

Sources

Manson JE et al. (2019). Marine n-3 Fatty Acids and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer. NEJM. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1811403 ; ASCEND Study Collaborative Group (2018). Effects of n-3 Fatty Acid Supplements in Diabetes Mellitus. NEJM. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1804989 ; Bhatt DL et al. (2019). Cardiovascular Risk Reduction with Icosapent Ethyl for Hypertriglyceridemia. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1812792 (the high-purity prescription fish oil trial in the notes)

3. Don't give vitamin D to people who aren't deficient in it for longevity

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Two trials, one with 26,000 people taking it for 5 years, one with 21,000 elderly people taking it for 5 years. Supplementing people who weren't deficient in vitamin D in the first place, there was no change in cancer, cardiovascular problems, or death, and the proportion dying was 5.3% versus 5.1%. People who are actually found to be deficient, people with osteoporosis, and people who can't get sunlight long-term are not included in this item, and they should supplement as the doctor says.

Cost

About 0.2 to 0.5 yuan a day, 100 to 200 yuan a year. The money isn't much; the real cost is thinking you've already done prevention.

Benefit

The VITAL trial recruited 25,871 people, taking 2000 IU daily, followed for 5.3 years (median). No difference was seen in cancer, cardiovascular problems, or death. The type of cancer that spreads HR 0.96 (HR is hazard ratio, 1 means both sides are the same; 95% CI 0.88–1.06 is the credible range). Major cardiovascular events HR 0.97 (0.85–1.12). All-cause death HR 0.99 (0.87–1.12). The D-Health trial recruited 21,315 Australians over 60. They took 60,000 IU monthly, followed for 5 years. This one also showed no difference, all-cause death HR 1.04 (0.93–1.18). The proportion dying was 5.3% versus 5.1%. It looks cost-effective because some studies only track and record without any intervention, finding that people with low vitamin D levels die more, and this was misread as "supplementing it works"

Notes

Controversy: Neither trial specifically recruited people who were truly deficient in vitamin D, so the conclusion only applies to "people who weren't deficient in the first place." People who are actually found to be deficient, people with osteoporosis, people who can't get sunlight long-term, and infants should still supplement as the doctor says. This item only looked at total death and cancer and cardiovascular matters, nothing else

Sources

Manson JE et al. (2019). Vitamin D Supplements and Prevention of Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease. NEJM. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1809944 ; Neale RE et al. (2022). The D-Health Trial: a randomised controlled trial of the effect of vitamin D on mortality. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(21)00345-4

4. Don't take antioxidant supplements (beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin A) for cancer prevention

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

This item isn't just useless. Pooling 78 trials and nearly 300,000 people together, people who took antioxidant supplements actually had a slightly higher mortality rate. In two large trials specifically recruiting smokers, beta-carotene raised the proportion getting lung cancer by 18% to 28%, and death by 8% to 17%. Smokers and people exposed to asbestos especially should not take it.

Cost

About 0.5 to 2 yuan a day. For smokers, the real cost is that lung cancer risk goes up along with it.

Benefit

Cochrane pooled 78 randomized controlled trials and 296,707 people. People who took antioxidant supplements had total death RR 1.02 (RR is risk ratio, 1 means both sides are the same; 95% CI 0.98–1.05 is the credible range). Looking only at the batch of trials with more rigorous design and less prone to bias, RR 1.04 (1.01–1.07), that is, slightly higher. Looking at beta-carotene alone RR 1.05 (1.01–1.09), looking at vitamin E alone RR 1.03 (1.00–1.05). The ATBC trial recruited 29,133 male smokers, taking 20 mg daily, the proportion getting lung cancer was 18% higher (3%–36%), total death 8% higher (1%–16%). The CARET trial recruited 18,314 smokers or people exposed to asbestos. Their risk of getting lung cancer was about 28% higher (RR 1.28, 1.04–1.57). Death risk was about 17% higher (all-cause death RR 1.17, 1.03–1.33). It looks cost-effective because the reasoning chain "antioxidant means anti-aging, anti-aging means cancer prevention," each step sounds like common sense

Notes

The American official agency responsible for grading preventive measures, USPSTF, in 2022 gave beta-carotene and vitamin E a D grade, meaning it recommends against use. Smokers and people exposed to asbestos have already suffered harm because of this. Antioxidants contained in vegetables and fruits themselves are not included in this item, eat them as usual

Sources

Bjelakovic G et al. (2012). Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007176.pub2 ; The Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta Carotene Cancer Prevention Study Group (1994). The effect of vitamin E and beta carotene on the incidence of lung cancer and other cancers in male smokers. NEJM. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199404143301501 ; Omenn GS et al. (1996). Effects of a combination of beta carotene and vitamin A on lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. NEJM. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199605023341802

5. Don't expect glucosamine/chondroitin to treat knee arthritis

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

1,583 people with osteoarthritis in their knees took it for 24 weeks. In the group taking fake pills, 60.1% already said it hurt less. Glucosamine was only 3.9 percentage points higher than this number, chondroitin 5.3 points higher, both differences small enough to possibly just be coincidence. Spending 700 to 1,800 yuan a year, what you buy is basically that sixty percent placebo effect.

Cost

About 2 to 5 yuan a day, 700 to 1,800 yuan a year.

Benefit

The GAIT trial recruited 1,583 knee osteoarthritis patients, taking it for 24 weeks. Among those taking placebo (that is, fake pills), 60.1% also said the pain was relieved. Glucosamine was only 3.9 percentage points higher than it (P=0.30). Chondroitin 5.3 percentage points higher (P=0.17). Taking both together 6.5 percentage points higher (P=0.09). These differences are all too small to rule out just coincidence. In the same trial, the real drug celecoxib used as a control was 10.0 percentage points higher (P=0.008). It looks cost-effective because "supplementing the raw material of cartilage" sounds exactly right for the condition, and just taking fake pills had sixty percent of people saying it was effective

Notes

Controversy: In the same trial, among the batch of people who were in severe pain from the start, the effective proportion of taking both together was 79.2%, control group 54.3% (P=0.002). But the authors said this was dug out of the data after the fact, and can only be a clue, not a conclusion. The truly evidence-backed approaches for knee arthritis are weight loss and muscle training, see Section 2

Sources

Clegg DO et al. (2006). Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and the two in combination for painful knee osteoarthritis. NEJM. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa052771

https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa052771

6. Don't rely on vitamin C to prevent colds

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit small

Pooling 29 controlled trials and 11,306 people together, taking vitamin C daily basically won't make you get fewer colds. Starting to take it only after you've already caught a cold, the effect is also inconsistent. It can indeed shorten a cold by about 8%, that is, suffer half a day less. Whether this half day is worth 300 to 500 yuan a year, calculate it yourself. Marathon runners and soldiers marching in cold regions are exceptions; those who took it got half as many colds.

Cost

About 1 to 2 yuan per effervescent tablet, 300 to 700 yuan a year.

Benefit

Cochrane pooled 29 controlled trials and 11,306 people. Ordinary people taking vitamin C daily basically don't reduce the number of colds. The proportion getting colds RR 0.97 (RR is risk ratio, 1 means both sides are the same). 95% CI 0.94–1.00 is the credible range. In the trials that only started taking it after catching a cold, the original text says "no consistent effect was seen," that is, some trials were effective and some weren't. In the same review, long-term daily taking could shorten the time of suffering a cold by about 8% (adults, 95% CI 3%–12%), children by 14% (7%–21%). Marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers marching in cold regions are exceptions. In 5 trials and 598 people, about half as many got colds. Incidence RR 0.48 (95% CI 0.35–0.64). It looks cost-effective because it's cheap, sweet and sour and tasty, and the saying "vitamin C prevents colds" has been passed down for half a century

Notes

Controversy: In the same review, daily taking could indeed shorten the time of suffering a cold. Adults shortened by about 8% (3%–12%), children by 14% (7%–21%). Calculated out, one cold is about half a day less sick. Marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers marching in cold regions are exceptions. In 5 trials and 598 people, about half as many got colds (RR 0.48, 0.35–0.64). The vast majority of people do not belong to these two categories

Sources

Hemilä H, Chalker E (2013). Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4

https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4

7. Don't do "whole-body PET-CT" or "tumor marker packages" on yourself when you have no symptoms

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Checking people with no symptoms, what is found most is a false alarm. 1,192 people with no symptoms did whole-body CT, 86% had at least one "abnormality" found, 37% were called back for further examination, but the vast majority were benign. In the large trial of ovarian cancer marker screening, the screened group actually had a slightly higher mortality rate. And 0.2% to 3.25% of people got a cut for nothing because of a false alarm.

Cost

One whole-body PET-CT is about 7,000 to 10,000 yuan, plus a dose of ionizing radiation. Tumor marker packages are a few hundred yuan. The real cost is afterward: an "abnormality" is found, which is actually a false alarm (this is called a false positive), and the follow-up rechecks, tissue biopsies, and surgery, the money and suffering are all in this part.

Benefit

The American agency that grades preventive measures, USPSTF, gave a D grade to using CA-125 and ultrasound to screen for ovarian cancer in women with no symptoms, meaning it recommends against doing it. The basis is the PLCO trial. The proportion dying of ovarian cancer was 0.34% in the screening group and 0.29% in the usual-care group. RR 1.18 (95% CI 0.82–1.71). Screening had no benefit. The proportion getting a cut for nothing because of a wrong finding (false positive) was 0.2%–3.25% across trials, and of these people at most 15% had serious surgical complications. Another study did whole-body CT screening on 1,192 people with no symptoms. Of them, 86% had at least one "abnormality" found, 37% were advised further examination. The original text says "most findings were described as benign." It looks cost-effective because "check the whole body at once, find it early and treat it early" fits intuition too well

Notes

The tumor marker part is backed by randomized controlled trials. The whole-body CT and PET-CT part only has tracking records like "see how people who did it turned out later," with no grouped control, so the evidence is one notch weaker, equivalent to level B. The screening items that truly have evidence, like colorectal cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and low-dose chest CT for high-risk people, are another matter, see Section 1. People who already have symptoms, or people already diagnosed with cancer doing PET-CT, that is seeing a doctor not screening, and is not included in this item

Sources

US Preventive Services Task Force (2018). Screening for Ovarian Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA (the same recommendation also has a USPSTF official page). https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.21926 , https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recomm… ; Furtado CD et al. (2005). Whole-body CT screening: spectrum of findings and recommendations in 1192 patients. Radiology. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2372041741

8. Don't expect fitness tracking from a band/watch to help you lose weight

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

471 overweight adults followed the same diet and exercise plan. The group wearing the device lost 3.5 kg over two years, while the group not wearing it actually lost 5.9 kg. The device doesn't help with weight loss; what actually works is the exercise itself.

Cost

The device costs 200 to 2000 yuan. Plus you have to distract yourself every day to look at that data.

Benefit

The IDEA trial recruited 471 overweight or obese adults and followed them for 24 months. Everyone followed the same diet and exercise plan; the only difference was whether they wore a wearable device. The group wearing it lost 3.5 kg (95% CI 2.6–4.5, this is the credible range). The group not wearing it lost 5.9 kg (5.0–6.8), actually more. The difference between the two groups was 2.4 kg (1.0–3.7, P=0.002). It looks cost-effective because the saying "what gets measured gets managed" sounds reasonable, and the device is a one-time purchase

Notes

This is only one trial, and it used devices worn on the arm in the early 2010s, so you can't conclude from this that "all wearable devices are useless." Exercise itself is effective, see Section 2. This item only says one thing: if you want to lose weight, the device is not a necessary expense

Source

Jakicic JM et al. (2016). Effect of Wearable Technology Combined With a Lifestyle Intervention on Long-term Weight Loss: The IDEA Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.12858

https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.12858

9. Don't pay a premium for organic food "for better health"

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Looking at 17 studies done on humans and 223 studies measuring composition together, there is no strong evidence that organic food is more nutritious. Only 3 of them actually looked at how health turned out after people ate it, and there was no difference between the two sides. The proportion of organic produce detected with pesticide residues is indeed 30 percentage points lower, but detection does not equal exceeding the limit. Eating more vegetables and fruit is itself useful; whether it's organic doesn't affect this.

Cost

Generally 1 to 3 times the price of comparable conventional food.

Benefit

There is a systematic review that looked at 17 studies done on humans and 223 studies measuring food composition together. The conclusion is "lack of strong evidence that organic foods are significantly more nutritious than conventional foods." Only 3 of these studies looked at how health turned out after people ate it (looking at allergies and symptomatic infections), and no difference was seen between the two sides. The proportion of organic produce detected with pesticide residues is 30 percentage points lower, but detection does not equal exceeding the limit. It looks cost-effective because "no pesticides means safer, and safer means healthier," and each step sounds like common sense

Notes

There are very few studies directly looking at how health turns out after people eat it. So this item means "there is no evidence that it's better," not "it has been proven to have no benefit." Environmental impact, animal welfare, and whether it tastes good are not covered by this item. Eating more vegetables and fruit is itself effective; whether it's organic doesn't affect this

Source

Smith-Spangler C et al. (2012). Are organic foods safer or healthier than conventional alternatives?: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-157-5-201209040-00007

https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-157-5-201209040-00007

10. Don't spend big money on health supplements, herbal pastes, or tonics to "regulate the body"

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

The department that regulates health foods itself stipulates that the packaging must clearly state a line: it is not a drug and cannot replace drugs to treat disease. Even those who regulate it don't believe it can treat disease. Its most common ingredients—multivitamins, fish oil, vitamin D, antioxidants, glucosamine, vitamin C—have already been checked one by one in the first six items of this section, and none showed a difference. This money is mostly not spent for therapeutic effect, but bought for parents and carried to their door. That sentiment is fine; the only problem is that the thing is wrong.

Cost

Ranging from a few hundred yuan to tens of thousands of yuan. Once made into gift packaging, the price often multiplies several times over.

Benefit

The State Administration for Market Regulation stipulates that the front of health food packaging must mark, with an area no less than 20%, a sentence: "Health food is not a drug and cannot replace drugs to treat disease." The same regulation also confines the use of health food strictly to "supplementing dietary nutrients, maintaining or improving the body's health status, or reducing risk factors for disease occurrence." In other words, the regulatory agency itself does not recognize that it can treat disease. The most common ingredients in it—multivitamins, fish oil, vitamin D, antioxidants, glucosamine, vitamin C—and what results each showed in randomized controlled trials have already been listed one by one in the first 6 items of this section. It looks cost-effective because the sentence "it doesn't treat disease, it only regulates" can't be called wrong no matter how you say it, and no one can prove it false. And when giving gifts, spending this money relies on social obligation, not evidence

Notes

This item means "there is no evidence to support it," not "it has been proven ineffective," so it is only given a C level. For products with clearly listed ingredients, check the corresponding research according to the previous items. People found to actually lack nutrients, and people currently being treated for disease, should follow what the doctor says. This item rejects the product, not the sentiment. If an elderly person bought it themselves and is already taking it, as long as they haven't used it to replace the medication they are taking and haven't had problems from it, there's no need to go to their door to argue about it; arranging the vaccines they should get and the screenings they should do is more important. If you spend the same money on the following instead, each one can be traced to a source in the book. Accompany the elderly person to get the annual flu vaccine, see Section 1, item 20. Shingles vaccine after age 50, see Section 1, item 21. Pneumococcal vaccine for those over 65, see Section 1, item 22. Buy a blood pressure monitor, and make sure he takes his antihypertensive medication as prescribed and gets his blood pressure down to target, see Section 1, item 7. Modify the bathroom and stairs at home, and accompany him to practice balance and leg strength, see Section 1, item 13. Cancer screening at the appropriate age—accompany him to do it once, see Section 1, items 17 to 19. For elderly people who have already been bedridden long-term, pressure sore prevention and long-term care insurance, see Section 17, items 7 and 8. If you want to bring something to the door, switch to fruit, rice and noodles, or things he likes to eat—more practical than herbal paste. What really needs to be stopped is two types: one is investment-based elderly care where you pay first, and the other is things that will replace medication, see Section 17, item 5

Source

State Administration for Market Regulation (2019). SAMR holds a special press conference on the situation related to the "Guidelines for Warning Wording on Health Food Labeling" and the "Measures for the Administration of the Catalog of Health Food Raw Materials and the Catalog of Health Functions." https://www.samr.gov.cn/tssps/sjdt/tpxw/art/2023/art_4b658b…

https://www.samr.gov.cn/tssps/sjdt/tpxw/art/2023/art_4b658b…

11. Don't take probiotics long-term when you have no gut problems

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit small

Looking at 45 trials done on healthy adults together, taking probiotics cannot make the gut bacteria change in a lasting way; once stopped, it returns to the original state, and blood lipids also did not improve. Specific situations such as diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics have separate evidence and are not included in this item.

Cost

About 2 to 5 yuan a day, 700 to 1800 yuan a year.

Benefit

A review looked at 45 trials done on healthy adults together, and the conclusion is "failed to support that probiotics can cause lasting changes in gut microbiota, nor improve blood lipids in healthy adults." The gut bacteria do change, but only temporarily; once stopped, they go back. It looks cost-effective because the term "gut health" is broad enough that it can't be called wrong no matter how you apply it, and the unit price of one bottle a day is very low

Notes

The same review also says there are some small improvements in healthy people, such as more formed stool of appropriate firmness, and more lactobacilli in women's vaginas. Diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics, and a particular strain used for a particular disease, each have separate evidence and are not included in this item. This item only targets healthy people taking it daily as a health supplement

Source

Khalesi S et al. (2019). A review of probiotic supplementation in healthy adults: helpful or hype? Eur J Clin Nutr. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0135-9

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0135-9

12. Don't force yourself to take cold showers to "boost immunity"

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit small

In a trial of 3018 people, those who took cold showers had 29% fewer sick leave instances, but the total number of days of leave was the same as others, so you can't say they got sick less. A 2025 pooling of 11 trials found that after cold water immersion, the body's inflammation markers actually rose briefly, and immune markers did not change. If you like taking them, take them as you please, just don't treat it as a health investment.

Cost

Costs no money. You have to feel uncomfortable for 30 to 90 seconds every day, and persisting in winter requires willpower. People with cardiovascular disease also need to be careful; cold stimulation is risky for them.

Benefit

The Netherlands did a randomized controlled trial, 3,018 people, taking a hot shower and then 30 seconds, 60 seconds, or 90 seconds of cold water. These people had 29% fewer sick leave instances (IRR 0.71, this is the ratio of instances). But the original text clearly states "no significant between-group difference in sick leave days," meaning the total number of days sick was the same on both sides. Quality of life, work productivity, and anxiety also showed no meaningful differences. A 2025 systematic review pooled 11 randomized trials, 3,177 people. Immediately after and 1 hour after cold water immersion, the body's inflammation markers actually rose. Immune markers did not change. Stress decreased only at the 12-hour time point. The authors themselves say the evidence is "limited by few RCTs and small samples," meaning there are too few such randomized trials and not many people in each. It looks cost-effective because it costs no money, and the intuition that "suffering means it works" is too smooth

Notes

Controversy: The number of sick leave instances was indeed 29% lower, and this gap doesn't look like chance. But the total number of days sick was not lower, so it's more like "going to work even when sick" rather than actually getting sick less. Athletes using cold water to aid recovery after training is a different question and is not covered by this item. Cold showers themselves are not harmful to healthy people; this item only says don't treat it as a health investment

Source

Buijze GA et al. (2016). The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161749 ; Cain T et al. (2025). Effects of cold-water immersion on health and wellbeing: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317615

13. Don't buy detox, colon-cleanse, enzyme, or alkaline water products

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

There is a review specifically investigating whether detox diets have evidence, and the original words are: this industry is very large, but the clinical evidence supporting it is very scarce, and no one has even done randomized controlled trials on commercially sold detox diets. As for the "acidic constitution causes cancer" set, someone went through 8,278 papers, and only 1 was eligible, and no association was seen.

Cost

Several hundred to several thousand yuan. The kind that relies on starving yourself to "detox" may also cause low blood sugar and nutritional deficiencies.

Benefit

That review's conclusion is "despite the booming detox industry, the clinical evidence supporting these diets is very scarce," and "there are no randomized controlled trials on commercial detox diets." Another systematic review specifically examined whether dietary acid-base, alkaline water, and cancer are related: it went through 8,278 papers, and only 1 was eligible for inclusion, and the result also showed no association. The authors wrote "promoting alkaline diets and alkaline water to the public for cancer prevention or treatment is unreasonable." It looks cost-effective because the two premises "there are toxins in the body that need to be expelled" and "an acidic constitution causes cancer" sound very much like physiology

Notes

This item falls under "no evidence to support it," so it is only given a C level. Clearing out the waste produced by the body's metabolism is originally the job of the liver and kidneys. As long as these two organs are not diseased, there is no need to do any extra "detox"

Source

Klein AV, Kiat H (2015). Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence. J Hum Nutr Diet. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12286 ; Fenton TR, Huang T (2016). Systematic review of the association between dietary acid load, alkaline water and cancer. BMJ Open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010438

14. Don't force yourself to drink water to hit "8 cups a day"

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit small

Someone specifically traced the origin of the saying "8 cups of water a day," and as a result found not a single study supporting it. Conversely, dietary and drinking water surveys of thousands of people suggest that so much is not needed at all, because food and other beverages already bring in a large amount of water. Drink when thirsty, and look at the color of your urine; that's enough. People working in high-temperature environments, people doing intense exercise, people who have had kidney stones, and elderly people who don't feel thirsty much after getting older need to actively drink.

Cost

Costs no money. It takes a bit of time and effort to remember to drink, and you'll also get up more at night to urinate.

Benefit

There is a literature review specifically investigating the "8×8" saying, that is, 8 cups a day, 8 ounces per cup, and the conclusion is "no scientific study supporting 8×8 was found." It also writes, "surveys of food and fluid intake of thousands of adults strongly suggest that such a large amount is not needed," because food and other beverages already provide a large amount of water. This saying looks cost-effective because water costs no money, the number 8 is neat, and "drink more water" sounds harmless in any setting

Notes

What this item rejects is the number "you must drink a certain number of cups every day," not that drinking more water is harmful. Drink when thirsty, look at the color of your urine; that's enough. People working in high temperatures, people doing intense exercise, people who have had kidney stones, and people who don't feel thirsty much after getting older need to actively drink; these are not included in this item

Source

Valtin H (2002). "Drink at least eight glasses of water a day." Really? Is there scientific evidence for "8 x 8"? Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00365.2002

https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00365.2002

15. Don't pay for fortune-telling, tarot reading, or astrology to make decisions

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

There is a classic classroom experiment: the "personalized personality analysis" students received was actually one identical copy for everyone, yet everyone generally felt it was very accurate. This is why fortune-telling always seems accurate. The cost is not just a few dozen yuan: in the fortune-telling gang in Xi County, Henan, they collected incense money and "offering packages" of up to 3888 yuan, and the principal offender was sentenced to eleven years.

Cost

Costs no money. The hard part is giving up a shortcut for making decisions; from now on you have to think for yourself.

Benefit

Classic classroom experiment: the "personal analysis" students received after taking a personality test was actually the same for everyone, yet they generally considered it very accurate. The author's conclusion is "acceptance by the person or the analyst cannot prove the interpretation correct." This explains why fortune-telling always seems accurate; this phenomenon is called the Barnum effect. Astrology has also been double-blind tested: both sets of tests examined "whether the birth chart can accurately describe the subject's personality," and the results were published in Nature. Official case: the People's Procuratorate of Xi County, Henan, reported an online fortune-telling fraud gang that first lured people in with free palm reading, then collected "incense money" and "offering packages" of up to 3888 yuan. There were more than 50 victims, more than 2 million yuan of stolen money was recovered, and the principal offender was sentenced to eleven years in prison and fined 100,000 yuan

Notes

Both of these are just single studies. When writing this item, only the abstract at the beginning of the papers was seen. Specific numbers such as the average rating in the Forer paper and the proportion of astrologers who guessed correctly in the Carlson paper are still TODO. To be verified: the APA and Nature pages require payment to view, and they were not found on pages that could be opened. This item says "it predicts inaccurately" and does not evaluate any belief. Spending a few dozen yuan on it as entertainment is not included in this item; using it to decide on quitting a job, getting married, or investing is where the money is lost.

Source

Forer BR (1949). The fallacy of personal validation: A classroom demonstration of gullibility. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0059240 ; Carlson S (1985). A double-blind test of astrology. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/318419a0 ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2026). Xi County, Henan: After three years of continuous tracking, a batch of online fortune-telling fraud gangs was taken down. https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/202607/t20260728_732935.shtml

16. Don't buy blue-light-blocking glasses to "protect your eyesight," and don't believe that "staring at a screen for a few months ruins your eyes," but eye swelling, pain, and redness should be treated as an emergency

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Blue-light-blocking lenses are useless; what you save is the several hundred to over a thousand yuan markup on the lenses. Looking at 17 trials together, compared with ordinary lenses, there was no difference in how tired the eyes felt or how clearly you could see, and there is also no evidence that it protects the fundus. The eye soreness and dryness from looking at screens can recover, which does not equal ruining your eyes. What is truly irreversible is welding arc light, ultraviolet light, lasers, and acute glaucoma attacks.

Cost

Costs no money, and can also save the several hundred to over a thousand yuan markup on the lenses.

Benefit

The Cochrane 2023 systematic review included 17 randomized controlled trials, each with 5 to 156 people, with follow-up times ranging from less than 1 day to 5 weeks. Because there was too little data, the trials recruited very different people, and the follow-up times were inconsistent, the authors did not pool them to calculate a single total. The results below are all compared with lenses without blue-light filtering. When follow-up was less than one week, self-reported eye fatigue "may have no difference," with low certainty of evidence. In one trial of 120 people, the two groups differed by 9.76 units. The credible range of this difference is 95% CI −33.95 to 53.47. The range spans positive and negative, indicating no difference can be seen. Critical flicker fusion frequency is an objective indicator measuring eye fatigue; the two groups "may have almost no difference," with low certainty. Best-corrected visual acuity "probably has no effect." The two groups differed by 0.00 logMAR (95% CI −0.02 to 0.02). This item had only 1 study, 156 people, with moderate certainty. Whether there is an effect on daytime alertness cannot be said clearly (2 trials, 42 people, extremely low certainty). This review also found no evidence supporting that it protects the macular fundus

Notes

What screens bring is visual fatigue and dry eyes, manifesting as eye soreness, dryness, and blurriness after looking for a long time. Resting a bit and blinking more can relieve it. It can recover, which does not equal "ruining your eyes." This statement is an ophthalmology consensus, not the conclusion of the Cochrane review cited in this item, so it only counts as C level. What truly causes irreversible eye damage in a short time is strong light sources such as welding arc light, ultraviolet light, and lasers. Eye damage from welding arc light is called "electric ophthalmia" and is a statutory occupational disease. Blocking it relies on goggles and face shields, not blue-light-blocking lenses, see Section 19, item 11 (protection against dust, noise, and chemical toxins). Staying up all night staring at a screen—what you need to guard against is not the screen itself, but one exception: eye swelling, pain, and redness, seeing a rainbow ring around lights, plus headache, nausea, and vomiting—that is an acute angle-closure glaucoma attack, which can crush the optic nerve within a few days, and you need to go to the ophthalmology emergency that same day, see Section 13, item 6 (ophthalmology emergencies). Pupil dilation in the dark and pushing the lens forward from prolonged head-down posture are its triggers; those at high risk are people over 50, farsighted, with shallow anterior chambers. Dry eyes from screens, if prolonged, can also become a chronic disease requiring a doctor, not something that goes away after a sleep. If your eyes are constantly uncomfortable, or your vision is really declining, go to ophthalmology to find out the cause, and don't just change a lens yourself and call it done. For how children and adolescents prevent myopia, see Section 30, items 4, 12, and 9 (2 hours outdoors daily, cycloplegic refraction, don't buy "myopia cure" products).

Source

Singh S, Downie LE, Anderson AJ, Keller PR, White SJ, Ang M, Wolffsohn JS (2023). Blue-light filtering spectacle lenses for visual performance, sleep, and macular health in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 8, CD013244. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013244.pub2

https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013244.pub2

17. Don't treat blood donation as health care: "detoxification, lowering blood lipids, preventing heart attacks" has no randomized trial support, and frequent donation really does cause iron deficiency

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Medium; Willpower Some; Benefit Small

The claim that "blood donation can detoxify, lower blood lipids, and prevent heart attacks" is unreliable. Its source is only follow-up records, and people who are able to keep donating blood are healthier to begin with. After subtracting this difference, the original "donating blood one more time per year, mortality 18.6% lower" shrinks to only 7.5%. In the one study actually done as a randomized trial, there was no difference in death. Conversely, donating too frequently really does make people weak and afraid of cold, due to iron.

Cost

No money spent. For one blood donation, filling out forms, collecting blood, and staying for observation and rest takes about one hour. Over the following weeks, the body is continuously replenishing the lost iron.

Benefit

The Finnish Kuopio study followed 2,862 men aged 42 to 60 for an average of nearly 9 years. In the 24 months before statistics began, 153 had donated blood, of whom 1 (0.7%) had an acute myocardial infarction. Among the 2,529 who had not donated, 316 (12.5%) had one (P<0.0001 for the difference between the two proportions). After adjusting for age and other coronary heart disease risk factors, those who had donated blood had about 88% lower heart attack risk. Relative risk 0.12 (95% CI 0.02–0.86, P=0.035). But this was only from follow-up records, with no grouped control. The Nordic SCANDAT database contains 1,182,495 blood donors, with cumulative follow-up of 9,526,627 person-years, of whom 15,401 died. When only adjusting for age and sex and similar characteristics, donating blood one more time per year was associated with 18.6% lower mortality (95% CI 16.8%–20.4%). After also adjusting for the layer of "only those who remain healthy are allowed to keep donating," the reduction was only 7.5% (5.7%–9.4%). The authors' conclusion was that it "cannot be interpreted as conclusive evidence of health benefits." The FeAST randomized controlled trial found 1,277 patients with symptomatic lower extremity arterial disease, randomly divided into two groups: one group had regular phlebotomy every 6 months to reduce iron, and one group served as control. The primary outcome was all-cause death, 125/636 (20%) vs 148/641 (23%). HR 0.85 (HR is hazard ratio; 1 means the two sides are the same). 95% CI 0.67–1.08, P=0.17. Combining death plus nonfatal heart attack and stroke, it was 180 (28%) vs 205 (32%), HR 0.88 (0.72–1.07, P=0.20). Neither showed a difference. The INTERVAL randomized trial found 45,263 whole blood donors. These people were divided into three donation intervals. For men: 12 weeks, 10 weeks, 8 weeks; for women: 16 weeks, 14 weeks, 12 weeks. After shortening the intervals, significantly more blood was collected within two years (men in the 8-week group collected 1.69 more units than the 12-week group, 95% CI 1.59–1.80). Quality of life, physical activity, and cognitive function showed no differences between groups. But donation-related discomfort increased, including fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness, and restless legs, meaning at night the legs are so uncomfortable that one cannot lie still. At the same time, average hemoglobin and ferritin were lower, and there were more deferrals from donation because of low hemoglobin (all P<0.0001). Iron deficiency can affect the body's heat production: 10 women with iron-deficiency anemia, 8 people whose iron stores were depleted but who were not yet anemic, and 12 control women were immersed in 28 °C water for 100 minutes. The anemic group's rectal temperature was 36.0±0.2 °C, and the control group's was 36.2±0.1 °C (P=0.001). Oxygen consumption was 5.28±0.26 vs 5.99±0.29 mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹ (P=0.04). The two thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine were also lower (P<0.002). This claim appears to hold because blood donors are already healthy people who have been repeatedly screened, while the hypothesis that "releasing iron protects the heart" was not verified in randomized trials

Notes

What this item rejects is "donating blood for your own body," not blood donation itself. Blood is for others to use, and by this book's beneficiary tiers it falls into tier ④, that is, strangers. What can truly come back to your own side is the part the system gives. Article 14 of the Blood Donation Law stipulates that when unpaid blood donors themselves use blood in a hospital, the costs of collection, storage, separation, and testing are all waived, and spouses and direct relatives may be exempted or pay less according to provincial government regulations. The National Health Commission's notice in January 2024 stated that 28 provinces have already achieved direct reduction or waiver at discharge for the cost of blood use in hospitals within the province for unpaid blood donors and their relatives. Those who receive the National Unpaid Blood Donation Dedication Award can also, according to local "three exemptions" policies, ride public transportation for free, visit parks funded and hosted by the government for free, and be exempt from ordinary outpatient consultation fees at public hospitals. If you donate, follow the legal intervals. Article 9 of the Blood Donation Law stipulates that each donation is generally 200 mL, with a maximum of no more than 400 mL. The interval between two donations must be no less than 6 months. The advocated age is 18 to 55 years old. Do not compress the interval to the shortest just to accumulate honors or meet group quotas. Women, people with low body weight, and people with heavy menstrual flow already have tighter iron in the body, and repeat donors can pay out of pocket to check ferritin once. After donating, if you remain fatigued, afraid of cold, or at night when lying down your legs are so uncomfortable that you cannot help moving them (this is called restless legs), do not guess on your own that "vital energy is damaged"; go check a complete blood count and ferritin. If iron deficiency is found, supplement iron as the doctor says, and at the same time lengthen the donation interval. The human evidence for the cold-intolerance part is only 10 people; it is written here to explain why this happens, not to say how many people will have it

Sources

Salonen JT, Tuomainen TP, Salonen R, Lakka TA, Nyyssönen K (1998). Donation of blood is associated with reduced risk of myocardial infarction. The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 148(5), 445-451. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009669 ; Ullum H, Rostgaard K, Kamper-Jørgensen M, et al. (2015). Blood donation and blood donor mortality after adjustment for a healthy donor effect. Transfusion, 55(10), 2479-2485. https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.13205 ; Zacharski LR, Chow BK, Howes PS, et al. (2007). Reduction of iron stores and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with peripheral arterial disease: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 297(6), 603-610. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.297.6.603 ; Di Angelantonio E, Thompson SG, Kaptoge S, et al. (2017). Efficiency and safety of varying the frequency of whole blood donation (INTERVAL): a randomised trial of 45 000 donors. Lancet, 390(10110), 2360-2371. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31928-1 ; Beard JL, Borel MJ, Derr J (1990). Impaired thermoregulation and thyroid function in iron-deficiency anemia. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 52(5), 813-819. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/52.5.813 ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (1997). Blood Donation Law of the People's Republic of China (Articles 2, 9, 14). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf5e7… ; National Health Commission et al. (2024-01-08). Notice on Further Improving Incentive and Reward Work for Unpaid Blood Donors. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202401/content_6924875…

18. Don't rely on general physical examination packages to prevent disease; do the few evidence-based screenings according to age and sex

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

Divide 230,000 people into two groups: one group gets regular general health checks, and one group does not. Looking at 11 trials together, mortality was the same in both groups, with a difference within 3%. Deaths from cardiovascular disease and deaths from cancer were also the same. The conclusion given by the Cochrane authors was just one sentence: unlikely to be beneficial. What can truly reduce mortality are the few screenings done for clear reasons.

Cost

No money spent, and it also saves several hundred to several thousand yuan per year in package fees. The obligation exchanged for this is remembering yourself which items to check and how often to check each.

Benefit

The 2019 updated version of the Cochrane systematic review included 17 randomized controlled trials. When calculating all-cause mortality, it pooled 11 of the trials, 233,298 participants, and 21,535 deaths. The group that received general health checks was the same as the control group, RR 1.00. RR is risk ratio; 1 means the two sides are the same. 95% CI 0.97–1.03 is the credible range. When calculating cardiovascular death, it pooled 9 trials, 170,227 people, and 6,237 deaths, RR 1.05 (95% CI 0.94–1.16). When calculating cancer death, it pooled 8 trials, 139,290 people, and 3,663 deaths, RR 1.01 (95% CI 0.92–1.12). Neither of these showed a difference either. The authors' conclusion was that "general health checks are unlikely to be beneficial." The National Basic Public Health Service Program provides free blood pressure measurement once a year for permanent residents aged 35 and above, and provides free health checkups once a year for elderly people aged 65 and above. This free checkup includes physical examination, complete blood count, and urinalysis. It also includes liver function, namely aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin. It also includes kidney function, namely serum creatinine and blood urea. It also includes fasting blood glucose and electrocardiogram. The blood lipid item checks total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Finally, there is abdominal ultrasound of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen (nationwide)

Notes

What this item rejects is "using an annual package as a means of disease prevention," not saying all examinations should be skipped. In addition, free blood pressure measurement once a year for those over 35 and a free checkup once a year for those over 65 are already provided by the National Basic Public Health Service Program, and you do not need to pay out of pocket. Items that should be checked for reasons should still be checked. For blood pressure, blood glucose, and hepatitis B, see Section 1, items 7, 8, and 14. For breast, cervical, and colorectal, see Section 1, items 17, 18, and 19. For Helicobacter pylori and low-dose CT, see Section 1, items 23 and 24. If there has been high-risk behavior, go get tested; see Section 1, item 31. At what age to start screening and how often to screen are all written there. If your workplace organizes checkups and someone else pays, still go; this item targets buying packages with your own money and adding items yourself. People who already have chronic diseases, people with symptoms, or examinations ordered by a doctor according to the condition are not included in this item; that is medical treatment, not screening. The most common unsupported items in packages are tumor markers and whole-body imaging; see item 7 in this section (whole-body PET-CT and tumor marker packages). For what to do if high uric acid is found but there has never been pain, or gallbladder stones are found but there has never been pain, see item 19 in this section (asymptomatic high uric acid) and item 20 (asymptomatic gallbladder stones). In addition, most of the trials included by Cochrane were done in high-income countries, where access to care was already convenient, and regions with strained medical resources should not directly copy this conclusion.

Sources

Krogsbøll LT, Jørgensen KJ, Gøtzsche PC (2019). General health checks in adults for reducing morbidity and mortality from disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1, CD009009. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009009.pub3 ; National Health and Family Planning Commission (2017). National Basic Public Health Service Standards (Third Edition) (Elderly Health Management Services, Hypertension Patient Health Management Services). https://www.nhc.gov.cn/ewebeditor/uploadfile/2017/04/201704…

19. Don't start taking urate-lowering drugs just because a checkup found high uric acid but you have never had pain

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Small

For people whose uric acid is above the threshold but who have never had a gout attack and have not developed tophi, what urate-lowering drugs buy is mainly peace of mind. According to the American College of Rheumatology's calculation, 24 people must take them for a full 3 years to prevent one gout attack. Trying to use them to protect the kidneys also fails; in randomized trials, the rate of kidney function decline was the same as with placebo. What should really be done is controlling weight, alcohol, and sugary drinks, and treating only after a real attack has occurred.

Cost

No money spent, and it also saves long-term medication costs and regular follow-up testing costs, while also avoiding one unnecessary medication risk.

Benefit

The American College of Rheumatology's 2020 gout guideline addresses asymptomatic hyperuricemia. It refers to blood uric acid >6.8 mg/dL, with no previous gout attack and no subcutaneous tophi. The guideline conditionally recommends that these people not start any urate-lowering drug. Drugs include allopurinol, febuxostat, and probenecid. The certainty of evidence was rated "high." The footnote below the table states, "Based on attributable risk calculation, 24 patients must be treated for 3 years to prevent one gout attack." The CKD-FIX randomized controlled trial found 363 people. They had stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease, no history of gout, but risk of worsening. One group took 100–300 mg allopurinol daily, and one group took placebo. The trial ran for 104 weeks. eGFR is an indicator reflecting kidney function, in units of mL/min/1.73 m². One group changed by -3.33 per year (95% CI -4.11 to -2.55). The other group changed by -3.23 per year (-3.98 to -2.47). The difference between the two groups was -0.10 (-1.18 to 0.97), P=0.85. That is, kidney function declined at the same rate. Serious adverse events were 46% vs 44%. The PERL randomized controlled trial found 530 people with type 1 diabetes and early-to-mid-stage diabetic kidney disease, who took allopurinol for 3 years, then stopped for 2 months to wash out the drug effect. Allopurinol did lower blood uric acid from 6.1 to 3.9 mg/dL. But after stopping the drug, the kidney function indicator GFR differed between the two groups by only 0.001 mL/min/1.73 m². The credible range of this difference was 95% CI -1.9 to 1.9, P=0.99. Albumin leaking in the urine was actually 40% higher in the allopurinol group (0 to 80). It appears cost-effective because the intuition that "if an indicator is above the threshold, it should be pushed down with medication" is too smooth

Notes

What this item rejects is "starting lifelong urate-lowering drugs when there has never been an attack," not saying high uric acid does not matter. The same guideline also lists exceptions. The following situations can be considered for starting medication. First, the first attack occurs together with stage 3 or higher chronic kidney disease. Second, blood uric acid >9 mg/dL (about 535 µmol/L). Third, there has been a urinary tract stone. People who have already had attacks, people who have developed tophi, and people whose imaging shows bone has already been eroded should take medication. For details, see Section 16, item 9 (once gout is diagnosed, take urate-lowering drugs long term). About 7.4% of Han Chinese people carry a genotype called HLA-B*5801, while only 0.7% of white people do. People with this type are more likely to develop life-threatening severe drug rash when taking allopurinol, and the risk of hypersensitivity syndrome in Asians is 3 times that in white people. This is already a drug that can be avoided for now, and there is no need to take this extra risk. Before actually starting it, first get this genotype tested; see Section 16, item 9 (once gout is diagnosed, take urate-lowering drugs long term). Those two kidney trials were done in patients with chronic kidney disease and type 1 diabetes, and cannot be directly generalized to "high uric acid is completely harmless to the kidneys." What they reject is only the practice of "taking medication to lower uric acid can protect the kidneys"

Sources

FitzGerald JD, Dalbeth N, Mikuls T, et al. (2020). 2020 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Management of Gout. Arthritis Care & Research, 72(6), 744-760 (Table 1 and its footnotes). https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.24180 ; Badve SV, Pascoe EM, Tiku A, et al. (2020). Effects of Allopurinol on the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(26), 2504-2513. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1915833 ; Doria A, Galecki AT, Spino C, et al. (2020). Serum Urate Lowering with Allopurinol and Kidney Function in Type 1 Diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(26), 2493-2503. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1916624

20. Do not get your gallbladder removed preventively just because a physical exam found gallstones but you have never had pain

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

In people who have stones in their gallbladder but have never had pain, the vast majority will never have pain. Italy followed 580 such people for nearly nine years, and 78% never developed symptoms. A U.S. group followed 135 people for about four years, and only 7% had surgery. UK clinical guidelines state it plainly: if stones in the gallbladder are found only incidentally, no treatment is needed as long as no symptoms appear.

Cost

It costs no money, and it saves one surgery under general anesthesia and one hospital stay. The obligation in exchange is remembering which signals mean you must go to the hospital immediately.

Benefit

The Italian MICOL population survey performed ultrasound on 11,229 people aged 29 to 69. It found 856 people with gallstones, of whom 580 had no symptoms, and followed them for an average of 8.7 years. Among these 580 people, 453 (78.1%) remained asymptomatic, 61 (10.5%) developed mild symptoms, and 66 (11.4%) developed severe symptoms. During follow-up, 189 cholecystectomies were performed in total, of which 41.3% were performed on people who had no symptoms. The authors' conclusion was that "expectant management remains an effective treatment approach for most patients," and expectant management means observing first and not operating. A U.S. HMO conducted a follow-up study—an HMO is a type of managed care organization—of 691 people diagnosed with gallstones, followed for an average of 78±61.6 months. Among them, 135 people without symptoms were followed for 58±50.2 months (median 46.3 months), and only 10% developed symptoms of gallstones, while 7% underwent surgery. Of the 50 deaths in the whole group, only 2 were related to the biliary tract, and both were in the symptomatic group. The authors' conclusion was that "patients with silent stones do not need surgery before symptoms appear," and silent stones are stones that stay quiet and do not flare up. The UK NICE guideline CG188, section 1.2.1, states this: "For people with a normal gallbladder and biliary tree in whom asymptomatic gallstones are found incidentally, inform them that no treatment is needed before symptoms appear." Preventive removal looks worthwhile because of the intuition that "it will hurt sooner or later, so better to have it removed once while young."

Notes

This item applies to only one situation: stones are in the gallbladder, and they have never caused pain. Stones in the common bile duct are a different matter. Section 1.3.1 of the same guideline clearly states that for common bile duct stones, regardless of whether there are symptoms, the stones in the bile duct must be cleared and the gallbladder removed. If any of the following occur, go to the hospital the same day and do not use this item to tough it out: persistent colicky pain in the right upper abdomen or upper abdomen, fever with chills, yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin, or darker urine. When a doctor recommends surgery after reviewing imaging, ask clearly which reason he is basing it on, such as bile duct involvement, concurrent polyps, or abnormalities in the gallbladder wall, and do not use this item to argue against him. This item only blocks "removing it for no reason at all, simply because stones were found." Both studies above followed a group of people forward and had no controlled comparison groups. But what they were answering was "what happens if you leave it alone," not "which treatment is better," so they are suitable for use here. In addition, these two studies followed people for 4 to 9 years; over a longer period, the proportion developing symptoms would rise.

Sources

Festi D, Reggiani ML, Attili AF, et al. (2010). Natural history of gallstone disease: Expectant management or active treatment? Results from a population-based cohort study. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 25(4), 719-724. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1746.2009.06146.x ; McSherry CK, Ferstenberg H, Calhoun WF, Lahman E, Virshup M (1985). The natural history of diagnosed gallstone disease in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Annals of Surgery, 202(1), 59-63. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000658-198507000-00009 ; National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2014). Gallstone disease: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline CG188, sections 1.2.1 and 1.3.1. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg188/chapter/Recommendations

21. Do not cut out calcium to prevent kidney stones

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

People who have had calcium oxalate stones are often advised to eat less calcium, but the conclusion of randomized trials is exactly the opposite. One hundred twenty men with recurrent stones were divided into two groups: one ate normal calcium while eating less animal protein and salt, and the other ate a traditional low-calcium diet. After five years, recurrence was 12 versus 23 people, and the recurrence risk in the normal-calcium group was only half that of the low-calcium group. UK guidelines also state that calcium should not be restricted.

Cost

It costs no money. On the contrary, it is less trouble, because you do not have to guard every day against which foods contain calcium.

Benefit

There was a randomized controlled trial lasting 5 years that enrolled 120 men with recurrent calcium oxalate stones and high urinary calcium (called idiopathic hypercalciuria). They were randomly divided into two groups. One group ate normal calcium, 30 mmol per day. This group also ate less animal protein (52 g per day) and less salt (50 mmol sodium chloride per day). The other group ate a traditional low-calcium diet, 10 mmol per day. Over 5 years, recurrence was 12/60 versus 23/60. The unadjusted relative risk was 0.49 (95% CI 0.24–0.98, this is the confidence range). P=0.04. That is, the recurrence risk in the normal-calcium group was only half. During follow-up, urinary calcium fell by about 170 mg per day in both groups. But urinary oxalate differed. The low-calcium group rose by an average of 5.4 mg per day, while the normal-calcium group fell by an average of 7.2 mg per day. The UK NICE guideline NG118, section 1.8.1, states that dietary calcium should not be restricted. Adults should maintain 700 to 1,200 mg per day. Children and adolescents should have 350 to 1,000 mg per day according to age. Cutting calcium looks worthwhile because of the intuition that "stones are made of calcium, so eat less calcium."

Notes

Controversy: this trial was conducted only in men, and these people all had recurrent calcium oxalate stones plus high urinary calcium, so it cannot be directly applied to all types of stones. In addition, the trial group changed three things at once—normal calcium, less animal protein, and less salt—so all the benefit cannot be credited to "not cutting calcium" alone; low salt and less animal protein were also at work. What this item rejects is "actively cutting out calcium-containing foods," not "you should take more calcium supplements." What is changed here is calcium in daily meals; calcium supplements are a different matter, and whether people who have had stones should take supplements should be asked of their attending physician. For the item on drinking more water, see Section 16, item 8 (after kidney stones, drink 2.5–3 liters of water per day).

Sources

Borghi L, Schianchi T, Meschi T, et al. (2002). Comparison of two diets for the prevention of recurrent stones in idiopathic hypercalciuria. New England Journal of Medicine, 346(2), 77-84. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa010369 ; National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2019). Renal and ureteric stones: assessment and management. NICE guideline NG118, section 1.8.1. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng118/chapter/Recommendations

22. Do not buy crystals, bead bracelets, pixiu, or similar objects for "changing your luck," "bringing wealth," or "nourishing the person"

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

Claims such as "wearing it can change your luck, bring wealth, or nourish the person" have no verifiable evidence. It is the same reason fortune-telling seems accurate: the statements are general enough that you apply them to yourself. If merchants actually state efficacy, that is explicitly prohibited false advertising, and in 2026 a livestream room was investigated and punished for this. Buying it as decoration is fine; what this item is meant to stop is increasing the budget for the sake of changing your luck.

Cost

It costs no money. All you need to do is not count "changing luck" or "nourishing the person" among your reasons for buying it. The hard part is not following along when everyone around you is wearing them and saying they work.

Benefit

A classic classroom experiment showed that everyone received the same general "personal analysis," yet generally considered it very accurate; this phenomenon is called the Barnum effect. It explains where the experience of "after wearing it, things really did go smoothly" comes from. That author's conclusion was that "acceptance by the person himself cannot prove the interpretation correct." Official case: on June 4, 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation announced a batch of typical cases in the traditional crafts market under the "crack down on counterfeits and clear the source" campaign. Among them was a jewelry store in Sihui, Guangdong, which fabricated product materials in its livestream room. It also falsely claimed that the products had effects such as "preventing and treating rheumatism, improving immunity, improving sleep quality, and clearing blood vessels." This store misled and deceived consumers by scripting and acting out dramas. This violated Article 9, Paragraph 1 of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law (national).

Notes

This item says only one thing: its efficacy cannot be verified, and no predictive ability can be measured. It does not evaluate any belief or custom, nor is it aimed at uses such as gift-giving, commemoration, or family heirlooms. Two things should be distinguished: merchant-claimed efficacy has explicit regulations to rely on, and you can file complaints; while claims like "changing luck" have neither research nor any way to prove them false, so you can only control them yourself by setting a budget. Before buying, first treat it as an ordinary accessory and ask yourself, "If it changed nothing at all, would I still buy it at this price?" For how to check materials and certificates, and why treating it as an investment is not worthwhile, see Section 5, items 33 and 34 (bead bracelets and famous-brand watches are counted by the money spent; for jewelry and jade, look for CMA reports). For spending money on fortune-telling, see item 15 of this section (fortune-telling, tarot, astrology).

Sources

Forer BR (1949). The fallacy of personal validation: A classroom demonstration of gullibility. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0059240 ; State Administration for Market Regulation (2026). The State Administration for Market Regulation announces a batch of typical cases in the traditional crafts market under the "crack down on counterfeits and clear the source" campaign. https://www.samr.gov.cn/xw/zj/art/2026/art_1529399cfe874b87…

23. Do not expect shopping to improve your mood or sense of identity

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Yes; Benefit Medium

The more people value money and material things, the lower their self-reported happiness is on average. This is calculated from 259 samples combined, but the association is very weak, and it cannot be determined which causes which. Another set of studies compared buying experiences and buying things, and money spent on an experience made people more satisfied. So when your mood is bad, moving your budget to an outing or a meal with someone is more likely to help than moving it to a shopping cart.

Cost

It costs no money. The hard part is resisting placing an order when your mood is bad.

Benefit

A meta-analysis, that is, combining many studies and calculating them together, included 259 independent samples and 753 effect sizes. The result was: the more materialistic people are, the lower their self-reported happiness. On the most commonly used multidimensional scale, the correlation coefficient was r = -0.19 (corrected ρ = -0.24). On scales measuring only the single aspect of "valuing money," the association was weaker, r = -0.08 to -0.11. Split by which outcome was being examined, the strength differed. The strongest associations were with risky health and consumption behaviors and negative self-evaluation, r = -0.28 to -0.44. The weakest associations were with life satisfaction and negative emotions, r = -0.13 to -0.15. The authors also conducted mediation analysis, that is, examining what intermediate pathway it passes through, and the results suggested this negative association may be because psychological needs are not being met. Another study: in two surveys of different populations, respondents both said that money spent to gain a life experience made them happier than buying things. In subsequent laboratory experiments, recalling the good mood after spending money on an experience was also higher than recalling a purchase (national scope not applicable; both studies used foreign samples).

Notes

Controversy: most included studies asked a group of people at the same point in time and looked at whether two things moved together, so they cannot distinguish which came first. The authors themselves also said in their conclusion that more experiments and long-term follow-up studies are needed to see the direction clearly. So this item cannot be read as "shopping makes people unhappy," only as "relying on shopping to become happy has little promise." Moreover, the association is very weak: r = -0.19 probably explains only a few percentage points of difference, and people vary greatly from one another. Both studies used foreign samples, and there are no comparable data for the Chinese population that can be cited. This item does not oppose spending money on things you like; it opposes treating shopping as a means of regulating emotions, because that will make your first reaction the next time your mood is bad still be to place an order. For specific money-saving actions, see Section 5. For approaches with real evidence when your mood is poor, see the latter half of Section 22 and Section 29. For budgets added in order to be "one notch above others," see item 24 of this section (moving up one notch).

Sources

Dittmar H, Bond R, Hurst M, Kasser T (2014). The relationship between materialism and personal well-being: A meta-analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 107(5), 879-924. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037409 ; Van Boven L, Gilovich T (2003). To do or to have? That is the question. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(6), 1193-1202. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.6.1193

24. Do not spend extra money to change homes, cars, or social circles just to "move up one notch among the people around you"

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

Comparing people with the same income, the more the neighbors earn, the lower the person's self-reported happiness. This occurs only among neighbors with the same education level as oneself and with whom one frequently interacts. So money spent extra to move into a place where everyone is better off than you buys you a move one notch down. But when incomes rise together, people still feel better off, and absolute levels still count.

Cost

It costs no money. All you need to do is ask one more question before increasing the budget: is this extra spending buying the thing itself, or my position among this group of people? The hard part is not following along when everyone around you has changed.

Benefit

The U.S. National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) re-interviewed the same group of people in two waves. The authors matched this data with local average income. Local average income (PUMA) was estimated from the 5% sample of the 1990 census. After subtracting the person's own income and a series of personal characteristics, the result was: the higher the neighbors' income, the lower one's self-reported happiness. This effect was large, stable under alternative calculations, and highly significant. The authors' formulation was that the decline in happiness brought by "a rise in neighbors' income" and by "a decline in one's own income of the same magnitude" were of the same order of magnitude. After changing to comparing the same person before and after with himself (this is called adding individual fixed effects), the coefficient direction remained unchanged and the size was similar, but significance dropped to the 10% level. Restricting further to comparisons within the same state and the same survey wave (this is called state and survey-wave fixed effects), the results were basically unchanged. This shows it was not caused by "people who love moving to poor places being happier to begin with," nor by some unmeasured state-level factors. The effect was stronger among people who often interacted with neighbors, and not significant among those who interacted only with friends outside the community. Renters and homeowners did not differ, which does not support the explanation that "expensive places have high housing prices, so the money actually available to spend is less." Happiness declined only with the income of neighbors with the same education, and showed almost no response to the income of neighbors with different education. Moreover, it was mainly transmitted through "satisfaction with one's own material situation," not through satisfaction with other aspects such as family life. Finally, if one's own income and neighbors' income rose together by the same proportion, happiness still rose.

Notes

There are several reasons for assigning level B: the data come from questionnaires that repeatedly re-interviewed the same group of people, there is only this one study, and the sample is foreign; the outcome examined is respondents' self-reported happiness, not money. The authors did use statistical methods to rule out several types of interference, such as comparing the same person before and after and comparing within the same state and same wave, but after all it was not a randomized trial. There are also no comparable data for the Chinese population that can be cited. The benefit magnitude is set as "medium," following the scope of item 23 of this section (do not expect shopping to improve your mood). The money saved could indeed reach the tens of thousands of yuan level. But "how much happiness this saved money can buy" has no numerical support, so it is not recorded as "large" at the tens-of-thousands level. This item does not oppose spending money on a larger home, a quieter neighborhood, or a shorter commute; those buy the thing itself. What it is meant to stop is the single reason of "my colleagues all changed, so I cannot be worse than them." For how housing should be ranked, see Section 4, item 18 (when choosing where to live, put commute time first). For shopping to regulate emotions, see item 23 of this section (do not expect shopping to improve your mood). For constantly comparing upward online, see Section 3, item 21 (do not treat "how others are doing" as required daily reading).

Sources

Luttmer EFP (2005). Neighbors as Negatives: Relative Earnings and Well-Being. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 120(3), 963–1002. https://doi.org/10.1093/qje/120.3.963 ; Luttmer EFP (2004). Neighbors as Negatives: Relative Earnings and Well-Being. NBER Working Paper No. 10667 (the wording and magnitudes cited in this item were checked word by word against this version). https://www.nber.org/papers/w10667

25. Do not believe that "willpower is like a muscle, and it runs out after being used for a while"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

The popular saying is: after doing one thing that requires self-control, it becomes easier to fail at the next thing, so willpower should be used sparingly. Twenty-three laboratories and 2,141 people redid this experiment using the same protocol, and the result was almost zero. Do not use "I've used up today's willpower" to explain yourself anymore, and do not spend money on courses that teach you to accumulate willpower because of this.

Cost

It costs no money. All that needs to change is one statement.

Benefit

A multi-laboratory preregistered replication study, with 23 laboratories and a total of 2,141 subjects, redid the sequential task paradigm according to the standardized protocol of Sripada et al.: first do a task that depletes self-control, then do a second task requiring self-control. The pooled results showed that the ego-depletion effect was very small, and the 95% confidence interval included 0 (d = 0.04, 95% CI −0.07 to 0.15). Based on this, the authors discussed whether the model that "self-control is a limited resource" still holds.

Notes

What this item rejects is the model that "self-control is a resource that gets used up," not "people get tired." Not sleeping enough or working too long in a row will reduce efficiency; that is a different matter, handled under the sleep and work-hours items in Section 3. Approaches actually supported by randomized trials are changing the environment and changing how things are written, see Section 4, item 10 (move what you do not want to touch farther away) and Section 4, item 1 (write it as "at what time, where, and when encountering what, do what"). Other items in this section calculate money; this item calculates time and energy, and the two are not converted into each other.

Sources

Hagger MS, Chatzisarantis NLD, Alberts H, et al. (2016). A Multilab Preregistered Replication of the Ego-Depletion Effect. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 11(4), 546–573. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691616652873

https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691616652873

26. Don't expect eating breakfast or 16:8 intermittent fasting to help you control your weight; pick a meal timing you can stick with long-term

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit small

The popular claim is that skipping breakfast makes people binge at lunch and dinner, so their daily total ends up higher. In randomized trials this is not the case: people who skipped breakfast ate two hundred-plus fewer kilocalories a day and weighed slightly less. Comparing 16:8 with simply eating less, there was no difference in weight after a year. People who skip breakfast long-term do have about seventeen percent more cardiovascular disease, but no difference is seen in all-cause mortality.

Cost

Costs no money. What you save is the bit of mental energy spent fighting with yourself about meal timing every day.

Benefit

First, look at the claim that "skipping breakfast makes people eat more later." A meta-analysis pooled 13 randomized trials. Those assigned to the breakfast group consumed 259.79 kcal more per day than the breakfast-skipping group (95% CI 78.87–440.71, this is the credible range). Their weight was 0.44 kg higher (0.07–0.82). So people who skipped breakfast did not make it up at lunch and dinner. These trials all had very short follow-up: an average of 7 weeks for weight and 2 weeks for intake. Next, look at approaches like 16:8, where you eat only within a fixed few hours. One trial had 116 overweight adults do it for 12 weeks. The group eating only from noon to 8 p.m. differed from the group eating three regular meals a day by −0.26 kg (−1.30 to 0.78), not significant. Another trial done in Guangzhou, with 139 obese patients followed for 12 months. Time-restricted eating plus calorie restriction lost 1.8 kg more than calorie restriction alone (−4.0 to 0.4), also not significant. Finally, look at whether long-term breakfast skipping is harmful. In a pooled analysis of 2.38 million people, those who skipped breakfast had about 17% higher cardiovascular disease risk (OR 1.17, 1.09–1.26) and about 49% higher cardiovascular death (OR 1.49, 1.20–1.84). But these are observational studies that only record, without grouping. In the original study that followed people for 17 to 23 years, the hazard ratio for all-cause death was 1.19, credible range 0.99 to 1.42, crossing 1, so it does not count as a difference.

Notes

Controversial. That 17% for cardiovascular comes from observational studies that only record, without grouping. People who skip breakfast are already more likely to smoke, drink, sit for long periods, and have lower income, and these factors cannot be fully adjusted away. So how much of that 17% is caused by breakfast itself is unclear. The all-cause death item already crossed 1 to begin with. The controversy on the other side is about 16:8: pooling 30 trials and 1,341 people, with both groups eating the same amount, the time-restricted eating group lost 1.46 kg more (−2.65 to −0.26), at the cost of losing 0.41 kg more lean body mass. But most of these trials were very short, and the longest and strictest one, a twelve-month trial, said there was no difference. Long fasting periods are also linked to the gallbladder. In a cross-sectional survey of 6,547 people, for each hour later the first meal of the day was, the proportion found to have gallstones was about 5% higher (OR 1.05, 1.02–1.08); those whose first meal was delayed to 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. had about 49% more than those who ate earlier (OR 1.49, 1.24–1.77). The mechanism is that the longer bile sits in the gallbladder, the more easily stones precipitate out. But this is a survey at a single point in time, and it could also be that people changed their eating habits after already having gallbladder problems. The Chinese Kailuan cohort followed for 5.6 years, with 369 cases of digestive tract cancer: people who skipped breakfast had 2.32 times the risk of colorectal cancer (1.34–4.01) and 5.43 times the risk of gallbladder and extrahepatic bile duct cancer (1.34–21.93). The credible range of that last number is as wide as 21.93, showing there were too few events, so it can only be viewed as a clue. Putting these sides together: as far as weight control goes, meal timing has very little effect, so don't spend effort on it. As for whether long-term complete breakfast skipping is good or bad, the existing evidence is all association and cannot prove causation, but the direction is consistently unfavorable, so if you want to be safe, eat normally, just don't expect it to help you lose weight. The main causes of gastritis and gastric ulcers are not an empty stomach but Helicobacter pylori and long-term use of painkillers; for what to get checked, see Section 1, Item 23 (get checked for Helicobacter pylori, and eradicate it if positive). For what to do if a physical exam finds gallstones but they have never hurt, see Section 26, Item 20 (if a physical exam finds gallstones but they have never hurt, do not prophylactically remove the gallbladder). To control weight, what really has evidence is what you eat and how much, see Section 2, Item 28 (eat enough fruits and vegetables, 5 servings a day), Section 2, Item 29 (eat less ultra-processed food), and Section 2, Item 33 (keep BMI between 20–25). This does not apply to people with diabetes, people taking glucose-lowering drugs, or people who are pregnant; missing a meal may cause low blood sugar, so follow your doctor's advice. Extreme fasting and purging are a different matter, see Section 28, Item 1 (do not use extreme dieting, fasting, or purging to control weight).

Sources

Sievert K, Hussain SM, Page MJ, et al. (2019). Effect of breakfast on weight and energy intake: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l42 ; Lowe DA, Wu N, Rohdin-Bibby L, et al. (2020). Effects of Time-Restricted Eating on Weight Loss and Other Metabolic Parameters in Women and Men With Overweight and Obesity. JAMA Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.4153 ; Liu D, Huang Y, Huang C, et al. (2022). Calorie Restriction with or without Time-Restricted Eating in Weight Loss. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2114833 ; Zhang H, Zhang S, Liu Y, et al. (2025). The association between skipping breakfast and cardiovascular disease: a meta analysis. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1565806 ; Rong S, Snetselaar LG, Xu G, et al. (2019). Association of Skipping Breakfast With Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.01.065 ; Fernandes-Alves D, Teixeira GP, Guimarães KC, Crispim CA (2026). Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials Comparing Time-Restricted Eating With and Without Caloric Restriction for Weight Loss. Nutrition Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuaf053 ; Sun T, Zhang L, Lu Y, et al. (2024). Non-linear relationship between the first meal time of the day and gallstone incidence in American adults. Frontiers in Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1521707 ; Liu T, Wang Y, Wang X, et al. (2023). Habitually Skipping Breakfast Is Associated with the Risk of Gastrointestinal Cancers: Evidence from the Kailuan Cohort Study. Journal of General Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-023-08094-7

Evidence levels: A, B, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 07 · 21 suggestions

How to Survive When You Have No Money

[[High Cost-Performance Life Guide]]

This section is about money and security. How much you can receive, how much you can be exempted from, what services you can get, and what conditions you need to meet are all written here, not converted into lifespan. Policies change every year, and they differ from place to place. All amounts and thresholds are subject to what is published by your locality for the current year. The entries are ordered as follows: those that cost nothing, require little paperwork, and take effect quickly come first. Those that require accumulating long-term qualifications and vary greatly by region come later. Those based only on experience without official documents come last.

1. If You Lose Your Job, First Apply Online for Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

If your employer and you have paid contributions for a full year, and it was not you who voluntarily resigned, you can receive money after completing unemployment registration. If you have paid for 1 year but less than 5 years, you can receive benefits for up to 12 months. If you have paid for 5 years but less than 10 years, up to 18 months. If more than 10 years, up to 24 months. During the period you receive benefits, the unemployment insurance fund pays your employee medical insurance on your behalf.

Cost

No money required. You can submit your application on your phone through any of three channels: the "Zhangshang 12333" App, the electronic social security card mini-program in WeChat or Alipay, or the National Social Insurance Public Service Platform. You only need your social security card or ID card, and in most regions you don't need to go in person. The prerequisite is completing unemployment registration first.

Benefit

You must meet three conditions simultaneously. First, your employer and you have cumulatively paid unemployment insurance for at least 1 year. Second, it was not you who voluntarily resigned (legally called "interruption of employment not due to one's own will"). Third, you have completed unemployment registration and have the intention to find work. How long you can receive benefits depends on your contribution years. If cumulatively 1 year but less than 5 years, maximum 12 months. If 5 years but less than 10 years, maximum 18 months. If more than 10 years, maximum 24 months. The monthly amount is set by the provincial government, meaning each province's amount differs. The amount is lower than the local minimum wage but higher than the urban minimum living guarantee. The national goal is to gradually raise it to 90% of the minimum wage standard. During the period you receive unemployment insurance benefits, you still participate in employee basic medical insurance and enjoy basic medical insurance benefits. The basic medical insurance premium that should be paid comes from the unemployment insurance fund; you don't pay it personally. In other words, during this period you still use employee medical insurance for medical visits, and you don't pay the premium yourself (nationwide, regulation in effect since 1999).

Notes

If you voluntarily resigned, it does not count as "not due to one's own will," and you cannot receive benefits. During the benefit period, the unemployment insurance fund pays your employee medical insurance on your behalf. Amounts vary greatly between provinces; subject to what is published by the place where you participate in insurance. The "90% of minimum wage" statement comes from a 2017 guiding opinion of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The original pages on the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and gov.cn websites cannot be opened; the document number is pending verification.

Sources

State Council (1999). Unemployment Insurance Regulations (State Council Order No. 258, Articles 14, 17, 18). https://xzfg.moj.gov.cn/front/law/detail?LawID=517 ; Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. National Human Resources and Social Security Government Service Platform · Unemployment Insurance Benefit Application Guide. https://www.12333.gov.cn/portal/common/bszn/sydysl?pfaId=20… ; Employment Department of the National Development and Reform Commission (2022). Unemployment Insurance Benefit Standards to Be Gradually Raised to 90% of Minimum Wage. https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/fggz/jyysr/jysrsbxf/202206/t2022062… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2010). Social Insurance Law (Article 48). https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100009/c5192937/content.… (State Taxation Administration Policy and Regulation Database)

2. If Your Wages Are Owed, First File a Complaint with Labor Inspection, Then Apply for Labor Arbitration — Neither Path Charges Fees, and Most Cases Have Results Within a Few Months

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

Neither path charges money. First call 12333 or go to the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau's labor inspection to file a complaint. After the case is filed, it will be investigated within 60 working days. They can order the company to pay within a deadline, and if it fails to pay on time, it must pay an additional 50% to 100% in compensation. If that still doesn't work, apply for labor arbitration, which concludes within 45 days. But "case concluded" does not equal "money received": if the company has no assets and the boss has run away, you may win but still not get paid.

Cost

No money required; neither complaints nor arbitration charge fees. You need to prepare labor contracts, pay stubs, attendance records, transfer records, and chat records, and make 1 to 3 trips to the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau or arbitration committee. Applying for arbitration has a 1-year time limit (legally called the arbitration limitation period). If you are still working at the company and your wages are being withheld, you are not subject to this 1-year limit. If you have already left, you must file within 1 year from the date of departure. The difficulty is in making repeated trips and finding evidence piece by piece; it's easy to get discouraged along the way.

Benefit

The first step is filing a complaint. Dial 12333, or go to the local Human Resources and Social Security Bureau's labor inspection to file a complaint. The law stipulates investigation within 60 working days after filing, extendable by 30 working days for complex cases. If verified, they can order the company to pay within a deadline. If the deadline passes without payment, an additional compensation of 50% to 100% of the amount owed must be paid. In 2024, inspection agencies nationwide investigated 137,000 cases, recovering 8.65 billion yuan in wages for 654,000 people. If you have an IOU or payroll sheet and the facts of owed wages are clear, you can also directly apply to the basic-level court for a payment order. A payment order is a court order for the company to pay, issued within 15 days of the court accepting the application. The second step is applying for arbitration. The law stipulates conclusion within 45 days of acceptance, extendable by 15 days. For wage claims, you can apply for advance execution, meaning executing part of the case before the entire case is fully heard. If the amount owed does not exceed 12 times the local monthly minimum wage, it is a final arbitration: once the arbitration ruling is made, it is final, and the company cannot sue further. In 2024, 4.257 million cases were handled nationwide, with 4.156 million concluded. The amount concluded was 93.47 billion yuan. The mediation success rate was 79.6%, the arbitration conclusion rate was 98.2%, and the arbitration finality rate was 73.7%. Some people say this takes "half a year to a year," referring to cases that go to court after arbitration: first instance 6 months (3 months under simplified procedure), plus second instance 3 months. In 2024, courts concluded 88,000 cases seeking labor remuneration, recovering 28.54 billion yuan, and 998 people were sentenced for the crime of refusing to pay labor remuneration (nationwide).

Notes

This path is useful, but you must distinguish between "case concluded" and "money received." The 98.2% conclusion rate only means the procedure is complete. If the company has no assets and the boss has run away, you still won't get paid even if you win. The Supreme Court only publishes the total amount actually enforced (2.3 trillion yuan in 2024) and that "the enforcement completion rate remains high." There is no official data on how much of owed-wage cases actually ended up in the claimants' pockets. The term "arbitration finality rate" is not defined in the communiqué; this entry interprets it as "no further court proceedings after the ruling." Owed wages reaching a certain amount is enough for criminal filing. One scenario is owing one person for more than 3 months, with the amount between 5,000 and 20,000 yuan or more. Another is owing 10 or more people, cumulatively 30,000 to 100,000 yuan or more. In both scenarios, if payment is still not made after being ordered to pay, it is enough for filing. Each province's High Court and Procuratorate set and publish the specific amount for that province within this range; check your province's amount before filing a complaint, and raise it in person when filing. Migrant workers on construction sites have separate provisions for dedicated wage accounts and general contractor advance payment; finding the general contractor is more effective than finding the labor subcontractor. For migrant workers applying for legal aid to recover wages, financial difficulty is not investigated. The original texts of the Labor Contract Law and Civil Procedure Law are cited from reprint pages of the State Taxation Administration and Guizhou Provincial Market Regulation Bureau (both gov.cn), because the National People's Congress website pages cannot be opened. The Criminal Law Amendment (VIII) failed to be captured on the National People's Congress website; curl was used to open and verify it.

Sources

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2025). 2024 Statistical Communiqué on Human Resources and Social Security Development. https://www.mohrss.gov.cn/SYrlzyhshbzb/zwgk/szrs/tjgb/20250… ; Supreme People's Court (2025). Work Report of the Supreme People's Court. https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202503/content_7013680.htm ; State Council (2004). Labor Security Inspection Regulations (State Council Order No. 423, Articles 9, 17, 26). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2004/content_63042.htm ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Labor Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law (Presidential Order No. 80, Articles 27, 43, 44, 47, 50, 53). https://chinajob.mohrss.gov.cn/h5/c/2022-07-15/356212.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2012 amendment). Labor Contract Law (Articles 30, 85). https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100009/c5193025/content.… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2023 amendment). Civil Procedure Law (Articles 109, 152, 164, 183, 225, 227). https://amr.guizhou.gov.cn/zwgk/xxgkml/jcxxgk/zcfg/fl/20240… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2011). Criminal Law Amendment (VIII) Article 41, i.e., Criminal Law Article 276-1. http://www.npc.gov.cn/cwhhdbdh/c6626/c14002/c14003/201905/t… ; Supreme People's Court (2013). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Refusing to Pay Labor Remuneration (Fa Shi [2013] No. 3, Article 3). https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/5041.html ; State Council (2019). Regulations on Ensuring Payment of Wages to Migrant Workers (State Council Order No. 724, Articles 10, 26, 30, 31, 32, 41). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2020/content_5469641.htm ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021). Legal Aid Law (Articles 31, 42). https://www.beijing.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengcefagui/qtwj/202504…

3. If You Can't Afford a Lawyer, Apply for Legal Aid — Cases Like Wage Recovery, Alimony, and Work Injuries Are Already Within Scope

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

Recovering wages, claiming alimony, claiming social insurance or minimum living guarantee benefits, and suffering losses from acts of courage for justice are already within the scope of free legal aid. Call 12348, or go to your local legal aid center. Since 2022, you no longer need to return to your place of origin to obtain a financial difficulty certificate; you can simply truthfully explain your situation. For defendants who may face the death penalty, as well as blind, deaf, mute, and minor defendants, a lawyer is assigned regardless of financial status.

Cost

No money required. Legal aid does not charge the aided person a single cent.

Benefit

The State Council's regulations specify six categories of civil legal aid matters. The original text of the regulation states: "Requests for state compensation in accordance with law; requests for social insurance benefits or minimum living guarantee benefits; requests for pensions and relief funds; requests for alimony, child support, and spousal support; requests for payment of labor remuneration; claims for civil rights and interests arising from acts of courage for justice." In plain terms: claiming state compensation, claiming social insurance or minimum living guarantee benefits, claiming pensions and relief funds, claiming alimony and child support, recovering wages, and suffering losses from acts of courage for justice. On the criminal side, defendants who may face the death penalty, as well as blind, deaf, mute, and minor defendants, are assigned a lawyer regardless of financial status.

Notes

The Legal Aid Law took effect on January 1, 2022, with one change. Previously, you had to "submit a financial difficulty certificate." Now it has changed to simply truthfully explaining your financial situation, without needing to return to your place of origin for a certificate. Entry points are local legal aid centers and public legal service centers, or you can call 12348.

Sources

State Council (2003). Legal Aid Regulations (State Council Order No. 385, Articles 10, 11, 12). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2008-03/28/content_694… ; Relevant Official of the Ministry of Justice (2021). Answering Reporters' Questions on Implementing the Legal Aid Law. http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2021-12/29/content_5665114.htm

4. When You Have Nowhere to Turn, Go to a Relief Station — They Provide Food, Shelter, and a Ticket Home

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Medium

Relief stations provide food and shelter, send you to the hospital if you're sick, and help you contact your family. If you have no money to go home, they issue a ticket. Generally, stays do not exceed 10 days. You come voluntarily and leave voluntarily; it is not detention, and no cash is given. Tickets are issued based on your registered residence or place of residence; before going, think clearly about where you want to return to.

Cost

No money required. Go to the local relief management station yourself to seek help, or tell a police officer or civil affairs department to take you there. Upon entering, you must truthfully register your name and personal belongings. The difficulty is in having to speak up and tell people you have no money and nowhere to go.

Benefit

Relief stations provide food and accommodation meeting hygiene requirements. If you suddenly fall ill at the station, you are sent to the hospital for treatment. They also help you contact relatives and your employer. If you have no money for a ticket back to your registered residence or place of residence, you are issued a travel (boat) voucher, i.e., a bus or boat ticket. Registered residence is your hometown; place of residence is where you currently live permanently. The relief period generally does not exceed 10 days. If you are waiting for family to pick you up, waiting for treatment, or waiting for resettlement, it can be extended. When police and other administrative organ personnel encounter vagrants and beggars while performing their duties, they should tell them they can seek help. For disabled persons, minors, the elderly, and those with limited mobility, they should guide and escort them there (nationwide, since 2003).

Notes

Voluntary help-seeking, voluntary departure; it is not detention. What is provided is basic food and shelter; no cash is given. Travel vouchers are issued based on registered residence or place of residence; before seeking help, think clearly about where you want to go.

Sources

State Council (2003). Measures for the Administration of Relief for Vagrants and Beggars with No Means of Support in Cities (State Council Order No. 381, Articles 5, 6, 7). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2003/content_62246.htm ; Ministry of Civil Affairs (2003). Implementation Rules for the Measures for the Administration of Relief for Vagrants and Beggars with No Means of Support in Cities (Ministry of Civil Affairs Order No. 24, Articles 11, 12). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2003/content_62510.htm

5. When Looking for Work, First Use Free Public Employment Services and the Gig Market — Don't Go to Fee-Charging Agencies

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Medium

Public institutions like employment service centers and human resources markets do not charge for job referrals, career guidance, policy consultation, or handling employment and unemployment registration. The law explicitly prohibits them from profiting from these services. Registration and information posting at gig markets are also free. Conveniently complete your unemployment registration, as it is needed for receiving unemployment benefits and being recognized as a person with employment difficulties.

Cost

No money required. Register at a public employment service institution at or above the county level, i.e., employment service centers, human resources markets, and similar places. Local gig markets also allow registration. If you don't know the address, dial 12333 to ask.

Benefit

The law stipulates that the following are all free of charge: employment policy consultation; information on where people are being hired and where there are shortages; career guidance and job introduction; handling employment registration and unemployment registration; employment assistance for persons with employment difficulties. These institutions may not engage in profit-making activities, meaning they may not profit from these services. Registration and posting of job-seeking and recruitment information for gig work are also provided free to the public and have been incorporated into the scope of public employment information services. For those who have been waiting for work for a long time (i.e., those who haven't gotten work for a long time) and low-income families and other gig workers with difficulties, assistance should be strengthened (nationwide).

Notes

Unemployment registration is a prerequisite for receiving unemployment insurance benefits and being recognized as a person with employment difficulties; complete it conveniently. For gig work paid by the day, verify the wages on the spot and keep the other party's contact information and work records.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007, 2015 amendment). Employment Promotion Law (Article 35). https://www.gov.cn/guoqing/2021-10/29/content_5647636.htm ; Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and Four Other Departments (2022). Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of Gig Markets and Improving Job-Seeking and Recruitment Services (Ren She Bu Fa [2022] No. 38). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-07/09/content_570…

6. In Case of Sudden Hardship, First Apply for Temporary Assistance

Evidence level: B
Cost-performance: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Perseverance No; Benefit Medium

If something sudden happens at home, such as a fire, car accident, or a family member suddenly falling seriously ill, temporarily overwhelming your basic living, you can apply to the township government or subdistrict office for temporary assistance. You are not required to already be a minimum living guarantee recipient. It is usually a one-time payment, and the amount varies greatly by region.

Cost

No money required. Apply to the township government or subdistrict office, explaining clearly what happened at home. For example, a fire, traffic accident, family member suddenly falling seriously ill, or daily unavoidable expenses suddenly rising. After review and public notice, the county-level civil affairs department approves. Prepare materials according to the local checklist; usually 1 to 2 trips.

Benefit

Two types of families can receive temporary assistance. One type is families that, due to accidents, family members suddenly falling seriously ill, or similar reasons, cannot temporarily afford even the most basic expenses like food, housing, and medical care. The other type is minimum living guarantee families whose unavoidable expenses have suddenly increased beyond their capacity to bear. What is covered and how much is given are determined and published by local governments at or above the county level (nationwide system, amounts set locally, since 2014).

Notes

You are not required to already be a minimum living guarantee recipient. It is usually a one-time payment, and amounts vary greatly by region; subject to what is published by your locality for the current year.

Sources

State Council (2014, 2019 amendment). Interim Measures for Social Assistance (State Council Order No. 649, Articles 47, 48, 49). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2019/content_5468952.htm

https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2019/content_5468952.htm

7. If Your Income Is Below the Local Minimum Living Guarantee Line, Apply for the Minimum Living Guarantee

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

Divide the whole family's income by the number of people. If it is below the local minimum living guarantee line and the family's property also meets the regulations, you can apply. At the end of 2024, the national average urban minimum living guarantee was 798.1 yuan per person per month, and rural was 593.9 yuan. You must apply at your registered household location. If you have a house, a car, and savings, or if your children are capable of supporting you, it may not be approved.

Cost

No money needed. A household member who lives together with you submits a written application to the township government or subdistrict office at your registered household location. If it is inconvenient to do it yourself, you can entrust the village committee or neighborhood committee to handle it for you. You must accept verification of family income and property. Usually you make 2 to 3 trips, bringing your ID card, household register, and proof of income and property. The hard part is having to lay bare your family's assets for inspection and wait for the public notice.

Benefit

Divide the whole family's income by the number of people. If it is below the local minimum living guarantee standard and the family's property is also within the prescribed range, you can receive the minimum living guarantee. At the end of 2024, the national average urban minimum living guarantee standard was 798.1 yuan per person per month, and rural was 593.9 yuan per person per month. Urban minimum living guarantee covered 6.250 million people, and rural covered 33.615 million people. The minimum living guarantee standard is set like this: take the local per capita consumption expenditure of residents in the previous year, multiply it by a quantified ratio, and adjust it again after a period of time. In plain terms, it is based on how much each person spent on average in the local area last year, discounted to calculate it (national average, varies by place).

Notes

The minimum living guarantee is the last line of fallback and must be applied for at your registered household location. If the family's house, car, or savings exceed the local standard, or if your children are capable of supporting you, it may not be approved. After approval, other benefits are also connected. There is assistance for paying resident medical insurance (for resident medical insurance see item 9). For medical treatment you can use medical assistance (for medical assistance see item 10). Applying for legal aid does not check economic hardship (for legal aid see item 3).

Sources

State Council (2014, 2019 revision). Interim Measures for Social Assistance (State Council Order No. 649, Articles 9, 10, and 11). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2019/content_5468952.htm ; National Bureau of Statistics (2025). Social undertakings are developing well and people's livelihood and well-being are constantly improving—Statistical report on society and people's livelihood since the "14th Five-Year Plan". https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202509/content_7042627.htm ; Ministry of Civil Affairs and three other departments (2024). Guiding Opinions on Further Improving the Determination and Adjustment of Minimum Living Guarantee Standards (Minfa [2024] No. 16). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202403/content_7007237…

8. Those with a Disability Certificate Should Apply for the Two Disability Subsidies

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

Disabled people in minimum living guarantee households can receive a living subsidy. Those with disability grade level 1 or level 2 who also need long-term care can receive a nursing subsidy. The two can be received at the same time. Standards are set by each province itself, and the differences are very large, so ask the subdistrict for specifics. Bring your second-generation disability certificate and go to the subdistrict or township to handle it once.

Cost

No money needed. Bring your disability certificate and submit one application at the subdistrict or township.

Benefit

The State Council established two subsidies. The first is the living subsidy for disabled people in difficulty. The document states the target as "disabled people in minimum living guarantee households; where conditions permit, this may gradually be expanded to low-income disabled people and other disabled people in difficulty." This means first guaranteeing disabled people in minimum living guarantee households, and places with the fiscal capacity may expand outward. The second is the nursing subsidy for severely disabled people. The document states the target as "severely disabled people whose disability grade is assessed as level 1 or level 2 and who need long-term care." These two can be received at the same time.

Notes

Standards are set by provincial-level governments, and the differences across places are very large, ranging from dozens of yuan to several hundred yuan per month. Applications must bring the second-generation disability certificate. If the person themselves finds it inconvenient, family members can be entrusted to handle it on their behalf.

Sources

State Council (2015). Opinions on Comprehensively Establishing the System of Living Subsidies for Disabled People in Difficulty and Nursing Subsidies for Severely Disabled People (Guofa [2015] No. 52). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2015-09/25/content_101…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2015-09/25/content_101…

9. Do Not Let Resident Medical Insurance at 400 Yuan per Year Lapse; Poor Households Can Get Reductions or Exemptions

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money Little; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Large

Individuals pay from 400 yuan per year, and the government finances add about 700 yuan per person. People in extreme poverty receive full funding, and minimum living guarantee recipients receive fixed-amount funding. Letting it lapse has a cost: if you do not enroll during the concentrated period, or if you do not pay continuously, after paying there will be 3 months during which medical treatment is not reimbursed, and for each additional year of lapse, in principle another 1 month is added.

Cost

The part you pay yourself is no less than 400 yuan per person per year. This is the national standard for 2024 and 2025, and places may set it higher. You must pay during the fixed concentrated payment period each year. People in extreme poverty receive full funding, and this money is entirely paid by the government. Minimum living guarantee recipients receive fixed-amount funding, with the government paying a fixed portion.

Benefit

In addition to the part you pay yourself, the government finances add another amount per person. In 2024 it was no less than 670 yuan, and in 2025 no less than 700 yuan (the figure of 700 yuan comes from a national standard restated in a Hebei provincial document). The 2026 government work report says it will be raised by another 24 yuan. For minimum living guarantee recipients and people in extreme poverty, after medical insurance reimburses eligible medical expenses, the remaining part can be reimbursed again through medical assistance at a rate of no less than 70%. The cost of lapse is a waiting period. If you do not enroll during the concentrated payment period, or if you do not pay continuously, after paying there is a fixed 3-month treatment waiting period, during which medical treatment is not reimbursed. For each additional year of lapse, in principle another 1 month is added (nationwide from 2025).

Notes

The original page of the National Healthcare Security Administration's 2025 notice (Yibaofa [2025] No. 22) cannot be opened. The figure of 700 yuan is taken from a restatement in a local document and remains to be verified. During the period when you receive unemployment insurance benefits, employee medical insurance is paid for you by unemployment insurance, so there is no need to enroll again.

Sources

National Healthcare Security Administration (2024). Policy interpretation of the "Notice on Doing a Good Job in the Basic Medical Security of Urban and Rural Residents in 2024" (Yibaofa [2024] No. 19). https://www.nhsa.gov.cn/art/2024/8/26/art_105_13634.html ; Hebei Provincial Healthcare Security Administration and others (2025). Notice on Doing a Good Job in the Basic Medical Security of Urban and Rural Residents in 2025 (Ji Yibao Fa [2025] No. 6, local document). https://www.renqiu.gov.cn/renqiu/ybjbmwj/202510/6d90754638a… ; General Office of the State Council (2021). Opinions on Improving the Medical Insurance and Assistance System for Major and Severe Diseases (Guobanfa [2021] No. 42). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2021/content_5659514.htm ; General Office of the State Council (2024). Guiding Opinions on Improving the Long-Term Mechanism for Basic Medical Insurance Enrollment (Guobanfa [2024] No. 38). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202408/content_6965741.htm ; National Healthcare Security Administration (2026). The 2026 government work report mentions these medical insurance tasks. https://www.nhsa.gov.cn/art/2026/3/5/art_14_19809.html

10. If You Get Seriously Ill, First Go Through Medical Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Medical Assistance, and Cross-Province Registration; Do Not Touch Online Loans

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

The order is fixed. Before cross-province hospitalization, first register in the "National Healthcare Security Administration" official account, and settle directly upon discharge, without needing to pay the full amount upfront. If after reimbursement you still cannot afford it yourself, apply to the township or subdistrict for medical assistance. Employees have 3 to 24 months of medical period according to length of service, and during this period the company cannot dismiss you. Do not touch online loans or private high-interest borrowing.

Cost

No money needed. The order is fixed, step by step. Step one, before cross-province hospitalization, register using the "National Cross-Province Medical Treatment Registration" mini program in the "National Healthcare Security Administration" WeChat official account. Step two, settle directly upon discharge. Step three, if after reimbursement the amount you must pay yourself is still too heavy, apply to the township government or subdistrict office for medical assistance. Step four, if you are still working, take sick leave according to the medical period; the medical period is the period during which you stop work due to illness and cannot be dismissed; if it belongs to a work-related injury, go through work-related injury insurance. Step five, if you cannot repay your credit card, actively negotiate installment payments with the bank. Step six, if it is truly not enough, then raise funds on a personal help-seeking platform designated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The main materials are diagnosis certificate, expense list, and settlement statement, with 2 to 4 trips. The hard part is that while ill, you still have to make trip after trip to handle procedures.

Benefit

The state calls basic medical insurance, critical illness insurance, and medical assistance together the "three-tier system," providing fallback layer by layer. For minimum living guarantee recipients and people in extreme poverty, eligible medical expenses are assisted at no less than 70%. Seriously ill patients who were not poor originally but became poor from medical treatment can apply on their own for further assistance. If you register before cross-province hospitalization, you can settle directly upon discharge, without having to pay the full amount upfront and then return to the place of insurance for reimbursement. Stopping work due to illness has a medical period of 3 to 24 months, with the specific length determined by length of service. During this period, the company may not terminate the labor contract, and sick leave wages may not be lower than 80% of the local minimum wage. Workers with work-related injuries have a paid work-stoppage period, which is the period of recovering from injury without going to work; original wages and benefits are paid as before, paid monthly by the unit, generally not exceeding 12 months. If credit card debt exceeds repayment ability and the person is willing to repay, they can negotiate personalized installments with the bank, rearranging the debt into a new repayment plan, up to 5 years; once the agreement is signed, the bank must stop collection. Online personal help-seeking platforms that raise money for the person must be designated by the civil affairs department of the State Council. The platform must verify whether the help-seeking information is true. Donated money can only be transferred to the person seeking help, or to an account provided by that person (nationwide).

Notes

The proportion of medical assistance reimbursement and the annual maximum reimbursement are determined by the place where you are insured. The "medical period" is the period during which you cannot be dismissed while stopping work due to illness. It is divided into six tiers, depending on how many years you have worked in total and how many years you have worked at this unit. Once the medical period passes, the company may legally terminate you, so see clearly in advance which tier you are in. Emergency rescue patients are also on the list requiring registration. The Healthcare Security Administration page does not say whether emergency treatment counts as automatic registration or whether it can be handled retroactively afterward, so call the place of insurance to ask. Do not touch online loans or private high-interest borrowing. The courts only protect up to 4 times the one-year LPR (for not borrowing high-interest loans see item 15). The part exceeding that line is not protected, but the principal still must be repaid. Lying in a hospital bed, you also do not have the energy to fight this kind of lawsuit. Acute severe illness or injury is another matter: even without money you must call 120, and hospitals may not refuse, shift responsibility, or delay treatment; the emergency treatment costs for that period are paid by the disease emergency assistance fund, see Section 24 item 9 (emergencies must also be treated first). The original page of Laobufa [1995] No. 309 cannot be opened on the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security website, and the content is taken from a reprint by a provincial human resources and social security department.

Sources

General Office of the State Council (2021). Opinions on Improving the Medical Insurance and Assistance System for Major and Severe Diseases (Guobanfa [2021] No. 42). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2021/content_5659514.htm ; National Healthcare Security Administration (2025). How to directly reimburse for cross-province medical treatment?. https://www.nhsa.gov.cn/art/2025/3/16/art_14_16010.html ; Ministry of Labor (1994). Provisions on the Medical Period for Enterprise Employees Who Are Ill or Injured Not at Work (Laobufa [1994] No. 479, Articles 2 and 3). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2022-08/31/content_5711269.htm ; Ministry of Labor (1995). Opinions on Several Issues Concerning the Implementation of the Labor Law (Laobufa [1995] No. 309, Article 59). http://hrss.jl.gov.cn/ldgx/ldyggl/201608/t20160824_2401358.… (reprinted by the Jilin Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security); State Council (2010 revision). Regulation on Work-Related Injury Insurance (State Council Order No. 586, Articles 30 and 33). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm ; China Banking Regulatory Commission (2011). Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Commercial Bank Credit Card Business (CBRC Order No. 2 of 2011, Article 70). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1893974.htm ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2023). Decision on Amending the Charity Law (Article 124). https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202312/content_6923390.htm ; Ministry of Civil Affairs and four other departments (2024). Measures for the Administration of Online Personal Help-Seeking Service Platforms (Order No. 75, Articles 3, 11, 13, and 17). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2024/issue_11646/202410/content_…

11. If You Lose Your ID Card, Replace It Immediately; If Urgent, First Get a Temporary ID Card

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money Little; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Small

For replacement, the certificate is issued within 60 days from the day you submit the form. If urgent, apply on the spot for a temporary ID card, issued within 3 days, valid for 3 months. Without an ID card, finding a job, lodging, opening an account, and receiving subsidies all cannot be done. It is the prerequisite for all procedures.

Cost

You must pay the certificate production fee. This is a statutory fee, and how much is charged is set by the state, subject to local public notice. Apply at the police station at your permanent registered household location, 1 trip.

Benefit

From the day you submit the "Resident Identity Card Application Registration Form," the public security organ must issue the certificate within 60 days. During the period of new application, replacement, or reissue, if you urgently need the certificate, you can apply for a temporary resident identity card. The public security organ issues it within 3 days of receiving the application, valid for 3 months (nationwide).

Notes

Without an ID card, finding a job, lodging, opening an account, and receiving subsidies all cannot be done. This is the prerequisite for all procedures. The Resident Identity Card Law was amended in 2011, and what is cited in this item is the text published in 2003; the provisions of the current version shall prevail. Whether it can be handled outside the registered location is subject to local public security announcements.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2003). Resident Identity Card Law (Presidential Order No. 4, Articles 12 and 20). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2003/content_62254.htm ; Ministry of Public Security (2005). Measures for the Administration of Temporary Resident Identity Cards (Ministry of Public Security Order No. 78, Articles 2, 7, 9, 12, and 17). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2021-12/25/content_5712922.htm

12. After Registering as Unemployed, Strive for Recognition as a Person with Employment Difficulties, and Get Social Insurance Subsidies or Public Welfare Positions

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

After recognition, if you pay social insurance yourself you can get a subsidy, in principle no more than two-thirds of what you actually pay, for up to 3 years. If you are hired by a unit, or arranged into a public welfare position, the unit's portion of social insurance is also subsidized. The wages of public welfare positions refer to the local minimum wage. This kind of position does not pay much, but it includes social insurance and is suitable as a transition. Social insurance subsidies are mostly pay-first-then-subsidize, so you have to front the money.

Cost

No money needed. Apply for recognition at the public employment service institution of the subdistrict or community. Recognition conditions differ by place, and common ones include older age, long-term unemployment, minimum living guarantee household, disability, and zero-employment household. You must first complete unemployment registration before applying. The hard part is having to check item by item whether you meet the conditions, and social insurance still requires fronting money.

Benefit

After recognition, those without a unit who pay social insurance themselves (this is called flexible employment) can receive a social insurance subsidy. The subsidy standard in principle is no more than 2/3 of what you actually pay, for up to 3 years. Those hired by a unit, or arranged into a public welfare position, receive a subsidy for the pension, medical, and unemployment insurance premiums actually paid by the unit. Public welfare positions are positions developed with government funding, and their subsidies refer to the local minimum wage. Public welfare positions developed by the government give priority to people with employment difficulties. There is also a one-time job-seeking subsidy, issued to college graduates. The scope is graduates from minimum living guarantee households, zero-employment households, and people in extreme poverty. Graduates with disabilities and those who have received national student loans also count. This money is received in the graduation academic year (national framework, recognition conditions and amounts set locally).

Notes

Public welfare position wages are not high, but they include social insurance and are suitable as a transition. Social insurance subsidies are mostly pay-first-then-subsidize, so you must front the money. For specific conditions ask 12333 or the subdistrict.

Sources

Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2023 revision). Measures for the Administration of Employment Subsidy Funds (Caishe [2017] No. 164, revised and issued in December 2023). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202401/content_6926462… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007, 2015 amendment). Employment Promotion Law (Articles 52 and 53). https://www.gov.cn/guoqing/2021-10/29/content_5647636.htm

13. During Unemployment, Go Get Vocational Training Subsidies, Employment Internship Subsidies, and Social Insurance Subsidies; Do Not Pay for Training Classes Yourself

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Medium

Training does not require you to pay yourself. If you participate in training and obtain the prescribed certificate, there is a vocational training subsidy, and the same person can receive it up to 3 times. College graduates who have not found work within two years of graduation, and unemployed young people aged 16 to 24, can participate in employment internships and receive basic living expenses during the internship. First check the "Vocational Training Subsidy Catalog" on the local human resources and social security bureau website, and do not pay for classes yourself.

Cost

No money needed. The training itself will take up a lot of your time. The hard part is having to finish the course continuously and pass the certificate exam before you can get the subsidy.

Benefit

The regulations of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security list a set of employment subsidy fund items, which is the money specially used by the government to subsidize employment. If you participate in training and obtain a compliant certificate, you receive a vocational training subsidy, and the same person can receive it up to 3 times. For people with employment difficulties who pay social insurance themselves (that is, flexible employment), the subsidy lasts up to 3 years; those less than 5 years from the statutory retirement age can extend it until retirement. For college graduates who pay social insurance themselves, the subsidy lasts up to 2 years, and for those hired by enterprises up to 1 year. College graduates who have not found work within 2 years of graduation, and unemployed young people aged 16 to 24, can participate in employment internships and receive basic living expenses during the internship.

Notes

The specific subsidy catalog and amounts are set by each province. First check the "Vocational Training Subsidy Catalog" on the local human resources and social security bureau website. College graduates in the graduation year from minimum living guarantee households and zero-employment households, as well as those owing student loans and those with disabilities, also have a one-time job-seeking and entrepreneurship subsidy.

Sources

Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2023). Measures for the Administration of Employment Subsidy Funds (Articles 5, 7, and 10). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202401/content_6926462…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202401/content_6926462…

14. Don't Just Send Out Resumes When Job Hunting—Use a Systematic Approach: Learn Techniques, Set Goals, Get Help from Others

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Perseverance yes; Benefit large

Pooling 47 studies together, people who took part in job search coaching were 2.67 times more likely to find a job than those who didn't. What works are these things: learning specific job search techniques, presenting yourself clearly, setting clear goals, taking the initiative, and speaking up to ask others for help. The last one, put into practice, means asking acquaintances for referrals.

Cost

No money needed. You need to spend 1 to 2 hours a day, doing it continuously for several weeks. You can skip paid courses and use free career guidance from public employment service agencies instead. The hard part is persisting every day when no one is watching over you, and speaking up to ask others for help.

Benefit

Pooling 47 controlled job search coaching studies together. These studies were experimental or quasi-experimental designs, meaning groups were divided for comparison. The result: the group that took part in coaching was 2.67 times more likely to find a job than the group that didn't (OR 2.67, i.e., the ratio of odds). The effective components in coaching are these. First, teaching job search techniques. Second, improving self-presentation, that is, presenting yourself clearly. Third, boosting self-efficacy, that is, making people believe they can do it. Fourth, encouraging taking the initiative. Fifth, setting goals. Sixth, securing social support, that is, speaking up to ask others for help. Coaching that both teaches skills and boosts motivation has the greatest effect.

Notes

Most of these studies were done in Europe and America, in the form of packaged group courses. Transplanting them to China is applying results from elsewhere, not something tested domestically. "Securing social support," plainly put, means asking acquaintances to introduce you and refer you—don't be embarrassed to speak up.

Sources

Liu S, Huang JL, Wang M (2014). Effectiveness of job search interventions: a meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin 140(4): 1009–1041. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035923

https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035923

15. Don't Pay Deposits, Don't Hand Over ID Documents, Don't Sign "Training Loans," Don't Join Pyramid Schemes, Don't Borrow from Loan Sharks

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Benefit large

Employers may not seize your ID card, may not collect deposits, and may not collect money or property from you under a different name. Violators are ordered to return it, and are also fined 500 to 2000 yuan per person. If an agency fails to place you in a job, it must refund the agency fee to you. "Pay training fees first before starting work" training loans, and pyramid schemes that count money by recruiting people, are both officially named scams. For private lending, interest exceeding four times the one-year LPR is not supported by courts, but the principal is still repaid.

Cost

No money needed. When you encounter these three phrases—"pay first before starting work," "train first then arrange work," "recruit people"—refuse on the spot. Keep chat records and transfer receipts. The hard part is that the more short of money you are, the more you want to gamble, and saying "no" on the spot isn't easy.

Benefit

Companies may not seize your ID card or other documents, may not require you to find a guarantor, and may not collect your money and property under a different name. Violators are ordered to return it, and are fined 500 yuan or more but 2000 yuan or less per person. Job agencies likewise may not seize documents or collect deposits, and if they fail to place you in a job, they must refund the agency fee to you. Inducing you to pay training fees first or take out a loan first under the guise of recruitment is the "recruitment-to-training" and "training loan" scam that the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and four other departments named and warned about. Counting commissions by recruiting people, where you must pay money to join, constitutes a pyramid scheme, and participants can be fined 2000 yuan or less. For private lending interest, the portion exceeding 4 times the one-year LPR at the time the contract was signed is not supported by courts. This new rule replaced the old approach of dividing into three tiers by the two lines of 24% and 36% (nationwide, since August 2020).

Notes

4 times the LPR is the upper limit of interest courts are willing to protect, not "you can borrow and not repay"—the principal is still repaid. This judicial interpretation was revised again in December 2020, and the article numbers changed, so the current text prevails. The more urgently you need money, the more easily you're targeted by these scams. First go through the formal channels earlier in this section: unemployment insurance benefits, labor inspection complaints, legal aid, relief stations, temporary assistance.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Labor Contract Law (Presidential Order No. 65, Articles 9, 84). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm ; Ministry of Labor and Social Security (2007). Provisions on the Administration of Employment Services and Employment (Ministry of Labor and Social Security Order No. 28, Articles 14, 55, 58). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2022-11/28/content_5711307.htm ; Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and four other departments (2026). Beware of risks such as "recruitment-to-training" and "training loans." https://chinajob.mohrss.gov.cn/h5/c/2026-05-18/543038.shtml ; State Council (2005). Regulations on Prohibiting Pyramid Schemes (State Council Order No. 444, Articles 2, 7, 24). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2005/content_80604.htm ; Supreme People's Court (2020). Decision on Amending the Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Private Lending Cases (Fa Shi [2020] No. 6, Article 26). https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/249031.html ; Supreme People's Court (2020). The upper limit of judicial protection for private lending interest rates is adjusted to "4 times the one-year LPR." https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/249051.html

16. If You Have Housing Difficulties, First Get in Line for Public Rental Housing

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Perseverance no; Benefit large

You need to meet all three conditions at once: no housing locally, or housing area below the standard; income and property below the standard; and if you're a migrant worker, you also need to have stable employment locally for the required number of years. The waiting period is announced by the locality. This is distant water that can't quench present thirst, but lining up costs no money, and the earlier you register, the earlier your turn comes.

Cost

Applying is free. Submit materials to the municipal or county housing security department, and also give written consent for them to verify the information you report. If materials are incomplete, they will tell you all at once what to supplement. The period of waiting in line for housing is called the waiting period, generally no more than 5 years.

Benefit

If you meet all three conditions, you can apply. First, you have no housing locally, or your housing area is below the prescribed standard. Second, your income and property are below the prescribed standard. Third, migrant workers must have stable employment locally for the required number of years. The specific conditions are set and announced by the housing security departments of municipalities directly under the central government and of cities and counties. Those registered on the waiting list are called waiting objects, and the housing security department should arrange housing sources for them within the waiting period (nationwide framework, thresholds and rents set locally, since 2012).

Notes

This is distant water that can't quench present thirst, but lining up costs no money, and the earlier you register, the earlier your turn comes. Localities also have other types such as subsidized rental housing, with different rules—check the local housing and construction department's website.

Sources

Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (2012). Measures for the Administration of Public Rental Housing (Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Order No. 11, Articles 7, 8, 10). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2012/content_2226147.htm

https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2012/content_2226147.htm

17. Push Housing and Food to the Minimum: Shared Rent by the Month Instead of Daily Rent, Cooking Yourself and Community Meal Programs Instead of Takeout

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Perseverance some; Benefit large

In 2025 national per capita consumption, food accounted for 29.3% and housing 21.7%, and the two together exceed half, so squeezing these two is most effective. Based on the author's experience, daily rental rooms and hourly rooms converted to a month are more expensive than shared rent; cooking yourself is cheaper than ordering takeout. When job hunting, ask clearly whether food and lodging are included—positions that include them wipe out these two major items.

Cost

Finding housing takes 1 to 3 days. The deposit is usually 1 month's rent (author's rough estimate). Cooking yourself takes 30 to 60 minutes a day. The hard part is doing it yourself every day and resisting ordering takeout.

Benefit

In 2025, the national average per capita annual spending was 29476 yuan (this is called per capita consumption expenditure). Of this, food, tobacco, and alcohol were 8631 yuan, accounting for 29.3%. Housing was 6397 yuan, accounting for 21.7%. The two together exceed half, so squeezing these two is most effective. Elderly meal assistance services are provided to all elderly people, in forms such as elderly canteens, elderly dining tables, and meal assistance points, with differentiated subsidies for elderly people in difficulty. For reference. As of January 1, 2026, among the first-tier monthly minimum wages of each province, the lowest, Qinghai, is 2080 yuan. The highest, Shanghai, is 2740 yuan (nationwide, 2025 to 2026).

Notes

Daily rental rooms and hourly rooms calculated by the month are much more expensive than shared rent—this is an empirical judgment, with no official figures. Whether elderly meal assistance points are open to non-elderly people and at what price varies by locality. When job hunting, ask clearly whether food and lodging are included—positions that include them can directly wipe out these two major items. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security's original table page can't be opened, so the figures are taken from the reposted page of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security.

Sources

National Bureau of Statistics (2026). 2025 Resident Income and Consumption Expenditure. https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfbhjd/202601/t20260119_196232… ; Ministry of Civil Affairs and ten other departments (2023). Action Plan for Actively Developing Elderly Meal Assistance Services (Min Fa [2023] No. 58). https://www.gov.cn/govweb/zhengce/zhengceku/202310/content_… ; Sichuan Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security (2026). Minimum Wage Standards of All Provinces, Autonomous Regions, and Municipalities Nationwide (as of January 1, 2026, reposted from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security official website table). https://rst.sc.gov.cn/rst/ylbxjwjgzxx/2026/7/10/89a8ef06cc2…

18. Don't Panic If Social Security Contributions Are Interrupted: Pensions Are Calculated Cumulatively, Medical Insurance Is Made Up According to the Rules

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

Pensions are calculated by cumulative years, not by consecutive years—interruptions don't reset to zero, and once you reach retirement age with a cumulative 15 years, you can receive it monthly. For employee medical insurance, once you've paid enough years, you don't need to pay more after retirement; the number of years varies by locality, so call 12393 to ask your place of insurance. What's truly affected are qualifications that require continuous contributions, such as buying a house, settling down, and points systems.

Cost

No money needed. Resident pension and resident medical insurance can be paid annually by yourself. If employee social security is interrupted, there's no need to pay someone to "hang" your contributions just to "avoid a gap."

Benefit

Basic pension insurance is calculated by cumulative contribution years, and interruptions in between don't reset to zero. Once you reach the statutory retirement age, a cumulative 15 years lets you receive a pension monthly. If it's not enough, you can keep paying until you reach 15 years. If you change locations for employment (the formal term is crossing pooled regions), the pension relationship follows the person, and contribution years continue to accumulate. For employee medical insurance, once cumulative contributions reach the number of years prescribed by the state, you don't need to pay more after retirement. The cost of interrupting resident medical insurance is a waiting period, meaning after you re-enroll, there's a period during which medical visits aren't reimbursed (for resident medical insurance see item 9) (nationwide).

Notes

The number of years for which employee medical insurance doesn't need to be paid after retirement—the law says "the number of years prescribed by the state," but the figures implemented vary by locality, and often differ between men and women, so call 12393 or ask your place of insurance's medical insurance bureau. Interruption mainly affects local qualifications requiring a certain number of consecutive months of payment, such as buying a house, settling down, and points systems—these rules are set by each locality, so check locally. Paying someone to "hang" your contributions as a proxy—the money may be lost, and there are legal risks—not recommended.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2010, amended 2018). Social Insurance Law (Articles 16, 19, 27). https://www.gov.cn/guoqing/2021-10/29/content_5647616.htm ; General Office of the State Council (2024). Guiding Opinions on Improving the Long-Term Mechanism for Basic Medical Insurance Enrollment (Guo Ban Fa [2024] No. 38). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202408/content_6965741.htm

19. If You've Been in Prison, Gone Bankrupt, or Been on the Dishonesty List, There's a Legal Path to Start Over—Just Complete the Procedures First

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Perseverance yes; Benefit medium

People released after serving their sentence may not be discriminated against in employment, education, or social security, and those in financial difficulty are helped and resettled by the government. For those under 18 at the time of the crime and sentenced to 5 years or less, records are sealed, and they need not report when joining the military or job hunting. The term on the dishonesty list is 2 years, and once the money is repaid, the court should delete the name within 3 working days. Adults' criminal records are not sealed, and must be truthfully reported when joining the military or employment.

Cost

No handling fees. For those released after serving their sentence, report to the judicial office or subdistrict office of your registered residence or place of residence, and apply for resettlement and assistance, that is, the government's resettlement and support. For those on the list of dishonest judgment debtors, repay what should be repaid, then apply to the enforcing court to have the name deleted. Individuals who have paid social insurance in Shenzhen for 3 years can apply for personal bankruptcy. Each step requires preparing materials, accepting interviews, and there's a 1 to 3 year inspection period. The hard part is having to tell people about the past over and over, and enduring the inspection period.

Benefit

People released after serving their sentence enjoy equal rights with other citizens according to law, and are not discriminated against in employment, education, or enjoyment of social security. Those in financial difficulty are helped and resettled by the government of their registered residence or place of residence, and given lawful assistance and support (Prison Law revised in 2026, effective November 1). The central government's 2010 document requires strengthening vocational training for them, including those who meet the conditions in the minimum living guarantee, and also establishing transitional resettlement bases. For those under 18 at the time of the crime and sentenced to 5 years or less, criminal records are sealed, and they need not report when joining the military or job hunting; if they themselves apply for a no-criminal-record certificate, it is issued within 3 working days. The term on the dishonesty list is 2 years. Once the money is repaid, or when a settlement is reached with the other party, the court should delete the name within 3 working days. The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Personal Bankruptcy Regulations are currently the only personal bankruptcy regulations; after being declared bankrupt and enduring a 3-year inspection period, unpaid debts can be forgiven. If an enterprise legal person cannot repay due debts and owes more than it has (this is called insolvency), it can apply for reorganization, settlement, or bankruptcy liquidation, and the debts are settled along with the enterprise (nationwide, personal bankruptcy only in Shenzhen).

Notes

This item doesn't beautify reality: adults' criminal records are not sealed. Article 100 of the Criminal Law requires truthfully reporting that you have received criminal punishment when joining the military or job hunting. For professions such as civil servants, judges, lawyers, and teachers, and for political review, there are separate statutory restrictions, and this item doesn't change that. For the current text of the Prison Law before November 1, 2026, it corresponds to Articles 37 and 38, and the article numbers are subject to the effective text. The original page of Zhong Ban Fa [2010] No. 5 was not found on the central government website, so it's taken from a district government's repost. During the inspection period of personal bankruptcy, you cannot sit in first class on planes, cannot make high-consumption purchases, and cannot buy a house; 8 categories of debts, such as compensation for intentionally harming another person's person, are not discharged; a discharge obtained through fraud may also be revoked. Being deleted from the dishonesty list doesn't mean your credit report becomes clean along with it—those are two separate systems.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2026). Prison Law (2026 revision, Articles 59, 60, 62). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202604/t20260430_726746.shtml ; General Office of the CPC Central Committee, General Office of the State Council (2010). Notice on Transmitting the "Opinions of the Central Committee for Comprehensive Management of Public Security on Further Strengthening the Resettlement and Assistance Work for Persons Released After Serving Their Sentence or Released from Reeducation Through Labor" (Zhong Ban Fa [2010] No. 5). http://www.hnziyang.gov.cn/jc_zy/63/84/content_19460.html (reposted by Ziyang District Government, Yiyang City); Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Criminal Procedure Law (2018 amendment, Article 286). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/201810/t20181027_396818.shtml ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Justice (2022). Implementation Measures on the Sealing of Juvenile Criminal Records (Articles 9, 15). https://gat.hunan.gov.cn/gat/jwgk/zfxxgk/xxgkml/zcfgjjd/zcf… (reposted by Hunan Provincial Public Security Department); Supreme People's Court (2017 amendment). Several Provisions on Publishing Information on the List of Dishonest Judgment Debtors (Articles 2, 10). https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/37182.html ; Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress (2020). Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Personal Bankruptcy Regulations (Articles 2, 23, 95, 97, 103). https://sf.sz.gov.cn/xxgk/xxgkml/zcfg/content/post_8586018.… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2006). Enterprise Bankruptcy Law (Presidential Order No. 54, Articles 2, 7). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2006/content_413952.htm

20. Before a major illness, in addition to basic medical insurance, get a one-year medical insurance or critical illness insurance, and look carefully at the words "guaranteed renewal"

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; money little; time little; perseverance no; benefit large

This type of insurance covers the part you have to pay yourself after medical insurance reimbursement, as well as the loss from being unable to work. Before buying, make sure of the words "guaranteed renewal": if these words are not present, it may be discontinued or increase in price next year. Health status must be disclosed truthfully; hiding it will lead to claim denial. First enroll in basic medical insurance, then consider this item.

Cost

For young people, a one-year expense-reimbursement medical insurance costs a few hundred yuan per year. Expense-reimbursement type means reimbursement based on the money you actually spent. Critical illness insurance starts at several thousand yuan per year (author's rough estimate, no official figure). Before applying, you must truthfully disclose your health status, which takes half an hour at one time.

Benefit

Officials divide this type of product into two kinds. Medical insurance reimburses based on the medical expenses you actually spent. Disease insurance pays a lump sum directly according to the agreed amount once you are diagnosed with the diseases specified in the contract. Both cover the part you have to pay yourself after medical insurance reimbursement, as well as the loss from being unable to work. If the insurance period is one year or less and the terms do not state guaranteed renewal, it is short-term health insurance. Only if it exceeds one year, or guaranteed renewal is stated, is it long-term health insurance. "Guaranteed renewal" means: when renewing upon expiration, the company must continue coverage under the original terms and agreed rates. Insurance companies must not induce the same person to repeatedly buy expense-reimbursement medical insurance with the same or similar coverage function, that is, the kind reimbursed according to actual expenses. If you buy two policies, the same expense can still only be reimbursed once. The disease definitions for critical illness insurance have unified industry standards, including 28 severe diseases and 3 mild diseases. Malignant tumors, acute myocardial infarction, and sequelae of cerebral stroke are core diseases (nationwide, from 2019 and 2020)

Notes

It is rated B because officials only provided definitions and rules, not figures for "how much you can save if you buy it." "Million-yuan medical insurance" is a sales name; legally it counts as short-term health insurance. If the terms do not include "guaranteed renewal," it may be discontinued or increase in price next year, so before buying, first look for these four words in the terms. Two medical insurance policies that reimburse according to actual expenses cannot reimburse the same expense twice, so do not stack them. If you already have an illness and apply for insurance without truthful disclosure, claims will be denied when something happens. First enroll in resident medical insurance (item 9), then consider this item. The disease definition standard was issued by the industry association and guided by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission; it is not a government document.

Sources

China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (2019). Measures for the Administration of Health Insurance (Order No. 3 of 2019 of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, Articles 2, 4, and 41). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-12/04/content_545… ; China Insurance Industry Association, Chinese Medical Doctor Association (2020). Q&A on the Use Standard for Disease Definitions of Critical Illness Insurance (2020 Revision). https://www.iachina.cn/art/2020/11/5/art_8616_104705.html ; China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (2020). Notice on Matters Concerning the Use of the China Life Insurance Industry Critical Illness Experience Incidence Table (2020) (CBIRC Issuance [2020] No. 51). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2020-11/06/content_555…

21. If you really have nowhere to sleep, a 24-hour business premises can only be an emergency option for one night; give priority to going to a relief station

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; money little; time little; perseverance some; benefit small

Waiting areas at airports and train stations can get you through one night, with toilets and power outlets. But there is no official data saying this is safe. Keep your belongings close to your body, do not accept food or drink handed to you by strangers, and do not go to remote corners. You cannot sleep under bridges, by riversides, or at construction sites at night. Relief stations provide free food and lodging; give priority to going there.

Cost

Waiting areas at airports and train stations usually cost nothing. Fast-food restaurants and internet cafes require some spending. You will not sleep soundly, and there is a risk of belongings being stolen. The hard part is not daring to truly sleep all night.

Benefit

You can get through one night, there are toilets, and you can charge devices. No official figures

Notes

The safety risk is real. Keep your belongings close to your body, do not accept drinks and food handed to you by strangers, and avoid remote corners. Do not sleep outdoors at night under bridges, by riversides, or at construction sites. Sleeping outdoors in extreme weather can be fatal. The relief station in item 4 provides free food and lodging; go there first. Some places clear people out in the middle of the night; do not get into conflicts with security.

Sources

Author's experience, no official document

Evidence levels: A, B, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 08 · 43 suggestions

Don't Drag Yourself Down With It: Legal and Property Safety

[[The High-Value Life Guide]]

This section deals with money and personal freedom, not converted into lifespan. Three things need to be made clear: what responsibilities the law says you bear, how much less you'll pay if you follow it, and what procedural rights you have when something happens. All clause numbers have been checked against the official original texts. The ordering method is: things where a single incident causes the greatest loss and that are the easiest to do go first; things that require advance arrangement go in the middle; things backed only by experience and no official documents go last.

1. In a traffic accident, first stop, rescue people, call the police—don't flee

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

If you flee, this accident is by default deemed entirely your fault. Your license is revoked, and you can never take the test again for the rest of your life. There's also a more practical layer: vehicle damage insurance and third-party liability insurance pay nothing for fleeing the scene, and compensation of hundreds of thousands must all come out of your own pocket. Staying at the scene to rescue people and call the police costs you at most one or two hours.

Cost

No money. Stop the car, turn on the hazard lights, rescue people, call the police, and wait for the traffic officer—at most one or two hours. For a minor accident, if no one is injured and both sides have no dispute over the facts, take photos first. Then note the other party's name, phone number, license plate, driver's license number, insurance certificate number, and the parts that were hit. After both sides sign, you may leave the scene first and then negotiate on your own.

Benefit

The party who flees bears full responsibility for this accident. Only if you can prove the other party was also at fault can responsibility possibly be reduced a little. Fleeing also means revocation of your driver's license, and you can never take the test again for the rest of your life. If this accident constitutes the crime of causing a traffic accident, fleeing gets you 3 to 7 years. If fleeing causes a person's death, 7 years or more. Insurance doesn't cover it either: in commercial auto insurance, vehicle damage insurance and third-party liability insurance pay nothing for "fleeing the scene of a traffic accident" or "intentionally destroying, forging the scene, or destroying evidence," and compensation of hundreds of thousands must all come out of your own pocket (nationwide)

Notes

If someone is injured, rescue them first, then call the police. If you must move the scene to rescue people, first mark the original positions of the car and the people. "I bumped it and didn't feel anything so I drove off" may also be counted as fleeing afterward—if you're unsure, call the police. The insurance clause cited is from the model clauses, which are the insurance industry's unified template; what you can actually be compensated for depends on the policy in your own hands.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021). Road Traffic Safety Law (2021 revision, Articles 70, 101). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/205308/index.html (reposted by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Bureau); State Council (2017). Implementing Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law (State Council Order No. 405, 2017 revision, Articles 86, 92). http://xzfg.moj.gov.cn/front/law/detail?LawID=75 ; National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Article 133). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Insurance Association of China (2020). Model Clauses for Commercial Motor Vehicle Insurance (2020 Edition) (Articles 9, 22). https://www.iachina.cn/art/2020/9/4/art_24_104621.html

2. If you discover you've been scammed, immediately call 110 or 96110 to demand a payment stop—don't investigate on your own first

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

The short window right after the money is transferred is the only one. During this time the police can urgently stop payment and quickly freeze, and banks must cooperate. Once the money has been transferred through layer after layer and dispersed, it's basically unrecoverable. So call 110 or 96110 first—don't investigate or ask around on your own first. When 96110 calls you, it's the police trying to dissuade you—you must answer.

Cost

No money. Make one phone call and clearly state the transfer time, amount, and the other party's account number. Keep the transfer screenshots and chat records.

Benefit

Public security organs have the power to conduct instant inquiries, urgently stop payment, and quickly freeze funds involved in the case. Banks and payment institutions must cooperate. Frozen money is returned to the victim according to procedure. Once money has been transferred away and dispersed, the probability of recovery drops sharply, so the earlier the payment stop, the more effective. 96110 is the nationwide unified anti-fraud warning hotline; incoming calls are the police trying to dissuade you—be sure to answer (nationwide, since December 2022)

Notes

Anyone claiming to be from the public security, procuratorate, or court and telling you to transfer money to a "safe account" is a scam. The law only writes "establish a payment-stop and freeze system," meaning it lets banks hold the money. How much can be recovered depends on whether the money is still in the account when you call the police. The introduction to the "National Anti-Fraud Center" App and 96110 is cited from a page of the Fujian Provincial Public Security Department; the original page on the Ministry of Public Security website cannot be opened.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2022). Anti-Telecommunications and Online Fraud Law (Articles 20, 34). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202209/t20220902_575631.shtml ; Fujian Provincial Public Security Department (2023). When 96110 calls, be sure to answer. http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202303/t20230… (provincial public security organ page)

3. Remember the hard anti-fraud rules: don't trust incoming calls, don't reveal information, don't click links, verify before transferring—the seven most common scams all take this shape

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Benefit large

Anyone who asks you to transfer money, share your screen, download an unfamiliar App, click a link, or report a verification code—hang up first, then call back using the official number to verify. The seven high-incidence types are: task-based rebate scams, fake investment and wealth management, online loans, impersonating customer service, impersonating public security/procuratorate/court, pig-butchering scams, and sexual-lure task scams. Their only common point: they get you to transfer money first, pay fees first, share your screen first. Recognizing them beforehand is far cheaper than chasing money afterward.

Cost

No money. Memorize the "three noes and one more," read through the seven types below, then install a "National Anti-Fraud Center" App, and always answer 96110 calls. Anyone who asks you to transfer money, share your screen, download an unfamiliar App, click a link, or report a verification code—hang up first, then call the official number to verify. The difficulty is that the other party often pressures you urgently, and you have to withstand that pressure and hang up first.

Benefit

The law requires the government and relevant departments to explain the various methods of telecommunications and online fraud to everyone. Public security organs, together with financial, telecommunications, and cyberspace departments, establish a warning and dissuasion system, and promptly dissuade people who may be about to be scammed. 96110 is this nationwide unified warning and dissuasion hotline—answer incoming calls. The identification features broken down type by type by the Fujian Provincial Public Security Department are as follows. Task-based rebate: "Those who call you to make money together most likely want to make money off you"; if you can't finish the task orders, the principal isn't refunded. Fake investment and wealth management: "water army" members in the group show off returns, first give small rebates then get you to increase your investment, and withdrawal requires "paying tax." Online loans: "Loans don't require paying a deposit or creating bank transaction records—if you encounter this, it's definitely fake." Impersonating customer service: they say you've activated a membership that will auto-deduct fees and affect your credit, pressuring you to transfer money to cancel. Impersonating public security/procuratorate/court: "Public security, procuratorate, and court organs do not have so-called 'safe accounts'; any 'public security/procuratorate/court organ' that handles cases or takes statements via phone, QQ, WeChat, or the internet is a scam." Pig-butchering: "For a 'lover' you've never met in person and have only seen photos or videos of, do not easily trust"; they never video call or meet in person yet often have urgent matters needing money. Sexual-lure task scams: meeting up requires "doing tasks" first, and the more money you pay, the more it grows. Recognizing them beforehand is far cheaper than stopping payment afterward. How much can be recovered by stopping payment depends on whether the money is still in the account when you call the police; how to stop payment is in item 2 (call 110 or 96110 to demand a payment stop) (nationwide, since December 2022)

Notes

Anyone claiming to be public security/procuratorate/court, customer service, a leader, or platform risk control, asking you to "cooperate with an investigation," "cancel a membership," "get task rebates," or "investment insider tips"—it's the same routine in a different skin. Real loans don't require paying a deposit, and public security/procuratorate/court have no "safe accounts"—remembering these two sentences blocks more than half. Rated B because this mnemonic is only the official propaganda line, with no figure for "how much less fraud after memorizing it." The Ministry of Public Security website (mps.gov.cn) couldn't be opened during this verification; the mnemonic and the seven-type breakdown are all taken from provincial public security department pages, TODO (to be verified: high-incidence types and proportions published by the Ministry of Public Security or the National Anti-Fraud Center).

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2022). Anti-Telecommunications and Online Fraud Law (Articles 8, 20, 34). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202209/t20220902_575631.shtml ; Fujian Provincial Public Security Department (2023). When 96110 calls, be sure to answer. http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202303/t20230… (provincial public security organ page, containing the mnemonic "don't trust incoming calls, don't reveal information, don't click links, verify before transferring" and the reminder "beware of scam calls starting with 192"); Fujian Provincial Public Security Department (2023 to 2024). Scam-recognition tips column: task rebates http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202307/t20230… ; investment and wealth management http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202312/t20231… ; loans http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202312/t20231… ; impersonating customer service http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202310/t20231… ; impersonating public security/procuratorate/court http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202309/t20230… ; pig-butchering http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202308/t20230… ; sexual-lure task scams http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202403/t20240…

4. Seeing a face on video or hearing a voice on the phone doesn't count as verification—if it involves a transfer, hang up first and call back using the old number in your own contacts

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Benefit large

Seeing a face or hearing a voice doesn't count as verification. As long as it involves a transfer, hang up first, then call back using the old number stored in your own contacts, or ask a mutual acquaintance. If the other party says "the signal is bad" or "I'm in a meeting" and won't do a face-to-face video call, treat it directly as a scam.

Cost

No money. Make one more phone call, wait a few more minutes. Usually post fewer full-face videos and long voice clips on public accounts. The difficulty is that the other party often pressures you urgently, and you have to resist transferring on the spot.

Benefit

The Cybersecurity Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security gave three methods. The first is motion verification: ask the other party to make a continuous head-turning motion, or fully cover their face with their palm and then quickly move it away. The original text says "current AI technology, when simulating these complex facial occlusions and light-shadow changes, is prone to stuttering, blurring, or distortion." The second is listening to voice details: "AI-generated speech sometimes lacks natural breathing pauses and emotional ups and downs, or carries a slight mechanical feel or abnormal background noise." The third is multi-channel verification. The original text says this is "the most core move": "After hanging up, directly dial the other party's commonly used phone number that you are familiar with (do not call back the suspicious incoming number), or verify indirectly through a third person you both know." The mnemonic is "Don't easily trust video and voice; verify more with motion verification." On the legal side: face-swapping and voice-swapping have long been prohibited for use in fraud. For services such as face generation, face replacement, synthesized human voice, and voice imitation, platforms must add prominent labels. No organization or individual may maliciously delete, tamper with, forge, or conceal this label. But it's the platforms that follow the rules—scammers won't add them, so "not seeing an AI label" cannot conversely be taken as evidence that the other party is a real person. The Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security announced a case. A 14-person gang was caught with over 50,000 synthesized dynamic face videos and over 500,000 pieces of citizens' personal information. Police also seized 60 cloud servers (nationwide, labeling obligation effective since September 1, 2025)

Notes

Call back using the old number stored in your own contacts. Don't call back the number shown on the incoming call display, and don't use a new number the other party sent in chat. If the other party, on the grounds of "the signal is bad" or "I'm in a meeting," won't do a face-to-face video call or a specified motion, treat it directly as a scam. The motion verification method is only auxiliary; AI keeps getting better, and the only stable one is the third method of verification. If you've already transferred money, see item 2 of this section (immediately call 110 to demand a payment stop). To prevent your own face and voice from being collected, see section 14. Rated B because what the official side gives is identification methods and cases, with no figure for "how much the fraud rate dropped after verifying by this method." The Ministry of Public Security website (mps.gov.cn) was still entirely down with a 521 error during this verification; the original texts of the Cybersecurity Bureau and Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security are taken from repost pages of the Fujian Provincial Public Security Department.

Sources

Cybersecurity Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security (2025). Seeing is not believing—beware of new AI scams! http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202509/t20250… (reposted by the Fujian Provincial Public Security Department); Cyberspace Administration of China, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security (2022). Provisions on the Administration of Deep Synthesis of Internet Information Services (Articles 6, 16, 17, effective January 10, 2023). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-12/12/content_573… ; Cyberspace Administration of China, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security, National Radio and Television Administration (2025). Measures for Labeling AI-Generated Synthetic Content (Article 10, effective September 1, 2025). https://www.cac.gov.cn/2025-03/14/c_1743654684782215.htm ; Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, CCTV News (2026). Police seize over 50,000 synthesized dynamic face videos—who is "copying" your face? http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202603/t20260… (reposted by the Fujian Provincial Public Security Department)

5. If accused or summoned, get a lawyer first—don't settle privately, don't delete records

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope freedom; Money much; Time medium; Perseverance some; Benefit large

From the very first time you're called in for questioning, you can already get a lawyer. If the lawyer requests to see you, the detention center must arrange it within 48 hours at the latest, and the conversation won't be listened to. Questions unrelated to this case—you can refuse to answer.

Cost

Lawyer fees start from several thousand yuan. If you have financial difficulties, you can apply to a legal aid institution for a free lawyer. When questioned, only answer questions related to this case; leave the rest to the lawyer. The difficulty is staying calm on the spot and not rushing to explain yourself.

Benefit

From the first interrogation, or from when a compulsory measure is taken against you (your personal freedom is restricted), you have the right to entrust a lawyer. During the period when the case is still in the public security's investigation stage, you can only entrust a lawyer—you cannot ask someone other than a lawyer to be a defender. If the lawyer requests a meeting, the detention center must arrange it within 48 hours at the latest, and the meeting is not monitored. No one may be forced to prove their own guilt. Questions unrelated to this case—you have the right to refuse to answer. A summons or compelled appearance lasts at most 12 hours at a time, and at most 24 hours for especially major and complex cases. A summons is notifying you to come in for questioning; a compelled appearance is forcibly bringing you in for questioning. You may not be summoned consecutively to effectively detain someone. Anyone who fabricates facts to falsely accuse another and seeks to have them held criminally responsible is sentenced to up to 3 years, and 3 to 10 years if serious consequences are caused. If after detention or arrest the case is withdrawn, not prosecuted, or you are found not guilty, you can apply for state compensation, calculated per day based on the national average daily wage of employees for the previous year (nationwide)

Notes

Don't privately go to the other party, and don't go to their family. Any "private settlement" may be understood as you admitting it. Chat records, call records, and travel records are materials for proving your innocence—deleting them is deleting your own evidence. If you remembered wrong, or the reported matter later turns out not to hold up, it doesn't count as the crime of false accusation and framing. This item applies to accused persons regardless of gender. For the three expanded points, see items 33 (pursuing the party who fabricated facts), 34 (insufficient evidence should lead to a not-guilty verdict and retrial appeals), and 35 (state compensation after detention calculated by the day) of this section.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Criminal Procedure Law (2018 amendment, Articles 34, 35, 39, 52, 119, 120). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/201810/t20181027_396818.shtml ; National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Article 243). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2012). State Compensation Law (2012 amendment, Articles 17, 33). https://www.stats.gov.cn/gk/tjfg/xgfxfg/202503/t20250306_19… (reposted by the National Bureau of Statistics)

6. If Something Happens, Take the Initiative to Explain Clearly: Voluntary Surrender Can Reduce a Sentence by Up to 40%, and the "Outlast the Statute of Limitations" Route Is Blocked

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

Voluntary surrender can reduce a sentence by up to 40%, and in relatively minor circumstances, punishment can be waived entirely. If you confess truthfully only after being found, it can still reduce the sentence by up to 20%. Running away or refusing to admit it buys none of that. Hoping to hide for a few years so the case expires does not work either: once a case has been filed, the time you spend hiding does not count toward the limitation period.

Cost

No money. Turn yourself in to the public security organ, or stay where you are and call the police, then explain the matter truthfully. The hard part is resisting the thought, "Wait a little longer, maybe no one will investigate."

Benefit

Article 67 of the Criminal Law: voluntarily surrendering after committing a crime and truthfully confessing one's crime is voluntary surrender. For voluntary surrender, punishment may be given leniently or reduced, and where the crime is relatively minor, punishment may be waived. If one does not surrender but truthfully confesses one's crime (confession), punishment may be given leniently; if the truthful confession avoids especially serious consequences, punishment may be reduced. The sentencing guidance opinions of the Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate give explicit ranges. The baseline sentence is the sentence first calculated according to the circumstances of the case, and the percentages below are all reductions from it. Voluntary surrender can reduce the baseline sentence by up to 40%; where the crime is relatively minor, it can reduce it by more than 40% or waive punishment according to law. For confession, truthfully confessing one's own crime reduces it by up to 20%; truthfully confessing the same type of relatively serious crime not yet known to the judicial authorities reduces it by 10% to 30%; and where the truthful confession avoids especially serious consequences, it reduces it by 30% to 50%. Admitting guilt and accepting punishment reduces it by up to 30%; where there are also circumstances such as voluntary surrender, major confession, return of stolen money or compensation, and compensation with forgiveness, it reduces it by up to 60%; where the crime is relatively minor, it reduces it by more than 60% or waives punishment according to law. On the other side, the limitation period is divided into four tiers according to the maximum statutory penalty: 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, and 20 years (Article 87 of the Criminal Law). But Article 88 of the Criminal Law clearly states that after a people's procuratorate, public security organ, or state security organ has opened an investigation, or after a court has accepted a case, if the person evades investigation or trial, the limitation period does not apply (nationwide, the sentencing range has been in effect since July 1, 2021).

Notes

The beneficiary of this item is oneself. Voluntary surrender is a mitigating circumstance, not a get-out-of-jail-free card; how much is reduced is decided by the court, and the sentencing opinions require stricter control of the leniency range for serious violent crimes and drug crimes. Traffic accidents have a separate calculation: staying at the scene, saving people, and reporting to the public security organ count as voluntary surrender, but because these are already statutory duties, the leniency range must be controlled more strictly; surrendering after fleeing still counts as voluntary surrender, but the baseline must be the heavier statutory penalty tier, and then it is decided whether and how much to reduce. For what to do, see item 1 of this section (in a traffic accident, first stop, save people, and call the police). Hiring a lawyer first and truthfully confessing do not conflict; see item 5 of this section (if accused, hire a lawyer first): what the lawyer helps you check is whether the transcript is written correctly, not help you make up a story.

Sources

National People's Congress. Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China (consolidated text amended by Amendment XI to the Criminal Law), Articles 67, 87, and 88. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808181796a636a0179822a19… ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2021). Guiding Opinions on Sentencing for Common Crimes (Trial) (Fa Fa [2021] No. 21, effective July 1, 2021), III(6)(7)(14). Full text reposted by the Zhangye City People's Procuratorate of Gansu Province. http://www.zhangye.jcy.gov.cn/info/1039/2086.htm ; Supreme People's Court (2010). Opinions on Several Specific Issues Concerning the Handling of Voluntary Surrender and Meritorious Service (Fa Fa [2010] No. 60), I. Supreme People's Court Gazette. http://gongbao.court.gov.cn/Details/f3089058d37e11cd16d8015…

7. If You Drink, Do Not Touch the Steering Wheel, Including Electric Bikes and "Just Moving the Car a Bit"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money Little; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

Driving after drinking: license suspended for 6 months and a fine of 1,000 to 2,000. A repeat offense means detention plus revocation. Drunk driving means direct revocation, no retaking the test for 5 years, and criminal liability for dangerous driving, leaving a criminal record that affects political review and some occupations. Insurance does not cover it either: if you drink and drive, auto insurance pays nothing. "Just moving the car a bit" also counts as driving.

Cost

A designated driver or taxi costs a few dozen yuan. Before the gathering, agree on who will not drink today. The hard part is pushing back when pressured to drink in a social setting.

Benefit

Driving after drinking: temporary suspension of the driver's license for 6 months and a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 yuan. For a repeat offense: detention of up to 10 days and revocation of the driver's license. Drunk driving: direct revocation of the driver's license, no retaking the test for 5 years, and criminal liability for dangerous driving, with criminal detention and a fine; criminal detention means short-term imprisonment. Driving an operating vehicle is heavier: drunk driving means 15 days' detention, a 5,000 yuan fine, and a 5-year driving ban; drunk driving means a 10-year driving ban, and one can never drive an operating vehicle again for life. If driving after drinking or drunk driving causes a major accident and constitutes a crime, the driving ban is for life. Commercial auto insurance pays nothing for driving after drinking or after drug use (nationwide).

Notes

Drunk driving is a criminal offense and leaves a criminal record, affecting one's political review and some professional qualifications. "Drinking" and "drunk" are divided by the alcohol content in the blood, and the specific line is set by national standards. This section has not verified that value; do not rely on feeling to estimate which tier you have reached.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021). Road Traffic Safety Law (2021 revision, Article 91). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/205308/index.html (reposted by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Bureau); Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2015). Amendment (IX) to the Criminal Law (Article 8, i.e., Article 133-1 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180205_364562.shtml ; China Insurance Industry Association (2020). Model Clauses for Commercial Motor Vehicle Insurance (2020 Edition) (Articles 9 and 22). https://www.iachina.cn/art/2020/9/4/art_24_104621.html

8. Do Not Lend Bank Cards, Phone Cards, or Payment Accounts to Anyone; "Running Points" Is Not a Part-Time Job

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Large

Renting, lending, or selling bank cards, phone cards, or payment accounts to others is itself illegal. The fine is 1 to 10 times the illegal gains; if there are no gains, the maximum fine is 200,000 yuan; if the circumstances are serious, detention for 15 days, and it may also be recorded in the credit record and account functions may be restricted. If you know the other party is using them to commit a crime and still help collect and transfer money, that is the crime of assisting information network criminal activities, punishable by up to 3 years.

Cost

No money. If someone says, "Lend me your card to move some money through, I'll give you a few hundred yuan," just refuse.

Benefit

Renting, lending, or buying and selling phone cards, bank accounts, payment accounts, or internet accounts is itself illegal. Illegal gains are confiscated, and there is an additional fine of 1 to 10 times the illegal gains. If there are no illegal gains, the maximum fine is 200,000 yuan. If the circumstances are serious, detention for up to 15 days. One may also be recorded in the credit record, have account functions restricted, and have non-counter services suspended, meaning that except for going to the counter, no other channel can be used. If one clearly knows that another person is using the network to commit a crime and still provides assistance such as payment and settlement, and the circumstances are serious, it constitutes the crime of assisting information network criminal activities (abbreviated as the crime of assisting trust), punishable by up to 3 years and a fine (nationwide).

Notes

Saying "I did not know what he was going to do with the card" will not block it. In handling the case, authorities infer whether you knew from external circumstances: accepting a benefit fee or obviously abnormal transaction flows may both count as you knowing. If the card is used by someone to receive stolen money, even if you ultimately do not constitute a crime, the account will be frozen and you will be punished.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2022). Anti-Telecommunications and Online Fraud Law (Articles 31 and 44). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202209/t20220902_575631.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2015). Amendment (IX) to the Criminal Law (Article 29, i.e., Article 287-2 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180205_364562.shtml

9. Check Your Own Credit Report Twice a Year for Free, to See Whether There Are Loans and Cards Not Opened by You

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

The regulations give you the right to check your own credit report twice a year for free, and it can be done online in ten minutes. Negative records remain for 5 years from the date the matter ends, and after more than 5 years they should be deleted. If you object to the report, you can raise an objection, and a written reply must be given within 20 days. When checking, use the official website of the People's Bank of China Credit Reference Center or mobile banking; do not use third-party "check credit" apps, because such apps are themselves collecting your information.

Cost

No money. Checking online takes ten minutes.

Benefit

The administrative regulation states that "the personal information subject has the right to obtain his or her own credit report twice a year for free," meaning you can check your own report twice a year for free. The retention period for negative information is "5 years from the date the negative conduct or event ends; if more than 5 years, it should be deleted." If you object to the report, you can raise an objection, and the credit reporting agency or the institution providing the information should reply to you in writing within 20 days from receipt of the objection.

Notes

When an ID card is impersonated for online loans or card applications, the person often discovers it only when a home purchase loan is rejected, by which time several years have already passed. The entry point for checking is the official website of the People's Bank of China Credit Reference Center, or mobile banking. Do not use third-party "check credit" apps, because such apps are themselves collecting your information.

Sources

State Council (2013). Regulations on the Administration of the Credit Reporting Industry (State Council Order No. 631, Articles 16, 17, and 25). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2013-01/29/content_230…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2013-01/29/content_230…

10. In a Conflict, Call the Police First and Do Not Strike; the One Who Strikes First Almost Certainly Loses

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

Hitting someone: detention for 5 to 10 days and a fine of 500 to 1,000. Ganging up to hit, hitting the elderly, pregnant women, children, or disabled people, or hitting people multiple times: detention for 10 to 15 days and a fine of 1,000 to 2,000. Causing minor injury is a criminal case, punishable by up to 3 years; serious injury is punishable by 3 to 10 years. Two people fighting each other is not self-defense, and the one who strikes first almost certainly loses. Retreating to a crowded place and calling the police is more useful than hitting back.

Cost

No money. Retreat to a crowded place and call the police, so the other party's actions remain on surveillance. The hard part is restraining yourself from talking back or pushing.

Benefit

For beating another person or intentionally injuring another person: detention for 5 to 10 days and a fine of 500 to 1,000 yuan. For ganging up to beat, beating the elderly, pregnant women, children, or disabled people, beating people multiple times, or beating multiple people at once: detention for 10 to 15 days and a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 yuan. Group brawling is handled as picking quarrels and provoking trouble, with a maximum of 15 days' detention and a 2,000 yuan fine; picking quarrels and provoking trouble means making trouble without cause and stirring up disturbances. Intentionally injuring another person's body and constituting a crime is punishable by up to 3 years; causing serious injury is punishable by 3 to 10 years. Two people fighting each other is legally called mutual fighting and is not self-defense. But if the other party strikes first and the means are obviously excessive, or you have already tried to avoid it and the other party keeps hitting, your counterattack will generally be recognized as defense. Only when the counterattack goes too far is it excessive defense, which requires both conditions at the same time: obviously exceeding the necessary limit and causing major damage. Even if it truly is excessive, punishment should be reduced or waived (nationwide, the Public Security Administration Punishments Law has been in effect since January 1, 2026).

Notes

After the 2025 revision of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, all article numbers changed; beating another person changed from Article 43 of the old law to Article 51, and materials citing the old article number are outdated. How "minor injury" is calculated in "causing minor injury means criminal punishment" is determined by appraisal standards, and this section has not verified it. If the other party has already fallen, or has already run away, the infringement has stopped, and if you chase and hit again, it is not defense.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Articles 30 and 51). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Articles 20 and 234). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security (2020). Guiding Opinions on the Lawful Application of the Self-Defense System (Fa Fa [2020] No. 31, Articles 6, 9, 11, and 14). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/251611.html

11. You May Fight Back Against an Unavoidable Infringement, but Only Hit the Person Who Is Acting, and Stop When He Stops

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money Much; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

To prevent yourself or others from being harmed by an ongoing infringement, taking action to stop it and injuring the infringer does not incur criminal liability under law. If the other party is committing assault, murder, robbery, rape, or kidnapping, injuring or killing him also does not count as excessive. But you may only hit the person who is acting; when he stops, you stop. In the end, having the determination come down on your side does not mean the process is easy; some people are first filed as a case and first detained for several days.

Cost

Lawyer fees start at several thousand yuan; if you have financial difficulties, you can apply for legal aid. The cost is mainly afterward: often you are first filed as a case for intentional injury, must cooperate with the investigation, and may even be detained for more than ten days first. The hard part is staying steady and not panicking during that period.

Benefit

The Criminal Law provides what counts as self-defense. The state, public interests, or one's own or another person's person, property, and other rights are being unlawfully infringed. At that time, taking action to stop it and injuring the person currently infringing is self-defense and does not incur criminal liability. The same article also states: "If self-defense obviously exceeds the necessary limit and causes major damage, criminal liability shall be borne, but punishment shall be reduced or waived." Another paragraph states: "If, against an ongoing violent crime such as assault, murder, robbery, rape, kidnapping, or other violent crime that seriously endangers personal safety, a defensive act is taken and causes injury or death to the unlawful infringer, it is not excessive defense and does not incur criminal liability." The guiding opinions of the Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, and Ministry of Public Security explain the boundary in more detail. To find excessive defense, both "obviously exceeding the necessary limit" and "causing major damage" must be present; neither can be missing. "Causing major damage" means causing serious injury or death to the unlawful infringer; causing minor injury or lighter injury does not count. Only when the unlawful infringer has truly lost the ability to infringe, or has truly given up the infringement, does the infringement end. Defense must be directed at the unlawful infringer himself. Against a clearly minor unlawful infringement, where it can be seen that it is only a minor infringement, directly using a method sufficient to cause serious injury or death to stop it is not recognized as a defensive act. There are official cases on the process cost. Guiding Case No. 47, the Yu Haiming case: on the evening of August 27, 2018, the police opened an investigation as an "intentional injury case." On September 1, the Kunshan Municipal Public Security Bureau determined it was self-defense under paragraph 3 of Article 20 of the Criminal Law and withdrew the case. Guiding Case No. 45, the Chen Mou case: a student was surrounded and beaten by 9 people and fought back with a knife, causing serious injury to 3 people. The police opened an investigation on suspicion of intentional injury and placed him in criminal detention. The procuratorate determined it was self-defense and did not approve arrest, so the police released him. If, after detention, the police believe arrest is necessary, they should submit it to the procuratorate for review and approval within 3 days, that is, report to the procuratorate for whether to approve arrest. In special circumstances, it may be extended by 1 to 4 days. For major suspects who commit crimes across regions, commit crimes multiple times, or commit crimes in groups, it may be extended to 30 days. The procuratorate then makes a decision within 7 days (nationwide).

Notes

The default action is still the retreat and call the police described in item 10 (in a conflict, call the police first and do not strike). Two people fighting each other is not defense, and if the other party falls or runs away and you still chase and hit, it is also not defense. This item only concerns the moment when there is no way to retreat; it is not encouragement to hit back. Afterward, there are three things to do. First, after calling the police, do not leave the scene. Second, quickly preserve surveillance and witnesses; the guiding opinions require the police to obtain on-site video and audio recordings first and question witnesses first. Third, hire a lawyer before being formally questioned by the police; see item 5 (if accused, hire a lawyer first). Finally, if the case is withdrawn, not prosecuted, or you are acquitted, the days you were detained can be claimed as state compensation on a per-day basis; see item 35 (state compensation after detention). Acting in defense of others is also permitted by law. But stepping in bare-handed in a fight between strangers is a different matter; see Section 13, item 37 (encountering a group of people fighting). The beneficiary of this item mainly falls in the category of oneself and family.

Sources

National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Article 20). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security (2020). Guiding Opinions on the Lawful Application of the Self-Defense System (Fa Fa [2020] No. 31, Articles 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, and 19). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/251611.html ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2018). Twelfth Batch of Guiding Cases (Guiding Case No. 45, Chen Mou Self-Defense Case; Guiding Case No. 47, Yu Haiming Self-Defense Case). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/jczdal/201812/t20181219_402920.s… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Criminal Procedure Law (2018 revision, Article 91). Full text reposted by the People's Procuratorate of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region https://www.nx.jcy.gov.cn/zwsy/qwfb/202011/t20201119_608817…

12. Whoever you've fallen out with — unpaid wages, fired, scammed out of money — go through complaints, arbitration, litigation; don't go settle scores with anyone

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope of application Free; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence Yes; Benefit Large

Take the legal path, and the worst outcome is you don't get the money back. Go take revenge, and the outcome is you still don't get the money back, and you pay with your own life. The Wuxi case: Xu Moujin didn't get his graduation certificate and was also dissatisfied with his internship pay, so he attacked people with a knife, causing 8 deaths and 17 injuries; he was sentenced to death and has been executed. For unpaid wages, go through complaints and arbitration; in 2024, nationwide this route recovered 8.65 billion yuan for 654,000 people.

Cost

No money spent; neither complaints nor arbitration charge fees. You have to make one or two trips and wait a few months. The hard part is holding back from taking action during those months.

Benefit

The legal path has official numbers. In 2024, nationwide labor inspections investigated and handled 137,000 cases, recovering 8.65 billion yuan in wages for 654,000 people. Another 998 people received criminal sentences for refusing to pay labor remuneration. For how to complain to labor inspection about unpaid wages and how to apply for labor arbitration, see Section 7, Item 2. The price list for the revenge path is written in Article 232 of the Criminal Law: "Whoever intentionally kills another person shall be sentenced to death, life imprisonment, or fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years; if the circumstances are relatively minor, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years." Official case: Xu Moujin failed an exam, did not get his graduation certificate, and was also dissatisfied with his internship pay. On November 16, 2024, he returned to Wuxi Vocational Institute of Arts and Technology and attacked people with a knife, causing 8 deaths and 17 injuries. At first instance he was sentenced to death for intentional homicide and deprived of political rights for life; on January 20, 2025, the execution was approved by the Supreme People's Court. What he was dissatisfied with was the school and that sum of pay; the people he stabbed were classmates; he did not get a single cent of that money (nationwide)

Notes

Interns who are still in school generally are not considered to have established a labor relationship with the employer. If internship pay cannot be obtained, you can only ask the school to coordinate, or go to court to sue; you cannot take the labor arbitration route. For exactly how to complain and how to arbitrate when wages are unpaid, see Section 7, Item 2. For the red lines in debt collection, see Section 9, Item 15 (when collecting debts, do not detain people or lock people up). Take the legal path, and the worst outcome is you don't get the money back, because the case being closed does not mean the money has arrived. Go take revenge, and the outcome is you still don't get the money back, and you pay with your own life.

Sources

National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Article 232). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Xinhua News Agency (2024). Knife attack at a campus in Yixing, Jiangsu causes 8 deaths and 17 injuries. http://www.news.cn/20241117/65a18fddb453469ebe91c78eda66989… (reposting the Yixing police bulletin, including the number of casualties and the original wording of the motive); Supreme People's Procuratorate (2025). Xu Jiajin, the perpetrator of the Wuxi campus knife attack, executed. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/zdgz/202501/t20250120_680197.shtml ; Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2025). 2024 Statistical Bulletin on the Development of Human Resources and Social Security Undertakings. https://www.mohrss.gov.cn/SYrlzyhshbzb/zwgk/szrs/tjgb/20250… ; Supreme People's Court (2025). Work Report of the Supreme People's Court ("death sentences imposed on Fan Weiqiu, who drove a car into pedestrians, and Xu Jiajin, who carried out a knife attack on campus, among others"). https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202503/content_7013680.htm

13. No matter how much you hate, do not go after uninvolved people: driving a car into a crowd or attacking people in a public place is convicted as endangering public safety by dangerous means, with a minimum sentence of three years; if people die, it is the death penalty

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope of application Free; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

Driving a car into a crowd or attacking people in a public place is convicted as endangering public safety by dangerous means. Even if not a single person is injured, it starts at three years. If people die, it is more than ten years, life imprisonment, or death. The Zhuhai case: Fan Weiqiu was dissatisfied with the division of marital property in divorce, drove into a crowd exercising at the sports center, causing 35 deaths and 43 injuries; he was sentenced to death and has been executed.

Cost

No money spent. The hard part is suppressing this thought in a fit of anger.

Benefit

Article 114 of the Criminal Law: "Whoever sets fire, breaches dikes, causes explosions, or spreads toxic, radioactive, infectious disease pathogens, or other substances, or uses other dangerous means to endanger public safety, if serious consequences have not yet been caused, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years." That is, even if not a single person is injured, it starts at three years. Article 115: Whoever causes serious injury or death, or causes major losses to public or private property, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years, life imprisonment, or death. Official case: Fan Weiqiu, because of marital breakdown, frustration in life, and dissatisfaction with the result of the division of marital property in divorce, "resolved to vent his personal anger by driving a car into a crowd." On the evening of November 11, 2024, he drove into a crowd exercising at the Zhuhai Sports Center, causing 35 deaths and 43 injuries. At first instance he was sentenced to death for endangering public safety by dangerous means and deprived of political rights for life; on January 20, 2025, the execution was approved by the Supreme People's Court. What he was dissatisfied with was the divorce judgment; the people he hit were runners he did not know (nationwide)

Notes

"I don't want to live anyway" is not a discount at sentencing. The Supreme People's Court's 2025 work report's line on such cases is "for those who are extremely wicked and challenge the bottom line of law and morality, resolutely punish them severely and swiftly in accordance with the law." Merely making threats is already illegal. If you threaten to commit acts endangering public safety such as arson, explosions, or poisoning, and disrupt public order, you shall be detained for 5 to 10 days, and may also be fined not more than 1,000 yuan. Writing threatening letters, or using other methods to threaten another person's personal safety, is equally illegal. For this, you shall be detained for not more than 5 days, or fined not more than 1,000 yuan (Public Security Administration Punishments Law, effective January 1, 2026). If the thought has already reached this point, see Item 14 (treat thoughts like "drag someone down with me" as an emergency).

Sources

National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Articles 114 and 115). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Xinhua News Agency (2024). Car ramming incident in Zhuhai, Guangdong causes 35 deaths and 43 injuries. http://www.news.cn/20241112/29c6af4f6ee4455b92832f3c2b13a93… (reposting the Zhuhai Municipal Public Security Bureau bulletin); Supreme People's Procuratorate (2024). First-instance verdict in the Fan Weiqiu case of endangering public safety by dangerous means: death penalty, deprivation of political rights for life. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/zdgz/202412/t20241227_677757.shtml ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2025). Fan Weiqiu, the perpetrator of the Zhuhai car ramming case, executed. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/zdgz/202501/t20250120_680196.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Articles 29 and 50). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml

14. If thoughts like "drag someone down with me" or "go down together" arise, treat it as an emergency: leave the scene, hand your car keys and knife to someone else, call 12356

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope of application Free; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

For this kind of thought, the window from arising to taking action is very short. Among 82 people who attempted suicide, 47.6% said that from the first thought to taking action was no more than 10 minutes. So what you need to do is not "think it through," but first put one step of distance between yourself and the steering wheel, knife, gas valve, rope, and get through those ten minutes. Then call 12356.

Cost

No money spent. The hard part is admitting that you are not okay right now, and also handing the things over to someone else.

Benefit

The window from this kind of thought to taking action is very short. In interviews conducted within three days of admission with 82 people who had attempted suicide, 47.6% said that from the first arising of the thought to carrying it out was no more than 10 minutes. A 10-year systematic review (combining and sorting through ten years of research) concluded that the evidence for restricting lethal means is continuously strengthening. After analgesic medication controls, related suicides fell by 43%. After adding protections at jumping hotspots, suicides fell by 86% (79% to 91%). Put one step of distance between yourself and the steering wheel, knife, gas valve, rope; what you are waiting for is those ten minutes to pass. 12356 is the nationwide unified psychological assistance hotline, answering no fewer than 18 hours per day (nationwide, effective May 1, 2025)

Notes

The reason it is rated B is that both pieces of evidence come from literature studying suicide, and applying them to "the impulse to harm others" has no direct research. The Deisenhammer study also had only 82 people and was conducted at only one hospital. When you are not in a good state, do not drive, and do not go on shifts where you are responsible for others' safety; hand over the shift first. For the self-harm side, see Section 1, Item 25 (call 12356 when having suicidal thoughts). For what to do first when feeling low, see Section 3, Item 19.

Sources

Deisenhammer EA et al. (2009). The duration of the suicidal process: how much time is left for intervention between consideration and accomplishment of a suicide attempt? Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.07m03904 ; Zalsman G et al. (2016). Suicide prevention strategies revisited: 10-year systematic review. Lancet Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30030-X ; National Health Commission (2024). Notice on applying the "12356" nationwide unified psychological assistance hotline telephone number (Guo Wei Yi Zheng Han [2024] No. 259). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202412/content_6994470…

15. If someone close to you says "no one will have it easy" or "I'll take the child with me," do not treat it as just angry words: close relatives can directly send the person for diagnosis, and public security must act when receiving a report

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope of application Free; Money Little; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

If a family member says "no one will have it easy" or "I'll take the child with me," close relatives can directly send him to the hospital, and the hospital must not refuse diagnosis. If he has already taken action, or trouble is clearly about to happen, hospitalization does not require his consent. If you cannot tell whether it is just angry words or real, first call 12356 to ask, or call 110 to have police come to the scene. Covering for him is not helping him.

Cost

Registration and examination fees are tens to hundreds of yuan. Accompanying him to the hospital takes half a day to a day. The hard part is opening your mouth to persuade him to go with you.

Benefit

Article 28, paragraph 2 of the Mental Health Law states: "If a person suspected of having a mental disorder engages in acts that harm himself or endanger the safety of others, or has the danger of harming himself or endangering the safety of others, his close relatives, his work unit, and the local public security organ shall immediately take measures to stop him and send him to a medical institution for diagnosis of mental disorder." The same article also provides: "A medical institution receiving a person suspected of having a mental disorder who has been sent for diagnosis shall not refuse to make a diagnosis for him." Article 29 requires hospitals to keep such persons sent in at the hospital, immediately assign a licensed psychiatrist to diagnose them, and promptly issue a conclusion. Article 30 provides that inpatient treatment is based on the principle of voluntariness. But there is one exception: if the diagnostic conclusion shows that the person is a patient with severe mental disorder and "has already engaged in acts endangering the safety of others, or has the danger of endangering the safety of others." For this category, inpatient treatment shall be administered to him, not premised on his consent. Threatening to harm others can itself be directly reported to 110. Writing threatening letters, or using other methods to threaten another person's personal safety, shall result in detention of not more than 5 days or a fine of not more than 1,000 yuan. Threatening to carry out criminal acts endangering public safety such as arson, explosions, or spreading dangerous substances, and disrupting public order, shall be punished. Detention of 5 to 10 days, and a fine of not more than 1,000 yuan may also be imposed (nationwide, Public Security Administration Punishments Law effective January 1, 2026)

Notes

By the scope of beneficiaries, this item counts spouses, parents, and children living together. "No one will have it easy" usually includes you, and the law gives the right to send for diagnosis precisely to close relatives; outsiders who want to intervene cannot, and can only call the police. This item targets real danger signals, not angry words during arguments, and even less is it meant to be used to lock up disobedient family members in a hospital. The same law also states: if upon reexamination or appraisal the person is determined not to have a severe mental disorder, the hospital must not keep him hospitalized (Article 35). If you cannot tell, first call 12356 to ask, or call 110 to have police come to the scene. The investigation conclusion of Germanwings Flight 9525 was: the authorities and the employer had no way to take any measures to prevent the co-pilot from flying that day. The reason was "neither he himself, nor anyone else — doctors, colleagues, or family members — had informed them." All 150 people on board died, including 2 pilots, 4 cabin crew, and 144 passengers. Covering for him is not helping him.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Articles 29 and 50). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2012, amended 2018). Mental Health Law (Articles 28, 29, 30, and 35). https://www.gov.cn/guoqing/2021-10/29/content_5647635.htm ; French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety BEA (2016). Final Report BEA2015-0125.en: Accident on 24 March 2015 at Prads-Haute-Bléone to the Airbus A320-211 registered D-AIPX operated by Germanwings. https://bea.aero/uploads/tx_elydbrapports/BEA2015-0125.en-L…

16. Do not insult people, spread rumors, or repost unverified things online; if you are cyberbullied, preserve evidence first, then call the police

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope of application Free; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

Publicly insulting people or spreading rumors and defaming them results in detention of not more than 5 days, or a fine of not more than 1,000 yuan; if the circumstances are relatively serious, detention of 5 to 10 days. If the circumstances are serious, it constitutes the crimes of insult or defamation, punishable by not more than 3 years. Reposting does not exempt you from liability. Conversely, when you are cyberbullied, insult and defamation in principle require you to sue in court yourself, so screenshots, screen recordings, and saved links can only be done by you.

Cost

No money spent. Think ten more seconds before posting. When attacked, take screenshots and screen recordings, save links and account IDs, first complain to the platform, then call the police. The hard part is holding back from insulting back when being insulted.

Benefit

Whoever openly insults another person, or fabricates facts to defame another person, shall be detained for not more than 5 days, or fined not more than 1,000 yuan; if the circumstances are relatively serious, detained for 5 to 10 days. Repeatedly sending insulting or intimidating information, pestering, entangling, or stalking, or secretly photographing and disseminating another person's privacy, shall be punished in the same way. Intentionally spreading rumors and disrupting public order shall result in detention of 5 to 10 days. If the circumstances are serious, it constitutes the crimes of insult or defamation, punishable by not more than 3 years. For online defamation, if the victim has difficulty obtaining evidence, he may ask the court to require public security to assist (nationwide, Public Security Administration Punishments Law effective January 1, 2026)

Notes

The crimes of insult and defamation in principle are "handled only upon complaint," meaning you have to go to court and sue yourself. Public security generally does not initiate a case on its own, and evidence can only be gathered by yourself. But do not miss two openings. First, "except where serious harm is done to social order and national interests," in which case public security can handle it directly (Article 246, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law). Second, if you are defamed online and truly have difficulty obtaining evidence yourself, the court may require public security to assist in investigation (paragraph 3 of the same article, added by Amendment IX to the Criminal Law). Reposting still bears liability; if you know it is false and still spread it, it equally counts as "fabricating facts." For how to handle being cyberbullied, see Section 16, Item 37 (when cyberbullied, preserve evidence first, then choose the route). The article number for insult and defamation has changed from Article 42 of the old law to Article 50 of the new law.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Articles 29 and 50). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Article 246). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2015). Amendment IX to the Criminal Law (Article 16, adding Article 246, paragraph 3 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180205_364562.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2015). Amendment IX to the Criminal Law (newly added paragraph 3 of Article 246). Full text reposted by the National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration https://www.gjxfj.gov.cn/gjxfj/fgwj/flfg/webinfo/2017/03/16…

17. Before signing, read the paper through; do not sign for others; do not sign on blank paper

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope of application Money; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

Once signed, it counts. "I didn't read it clearly" or "I thought it was something else" basically does not hold up in court. So spend a few extra minutes reading from beginning to end, ask on the spot about anything you do not understand, and take photos for your records. Do not sign for others, do not sign on blank paper, and write clearly on copies of your ID what they are for. Electronic signatures and face-scan confirmations equally count as signatures.

Cost

No money spent. Spend a few extra minutes reading contracts, IOUs, guarantee letters, and onboarding documents from beginning to end. Ask on the spot about anything you do not understand, then take photos for your records. The hard part is reading it all slowly in front of the other party.

Benefit

A contract established in accordance with the law is protected by law and is binding on both signing parties. Once signed, it must be fully performed according to the agreement. "I didn't read it clearly" or "I thought it was something else" is very hard to establish in court. If you do not sign, you will not take on debts and liabilities that are not yours (nationwide)

Notes

"Do not sign for others, do not sign blank paper, and write the purpose on copies of your ID" are practical measures; there is no separate official document. Their purpose is the same: do not let your signature be pieced into a legally valid contract that you have no choice but to acknowledge. Electronic signatures and face-scan confirmations equally count as signatures.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 465 and 509). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

18. When Lending Money, Write a Clear IOU; Before Guaranteeing for Someone, First Think About Whether You're Willing to Repay for Them

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

An IOU must be complete: lender, borrower, amount, interest rate, term, repayment method, and both parties' signatures. Money should go through bank transfer, not cash—only when it's all written down can you sue. When guaranteeing for someone, check carefully whether the words "joint and several" appear. An ordinary guarantee means you only step in after the creditor has first sued the borrower and enforcement fails to recover the money. If "joint and several liability guarantee" is written, the creditor can come directly to you.

Cost

No money needed. Use a piece of paper to write clearly the lender, borrower, amount, interest rate, term, and repayment method, with both parties' signatures. Money goes through bank transfer to leave a trace, not cash.

Benefit

A loan contract should be in written form, generally including the type of loan, currency, purpose, amount, interest rate, term, and repayment method. Only when it's all written down can you sue. If a guarantee contract doesn't specify which type of guarantee applies, or is unclear, it's treated as an ordinary guarantee. An ordinary guarantor can wait: the creditor must first sue or arbitrate, then apply for compulsory enforcement of the borrower's property, and only after enforcement still fails to recover the debt do you step in to repay. Conversely, if you sign a "joint and several liability guarantee," there's no such protection—the creditor can come directly to you (nationwide)

Notes

For money lent out, the portion of interest exceeding 4 times the LPR is not protected by courts, see Section 7. Writing the ID number on the IOU and noting "loan" are practical practices. Whether the words "joint and several" appear on the guarantee document determines whether you stand behind the borrower or stand side by side with them being pursued for the debt—read carefully before signing.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 668, 681, 686, 687). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

19. Rights Have Deadlines: Civil Litigation Limitation Period Is 3 Years, Labor Arbitration 1 Year—Once Expired, the Other Side Just Says "Statute of Limitations" and That's Enough

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

The civil litigation limitation period is 3 years, counted from the day you know your rights were harmed. Once expired, the court won't act on its own, but the other side saying "statute of limitations" in court is enough—the money is still there, you just can't get it back. And a single collection message that leaves a trace can restart those 3 years from scratch. Labor disputes are a different system: the arbitration limitation period is 1 year.

Cost

No money needed. Don't just urge payment in your head—use WeChat, text messages, email, or registered mail to leave a trace.

Benefit

The Civil Code provides that "the limitation period for requesting protection of civil rights from a people's court is three years." The starting point is "counted from the day the right holder knows or should know that the right has been harmed and who the obligor is"—that is, from the day you know you've been wronged and know who to pursue. The maximum does not exceed 20 years from the day the right was harmed. Once the period expires, "the obligor may raise a defense of non-performance." The court won't check the limitation period on its own, but it takes effect once the other side raises it in court—the money is still there, you just can't get it back. Four things interrupt the limitation period, and once interrupted, the 3 years restart from scratch. First, you demand performance from the person who owes you. Second, the other side agrees to perform. Third, you file a lawsuit or apply for arbitration. Fourth, other circumstances with equivalent effect. For agreed installment repayments, it's counted from the day the last installment is due. Four types of claims are not subject to the limitation period: claims to stop infringement, remove obstruction, eliminate danger; recovery of your own real property and registered movable property; child support, alimony, and maintenance; and other circumstances provided by law. Labor disputes are a different system: the arbitration limitation period is 1 year, counted from the day you know or should know your rights were infringed. But "for disputes over拖欠劳动报酬 during the existence of the labor relationship, the worker's application for arbitration is not subject to the arbitration limitation period in paragraph 1 of this article; however, if the labor relationship is terminated, it should be filed within one year from the date of termination of the labor relationship" (nationwide)

Notes

This is probably the cheapest item in the whole book. A single collection message that leaves a trace can restart the 3 years; doing nothing may mean白白 losing the qualification to win a lawsuit. Agreeing in advance "I won't raise the limitation period" doesn't count, and both sides agreeing to lengthen or shorten the 3 years doesn't count either. Conversely, if the other side still agrees to repay after the period expires, they can no longer use the limitation period as a shield. If they've already voluntarily repaid, they can't demand it back. For IOUs and guarantees see Article 18 (IOUs and Guarantees). For the enforcement stage see Article 20 (Being Sued, Being Enforced—Report Property Truthfully). Overtime pay and unused annual leave wages go through the labor arbitration system, see Section 19, Articles 1 and 2.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 188, 189, 192, 193, 195, 196, 197). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Labor Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law (Article 27). https://rsj.ankang.gov.cn/Content-2150407.html (reposted by Ankang Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau)

20. If Sued or Subject to Enforcement, Report Property Truthfully and Repay as Much as You Can—Don't Transfer Houses and Money to Relatives, Friends, or Companies

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Medium; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

Putting a house under a company's name or transferring money to relatives and friends is not some "maneuver"—it falls squarely within the enumerated circumstances of the crime of refusing to execute. The crime of refusing to execute carries a sentence of up to 3 years; if the circumstances are especially serious, 3 to 7 years. Relatives, friends, and companies that help hide money or transfer title are treated as accomplices, and property that should be recovered is still recovered. For refusing to report or falsely reporting property, an individual can be fined up to 100,000 yuan and detained for 15 days. Genuinely having no money does not constitute this crime.

Cost

No money needed. Report property as required by the court: what you have now, and what you had in the year before the day you received the enforcement notice. Repay what you can first. If you can't repay, negotiate a settlement or installment plan with the applicant for enforcement—the applicant for enforcement is the party seeking the debt.

Benefit

Transferring property is not a "maneuver"—it is itself a circumstance constituting the crime. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has issued an interpretation of Article 313 of the Criminal Law. The interpretation directly lists "the person subject to enforcement hiding, transferring, intentionally damaging property, or transferring property without compensation, or transferring property at a clearly unreasonable low price, making the judgment or ruling impossible to enforce" as "having the ability to execute but refusing to execute, with serious circumstances." In plain terms: hiding money, transferring money, intentionally smashing your own things, giving them away for free, selling them cheap—turning the judgment into a mere scrap of paper. The Two Highs (Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate) 2024 interpretation added ten more items. These include disposing of your property rights through fake settlements or fake transfers. They also include buying others' property at clearly unreasonable high prices and guaranteeing others' debts. These are all intentionally hollowing out property you could use to repay debts. The crime of refusing to execute carries up to 3 years. If circumstances are especially serious, 3 to 7 years plus a fine. "Especially serious" refers to these circumstances: using false litigation, false arbitration, or false notarization to obstruct enforcement. Gathering a crowd to storm the enforcement scene. Besieging, seizing, or beating enforcement personnel. Causing the applicant for enforcement to commit suicide or self-harm due to refusal to execute. Outsiders who are not parties to the case but knowingly collude with the person and help hide money or transfer title are punished as accomplices to the crime of refusing to execute. Property illegally disposed of should be recovered according to law or ordered to be returned. If the transfer is made after the defendant receives the notice of response but before the judgment takes effect, it also counts. On the civil side: for gifts and clearly unreasonable low-price transfers, the creditor can ask the court to revoke the transfer. For refusing to report or falsely reporting property, the court can impose a fine of up to 100,000 yuan on an individual, or detention of up to 15 days (nationwide, Two Highs interpretation effective December 2024)

Notes

The online-circulated "put the house under a company's name as employee dormitory, transfer all money to relatives" is not a loophole—it's exactly the gift and fake transfer named in the judicial interpretation. Relatives, friends, and companies that help you do it are treated as accomplices, and property that should be recovered is still recovered. Conversely, genuinely having no money does not constitute this crime. To determine whether you "have money but won't repay," you must first deduct the necessary living expenses for yourself and the family members you support. If you repay part or all of the money before the procuratorate files charges, and the circumstances are minor, charges may not be filed. If you repay before the first-instance judgment, you may receive a lighter sentence or even be exempted from punishment. For what to do after being listed or restricted from consumption, see Article 21 (Being Restricted from Consumption or Listed as Dishonest). For how to recover after fulfilling obligations, see Section 7, Article 19 (How to Start Over After Being on the Dishonest List).

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2002). Interpretation on Article 313 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2002/content_61738.htm ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2024). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Refusing to Execute Judgments and Rulings (Fa Shi [2024] No. 13, Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12). Supreme Court publication page, full text verified from Guangdong Guangzhou Prison repost. https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/447931.html , http://gzjy.gd.gov.cn/zxxx/content/post_4608108.html ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2015). Amendment (IX) to the Criminal Law (Article 39, amending Article 313 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180205_364562.shtml ; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 538, 539, 540). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2023 amendment). Civil Procedure Law (Articles 114, 118, 252). Reposted by Guizhou Provincial Market Regulation Bureau: https://amr.guizhou.gov.cn/zwgk/xxgkml/jcxxgk/zcfg/fl/20240…

21. If Restricted from Consumption or Listed as Dishonest, First Find Out Which Provision You Were Included Under—If It Can Be Corrected, Apply for Correction

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Perseverance Some; Benefit Medium

First figure out whether you're restricted from consumption or listed as dishonest. These are two different things, and you may have only one. The dishonest list can only be entered under six circumstances, for a period of 2 years. For seven circumstances including having completed performance, the court should delete within 3 working days, and active performance can lead to earlier deletion. The consumption restriction prohibits eight categories of spending using the person subject to enforcement's money; for necessities of life or business, you can apply one time at a time.

Cost

No money needed. Go to the enforcement court to find out which provision you were included under. Prepare performance evidence—proof that you've repaid money or complied with the judgment—or prepare guarantee materials. For spending necessary for life or business, apply one time at a time. The difficulty is having to run back and forth and apply repeatedly yourself.

Benefit

There are only six circumstances for inclusion in the dishonest list. First, having the ability to perform but refusing to perform. Second, obstructing or resisting enforcement by forging evidence or using violence or threats. Third, evading enforcement through false litigation, false arbitration, or hiding and transferring property. Fourth, violating the property reporting system. Fifth, violating the consumption restriction order. Sixth, refusing to perform an enforcement settlement agreement without justified reason. If sufficient and effective guarantee is provided, or if the property already sealed, seized, or frozen is sufficient to satisfy the debt, the court must not include the person under the first item (having the ability to perform but refusing to perform). If the person subject to enforcement is a minor, they must not be included. The inclusion period is 2 years. If enforcement is obstructed or resisted by violence or threats with serious circumstances, or if there are multiple dishonest acts, it can be extended by 1 to 3 years. For seven circumstances including having completed performance, having completed a settlement agreement, or the court ruling to terminate enforcement, the court should delete within 3 working days. Active performance or proactive correction of dishonest acts can also lead to earlier deletion. The consumption restriction order prohibits eight categories of spending using one's own property. First, taking airplanes, soft sleeper trains, or ship cabins above second class. Second, high consumption at star-rated or above hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, or golf courses. Third, buying real estate, or building, expanding, or high-end renovating houses. Fourth, renting high-end office buildings, hotels, or apartments for office use. Fifth, buying vehicles not necessary for business. Sixth, tourism and vacation. Seventh, children attending high-fee private schools. Eighth, buying insurance or wealth management products with high premiums. If any of these is necessary for life or business, you should apply to the court and only do it after approval. If确实有效的担保 is provided, or the applicant for enforcement agrees, the court can lift the consumption restriction (nationwide)

Notes

Consumption restriction means restricting high consumption. This regulation was amended in 2015 by Fa Shi [2015] No. 17, and the name was changed to "……及有关消费的若干规定." This article cites the 2010 text that can be verified word-for-word on the Supreme Court website; the amended text TODO (to be verified: the Supreme Court gazette page returns 502 on this machine). The dishonest list and consumption restriction are two different things, and you may have only one. Neither of these equals a credit record blemish—deletion from the list does not change your credit record, see Section 7, Article 19 (How to Start Over After Being on the Dishonest List). The restriction is on spending the person subject to enforcement's money; spouses and children spending money they earn themselves are not covered. But using the person subject to enforcement's money to send a child to a high-fee private school is explicitly prohibited.

Sources

Supreme People's Court (2017 amendment). Several Provisions on Publishing Information on the List of Dishonest Persons Subject to Enforcement (Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 10). https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/37182.html ; Supreme People's Court (2010). Several Provisions on Restricting High Consumption of Persons Subject to Enforcement (Articles 3, 8, 9). https://www.court.gov.cn/shenpan/xiangqing/1650.html

22. If Scammed in Online Shopping or Second-hand Transactions, First Complain to the Platform, Then Call the Police, Then Calculate Whether It's Worth Suing

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money Little; Time Medium; Perseverance Some; Benefit Medium

First go to the platform. Platforms have security deposits and penalty rules, and handle things fastest. Then call the police: being scammed over 3,000 yuan meets the filing threshold for the crime of fraud; if it doesn't meet the criminal standard, it's handled as a public security penalty with 5 to 10 days' detention. If you want to sue, online shopping disputes can be filed at the court where the goods were received; small amounts go through small claims procedures, concluded within 2 months, and you can file online.

Cost

Platform complaints and police reports are free. When suing, if the disputed amount is within 10,000 yuan, the acceptance fee is 50 yuan; if using simplified procedures, mediation, or withdrawal, it's halved again. Filing, hearing, and enforcement each take at least half a day to a day; online filing can save the running around. Save orders, chat records, transfer records, and logistics receipts. The difficulty is not giving up midway through the back-and-forth.

Benefit

Fraud of 3,000 to over 10,000 yuan constitutes "a relatively large amount" for the crime of fraud, punishable by up to 3 years, plus a fine or fine only; each province sets its local standard within this range. If it doesn't meet the criminal standard, it's handled under public security administration penalties: 5 to 10 days' detention, or a fine of up to 2,000 yuan. If circumstances are relatively serious, 10 to 15 days' detention, and a fine of up to 3,000 yuan may be imposed. On the civil side: online shopping contract disputes can be filed at the court where the goods were received, without having to go to the seller's location. If the disputed amount is below 50% of the province's average annual wage of employed persons for the previous year, small claims procedures apply. Small claims are first-instance final—meaning the judgment takes effect immediately and cannot be appealed. Concluded within 2 months of filing; simplified procedures take 3 months. Civil litigation can be conducted on online platforms, with the same effect as offline (nationwide, Civil Procedure Law effective January 2024, Public Security Administration Punishments Law effective January 2026)

Notes

Whether it's worth suing can be calculated like this. Take your after-tax hourly wage and multiply by the time you'll spend. Filing, hearing, and possibly applying for enforcement each count as half a day to a day. Add the court acceptance fee. Finally, compare with the money you want back. Then apply a discount—estimate whether winning can actually recover the money. This only gives the method, not the conclusion. After the 2025 revision of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, all article numbers changed; theft and fraud moved from Article 49 of the old law to Article 58. After the 2023 amendment of the Civil Procedure Law, small claims are in Article 165. Don't copy old materials for either of these. "Platform complaint first" is practical experience: platforms have security deposits and penalty rules, and handle things fastest. Fa Shi [2011] No. 7 has no document number marked on the procuratorate website page; the document number is to be verified against the Supreme Court original page.

Sources

Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2011). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Specific Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Fraud (Fa Shi [2011] No. 7, Article 1). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/sfjs/201802/t20180201_363736.shtml ; National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Article 266). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Article 58). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2023 amendment). Civil Procedure Law (Articles 16, 164, 165, 168). https://fgw.sh.gov.cn/ys-syjf-zc-2.4.1-h5/20240408/073febdb… (reposted by Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission); Supreme People's Court (2022 amendment). Interpretation on the Application of the Civil Procedure Law (Article 20). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/353651.html ; State Council (2006). Measures for Payment of Litigation Costs (State Council Order No. 481, Articles 13, 15, 16). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2008-03/28/content_692…

23. Large Gifts in Dating and Marriage: Think Carefully Before Delivery—After Delivery, in Principle You Can't Get Them Back

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

Once money is handed over, in principle it can't be gotten back. Gifts can only be freely revoked before they're transferred to the other party's name. After the transfer is complete, only three circumstances allow revocation: the other party seriously harms you or your close relatives, they should support you but don't, or they fail to perform agreed obligations. So before a large transfer, think clearly: is this a loan or a gift.

Cost

No money needed. Before a large transfer, think: is this a loan or a gift. If it's a loan, write an IOU and note "loan" in the transfer memo. The difficulty is speaking up and saying this.

Benefit

Gifts can be revoked before they're transferred to the other party's name; the law calls this point the transfer of property rights. Once the transfer or title change is complete, only three circumstances allow revocation: the recipient seriously harms you or your close relatives; they should support you but don't; they fail to perform obligations agreed in the gift contract. Gifts and gift money of small value given on holidays, birthdays, and other commemorative occasions, as well as daily consumption expenses to express or deepen affection, are not bride price and are not returned as bride price upon breakup (nationwide)

Notes

"The special amounts like 520 and 1314 are usually recognized as gifts" is a common saying in practice; this section has not found official Supreme Court text, so it is not treated as a conclusion. Gifts notarized at a notary office cannot be revoked at will. Whether a transfer counts as a loan or a gift ultimately depends on evidence—a line in chat records saying "I'll lend you this money first" is far more useful than arguing afterward.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 658, 663). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; Supreme People's Court (2024). Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Hearing Cases Involving Bride Price Disputes (Fa Shi [2024] No. 1, Article 3). https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/423442.html

24. Send bride price by transfer with a note, keep chat records; money demanded by leveraging marriage can be recovered

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit large

Demanding property by leveraging marriage is prohibited by law, and courts support its return. If there was no registration, or registration occurred but the couple genuinely did not live together, or the bride price was given before marriage and caused the payer to suffer financial hardship, return can be demanded. If registration occurred and the couple lived together, it is generally not returned. Therefore, bride price, the "three golds," and the "mouth-changing fee" should all be transferred with a note stating the purpose, and whoever gave the money should keep the evidence, regardless of gender.

Cost

No money spent. Bride price, the "three golds," and the "mouth-changing fee" should all be transferred, with the purpose clearly stated in the note. For things agreed orally, keep a record via chat logs, or have family members present to confirm.

Benefit

The law prohibits demanding property by leveraging marriage. If one party demands property by leveraging marriage under the guise of bride price, and the other party demands its return, the court will support it. There are three situations in which return can be demanded: no marriage registration was completed; registration was completed but the couple genuinely did not live together; or bride price was given before marriage, causing the payer to suffer financial hardship. If registration was completed and the couple lived together, it is generally not returned. However, if the period of cohabitation was short and the bride price amount was excessively high, the court will determine the proportion of return based on how the money was actually spent, whether there was a dowry, whether there was pregnancy or childbirth, and whether either party was at fault. If there was no registration but the couple already cohabited, it is likewise handled proportionally (nationwide, from February 2024)

Notes

Whether bride price counts as an "excessively high amount" depends on the per capita disposable income of the payer's locality and his family circumstances; there is no unified national figure. How much should be returned is determined by the judge on a case-by-case basis. This item applies equally to the payer and the recipient; whoever gave the money should keep the evidence.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 1042). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; Supreme People's Court (2024). Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Bride Price Dispute Cases (Fa Shi [2024] No. 1, Articles 2, 5, 6). https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/423442.html ; Supreme People's Court (2020). Interpretation (I) on the Application of the Marriage and Family Chapter of the Civil Code (Fa Shi [2020] No. 22, Article 5). https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/282071.html

25. Don't fear premarital property; write clearly about adding a name to the house and parents' contributions first

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money little; Time medium; Persistence some; Benefit large

Premarital property is your personal property and will not become joint property just because the marriage has lasted many years. A husband and wife may agree in writing that premarital and postmarital property each belongs to each respectively. One thing to note: if you agree to add the other party's name to the house, you can still change your mind before the change of registration; after registration, it belongs to the other party. At divorce, the party who hides, transfers, squanders, or fabricates debts may receive a smaller share or no share.

Cost

Writing a written property agreement yourself costs nothing; notarization charges separately. When parents contribute money, ask them to write a written statement. The whole matter takes a few hours one time. The hard part is bringing it up and talking about money with family.

Benefit

Premarital property is personal property and will not become joint property just because the marriage has lasted many years. A husband and wife may agree in writing that premarital property and postmarital income belong to each respectively, to both jointly, or partly jointly; this agreement is binding on both parties. If parents contribute to buying a house before marriage, it is regarded as a gift to their own child, unless it is clearly stated to be for both people. If parents contribute after marriage, it is handled according to the agreement; absent an agreement, it is handled according to the principle of joint property. If before or during marriage it is agreed to gift one party's real estate to the other party, or to make it jointly owned by both, the gifting party may revoke before the change of registration; after registration, it belongs to the other party. At divorce, the party who hides, transfers, sells off, squanders joint property, or fabricates debts may receive a smaller share or no share (nationwide)

Notes

A property agreement is equally effective for both men and women; it is not a "self-defense trick" for one side. If you want to use it against a spouse's debt to outsiders, the premise is that the creditor knows you have this agreement. If he does not know, it cannot bind him. The agreement is valid even without notarization; notarization merely saves future wrangling over signatures and dates.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 1063, 1065, 1092). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; Supreme People's Court (2020). Interpretation (I) on the Application of the Marriage and Family Chapter of the Civil Code (Fa Shi [2020] No. 22, Articles 29, 31, 32). https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/282071.html

26. Check the other party's marital status before marriage; those who swindle money under the guise of marriage are prosecuted for fraud

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit large

A bigamous marriage is void. If a person with a spouse still marries, or knowingly marries someone who has a spouse, the punishment is up to 2 years. Those who swindle money under the guise of marriage are prosecuted for fraud: if the amount is relatively large, up to 3 years; if huge, 3 to 10 years; if especially huge, more than 10 years or life. Before registration, take a look at the marital status on the other party's ID card and household register.

Cost

No money spent. Before registration, take a look at the marital status on the other party's ID card and household register. For large property transactions, keep transfer records and chat logs.

Benefit

A bigamous marriage is void. If a person with a spouse still commits bigamy, or knowingly marries someone who has a spouse, the punishment is up to 2 years. Whoever swindles public or private property by fraud, if the amount is relatively large, is sentenced to up to 3 years and a fine. If the amount is huge, 3 to 10 years. If the amount is especially huge, more than 10 years or life, and a fine or confiscation of property (nationwide)

Notes

"Marriage fraud" itself is not a crime. Whether it can be handled as fraud depends on whether he intended from the start to take the money for himself and fabricated lies to obtain it, and public security authorities must file and investigate. Whether it reaches "relatively large amount" is set by judicial interpretation, and localities may adjust it; this section has not verified it. Victims of marriage fraud are not divided by gender; there are cases of both bride price fraud and dowry fraud.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 1051). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Articles 258, 266). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml

27. For home repairs, vehicle inspections, and renovations, ask the price before work starts and watch the whole process on site

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit medium

Home appliance repair must clearly state the charging standards, provide repair vouchers and invoices, must not falsely report faults, and must not deliberately replace parts that are functioning normally; if the circumstances are serious, the fine is up to 30,000 yuan. All business operators must clearly mark prices and must not charge above the marked price. Therefore, before work starts, ask clearly about the price and which parts will be replaced; after repair, ask for vouchers and invoices, and keep the old parts. If overcharged, first call 12315.

Cost

No money spent. Before work starts, ask clearly about the charging standards and which parts will be replaced; photograph the quote, or have the other party send it in text. After repair, ask for repair vouchers and invoices, and keep the old parts. You also need to stand nearby and watch for one or two hours. The hard part is watching the whole time without walking away.

Benefit

Home appliance repair operators must clearly state the charging standards for service items and parts, quality specifications, warranty periods, and complaint phone numbers. They must give consumers repair service vouchers and charging invoices, and truthfully fill in the repair items and details. They must not falsely list, exaggerate, or fabricate repair items, must not falsely report faulty parts, and must not deliberately replace parts that are functioning normally. If the circumstances are serious, a fine of up to 30,000 yuan is imposed. All business operators must clearly mark prices, must not charge above the marked price, and must not collect any unmarked fees. Luring with low prices and settling at high prices, as well as false discounts, constitute price fraud. Operators must clearly indicate in a prominent way the service items, content, price, and pricing method, and must not make false or misleading publicity (nationwide)

Notes

If overcharged, first call 12315; penalties are handled by commerce and market regulation departments, and you do not need to litigate yourself. It is rated B because although the rules are official, there is no figure for "how much less you spend by watching on site," and it mainly relies on experience. Vigilance does not equal judging by appearance; look at the process, not the person: ask the price, keep vouchers, keep old parts, and do the same with everyone. The home appliance measure only governs home appliance repair; vehicle inspections and renovations refer to the clear price marking rules and implementing regulations. The official original text page of the Consumer Rights Protection Law itself (the right to know and the right to fair trade in Articles 8 and 10) cannot be opened, TODO (to be verified), and the implementing regulations are temporarily used as a substitute.

Sources

Ministry of Commerce (2012). Measures for the Administration of the Home Appliance Repair Service Industry (Ministry of Commerce Order No. 7 of 2012, Articles 5, 7, 9, 14). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2012/content_2231695.htm ; State Administration for Market Regulation (2022). Provisions on Clearly Marking Prices and Prohibiting Price Fraud (State Administration for Market Regulation Order No. 56, Articles 5, 8, 19). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2022/content_5699926.htm ; State Council (2024). Implementing Regulations of the Consumer Rights Protection Law (State Council Order No. 778, Articles 9, 10). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202403/content_6940159…

28. Don't be a "nominal legal representative"; don't lend your ID card to someone to register a company

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit large

The law presumes that the legal representative is the person who manages affairs; "I was only a nominal name and knew nothing" is not a reason for exemption. If the legal representative causes damage to others while performing duties, the company compensates first, and after compensating it may seek recovery from you if you were at fault. If you are already a nominal name, the Company Law allows you to resign, and the company must determine a new legal representative within 30 days.

Cost

No money spent. If someone asks you to "just be a nominal name, no need to manage anything," just refuse.

Benefit

The legal representative is held by the director or manager who actually executes company affairs; the law presumes you are the person managing affairs. If the legal representative causes damage to others while performing duties, the company compensates first, and after compensating it may seek recovery from the legal representative at fault, that is, get the money back. Directors and senior managers owe duties of loyalty and diligence to the company, that is, being loyal to the company and doing things with dedication. If performing duties causes damage to others, and the person himself acted intentionally or with gross negligence, he must also pay compensation himself. "Not knowing" is not a legally valid reason to be exempted from liability (nationwide, from July 2024)

Notes

The original text of the Company Law only addresses who bears responsibility. The more common consequence of being a nominal name is: when the company is enforced against by a court, the legal representative is also subject to consumption restrictions, and tax and administrative penalties may also implicate you. These consequences come from other laws and enforcement provisions; this section has not verified the original text, so it is rated B. If you are already a nominal name, the Company Law allows you to resign, and the company must determine a new legal representative within 30 days.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2023). Company Law (2023 revision, Articles 10, 11, 180, 191). https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202312/content_6923395.htm

https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202312/content_6923395.htm

29. Do not carry things for strangers when entering or leaving the country; do not collect parcels of unknown origin on others' behalf

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit large

The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises citizens going abroad: do not carry luggage or items for others, especially prohibited items or things you do not understand. If drugs or smuggled goods are actually found in the luggage, "I didn't know what was inside" requires you to prove it yourself. The same applies to collecting express deliveries domestically, especially when you are asked to pay first and get reimbursed later.

Cost

No money spent. Just refuse.

Benefit

The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises citizens going abroad to "please be sure to avoid carrying luggage or items for others, especially prohibited items or items you do not understand." This is to avoid carrying prohibited items for others without knowing it and thereby bearing legal liability. When drugs or smuggled goods are found in luggage, "I didn't know what was inside" requires you to prove it yourself

Notes

The official advisory pages of the General Administration of Customs and the Ministry of Public Security on this matter cannot be opened; this item cites only the page of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Moreover, the original text gives only principles, not legal provisions, so it is rated B. The same applies to collecting express deliveries domestically, especially when you are asked to pay first and get reimbursed later.

Sources

Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2023). What suggestions are there for Chinese citizens preparing to go abroad. https://cs.mfa.gov.cn/gyls/lscs/201106/t20110615_876383.shtml

https://cs.mfa.gov.cn/gyls/lscs/201106/t20110615_876383.shtml

30. Dogs must be leashed: if something happens without a leash, it is strict liability (you pay whether or not you were at fault), and you pay to the end

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

If a dog injures someone, in principle you must pay regardless of whether you were at fault. Only if you can prove the other party acted intentionally or with gross negligence may you pay less or not pay. And if you violate regulations by not leashing the dog, only "the infringed person acted intentionally" remains to reduce liability; not leashing the dog means blocking the only way out. If a prohibited aggressive dog injures someone, there is no ground for exemption at all.

Cost

A leash costs a few dozen yuan. The hard part is remembering to leash every time you go out.

Benefit

If an animal you raise injures someone, the person who raises it or the person managing it at the time must pay; in law this is called bearing tort liability. Only if you can prove that the injured person deliberately provoked it, or had gross negligence, may you not pay or pay less. And if you violate management regulations and fail to take safety measures, such as failing to leash when required, only "the infringed person acted intentionally" remains to reduce liability. Not leashing the dog means blocking this only channel for reducing liability. If a prohibited aggressive dog injures someone, there is no ground for exemption at all

Notes

Compensation for a dog bite includes medical expenses, lost wages, rabies vaccine, and immunoglobulin; more than ten thousand yuan at a time is very common. If the injury is severe, or a child is injured, the amount is even higher. Abandoning it does not escape liability either: if it injures someone during abandonment or escape, it still counts as the original raiser's responsibility. For what to do after being bitten, see Section 13.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code. Full text reprinted by the Supreme People's Procuratorate. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml Article 1245: "If a raised animal causes harm to another person, the animal raiser or manager shall bear tort liability; however, if it can be proved that the harm was caused by the infringed person's intentional act or gross negligence, liability may not be borne or may be reduced." Article 1246: "If, in violation of management regulations, no safety measures are taken for an animal and harm is caused to another person, the animal raiser or manager shall bear tort liability; however, if it can be proved that the harm was caused by the infringed person's intentional act, liability may be reduced." Article 1247: "If a prohibited aggressive dog or other dangerous animal causes harm to another person, the animal raiser or manager shall bear tort liability." Article 1249: If an abandoned or escaped animal causes harm during that period, the original raiser or manager bears responsibility

https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

31. If the other person is drunk to the point of unconsciousness, asleep, or possibly under 14, do not have sexual relations

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

The legal provision says "by violence, coercion, or other means"; it is not only physical force that counts. If the other person is drunk to the point of unconsciousness or asleep, she originally has no capacity to consent, and afterward you will almost be unable to prove "she consented at the time"; the basic punishment is 3 to 10 years. The only reliable approach is not to have sexual relations, and when the drinking gathering ends, hand the person over to her own friends or family. The age side is likewise a red line; for the standard of determination see Section 9, Item 18 (under 14).

Cost

No money spent. The price is stopping things at the time. The hard part is stopping on the spot.

Benefit

Criminal Law Article 236: Whoever rapes a woman by violence, coercion, or other means is sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than ten years. "Other means" is not limited to physical force; when the other person is unconscious or asleep and cannot effectively consent, it falls within these four characters. If the circumstances of raping a woman are vile, or if a woman is raped multiple times, and so on, the punishment is fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years, life imprisonment, or death. The same article also provides that whoever has sexual relations with a girl under the age of fourteen is convicted of rape and given a heavier punishment; for how that side is determined see Section 9, Item 18 (under 14) (nationwide)

Notes

It is rated B because the legal provision only says the four characters "other means." "If a person is very drunk or has fallen asleep, she cannot effectively consent" is a generally accepted understanding in legal circles; this section has not obtained a currently effective public interpretation that can be verified word by word. This item does not distinguish by gender; men may likewise be victims. When you yourself drink to the point of blackout, the two risks of being accused and being extorted exist at the same time; see Section 31, Item 32 (if the other party uses leverage to demand money, call the police).

Sources

National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Article 236). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml

https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml

32. After sex or nude chat, if the other party threatens to call the police, send photos, or tell your employer to demand money, give not a single cent, delete not a single record, and call the police directly

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Stance money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

Using "I'll call the police" or "I'll send the photos to your employer" to threaten you into paying is extortion, not a private matter. Give not a single cent, delete not a single record, and call the police on the spot. Once you pay the first sum, there will be a second. If the other party actually sends the photos out, that's one more crime on their record, not your fault: a value of 2,000 to 5,000 yuan or more is enough for "relatively large amount," punishable by up to 3 years; 30,000 to 100,000 yuan or more is punishable by 3 to 10 years.

Cost

No money spent. Screenshot the other party's account, chat records, and payment QR code, and take your phone to the police station. The hard part is resisting the urge to "pay first to smooth things over."

Income

Article 274 of the Criminal Law: Whoever extorts public or private property, if the amount is relatively large or if extortion is committed multiple times, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, or control, and shall also or only be fined. Criminal detention is short-term confinement; control is not being confined but having one's freedom restricted; "and shall also or only be fined" means either an additional fine or only a fine. If the amount is huge or there are other serious circumstances, the sentence is fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years, and a fine. If the amount is especially huge or there are other especially serious circumstances, the sentence is fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years, and a fine. The Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate also have an interpretation: the "Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Extortion" (Fa Shi [2013] No. 10, effective April 27, 2013). Article 1 of this interpretation sets three tiers of amounts. If the value of extorted public or private property is 2,000 to 5,000 yuan or more, it is recognized as a "relatively large amount." If it is 30,000 to 100,000 yuan or more, it is recognized as a "huge amount." If it is 300,000 to 500,000 yuan or more, it is recognized as an "especially huge amount." Article 3: If extortion is committed three or more times within two years, it shall be recognized as "multiple extortions" (nationwide). Article 1032 of the Civil Code: No organization or individual may infringe upon another person's right to privacy by prying, intruding, leaking, or publicizing. Article 1033 prohibits disturbing another person's private life tranquility by telephone, text message, instant messaging tools, or other means. So if the other party actually sends the photos out, that's one more crime on their record, not your fault. The original wording of the Fujian Provincial Public Security Department's reminder in similar cases is: "Be sure to preserve evidence, call 110 promptly, and do not continue transferring money."

Notes

The three amount tiers are set by each province within the range given by the judicial interpretation. 2,000 to 5,000 yuan or more counts as a "relatively large amount." 30,000 to 100,000 yuan or more counts as a "huge amount." 300,000 to 500,000 yuan or more counts as an "especially huge amount." Which figure applies in your province depends on local standards. If extortion is committed three or more times within two years, it counts as "multiple times" even if each amount is not large. Do not delete chat records, delete photos, cancel accounts, or just block the person yourself—that deletes your own evidence too; see item 5 of this section (if summoned, hire a lawyer first and do not delete records). If an investigation is actually opened, these records are also materials for you to prove your own case. Also do not try to "negotiate installments." Nude-chat extortion is mostly carried out by overseas gangs; they record the screen while using malware to read your contacts. "Send it to your family" is a scripted line; you can still get a case opened after calling the police. This item is about the other party using leverage to demand money from you. Conversely, if you yourself are the victim seeking compensation from the infringer, that is a different matter; a high amount does not automatically equal extortion—see item 36 of this section (you are the victim seeking compensation). The item discussing "notify the platform to delete" (Article 1195 of the Civil Code) is cut off before that article on several official full-text pages, TODO (to be verified: original text of Article 1195).

Sources

National People's Congress (2020 amendment). Criminal Law (Article 274). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… (integrated text reposted by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Bureau); Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2013). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Extortion (Fa Shi [2013] No. 10). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/5310.html ; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 1032, 1033). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; Fujian Provincial Public Security Department (2024). Because of a "hookup" message, I was saddled with 230,000 yuan of debt. http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202403/t20240…

33. If someone fabricates facts to report you, you can seek prosecution: detention of 5 days or more if it meets public security punishment, up to 3 years if it constitutes a crime

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Stance freedom; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit medium

Fabricating facts to falsely accuse and frame someone, intending to have them pursued for criminal responsibility or subjected to public security punishment, is itself illegal. This warrants detention of not more than 5 days, or a fine of not more than 1,000 yuan. If the circumstances are relatively serious, detention of 5 to 10 days. If it reaches the level of a crime, it is the crime of false accusation and framing, punishable by up to 3 years. But misremembering or making a mistaken report does not count; to pursue the other party, you must prove that they intentionally framed you.

Cost

No money spent. Go to the public security organ to report the case and explain that the other party fabricated it. The hard part is producing something to prove that they deliberately made it up.

Income

Article 50 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law (revised on June 27, 2025, effective January 1, 2026) governs false accusations. Fabricating facts to falsely accuse and frame another person, in an attempt to have them subjected to criminal prosecution or public security punishment, shall be punished. The punishment is detention of not more than five days, or a fine of not more than 1,000 yuan. If the circumstances are relatively serious, detention of not less than five days but not more than ten days, and a fine of not more than 1,000 yuan may also be imposed. Article 243 of the Criminal Law governs the crime of false accusation and framing. Whoever fabricates facts to falsely accuse and frame another person, intending to have them subjected to criminal prosecution, if the circumstances are serious, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, or control. If serious consequences are caused, the sentence is fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years. If a state organ functionary commits the crime in the preceding paragraph, the punishment shall be heavier; "heavier" means sentencing toward the severe end within the same sentencing range. If it is not intentional framing but a mistaken accusation, or a report that turns out to be untrue, the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs do not apply—that is, misremembering or making a mistaken report is not pursued under these two paragraphs (nationwide).

Notes

To pursue the other party, what needs to be proved is "fabricating facts" plus "intentional framing," not "I didn't do it." The burden of proof for these two things is very different; do not treat pursuit as a guaranteed outcome. There are no public nationwide statistics on false-accusation case filing and handling, and this book cannot find them, so it does not state an incidence rate or gender distribution. For proof and remedies on your own side, see items 34 and 35 of this section (insufficient evidence should lead to acquittal; state compensation).

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Article 50). https://gaj.beijing.gov.cn/wsgs/2024zcwj/zcfg/202506/t20250… (full text reposted by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau); National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Article 243). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml

34. Insufficient evidence should itself lead to acquittal, and coerced confessions should be excluded; after conviction there are still appeals and retrials

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Stance freedom; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence some; Benefit large

The threshold for conviction is written in the Criminal Procedure Law: the evidence for deciding the case must be verified as true through legal procedures, and the evidence in the whole case must be considered together to exclude reasonable doubt. If this cannot be done, the defendant should be acquitted. Confessions obtained through torture to extract confessions, and witness testimony obtained through violence or threats, should all be excluded and cannot be used as the basis for a judgment. After the judgment takes effect, you, your legal representative, and close relatives may still appeal.

Cost

Going through the procedure itself costs no money, but appeals and retrials are very time-consuming. Usually a lawyer must be hired, with lawyer fees starting at several thousand yuan. Those with financial difficulties can apply for legal aid; see item 5 of this section (if accused, hire a lawyer first). The hard part is not giving up through round after round of waiting.

Income

Article 55 of the Criminal Procedure Law: Evidence must be reliable and sufficient, and must meet these conditions—the evidence for deciding the case has all been verified as true through legal procedures, and the evidence in the whole case, considered together, has excluded reasonable doubt as to the facts found. Excluding reasonable doubt means that when all the evidence in the case is viewed together, the facts found cannot still leave another plausible possibility. Article 56: Confessions of criminal suspects or defendants collected by illegal methods such as torture to extract confessions, and witness testimony or victim statements collected by illegal methods such as violence or threats, shall be excluded. If evidence that should be excluded is discovered during investigation, review for prosecution, or trial, it shall be excluded according to law and may not be used as the basis for prosecution opinions, prosecution decisions, or judgments. Article 200, item (3): If the evidence is insufficient and the defendant cannot be found guilty, a judgment of acquittal shall be made on the ground that the evidence is insufficient and the charged crime cannot be established. Article 252 provides the path for appeals. The party, their legal representative, and close relatives may file an appeal with the people's court or people's procuratorate against a legally effective judgment or ruling. But an appeal cannot suspend the execution of the judgment or ruling. That is, the appeal proceeds, but the original judgment is still executed as before. Article 253 lists the circumstances under which the people's court shall retry the case (nationwide).

Notes

These are the bottom lines written into the system, not guarantees of outcomes. This book has no verifiable official data on China's acquittal rate in criminal cases or the rate of sentence reversal on appeal, so it does not state ratios or evaluate individual cases. There are three things you can do yourself. First, entrust a lawyer after the first interrogation; see item 5 of this section (if accused, hire a lawyer first). Second, read the transcript word by word before signing. Third, do not admit to something you did not do just to "get out earlier"; pleading guilty and accepting punishment is a mitigating circumstance, not an exemption from liability. If the statutory circumstances are met, the court shall retry the case.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Criminal Procedure Law (2018 amendment, Articles 55, 56, 200, 252, 253). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/201810/t20181027_396818.shtml

https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/201810/t20181027_396818.shtml

35. If after being detained the case is withdrawn, prosecution is not initiated, or you are acquitted, apply for state compensation, calculated by the day

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Stance money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit large

If after detention or arrest the case is withdrawn, prosecution is not initiated, or you are acquitted, you can apply for state compensation. The item for personal freedom is calculated by the day: from May 18, 2026, 495.94 yuan per day; one year in detention is around 180,000 yuan. If the consequences are serious, compensation for mental distress is also paid. But if you did it and the procuratorate decides not to prosecute only because the circumstances are minor, the state does not compensate for the days you were held. If the limitation period has passed, you had not reached the age of criminal responsibility, or you were held because you made a false confession, there is also no compensation.

Cost

No money spent. File the compensation application with the organ that originally made the detention, arrest, prosecution, or judgment decision.

Income

Article 17 of the State Compensation Law lists several circumstances in which the victim has the right to compensation. The first is detention: where a citizen is detained in violation of the Criminal Procedure Law, or is lawfully detained but beyond the statutory time limit. After that, a decision is made to withdraw the case, not to prosecute, or a judgment is pronounced acquitting the person and terminating the pursuit of criminal responsibility. The second is arrest: after a citizen is arrested, a decision is made to withdraw the case, not to prosecute, or a judgment is pronounced acquitting the person and terminating the pursuit of criminal responsibility. The third is retrial: the case is retried under trial supervision procedures and the person is changed to not guilty, and the original sentence has already been executed. Trial supervision procedures are the procedures for taking an already effective judgment and retrying it. Article 33: Where a citizen's personal freedom is infringed, the daily compensation shall be calculated according to the national average daily wage of employees in the previous year. Article 35: Where mental distress is caused, the victim's reputation shall be restored and an apology made within the scope affected by the infringing act, and if serious consequences are caused, corresponding compensation for mental distress shall be paid. Article 19 lists six circumstances in which the state does not compensate. First, the person intentionally made a false confession or forged other evidence of guilt, and was therefore held or sentenced. Second, the person was held but bears no criminal responsibility under Articles 17 and 18 of the Criminal Law. That is, not having reached the age of criminal responsibility, or a mentally ill person causing harm when unable to recognize or control their own conduct. Third, the person was held but is not to be pursued for criminal responsibility under the Criminal Procedure Law. This includes circumstances where the circumstances are obviously minor and the harm is not great, so it is not considered a crime, where the limitation period for prosecution has passed, or where the suspect has died. It also includes where the crime is minor and the procuratorate decides not to prosecute, commonly called relative non-prosecution (also called discretionary non-prosecution). It also includes conditional non-prosecution of a minor after the probation period expires without prosecution, and non-prosecution after reaching reconciliation with the victim. Fourth, personal acts of case-handling personnel unrelated to the exercise of official duties. Fifth, harm caused by the person's own intentional acts such as self-injury or self-mutilation. Sixth, other circumstances provided by law. Article 7 of the 2015 judicial interpretation on criminal compensation by the Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate reaffirms: the state does not compensate persons who bear no criminal responsibility or persons subject to relative non-prosecution who were detained. But if after prosecution the court wrongly sentenced the person to criminal detention, fixed-term imprisonment, or life imprisonment and the sentence has already been executed, the period of continued detention after the judgment became final must still be compensated. Article 8 of that interpretation: if the case-handling organ refuses compensation on the grounds that "you made a false confession yourself" or "you injured yourself," the case-handling organ bears the burden of proof. The Supreme People's Procuratorate issued a notice in May 2026. The National Bureau of Statistics announced on May 15, 2026 that the average annual wage of employees in urban non-private units nationwide in 2025 was 129,441 yuan. The average daily wage calculated on this basis is 495.94 yuan. When procuratorates at all levels make state compensation decisions from May 18, 2026, compensation for infringement of citizens' personal freedom is calculated at 495.94 yuan per day. The previous standard was 475.52 yuan per day, used from May 2025 (nationwide).

Notes

This per-day standard is updated every May according to the previous year's average annual wage of urban non-private units announced by the National Bureau of Statistics. When using it, check the figure for the current year; do not directly apply the one in this item. When you receive a non-prosecution decision, first look at the basis stated in it. If it says "no criminal facts" or "insufficient evidence," you can apply for compensation. If it says "minor criminal circumstances," or the limitation period has passed, the days you were held generally cannot be compensated. If you are dissatisfied with relative non-prosecution, you may appeal to the procuratorate within 7 days of receiving the decision. Compensation for mental distress is determined by the case-handling organ according to the consequences; there is no unified formula, and this item does not give an amount. The organ that should pay is the one that originally decided to hold you—that is, the public security, procuratorate, or court—so apply to it first. If dissatisfied with its handling, then apply upward according to the procedures of the State Compensation Law. For how it is actually calculated, see the decision in Guo Li's case in item 36 of this section (you are the victim seeking compensation). Guo Li was held for 1,826 days. Compensation is calculated according to the standard applicable when the decision is made—that is, the 2016 national average daily wage of employees, 258.89 yuan. The part for restriction of personal freedom was compensated at 472,733.14 yuan. An additional 165,450 yuan was awarded for mental distress. Note that the standard used is the one for the year the decision is made, not the year he was held. His own application for 88.88 million yuan in mental distress compensation for ten years was not supported beyond that. You should also know what cannot be compensated: that decision found that lost wages, compensation for physical health, property losses, lawyer fees, and living expense subsidies at the detention center were all outside the scope of state compensation.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2012 amendment). State Compensation Law (Articles 17, 19, 33, 35). https://www.stats.gov.cn/gk/tjfg/xgfxfg/202503/t20250306_19… (reposted by the National Bureau of Statistics); Supreme People's Procuratorate (2026). Supreme People's Procuratorate announces the latest compensation standard for infringement of citizens' personal freedom. https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbh/202605/t20260519_727675.… ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2015). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Compensation Cases (Fa Shi [2015] No. 24, Articles 7, 8). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/16409.html ; National People's Congress (2018). Criminal Procedure Law (2018 amendment, Articles 16, 177, 181, 284, 290). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/201810/t20181027_396818.shtml . Article 19 of the State Compensation Law and that interpretation cite the 2012 Criminal Procedure Law article numbers (Article 15, Article 173, paragraph 2, Article 273, paragraph 2, Article 279), which after the 2018 amendment correspond in order to Article 16, Article 177, paragraph 2, Article 284, paragraph 2, and Article 290.

36. If you yourself are the victim seeking compensation, use 12315, file a lawsuit, or hire a lawyer; do not go alone to the other party's appointment, and do not tie "paying money" and "I won't expose it" into one sentence

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Stance freedom; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

If you yourself are the victim seeking compensation from the infringer, there is a legal basis for that in itself, and it does not automatically become extortion just because the "asking price is high." But the cost can be very large: Guo Li was first sentenced to five years for extortion, and only later was acquitted on retrial. So use channels that leave a record, do not go alone to a place the other party designates for talks, and do not say "paying money" and "I just won't expose it" as one condition.

Cost

No money spent. Raise it through 12315, by filing a lawsuit in court, or by entrusting a lawyer. Record the entire meeting if you talk in person. The hard part is resisting the urge to talk with the other party alone.

Income

Official case: After relevant departments announced in 2008 that some batches of "Shien" brand milk powder contained melamine, Guo Li's daughter's examination result was "several punctate strong echoes visible within the bilateral renal central collecting systems." Guo Li repeatedly sought compensation from the seller and Shien Company and exposed the matter to the media. In June 2009 the two sides reached an agreement; Shien Company compensated 400,000 yuan, and Guo Li issued written materials stating that he would no longer pursue the matter and waived compensation claims. After that the company reported the case, and Guo Li was sentenced by Chao'an County People's Court to five years' fixed-term imprisonment for extortion. The Guangdong Provincial People's Procuratorate made a retrial recommendation. The recommendation held that "the existing evidence is insufficient to prove that Guo Li subjectively had the purpose of illegal possession." As the legal guardian, Guo Li "had the right to seek compensation from the milk powder manufacturer, and his compensation-seeking conduct had a legal basis." The recommendation also stated, "Consumers have the right to expose and criticize through mass media conduct that harms their lawful rights and interests." On April 7, 2017, the Guangdong Provincial High People's Court acquitted Guo Li on retrial. The reason was that "the original trial's finding that Guo Li, with the purpose of illegal possession, used threats and coercion to forcibly demand property had unclear facts and insufficient evidence, and the nature of Guo Li's conduct did not exceed the scope of a civil dispute." Guo Li was held from July 23, 2009 to July 22, 2014, for 1,826 days (Guangdong, acquitted on retrial in 2017).

Notes

It is rated B because this is only one case, not a ratio that can be generalized. It shows two things at once: seeking compensation is itself lawful, and you may still be investigated by police as a case. The lowest-risk approach is to hand the compensation claim to a lawyer, or directly file a lawsuit in court, and not contact the other party alone. Be especially careful when the other party invites you to "resolve it face to face" where they are located; reporting and case filing usually happen where the other party is located. Once a settlement agreement is signed, follow the agreement; signing it and then separately raising another high compensation claim is most easily interpreted as "coercion." For how to handle things after a case is opened, see items 5, 34, and 35 of this section (hire a lawyer first; insufficient evidence should lead to acquittal; state compensation). The opposite side is the other party using leverage to demand money from you; see item 32 of this section (the other party uses calling the police or sending photos to demand money).

Sources

Guangdong Provincial People's Procuratorate (2017). Guangdong Provincial Procuratorate's retrial recommendation to reverse the Guo Li case to not guilty. https://jcy.heyuan.gov.cn/node/142 (reposted by the Heyuan Municipal People's Procuratorate); Compensation Committee of the Guangdong Provincial High People's Court (2018). State compensation case in which Guo Li applied on the ground of acquittal on retrial and the Chaozhou Intermediate People's Court of Guangdong Province was the compensator ((2018) Yue Wei Pei No. 11). https://www.gdcourts.gov.cn/caipanwenshuxuandeng/caipanwens…

37. Being Cyberbullied: First Turn On Protections, First Preserve Evidence, Then Choose Among Three Paths — Platform, Injunction, Police Report

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope of application — free; Money — 0; Time — Medium; Persistence — Some; Benefit — Medium

Do three things on the spot first: turn on all of the platform's protection settings, use the platform's quick evidence-preservation function to lock down the content, and then report it through the quick-report entry point. Then choose among three paths. First, apply to the court for a personality rights infringement injunction to make them stop first. Second, sue in court yourself; if evidence collection is difficult, you can request police assistance. Third, if the consequences are especially serious and the impact is egregious, it can be converted to a public prosecution, and you won't need to present evidence yourself.

Cost

No money needed. Spend about ten minutes on the spot to set up protections and preserve evidence. If you go as far as applying for an injunction or filing a private prosecution, you'll need to go to court and may need to hire a lawyer. The hard part is preserving evidence first when you're being insulted, rather than trading insults.

Benefit

Article 15 of Fa Fa [2023] No. 14 addresses injunctions. If the rights holder has evidence proving that the actor is carrying out or is about to carry out an illegal act infringing their personality rights, and failure to stop it promptly will cause irreparable harm to their lawful rights and interests, the people's court may, upon the rights holder's application under Article 997 of the Civil Code, issue a personality rights infringement injunction in accordance with the law. A personality rights infringement injunction is a court order directing the other party to stop first. Article 11 of the same interpretation addresses evidence collection. In a private prosecution case, "if the victim indeed has difficulty providing evidence, they may request assistance from the public security organ." The public security organ shall promptly ascertain the subject of the act and collect evidence materials regarding the dissemination and impact. Network service providers shall provide necessary technical support. "After evidence collection with the assistance of the public security organ, if the conditions for accepting a private prosecution case are met, the people's court shall decide to file the case." If evidence cannot be collected, the public security organ shall provide a written explanation. A private prosecution case is one in which the victim must go to court to prosecute themselves. Article 12 of the same interpretation lists five circumstances that shall be deemed "seriously endangering social order" as referred to in Article 246, Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law. First, causing serious consequences such as mental disorder or suicide of the victim or their close relatives, with egregious social impact. Second, arbitrarily targeting ordinary members of the public as victims, with information spreading widely and triggering a large volume of vulgar and malicious comments, with egregious social impact. Third, insulting or defaming multiple persons or disseminating repeatedly, with egregious social impact. Fourth, organizing or instigating personnel to disseminate in large quantities across multiple platforms, with egregious social impact. Fifth, other circumstances. Article 4 of the same interpretation: organizing "doxxing," illegally collecting and publishing citizens' personal information to an unspecified majority of people, if the circumstances are serious, shall be convicted and punished for the crime of infringing on citizens' personal information. Article 23 of the Provisions on the Governance of Online Violence Information requires platforms to provide these protection options. You can block unfamiliar users or specific users. You can limit the visibility of information you publish. You can prohibit reposting or commenting. You can receive private messages only from friends, or refuse to receive all private messages. Article 25 requires providing a quick evidence-preservation function. Article 26 requires setting up a quick complaint and report entry point in a prominent position. Article 15 requires platforms to promptly report suspected illegal or criminal activity to the public security organ.

Notes

The order is arranged by "fast and cheap": the platform is fastest and lowest-cost, so preserve evidence and report first. The court is slowest and most expensive, so decide last whether to pursue it. The process costs of all three paths must be borne by yourself. An injunction requires you to apply to the court yourself. A private prosecution means you go to court to file the case yourself and gather evidence yourself. To get the procuratorate to take over and switch to public prosecution, you must hit one of the five circumstances listed in Article 12 of Fa Fa [2023] No. 14; if you can't meet that threshold, you can only sue yourself. Two things not to do. First, don't trade insults — insulting back will turn you into the one punished under Section 16 of this chapter (don't insult people or spread rumors online). Second, don't delete content from your own account — that's evidence. When you can't hold on, call 12356, see Section 1, Article 25. To request that a platform delete your personal information, see Section 14, Article 8. For the path where you were filmed and spread online because you helped a stranger, see docs/遇到陌生人出事该不该停.md.

Sources

Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security (2023). Guiding Opinions on Lawfully Punishing Online Violence Illegal and Criminal Activities (Fa Fa [2023] No. 14, Articles 4, 11, 12, 15). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/412992.html ; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 997). Full text republished by the Supreme People's Procuratorate https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; Cyberspace Administration of China, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, National Radio and Television Administration (2024). Provisions on the Governance of Online Violence Information (Articles 15, 23, 25, 26, effective August 1, 2024). State Council Gazette https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2024/issue_11526/202408/content_…

38. The Path of "Buy Insurance for Someone First, Then Act" Is Blocked by Law from the Start: You Won't Get a Cent, and the Crime Is Punished as Intentional Homicide Combined with Insurance Fraud

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope of application — free; Money — 0; Time — Little; Persistence — No; Benefit — Large

All four doors are closed. Buying insurance for a family member without their knowledge with death as the condition — the contract is void. If the policyholder intentionally causes the death of the insured, the insurance company won't pay. If someone intentionally kills the heir, they lose inheritance rights. The Criminal Law also lists this kind of insurance fraud as a separate offense, punished cumulatively with intentional homicide, with a maximum penalty of death. You won't get a single cent.

Cost

No money needed.

Benefit

Article 34 of the Insurance Law: a contract with death as the condition for paying insurance benefits is void without the insured's consent and acknowledgment of the insured amount. The insured is the person covered by the insurance. Parents insuring minor children are not subject to this restriction. Article 39: the policyholder must obtain the insured's consent when designating a beneficiary. The policyholder is the person who pays for the insurance; the beneficiary is the person who collects the money after an incident. Article 43 deals with intentional harm. If the policyholder intentionally causes the death, disability, or illness of the insured, the insurer bears no obligation to pay insurance benefits. If the policyholder has paid premiums for two years or more, the cash value is returned to other rights holders. If the beneficiary intentionally causes the death, disability, or illness of the insured, or intentionally attempts to kill the insured, that beneficiary loses beneficiary rights. Article 27, Paragraph 2: if the policyholder or insured intentionally fabricates an insurance incident, the insurer has the right to rescind the contract and bear no liability for compensation or payment, and shall not refund premiums except as provided in Article 43. Article 1125 of the Civil Code: intentionally killing the heir causes loss of inheritance rights. Article 198, Paragraph 1, Item 5 of the Criminal Law lists "the policyholder or beneficiary intentionally causing the death, disability, or illness of the insured to fraudulently obtain insurance benefits" as insurance fraud. If the amount is relatively large, the penalty is up to 5 years plus a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 yuan. If the amount is huge, 5 to 10 years. If especially huge, 10 years or more. Paragraph 2: if the act under this item also constitutes other crimes, punishment shall be in accordance with the provisions on cumulative punishment of multiple crimes — cumulative punishment means several crimes are combined for sentencing. Article 232: whoever intentionally kills another person shall be sentenced to death, life imprisonment, or fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years. The case example is the Zhang Mousong case in Xuancheng, Anhui. In the early hours of July 18, 2016, he drove his car into a pond, and his wife drowned. Less than half a month before the incident, he bought 4 insurance policies for his wife, each worth 1 million yuan. On July 25, he was captured. The court sentenced him to death with a two-year reprieve and a fine of 50,000 yuan, with cumulative punishment for intentional homicide and insurance fraud.

Notes

The beneficiary here is yourself; what you avoid is the death penalty or life imprisonment. The casualties and judgment in the case example are taken from the original text of a typical case published by the procuratorate; the main text omits details beyond investigative methods. Insurance fraud that doesn't involve human life, such as fabricating accidents or exaggerating losses, is also a crime, and even people who help testify are counted — see Section 9, Article 21 (fabricating accidents, exaggerating losses to fraudulently claim insurance). Buying insurance for family members is itself normal; this article targets the thought of "buy insurance first, then act." Impulses to harm family members should be treated as an emergency — see Articles 14 and 15 of this section (your own thoughts arising, people around you saying cruel things).

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2015 amendment). Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China, Articles 27, 34, 39, 43. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf7c4… ; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code of the People's Republic of China, Article 1125. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808081729d1efe01729d50b5… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China (consolidated text as amended by Amendment XI), Articles 198, 232. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808181796a636a0179822a19… ; Anhui Provincial People's Procuratorate republished from Legal Daily (2020-01-13). Killing Wife for Insurance Uncovers a Case Within a Case (Anhui Provincial People's Procuratorate typical case of civil false litigation supervision). http://www.ah.jcy.gov.cn/jczt/jjslhyqkjc/mtjj/202001/t20200…

39. When Reporting to Police, Demand a Case Acceptance Receipt on the Spot; If Not Filed, Demand Written Notice: You Can Apply for Reconsideration Within 7 Days, Then Apply for Review Within Another 7 Days, and the Procuratorate Can Order Police to File the Case

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope of application — free; Money — 0; Time — Little; Persistence — Some; Benefit — Medium

Reporting to police and filing a case are two different things. When the police accept a case, they should give you a case acceptance receipt — this piece of paper is your only proof that you "reported the case," so demand it on the spot. If they decide not to file, they should give you a written notice of non-filing. If you disagree, you can apply for reconsideration within 7 days; if you still disagree with the reconsideration result, you can apply for review within 7 days. You can also raise it with the procuratorate and ask it to supervise the filing.

Cost

No money needed. Ask one extra question on the spot and get the case acceptance receipt in hand. Afterward, follow up on progress according to the dates above. The hard part is speaking up again and again to ask.

Benefit

Article 171 of the Provisions on Procedures for Handling Criminal Cases by Public Security Organs (as amended by Ministry of Public Security Order No. 159) addresses the case acceptance receipt. The original text reads: "When a public security organ accepts a case, it shall prepare a case acceptance registration form and a case acceptance receipt, and deliver the case acceptance receipt to the person turned in, the reporter, the complainant, or the informant." Article 174: "For accepted cases or discovered criminal leads, the public security organ shall promptly conduct review." Article 178 addresses whether to file. After accepting a case and upon review, if it believes there are criminal facts requiring criminal responsibility and the case falls within its own jurisdiction, it shall file the case upon approval by the responsible person of the public security organ at or above the county level. If not filing, you must still be given a piece of paper: "For cases with a complainant, if a decision is made not to file, the public security organ shall prepare a notice of non-filing and deliver it to the complainant within three days." Article 179 addresses what to do if you disagree. The original text reads: "If the complainant disagrees with the decision not to file, they may apply for reconsideration to the public security organ that made the decision within seven days after receiving the notice of non-filing; the public security organ shall make a decision within thirty days after receiving the reconsideration application." It continues: "If the complainant disagrees with the reconsideration decision on non-filing, they may apply for review to the public security organ at the next higher level within seven days after receiving the reconsideration decision; the public security organ at the next higher level shall make a decision within thirty days after receiving the review application. If the higher-level public security organ revokes the non-filing decision, the lower-level public security organ shall execute it." For major or complex cases, the time limits for reconsideration and review may be extended, but "shall not exceed thirty days, and the applicant shall be notified in writing." Article 112 of the Criminal Procedure Law: if it believes there are criminal facts requiring criminal responsibility, it shall file the case; if not filing, "notify the complainant of the reasons for not filing. If the complainant disagrees, they may apply for reconsideration." Article 113: "If the victim believes that the public security organ has not filed a case that should be filed for investigation and raises it with the people's procuratorate, the people's procuratorate shall require the public security organ to explain the reasons for not filing. If the people's procuratorate believes the reasons for not filing cannot be established, it shall notify the public security organ to file the case, and the public security organ shall file the case upon receiving the notification." Article 61 of the Provisions on Procedures for Handling Administrative Cases by Public Security Organs has the same requirement. For cases within its jurisdiction, "it shall immediately investigate and handle, prepare a case acceptance registration form and a case acceptance receipt, and deliver the case acceptance receipt to the reporter, complainant, informant, or person turned in." The time limit for handling public security cases "shall not exceed 30 days from the date of acceptance; for major or complex cases, upon approval by the higher-level public security organ, it may be extended by 30 days," and the appraisal period is not counted in the case-handling time limit. Article 9 of the Regulations on Supervision by Public Security Organs addresses complaints against police. The original text reads: "For complaints from the public about ongoing illegal or disciplinary acts by public security organs and their people's police, the supervision institution shall dispatch police promptly, handle them on-site in accordance with regulations, and promptly provide feedback on the handling results to the complainant" (National).

Notes

The beneficiary is yourself. This article addresses "I thought reporting to police would definitely lead to handling." Whether it's handled and how long it takes both have explicit standards and time limits — it doesn't depend on the mood of the person receiving the report that day. Remember three actions in order. ① Get the case acceptance receipt on the spot, and note down the case number and accepting unit. ② If there's no result by the deadline, follow up on progress according to the time limits above — ask "what stage is the case at," not "why aren't you handling me." ③ Upon receiving the notice of non-filing, first look at the reasons, apply for reconsideration within 7 days, then review within another 7 days, and at the same time you can raise filing supervision with the people's procuratorate — the three paths don't conflict. Public security cases are things like fights and petty theft. The case-handling time limit starts from the date of acceptance and does not exceed 30 days. For major or complex cases, upon approval by the higher-level public security organ, it can be extended by another 30 days. Time spent on appraisals is not counted. Poor reception attitude and whether the case is handled are two different things — the former goes through supervision complaints, so don't let it divert you from the latter's process. Finding lost property or neighborhood disputes are not criminal cases to begin with; public security organs handle them as administrative cases or mediation, or even just registration for the record — don't interpret them as "reporting to police and no one cares." For the stop-payment process after being defrauded, see Article 2 of this section (immediately call 110 to request stop-payment). For being cyberbullied, see Article 37 of this section (when cyberbullied, preserve evidence first, then choose a path).

Sources

National People's Congress (2018). Criminal Procedure Law (2018 amendment, Articles 112, 113). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080816f135f46016f1d1b81… ; Ministry of Public Security (2020). Decision on Amending the Provisions on Procedures for Handling Criminal Cases by Public Security Organs (Ministry of Public Security Order No. 159) and the amended full text. http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2020/content_5549884.htm ; Ministry of Public Security (2013/2019 amendment). Provisions on Procedures for Handling Administrative Cases by Public Security Organs (Ministry of Public Security Order No. 125, Amendment Decision No. 149). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2013/content_2321117.htm , http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2018-12/31/content_5428… ; State Council (2011). Regulations on Supervision by Public Security Organs (State Council Order No. 603, Article 9). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2011-09/08/content_613…

40. Don't Give Money or Gift Cards to Case Handlers or Law Enforcers: Bribery Gets You Convicted Too, and Bribing Supervision, Law Enforcement, or Judicial Personnel Is Aggravated

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope of application — free; Money — 0; Time — Little; Persistence — No; Benefit — Large

"Spend some money to smooth things over" is a separate crime under the Criminal Law, and the person caught isn't just the one taking the money. Bribery is punishable by up to 3 years. If the circumstances are serious, 3 to 10 years; if especially serious, 10 years or more, or life imprisonment. Bribing supervision, administrative law enforcement, or judicial personnel is explicitly in the aggravated category. If you were extorted into paying and didn't obtain improper benefits, it doesn't count as bribery.

Cost

No money needed. Just don't do it.

Benefit

Article 389 of the Criminal Law defines bribery: "Giving property to a state functionary for the purpose of obtaining improper benefits is the crime of bribery." The same article also states: "In economic transactions, if a person violates state regulations by giving property to a state functionary, and the amount is relatively large, or violates state regulations by giving a state functionary rebates or handling fees under various names, it shall be punished as bribery." It also leaves an exception: "If a person is extorted into giving property to a state functionary and has not obtained improper benefits, it is not bribery." Sentencing is in Article 390 of the Criminal Law (amended by Criminal Law Amendment XII, effective March 1, 2024). The original text reads: "Whoever commits the crime of bribery shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention, and shall also be fined; if the person seeks improper benefits through bribery and the circumstances are serious, or causes major losses to national interests, they shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years, and shall also be fined; if the circumstances are especially serious, or cause especially major losses to national interests, they shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years or life imprisonment, and shall also be fined or have property confiscated." There are seven aggravating circumstances requiring heavier punishment: "(1) committing bribery multiple times or bribing multiple persons; (2) a state functionary committing bribery; (3) committing bribery in national key projects or major projects; (4) committing bribery to seek promotion or adjustment of position or rank; (5) bribing supervision, administrative law enforcement, or judicial personnel; (6) committing bribery in fields such as ecological environment, finance, work safety, food and drugs, disaster prevention and relief, social security, education, and healthcare, and carrying out illegal or criminal activities; (7) using illegal gains for bribery." The final paragraph leaves room for voluntary disclosure to reduce or exempt punishment: "If a briber voluntarily discloses their bribery before being prosecuted, they may be given a lighter or mitigated punishment. Among them, if the crime is relatively minor, or they play a key role in breaking through an investigation or solving a major case, or have major meritorious performance, they may be given a mitigated punishment or be exempted from punishment" (National).

Notes

The beneficiary is yourself. This article targets the idea that "a little bribe can exempt you from punishment." The other party has colleagues, records, surveillance, and supervision — what you give them is evidence when they're investigated, and also evidence of your own crime, and this type of bribery is explicitly in the aggravated category. If someone actually demands benefits from you, the correct action is to follow the channels in Article 39 (demand a case acceptance receipt on the spot when reporting to police): keep the case acceptance receipt and documents, and report to the supervision institution or discipline inspection and supervision organ. The exemption condition given in Article 389, Paragraph 3 of the Criminal Law is "being extorted and not obtaining improper benefits" — once you use this opportunity to get something you couldn't have gotten otherwise, this condition no longer holds. Red envelopes in hospitals fall under a different set of rules — see Section 24, Article 12.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China (consolidated text as amended by Amendment XI), Article 389. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808181796a636a0179822a19… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2023). Amendment XII to the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China (Item 5, amending Article 390 of the Criminal Law; effective March 1, 2024). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081818c3ce31f018cb6a6bc…

41. Phone Calls and In-Person Conversations That May Turn Sour: Record Directly — You Don't Need the Other Party's Consent to Record a Conversation You're Part Of

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

Borrowing money, owed debts, compensation, refunds, labor disputes — if it's made clear over the phone but nothing is left behind, months later both sides may tell different stories. You can record a conversation you're part of, and the fact that you didn't tell the other party in advance won't by itself make it inadmissible as evidence. What you can't do is wiretap, spy on others' privacy, break into someone's home to secretly record, or threaten the other party into talking.

Cost

No money needed. Just turn on call recording or a recording app on your phone. Record from start to finish, keep the original file, don't edit or overwrite it.

Benefit

Article 66 of the Civil Procedure Law lists audiovisual materials and electronic data as evidence. Article 106 of the Supreme People's Court's judicial interpretation of the Civil Procedure Law excludes only evidence obtained by three methods: seriously infringing on others' lawful rights and interests, violating prohibitory legal provisions, and seriously violating public order and good morals. "Not telling the other party in advance" is not among these three. Article 15 of the Supreme People's Court's evidence provisions: when submitting audio or video recordings as evidence, you must submit the original medium storing them, such as the original phone. Article 90: audiovisual materials and electronic data with questionable points cannot be used alone to determine facts. A judge's article reposted on the Supreme People's Court's official website also says this: recordings must be lawfully obtained, authentic in content, unedited, and relevant to the case (nationwide)

Notes

The beneficiaries are you and your family. In the recording, try to make the people, events, amounts, and times match up. Don't just ask "When are you going to pay me back" — you can naturally ask "The 50,000 yuan I lent you last year, when are you planning to pay it back." Submit recordings to the court, arbitration commission, or police — don't post them online; publicizing others' words may get you into privacy and reputation disputes, see Section 16 of this chapter (Don't insult or spread rumors online). Having a recording doesn't mean you'll definitely win; the court will also look at other evidence to see if it's genuine and relevant. It governs "whether it can be proven" — whether to actually sue and how long it will take is a separate matter. For materials to save before leaving a job, see Section 19, Article 8 of this chapter (Save your pay stubs and attendance records before leaving). The basis for this article is civil procedure rules; how evidence is used in criminal and administrative cases is governed by separate provisions.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2023 amendment, effective January 1, 2024). Civil Procedure Law (Article 66). Full text reposted by Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission https://fgw.sh.gov.cn/ys-syjf-zc-2.4.1-h5/20240408/073febdb… ; Supreme People's Court (2022 second amendment). Interpretation on the Application of the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China (Article 106). https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/353651.html ; Supreme People's Court (2019 amendment). Provisions on Evidence in Civil Procedure (Articles 14, 15, 90). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/212721.html ; Liu Danni (2023). The Law in the Film "Lost in the Stars" (People's Court Daily, reposted on the Supreme People's Court's official website). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/406032.html

42. When Something Happens on Site: First Shoot the Wide Shot, Then the Spatial Relationships, Finally the Damage and Injuries — Don't Delete the Original Photos or Videos

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

If you only shoot a close-up of a scratch on a car or an object on the ground, a few days later no one will know where it originally was. First shoot a wide shot that captures the intersection, house number, cars, people, and surroundings, then shoot the relative positions, and finally shoot the details. If you need to move something or a car, shoot first if you can. Keep the original photos and videos on your phone — don't just keep a copy that's been forwarded through a messaging app.

Cost

No money needed. Use your phone to shoot continuously for a few dozen seconds to a few minutes. Make sure you're safe first; don't delay rescue or handling.

Benefit

Article 66 of the Civil Procedure Law lists physical evidence, audiovisual materials, and electronic data as evidence. Article 14 of the Supreme People's Court's evidence provisions lists images, audio, and video as electronic data. Article 15 requires submitting the original of electronic data; using recordings as evidence requires submitting the original medium. Photos and videos can preserve the state of a scene that will change immediately, and can then be cross-checked against police reports, repair records, medical records, and witness statements. The order of "wide shot, position, details" is an empirical practice; the law doesn't prescribe it (nationwide)

Notes

The beneficiaries are you and your family. It's rated C because the shooting order is just empirical; the legal provisions only govern that photos and videos can be evidence and that originals must be submitted. If someone is injured, there's a fire, a gas leak, or other dangers, rescue people and get away first — don't delay for photos. For what to do at a traffic accident scene, see Section 1 of this chapter (After a traffic accident, first stop, rescue people, call the police).

Sources

43. If You're a Victim of Domestic Violence: First Call the Police to Leave a Response Record, Then Go to Court to Apply for a Personal Safety Protection Order — You Don't Need to Divorce First, and It's Free

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence yes; Benefit large

Of women killed worldwide, more than one-third were killed by a partner, often the end result of long-term domestic violence. Among women who suffered the same beatings, those who had been strangled by the neck were more than 7 times more likely to be killed later than those who hadn't been. So if you're beaten, call the police, then go to court to apply for a protection order. The court generally must respond within 72 hours.

Cost

No money needed. Applying for a personal safety protection order requires no litigation fee and no bond. What it costs is the time to call the police, get a medical examination, and write the application. The hardest part is speaking up about it to family.

Benefit

The risk side: data from 66 countries combined (systematic review). In female homicide cases, 38.6% were committed by intimate partners, versus 6.3% for males. The authors say such homicides are often the final step of long-term abuse. Another study compared 506 homicide cases and attempted homicides, plus 427 women who had been beaten but hadn't experienced such outcomes. Those previously strangled by a partner had 6.70 times the odds of attempted homicide compared to those who hadn't been strangled (OR 6.70, 95% CI 3.91–11.49). The odds of being killed were 7.48 times higher (OR 7.48, 95% CI 4.53–12.35). The legal side: victims and close relatives can call the police. Public security organs must respond promptly, stop the domestic violence, investigate and collect evidence, and assist with medical treatment and injury examination. For less serious circumstances, public security organs can issue a warning letter to the other party. Those suffering domestic violence or facing a real danger of domestic violence can apply to the court for a personal safety protection order. After accepting the application, the court must issue a ruling within 72 hours, or within 24 hours in urgent situations. The protection order can prohibit the other party from committing violence, prohibit the other party from harassing, stalking, or contacting you and your close relatives, and can also require the other party to move out of your residence. The protection order lasts up to 6 months, and can be extended before it expires. The application is not premised on divorce. The court can issue it if it believes there is a "relatively high possibility" that domestic violence exists. If the other party violates the protection order, the court can impose a fine of up to 1,000 yuan and detention of up to 15 days. If it constitutes a crime, it's handled as the crime of refusing to execute a judgment or ruling. Frequent insults, threats, stalking, harassment, and being subjected to cold or starvation also count as domestic violence.

Notes

The beneficiaries are mainly you and your family. The homicide rates are foreign data; China has no publicly available statistics on the same basis. Gather evidence: police response records, warning letters, injury examination results, medical records, written guarantees from the other party, chat records, and recordings can all be used. For recordings, see Section 41 of this chapter (Recordings). A protection order doesn't require a lawyer and generally has results within a few days. Divorcing or seeking compensation is a separate lawsuit, starting at 6 months under ordinary first-instance procedure, with lawyer fees paid by yourself. Domestic violence victims can seek legal aid, and courts can also defer, reduce, or waive litigation fees. A protection order doesn't equal guaranteed personal safety — if there's immediate danger, call 110 first. If the victim is coerced or intimidated and can't apply themselves, close relatives, public security organs, women's federations, residents' committees, and villagers' committees can apply on their behalf. If the victim is a friend or colleague, you can accompany them to the police and the hospital. If you see someone being beaten in a stranger's home, calling 110 is enough. Don't step in to break it up yourself — for reasons, see Section 10 of this chapter (Call the police first in conflicts).

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2015). Anti-Domestic Violence Law (Articles 2, 13, 15, 16, 19, 23, 28, 29, 30, 34). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf7f9… ; Supreme People's Court (2022). Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Personal Safety Protection Order Cases (Fa Shi 〔2022〕 No. 17, Articles 1, 3, 6, 10, 12). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/366021.html ; Supreme People's Court (2016). Reply on Several Procedural Issues Concerning Personal Safety Protection Order Cases (Fa Shi 〔2016〕 No. 15, Items 1, 2). Full text reposted by Pingyuan County People's Court http://qdzy.sdcourt.gov.cn/dzpyfy/393141/393283/1461545/ind… ; Stöckl H et al. (2013). The global prevalence of intimate partner homicide: a systematic review. Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61030-2 ; Glass N et al. (2008). Non-fatal strangulation is an important risk factor for homicide of women. Journal of Emergency Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.02.065

Evidence levels: A, B, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 09 · 23 suggestions

Legal Red Lines Ordinary People Easily Cross

[[High Cost-Performance Life Guide]]

This section settles two accounts: your personal freedom, and your money. The things below are often assumed by ordinary people to be "no big deal," but in reality they lead to detention, fines, and in serious cases criminal sentencing. Each item gives the specific numbers from the legal provisions, along with cases published through official channels. The Public Security Administration Punishments Law cited in this section is the 2025 revised version, effective January 1, 2026, and its article numbers differ from the old law. The Criminal Law cited is the consolidated text reposted by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Bureau, i.e., the version "amended in accordance with Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law," and the corresponding amendment will be noted in the text. The items are ordered from highest to lowest by "easiest to cross accidentally" plus "most severe consequences."

1. Do not forward disaster, epidemic, or police messages of unknown truth in group chats; do not Photoshop images or use AI to fabricate scene images

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

For a disaster, epidemic, or police message that you know is false and still forward, the penalty is as heavy as if you had fabricated it yourself. Even if you did not fabricate it: detention of 5 to 10 days, plus a fine of 1,000 yuan. If social order is disrupted, up to 3 years; if serious consequences are caused, 3 to 7 years. Photoshopped images and AI-generated fake scene images all count as fabricating it yourself.

Cost

Costs no money. Before forwarding, take a look to see whether it is an official notice. If unsure, do not forward, and do not alter images or add "it is said." The difficulty is resisting the urge to be the first bearer of the news.

Benefit

Whoever intentionally spreads rumors, falsely reports dangerous situations, epidemics, disasters, or police situations, disrupting public order, shall be detained for 5 to 10 days. An additional fine of up to 1,000 yuan may also be imposed. The lighter tier is detention of up to 5 days, or a fine of up to 1,000 yuan. Whoever fabricates false dangerous situations, epidemics, disasters, or police situations and disseminates them online shall be sentenced to up to 3 years. Knowingly spreading false information intentionally also falls into this tier. The premise is that social order is seriously disrupted; the legal wording is "seriously disrupting social order." If serious consequences are caused, 3 to 7 years (nationwide)

Notes

Knowingly forwarding false information and fabricating it yourself are handled by police under the same provision. "I just forwarded it" does not exempt you from liability. Photoshopped images and AI-generated fake scene images equally count as fabricating it yourself. The Ministry of Public Security published multiple batches of typical cases of online rumors involving disasters and dangerous situations in 2025. At the time of writing this section, the Ministry of Public Security website could not be opened, so no specific cases are cited.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Article 29). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2015). Amendment (IX) to the Criminal Law (Article 32, i.e., Article 291-1, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180205_364562.shtml ; National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended in accordance with Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 291-1). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… (reposted by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Bureau)

2. Do not post or forward images, memes, or comments insulting heroes and martyrs; do not joke about the national flag or national anthem

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

Joking about heroes and martyrs, the national flag, or the national anthem: the lighter penalty is detention of 5 to 10 days, or a fine of 1,000 to 3,000 yuan. The heavier tier is detention of 10 to 15 days. If it constitutes a crime, up to 3 years. Someone posted 2 remarks defaming Yuan Longping in a 499-member villagers' WeChat group and was sentenced to 6 months of control; the person was not imprisoned, but movement was restricted.

Cost

Costs no money. For content involving heroes and martyrs, the national flag, national emblem, or national anthem, do not comment, do not alter images, do not forward. The difficulty is resisting adding a remark when someone in the group picks up a joke.

Benefit

Whoever uses insults, fabricated facts, or similar means to infringe on the name, portrait, reputation, or honor of heroes and martyrs, harming the public interest, shall be punished under the following tier. Detention of 5 to 10 days, or a fine of 1,000 to 3,000 yuan. Desecrating or denying the deeds and spirit of heroes and martyrs, producing or disseminating speech, images, audio, or video glorifying wars of aggression, and disrupting public order also fall into this tier. The heavier tier is detention of 10 to 15 days, with an additional fine of up to 5,000 yuan. At the "serious circumstances" tier it constitutes a crime, with a sentence of up to 3 years. Insulting the national flag or national emblem in public, or altering the lyrics or music of the national anthem or singing it in a distorted or derogatory manner, if circumstances are serious, is also punishable by up to 3 years. Official case: Xiao posted 2 messages in a 499-member villagers' WeChat group defaming and insulting Yuan Longping and was sentenced to 6 months of control (control is a punishment not involving imprisonment but restricting movement). Qiu used a Weibo account with over 2.5 million followers to post 2 pieces of content distorting the deeds of border defense soldiers and was sentenced to 8 months, plus a public apology in national media (nationwide)

Notes

This article of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law was only added in the 2025 revision. Before that, such matters could only go through criminal law, or civil public interest litigation brought by the procuratorate. A WeChat group of several hundred people is considered a public setting in the eyes of the court.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Article 35). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Heroes and Martyrs Protection Law (Articles 22, 26). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/gyssshmhsh/201912/t20191202_4400… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law (Article 35, i.e., Article 299-1 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/202012/t20201227_503682.shtml ; National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended in accordance with Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Articles 299, 299-1). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Court (2022). Ten Typical Cases on Protection of Heroes and Martyrs' Rights and Interests (Case 2, Case 3). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/382301.html

3. Close foreign website content after viewing; do not screenshot, do not forward, do not repost into groups, and do not join in the comments section

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

These legal provisions punish dissemination, not viewing. There is one exception: books and audio/video promoting terrorism and extremism—if you know they are of this kind and still keep them in your possession, serious circumstances alone can lead to up to 3 years for mere possession. For other content, if you forward it, repost it into groups, or join in the comments section, it counts as dissemination in case handling. At the tier of inciting subversion or inciting secession, up to 5 years; for ringleaders, 5 years or more.

Cost

Costs no money. Close the page and the matter is over. Do not archive, do not forward, do not repost to domestic platforms. Do not use accounts that can be linked to your identity to post political content long-term on foreign platforms. Do not accept manuscript fees or funding from foreign institutions, organizations, or individuals. The difficulty is resisting screenshotting and sharing when you see striking content.

Benefit

Whoever uses rumors, slander, or other means to incite others to subvert state power or overthrow the socialist system shall be sentenced to up to 5 years. Ringleaders (the legal term is "principal elements") or those with major crimes shall be sentenced to 5 years or more, with a maximum fixed-term imprisonment of 15 years. Inciting secession or undermining national unity carries the same sentence as above. Colluding with foreign institutions, organizations, or individuals to do these two things is given a heavier punishment. Domestic or foreign institutions, organizations, or individuals providing funding for others to do so: the person directly responsible shall be sentenced to up to 5 years; if circumstances are serious, 5 years or more. Whoever steals, probes, buys, or illegally provides state secrets or intelligence for foreign institutions, organizations, or personnel shall be sentenced to 5 to 10 years. In this item, especially serious circumstances carry 10 years or more or life imprisonment; relatively minor circumstances carry up to 5 years. Crimes endangering national security are uniformly subject to an additional deprivation of political rights for 1 to 5 years; during these years the right to vote and eligibility for public office are revoked. Confiscation of property may also be imposed concurrently, i.e., personal property is turned over to the state. There are also provisions on the administrative side. No individual or organization may use the internet to engage in activities endangering national security, honor, or interests. Nor may they incite subversion of state power or overthrow of the socialist system. Nor may they incite secession or undermine national unity. Those who publish or transmit such information shall be punished in accordance with relevant laws and administrative regulations (nationwide). There is another category that is established without dissemination. Whoever knowingly possesses illegal materials promoting terrorism or extremism, if circumstances are serious, is subject to conviction. The materials here include books, audio/video materials, or other items. The sentence is fixed-term imprisonment of up to 3 years, criminal detention (short-term custody), or control (no custody but restricted movement). A fine shall also be imposed concurrently or separately, i.e., a fine at the same time as sentencing, or possibly only a fine. The basis is Article 120-6 of the Criminal Law, added by Amendment (IX) to the Criminal Law.

Notes

The provisions cited in this item punish inciting others, disseminating outward, or providing to others, not "viewing." But this statement only applies to ordinary content. Terrorist and extremist materials are an exception expressly written into the law; mere possession can lead to conviction (Article 120-6). For this category, "do not archive" is not cautious advice; it is a line that cannot be touched. Once seen, that is the end of it: do not screenshot and archive, do not forward, do not add comments, do not pull others in to forward together. Forwarding and joining in the comments section both count as dissemination in case handling, and "I just forwarded it" does not exempt you from liability. Content originating from foreign platforms may also lead to heavier punishment. If unsure of its truth, even more so do not forward it; this is the same matter as item 1 of this section (do not forward messages of unknown truth). For how circumvention tools themselves are punished, see item 11 of section 11. Do the math: forwarding such content brings back no tangible benefit, and the cost is imprisonment plus deprivation of political rights plus confiscation of property. Publicly verifiable cases of the same kind are only seen in foreign media and documents released by family members, such as a blogger who long posted political commentary on foreign platforms and was sentenced to 7 years in 2023. This book has not obtained a judgment document verifiable through official channels, so this item is written only according to the legal provisions, with no case attached.

Sources

National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Articles 45, 55, 56, 103, 105, 106, 107, 111, 113; these articles have not been modified by amendments). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Cybersecurity Law (2025 amendment, effective January 1, 2026, Article 13, paragraph 2, Article 71, item 1). https://www.cac.gov.cn/2025-12/29/c_1768735112911946.htm ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2015). Amendment (IX) to the Criminal Law (newly added Article 120-6). Full text reposted by the National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration https://www.gjxfj.gov.cn/gjxfj/fgwj/flfg/webinfo/2017/03/16…

4. Pornographic videos are your own business if you watch them yourself; do not send them to groups, do not sell "resources," do not create groups

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

Watching by yourself is not in the punishment provisions. Sending once to a group counts as disseminating to the entire group: detention of 10 to 15 days, plus a fine of up to 5,000 yuan; if circumstances are serious, up to 2 years. Making money by selling "resources" carries up to 3 years; the heavier tier is 3 to 10 years; the most serious is 10 years or more up to life. Creating a dissemination group with 30 or more members: the creator, the administrators, and the main posters are all treated as committing a crime.

Cost

Costs no money. Do not forward, do not save into group files, and do not become the owner or administrator of such a group.

Benefit

Whoever disseminates obscene information online shall be detained for 10 to 15 days, and may additionally be fined up to 5,000 yuan. The lighter tier is detention of up to 5 days, or a fine of 1,000 to 3,000 yuan. If the content involves minors, a heavier punishment is given. Disseminating obscene materials reaching the "serious circumstances" tier carries up to 2 years. Selling or disseminating for profit carries up to 3 years and a fine. In this item, serious circumstances carry 3 to 10 years; especially serious circumstances carry 10 years or more or life imprisonment. Creating a group mainly used to disseminate obscene electronic information, with 30 or more members, is treated as a crime. Causing serious consequences is the same. The group creator, the administrators, and the main posters are all convicted of the crime of disseminating obscene materials (nationwide)

Notes

Both laws punish "dissemination"; private viewing by yourself is not in the provisions. But sending once to a group counts as disseminating to the entire group. Exactly how much quantity constitutes "serious circumstances" is set by judicial interpretations; this section has not verified the specific numbers.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Article 80). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended in accordance with Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Articles 363, 364). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2010). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Specific Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Producing, Copying, Publishing, Selling, and Disseminating Obscene Electronic Information via the Internet, Mobile Communication Terminals, and Audio Information Stations (II) (Article 3). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/201002/t20100204_25001.shtml

5. If a "part-time job" asks you to use your own card to receive money, withdraw cash, or transfer funds, do not do it no matter how much the kickback is

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

This kind of part-time job earns you a few hundred yuan, at the cost of a criminal record. Someone took an ID card and 1 bank card to a designated location, cooperated with transfers and withdrawals, and earned over 500 yuan. The procuratorate did not prosecute him, but the police still detained him for 10 days and fined him 1,000 yuan. Another person handed his own and others' bank cards and mobile phone cards to a gang for receiving and withdrawing cash, and was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months, with a fine of 22,000 yuan.

Cost

Costs no money. Give up this kind of work—"a few hundred a day, bring your card to the bank."

Benefit

Whoever knowingly helps transfer, purchase, sell, or otherwise conceal money and property obtained from a crime shall be sentenced to up to 3 years, with a concurrent or separate fine (a fine at the same time as sentencing, or possibly only a fine). Official case: Wang, following instructions, brought an ID card and 1 bank card to a designated location and cooperated with transfers and withdrawals, earning over 500 yuan. The procuratorate did not prosecute him; the police detained him for 10 days under the Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law and fined him 1,000 yuan. Man handed his own and others' bank cards and mobile phone cards to a gang for receiving, transferring, and withdrawing cash, and was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months, with a fine of 22,000 yuan (nationwide)

Notes

For the consequences of lending bank cards to others and helping with "money running," see item 8 of section 8 (lending bank cards to others). This item is about personally withdrawing cash and transferring funds. The statement "I did not know where the money came from" is not necessarily accepted in case handling. If the pay is absurdly high, if you are asked to cooperate with facial recognition, if the transactions look abnormal in every way, these alone can establish that you actually knew. The lightest outcome is also 10 days of detention, plus a criminal record.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended in accordance with Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 312). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2023). Typical Cases of Procuratorial Organs Punishing Telecom and Online Fraud and Related Crimes in Accordance with Law (Case 9). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbt/202311/t20231130_635188.… ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2025). Typical Cases of Punishing Crimes of Concealing or Disguising Criminal Proceeds and Criminal Proceeds Gains in Accordance with Law (Case 5). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbt/202508/t20250825_704514.…

6. If someone pulls you into "packaging materials" for a loan and offers you a cut of the loan amount, don't do any of it

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit large

Helping someone "package materials" to get a loan and taking a cut is prosecuted as fraud. There was a 126-person gang that packaged unemployed people as "premium clients" and fraudulently obtained over 30 million yuan in loans from more than 80 banks. Those who signed on the spot took a 30% cut of the loan amount. Of the 80 people already sentenced, 76 received sentences of 1 year 4 months to 6 years 6 months. Whoever's name the loan is under, the debt is theirs.

Cost

Costs no money. Just refuse directly. Don't lend your ID card or your credit record to others, don't sign loan contracts you haven't read, and don't go to the bank for an in-person signing on someone else's behalf.

Benefit

Using fraudulent means to obtain loans, bill acceptance, letters of credit, letters of guarantee, etc. from banks or other financial institutions. If it causes major losses to a bank or other financial institution, the sentence is up to 3 years. There is also a concurrent or standalone fine, meaning a fine alongside the prison sentence, or possibly only a fine. If it causes especially major losses, or there are other especially serious circumstances, the sentence is 3 to 7 years plus a fine. The threshold for police to file and investigate is direct economic loss of 500,000 yuan or more. If there was never any intention to repay, and fabricated reasons such as introduced funding projects, fake economic contracts, fake certification documents, or fake property ownership certificates were used to fraudulently obtain a loan, that is loan fraud. For this offense, fraudulently obtaining 50,000 yuan triggers filing, with a sentence of up to 5 years and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 yuan. If the amount is huge or there are other serious circumstances, the sentence is 5 to 10 years; if especially huge, 10 years or more up to life imprisonment. Forging, altering, buying, or selling official documents, certificates, or seals of state organs carries a sentence of up to 3 years; if the circumstances are serious, 3 to 10 years. Official case: a 126-person gang packaged unemployed people as "premium clients" across 16 provinces and cities, fraudulently obtaining over 30 million yuan in loans from more than 80 bank branches. The "clean names" who came forward for the loans took a 30% cut of the loan amount. The procuratorate prosecuted 105 "clean names." In the 2026 first-instance trial, of the 80 already sentenced, 76 were convicted of loan fraud and sentenced to 1 year 4 months to 6 years 6 months plus fines. Another 4 people, for withdrawing cash on behalf of the gang, were convicted of both loan fraud and money laundering with combined punishment, meaning the sentences for both crimes are calculated together. These 4 received sentences of 2 years 4 months to 7 years 6 months (nationwide). The crime of fraudulently obtaining loans in this section follows the text of Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law effective March 2021.

Notes

The statement "I intended to repay at the time" was not accepted in that case. The procuratorate determined that these people had no jobs and no fixed assets, could not repay at all, and spent all the money they received, and on that basis found they never intended to repay. Those who withdrew the money for the gang may also face an additional money laundering charge. Whoever's name the loan is under and whoever signed the contract is the borrower. Even if it doesn't constitute a crime, the debt and the credit record are still yours. Taking the money and fleeing abroad won't settle it either: once a case is filed, no matter how many years you hide, you can still be pursued. Those sentenced to prison who haven't finished serving are not allowed to leave the country. Those currently treated as criminal suspects or defendants are also not allowed to leave the country. If a civil case is unresolved, the court can bar you from leaving the country. If a person subject to enforcement fails to perform, the court can also restrict them from leaving the country. For withdrawing cash or transferring money for others, see Section 5 of this chapter ("Part-time jobs" asking you to receive money with your own card). For how to find out if someone has fraudulently taken out a loan in your name, see Section 8, Item 9.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law (Article 11, amending Article 175-1 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202012/t20201227_503700.shtml ; National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Articles 88, 193, 280). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security (2022). Provisions on the Standards for Filing and Prosecuting Criminal Cases Under the Jurisdiction of Public Security Organs (II) (Articles 22, 45). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/xwfbh/wsfbt/202204/t20220429_555… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2026). Behind the Fraudulent Loan Assembly Line Hides a Money Laundering Black Hand (Procuratorate Daily). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/zdgz/202604/t20260428_726494.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2012). Exit and Entry Administration Law (Article 12). https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741547/c1013311/content.html (National Immigration Administration); Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2023 amendment). Civil Procedure Law (Article 266). https://amr.guizhou.gov.cn/zwgk/xxgkml/jcxxgk/zcfg/fl/20240… (reposted by Guizhou Provincial Market Regulation Bureau)

7. If you find a bank card, don't withdraw money; if you find a phone or wallet, contact the owner or hand it to the police, don't pocket it

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit large

Keeping found items for your own use, and refusing to hand them over once the amount reaches "relatively large," carries a sentence of up to 2 years; if the amount is huge, 2 to 5 years. Using a found bank card to withdraw money from an ATM is more serious, counted as impersonating someone else's credit card; if the amount is relatively large, the sentence is up to 5 years, plus a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 yuan. For this type of withdrawal, the police file the case directly; the victim doesn't need to press charges themselves.

Cost

Costs no money, takes a few minutes. Make a phone call to find the owner, or take the item to the police station.

Benefit

If you find something someone lost, you must return it to the owner, promptly notify them to come claim it, or hand it over to public security and other departments. Keeping something someone left behind for your own use, and refusing to hand it over once the amount reaches "relatively large," constitutes the crime of misappropriation, with a sentence of up to 2 years. If the amount is huge, 2 to 5 years. Picking up someone else's credit card and using it at an ATM counts as "impersonating someone else's credit card." If it meets the threshold for a crime, it is handled as credit card fraud: if the amount is relatively large, the sentence is up to 5 years, plus a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 yuan. If the amount is huge or there are other serious circumstances, the sentence is 5 to 10 years, plus a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 yuan (nationwide)

Notes

The crime of misappropriation is "handled only upon complaint," meaning the victim must go to court themselves; the police do not act on their own. But using a found card to withdraw money is different; the victim doesn't need to press charges, and the police file the case directly. The specific amount for "relatively large" is set by judicial interpretation; this section has not verified it. After an item is handed over to the relevant department, the owner must pay storage fees when claiming it (Civil Code Article 317).

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 314). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended per Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Articles 196, 270). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2008). Reply on How to Characterize the Act of Picking Up Another Person's Credit Card and Using It at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/flfg/sfjs/201208/t20120830_47871…

8. Claim discounts with your own real identity, don't buy virtual numbers to mass-register alt accounts, don't exploit loopholes to claim repeatedly

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

Using your own real identity and claiming a coupon once per account is not within the scope of punishment. Mass-registering fake users to claim more, or placing orders on yourself and accepting them yourself, is prosecuted as fraud: fraudulently obtaining 3,000 yuan can get you up to 3 years; from 30,000 yuan, 3 to 10 years. A delivery rider used virtual numbers costing 0.1 yuan each to farm coupons and cash out, farming over 90,000 yuan; 12 people in the same case received sentences of 3 years 6 months to 3 months of criminal detention.

Cost

Costs no money. Give up the work in "coupon-farming task groups." If you discover a platform loophole, don't touch it. The hard part is resisting the urge to treat discounts as income that can be mass-replicated.

Benefit

Defrauding others or public property, if the amount is relatively large, carries a sentence of up to 3 years, with a concurrent or standalone fine (a fine alongside the prison sentence, or possibly only a fine). If the amount is huge, or there are other serious circumstances, the sentence is 3 to 10 years plus a fine. If the amount is especially huge, or there are other especially serious circumstances, the sentence is 10 years or more or life imprisonment, plus a fine or confiscation of property. For the three tiers of relatively large, huge, and especially huge, each province sets its local standard within the following ranges. Relatively large is 3,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan or more. Huge is 30,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan or more; especially huge is 500,000 yuan or more. Teaching the method to others or selling "tutorials" is punished as the crime of teaching criminal methods, with a sentence of up to 5 years; if the circumstances are serious, 5 to 10 years; if especially serious, 10 years or more or life imprisonment. The upstream and downstream of buying and selling phone numbers and verification codes is punished as the crime of infringing on citizens' personal information, with a sentence of up to 3 years; if especially serious, 3 to 7 years. Using mass accounts, automatic network address switching systems, and SMS verification-receiving platforms for mass receipt of text verification is itself explicitly prohibited by Article 14 of the Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law. Illegally buying, selling, renting, or lending phone cards and internet accounts, or helping others pass real-name verification, falls under Article 31. Violating Article 14 means all money earned is confiscated, plus a fine of 1 to 10 times the money earned. If no money was earned, or less than 50,000 yuan was earned, the fine is up to 500,000 yuan; if the circumstances are serious, detention of up to 15 days is also imposed. Violating Article 31 carries the same fine of 1 to 10 times; if no money was earned or less than 20,000 yuan was earned, the fine is up to 200,000 yuan; if the circumstances are serious, detention of up to 15 days is also imposed. Participating in telecom and online fraud that does not yet warrant criminal punishment carries detention of 10 to 15 days. Money earned is confiscated, plus a fine of 1 to 10 times. If no money was earned or less than 10,000 yuan was earned, the fine is up to 100,000 yuan. Official case one: delivery rider Liu XX bought virtual phone numbers at 0.1 yuan each and registered as a new user on a platform. He claimed new-user coupons of 15 yuan off 29 yuan to place orders, then resold the goods to small shops to cash out. He also used virtual numbers to invite each other and claim rewards of 2 to 20 yuan. He and rider Tan XX fraudulently obtained over 90,000 yuan and over 70,000 yuan respectively. The Yangpu District Procuratorate in Shanghai prosecuted 12 people for fraud, and the court sentenced them to 3 years 6 months to 3 months of criminal detention. Official case two: Wang XX exploited the time gap between online store refunds and the recovery of virtual lottery coins. He made 1,156 refunds and took away 224 figurines, worth over 249,000 yuan. He also cashed out on second-hand platforms; the court sentenced him to 3 years suspended for 4 years for fraud, plus a fine of 30,000 yuan. During trial he returned the illicit gains and prepaid the fine, totaling 330,000 yuan. Official case three: a ride-hailing platform's new-user coupons and driver subsidies were fraudulently obtained through fake rides of "ordering a ride on yourself and accepting it yourself," involving more than 70 cities in 19 provinces, with an amount of over 2 million yuan. The Longcheng District Procuratorate in Chaoyang, Liaoning prosecuted 163 people, all of whom were convicted. The principal offenders Huang XX and Cai XX were convicted of fraud, infringing on citizens' personal information, and teaching criminal methods with combined punishment (sentences for several crimes calculated together), each sentenced to 3 years 6 months. Another 34 accomplices with minor circumstances were decided by the procuratorate not to be prosecuted, but were still transferred to public security for administrative punishment (nationwide)

Notes

The line is not "how much you farmed," but whether you fabricated anything fake. Participating in activities with your own real identity, claiming once per account, and using coupons on yourself is a discount the platform gives you. Registering fake users to claim more, fabricating transactions, or concealing that you already got a refund is making the other party hand over goods believing it was real, and is determined as fraud; the amount only determines how long the sentence is. If the amount isn't enough for a criminal sentence, it's still not free: the platform can ban your account, claw back the discount, and demand you return "money you shouldn't have gotten." For participating in telecom fraud that doesn't reach the criminal level, there is still the detention and fine tier. "Someone in the group is leading it and paying me per order" does not change the nature of your own share. Teaching the method to others and reselling accounts and phone numbers are separate offenses, and several crimes will be tallied together. The beneficiary is yourself. For writing your own scripts or selling scripts, see Section 11, Item 3; for selling cards and accounts, see Section 8, Item 8 (lending bank cards to others) and Item 16 of this section (don't lend your ID card).

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended per Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Articles 253-1, 266, 295). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… (reposted by Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Bureau); Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2011). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Specific Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Fraud (Fa Shi [2011] No. 7, Article 1). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/sfjs/201802/t20180201_363736.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2022). Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law (Articles 14, 31, 38, 42, 44). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202209/t20220902_575631.shtml ; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 985). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2021). Targeting Telecom and Online Fraud | Lawbreakers Have Set Their Sights on the Loopholes of the E-Commerce Economy (Procuratorate Daily). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/zdgz/202106/t20210607_520557.shtml ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2025). Such "Coupon Farming" Is Suspected Fraud (Procuratorate Daily). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/zdgz/202508/t20250826_704625.shtml ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2024). Longcheng District, Chaoyang, Liaoning: Handling a Series of Telecom and Online Fraud Cases (Legal Daily). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/zdgz/202401/t20240124_641099.shtml

9. Don't throw anything out from balconies or windows; cigarette butts, garbage bags, and wine bottles all count

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit large

Throwing things downstairs can get you 5 days of detention and a 1,000 yuan fine even if no one is hit; if the circumstances are serious, detention of 10 to 15 days. If someone is hit, the charge changes: someone threw empty wine bottles and glass cups from the 21st floor after drinking onto a playground below, hitting a 13-year-old student and causing serious injury, and was sentenced to 10 years. Another person threw 8 bricks from the 32nd floor, killing 1 person, and had the death penalty approved in 2024.

Cost

Costs no money and no time. Take cigarette butts, garbage bags, and wine bottles to the trash can inside and throw them there, not out the window or balcony.

Benefit

Throwing things down from a building or other high place, as long as there is a danger of injuring people, damaging property, or endangering public safety, can result in detention of up to 5 days, or a fine of up to 1,000 yuan. If the circumstances are serious, detention of 10 to 15 days, and an additional fine of up to 1,000 yuan. If the circumstances are serious enough to constitute the crime of throwing objects from a height, the sentence is up to 1 year, with a concurrent or standalone fine (a fine alongside the prison sentence, or possibly only a fine). If someone is injured or killed, it is handled under a more serious charge. Official case: Li XXchen threw empty wine bottles and glass cups from the 21st floor after drinking onto a playground below, hitting a 13-year-old student and causing second-degree serious injury, and was sentenced to 10 years for endangering public safety by dangerous means. Zhou XX threw 8 bricks from the 32nd floor at a crowd, killing 1 person, and in 2024 the Supreme Court approved the death penalty (nationwide)

Notes

You can be detained even if no one is hit; the provision only requires "there is danger." The Civil Code has a separate civil compensation provision for throwing objects from a height (Article 1254). At the time of writing this section, the original text could not be opened, so it is not cited.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Article 43). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law (Article 33, i.e., Article 291-2 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/202012/t20201227_503682.shtml ; National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended per Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 291-2). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Court (2024). Typical Cases of Punishing Crimes Endangering Public Safety in Accordance with Law (Case 1). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/429522.html ; Supreme People's Court (2025). Exclusive Interview with Supreme Court Vice President Li Yong: Let All Who Throw Objects from Heights Be Punished. https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/458381.html

10. Do not buy imitation guns, steel-ball guns, or air guns online, and do not buy "toy guns" of unknown origin

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

For steel-ball guns and air guns bought online, as long as the muzzle specific kinetic energy reaches 1.8 joules per square centimeter, they are recognized as firearms. Holding one without a permit carries a sentence of up to 3 years; if the circumstances are serious, 3 to 7 years. A couple sold "toy guns" at a farmers' market; of the 43 seized, 18 were appraised as meeting firearm standards. Because there was insufficient evidence to prove they knew those were guns, the case was not prosecuted on the basis of doubtful evidence.

Cost

No money. If you want to shoot, go to a licensed shooting range.

Benefit

Whoever holds or privately keeps firearms without a permit is sentenced to up to 3 years; if the circumstances are serious, 3 to 7 years. Non-standard guns that cannot fire standard ammunition, as long as the muzzle specific kinetic energy is greater than or equal to 1.8 joules per square centimeter, are all recognized as firearms. Muzzle specific kinetic energy refers to the energy carried per square centimeter when the bullet leaves the barrel. Many steel-ball guns and air guns bought online exceed this number. Starting in 2018, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate required that for air guns with relatively low specific kinetic energy, a decision on whether to convict should be made only after a comprehensive assessment of appearance, material, price, use, whether the person knew, and so on. Official case: Zhao某某 and his wife sold "toy guns" at a farmers' market; 43 were seized, of which 18 were appraised as meeting firearm standards. Because there was insufficient evidence to prove they knew those were firearms, the case was not prosecuted on the basis of doubtful evidence (nationwide)

Notes

The key to the non-prosecution in that case was the finding that they "did not know." For an adult who deliberately buys a steel-ball gun or air gun online, it is very hard to later claim they did not know it was a gun. How crossbows and controlled knives are regulated was not verified against the original text in this section, so it is not written here.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended according to Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 128). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2018). Reply on Issues Concerning the Conviction and Sentencing of Criminal Cases Involving Guns Powered by Compressed Gas and Air Gun Lead Pellets (Fa Shi [2018] No. 8). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbt/201803/t20180328_372604.… ; Supreme People's Court (2018). Understanding and Application of the "Reply". https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/88472.html

11. After buying a drone, register it under your real name first; do not fly in airports, military areas, or controlled urban airspace; do not crack the altitude limit

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

Flying without real-name registration carries a fine of up to 200 yuan; if the circumstances are serious, 2,000 to 20,000 yuan. Flying in controlled airspace without approval carries a fine of up to 500 yuan; if the circumstances are serious, the drone is confiscated and an additional fine of 1,000 to 10,000 yuan is imposed. If the circumstances are relatively serious, detention of 5 to 10 days may also be imposed. Someone paid to crack the altitude limit, flew a drone to nearly 3,000 meters to photograph clouds, and posted it online; they were detained for 5 days.

Cost

Real-name registration is free and takes only a few minutes. Before every takeoff, use official channels to check whether the place you want to fly is controlled airspace.

Benefit

Flying without real-name registration: ordered to correct, and may also be fined up to 200 yuan; if the circumstances are serious, 2,000 to 20,000 yuan. Flying micro, light, or small drones in controlled airspace without approval: ordered to stop flying, and may also be fined up to 500 yuan. If the circumstances are serious under this item, the drone is confiscated and a fine of 1,000 to 10,000 yuan is imposed. Flying in violation of airspace management regulations, if the circumstances are relatively serious, carries detention of 5 to 10 days. Official cases: Li某某 paid to crack the altitude limit, flew a drone to nearly 3,000 meters to photograph clouds and published it, and was detained for 5 days. Zhang某某 cracked altitude limits and no-fly zone restrictions for others more than 20 times, earning more than 15,000 yuan. He was convicted of providing programs or tools for intruding into or illegally controlling computer information systems. He was sentenced to 6 months, suspended for 1 year, and fined (nationwide, from January 2024)

Notes

Micro and light drones flying in permitted airspace do not require approval. Micro means those with an empty weight of less than 0.25 kilograms. Permitted airspace is places outside controlled airspace, while areas around airports, military facilities, and government agencies are mostly controlled airspace. The original page of the Ministry of Public Security could not be opened when this section was written, so the citation is to a repost page by the Hubei Provincial Public Security Department.

Sources

State Council, Central Military Commission (2023). Interim Regulations on the Flight Management of Unmanned Aircraft (State Council Order No. 761, Articles 10, 19, 47, and 51). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202306/content_6888799.htm ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Article 46). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; Hubei Provincial Public Security Department (2026). Ministry of Public Security Announces Eight Typical Cases of Cracking Down on Illegal "Black Flying" of Drones in Accordance with the Law (reposted from People's Public Security Daily). http://gat.hubei.gov.cn/bmdt/gayw/202602/t20260205_5870949.…

12. Do not secretly photograph others, and do not install cameras in rental housing, homestays, or hotel rooms

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

Peeping, secretly photographing, or disseminating others' privacy carries detention of up to 5 days, or a fine of up to 1,000 yuan; if the circumstances are relatively serious, detention of 5 to 10 days. Using specialized secret-photography equipment and causing serious consequences carries a sentence of up to 2 years. Two people bought covert photography equipment online, installed it in multiple rooms of three hotels for remote secret photography, and were sentenced to 1 year and 3 months and 1 year respectively. Installing surveillance in your own home does not count; installing it in a room used by others does.

Cost

No money, and no time. Do not secretly photograph others, and do not install cameras in rental housing, homestays, or hotel rooms.

Benefit

Peeping, secretly photographing, eavesdropping, or disseminating others' privacy carries detention of up to 5 days, or a fine of up to 1,000 yuan. If the circumstances are relatively serious, detention of 5 to 10 days, and an additional fine of up to 1,000 yuan may be imposed. Illegally using specialized eavesdropping or covert photography equipment and causing serious consequences carries a sentence of up to 2 years. Specialized eavesdropping and covert photography equipment refers to devices specifically used for secret listening and secret photography. Official case: Yan某某ping and Yan某某jian bought covert photography equipment online, installed it in multiple rooms of three hotels for remote secret photography, and were sentenced to 1 year and 3 months and 1 year respectively (nationwide)

Notes

Once secretly photographed material is sold or disseminated, it is handled separately under crimes such as producing and selling obscene materials for profit; in the same batch of cases, one person was sentenced to 10 years. Installing surveillance in your own home does not count; installing it in a room used by others does.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Article 50). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended according to Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 284). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Court (2024). Typical Cases of Punishing Illegal Production, Sale, and Use of Eavesdropping and Covert Photography Equipment in Accordance with the Law (Case 2). https://www.court.gov.cn/shenpan/xiangqing/449581.html

13. You can play mahjong and cards, but do not take a cut, do not act as banker, do not organize games for money, and do not engage in online gambling

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Large

Small-stakes card games among relatives and friends are not regulated by law. Taking a cut from the game, acting as banker, or organizing games for money changes the nature: participating in gambling, or gambling with relatively large stakes, carries detention of up to 5 days or a fine of up to 1,000 yuan. Gathering people to gamble or making a living by gambling carries a sentence of up to 3 years; running a casino carries a sentence of up to 5 years. How much counts as "relatively large gambling stakes" is set locally, with no unified national figure.

Cost

No money. Small-stakes entertainment among relatives and friends can still be played. Do not take a cut from the game, do not act as banker, and do not organize games for money. The hard part is resisting the urge to take over when someone starts organizing.

Benefit

Providing convenience for gambling in order to make money, or participating in gambling with relatively large stakes, carries detention of up to 5 days, or a fine of up to 1,000 yuan. If the circumstances are serious, detention of 10 to 15 days, and a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 yuan. Gathering people to gamble in order to make money, or making a living by gambling, carries a sentence of up to 3 years and a fine. Running a casino carries a sentence of up to 5 years and a fine; if the circumstances are serious, 5 to 10 years (nationwide)

Notes

There is no unified national figure for how much counts as "relatively large gambling stakes"; each place sets its own, so this item is only given a B level. Taking a cut from the game or collecting bets on behalf of an online gambling platform is often determined in case handling as opening a casino. The original text of the relevant judicial interpretation was not verified in this section. No official case was found either.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Article 82). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended according to Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 303). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law (Article 36, raising the penalty for opening a casino to up to 5 years, and 5 to 10 years). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/202012/t20201227_503682.shtml

14. Do not eat wild animals, and do not buy, sell, or keep protected animals as pets

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

Eating nationally key protected animals: the items are confiscated, and a fine of 2 to 20 times their value is imposed. Acquiring, transporting, or selling precious and endangered animals carries a sentence of up to 5 years; if the circumstances are serious, 5 to 10 years. Artificially bred pets are a separate matter: three breeders sold more than 40 artificially bred Fischer's lovebirds for a total price of less than 400 yuan, and the procuratorate decided not to prosecute. Those caught in the wild or of unknown origin do not fall under this provision.

Cost

No money. For pets, only buy species with lawful sources that are artificially bred.

Benefit

Eating nationally key protected wild animals, or buying them in order to eat them: the items are confiscated, and a fine of 2 to 20 times their value is imposed. Breeding nationally key protected wild animals without a permit: confiscation, and a fine of 1 to 10 times. Illegally acquiring, transporting, or selling nationally key protected precious and endangered wild animals and their products carries a sentence of up to 5 years and a fine. Under this item, if the circumstances are serious, 5 to 10 years; if especially serious, more than 10 years. Hunting, acquiring, transporting, or selling other terrestrial wild animals for eating, if the circumstances are serious, carries a sentence of up to 3 years. Official case: breeder Wang某某 and 2 others sold more than 40 artificially bred Fischer's lovebirds (national second-class protected animals) for a total price of less than 400 yuan; in 2021 the procuratorate decided not to prosecute. Starting in 2022, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate made clear that where artificial breeding technology is mature, has already reached scale, and the animals are bought, sold, and transported as pets, they are generally not handled as crimes (nationwide)

Notes

"Generally not handled as crimes" refers only to the category that is artificially bred and kept as pets. Those caught in the wild or of unknown origin do not fall under this provision. Which animals count as nationally key protected animals is based on the list. Before buying, check the list first; it is less troublesome than explaining after something happens.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2022). Wildlife Protection Law (2022 revision, Articles 31, 51, and 53). https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/fgbz/fl/202302/t20230220_101688… (reposted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment); National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended according to Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 341). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law (Article 41, namely paragraph 3 of Article 341 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/202012/t20201227_503682.shtml ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2022). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Destroying Wildlife Resources (Fa Shi [2022] No. 12, Article 13). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/xwfbh/wsfbt/202204/t20220407_553… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2023). A Small Parrot Case, a Major Livelihood Case. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/zdgz/202302/t20230211_601023.shtml

15. When collecting debts, do not detain people, do not lock people up, and do not follow them home and refuse to leave

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Large

Even if the money is truly owed to you, you still cannot detain or lock people up. The law specifically states: detaining or locking people up to collect debts is still handled as unlawful detention. For minor cases, detention of 10 to 15 days, and a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 yuan. If it constitutes the crime of unlawful detention, the sentence is up to 3 years; if the person is seriously injured, 3 to 10 years; if the person dies, more than 10 years. To collect a debt, go to court and sue.

Cost

No money. If the other party owes money and refuses to pay, go to court and sue. For how to write an IOU, see Section 8, Item 18 (IOU). The hard part is resisting the urge to use force or follow them home when the other party refuses to pay.

Benefit

Illegally restricting another person's personal freedom, trespassing into another person's home without authorization, or illegally searching another person's body carries detention of 10 to 15 days, and a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 yuan. If the circumstances are relatively minor, detention of 5 to 10 days, and a fine of up to 1,000 yuan. Unlawful detention carries a sentence of up to 3 years of fixed-term imprisonment, criminal detention (short-term custody), control (not custody but restricted movement), or deprivation of political rights. If the person is seriously injured, 3 to 10 years; if the person dies, more than 10 years. Detaining or locking people up to collect debts is punished under this same set of provisions, even if the debt is real (nationwide)

Notes

The sentence "He really does owe me money" does not help under this item. The law specifically states that detaining or locking people up to collect debts is also handled as unlawful detention. On China Court's website there are several cases in which people were locked up over lawful debts and sentenced to 7 months to 1 year. The website could not be opened when this section was written, so it is not cited.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Article 47). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended according to Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 238). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index…

16. Do not lend your ID card to others, do not use someone else's ID card, and do not use someone else's documents to register, open cards, or buy tickets

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

Renting, lending, or transferring your resident ID card to others carries a warning and a fine of up to 200 yuan. Using another person's ID card, or using an ID card obtained by fraud, carries a fine of 200 to 1,000 yuan, or detention of up to 10 days. Using fake documents or another person's documents in situations where real-name verification is required, if the circumstances are serious, carries a sentence of criminal detention or control. Using another person's documents to buy train tickets or stay at a hotel falls under this type of situation.

Cost

No money. If someone asks to borrow it, just refuse. If you need to provide a photocopy, write on the photocopy that this copy is only to be used for which specific matter.

Benefit

Renting, lending, or transferring your resident ID card to others carries a warning and a fine of up to 200 yuan. Using another person's ID card, or using an ID card obtained by fraud, carries a fine of 200 to 1,000 yuan, or detention of up to 10 days. Buying, selling, or using forged or altered ID cards also falls in this range. In some situations, national regulations require presentation of identity documents. Using forged, altered, or another person's stolen documents in these situations, if the circumstances are serious, leads to a criminal sentence. Documents include ID cards, passports, social security cards, driver's licenses, and so on. The penalty is criminal detention (short-term custody) or control (not custody but restricted movement). A fine is also imposed in addition or separately, meaning a fine is imposed together with the sentence, or a fine alone may be imposed (nationwide)

Notes

If an ID card is lent out, it may be used to register a company or open a bank card. For the consequences of these two, see Section 8, Items 28 and 8 (Do not be a nominal legal representative, do not lend your bank card to others). Using another person's ID card to buy train tickets or stay at a hotel falls under the "activities in which identity documents should be provided" mentioned in the law. No official case was found for this item.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2011). Resident Identity Card Law (2011 amendment, Articles 16 and 17). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/203777/index.html (reposted by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Bureau); National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended according to Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 280-1). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index…

17. When stopped or taken away by police, cooperate: don't push, don't hit, don't grab the body camera; if you've been drinking, hold your temper even more

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

Obstructing law enforcement on the spot gets a warning or a fine of up to 500 yuan; if the circumstances are serious, detention of 5 to 10 days. Laying hands on police is a different tier: biting, slapping, kicking, wrestling, throwing things, causing minor injury or above counts as violent assault on police, punishable by up to 3 years. Using firearms, controlled knives, or driving a vehicle to strike gets 3 to 7 years. General resistance like shaking off or struggling free doesn't count.

Cost

Costs no money. Don't use your hands on the spot. If you have objections, raise them afterward: complaints, applying for administrative reconsideration, going to court to sue. The hard part is holding your temper during those few minutes when you're stopped, especially after drinking.

Benefit

Obstructing state organ personnel from performing official duties according to law gets a warning or a fine of up to 500 yuan. If the circumstances are serious, detention of 5 to 10 days, plus an additional fine of up to 1,000 yuan. If the person obstructed is a people's police officer, the punishment is heavier. Violently assaulting a people's police officer who is performing duties according to law is punishable by up to 3 years. Using firearms, controlled knives, or driving a vehicle to strike, seriously endangering the police officer's personal safety, gets 3 to 7 years. Biting, slapping, kicking, wrestling, throwing objects causing minor injury or above only then counts as "violent assault." General resistance like shaking off, struggling free, kicking legs doesn't count (nationwide)

Notes

The Supreme People's Procuratorate reported in 2021 that in the first month after assaulting police was made a separate crime, 405 people were approved for arrest. Of Jiangsu's 42 cases, 47.6% were caused by drunken disturbances. Of Hubei's 16 cases, 12 involved only punching, kicking, and biting. Assaulting auxiliary police is handled as the crime of obstructing official duties. This section found no official case that clearly states individual case circumstances.

Sources

NPC Standing Committee (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Article 61). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; NPC Standing Committee (2020). Criminal Law Amendment (XI) (Article 31, i.e., Article 277, Paragraph 5 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/202012/t20201227_503682.shtml ; NPC (2020). Criminal Law (revised according to Criminal Law Amendment (XI), Article 277). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2025). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Assaulting Police (Gao Jian Fa Shi Zi [2025] No. 1, Articles 1, 8, 12). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbt/202501/t20250116_679579.… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2021). One Month After Assaulting Police Was Criminalized, Procuratorial Organs Approved 405 Arrests. https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbh/202105/t20210517_518308.…

18. If the other person is under 14, you cannot have sexual relations; "she consented" is not a reason

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

If the other person is under 14, regardless of whether she consents, it is handled as rape, and with heavier punishment; the basic sentence is 3 to 10 years. If the other person is under 12, you are always deemed to "should have known." For 12 to 14, as long as physical development, speech and behavior, and clothing show she might be a young girl, and you still proceed, you are deemed to have "known clearly." The exception of "truly did not know" is applied very strictly.

Cost

Costs no money. If the other person's age is uncertain, do not have sexual relations.

Benefit

Having sexual relations with a girl under 14 is handled as rape and punished more heavily, with a basic sentence of 3 to 10 years. The Supreme People's Court's position is this: if violence, coercion, or other compulsory means are used, regardless of whether you knew the other person was a young girl, it is rape. If no compulsory means are used, for those under 12 you are always deemed to "should have known." For 12 to 14, if physical development, speech and behavior, clothing, etc. show she might be a young girl, and you still proceed, you are deemed to have "known clearly." The exception of "truly did not know" is applied very strictly (nationwide)

Notes

The original text of the two supremes and two ministries' opinions on handling criminal cases of sexual assault against minors, and the page of the Supreme People's Court's 2003 reply, could not be opened when this section was written. Therefore, the standard for determining "known clearly" cites the reply on the Supreme People's Court's official website. The wording in the legal provision is "young girl." This section does not distinguish whether the person acting is male or female.

Sources

NPC (2020). Criminal Law (revised according to Criminal Law Amendment (XI), Article 236). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Court (2015). Reply on "Whether Knowing Is Required for Having Sexual Relations with a Girl Under 14 to Constitute a Crime." https://www.court.gov.cn/hudong/xiangqing/13363.html

19. Before hitting someone, calculate this account: detention, compensation, sentencing

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

The account for one instance of hitting someone: detention of 5 to 10 days, plus a fine of 500 to 1,000 yuan. Causing minor injury makes it a criminal case, punishable by up to 3 years; causing serious injury gets 3 to 10 years. Money is separate: one person broke three of the other party's ribs, paid 113,000 yuan in settlement, and only then was not prosecuted. Another person broke the other party's radius bone, did not pay, and was sentenced to 10 months.

Cost

Costs no money, and no time. The hard part is just those few seconds before using your hands.

Benefit

For hitting or intentionally injuring someone, detention of 5 to 10 days, plus a fine of 500 to 1,000 yuan. For group beatings, beating disabled people, pregnant women, the elderly, or children, repeated beatings, or beating several people at once, detention of 10 to 15 days, plus a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 yuan. Causing minor injury is the crime of intentional injury, punishable by up to 3 years of fixed-term imprisonment, criminal detention (short-term custody), or control (not custody but restricted movement). Causing serious injury gets 3 to 10 years. Civilly, you must also compensate medical expenses, lost wages (money lost from missing work), nursing expenses, transportation expenses, hospital food subsidies, and nutrition expenses. If you disable the person, you additionally compensate disability compensation. The formula for disability compensation is the per capita disposable income of urban residents in the location of the trial court for the previous year multiplied by 20 years. If the injured person is over 60, subtract one year for each additional year of age; for those over 75, calculate as 5 years. In 2022, procuratorial organs nationwide accepted over 70,000 minor injury cases, most caused by marriage, family, or neighbor disputes or accidental events. Supreme People's Procuratorate typical case: Lu broke three of the other party's ribs (minor injury level two), paid 113,000 yuan to reach a settlement, and only then was not prosecuted. Shi broke the other party's radius bone (minor injury level two), did not pay, and was sentenced to ten months of fixed-term imprisonment (nationwide, Public Security Administration Punishments Law effective January 1, 2026)

Notes

On how to avoid conflict, why striking first puts you at a disadvantage, and where the boundary of justifiable defense lies, see Section 8, Item 10 (conflict and justifiable defense). This section only calculates the account. For the account of attacking someone to vent anger, see Section 8, Items 11 to 14. For fights caused by civil disputes with relatively minor circumstances, police can mediate. If minor injury is caused, reaching a compensation agreement with the other party and actually paying can lead to lighter punishment, or even non-prosecution, but not a single cent of the compensation can be omitted. What degree of injury counts as minor injury is determined by appraisal standards; this section has not verified that. Lost wages and nursing expenses are calculated based on actual income and days missed; there is no unified figure.

Sources

NPC Standing Committee (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Articles 9, 51). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; NPC (1997). Criminal Law (Article 234). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Supreme People's Court (2022 revision). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Personal Injury Compensation Cases (Fa Shi [2022] No. 14, Articles 6 to 12, 15). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/357071.html ; Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security (2023). Guiding Opinions on Properly Handling Minor Injury Cases According to Law. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/xwfbh/wsfbt/202303/t20230302_604… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2023). Typical Cases of Procuratorial Organs Properly Handling Minor Injury Cases According to Law. https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/dxal/202303/t20230302_605116.s…

20. If you give birth to a child and cannot raise it, civil affairs registration is the only legal way out: taking money to give the child to someone may be sentenced as child trafficking; abandoning it is the crime of abandonment

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time medium; Willpower no; Benefit large

If you cannot raise it, there is a way out, but only one legal one: go to the civil affairs department to handle adoption registration; the adoptive relationship is established only from the date of registration. Giving the child to someone privately, especially taking money, may turn from "giving up for adoption" into the crime of child trafficking, with a starting sentence of 5 years or more. Abandoning the child and refusing to raise it, if the circumstances are egregious, is the crime of abandonment, punishable by up to 5 years.

Cost

Costs no money. To handle adoption registration at a civil affairs department at or above the county level, you must submit materials and wait for review and adoption assessment, which takes some time.

Benefit

Article 240 of the Criminal Law: "Whoever abducts and traffics in women or children shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than five years but not more than ten years and shall also be fined." If there are aggravating circumstances, the sentence is fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years or life imprisonment, and a fine or confiscation of property. "If the circumstances are especially serious, the sentence is death, and confiscation of property." Article 17 of the Opinions on Punishing the Crimes of Abducting and Trafficking in Women and Children According to Law addresses how to distinguish selling one's own child from private adoption. The criterion is "the key lies in whether the actor has the purpose of illegal profit." That is, whether there was an intent to make money from this. There are three circumstances that can be determined as selling one's own child, convicted as the crime of abducting and trafficking in women and children. The first is "using childbirth as a means of illegal profit, selling the child immediately after birth." The second is "knowing the other party has no purpose of raising the child, or not considering at all whether the other party has the purpose of raising the child, and 'giving' the child to others in order to collect money." The third is "giving the child to others in order to collect a huge amount of money that is clearly not 'nutrition fees' or 'thank-you fees.'" Conversely, if it is not for making money, is truly private adoption due to life difficulties, and only a small nutrition fee or thank-you fee is collected, it is private adoption and is not convicted as the crime of trafficking. Next, Article 261 of the Criminal Law: "Whoever refuses to fulfill the obligation of support for an elderly person, a young child, a sick person, or another person who cannot live independently, if the circumstances are egregious, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years, criminal detention, or control." Article 1094 of the Civil Code provides that only three types of people can be relinquishing parties: guardians of orphans, child welfare institutions, and biological parents who have special difficulties and are unable to raise their children. Article 1105: "Adoption shall be registered with the civil affairs department of the people's government at or above the county level. The adoptive relationship is established from the date of registration."

Notes

This section does not discuss whether to give birth; it only addresses the fork in the road after birth. For the easiest approach, follow this order. Step one, give birth in a hospital; for prenatal checkups and hospital delivery, see Section 27. The birth medical certificate is the prerequisite for all subsequent procedures. Step two, if you want to give the child up for adoption, go directly to the civil affairs department at or above the county level; do not go through an intermediary. Once money changes hands, the nature may change. Within one year after childbirth, if "thoughts of harming yourself or harming the child" appear, treat it as an emergency. For the checklist of when to go to the hospital immediately during pregnancy and postpartum, see Section 27, Item 7. The 42-day postpartum checkup is also postpartum depression screening; see Section 27, Item 16. When having suicidal thoughts, call 12356; see Section 1, Item 25. This section has no accompanying case: official typical cases of trafficking one's own biological child were not checked case by case in this round, so only the provisions and the original text of the opinions are cited.

Sources

NPC (1997). Criminal Law (Articles 240, 261). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Justice (2010). Opinions on Punishing the Crimes of Abducting and Trafficking in Women and Children According to Law (Fa Fa [2010] No. 7, Article 17). Supreme People's Court official website https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/977.html ; NPC (2020). Civil Code (Articles 1094, 1105). Yancheng Municipal People's Government reprint of the full text of the Adoption Part https://xxgk.yczf.gov.cn/xzf/ycmzj/fdzdgknr/fgwj_41995/2021…

21. Don't fabricate accidents or exaggerate losses to fraudulently claim insurance: this is insurance fraud, and the people who help you testify, help you repair the car, or help you appraise are counted together

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Fabricating an accident or exaggerating losses to fraudulently claim insurance is the crime of insurance fraud. If the amount is relatively large, the sentence is up to 5 years, plus a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 yuan. "Finding someone to help" does not exempt you either: people who help you testify, help you appraise, or help you assess property, if they intentionally issue false certificates, are convicted together with you as accomplices. In the Anhui Xuancheng case, Wang Moumou and 7 others were sentenced to 4 to 2 years, each fined 10,000 yuan.

Cost

Costs no money, and no time. What this section requires is simply not to do it.

Benefit

Article 198 of the Criminal Law lists five circumstances. (1) The policyholder intentionally fabricates the subject matter of insurance, that is, inventing an insured object that does not exist at all. (2) The policyholder, insured, or beneficiary fabricates a false cause for an occurred insured event, or exaggerates the degree of loss. (3) Fabricating an insured event that never occurred. (4) The policyholder or insured intentionally causes an insured event of property loss. (5) The policyholder or beneficiary intentionally causes the death, disability, or illness of the insured. If the amount is relatively large, the sentence is up to 5 years of fixed-term imprisonment or criminal detention, plus a fine of not less than 10,000 but not more than 100,000 yuan. If the amount is huge or there are other serious circumstances, the sentence is 5 to 10 years, plus a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 yuan. If the amount is especially huge or there are other especially serious circumstances, the sentence is 10 years or more, plus a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 yuan or confiscation of property. The final paragraph of this article also provides for how helpers are handled. It refers to appraisers, certifiers, and property assessors of insured events. If they intentionally issue false certification documents and create conditions for others to commit insurance fraud, they are handled as accomplices to insurance fraud. That is, they are convicted together with the person committing the fraud. Article 27 of the Insurance Law: if no insured event occurred but one falsely claims it did, the insurance company has the right to rescind the contract and does not refund the premium. If forged or altered certification materials are used, or a false cause of accident is fabricated or the degree of loss is exaggerated, the insurance company does not compensate the overstated portion, and any amount already paid must be returned or compensated. Case: In the Zhang Moumou case in Xuancheng, Anhui, Wang Moumou and 7 others were sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment ranging from 4 years to 2 years for insurance fraud, all additionally fined 10,000 yuan. In a false litigation arising from this case, the insurance company assessed losses at 20,000 yuan, and the party used a forged vehicle transfer agreement to obtain standing to sue; the court awarded over 70,000 yuan. This already effective civil judgment was revoked upon retrial on September 26, 2019. The Measures for Anti-Insurance Fraud Work require: both the policy-selling and claim-paying ends (underwriting end and claims end) must verify risk information. It is also necessary to explore the establishment of a multi-insurance industry anti-fraud information platform and an anti-fraud intelligence center. These platforms conduct centralized screening of suspicious fraud data. Leads are handed to industry associations, anti-fraud organizations, and insurance institutions for verification. Suspected crimes are promptly reported to public security organs. The National Financial Regulatory Administration and its dispatched offices shall establish and improve the linkage mechanism between administrative law enforcement and criminal justice. The linkage targets are public security organs, people's procuratorates, and people's courts (nationwide, issued July 31, 2024)

Notes

There are several seemingly harmless practices that actually fall within these five items. After a minor accident, asking a repair shop to "report a bit more." Including old injuries and old damage in this claim. Colliding with a friend on purpose and then reporting it. Fabricating one when nothing happened. For how to buy auto insurance, see Section 5, Item 26 (buy enough third-party liability insurance). The tier involving human life, that is, intentionally causing the death of a family member after insuring them, is explicitly subject to cumulative punishment for multiple crimes under the legal provision; see Section 8, Item 38 (insuring family members). The medical insurance side is a different set of rules; fraudulently swiping medical insurance cards or cashing out medical insurance personal accounts is handled as fraud; see the notes to Section 5, Item 13

Sources

NPC Standing Committee. Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China (consolidated text revised by Criminal Law Amendment XI) Article 198. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808181796a636a0179822a19… ; NPC Standing Committee (2015 revision). Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China Article 27. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf7c4… ; National Financial Regulatory Administration (2024). Notice on Issuing the Measures for Anti-Insurance Fraud Work. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2024/issue_11586/202409/content_… ; Anhui Provincial People's Procuratorate reprint of Legal Daily (2020-01-13). Killing Wife for Insurance Money Uncovers a Case Within a Case. http://www.ah.jcy.gov.cn/jczt/jjslhyqkjc/mtjj/202001/t20200…

22. Don't sell your own organs, and don't help others find donors: get just over 20,000 for a kidney, the same one resold for 200,000, the money will be confiscated and you'll be fined 10 to 20 times the transaction amount

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

There is no legal version of the "match online, pay on the spot" route. Living organs can only go to a spouse, a direct blood relative, or a collateral blood relative within three generations. The money math doesn't work out either: in that Beijing case, the person selling the kidney got 20,000 to 25,000 yuan, while the same kidney sold to a patient for 180,000 to 220,000. The money from the sale will also be confiscated, and then a fine of 10 to 20 times the transaction amount will be imposed. For the physical price to be paid after removing one kidney, see Section 1, Article 35 (the remaining kidney does the work of two).

Cost

Costs no money and takes no time. All this article requires is not doing it.

Benefit

Article 5 of the Regulations on Human Organ Donation and Transplantation: "No organization or individual may buy or sell human organs in any form, and no one may engage in activities related to the buying and selling of human organs." Article 10: "No organization or individual may obtain living organs from citizens under 18 years of age for transplantation." Article 11: "The recipient of a living organ is limited to the spouse, direct blood relative, or collateral blood relative within three generations of the living organ donor." Article 37 provides for how buying and selling human organs is punished. Those who buy or sell human organs or engage in activities related to the buying and selling of human organs shall be investigated and dealt with by the health departments of local people's governments at or above the county level. First, the illegal gains are confiscated, meaning all the money obtained from this transaction is taken away. Then a fine of not less than 10 times and not more than 20 times the transaction amount is imposed. If medical personnel are involved, their practice certificates are revoked and they are permanently banned from engaging in medical and health services. If a crime is constituted, criminal liability is pursued according to law (nationwide, effective May 1, 2024, and the original Regulations on Human Organ Transplantation were simultaneously repealed). Article 234-1 of the Criminal Law: "Whoever organizes others to sell human organs shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years and shall also be fined; if the circumstances are serious, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than five years and shall also be fined or have property confiscated." There are also three circumstances that are convicted and punished in accordance with Articles 234 and 232 of the Criminal Law. First, removing another person's organ without that person's consent. Second, removing the organ of a person under 18 years of age. Third, forcing or deceiving another person into donating an organ. These are handled as intentional injury or intentional homicide. Case one: the final appeal on August 20, 2014 by the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court in the case of Zheng Wei and 14 others, involving 51 kidneys and more than 10.34 million yuan. The people selling their kidneys (donors) "got only rewards ranging from 20,000 to 25,000 yuan." The price paid by the patients waiting for kidneys (recipients) was "previously 180,000 or 190,000 per kidney, later 210,000 or 220,000." The kidney removal site was a four-story small building rented for 7,500 yuan per month, and the gang's head nurse testified that the place was "filthy and messy, without even rescue equipment." The organizer Zheng Wei was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the crime of organizing the sale of human organs, and the other 14 people were sentenced to 3.5 to 9 years. Case two: the "teenager sells kidney to buy an Apple phone" case announced by the Supreme People's Procuratorate. On the evening of April 28, 2011, 17-year-old Wang had his right kidney removed in Chenzhou. The surgery site was provided by a contracted department in a hospital without transplantation qualifications. When discharged on May 2, he received 22,000 yuan, while the recipient side paid the intermediary 150,000 yuan and 10,000 US dollars, and the principal offender profited more than 56,000 yuan. After surgery, Wang had renal insufficiency, and "the injury constituted serious injury and grade-three disability."

Notes

The beneficiary is yourself. The real price of this transaction is not "get 20,000 at once," but trading an organ for a phone. The appraisal conclusion in the teenager kidney-selling case was serious injury and grade-three disability, not something that heals after a few months of rest. In that case, the prosecution found that five defendants violated Article 234, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law and charged them with intentional injury. One reason was that medical personnel removed the right kidney without verifying before surgery whether the "donor" was a minor. If the same thing happened today, those recruiting people would be handled for organizing the sale of human organs, and removing the organ of a person under 18 would still be convicted and punished as intentional injury under Article 234. Black-market intermediaries perform surgery in rented apartments or borrowed venues, with no evaluation beyond matching and no postoperative follow-up, and if complications arise, no one can be found to take responsibility. If you truly want to donate to a relative, take the route in Article 11: do it at a medical institution with transplantation qualifications, reviewed by an ethics committee, with no money charged throughout. Posthumous body organ donation is a different matter, is unpaid, and is outside the scope of this article. For the physical price to be paid after removing one kidney, see Section 1, Article 35 (the remaining kidney does the work of two). When you are short of money to the point of considering selling organs, first look at the fallback channels in Section 7 (unemployment insurance, temporary assistance, minimum living guarantee). For the pitfalls of online loans and "packaging materials" loans, see Article 6 of this section.

Sources

State Council (2023). Regulations on Human Organ Donation and Transplantation (State Council Order No. 767, Articles 5, 10, 11, and 37). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202312/content_6920196… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China (consolidated text amended by Amendment XI to the Criminal Law), Article 234-1. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808181796a636a0179822a19… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2012-04-09). "Teenager sells kidney to buy an Apple phone" case brought to court. https://www.spp.gov.cn/gs/201204/t20120409_34342.shtml ; reposted on the official website of the Langfang Intermediate People's Court of Hebei Province (2014-09-02). Final appeal in the nation's largest kidney-trafficking case: organizer removed 51 kidneys and profited tens of millions. https://lfzy.hebeicourt.gov.cn/article/detail/2014/09/id/14…

23. Don't solicit prostitutes: the default tier is 10 to 15 days of detention, not just a fine

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Medium

Getting caught is not just a fine. The default tier written in the law is 10 to 15 days of detention, and an additional fine of up to 5,000 yuan may be imposed. Only when the circumstances are relatively minor is it detention of up to 5 days or a fine of up to 1,000 yuan. In addition, if you know you have syphilis or gonorrhea and still solicit prostitutes, that is a crime, punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

Cost

Costs no money and takes no time. All this article requires is not doing it.

Benefit

Article 78 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law: Whoever engages in prostitution or solicits prostitutes shall be detained for not less than 10 days and not more than 15 days and may also be fined not more than 5,000 yuan. If the circumstances are relatively minor, the person shall be detained for not more than 5 days or fined not more than 1,000 yuan. Whoever solicits prostitutes in a public place shall be detained for not more than 5 days or fined not more than 1,000 yuan. Article 79: Whoever lures, shelters, or introduces another person into prostitution shall be detained for not less than 10 days and not more than 15 days and may also be fined not more than 5,000 yuan. If the circumstances are relatively minor, the person shall be detained for not more than 5 days or fined not less than 1,000 yuan and not more than 2,000 yuan. Article 87: If personnel of units such as hotels, catering services, cultural and entertainment businesses, and taxi businesses tip off offenders during public security organs' investigation of prostitution or solicitation of prostitutes, or otherwise provide conditions for the above activities, they shall be detained for not less than 10 days and not more than 15 days. Article 360 of the Criminal Law is the crime of spreading venereal diseases: whoever knowingly has serious venereal diseases such as syphilis or gonorrhea and engages in prostitution or solicits prostitutes shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years, criminal detention, or control, and shall also be fined (nationwide, the Public Security Administration Punishments Law takes effect on January 1, 2026).

Notes

The detention here is administrative detention; the person goes into a detention center, not just pays a fine and leaves. Finding someone to introduce people or providing a venue for others is punished as heavily as soliciting prostitutes yourself; the tier in Article 79 governs this. People working in hotels or KTVs who tip off clients are likewise detained for 10 to 15 days under Article 87. Article 360 of the Criminal Law originally also had a second paragraph, the "crime of prostituting a girl under the age of 14," which was deleted by Amendment (IX) to the Criminal Law in 2015; now such matters are directly punished as rape with a heavier penalty, see Article 18 of this section (if the other party is under 14, you cannot have sexual relations). Signs such as "home health care" or "massage and tuina" do not change the nature of the act; it is determined by what actually happened. The risk on the venereal disease and HIV side is another account, see Section 1, Article 30 (use condoms throughout sexual intercourse) and Section 13, Article 38 (go get post-exposure prophylaxis within 72 hours). For what to watch out for in entertainment venues themselves, see Section 22.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Articles 78, 79, and 87). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China (consolidated text amended by Amendment XI to the Criminal Law), Article 360. https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… (reposted by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Bureau); Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2015). Amendment (IX) to the Criminal Law (Article 43, deleting Article 360, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180205_364562.shtml

Evidence levels: A, B · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 10 · 18 suggestions

Is Dating and Marriage Worth It

[[High-Value Life Guide]]

This section breaks "is marriage worth it" into several separate accounts, calculated one by one. These accounts are money, time, health, legal risk, and relationship quality. Each account uses only numbers with traceable sources, limited to official statistics or meta-analyses (pooling data from multiple studies and recalculating). No moral judgments are made here, and no conclusions are drawn for you. The health accounts are calculated by mortality risk, the time accounts by how many minutes per day, and the legal accounts by what the statutes say. These three types of calculations are not converted into one another. For the account-breaking method, fill-in-the-blank checklist, and common misconceptions, see docs/结婚划不划算.md.

1. Meet more people, rather than fixating on one: whether two people are compatible cannot be predicted before meeting

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence some; Benefit medium

Two speed-dating studies had people fill out 100-plus mate-selection questionnaires before meeting. The questionnaires could only calculate who generally tends to like others and who is generally popular; they could not calculate whether these two specific people would have chemistry. Compatibility can only be known after meeting. So meeting more people is more worthwhile than betting on one person.

Cost

Costs no money. Time is spent meeting more people, not repeatedly mulling over the same person. The hard part is resisting the urge to fixate.

Benefit

In two speed-dating studies, participants first filled out 100-plus self-report scales related to mate selection (questionnaires where you rate yourself) before meeting. Researchers used random forest models (an algorithm for finding patterns) to calculate. They could calculate "how generally easy it is for a person to like others," and these questionnaires explained 4%–18% of the variance, where variance is the difference between people, and the questionnaires could only explain a small part of it. They could also calculate "how generally popular a person is," explaining 7%–27%. But "whether these two specific people would have chemistry" could not be calculated, no matter how the pre-meeting traits and preferences were combined. The same researchers had earlier conducted a speed-dating experiment. Participants reported their ideal-type preferences before the event, that is, what they said they valued—appearance or economic prospects. These preferences could not predict their interest in a specific person on site.

Notes

These two studies say "it cannot be calculated before meeting," not "no amount of effort works." Since compatibility can only be known after meeting, spend time meeting more people, actually meeting each one, which is more worthwhile than betting everything on one person. The study subjects were all European and American college students. China's dating environment is different, so discount accordingly when applying to yourself.

Sources

Joel S, Eastwick PW, Finkel EJ (2017). Is romantic desire predictable? Machine learning applied to initial romantic attraction. Psychological Science, 28(10), 1478-1489. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797617714580 ; Eastwick PW, Finkel EJ (2008). Sex differences in mate preferences revisited: do people know what they initially desire in a romantic partner? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94(2), 245-264. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.94.2.245

2. Stop after the other person clearly rejects you; continuing to pester is a public security violation, not "sincerity"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Persistence yes; Benefit medium

If the other person has clearly said no and you still send messages or still go wait for them, starting January 2026 this is a public security violation. You can be detained for up to 5 days, or fined up to 1,000 yuan. For more serious circumstances, detention of 5 to 10 days. Public security can also order you not to contact the other person, and violating that leads to another 5 to 10 days of detention.

Cost

Costs no money and no time. The hard part is holding back: no more messages, no more going to wait for them.

Benefit

The Public Security Administration Punishments Law, effective January 1, 2026, lists pestering and stalking as a separate item. The provision reads: "repeatedly sending obscene, insulting, intimidating, or other information, or adopting methods such as harassment, pestering, or stalking, to interfere with another person's normal life." Such behavior is punished by detention of up to five days, or a fine of up to one thousand yuan. For more serious circumstances, detention of five to ten days, and a fine of up to one thousand yuan may also be imposed. This item has an additional layer: with the approval of the person in charge of the public security organ, the perpetrator may be ordered not to contact the victim within a certain period. Violating the no-contact order leads to another five to ten days of detention.

Notes

"Persisting to the end will move the other person" has no research support, but detention and no-contact orders are in black and white. The record left behind also affects civil service exams, public institution exams, political review, and the qualifications for some professions. The line between pursuing someone and harassing someone does not depend on what you think, but on whether the other person has clearly said no.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025 revision). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (Article 50, Paragraph 1, Item 5; Paragraph 2). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml (reposted by the Supreme People's Procuratorate)

https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml

3. To judge whether the other person is interested, look at behavior, not "signals": who initiates, who arranges, who follows up

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit medium

Have 52 pairs of unfamiliar men and women talk for about ten minutes, then judge whether the other was flirting. The result was that "the other person was not flirting" was judged fairly accurately, while "the other person was flirting" could not be seen. Switching to 261 people watching videos to judge, the conclusion was the same. So do not guess expressions and tone; look at behavior: who initiates, who arranges the next time, and whether the other follows up when you do not push forward.

Cost

Costs no money and not much time. The hard part is changing habits: stop mulling over the other person's expressions and tone, and switch to recording facts.

Benefit

Two studies measured people's accuracy in recognizing flirting. The first had 52 pairs of unacquainted heterosexuals talk one-on-one for 10 to 12 minutes. After talking, each reported whether they had been flirting and whether they thought the other had been flirting. The result was that "interactions where no flirting occurred were judged more accurately, while interactions where flirting occurred were judged worse." The second used 26 one-minute videos, judged by 261 observers, with a consistent conclusion. People can fairly reliably see "the other person is not flirting," but have difficulty seeing "the other person is flirting."

Notes

Controversy. Other research argues that it is not that men overestimate women's sexual intent, but that women underreport their own intent when filling out questionnaires. Who judges more accurately remains unsettled. But both camps agree on one thing: inferring the other's thoughts from subtle cues like expressions and tone has very low accuracy. Visible behavior is far more reliable: whether the other initiates, whether they arrange the next time, and whether they follow up when you do not push forward.

Sources

Hall JA, Xing C, Brooks S (2015). Accurately detecting flirting: error management theory, the traditional sexual script, and flirting base rate. Communication Research, 42(7), 939-958. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650214534972 ; Perilloux C, Kurzban R (2015). Do men overperceive women's sexual interest? Psychological Science, 26(1), 70-77. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614555727 (controversy side)

4. Whether a relationship is good mainly depends on your own feelings in it, not on the other person's qualifications

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit medium

In an analysis of 29 laboratories and 43 paired longitudinal datasets, the things that best explained whether a relationship was good were all your own feelings, not the other person's qualifications. For example, your perceived commitment from the other, appreciation, and how much conflict there is. These self-reported items had two to four times the predictive power of partner-reported items. But whether the relationship will get better or worse going forward, no questionnaire can basically calculate.

Cost

Costs no money and not much time. The hard part is changing perspective: put away the mate-selection checklist and switch to looking at the process of being together.

Benefit

A machine learning analysis of 29 laboratories and 43 longitudinal paired datasets, where longitudinal means following the same batch of couples and recording all the way. The items that best predicted relationship quality all came from the parties' feelings about the relationship: perceived commitment from the other, appreciation, sexual satisfaction, perceived partner satisfaction, conflict. Among individual-related items, the strongest were life satisfaction, negative emotion, depression, avoidant attachment, and anxious attachment. These relationship items explained at most 45% of the variance at the start of the survey, that is, 45% of the differences in relationship quality between couples. By the end of the study, they explained at most 18%. Moreover, the predictive power of "self-reported items" was two to four times that of "partner-reported items." Adding individual differences and partner reports on top of self-reported relationship feelings added no predictive power at all.

Notes

The same study also found that whether the relationship gets better or worse next, that is, change during the study period, could basically not be calculated with any set of self-rated indicators in the questionnaire. So the usable part of this item is: to judge whether the current relationship is good, asking your own feelings is more accurate than checking the other person's qualification checklist. But do not expect to predict how it will be later. This is the same thing as the item in this section "Do not only ask whether emotional value exists"; this item gives the specific items.

Sources

Joel S, Eastwick PW, Allison CJ, et al. (2020). Machine learning uncovers the most robust self-report predictors of relationship quality across 43 longitudinal couples studies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(32), 19061-19071. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1917036117

https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1917036117

5. To get closer, take turns answering a set of increasingly deep questions, not learn pickup lines

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit small

Pair two strangers and have them take turns answering three sets of increasingly deep questions, 36 in total. After 45 minutes, the two people's sense of closeness was significantly higher than a control group that chatted for the same duration. What worked was taking turns telling the truth and going deeper layer by layer, not pickup lines. It only measures closeness within a short time, and does not mean it can develop into a long-term relationship.

Cost

Costs no money. Takes 45 minutes.

Benefit

Pair two unacquainted people and have them take turns answering three sets of progressively deeper questions, 36 in total. The questions range from "whom would you most like to invite to dinner" all the way to "when did you last cry in front of someone else." After 45 minutes, the sense of closeness was significantly higher than a control group doing the same duration of small talk. It was also higher than the average rating that college students in the study gave their own real-life closest relationships.

Notes

Only one experiment was done, with college students, measuring closeness within a short time, not whether it can develop into a long-term relationship. What is usable is its mechanism: closeness comes from two people taking turns and going deeper layer by layer in telling their true situation, not pickup lines, routines, or one-sided performance. So the effective move in conversation is "I say something real, and also ask a question of the same depth," and both sides take turns.

Sources

Aron A, Melinat E, Aron EN, Vallone RD, Bator RJ (1997). The experimental generation of interpersonal closeness: a procedure and some preliminary findings. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 23(4), 363-377. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167297234003

https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167297234003

6. Long distance is no worse than same city; the real hurdle is the first three months after moving in together

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money much; Time much; Persistence yes; Benefit medium

Long distance is actually more stable during the separation period, because seeing each other less makes it easy to imagine the other as better than they are. The real hurdle is after moving in together. In the tracking data, about half of long-distance couples reached the same-city stage, and the other half ended during the separation period. Of the half that reunited, one third broke up within 3 months.

Cost

Costs travel expenses and time on the road back and forth. Fewer meetings than same city. The hard part is enduring not seeing each other long term.

Benefit

Two studies give a consistent picture. Long-distance relationships are actually more stable than same-city relationships during the separation period. The reason is that in long-distance relationships, the degree of imagining the other as better than they are is significantly higher; the study measured idealization distortion, romantic love, relationship memories, and perceived agreement. And the less they meet, the more beautiful the imagining. But this stability only holds while both sides are still apart. Once they become same-city, long-distance partners are more likely to break up. The study tracking long-distance-to-same-city transitions gives these proportions: about half of long-distance couples reached the stage of moving in together, and the other half ended during the separation period. Of the half that reunited, one third broke up within 3 months after reuniting. The longer the meeting interval during separation and the stronger the idealization, the less stable after reuniting.

Notes

The subjects were American college students' romantic relationships, not including marriage, and the era is earlier, so do not directly apply the absolute proportions. Another study surveyed 717 people in long-distance relationships and 425 in same-city relationships. The quality difference between the two types of relationships was very small. Whether a relationship is good depends on each person's own situation and the relationship itself, not distance. The usable conclusion is: whether to be long distance, do not use "long distance definitely falls apart" as a reason. What to prepare in advance is the few months after reuniting, when autonomous space decreases, mutual understanding increases, and conflict and jealousy also increase.

Sources

Stafford L, Merolla AJ, Castle JD (2006). When long-distance dating partners become geographically close. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 23(6), 901-919. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407506070472 ; Stafford L, Merolla AJ (2007). Idealization, reunions, and stability in long-distance dating relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 24(1), 37-54. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407507072578 ; Dargie E et al. (2015). Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 41(2), 181-202. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2013.864367 (the long-distance study in the notes)

7. Look at registration data first, then listen to elders: what the marriage rate and divorce rate each mean

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit small

In 2024, 6.106 million couples registered marriages nationwide, down by two tenths from the previous year, and 3.513 million divorces were processed. The online claim that "the divorce rate is over half" divides these two numbers, about 57.5%. But they are not the same batch of people, and cannot be read as "half of marriages will end in divorce." In the bulletin, the marriage rate is 4.3‰ and the divorce rate is 2.5‰; the denominator is the total population, not the married population.

Cost

Costs no money. Reading the marriage registration section of the Ministry of Civil Affairs annual bulletin takes a few minutes.

Benefit

In 2024, 6.106 million couples registered marriages nationwide according to law, down 20.5% from the previous year, with a marriage rate of 4.3‰. In the same year, 3.513 million couples completed divorce procedures according to law, of which 2.622 million were registered divorces at civil affairs departments and 891,000 were court judgments and mediated divorces, with a divorce rate of 2.5‰. The bulletin notes that the marriage (divorce) rate = number of marriage (divorce) couples in the year / average total population in the year × 1000‰. This is a "crude rate," and the denominator is the total population, not the married population.

Notes

The common online "divorce rate above 50%" divides the number of divorces in the year by the number of marriages in the year, 351.3 / 610.6 ≈ 57.5%. This is called the "divorce-to-marriage ratio." The two numbers divided are not the same batch of people, and the bulletin does not have this indicator, so it cannot be read as "half of marriages will end in divorce." To calculate "the probability that a marriage eventually ends in divorce," you have to track the same batch of married people all the way; this section did not find such official data.

Sources

Ministry of Civil Affairs (2025). 2024 Statistical Bulletin on the Development of Civil Affairs (V(2)1 Marriage Registration Services, Note 5), web version and PDF version. https://www.mca.gov.cn/n1288/n1294/n1554/c16620049999800061… , https://www.mca.gov.cn/gdnps/n2445/n2451/n2458/n2681/c16620…

8. Count health benefits, but discount them according to observational data

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit small

Married people have about a 12% lower probability of dying in the same period than unmarried people, and never-married people are about 24% higher than married people. But this is only two things appearing at the same time, not an effect of marriage. People who are already healthy, have high income, and have more social connections are both more likely to marry and more likely to live longer. These numbers basically come from Europe and America, and for China can only serve as an order-of-magnitude reference.

Cost

Costs no money and no time. Just remember one thing: these numbers say that among married people the mortality rate is lower, that two things appear at the same time, not that marriage makes you live longer.

Benefit

A meta-analysis of older adults, pooling multiple studies and recalculating, with 53 comparisons and more than 250,000 people. Married relative to unmarried all-cause mortality RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.85–0.91 (RR is risk ratio, CI is confidence range). That is, about 12% lower probability of dying in the same period. In the same study, widowed 1.11, divorced or separated 1.16, never married 1.11, that is, about 11%, 16%, and 11% higher respectively. No difference between men and women. The most conservative estimate is RR 0.94, that is, only about 6% lower. Another meta-analysis compared unmarried (never married) relative to married, using 95 papers and more than 500 million people. The result was HR 1.24 (1.19–1.30), that is, about 24% higher probability of dying in the same period. And the older the age, the smaller the gap. There is also a meta-analysis split by sex, 21 studies and more than 7.89 million people: for both men and women, unmarried status appeared together with total mortality, cancer mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. For men, the gaps in cardiovascular mortality and total mortality were larger. Unmarried men relative to unmarried women had 31% more stroke deaths and 9% more all-cause deaths.

Notes

The controversy is that married people are themselves selected: people who are healthy, have high income, and have more social connections are both more likely to marry and more likely to live longer. The three meta-analyses all used observational data from existing populations, only tracking records, with no grouped control. The authors themselves also wrote that there was publication bias or methodological limitations. Roelfs also found that the more rigorous the study, the smaller the calculated gap. These numbers are mainly from European and American populations, and for China can only serve as an order-of-magnitude reference.

Sources

Manzoli L, et al. (2007). Marital status and mortality in the elderly: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Soc Sci Med 64:77–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.08.031 ; Roelfs DJ, et al. (2011). The rising relative risk of mortality for singles: meta-analysis and meta-regression. Am J Epidemiol 174(4):379–389. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwr111 ; Wang Y, et al. (2020). Sex differences in the association between marital status and the risk of cardiovascular, cancer, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 7,881,040 individuals. Glob Health Res Policy 5:4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-020-00133-8

9. Count the time account as "unpaid labor"; talk through the division of labor before getting the marriage certificate

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

In the national time use survey, unpaid work such as housework and caring for family members averaged 1 hour 52 minutes per day for men and 3 hours 29 minutes for women. The survey did not group by marital status, so there is no official figure for "how much more housework there is after marriage"; this gender gap can only serve as an upper-bound reference. The division of labor can be negotiated into something different before getting the certificate.

Cost

Costs no money. Spend one or two hours before marriage to negotiate a clear division of unpaid work such as housework, caring for the elderly and children, and whose job gives way, then follow the division afterward. The hard part is laying everything out and talking it through, rather than putting it off without saying anything.

Benefit

2024 national time use survey. Unpaid labor refers to unpaid work such as housework and accompanying and caring for family members. Among those who did such work that day, the daily average was 2 hours 45 minutes, with men at 1 hour 52 minutes and women at 3 hours 29 minutes. The proportion of people who did such work in a day was 67.5% for men and 83.9% for women. Household chores averaged 1 hour 17 minutes per day for residents; counting only those who did them, 1 hour 59 minutes, 28 minutes less than in 2018. Accompanying and caring for family members averaged 30 minutes per day; counting only those who did it, 1 hour 46 minutes. The 2018 figures were: household chores 45 minutes for men and 2 hours 6 minutes for women; accompanying and caring for children 17 minutes for men and 53 minutes for women

Notes

Both surveys only grouped by gender, urban-rural residence, and age, not by marital status. So there is no official figure for "how much more housework there is after marriage"; only the gender gap can be used as an upper-bound reference. The figures are national averages; the division of labor between the two of you can absolutely be negotiated into something different, and that is precisely the value of talking it through

Sources

National Bureau of Statistics (2024). Third National Time Use Survey Bulletin (No. 2, No. 3). https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202410/t20241031_1957216.html , https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202410/t20241031_1957215.html ; National Bureau of Statistics (2019). 2018 National Time Use Survey Bulletin. https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202302/t20230203_1900224.html

10. For the money account, first look at the legal default rules, then decide whether to make a written agreement

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

If you do not sign a written agreement, the legal default is that wages and bonuses earned after marriage, business and investment income, and inherited or gifted property all belong to both spouses jointly. Only premarital property, or property that a will or gift contract specifies is given to only one party, is separate personal property. The two of you may make a written agreement that each keeps their own property, and once signed it is binding. The party who contributed more by caring for children and the elderly may request compensation upon divorce.

Cost

Costs no money. Read once through the provisions on property in the Marriage and Family section of the Civil Code. If needed, the two of you sign a written property agreement; the law only requires it to be in writing, not notarized. The hard part is bringing up the money matter in advance.

Benefit

The default rules absent a separate agreement are: wages, bonuses, and remuneration for labor earned after marriage, income from production and business operations and investment, income from intellectual property, and inherited or gifted property belong to the husband and wife jointly (Article 1062). Premarital property, compensation for personal injury, property that a will or gift contract clearly gives to only one party, and daily necessities for one party's exclusive use are personal property (Article 1063). Both parties may agree in writing that premarital and postmarital property be owned separately, jointly, or partly separately and partly jointly, and this agreement is legally binding on both parties (Article 1065). The party who bears more obligations due to raising children, caring for the elderly, or assisting the other party's work has the right to request compensation upon divorce (Article 1088)

Notes

There are no official statistics on bride price, weddings, or marital housing, so this item does not include figures. As for how much compensation is given under Article 1088, the two parties first negotiate it themselves; if they cannot agree, a court decides, and there is no fixed formula. A written property agreement works for both sides: the higher-earning party can use it, and the party who does more unpaid work such as housework and caregiving can use it too

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code of the People's Republic of China (effective January 1, 2021, Articles 1062, 1063, 1065, 1088). National Database of Laws and Regulations https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?title=%E4%B8%AD%E5%8D%8E%E4%B… ; for the full text of the provisions, see the Supreme People's Court Gazette reprint http://gongbao.court.gov.cn/Details/7f184078694d811fb3314f6…

11. When parents contribute money to buy a house, make clear at the time of transfer whether it is a loan or a gift

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Large

If parents contribute money to buy a house before marriage, by default it counts as a gift to their own child alone. Money given after marriage without an agreement is treated as joint property. Starting in February 2025, if one spouse's parents provide the full amount during the marriage and the gift contract does not state that it is only for their own child, a court may award the house to the contributing party's child upon divorce, then decide whether to compensate the other party. If it is to be handled as a loan, write it clearly on the same day and have both parties sign.

Cost

Costs no money. On the day of contribution, write a one-page statement specifying whether the money is a gift to whom or a loan to whom. Both the contributing parents and the child sign. If it is written as a loan, have both spouses sign. Write the same sentence in the transfer note.

Benefit

If parents contribute to buying a house for both parties before marriage, it is recognized as a gift to their own child individually. The exception is when the parents clearly express that it is a gift to both. For contributions after marriage, follow the agreement if there is one. If there is no agreement or the agreement is unclear, handle it according to the principle of joint marital property. There is also a provision effective February 1, 2025. If during the marriage one spouse's parents provide the full amount and the gift contract does not state that it is only a gift to their own child. Upon division in divorce, a court may rule that the house belongs to the contributing parents' child. After so ruling, it then comprehensively considers several factors to determine whether to compensate the other party and how much. These factors are the circumstances of living together and having children together, fault in the divorce, the size of contributions to the family, and the market price of the house at divorce. If one spouse's parents contributed part of the funds, or both spouses' parents contributed, the court rules it belongs to one party based on the source and proportion of contributions and provides reasonable compensation (nationwide)

Notes

This item is useful for both sides. Parents who contribute no longer need to hope for a retroactive IOU at divorce to protect their contribution. After Interpretation (II) takes effect, who paid the money is itself the basis for dividing the house, and whose name is on the deed no longer determines ownership. The party receiving the contribution also does not have to wait until divorce to know what this money counts as. If it is to be handled as a loan, truly handle it as a loan: both parties agree it is a loan, agree on how to repay, state it in the transfer, and if necessary keep repayment records. If any one of these is missing, it will have to be explained in court

Sources

Supreme People's Court (2020). Interpretation (I) on the Application of the Marriage and Family Section of the Civil Code (Fa Shi [2020] No. 22, Article 29). https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/282071.html ; Supreme People's Court (2025). Interpretation (II) on the Application of the Marriage and Family Section of the Civil Code (Fa Shi [2025] No. 1, Article 8). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/452771.html ; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 1062, Paragraph 1, Item 4). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

12. Large loans borrowed by one spouse do not automatically become your debt if you did not sign and did not ratify them

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

Money borrowed by a spouse behind your back does not automatically become your debt as long as it clearly exceeds the family's daily expenses and you did not sign or acknowledge it afterward. The creditor must prove that the money was used for shared living or shared business operations. But if money for something like buying a house did indeed become a home you live in together or jointly own, the other side can often prove that level.

Cost

Costs no money. Do not sign "co-borrower" or "guarantor" on a spouse's IOU or guarantee. Also do not write things like "we will repay this money" in chats, as it may be treated as your subsequent acknowledgment of the debt. The hard part is holding back from responding when pressed for payment.

Benefit

Money borrowed under the following circumstances is joint marital debt. First, it is signed by both spouses jointly. Second, one party ratifies it afterward, that is, acknowledges the debt afterward and both acknowledge it. Third, one party during the marriage borrows in their own name for the needs of the family's daily life. Money borrowed by one party in their own name that clearly exceeds the family's daily expenses is not joint marital debt. The exception is when the creditor (the party seeking repayment) can prove that the money was used for the couple's shared living, shared production and business operations, or is a debt acknowledged by both. Money for buying a house clearly exceeds the needs of the family's daily life, and the burden of proof is on the party asserting the claim, that is, the creditor must produce evidence themselves. But conversely, if this money did indeed become a house the couple lives in together or jointly owns, the creditor can often prove the level of "used for the couple's shared living." So what is truly useful is the step in item 11 (writing clearly whether parents' contribution is a loan or a gift) (nationwide, from 2021)

Notes

When dividing property in divorce, if the other party's parents suddenly produce a loan agreement signed only by the spouse, it should be examined in two steps. The first step is whether the loan actually occurred. If you say the money was never handed over and can give a coherent reason, the court will judge based on several things together. It will look at the loan amount, how the money was delivered, and both parties' financial capacity. It will also look at how transactions were usually conducted, whether property changed correspondingly, and what witnesses say. If the other party can only produce a transfer receipt, they still must prove that the loan was established. The second step, after the loan is established, is to see whether it is joint debt. For the general rules on IOUs and guarantees, see Section 8, item 18

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 1064). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; Supreme People's Court (second amendment in 2020). Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Private Lending Cases (Articles 15, 16). http://gongbao.court.gov.cn/Details/94b6623974526df7d2430a3… (Supreme People's Court Gazette)

13. Getting the marriage certificate only requires an ID card plus a signed declaration, no household register, no fee, issued on the spot

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Small

Starting in May 2025, getting the certificate requires only two things: your own ID card, plus a signed declaration. The declaration states that you have no spouse and that you and the other party are not directly related by blood or collateral relatives within three generations. The household register is no longer needed, and you do not need to return to one party's place of household registration to handle it. Registration charges not a single cent, and if conditions are met the certificate is issued on the spot.

Cost

Costs no money. Both people must appear in person. It usually takes a few dozen minutes to complete.

Benefit

The new Marriage Registration Regulation effective May 10, 2025 changed the materials required for mainland residents to marry. The provision states that only two things need to be produced: "(1) one's own resident ID card; (2) one's own signed declaration that one has no spouse and has no direct blood relationship or collateral blood relationship within three generations with the other party." The household register is no longer a required material. The registration authority is "the civil affairs department of the county-level people's government or the township (town) people's government determined by the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government according to the principle of convenience." The restriction in the old regulation to "the place of habitual residence of one party" has been abolished. The regulation also states that "marriage registration authorities shall not charge fees for handling marriage registration," and that "if the parties meet the conditions for marriage, registration shall be made on the spot and the marriage certificate issued"

Notes

There are only four situations in which the registration authority will not process it: not reaching the legal marriage age, not being entirely voluntary for both parties, one or both parties already having a spouse, and the two being directly related by blood or collateral relatives within three generations. The only things that may charge fees are peripheral services such as photography and photocopying. Registration itself charges not a single cent; if you encounter a "certificate fee" or "expedited fee," refuse directly and complain. For the 30-day cooling-off period for divorce registration, see the exit cost item in this section

Sources

State Council (2025). Marriage Registration Regulation (State Council Order No. 804, Articles 2, 6, 8, 10). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202504/content_7017752…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202504/content_7017752…

14. Do a premarital medical examination once before marriage; major diseases must be truthfully disclosed to the other party before registration

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money Little; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

If one has a major disease and does not truthfully disclose it to the other party before registration, the other party may go to court to request annulment of the marriage. This must be raised within one year from the date of knowing. The premarital examination itself has not been a prerequisite for getting the certificate since 2003; whether to go is voluntary. The cost depends on local policy and takes half a day.

Cost

In most regions it is free or reduced for people of marriageable age. Paying out of pocket is only a few hundred yuan. It takes half a day.

Benefit

The legal consequences of concealment are clear. The new Marriage Registration Regulation provides that "if one party suffers from a major disease, they shall truthfully inform the other party before marriage registration; if they fail to truthfully inform, the other party may, in accordance with Article 1053 of the Civil Code, request the people's court to annul the marriage." The state treats premarital examination as the first line of defense for preventing birth defects. The current goal is that "the premarital medical examination rate and the coverage rate of the target population for pre-pregnancy eugenic health examinations remain above 70% and 80% respectively." The document also requires "promoting the nearby establishment of premarital medical examination institutions and marriage registration venues for the convenience of the public," and promoting "one-stop services for marriage registration, premarital medical examination, and fertility guidance." The Civil Code provides that if one party suffers from a major disease, they shall truthfully inform the other before marriage registration; if they fail to truthfully inform, the other party may request the people's court to annul the marriage. A request to annul a marriage shall be raised within one year from the date of knowing or should have known the grounds for annulment

Notes

Premarital examination has not been a mandatory step before getting the certificate since 2003; whether to go is voluntary. But the provision that "one who has a major disease and fails to truthfully disclose it" does indeed give the other party the right to go to court to annul the marriage, and this must be raised within one year from the date of knowing. Whether it is free and which items are checked are determined by each locality; ask at the local maternal and child health institution or the one-stop window at the marriage registration office. TODO (to be verified: the unified document basis and coverage scope of the national-level free premarital examination policy)

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 1053). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; State Council (2025). Marriage Registration Regulation (State Council Order No. 804, Article 12). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202504/content_7017752… ; General Office of the National Health Commission (2023). Birth Defect Prevention and Control Capacity Improvement Plan (2023–2027) (Guo Wei Ban Fu You Fa [2023] No. 9). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202308/content_6900320…

15. Do not just ask whether there is "emotional value"; look at relationship quality

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Medium

A synthesis of 126 studies and more than 72,000 people shows that the higher the marital quality, the better the health. But this association is very weak, on a scale similar to the impact of health behaviors such as diet on health. The usable part is: whether the relationship is good should be judged by several conflicts and several months of getting along, not by checking off a list of conditions. As for "whether a bad marriage is worse than not marrying," there is no direct comparative data.

Cost

Costs no money. Before marriage, use several conflicts and several months of getting along to assess relationship quality; do not just check off a list of conditions. The hard part is holding back from judging by the list.

Benefit

A meta-analysis of 126 studies and more than 72,000 people shows that the higher the marital quality, the better the health. The effect size r ranges from 0.07 to 0.21. r is the degree to which two things change in sync; 0 is no relationship at all, and 1 is completely in sync. Among these, mortality risk r = 0.11, and cardiovascular response during conflict r = −0.13. This magnitude is comparable to the impact of health behaviors such as diet on health. Among studies that explicitly tested gender differences, basically no differences between men and women were found. A review in the cardiovascular field points out that marital dissatisfaction and marital quality have a significant impact on cardiovascular risk

Notes

The controversy is that this association itself is very weak. Some results have publication bias. Moreover, most studies surveyed at only one point in time and cannot tell who causes whom; Robles's original text itself lists these limitations. This item did not find a meta-analysis directly comparing mortality rates between "low-quality marriage" and "unmarried," so "a bad marriage is worse than not marrying" can currently only be considered an inference, not a numerical conclusion

Sources

Robles TF, et al. (2014). Marital quality and health: a meta-analytic review. Psychol Bull 140(1):140–187. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031859 ; Dhindsa DS, et al. (2020). Marital status and outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. Trends Cardiovasc Med 30(4):215–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcm.2019.05.012

16. Calculate the exit cost: consensual divorce has a 30-day cooling-off period, and litigated divorce has statutory conditions

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

Consensual divorce is not finished once signed. Within 30 days after submitting the application, either party may withdraw. After the period expires, both people must appear in person within another 30 days to collect the divorce certificate; if they do not go, it is deemed withdrawn. If the other party does not agree, one can only sue. The court first mediates, and only if there are circumstances such as domestic violence, bigamy, or separation for a full two years, and mediation fails, does it grant the divorce.

Cost

Costs no money. Spend some time before marriage reading through: if you need to exit, how long it takes and what procedures to follow. The hard part is thinking about breaking up before getting married.

Benefit

Consensual divorce requires signing a written divorce agreement and applying in person to the marriage registration authority (Article 1076). Within 30 days from the date the registration authority receives the application, either party may withdraw. Within 30 days after the period expires, both parties must appear in person to apply for the divorce certificate; failure to apply is deemed withdrawal (Article 1077). If one party does not agree, litigation is used, and the court should first mediate. If there are circumstances such as bigamy or cohabitation with another person, domestic violence or abuse and abandonment, repeated gambling or drug use that is not corrected, or separation for a full two years due to incompatibility, and mediation is ineffective, divorce shall be granted. If divorce is not granted and the parties then live separately for a full year, and one sues again, divorce shall be granted (Article 1079). In 2024, there were 3.513 million divorces nationwide, of which 891,000 went through court judgment or mediation

Notes

The cooling-off period applies only to consensual divorce. Litigated divorce has no cooling-off period, but the cycle is longer. Litigation fees and lawyer fees vary by locality, so this item does not include figures. A high exit cost is not a reason not to marry, but it should be known before marriage

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code of the People's Republic of China (Articles 1076, 1077, 1079). http://gongbao.court.gov.cn/Details/7f184078694d811fb3314f6… ; Ministry of Civil Affairs (2020). Notice on Implementing the Provisions on Marriage Registration in the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China (Min Fa [2020] No. 116). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2020-12/04/content_556… ; Ministry of Civil Affairs (2025). 2024 Statistical Bulletin on the Development of Civil Affairs. Bibliographic entry same as item 7 (what are the scopes of the marriage rate and divorce rate)

17. Keep a separate account for "marrying for the elders' sake"; don't mix it with your own account

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Medium

The benefit that goes to the elders—peace of mind, face, no more nagging—is real. But it does not automatically turn into health benefits or relationship quality for you. And the three accounts—time, money, and exit cost—are all borne by you alone. Draw two columns on paper: write down which benefits go to you and which go to the elders. Whether this deal is worth it will be obvious at a glance.

Cost

Costs no money. Write two columns on paper. One column is which benefits in this marriage are yours; the earlier items in this section can help you work them out. The other column is which benefits belong to the elders: peace of mind, face, the nagging stops. The hard part is keeping the elders' column separate and not merging it into your own.

Benefit

The elders' benefits are real. But they do not automatically convert into your health benefits (item 8) or relationship quality (item 15). And the time account (item 9), money account (items 10 to 12), and exit cost (item 16) are all borne by the person involved. Once the accounts are kept separate, whether "task-style marriage" is cost-effective or not is obvious at a glance; you don't need someone else to judge for you.

Note

This item does not draw a conclusion for you; the elders' account can also be counted as a very heavy one. For the fill-in checklist, see docs/结婚划不划算.md

Source

Author's experience, methodological advice; for the data portion, see the earlier items in this section

18. Treat relationship quality as a health account: when arguing, focus on the issue, not the person; don't insult, don't dig

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Small

Couples with a good relationship are somewhat healthier and have a somewhat lower risk of death. This association is small, about as large as the association between diet and health. In one experiment, couples who remained hostile during arguments healed experimental small wounds at only 60% of the speed of calm couples.

Cost

Costs no money. During an argument, talk only about the matter at hand; don't insult, don't dig, don't bring up old scores. The hard part is holding your tongue when you're angry.

Benefit

Pooling 126 studies and more than 72,000 people (meta-analysis). The higher the marital quality, the better the health, with correlation coefficients r between .07 and .21. A correlation coefficient of 0 means no relationship at all; 1 means perfectly in sync. The correlation with lower mortality risk was r = .11. Smaller cardiovascular response during arguments, r = -.13. The authors say these effects are all small, about as large as the association between health habits such as diet and health. In another crossover experiment, 42 healthy couples were each hospitalized twice, 24 hours each time. Once they had a mutually supportive conversation, once they discussed a point of disagreement. After arguing, experimental blister wounds healed more slowly. Couples who showed more hostility in both sessions healed wounds at only 60% of the speed of low-hostility couples. On the morning after the argument, their blood inflammatory markers (IL-6, tumor necrosis factor) also rose more.

Note

Reason for rating B: most of the pooled studies were only follow-up observations, without grouped controls. So it is impossible to tell whether a bad relationship makes people sick or poor health makes the relationship worse. Some studies found the association remained after adjusting for age and income. The wound experiment had only 42 couples. "Focus on the issue, not the person; don't insult, don't dig" is a practice the author inferred from the "hostile behavior" in the experiment; no study has directly compared it. If arguments are fierce and cannot be changed, the two of you can go to couples and family therapy together, though this is not backed by separately listed literature either. If arguments escalate to physical force, or there is long-term verbal abuse or threats, it is no longer a communication problem—it is domestic violence; see item 43 in section 8 (being a victim of domestic violence). To think clearly about whether to leave, see item 16 in this section for exit cost (exit cost).

Source

Robles TF, Slatcher RB, Trombello JM, McGinn MM (2014). Marital quality and health: a meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031859 ; Kiecolt-Glaser JK et al. (2005). Hostile marital interactions, proinflammatory cytokine production, and wound healing. Archives of General Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.62.12.1377

Evidence levels: A, B, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 11 · 17 suggestions

Red Lines That Programmers and Tech People Easily Cross

[[The High-Value Life Guide]]

The framing of this section is personal freedom and money—that is, what these things buy back is "not getting locked up" and "not losing money." People who write code and do tech often treat the following things as "just technical problems." In reality, they correspond to specific charges in criminal law, or to a specific sum of money owed in civil cases. Each item gives the numbers from the legal provisions, along with cases published on the official websites of the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Supreme People's Court. The criminal law citations are from the consolidated text reposted by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Bureau, i.e., the version "amended in accordance with Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law." The items are ordered from high to low by "what tech people most easily assume is no big deal × the heaviest consequences." Item 1 is a general one, covering how to judge before acting and what to do first after something happens.

1. Before acting, ask three questions: whose interests are harmed, how capable the other party is of pursuing it, and how much evidence I've left; once pursued, find a criminal lawyer immediately

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Framing freedom; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Payoff large

Before acting, ask one question: will the vendor, platform, or company report it to the police. Server logs, payment records, and group chat records can all be pulled during an investigation. If you're actually criminally detained, a decision on whether to arrest you is made within a maximum of 37 days. From the first interrogation, you can hire a lawyer, and these 37 days are the most useful time to find a criminal lawyer.

Cost

No money spent. Before acting, replace "can it be done technically" with another question: will the vendor, platform, or company report it to the police. The hard part is resisting the thought "nobody cares about something this small"—server logs, payment records, and group chat records are by default all pulled during an investigation.

Payoff

Any unit or individual who discovers facts of a crime has the right to report it. If the investigating authority believes there are facts of a crime, it shall open a case. After criminal detention, the police must, within 3 days, request approval for arrest—that is, apply to the procuratorate for formal arrest. Under special circumstances, this can be extended by 1 to 4 days. For circumstances such as committing crimes while on the run (committing crimes continuously across locations), it can be extended to 30 days. The procuratorate then takes 7 days to decide. Altogether, whether to arrest is decided within a maximum of 37 days. From the first interrogation, or from when compulsory measures are taken (detention, arrest, and the like), you can entrust a lawyer. While the case is still in the police's investigation stage, you can only entrust a lawyer. If the lawyer requests a meeting, the detention center must arrange it within 48 hours at the latest. If the possible sentence is a lighter punishment than imprisonment, such as public surveillance or criminal detention, or if only supplementary punishments are imposed and no principal punishment, you can be released on bail pending trial—that is, pay a deposit or find a guarantor and go home first to wait for the case to proceed. Bail pending trial lasts a maximum of 12 months (nationwide).

Notes

These 37 days count from detention to the procuratorate's decision on whether to approve arrest, not the upper limit of custody. After arrest approval, there is still the custody period during investigation, which continues from there. What a knowledgeable lawyer is most useful for is also these 37 days: meeting the person, submitting an opinion to the procuratorate that "arrest should not be approved," and applying for release on bail pending trial. Finding a lawyer after indictment is too late. The rest of the items in this section all talk about the same thing: whether the other party has grounds to report it.

Sources

National People's Congress (2018). Criminal Procedure Law (2018 amendment, Articles 34, 39, 67, 79, 91, 110, 112). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/201810/t20181027_396818.shtml

https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/201810/t20181027_396818.shtml

2. Don't make or sell game cheats and assists, including "screen-reading only, no memory access" AI assists

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Framing freedom; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Payoff large

Selling to 20 instances, or earning 5,000 yuan, is enough for "serious circumstances," punishable by up to 3 years. Especially serious cases are punishable by 3 to 7 years. Someone made wallhack and aimbot cheats, sold over 80,000 yuan worth in 3 months and earned over 30,000 yuan himself, and was sentenced to 1 year suspended for 1 year plus a 5,000 yuan fine. Someone who obtained server-side programs to run a private server and collected over 20 million yuan in top-ups was sentenced to 4 years, with a fine of up to 10 million yuan.

Cost

No money spent. The price is giving up income from this kind of contract work and "little tools." The hard part is that this money comes fast, and it's hard to see who would come after you.

Payoff

Providing programs or tools specifically used to intrude into or illegally control computer information systems, if circumstances are serious, is punishable by up to 3 years, with a concurrent or standalone fine—that is, a fine alongside the sentence, or a fine only. If circumstances are especially serious, 3 to 7 years with a concurrent fine. The threshold for "serious circumstances" is providing tools to 20 instances or more, or illegal gains of 5,000 yuan or more. Illegal gains are the money earned from this. Intentionally bypassing or destroying technical protection measures set by the rights holder may also constitute the crime of copyright infringement, punishable by up to 3 years, or 3 to 10 years if serious. Official case: Wang and others made and sold cheats that achieved wallhacks and aimbots by reading and modifying game memory. They sold over 80,000 yuan worth in 3 months and profited over 30,000 yuan. Sentenced to 1 year suspended for 1 year plus a 5,000 yuan fine. Suspended for 1 year means a 1-year sentence but not imprisoned first; if you don't reoffend during that year, you don't have to serve the prison time. Xiang and others sold the "TZ" series of cheats with sales of over 200,000 yuan; Xiang was sentenced to 3 years suspended for 3 years plus a 20,000 yuan fine. Liu and others obtained game server-side programs, modified parameters, and ran a private server. They collected over 20 million yuan in top-ups. Sentenced to 4 years down to 2 years 6 months, with fines of 10 million down to 1.3 million yuan (nationwide).

Notes

The published cheat cases all involve reading and writing game memory and bypassing anti-cheat. "Screenshot-only, keypress-simulation-only" assists have not yet seen official cases. But the ticket-scalping case in item 3 shows that not touching memory and only sending requests can still establish the crime of illegally obtaining data. Whether it ultimately counts as a crime and under which charge is determined by the investigating authority based on the materials the vendor submits when reporting, not by the author. Selling to 20 instances is enough for "serious circumstances"—that volume is very small.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended in accordance with Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 285, paragraph 3; Article 217, item 6). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2011). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases Endangering the Security of Computer Information Systems (Article 3). https://ga.sz.gov.cn/ZWGK/ZCFG/ZCJD/content/post_1304363.html (reposted by the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau); Supreme People's Procuratorate (2026). Shanghai Jing'an: Severely Punishing the Production and Sale of Game Cheats in the Black and Gray Industry to Jointly Protect a Clean Cyberspace. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/zdgz/202608/t20260825_735480.shtml ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2021). 2020 Typical Cases of Procuratorial Organs Protecting Intellectual Property (Case 5). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/xwfbh/wsfbt/202104/t20210425_516…

3. Don't write or sell ticket-scalping, flash-sale, order-brushing, or deal-hunting scripts, even if it's just "automating button clicks"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Framing freedom; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Payoff large

Scripts that don't modify memory and don't crack anything, just send requests faster than a human, are still convicted as illegally obtaining computer information system data. The threshold is earning 5,000 yuan, or causing the other party 10,000 yuan in losses. Someone used purchased 12306 accounts to bulk-scalp tickets, scalping over 200 tickets on behalf of others and earning over 20,000 yuan, and was sentenced to 1 year 6 months suspended for 1 year 6 months plus a 5,000 yuan fine. Someone selling ticket-scalping software in an online shop was separately found to have engaged in unfair competition and ordered to pay 20,000 yuan.

Cost

No money spent, and no time taken.

Payoff

Intruding into a computer information system, or using other technical means to obtain data within it, if circumstances are serious, is punishable by up to 3 years, with a concurrent or standalone fine; if especially serious, 3 to 7 years. The threshold for "serious circumstances" is illegal gains of 5,000 yuan or more, or causing losses of 10,000 yuan or more. Official case: someone used a cheat to bulk-import purchased 12306 accounts and submitted ticket purchase requests intensively with multiple threads. He scalped over 200 train tickets on behalf of others and profited over 20,000 yuan. The court convicted him of illegally obtaining computer information system data and sentenced him to 1 year 6 months suspended for 1 year 6 months plus a 5,000 yuan fine. Zheng sold ticket-scalping software targeting a certain ticketing App in an online shop and was found to have engaged in unfair competition, ordered to pay 20,000 yuan (nationwide).

Notes

The script in the ticket-scalping case didn't modify memory or crack anything, just was "faster than a human," and was still convicted under Article 285 of the Criminal Law. Both paid scalping on behalf of others and selling scripts count as profiting. For the situation of using it once yourself, no official case was found.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended in accordance with Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 285, paragraph 2). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2011). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases Endangering the Security of Computer Information Systems (Article 1). https://ga.sz.gov.cn/ZWGK/ZCFG/ZCJD/content/post_1304363.html ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2026). Shanghai Jing'an: Handling a Case of Using Cheat Software to Bulk-Scalp Train Tickets for Profit. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/dfjcdt/202607/t20260707_731426.s… ; Supreme People's Court (2025). 2024 Typical Intellectual Property Cases of the People's Courts (Case 7, ticket-scalping software unfair competition case). https://enipc.court.gov.cn/zh-cn/news/view-4205.html

4. Crawlers should only crawl public pages that require no login, not bypass anti-crawling, not touch personal information, and not sell the crawled data

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Framing freedom; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Payoff large

Data that requires login, a token, or cracking a signature to obtain counts as bypassing protections, punishable by up to 3 years, or 3 to 7 years if serious. Crawling personal information is even more troublesome. For location, communication, credit, and property categories, 50 items count as serious circumstances. For accommodation, health, and transaction categories, 500 items; for other categories, 5,000 items, or earning 5,000 yuan, the same applies.

Cost

No money spent. A crawler is a program that automatically browses web pages and grabs the data on them. Before crawling, take a look at the robots file and the interface authorization instructions; robots is the file a website places in its own root directory stating which pages are not allowed to be crawled. Data that requires login, a token (a string of temporary access credentials), or cracking a signature to obtain—don't crawl it. The hard part is that this data is technically within reach, and holding back depends entirely on self-discipline.

Payoff

Bypassing protections to obtain data in a system carries the same sentencing as item 3 (ticket-scalping, flash-sale, order-brushing scripts): up to 3 years, or 3 to 7 years. Illegally obtaining, selling, or providing citizens' personal information counts as "serious circumstances" if it meets any of the following. Location tracks, communication content, credit, and property information: 50 items or more. Accommodation, communication records, health, and transaction information: 500 items or more. Other personal information: 5,000 items or more. Illegal gains of 5,000 yuan or more. If circumstances are serious, punishable by up to 3 years, with a concurrent or standalone fine; if especially serious, 3 to 7 years. Official case: software developer Li disguised a function that stole phone photo albums as "looks rating" software, obtained 1,751 face photos, and also resold social engineering database materials, sentenced to 3 years suspended for 3 years. A social engineering database is a database that aggregates personal information leaked from various places. A certain network technology company used a crawler to obtain shop and order data from a food delivery platform, causing over 40,000 yuan in losses, and was prosecuted for illegally obtaining computer information system data (nationwide).

Notes

The 2017 judicial interpretation provides that "providing legally collected information to others without the person's consent" also counts as "providing." Exporting a user table to an external partner within a company also falls under this sentence. 5,000 items is just the volume of a small table.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended in accordance with Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 285, paragraph 2; Article 253-1). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2017). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Infringing on Citizens' Personal Information (Articles 3, 4, 5). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbt/201705/t20170509_190088.… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2022). Typical Cases of Procuratorial Organs Punishing the Crime of Infringing on Citizens' Personal Information in Accordance with Law (Case 2). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/xwfbh/wsfbt/202212/t20221207_594… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2025). Procuratorial Organs Punishing the Crime of Infringing on Enterprise Data Security in Accordance with Law to Serve and Guarantee Enterprise Innovation and Development (Case 1). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbh/202501/t20250124_680670.…

5. Don't take development orders for gambling, fraud, or pornographic Apps, and don't build payment channels or unblock accounts for "clients"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Framing freedom; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Payoff large

Orders like these, with high quotes and vague requirements, if taken, are counted as accomplice to the gambling gang and follow the crime of running a casino: up to 5 years, or 5 to 10 years if circumstances are serious. It's not the "just helping out, at most 3 years" tier. In the esports betting App case, 28 people writing code in Hainan were sentenced for running a casino to 3 years 6 months down to 1 year. Someone who unblocked QQ accounts for a fraud gang was sentenced to 1 year 6 months plus a 20,000 yuan fine.

Cost

No money spent. The price is giving up this kind of outsourcing with high quotes and unclear requirements. The hard part is that the money the other party offers is often much higher than normal orders.

Payoff

If you clearly know others are using the network to commit crimes and still provide them with technical support, payment settlement, and similar assistance, if circumstances are serious, punishable by up to 3 years, with a concurrent or standalone fine. If it also constitutes other crimes, the heavier crime applies. Running a casino is punishable by up to 5 years with a concurrent fine; if circumstances are serious, 5 to 10 years. Official case: the Zhang Sheng group developed gambling games and then "packaged and sold them online," charging site-building fees and report fees. The case involved nearly 7 billion yuan. Zhang Sheng was sentenced to 9 years 9 months plus a 50 million yuan fine. Wang Qiang and 79 others responsible for outsourced R&D were sentenced to 6 months up to 9 years 9 months. Chen Dong and others developed and operated an esports betting App, with the technical team writing code in Hainan; 28 people were sentenced for running a casino to 3 years 6 months down to 1 year, with concurrent fines. Zhang opened a studio to unblock banned QQ accounts for a fraud gang, sentenced to 1 year 6 months plus a 20,000 yuan fine (nationwide).

Notes

"Clearly knowing" does not require the other party to say the purpose out loud. Quotes clearly above market price, features being top-up and withdrawal plus odds, and the client refusing to say the purpose will all be used during the investigation to infer that you knew. Technical personnel developing gambling Apps are handled as accomplices to the crime of running a casino, not the tier of the crime of aiding information network criminal activities capped at 3 years. The crime of aiding information network criminal activities is short for "the crime of aiding information network criminal activities."

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended in accordance with Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 287-2; Article 303, paragraph 2). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2023). Building Gambling Websites and Selling Them, Involving Nearly 7 Billion Yuan. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/zdgz/202307/t20230711_621248.shtml ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2022). Shanghai Minhang District: Handling a New Type of Online Casino Operation Case. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/zdgz/202208/t20220805_569952.shtml ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2025). Typical Cases of Punishing the Crime of Aiding Information Network Criminal Activities and Related Crimes in Accordance with Law (Case 1). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbt/202507/t20250728_702377.…

6. When leaving a job, hand over account permissions completely; don't delete databases, leave backdoors, or change passwords to lock the system, even if the company owes you money

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Framing freedom; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Payoff large

Account passwords are given by the company; that doesn't mean you can still use them after leaving. Logging in counts as illegal control, punishable by up to 3 years. Deleting data so the system can't run is punishable by up to 5 years, or more than 5 years if consequences are especially serious. A senior engineer who was fired logged into the company server with his original administrator account and deleted data and logs, causing over 120,000 yuan in losses, and was sentenced to 3 years suspended for 5 years plus a 30,000 yuan fine.

Cost

No money spent. If the company owes you wages, get them back through labor arbitration; don't take matters into your own hands (for labor arbitration, see Section 7). The hard part is holding back from touching the system when you're angry.

Payoff

Illegally controlling a computer information system, if circumstances are serious, is punishable by up to 3 years, with a concurrent or standalone fine; if especially serious, 3 to 7 years. Deleting or modifying system functions or data, causing the system to fail to operate normally, if consequences are serious, is punishable by up to 5 years; if especially serious, more than 5 years. Official case: senior IT engineer Lü, after being fired, logged into the company's shared server with his original administrator account. He changed the password, deleted data and logs, causing over 120,000 yuan in losses. Sentenced to 3 years suspended for 5 years plus a 30,000 yuan fine. Software company employee Bai deliberately added erroneous code when writing an upgrade program, causing a client system to be unable to log in, with over 40,000 yuan in losses, and was prosecuted for the crime of destroying computer information systems (nationwide).

Notes

Account passwords are given by the company; that doesn't mean you can still use them after leaving. Logging in with the original account counts as "illegal control." Losses are calculated by data recovery costs; a few tens of thousands of yuan is enough to open a case.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended in accordance with Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 285, paragraph 2; Article 286). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2024). Typical Cases of Procuratorial Organs "Punishing Cybercrime in Accordance with Law and Helping Comprehensive Governance of Cyberspace" (Case 6). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbh/202402/t20240223_644505.… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2025). Procuratorial Organs Punishing the Crime of Infringing on Enterprise Data Security in Accordance with Law to Serve and Guarantee Enterprise Innovation and Development (Case 7). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbh/202501/t20250124_680670.…

7. Don't take source code, customer lists, or technical documents when you leave; don't upload them to personal cloud drives; don't reuse them at your next employer

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Free; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

Even code you wrote yourself — the copyright belongs to the company. Taking it is taking the company's property. Customer lists likewise count as trade secrets. A former employee who took source code and core algorithms for a security screening system to a new company was sentenced to 5 years and fined 500,000 yuan, and the new company was fined 4 million yuan. Someone who exploited a system vulnerability to download over 33,000 design files was sentenced to 1 year and 10 months and fined 100,000 yuan. Beyond criminal sentencing, the company can also file a separate civil claim.

Cost

Costs nothing. Before leaving, thoroughly delete company materials from your personal computer and cloud drives. The hard part is that some files were written line by line by yourself, and it's hard to let go.

Benefit

Violating confidentiality obligations by disclosing or using trade secrets yourself, if the circumstances are serious, carries a sentence of up to 3 years, with or without a fine; if especially serious, 3 to 10 years with a fine. The Anti-Unfair Competition Law also lists two things as infringement: using "electronic intrusion" — i.e., technical means to intrude into a system to obtain trade secrets; and instigating or assisting others in violating confidentiality obligations. Official cases: Sun Mouming and other former employees took source code and core algorithms for a security screening system and used them in the new company's products; Sun Mouming was sentenced to 5 years and fined 500,000 yuan, and the new company was fined 4 million yuan. Tian Moumou exploited a system vulnerability to download over 33,000 design files and was sentenced to 1 year and 10 months and fined 100,000 yuan. Engineer Yang Moumou stored App module source code on his personal computer and in the cloud, then after changing jobs made a similar App, and was prosecuted for infringing trade secrets (nationwide).

Notes

The copyright of "code you wrote yourself" also belongs to the company — see Article 13 (code written using company resources belongs to the company). Taking it is taking the company's property. Customer lists are business information and likewise constitute trade secrets. Beyond criminal sentencing, the company will also file a separate civil claim.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended by Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 219). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Anti-Unfair Competition Law (2025 revision, Article 10). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699862.shtml ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2025). Typical Cases of Intellectual Property Protection by Procuratorial Organs (Case 7). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbh/202504/t20250423_693691.… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2020). 2019 Typical Cases of Intellectual Property Protection by Procuratorial Organs (Case 16). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbh/202004/t20200425_459623.… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2025). Procuratorial Organs Punish Crimes Infringing Enterprise Data Security in Accordance with Law to Serve and Safeguard Enterprise Innovation and Development (Case 5). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbh/202501/t20250124_680670.…

8. Don't run your own programs on other people's computers, servers, or cameras; don't use company machines for mining

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Free; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

Controlling someone else's computer, server, or camera without permission — reaching 20 devices counts as serious circumstances, carrying a sentence of up to 3 years; if especially serious, 3 to 7 years. If it doesn't rise to a crime, you still face detention of up to 5 days and possibly a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 yuan. What's heavier for tech people is the collateral consequence: anyone who has received a criminal punishment is permanently barred from key positions in cybersecurity management and network operations.

Cost

Costs nothing, and takes no time.

Benefit

Illegally controlling a computer information system, if the circumstances are serious, carries a sentence of up to 3 years, with or without a fine; if especially serious, 3 to 7 years. Illegally controlling 20 or more devices counts as "serious circumstances." If it doesn't rise to a crime, public security confiscates the illegal gains, imposes detention of up to 5 days, and may impose a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 yuan. If the circumstances are relatively serious, detention of 5 to 15 days, and a fine of 100,000 to 1,000,000 yuan may be imposed. Those who have received public security punishment are barred for 5 years, and those who have received criminal punishment are barred for life, from key positions in cybersecurity management and network operations. Official cases: Li Mou bought IP addresses of webcams and used software to control 105 cameras to spy on privacy, and was sentenced to 3 years suspended for 5 years and fined 20,000 yuan. Wu Mou and others implanted Trojans into phone motherboards, controlling over 3.3 million phones to send back verification codes, and were sentenced to 2 years to 4 years and 6 months (nationwide).

Notes

For using company servers for mining, no case published by the Supreme People's Procuratorate or Supreme People's Court was found; this item is written according to the legal provision on "controlling someone else's system without permission." "Permanent bar from key positions" is a collateral consequence attached by the Cybersecurity Law beyond fines and sentencing, and for tech people it's heavier than a fine.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended by Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 285, Paragraph 2). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2011). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases Endangering Computer Information System Security (Article 1). https://ga.sz.gov.cn/ZWGK/ZCFG/ZCJD/content/post_1304363.html ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Cybersecurity Law (2025 amendment, effective January 1, 2026, Articles 29 and 66; in the 2016 text, Articles 27 and 63; the lifetime industry ban is Paragraph 3 of Article 66 after amendment). https://www.cac.gov.cn/2025-12/29/c_1768735112911946.htm ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2022). Shandong Binzhou Development Zone: Handling a Case of Illegally Controlling a Computer Information System. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/dfjcdt/202205/t20220518_557113.s… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2021). Typical Cases of Fully Leveraging Procuratorial Functions to Advance Cyberspace Governance (Case 6). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/xwfbh/wsfbh/202101/t20210125_507…

9. Don't test other people's systems without written authorization; "good intentions" and "reporting afterward" are not grounds for exoneration

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Free; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

Whether it's a crime depends on whether you had authorization and how much you obtained, not on what you intended. Obtaining 500 sets of ordinary account credentials, or earning 5,000 yuan, or causing the other party 10,000 yuan in losses, is enough for a sentence of up to 3 years. To prove a vulnerability exists, casually exporting a user table often crosses the line of 500 in one go. If you already have account credentials and use them beyond the authorized scope, that act itself counts as intrusion.

Cost

Costs nothing. Before participating in a vendor's SRC or a bug bounty, first obtain a document specifying the authorized scope, target list, and testable time window. SRC is a security emergency response center run by the vendor itself, specifically to receive vulnerabilities reported from outside. Stop once you've verified the vulnerability actually exists. The hard part is giving up that one "just try it while I'm at it."

Benefit

This provision governs computer information systems outside the fields of state affairs, national defense construction, and cutting-edge science and technology — that is, ordinary company and individual systems. Intruding into such systems, or using other technical means, to obtain data stored, processed, or transmitted therein, if the circumstances are serious, carries a sentence of up to 3 years of fixed-term imprisonment or criminal detention, with or without a fine. If especially serious, 3 to 7 years with a fine. "Serious circumstances" has several criteria. Obtaining 10 or more sets of identity authentication information (account credentials and the like) for online financial services such as payment settlement, securities trading, and futures trading. Obtaining 500 or more sets of other identity authentication information. Illegally controlling 20 or more computer information systems. Illegal gains of 5,000 yuan or more, or causing economic losses of 10,000 yuan or more. Five times or more of the above numbers constitutes "especially serious circumstances." Official case: Guiding Case No. 36 established the statement that "using an account and password beyond the authorized scope to log into a computer information system constitutes the act of intruding into a computer information system." This means that if you already have account credentials but use them beyond the authorized scope, that act itself counts as intrusion. In that case, three people used accounts, passwords, and tokens they had obtained through work to log into the company's internal system from a remote location. They downloaded data outside their work scope and sold it online, with illegal gains of 37,000 yuan. The three were sentenced to 4 years, 3 years and 9 months, and 4 years respectively, each fined 40,000 yuan (nationwide).

Notes

The guiding case, Guiding Case No. 36, is itself a case of selling data for profit. It is cited only for the statement that "logging in beyond the authorized scope also counts as intrusion," not to say that good-faith testing would be sentenced equally severely. What you intended and whether you reported afterward cannot cancel out the offense; they can only affect how heavy the sentence is and whether prosecution is initiated. A vendor thanking you first and then reporting to the police afterward are not contradictory — a thank-you does not equal authorization. At the time of writing this section, no good-faith testing case that could be verified word for word was found on the official websites of the Supreme People's Court or Supreme People's Procuratorate, so this is written only according to the legal provisions and punishment standards. If you want to do it, go through the vendor's public SRC, or an assessment with written authorization, with the scope, targets, and time window all written into the document. Use the minimum evidence to prove a vulnerability exists; don't extract data in bulk. The tier that doesn't rise to a crime still incurs public security punishment, plus an industry ban; the fine amounts and durations are the same as Article 8 (don't run your own programs on other people's machines). For how to handle a vulnerability after discovering it, see Article 10 (report vulnerabilities according to regulations).

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended by Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 285, Paragraphs 1 and 2). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2011). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases Endangering Computer Information System Security (Article 1). https://ga.sz.gov.cn/ZWGK/ZCFG/ZCJD/content/post_1304363.html (reposted by Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau); Supreme People's Procuratorate (2017). Ninth Batch of Guiding Cases (Guiding Case No. 36, Wei Menglong, Gong Xu, Xue Dongdong Case of Illegally Obtaining Computer Information System Data). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/jczdal/201710/t20171017_202593.s…

10. Report vulnerabilities according to regulations; before they're patched, don't disclose details, don't release exploitation tools, don't hand them over overseas

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Free; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Medium

The Provisions on the Management of Network Product Security Vulnerabilities govern not only companies but also individuals. There are five hard lines for publishing vulnerabilities, the first two being: don't publish before the vendor provides a patch, and don't publish details of vulnerabilities in systems in use. Also, don't publish programs and tools specifically for exploiting vulnerabilities; when publishing, you must simultaneously explain how to fix them. There's another easily overlooked one: undisclosed vulnerabilities must not be provided to overseas organizations and individuals other than the product provider.

Cost

Costs nothing. Report the vulnerability to the product provider, or to an official platform. Before the vendor fixes it, don't publish details or verification code.

Benefit

These provisions govern three types of subjects: network product providers and network operators within the territory, and organizations or individuals engaged in activities such as vulnerability discovery, collection, and publication. No organization or individual may use vulnerabilities to engage in activities endangering cybersecurity, or illegally collect, sell, or publish vulnerability information. Publishing vulnerability information to the public must comply with five rules. First, don't publish before the product provider provides a patch. Second, don't publish details of vulnerabilities in networks, information systems, and their equipment in use by network operators. Third, don't deliberately exaggerate the harm and risk, and don't use vulnerability information for malicious hype or fraud. Fourth, don't publish or provide programs and tools specifically for exploiting vulnerabilities to engage in activities endangering cybersecurity. Fifth, when publishing, simultaneously publish repair or preventive measures. In addition, undisclosed vulnerability information must not be provided to overseas organizations or individuals other than the product provider. The provisions encourage reporting vulnerabilities to four official platforms. First, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Cybersecurity Threat and Vulnerability Information Sharing Platform. Second, the National Network and Information Security Information Notification Center's Vulnerability Platform. Third, the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center of China's Vulnerability Platform. Fourth, the China Information Technology Security Evaluation Center's Vulnerability Database. Those who violate the provisions by collecting or publishing vulnerability information are handled according to law by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Public Security within their respective duties. If the circumstances stipulated in the Cybersecurity Law are constituted, punishment is imposed under that law. Publishing cybersecurity information such as system vulnerabilities to the public shall comply with relevant state regulations. Those who violate them shall be ordered to correct by the relevant competent department, given a warning, and may be fined 1,000 to 10,000 yuan. Those who refuse to correct or where the circumstances are serious shall be fined 10,000 to 100,000 yuan. They may also be ordered to suspend relevant business, suspend operations for rectification, or close websites or applications. They may also have relevant business licenses or business licenses revoked. The directly responsible managers and other directly responsible personnel shall be fined 1,000 to 10,000 yuan (nationwide).

Notes

The provisions explicitly include individuals among the governed subjects; "I'm just an amateur hobbyist" is not an exception. Submitting vulnerabilities in domestic systems to overseas bug bounty platforms falls squarely under the rule that "undisclosed vulnerabilities must not be provided overseas." This item is about how to handle a vulnerability after obtaining it. Whether you're even qualified to test it in the first place — see Article 9 (don't test other people's systems without written authorization). The two things must be viewed separately. A legally discovered vulnerability can still incur a fine because of how it was published. A vulnerability discovered through unauthorized testing is both at once. Among reporting channels, the MIIT platform and the National Internet Emergency Center (CNCERT) are the most used. The provisions don't specifically address the situation of "already notified the vendor, but the vendor won't fix it"; the practical approach is to keep records of the negotiation and reporting process, and simultaneously report to an official platform.

Sources

Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Cyberspace Administration of China, Ministry of Public Security (2021). Provisions on the Management of Network Product Security Vulnerabilities (MIIT Network Security [2021] No. 66, Articles 2, 4, 9, 10, and 14, effective September 1, 2021). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2021/content_5641351.htm ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Cybersecurity Law (2025 amendment, effective January 1, 2026, Articles 28 and 65; in the 2016 text, Articles 26 and 62; Article 14 of the provisions cites the article numbers of the 2016 text). https://www.cac.gov.cn/2025-12/29/c_1768735112911946.htm

11. Don't sell circumvention tools or VPN accounts; don't set up such nodes for others

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Free; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

Setting up your own line to go abroad, or using international channels other than the state public channels, can lead public security to order you to stop networking, give a warning, fine you up to 15,000 yuan, and confiscate illegal gains. Those who do business this way can be handled by the case-handling authorities as illegal business operations, with a sentence of up to 5 years if the circumstances are serious. This item is about selling and setting up nodes. For personal use, the punishment is capped at a warning plus a fine.

Cost

Costs nothing, and takes no time.

Benefit

Direct international networking must use the international gateway channels provided by the state public telecommunications network. No unit or individual may establish or use other channels on their own — that is, you can neither set up your own line to go abroad nor use one set up by someone else. Those who violate this shall be ordered by public security to stop networking, given a warning, and may be fined up to 15,000 yuan, with illegal gains confiscated. Those who do business this way can be handled by the case-handling authorities as illegal business operations. If the circumstances are serious, a sentence of up to 5 years, with a fine of 1 to 5 times the illegal gains, imposed concurrently or alone. If especially serious, 5 years or more (nationwide).

Notes

At the time of writing this section, no published circumvention-related case was found on the official websites of the Supreme People's Court or Supreme People's Procuratorate, and handling varies greatly across regions, so it is rated B. This item only covers "selling and setting up." For personal use, the heaviest punishment is the warning plus fine written in Article 14 of the Interim Provisions.

Sources

State Council (1997). Interim Provisions on the Management of International Networking of Computer Information Networks (Articles 6 and 14). https://nyncw.cq.gov.cn/wsdw/zz/zhfb/wlyxxaq/202406/t202406… (reposted by Chongqing Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Commission); National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended by Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law, Article 225, Item 4). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index…

12. If you signed a non-compete agreement and the company does not pay monthly compensation after you leave, send a written demand; if it has not paid for 3 months, you can terminate it; for positions that have not been exposed to trade secrets, you can request a confirmation that the clause is not effective

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

A non-compete means you are not allowed to work for a competitor for a period after leaving. This one is about protecting yourself. A non-compete can last at most 2 years, and the company must pay compensation monthly. If no amount is agreed, it is calculated at 30% of your average wage for the 12 months before leaving, and it cannot be lower than the local minimum wage. If the company fails to pay for 3 months for reasons attributable to itself, you can request termination. Starting in 2025, if the position has not been exposed to trade secrets, you can request a confirmation that the clause is not effective.

Cost

No money. When leaving, keep the original non-compete agreement and evidence that the company did not pay monthly

Benefit

A non-compete can only bind senior managers, senior technical personnel, and other persons who bear confidentiality obligations. The term can last at most 2 years. The company must pay economic compensation monthly during this period. If no compensation amount is agreed, it is paid at 30% of the average wage for the 12 months before leaving, and not lower than the local minimum wage. If the company fails to pay for 3 months for reasons attributable to itself, the worker can request termination of this non-compete. If the company terminates it on its own initiative, it must pay an additional 3 months of compensation. Starting in 2025, workers whose positions did not involve knowing or being exposed to trade secrets can request a confirmation that the clause is not effective. If the agreed scope exceeds the part of the secrets he actually knew, the excess part is invalid. Official case: a pharmaceutical company sued its chief technology officer Zheng for liquidated damages of 7.1 million yuan. The court found that the products of his new employer were not substitutable for those of the original company, and that the non-compete scope should be limited to the secrets he actually knew, and dismissed all claims (national)

Notes

This one is about protecting yourself. Conversely, if the agreement is valid and the company has paid monthly, and you still go to work for a competitor, you must pay liquidated damages as agreed. After paying, you may still be required to complete the remaining non-compete period. A non-compete agreed during employment is valid even if the company does not pay separately.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2012). Labor Contract Law (2012 amendment, Articles 23 and 24). https://yjglj.fushun.gov.cn/008/20260622/d846d3c2-df3d-4c4c… (reposted by Fushun Municipal Emergency Management Bureau); Supreme People's Court (2020). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Labor Dispute Cases (I) (Articles 36 to 40). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/282121.html ; Supreme People's Court (2025). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Labor Dispute Cases (II) (Fa Shi [2025] No. 12, Articles 13 to 15). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/472691.html ; Supreme People's Court (2025). Typical Labor Dispute Cases (Case 4). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/472681.html

13. Code written during work hours and using company resources belongs to the company; make your own open-source projects with your own time and equipment, and do not mix in company code

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit medium

A work made in the course of employment is something produced by doing work at your job. Software is explicitly listed by law in the category where "copyright belongs to the unit." If it mainly uses the company's equipment, intranet, or business data, and the company bears responsibility, the copyright in the code belongs to the company. The same applies if the contract so provides. You retain only the right of authorship. For inventions made using company resources, the patent also belongs to the company. If something "written after work" uses a company computer or company business data, it may likewise be found to have mainly used the unit's material and technical conditions.

Cost

No money. When onboarding, read the intellectual property clauses in the labor contract clearly. The difficulty is that personal projects and company work are often mixed on one computer, and they need to be separated

Benefit

A work created to complete the work tasks of the unit is a work made in the course of employment, that is, something produced by doing work at your job. In general, the copyright belongs to the author, and the unit has the right to use it first within its business scope, and within 2 years the author may not license a third party to use it in the same way. But there are two types of situations that are different. One is works such as engineering design and software created mainly using the unit's material and technical conditions and for which the unit bears responsibility. The other is works whose copyright is agreed by contract to belong to the unit. In these two types, the author retains only the right of authorship. The unit's material and technical conditions refer to the company's equipment, intranet, business data, and the like. An invention-creation made in execution of the unit's tasks, or mainly using the unit's material and technical conditions, is a service invention, and the right to apply for a patent and the patent right obtained both belong to the unit (national)

Notes

Software is directly written into the category of "copyright belongs to the unit," so programmers can hardly fall into the category of "copyright belongs to the author, with the unit having priority use for two years." As long as something "written after work" uses a company computer, intranet, or company business data, it may likewise be counted as mainly made relying on the unit's equipment and materials. If you want to keep a personal project clean, use your own machine, do not touch the company repository, and do not overlap with the company's business.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Copyright Law (2020 amendment, Article 18). http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c2/c30834/202011/t20201119_308796… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Patent Law (2020 amendment, Article 6). http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c2/c30834/202011/t20201119_308800…

14. If you use GPL and other open-source code to make a product, open-source it or change the license as required by the license, and do not act as if "no one will care"

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit medium

For copyright infringement, compensation is based on the rights holder's actual loss or the money you earned. If neither can be calculated clearly, refer to how much it would normally cost to buy this authorization. For intentional infringement with serious circumstances, the award can be 1 to 5 times. In one case, the defendant hired the plaintiff's former employee to develop gateway software, and the code was substantially similar. The defendant argued that the plaintiff's software was originally based on GPLv2 and should have been open source anyway. The Supreme People's Court held that these are two independent issues, and still ordered cessation of infringement and compensation of 500,000 yuan.

Cost

No money. Before using someone else's open-source code, look at its license, that is, the conditions of use stated by the author. The GPL family requires that products using it also release the source code, which conflicts with selling closed-source, so if there is a conflict, switch to another one. The difficulty is giving up a library you are already used to

Benefit

For copyright infringement, compensate according to the rights holder's actual loss, or according to the money earned by the infringer. If neither can be calculated clearly, determine it by reference to how much it would normally cost to buy this authorization. For intentional infringement and serious circumstances, 1 to 5 times compensation may be awarded. If public interests are harmed, illegal gains may also be confiscated and a fine imposed. Official case: (2021) Zui Gao Fa Zhi Min Zhong No. 51. The defendant recruited the plaintiff's former employee, and the developed gateway software was substantially similar to the plaintiff's software. The defendant argued that the plaintiff's software was based on GPLv2 and should have been open source anyway. The Supreme People's Court held that "whether the developer itself violated the GPLv2 agreement and whether it enjoys software copyright are two independent issues," and ordered cessation of infringement and compensation of 500,000 yuan (national)

Notes

This case shows that "the other side used GPL code" cannot be used as a shield for copying it. Conversely, for GPL authors suing non-open-source commercial users, there are already effective judgments in China, but this section did not find the original text on the Supreme People's Court official website, so it is not cited. It is rated B because compliance with open-source licenses can only be governed by contracts and general provisions in copyright law, and there is no dedicated legal provision.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Copyright Law (2020 amendment, Articles 53 and 54). http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c2/c30834/202011/t20201119_308796… ; Intellectual Property Court of the Supreme People's Court (2022). Copyright infringement case involving "open-source software" ((2021) Zui Gao Fa Zhi Min Zhong No. 51). https://ipc.court.gov.cn/zh-cn/news/view-3042.html

15. For an App, collect only personal information necessary for the business, obtain guardian consent for those under 14, and write the privacy policy clearly

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit medium

Collect only information truly necessary for the business, and obtain guardian consent for those under 14. For violations, first order correction, give a warning, and confiscate illegal gains; the App may be ordered to suspend or terminate services. If it refuses to correct, a fine of up to 1 million yuan, and a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 yuan for the persons directly responsible. If the circumstances are serious, a fine of up to 50 million yuan, or 5% of the previous year's turnover, and a fine of 100,000 to 1 million yuan for responsible persons. The "directly responsible persons" in the legal provisions may include the specific technical and product personnel handling the matter.

Cost

No money. Before launch, check the App's requested permission list against the privacy policy, and do not request permissions you do not need. The difficulty is that the product side always wants to keep more data "that might be useful later"

Benefit

Processing personal information should have a clear and reasonable purpose, be directly related to that purpose, and adopt the method with the least impact on personal rights and interests. Processing personal information requires obtaining the individual's consent, or meeting statutory circumstances. For those under 14 years old, consent of a parent or guardian must be obtained. If violated, the regulatory department orders correction, gives a warning, confiscates illegal gains, and orders the illegal App to suspend or terminate service provision. If it refuses to correct, a fine of up to 1 million yuan, and a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 yuan for the directly responsible supervisors and other directly responsible persons. If the circumstances are serious, a fine of up to 50 million yuan, or up to 5% of the previous year's turnover. Responsible persons are fined 100,000 to 1 million yuan. These persons may also be prohibited from serving as directors, supervisors, or senior managers of relevant enterprises for a certain period. If selling or providing personal information constitutes a crime, see Article 4 (national)

Notes

In practice, "directly responsible persons" often falls on the people writing code and doing product work. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology regularly announces and removes illegal Apps, but this section has not verified which specific announcement, so it is not cited.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021). Personal Information Protection Law (Articles 6, 13, 31, and 66). http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c2/c30834/202108/t20210820_313088…

http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c2/c30834/202108/t20210820_313088…

16. Before a website or App goes online, first complete ICP filing, and retain logs for more than 6 months as required by classified protection

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope freedom; Money little; Time medium; Persistence no; Benefit medium

Filing costs no money, and going through the cloud provider's process takes about a few weeks. If a domestic server is not filed, the domain name simply cannot resolve. If not filed, first order correction, and if it refuses to correct, order the site to be shut down. If the homepage does not display the filing number, a fine of 5,000 to 50,000 yuan. If it is filed as non-commercial but actually charges fees, it is handled as unlicensed operation, with confiscation of illegal gains and a fine of 100,000 to 1 million yuan. Logs must be retained for a full 6 months; if not retained, order correction and give a warning, and if it refuses to correct or causes consequences, a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 yuan.

Cost

Filing is free, and going through the cloud provider's process takes about a few weeks. Classified protection evaluation is charged according to level. Classified protection, abbreviated as Deng Bao, is a set of security management actions by which the state classifies systems by importance and requires websites and systems to meet them. Small sites generally do not need evaluation

Benefit

Commercial internet information services implement a licensing system, and non-commercial ones implement a filing system. Without obtaining a license or completing filing, one may not engage in the business. If not filed, the telecommunications management agency orders correction, and if it refuses to correct, orders the website closed. If operating without a license, confiscate illegal gains and impose a fine of 3 to 5 times the illegal gains, or a fine of 100,000 to 1 million yuan. If the website homepage does not display the filing number, a fine of 5,000 to 50,000 yuan. Network operators must, according to the classified protection system (Deng Bao), formulate security management systems, prevent attacks, retain network logs for no less than 6 months, and classify, back up, and encrypt data. If they fail to do so, order correction and give a warning. If they refuse to correct or cause consequences, a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 yuan, and a fine of 5,000 to 50,000 yuan for the responsible persons (national)

Notes

If a domestic server is not filed, the domain name simply cannot resolve. The real pitfalls are two situations. First, filing as an individual non-commercial site while actually charging fees. Second, changing the domain name or changing the entity without going to update the filing. Retaining logs for 6 months is both an obligation and self-protection; when something happens, it can prove it was not you.

Sources

State Council (2011). Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services (2011 revision, Articles 4, 19, and 22). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1860864.htm ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Cybersecurity Law (2025 amendment, effective January 1, 2026, Articles 23 and 61; the 2016 text is Articles 21 and 59). https://www.cac.gov.cn/2025-12/29/c_1768735112911946.htm

17. Before providing generative AI services to the public, first conduct security assessment and algorithm filing as required, and add labels to generated content

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence no; Benefit medium

For generative AI services provided to the public that have public opinion attributes or social mobilization capacity, before launch, conduct a security assessment and complete algorithm filing as required by the state. If changed or stopped, also complete change and cancellation procedures. Generated images and videos must be labeled. Small tools for your own use that are not open to the public do not trigger this set. This measure itself does not write penalties, and violations are handled under the Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, and Personal Information Protection Law.

Cost

No money, but you need to go through the Cyberspace Administration process, and completing it takes some time. Small tools made by individuals do not trigger this set as long as they are not open to the public

Benefit

Providers of generative artificial intelligence services with public opinion attributes or social mobilization capacity shall carry out security assessments in accordance with state regulations, and complete algorithm filing and subsequent change and cancellation procedures in accordance with the provisions on the administration of algorithm recommendations. Public opinion attributes or social mobilization capacity refers to the ability to influence public views or to organize and mobilize people. Providers shall label generated content such as images and videos. The measure took effect on August 15, 2023 (national)

Notes

This measure itself does not write how much the fine is. Violations require going back to the Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, and Personal Information Protection Law to find penalties, so it is rated B. Civil cases involving AI-generated content infringing others' copyright or portrait rights were not verified in the original text on the Supreme People's Court website in this section, so they are not cited.

Sources

Cyberspace Administration of China and six other departments (2023). Interim Measures for the Administration of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services (Articles 12 and 17). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6891752…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6891752…

Evidence levels: C, A, B · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 12 · 23 suggestions

Entrepreneurship and Doing Business: Don't Lose Your Family's Savings

[[High Cost-Performance Life Guide]]

This section deals with money and legal liability. If you open a shop or start a company, at which step will your own money, your family's money, and your spouse's money all be lost together? What does the law say? Can you separate them in advance? This section answers these questions, without converting them into life expectancy. The items are ordered as follows: those most likely to cost you your family's savings and easiest to avoid are placed first. So signing-related items come first, and methods requiring your own hands-on work come later. Those written based only on experience, without documentary support, are marked Grade C.

1. Only start a business with money you can afford to lose—don't touch your family's savings, don't borrow to open

Evidence level: B
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

Debts owed by a sole proprietorship must be repaid with money and property in your own name. If it's unclear whether the whole family is doing it together, the whole family's property is used to repay. Starting a company isn't safe either: when the company can't repay its debts, the capital contribution you promised to make but that hasn't yet come due will be demanded early. So decide how much to invest based on "even if it's all lost, you can still pay the mortgage and see a doctor."

Cost

No money spent. Before starting, set a number for yourself: even if this money is all lost, it won't affect your ability to pay the mortgage, raise children, or see a doctor. Don't invest beyond this number. Family members' money and borrowed money don't count toward this number. The hard part is resisting the urge to add more when the business looks like it's picking up.

Benefit

Losing money isn't the only thing. For debts owed by a sole proprietorship (getihu), if the business is run by you alone, they must be repaid with money and property in your own name (borne with personal property). If the whole family runs it together, or it's unclear who runs it, the whole family's money and property are used to repay (borne with family property). Debts signed by both spouses count as joint debts repaid by both together. If one party nods in agreement afterward, that also counts. For money borrowed in one party's own name, as long as the creditor can prove the money was used in a business the couple runs together, it's still repaid by both. There's also a rule on the company side: when a company can't repay debts that have come due, the creditor can demand that shareholders pay early the money they promised in registered capital but that hasn't yet reached the contribution deadline (subscribed capital contribution) (nationwide)

Notes

"Can afford to lose" means: if this money is all lost, you don't need to sell your house or borrow from relatives to fill the hole. How many businesses survive and how many years they last on average—this kind of official statistic could not be found in verifiable original text on the National Bureau of Statistics or the State Administration for Market Regulation websites this time. So this item doesn't cite numbers, only legal consequences, and is rated B.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 56, 1064). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2023). Company Law (2023 revision, Articles 47, 54). https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202312/content_6923395.htm

2. Don't sign personal guarantees for company loans, and especially don't let your spouse co-sign

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

What you sign is a "joint and several liability guarantee"—if the company can't repay, the creditor can bypass the company and come directly to you. Only a "general guarantee" means suing the company first, and only after the company's property is sold and a shortfall remains does it come to you. If your spouse co-signs, both people's family property is thrown in together, and the "limited" in limited company no longer counts for you personally.

Cost

No money spent. When a bank, supplier, or landlord asks you to sign a "shareholder personal joint guarantee" or "spouse signature," pause first. Signing that page equals personally giving up the protection that "the company's debts don't come to the individual" (waiving limited liability). If you can avoid signing, avoid it. If you must sign, only sign a "general guarantee" and clearly state the maximum amount you guarantee. The hard part is that the other party often says "no signature, no loan"—you need to hold firm.

Benefit

That sentence on the guarantee document means "if the debtor doesn't repay, you repay." If written as a "joint and several liability guarantee," the creditor can skip the company and come directly to you. If written as a "general guarantee," the creditor must first sue the company or go to arbitration, then ask the court to forcibly sell the company's property to offset the debt. Only after that sale, whatever shortfall remains comes to you. Debts signed by both spouses count as joint debts repaid by both together. If one party nods in agreement afterward, that also counts. If the spouse signs, both people's family property is thrown in together (nationwide, since 2021)

Notes

When banks lend to small and micro enterprises, they almost always require shareholders to sign personal joint guarantees. So this item isn't telling you not to take loans—it's telling you to understand what that page you're signing means before you sign. Then keep the guaranteed amount within the "can afford to lose" number from Item 1 (only start a business with money you can afford to lose). For general rules on IOUs and guarantee documents, see Section 8, Item 18.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 681, 687, 688, 1064). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

3. Choose the right entity before opening: sole proprietorships and partners pay to the end, only limited companies are "limited"

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money Little; Time Medium; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

Sole proprietorships and general partners pay to the end—however much is owed, that much is repaid. Shareholders of a limited company only pay up to the amount they promised at registration. But however much you promised, you must actually put in within 5 years: fill in 1 million, and you may owe 1 million. If company accounts and personal accounts are mixed, "limited" also fails.

Cost

Registration is done online at the local government services website, a few hours at a time. After opening a limited company, you must keep accounts and file taxes every month—this is a long-term expense: doing it yourself costs time, hiring someone to keep accounts costs money, and prices vary by region.

Benefit

Debts owed by a sole proprietorship must be repaid with personal money and property, or with the whole family's money and property. Partners in a general partnership bear unlimited joint and several liability for the partnership's debts. That means however much is owed, that much is repaid, and it's not over until it's fully repaid. The creditor can also single out just one person and demand they repay everything. Limited partnerships are different: the limited partners in them only pay up to the amount they promised (limited to subscribed capital contribution). Shareholders of a limited liability company also only pay up to the amount they promised (limited to subscribed capital contribution). But "limited" fails in three situations. First, the promised money must actually be paid in full within 5 years of the company's establishment, and when the company can't repay debts that have come due, the creditor can demand early payment. Second, money already invested and then withdrawn (capital withdrawal) must be returned. Third, using the company as a shell to dodge debts. A company with only one shareholder, which also can't prove the company's money and one's own money are separate, also falls under this third situation. Under these two practices, you personally must repay the company's debts along with it (bear joint and several liability) (nationwide, since July 2024)

Notes

The premise of "limited" is clear separation of public and private: company accounts and personal accounts aren't mixed, company money isn't used for household expenses, and accounts are kept complete. Don't fill in a large registered capital just for appearances. However much you subscribe, you must actually put in within 5 years. Fill in 1 million, and that's 1 million in potential debt.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 56). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2006). Partnership Enterprise Law (2006 revision, Article 2). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2006/content_413955.htm ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2023). Company Law (2023 revision, Articles 4, 23, 47, 53, 54). https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202312/content_6923395.htm

4. Don't be a nominee shareholder, don't hold equity on someone's behalf

Evidence level: B
Cost-performance: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

If your name is on the register, you are legally a shareholder. The money promised at registration must be paid in full on schedule; if you can't pay, besides making up the payment you must also compensate the company for losses. If other shareholders at the company's founding didn't actually pay their money in, you repay along with them for whatever is missing. The business is run by someone else, but the debt is recorded under your name.

Cost

No money spent. When someone says "lend me your ID to be a nominee shareholder" or "put the shares under your name for now," refuse outright.

Benefit

A shareholder on the register is legally a shareholder. You must pay in, to the full amount, the money you promised according to the deadline set in the company's articles of association (full payment of subscribed capital contribution). If you don't pay on schedule, besides making up the payment you must also compensate the company for losses. If at the company's founding a shareholder didn't actually pay money in, the other shareholders at founding repay together for this gap (bear joint and several liability). When the company can't repay debts that have come due, the creditor can demand early payment of money not yet due. The person actually doing business isn't on the register, but the debt is recorded under your name (nationwide, since July 2024)

Notes

Between a nominee shareholder and the person actually providing the money, whether the nominee agreement signed counts and who bears responsibility is provided in the Supreme People's Court's Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Application of the Company Law (III). TODO (to be verified: the judicial interpretation document number and the original text of Articles 24 and 25; the original page on the Supreme People's Court website could not be opened this time), so rated B. For the risks of being a nominee legal representative, see Section 8, Item 28.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2023). Company Law (2023 revision, Articles 47, 49, 50, 54). https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202312/content_6923395.htm

https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202312/content_6923395.htm

5. Before franchising, check the Ministry of Commerce filing, get written disclosure, and write the "cooling-off period" into the contract

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

By regulation, the brand owner must first open 2 directly operated stores and operate for a full year, and must file with the commerce department within 15 days after signing. Before signing, it must give you written materials covering 12 items, including how the franchise fee and deposit are refunded and whether existing stores are profitable. If you can't find the filing, it won't give materials, or it demands payment before letting you see the contract—just walk away.

Cost

No money spent. Go to the Ministry of Commerce's "Commercial Franchise Information Management System" website and check whether the brand owner has filed. Then require the other party, before signing, to give you written materials covering what should be disclosed, along with the contract text. A few hours to complete.

Benefit

Regulations require the brand owner (called the franchisor in regulations) to have at least 2 directly operated stores that it opened and runs itself, and to have operated them for over 1 year. Counting from the day the first franchise contract is signed, it must file with the commerce department within 15 days. If it doesn't file, the fine is 10,000 to 50,000 yuan. If it still doesn't file after the deadline, the fine is 50,000 to 100,000 yuan, and it's publicly announced. Before signing, it must give you written materials covering what should be disclosed, 12 items in total. These include: what types of franchise fees are charged and how much each is. Under what circumstances the deposit is refunded. How many franchise stores there are now and how business is doing. A summary of audited accounting reports for the past 2 years. What lawsuits and arbitrations there have been in the past 5 years. The contract must also state that the franchisee may unilaterally terminate within a certain period after signing (unilateral termination). If the brand owner conceals information or gives false information, the franchisee may terminate the contract (nationwide, since May 2007)

Notes

If you can't find the filing, it won't give disclosure documents, or it demands payment before showing the contract—just walk away. The "cooling-off period" is the days after signing when you can still unilaterally terminate. The number of days is set by the contract; the regulation only says "a certain period," so when signing, require the number of days to be written in. For the "average sales volume, gross profit, net profit of existing franchise stores" disclosed by the brand owner, ask where the numbers come from; the measures require the brand owner to explain the source.

Sources

State Council (2007). Regulation on the Administration of Commercial Franchising (State Council Order No. 485, Articles 7, 8, 12, 22, 23, 25). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2008-03/28/content_417… ; Ministry of Commerce (2012). Measures for the Administration of Information Disclosure of Commercial Franchising (Ministry of Commerce Order No. 2 of 2012, Articles 5, 9). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2012/content_2177025.htm ; Ministry of Commerce. Commercial Franchise Information Management System. https://txjy.syggs.mofcom.gov.cn/

6. Before registering, settle the name, business premises, business scope, and registered capital; with complete materials you can get the license on the spot

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Perseverance No; Benefit Medium

Registration itself costs no money; the registration fee has been suspended since 2015. Only five items of materials need to be submitted: the application form, identity or qualification proof, business premises documents, articles of association or partnership agreement (sole proprietorships don't need to submit), plus other materials specifically named by regulations. With complete materials, the license is issued on the spot; if it can't be issued on the spot, it's completed within 3 working days. The money you're charged is mostly an agency errand fee.

Cost

This registration step costs no money. The registration fee for enterprises and sole proprietorships has been suspended since January 1, 2015. Do it yourself on the local government services website, or go to the government services hall, a few hours at a time. Engraving an official seal, hiring someone to keep accounts, renting a registered address (address hosting)—these are buying services on the market, not fees charged by the government.

Benefit

The regulation fixes the materials to be submitted at five items. "(1) Application form." "(2) Applicant qualification documents, natural person identity proof." "(3) Documents related to the domicile or main business premises." "(4) Articles of association of a company, non-company enterprise legal person, farmers' professional cooperative (union), or partnership agreement of a partnership enterprise." "(5) Other materials required to be submitted by laws, administrative regulations, and the State Administration for Market Regulation." In plain language: an application form. A document proving who you are, or that you're qualified to do this. A document proving the storefront or office is for your use. The company's articles of association or partnership agreement. Plus whatever else regulations specifically name. A company must also submit the appointment documents and identity proof of the legal representative, directors, supervisors, and senior managers. Sole proprietorships don't need to submit articles of association. The name "is independently declared by the applicant according to law," meaning you make it up and report it yourself. Registered capital "implements the subscription registration system," meaning you write down how much you promise to contribute first, without paying it on the spot. Business scope is chosen from the categories published by the registration authority. If materials are complete and the format is correct, "confirm and register on the spot." If it can't be done on the spot, it's completed "within 3 working days," with 3 more working days for complex situations. "The date of issuance of the business license is the date of establishment of the market entity," meaning the date printed on the license is the birthday of the company or shop (nationwide, since March 2022)

Notes

Registration itself charges no fee; what you're charged is mostly an agency errand fee. The price of seal engraving is set by the market. The General Office of the State Council explicitly orders "strictly prohibiting designating seal-making units to make official seals," so if someone says "you must go to a designated place to engrave the seal," you don't have to accept it. How much registered capital you fill in doesn't affect appearances, only determines your liability ceiling, and it must be paid in full within 5 years, see Section 3 (choose the right entity before opening). If the business scope includes licensed items, you can't open before the license is issued, see Section 7 (industries requiring licenses)

Sources

State Council (2021). Regulation on the Administration of Market Entity Registration (State Council Order No. 746, Articles 10, 13, 14, 16, 19, 21). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2021/content_5636139.htm ; State Administration for Market Regulation (2022). Implementation Rules of the Regulation on the Administration of Market Entity Registration (State Administration for Market Regulation Order No. 52, Articles 12, 25, 26). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-03/02/content_567… ; Ministry of Finance, National Development and Reform Commission (2014). Notice on Canceling, Suspending, and Exempting a Batch of Administrative and Institutional Fees (Cai Shui [2014] No. 101, Annex 1). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2014-12/23/content_5023513.htm

7. For industries requiring licenses, don't open before the license is issued

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Medium; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

Opening without a license: at minimum, ordered to stop business, the money earned is confiscated, and a fine of up to 10,000 yuan. If you're dealing in monopoly or专卖 goods, or in securities, futures, insurance, or fund payment and settlement, serious circumstances constitute the crime of illegal business operation, starting at up to 5 years. Renovating first and getting the license later, or trial operation before the license is issued, is the most commonly stepped-on trap.

Cost

No money spent. Before opening, find out clearly whether the business you want to do requires a license. Doing catering or selling food requires a food business license. Selling only pre-packaged food made by others doesn't require a license—it's changed to filing. Open for business after the license is issued.

Benefit

Those who open for business without obtaining a license are investigated and handled by the department designated by laws and regulations. Those operating without a license, where the law doesn't specify how to punish, are ordered to stop, the money earned (illegal gains) is confiscated, and a fine of up to 10,000 yuan. There's also a heavier tier. Monopoly,专卖, or restricted-trade goods specified by laws and regulations, operated without a license. Securities, futures, insurance, and fund payment and settlement businesses, done without approval. In these two situations, serious circumstances constitute the crime of illegal business operation. Sentenced to up to 5 years of fixed-term imprisonment or criminal detention (short-term custody), plus a fine of 1 to 5 times the money earned. Particularly serious circumstances are sentenced to over 5 years (nationwide)

Notes

Licensing conditions for finance, medical care, and education each have their own specialized laws; this item only verified the general investigation and handling rules and criminal law provisions. Milk tea shops and snack shops are catering services and require a food business license. Renovating first and getting the license later, or trial operation before the license is issued, are common pitfalls. For how the food industry is divided into tiers and whether selling fresh meat and vegetables requires a license, see Section 8 (for food, first see which tier you fall into).

Sources

State Council (2017). Measures for Investigating and Handling Unlicensed and Unregistered Business (State Council Order No. 684, Articles 5, 6, 13). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2017-08/23/content_521… ; State Administration for Market Regulation (2023). Measures for the Administration of Food Business Licensing and Filing (State Administration for Market Regulation Order No. 78, Article 4). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2023/issue_10606/202307/content_… ; National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Article 225). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml

8. In food, first see which tier you fall into: production and food service require a license, selling only prepackaged food switches to filing, selling fresh meat and vegetables requires no certificate

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Free; Money Low; Time Medium; Perseverance No; Returns Medium

Making things yourself to sell, like snack shops, braised food, baking, homemade pickles, all require a license. Selling only whole packaged food made by others requires no license; filing with the market regulation department at or above the county level is enough. Selling fresh meat, vegetables, and the like requires no certificate. Doing it without a certificate carries a minimum fine of 50,000 to 100,000 yuan, higher than the capital of most small businesses.

Cost

The license itself is free of charge. But the premises and facilities must meet standards, and on-site inspection plus obtaining the license takes several weeks. Meat sellers must also keep quarantine certificates and meat quality inspection certificates for each batch.

Returns

Food Safety Law: doing food business requires first obtaining a license. Producing food yourself, selling food, and doing food service all require lawfully obtaining a license. "However, selling edible agricultural products and selling only prepackaged food do not require obtaining a license. Those selling only prepackaged food shall file with the food safety supervision and administration department of the local people's government at or above the county level." Edible agricultural products are fresh meat, vegetables, and the like that have not been processed. Prepackaged food is food made by others and sold together with its packaging. "The specific management measures for food production and processing small workshops and food vendors shall be formulated by provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government," meaning these two categories have their rules set by each province itself. Those who do food business without obtaining a license have the money earned, the food, and the tools, equipment, and raw materials all confiscated. If the total value of this batch calculated at selling price (goods value) is less than 10,000 yuan, an additional fine of not less than 50,000 yuan but not more than 100,000 yuan applies. If the goods value is 10,000 yuan or more, the fine is not less than 10 times but not more than 20 times the goods value. Pig Slaughter Management Regulations: pigs may only be slaughtered at slaughterhouses designated by the state, with centralized official quarantine. "Except that individual self-slaughter for self-consumption in rural areas is not subject to designated slaughter, no unit or individual may engage in pig slaughtering activities without designation." "Units and individuals engaged in the sale of pig products, the production and processing of meat food, as well as catering service operators and centralized meal units, must use pig products that are quarantined and meat-quality-inspected as qualified from designated pig slaughterhouses (sites)." That is, the pork you sell and the pork you use must all come from designated slaughterhouses. And both quarantine and meat quality inspection must be passed. Those who privately slaughter pigs without being at a designated slaughterhouse are ordered to shut down, and the pigs, slaughtering tools and equipment, and money earned are all confiscated, with the same fine tier as doing food without a certificate above. Animal Epidemic Prevention Law: animal products sold and transported must carry quarantine certificates and quarantine marks with the goods. Those that do not carry them are ordered to correct, and are then fined not more than one time the goods value of qualified goods of the same kind. Judicial interpretation: if food made or sold by small workshops and food vendors does not meet food safety standards, and the buyer demands tenfold compensation (punitive damages, that is, the extra payment beyond a refund), the court shall support it (nationwide)

Notes

The thresholds for small workshops, small catering, and food vendors are set by each province, and this article does not write specific numbers. Go to the official website of the market regulation bureau of your province and search for "Food Small Workshop Small Catering Small Vendor Management Regulations" to see the local version. Selling homemade food online does not mean one fewer certificate because it is "online"; what requires a license still requires a license. Beyond licensing there are also the general rules in this section: for the entity and license see Article 6 (before registration, settle the name, premises, and business scope), and for whether other trades need certificates see Article 7 (trades requiring licenses). For how much money the buyer's side can demand see Section 5, Article 31 (tenfold compensation for food).

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025, third amendment). Food Safety Law (Articles 35, 36, 122). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=7b5a76d0461745a08d3f964916… ; State Council (2021). Pig Slaughter Management Regulations (State Council Order No. 742, Articles 2, 23, 31). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-07/22/content_562… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021 revision). Animal Epidemic Prevention Law (Articles 51, 100). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080817703add2017737395a… ; Supreme People's Court (2024). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Cases of Disputes over Punitive Damages for Food and Drugs (Fa Shi [2024] No. 9, Article 4). http://gongbao.court.gov.cn/Details/bf531a70471f10d377788f2…

9. Bagging it to sell makes it prepackaged food: the label must have production date, shelf life, and ingredient list, not one can be missing

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Free; Money Low; Time Medium; Perseverance No; Returns Medium

Food put into packaging and then sold is legally called prepackaged food, and the packaging must have a label, with nine items that must be labeled, including production date and shelf life. Bulk food must also be labeled with the name, date, and the seller's name and address. If what should be labeled is not labeled, and the goods value is less than 10,000 yuan, the fine is 5,000 to 50,000 yuan; if it reaches 10,000 yuan, the fine is 5 to 10 times the goods value.

Cost

Printing labels costs a few cents to a few tenths of a yuan each. Every batch must have the date and ingredients filled in correctly, which takes some time.

Returns

Food Safety Law: prepackaged food, that is, food put into packaging and then sold, must have a label on the packaging. The label must indicate these contents: name, specifications, net content, production date. Ingredients or ingredient list. Producer's name, address, contact information. Shelf life. Product standard code. Storage conditions. The common names in national standards of the food additives used. Production license number. And contents otherwise required by laws, regulations, or food safety standards. Bulk food is the kind not bagged and weighed on demand. Selling bulk food also requires labeling several things on the container and outer packaging. First, the name of the food. Second, the production date or production batch number. Third, the shelf life. Fourth, the producer/operator's name, address, contact information, and other contents. If prepackaged food made or sold has no label, or the label or instructions do not comply with this Law, the money earned and the food are confiscated together. If the total value of this batch calculated at selling price (goods value) is less than 10,000 yuan, an additional fine of not less than 5,000 yuan but not more than 50,000 yuan applies. If the goods value is 10,000 yuan or more, the fine is not less than 5 times but not more than 10 times the goods value. If the circumstances are serious, production and business are ordered to stop until the license is revoked. If the label or instructions have only minor defects (flaws), which neither affect food safety nor mislead consumers, correction is ordered first, and only refusal to correct is fined not more than 2,000 yuan. The number of the new version of the General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Food is GB 7718-2025. It was issued on March 16, 2025, and takes effect on March 16, 2027. A two-year transition period is given in between. It requires setting up an independent area on the packaging to display both the production date and the shelf-life expiration date. The date must use high-contrast, easy-to-read fonts and colors, and be arranged in year-month-day order (nationwide)

Notes

Label defects fall into two kinds, and how much is fined and how much is compensated both follow this division. One is minor defects, such as typos or nonstandard font size, which neither affect food safety nor mislead people. In this case the market regulation department only makes you correct it, and only refusal to correct is fined not more than 2,000 yuan, and the buyer also cannot get tenfold compensation. The other is failure to label what should be labeled, such as missing the production date or shelf life. The judicial interpretation expressly says this does not count as a minor defect: the fine is calculated by goods value, 5,000 to 50,000 yuan if less than 10,000 yuan, and 5 to 10 times the goods value if 10,000 yuan or more. And the buyer can additionally demand tenfold compensation of the food price from you, calculated as 1,000 yuan if less than 1,000 yuan (see Section 5, Article 31, tenfold compensation for food). For the article-by-article requirements of GB 7718-2025, this article only verified the dates and display methods given in the announcement and official interpretation; the specific format is subject to the original standard text.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025, third amendment). Food Safety Law (Articles 67, 68, 125). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=7b5a76d0461745a08d3f964916… ; National Health Commission, State Administration for Market Regulation (2025). Announcement on Issuing 50 National Food Safety Standards Including the National Food Safety Standard General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Food (GB 7718-2025) and 9 Amendment Sheets (2025 No. 2). https://jkw.lasa.gov.cn/wswyh/wjzl/202504/a90766908ef24869a… (Lhasa Municipal Health Commission reprint of the full announcement); Supreme People's Court (2024). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Cases of Disputes over Punitive Damages for Food and Drugs (Fa Shi [2024] No. 9, Articles 6, 8). http://gongbao.court.gov.cn/Details/bf531a70471f10d377788f2… (tiering of label defects and missing mandatory items); Beijing Municipal Market Regulation Administration (2026). Can't find the production date? Food labels are going to "change face"! These key points of the new rules must be seen. https://scjgj.beijing.gov.cn/zwxx/scjgdt/202605/t20260507_4… (effective date, transition period, and new date display requirements)

10. Ordinary food may not claim to cure disease: labels, instructions, ads, and livestream scripts all count

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Free; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Returns Medium

In the labels, instructions, and ads of ordinary food, none may claim to prevent or cure disease. Except for the three categories of ads for medical treatment, drugs, and medical devices, no other ads may claim to cure disease, nor use words that sound like medicine. The fine is 1 to 3 times the advertising cost. If the advertising cost cannot be calculated, the fine is 100,000 to 200,000 yuan. If the circumstances are serious, the business license can also be revoked.

Cost

Costs no money. Go over the promotional language, product detail pages, and livestream scripts once. The hard part is holding back from saying things like "lower the three highs" or "cure constipation."

Returns

Food Safety Law: "The labels and instructions of food and food additives shall not contain false content, and shall not involve disease prevention or treatment functions. Producers and operators are responsible for the content of the labels and instructions they provide." "The content of food advertisements shall be truthful and lawful, shall not contain false content, and shall not involve disease prevention or treatment functions. Food producers and operators are responsible for the truthfulness and lawfulness of the content of food advertisements." This means packaging, instructions, and ads may not claim to prevent or cure disease, and whatever is written is borne by the seller. Those who boast about food in ads and deceive consumers are fined under the Advertising Law. The Advertising Law also has a prohibition. "Except for advertisements for medical treatment, drugs, and medical devices, any other advertisement is prohibited from involving disease treatment functions, and may not use medical terminology or terminology that easily confuses the promoted goods with drugs or medical devices." That is, except for the three categories of ads for medical treatment, drugs, and medical devices, all other ads may not claim to cure disease, nor use words that sound like medicine or medical devices. Those who violate this article are ordered to stop the ad. The party that placed the ad (the advertiser) must also publicly clarify and eliminate the impact within the scope in which it was published. Then a fine of not less than 1 time but not more than 3 times the advertising cost applies. If the advertising cost cannot be calculated, or is reported at an obviously low amount, the fine is not less than 100,000 yuan but not more than 200,000 yuan. If the circumstances are serious, the fine is not less than 3 times but not more than 5 times the advertising cost, or not less than 200,000 yuan but not more than 1,000,000 yuan, and the business license can also be revoked, making the business impossible to continue (nationwide)

Notes

"Health functions" are also not something ordinary food can claim. The health functions that health food can claim can only come from the state-set catalog, and the product must also undergo registration or filing; ordinary food has no such procedure. For how the buyer's side identifies such scripts, see Section 6, Article 10 (do not spend big money on health products to condition the body). This article governs not only packaging and ads: detail pages, livestream scripts, and WeChat Moments copy also count as advertising content, and once sent out they leave traces.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025, third amendment). Food Safety Law (Articles 71, 73, 125, 140). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=7b5a76d0461745a08d3f964916… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021 amendment). Advertising Law (Articles 17, 58). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081817ab231eb017abd6bd8…

11. This food trade has a criminal line: selling dead-disease meat or over-limit goods is enough for a crime, and mixing in toxic or harmful substances ignores the amount and starts at five years

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Free; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Returns Large

The previous articles fine money; this one arrests people. Selling dead-disease meat, meat that fails inspection, or things with pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, or heavy metals seriously over limits, as long as it is "enough" to cause serious poisoning in people, is enough for a crime, without anyone actually getting sick, and the sentence is up to 3 years. Mixing toxic or harmful non-food raw materials into food starts at up to 5 years, regardless of how much money you sold.

Cost

Costs no money. Do it according to the set in Article 8 (in food, first see which tier you fall into): keep quarantine certificates and purchase vouchers, and put only things with findable approval numbers into the ingredient list.

Returns

Article 143 of the Criminal Law governs this tier. The food you make or sell does not meet food safety standards. As long as it is "enough to cause a serious food poisoning accident or other serious foodborne disease," it is enough for a crime. The sentence is fixed-term imprisonment of not more than 3 years or criminal detention (short-term custody), plus a fine. If it causes serious harm to human health, or there are other serious circumstances, the sentence is not less than 3 years but not more than 7 years plus a fine. If the consequences are especially serious, the sentence is fixed-term imprisonment of not less than 7 years up to life, plus a fine or confiscation of all property under one's name. Article 144: mixing toxic or harmful non-food raw materials into food made or sold, or knowingly selling it after such mixing, is punished by fixed-term imprisonment of not more than 5 years plus a fine. If it causes serious harm to human health, or there are other serious circumstances, the sentence is not less than 5 years but not more than 10 years plus a fine. If it kills people, or there are other especially serious circumstances, it is punished under Article 141 (not less than 10 years, life, or death). The Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate issued an interpretation (the two supremes interpretation). It lists which circumstances count as "enough to cause a serious food poisoning accident or other serious foodborne disease." First, "containing disease-causing microorganisms, pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, biological toxins, heavy metals, and other pollutants seriously exceeding standard limits." Second, "belonging to meat and products of livestock, poultry, beasts, and aquatic animals that died of disease, died of unknown causes, or failed inspection and quarantine." Third, "belonging to those whose production and sale are explicitly prohibited by the state for special needs such as disease prevention and control." Fourth, "food for special medical purposes, and staple and supplementary food exclusively for infants and young children, whose nutritional components seriously do not meet food safety standards." Using additives in excess or in the wrong place, to the extent of causing the above consequences, is likewise convicted under Article 143. What counts as "toxic or harmful non-food raw materials" is not for you to decide. One category is substances prohibited by laws and regulations from being added to food. Another category is substances on the list announced by relevant State Council departments, such as banned pesticides and drugs prohibited for use on food animals. Another circumstance also counts as "other serious circumstances" in Article 144. Making or selling 100,000 yuan or more but less than 200,000 yuan. The location is on or around primary and secondary school campuses, childcare institutions, and elderly care institutions. The targets sold to are minors and the elderly. Slaughtering and selling at a pig slaughterhouse you privately set up rather than at a designated slaughterhouse, if the circumstances are serious, is punished as the crime of illegal business operation. Reaching 100,000 yuan or more, or earning 50,000 yuan or more, counts as "serious circumstances" (nationwide)

Notes

The dividing line with the previous three articles is: whether food safety itself has been crossed. Failing to get a certificate, missing label items, and boasting of curative effects are fined with money. Selling dead-disease meat, over-limit goods, randomly adding additives, and mixing in non-food raw materials enter criminal procedure. The easiest line of defense is still the set of actions in Article 8 (in food, first see which tier you fall into). Buy meat only from designated slaughterhouses. Keep quarantine certificates and meat quality inspection certificates for each batch. Use only ingredients with findable approval numbers. So-called "cheap discounted meat" and "scraps of unknown origin" are the most frequent entry points for trouble in this article. The page of the original source, the Supreme People's Court Gazette, returned 502 this round, so two provincial official reprints were cited, and they were checked word by word against each other.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020 amendment). Criminal Law (Articles 141, 143, 144). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808181796a636a0179822a19… (National Database of Laws and Regulations); Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2021). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases Endangering Food Safety (Fa Shi [2021] No. 24, Articles 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 17, 18, effective January 1, 2022). https://scjg.hebei.gov.cn/info/79117 (Hebei Provincial Market Regulation Administration reprint of the full text), https://sft.ln.gov.cn/sft/ywgz/zfflgw/xzys/2525860BD0F843EF… (Liaoning Provincial Department of Justice reprint of the full text, the two checked word by word and consistent)

12. Once You Have a License, You Have Filing Obligations — File a Zero Return on Schedule Even With No Income (File a Form Full of Zeros)

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Medium

Once you have a license, you must file taxes on schedule. Even if you haven't earned a cent, you still have to file — you just fill in zeros across the form. Failure to file carries a fine of up to 2,000 yuan; in serious cases, 2,000 to 10,000 yuan. If you fail to file for all tax types for three consecutive months, the system will automatically classify you as a non-compliant taxpayer, and you won't be able to issue invoices.

Cost

No money. File monthly or quarterly yourself on the electronic tax bureau — a few minutes each time. Hiring a bookkeeping agent is a separate market expense. If you hire people, you must also complete social insurance registration within 30 days from the date of establishment. The hard part is remembering to file on time even in months with no business.

Benefit

"Where a taxpayer has no tax payable during a tax period, it shall still file a tax return in accordance with the regulations." That is, even if you owe zero tax for the period, you still must file. For failure to file on schedule, "the tax authority shall order correction within a time limit and may impose a fine of up to 2,000 yuan; in serious cases, a fine of 2,000 to 10,000 yuan." If you fail to file and underpay tax, the tax will be recovered, along with late fees charged per day, plus a fine of "50% to five times the underpaid tax." Late fees accrue at 0.05% per day. "If no tax return is filed for all tax types for three consecutive months, the tax collection and administration system will automatically classify the taxpayer as a non-compliant taxpayer and stop the use of its invoice booklet and invoices." That is, if you file nothing for three months, the system itself lists you as non-compliant, and you can't obtain or issue invoices. After you file retroactively and accept the penalty, the status is automatically lifted. Employers "shall, within 30 days from the date of establishment... apply to the local social insurance agency for social insurance registration" (nationwide)

Notes

After "multi-certificate integration," you no longer need a separate tax registration. Log into the electronic tax bureau with the unified social credit code on your business license, confirm the registration information, and report which taxes you owe. Sole proprietors and sole proprietorship enterprises pay individual income tax on business income. First pay "within 15 days after the end of each month or quarter," then "complete the annual reconciliation before March 31 of the year following the year in which the income was obtained" — that is, tally up the full year's accounts and settle any overpayment or underpayment. Even if you haven't opened for business, you must file — a zero return is still a return. Leave it alone for three months and you become a non-compliant taxpayer, invoices are suspended, and you can't use the simplified deregistration procedure — see Section 23 of this chapter (if you're losing money, exit through the proper procedure)

Sources

State Council (2002). Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Law on the Administration of Tax Collection (State Council Decree No. 362, Articles 32, 75). https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100010/c5195082/content.… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2015). Law on the Administration of Tax Collection (2015 amendment, Articles 25, 32, 62, 64). https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100009/c5195081/content.… ; State Taxation Administration (2019). Announcement on Several Matters Concerning Tax Collection and Administration (STA Announcement No. 48 of 2019, Article 3). https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100012/c5195194/content.… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Individual Income Tax Law (2018 amendment, Article 12). https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100009/c5193028/content.… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Social Insurance Law (2018 amendment, Article 57). http://www.npc.gov.cn/zgrdw/npc/xinwen/2019-01/07/content_2…

13. Issue Invoices Only for Real Transactions; Small-Scale Taxpayers Should Use Their Full Exemption

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Large

If you are a small-scale taxpayer under the simplified method, and you sell less than 100,000 yuan a month or less than 300,000 yuan a quarter, VAT is exempt. If you would otherwise pay 3%, it is reduced to 1% for the same period. Conversely, "finding someone to issue invoices to offset costs" is false invoicing — starting at up to 3 years in prison, plus a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 yuan.

Cost

No money. Don't buy invoices, don't sell invoices, and don't "run transactions through your account and issue invoices" for others. Issue invoices and file taxes based on real business that actually occurred.

Benefit

The tier for small-scale operations taxed under the simplified method is called small-scale taxpayer. The law states: "Where sales amount does not reach the threshold, VAT is exempt." This line is called the threshold. From January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027, the threshold is these three numbers. Calculated monthly: 100,000 yuan in sales. Calculated quarterly: 300,000 yuan. Calculated per transaction or per day: 1,000 yuan. Sell below this line and you don't pay. During the same period, what would be taxed at 3% is reduced to 1%, except for selling or renting real estate and transferring land use rights. Conversely, issuing VAT special invoices with no real transaction, or other invoices that can be used to offset tax, carries a sentence of up to 3 years of fixed-term imprisonment or criminal detention, plus a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 yuan. Issuing for others, issuing for yourself, having others issue for you, and introducing others to issue — all count. If the tax amount involved is relatively large, 3 to 10 years. If the amount is huge, 10 years or more, or life imprisonment (nationwide)

Notes

The VAT Law takes effect on January 1, 2026. The original small-scale taxpayer reduction and exemption announcements cease to be implemented or are repealed accordingly. This refers to Announcement No. 19 of 2023 and No. 1 of 2023. The monetary thresholds haven't changed, but the legal basis has, and this section has been updated per the new documents. The original criminal law page is the 1997 version; Article 205 was later adjusted by amendments regarding sentencing tiers, and this section only lists the tiers that were verified and not modified. What is exempt is VAT; income tax is calculated separately. "Finding someone to issue invoices to offset costs" is false invoicing, not tax saving.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2024). VAT Law (effective January 1, 2026, Article 23). https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100009/c5237365/content.… ; Ministry of Finance and State Taxation Administration (2026). Announcement on Matters Concerning the Transition of VAT Preferential Policies After the Implementation of the VAT Law (MOF and STA Announcement No. 10 of 2026, Articles 1, 2, 6). https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c102416/c5247434/content.… ; National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Article 205). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml

14. Anyone Claiming to Be from the Tax Bureau Chasing You for Payment or Filing Is a Scammer — Handle Tax Matters Only Through the Electronic Tax Bureau and 12366

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

Tax authorities will not call to ask for your bank card password, payment password, or SMS verification code, nor will they give you an account number to transfer tax to. Anyone who actually shows up to audit your books must present an inspection notice and inspection credentials. If you get such a call, hang up first, then call 12366 to verify. If you've already transferred money, immediately call 110 or 96110 to stop payment.

Cost

No money. If you get calls, text messages about "tax audits," "abnormal accounts," "fines for not filing," or someone adding you as a friend, hang up first and don't reply. Then call 12366, or call your competent tax authority's landline to verify.

Benefit

The State Taxation Administration's original notice states: "Tax authorities will not request bank card passwords, payment passwords, account balances, or SMS verification codes related to bank card receipts and payments through WeChat mini-programs, phone calls, or text messages." "Some criminals impersonate tax officials and contact taxpayers under the guise of providing 'assisted tax filing,' 'tax benefit agency services,' 'policy guidance,' etc." To verify, call the "12366 tax and fee payment service hotline or the competent tax authority's landline." Anyone who actually shows up to audit (inspect) "must present an inspection notice and inspection credentials." "Tax payments can only be made through the electronic tax bureau or at the tax service hall; tax authorities will not provide a designated account." There is also a provision for intermediary agencies handling tax matters for others. "Extorting taxpayers or withholding agents in the name of tax authorities and tax officials" carries a fine based on the severity. That is, using the banner of the tax bureau and tax officials to extort money from taxpayers and withholding agents. Impersonating a state organ functionary to swindle and deceive carries detention of 10 to 15 days, plus a possible fine of up to 1,000 yuan. If it constitutes both the crime of fraud and the crime of swindling and deceiving, "conviction and punishment shall be determined according to the provision with the heavier penalty" — that is, whichever provision carries the heavier penalty applies (nationwide)

Notes

These scams specifically target newly registered sole proprietors and small companies. The script is "the system shows you haven't filed; if you don't handle it today, you'll be fined," then they direct you to their own official account or mini-program and charge a few hundred yuan. That filing is actually free and you can do it yourself in a few minutes. Hiring a market-based agency for bookkeeping is not illegal, but it is not a government department and won't chase you in the name of the tax bureau. If you've already paid or transferred money, immediately call 110 or 96110 to request a payment stop, per Section 8, Article 2 of this chapter (stopping payment after being scammed)

Sources

State Taxation Administration (2025). Tax Authorities Remind Taxpayers — Raise Awareness and Guard Against Internet Tax-Related Fraud. https://www.chinatax.gov.cn/chinatax/n810219/n810724/c52431… ; Yangzhou Municipal Tax Service, State Taxation Administration (2023). Yangzhou Tax-Related Fraud Prevention Guide. https://jiangsu.chinatax.gov.cn/art/2023/8/28/art_23038_432… ; State Taxation Administration (2025). Measures for the Administration of Tax-Related Professional Services (Trial) (STA Decree No. 58, Article 32(7), Article 33). https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100011/c5239044/content.… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, effective January 1, 2026, Article 62). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security (2016). Opinions on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Telecom and Internet Fraud (Fa Fa [2016] No. 32). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/201612/t20161221_176278.shtml

15. Write "Deposit" Not "Earnest Money" When Taking Payment; Specify Penalty Amounts; Review Payment Terms Like a Loan

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Large

Only the word "deposit" (定金) triggers the double-return rule: if you breach, you can't get the money back; if the other party breaches, they must return double. Any amount exceeding 20% of the contract value doesn't count. If written as "earnest money" (订金), there is no such rule in law. Giving payment terms is equivalent to lending your money to the other party interest-free — if they go under, it's a bad debt.

Cost

No money. Write the word "deposit" in the contract, with the amount not exceeding 20% of the total contract value. Collect payment before shipping. Before agreeing to let the other party take goods first and pay later (giving payment terms), check them out first.

Benefit

A deposit only counts once the money is actually delivered to the other party (it is established upon actual delivery). If the party paying the deposit breaches, the money cannot be recovered. If the party receiving the deposit breaches, they must return the full amount plus an equal amount (double return). Any amount exceeding 20% of the total contract value (the principal contract's subject matter value) is not treated as a deposit. If the agreed penalty is absurdly higher or lower than the actual loss, the court may adjust it up or down upon request by one party. If both a penalty and a deposit are written into the contract, upon actual breach you can only choose one, not both (nationwide, since 2021)

Notes

"Earnest money" (订金) does not have the deposit rules under the Civil Code; it is generally treated only as an advance payment. This is the common practice in practice; this section has not verified case law. Payment terms mean lending your money to the other party interest-free — if they go under, it's a bad debt. Before giving payment terms, check the other party's records on the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System to see if they've been sued.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 585, 586, 587, 588). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

16. Sign a Written Contract Within the First Month of Employment; Complete Social Insurance Registration Within 30 Days

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money Much; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Large

If someone has been working for a full month without a written contract, from the second month onward you must pay double wages each month, continuing until the full year. Social insurance must be registered within 30 days of employment; failure to do so carries a fine of 1 to 3 times the social insurance premium owed. There is no such thing in law as "employee voluntarily waives social insurance."

Cost

The portion of social insurance paid by the company must be paid continuously, with rates varying by region. Signing the contract itself costs nothing — just use the local human resources and social security department's contract template.

Benefit

If someone has been working for a full month but less than a year without a written contract, you must pay double wages each month. Within 30 days from the first day of work, you must complete their social insurance registration. Failure to do so first results in an order to correct. If the deadline passes, a fine of 1 to 3 times the social insurance premium owed, plus a separate fine of 500 to 3,000 yuan for the person who handled it. If social insurance is not paid on time or in full, late fees accrue at 0.05% per day from the date of arrears. If still unpaid after the deadline, an additional fine of 1 to 3 times the arrears. The employer must self-report and pay in full on time. Only force majeure events like natural disasters can justify late or reduced payment. There is no "employee voluntary waiver" (nationwide)

Notes

Double wages run from the second month until the full year — the longer you delay, the more expensive it gets. For employees without contracts or social insurance, if a work injury occurs or they file for arbitration after leaving, the back payments plus fines plus compensation often far exceed what was saved.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Labor Contract Law (Articles 10, 82). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2010). Social Insurance Law (2018 amendment, Articles 58, 60, 84, 86). https://www.mohrss.gov.cn/xxgk2020/fdzdgknr/zcfg/fl/202011/…

17. Pay Wages Per Contract and Law; Put Raises, Loans, and Bonuses in Writing

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Medium

Wages must be paid on time and in full per contract and law. If owed, employees can directly ask the court for a payment order. Raises, bonuses, and advances that are only verbal — when a real dispute arises, the party who can't produce evidence loses. If you lend your own money to an employee, write a written IOU specifying the amount, interest, and repayment date.

Cost

No money. Write wages clearly in the contract. For raises, bonuses, advances, and loans, always sign and keep a paper record. Don't make verbal promises. And don't reach into your own pocket to pay wages on behalf of the company. The hard part is following these rules even when a friend asks.

Benefit

The mandatory contents of a labor contract include how wages are paid and how social insurance is paid. The employer must pay wages promptly and in full per the contract and state regulations. If payment is delayed, the employee can directly apply to the court for a payment order (a court-issued demand document). If the boss lends his own money to an employee, that is a loan contract. Except where otherwise agreed between two natural persons, it must be in writing, specifying how much was borrowed, how interest is calculated, when to repay, and how to repay. Verbally promised bonuses without written documentation — when a real dispute arises, the party who can't produce evidence loses (nationwide)

Notes

It's not about not helping people — it's about helping people through the system. Once favors outside the system become habit, stopping them becomes a dispute. When personal loans and company accounts are mixed together, if the company loses money, the bad debt falls on you. The legal provisions have been verified; the advice itself is experience-based, hence level C.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Labor Contract Law (Articles 17, 30). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm ; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 469, 668). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

18. Sell First, Then Make: Use Pre-Sales and Small Orders to Verify Someone Will Buy Before Investing in Production

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money Little; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

Someone tracked 116 Italian new companies for about a year: entrepreneurs who first formed a hypothesis and then tested it with market feedback did better in business, were more willing to pivot in time, and did not give up earlier. So if no one will prepay and no one will place a small order, don't believe "if you make it, people will naturally buy it."

Cost

Tens to hundreds of yuan to make a sample or a page. Then find dozens of real customers and get them to prepay or place small orders. This is a few weeks slower than just starting production. The hard part is resisting the urge to make the goods first.

Benefit

A randomized controlled trial tracked 116 Italian startups for about a year. A randomized controlled trial means randomly dividing people into two groups, giving training to only one group, and then comparing the results. The result: entrepreneurs who received training and made decisions by "first forming a hypothesis, then rigorously testing it with market feedback" performed better and were more likely to pivot to other approaches in time, with no higher rate of early abandonment. The authors' explanation is that this approach reduces the probability of continuing to pour money into projects that look promising but actually can't succeed (false positive projects) (Italy, published 2020)

Notes

There is only this one study, the sample is small, and it was done in Italy, so it is rated B. The title, source, and abstract were verified via Crossref and Semantic Scholar; the effect sizes in the full text have not been verified by this section. In practical terms: if no one will prepay and no one will place a small order, don't believe "if you make it, people will buy it."

Sources

Camuffo A, Cordova A, Gambardella A, Spina C (2020). A Scientific Approach to Entrepreneurial Decision Making: Evidence from a Randomized Control Trial. Management Science 66(2):564-586. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2018.3249

https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2018.3249

19. Run a sample through the mass-production checklist before you start production

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money low; Time medium; Persistence some; Benefit large

The difference between one sample and a thousand units is where the money gets tied up. Yield determines the real cost. Minimum order quantity and payment terms determine how much you have to front. Inventory determines when the money comes back. If the product is in the mandatory certification catalog, it cannot leave the factory or be sold without certification and the certification mark.

Cost

A few hundred yuan for a small-batch trial production. Then spend a few more hours to calculate these items clearly: yield (how many out of 100 units can be sold), the supplier's minimum order quantity and payment terms, how much money inventory will tie up, packaging and logistics, certification and licensing, trademarks. The hard part is resisting the urge to skip this step and start production directly.

Benefit

The difference between one sample and a thousand units is where the money gets tied up. Yield determines the real cost; yield is the proportion of a production batch that is qualified and sellable. How much the supplier requires you to order at minimum (minimum order quantity), and how long after shipping before you receive payment (payment terms)—these two determine how much you have to front. Inventory determines when the money comes back. Products listed in the mandatory product certification catalog must first pass certification and have the certification mark affixed to the product before they can leave the factory and be sold. Those who leave the factory and sell without authorization without certification are punished under the certification and accreditation regulations. Running a restaurant and selling food requires a food business license (nationwide)

Notes

The checklist itself is an empirical method; the legal provisions have been verified against the original text. Before production, first check the trademark search system of the China National Intellectual Property Administration for similar registrations, then apply for your own trademark. For the red lines on using other people's trademarks and designs, see items 20 and 21 (keep receipts when purchasing goods, designs must be self-made or licensed). The mandatory certification catalog is subject to the latest publication by the State Administration for Market Regulation.

Sources

General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (2009). Regulations on the Administration of Mandatory Product Certification (AQSIQ Order No. 117, Articles 2 and 49). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2010/content_1533513.htm ; State Administration for Market Regulation (2023). Measures for the Administration of Food Business Licensing and Filing (SAMR Order No. 78, Article 4). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2023/issue_10606/202307/content_…

20. Keep a batch of receipts and supplier information for every batch of goods purchased; do not purchase goods whose purchase price is obviously below market price: if an employee brings in counterfeit goods, the boss is the one who gets sentenced

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time low; Persistence some; Benefit large

Selling counterfeit goods, earning 30,000, or selling 50,000 worth, is enough for a criminal sentence of up to 3 years. Goods sitting in the warehouse unsold also count. "I didn't know it was fake" is not up to you to decide: if the purchase price is obviously below market price and you cannot explain why, you will be deemed to have known. Only by keeping procurement contracts, invoices, payment records, and supplier information is there a path to exemption from compensation.

Cost

Costs nothing. Keep these for every batch of goods: procurement contract, invoice, payment records, the supplier's business license and authorization documents. Then set an internal rule: whoever purchases the goods signs for them, and any goods with a price obviously below market price are never purchased. The hard part is letting go of those low-priced goods that look very profitable.

Benefit

Knowingly selling goods with a counterfeit registered trademark, where the money earned (illegal gains) reaches 30,000 yuan, or the amount sold reaches 50,000 yuan, crosses the threshold for a criminal sentence. Up to 3 years, plus a fine, or a fine only. Reaching ten times this standard means 3 to 10 years plus a fine. Goods still sitting unsold in the warehouse also count: if the goods value reaches more than three times the sales amount standard, it likewise constitutes a crime. "Knowing" does not require your own admission. The 2025 judicial interpretation of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate lists five circumstances in which you can be directly deemed to have known, unless you can produce evidence proving you truly did not know. First, knowing that the registered trademark on the goods has been altered, swapped, or covered. Second, forging or altering the trademark registrant's authorization documents, or knowing that such documents have been forged or altered. Third, having received criminal or administrative punishment for selling counterfeit goods, and selling the same kind again. Fourth, purchasing or selling at a price obviously below market price without justified reason. Fifth, after being discovered by administrative law enforcement agencies or judicial authorities, transferring or destroying infringing goods, accounting vouchers, and other evidence, or providing false certification. If a company commits this offense, "a fine shall be imposed on the unit, and the directly responsible persons in charge and other directly responsible persons" shall be punished under the same article. That is, the company pays a fine, and the person who made the decision and the person who handled it are sentenced under the same article. So even if the goods were purchased by an employee, the one who gets fined and sentenced is still the person who made the decision. Conversely, the Trademark Law leaves a way out: if at the time of sale you truly did not know the goods infringed another's registered trademark, "if you can prove that the goods were lawfully obtained by yourself and identify the provider, you shall not bear liability for compensation." The entire capital for avoiding compensation is receipts and supplier information; without them, it cannot be used (nationwide, judicial interpretation effective April 26, 2025)

Notes

Cosmetics, alcohol, maternal and infant products, digital products, and clothing are high-incidence categories for such cases. The common factor is a huge price gap for the same goods. Terms like "channel goods," "tail orders," and "overseas duty-free" cannot replace receipts. Beyond criminal sentencing there is also an administrative penalty: if infringement is established, the infringing goods and tools shall be confiscated, and if the illegal business volume is 50,000 yuan or more, a fine of up to 5 times may also be imposed. If you discover something is wrong only after purchasing the goods, immediately stop selling, seal them up, and contact the brand owner or the market regulation department. Do not continue selling, and even more so do not destroy the goods and accounts. Destroying evidence falls exactly into the fifth circumstance above of "presuming you knew the goods were counterfeit." For using others' designs, see item 21 (designs must either be self-made or licensed). There is a scam specifically targeting this: someone comes to you voluntarily, saying this batch of pens or other small goods is given to you for free, and you split the money after selling them in your store. A few days later someone comes to buy them, collects evidence on the spot, and then claims compensation for infringement. Free goods happen to knock out all three conditions needed for the compensation exemption at once: no procurement contract or payment records, cannot identify the true provider, and the price is obviously abnormal. Not a single element of "lawfully obtained and identify the provider" can be used. So anyone who voluntarily delivers goods to your door, gives no receipts, and leaves only a WeChat ID should never be put on the shelves. If you really want to do consignment sales, sign a written consignment contract, keep a copy of the other party's ID card and business license, and write in who owns the goods and who bears liability if infringement occurs.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law (items 17 and 24, i.e., Articles 214 and 220 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/202012/t20201227_503682.shtml ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2025). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Intellectual Property Infringement (Fa Shi [2025] No. 5, effective April 26, 2025). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbt/202504/t20250424_693977.… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2019). Trademark Law (2019 amendment, Articles 57 and 64; after the June 26, 2026 revision, Articles 72 and 78, effective January 1, 2027). https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2019/7/30/art_95_28179.html , https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2026/6/26/art_95_206942.html

21. Designs on products, packaging, hangtags, and promotional images must either be self-made or licensed; changing a color or adding an icon does not count as "modified"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope freedom; Money low; Time low; Persistence some; Benefit large

Changing a color, swapping the background, or adding your own icon to someone else's image is still using another's work without permission. Copying another's artistic work for profit, earning 30,000, doing 50,000, or printing 500 copies, constitutes the crime of copyright infringement, with a sentence of up to 3 years. On the trademark side, "similar enough to cause confusion" itself counts as infringement.

Cost

Licensing from legitimate stock image libraries starts at a few dozen yuan per image. Hiring someone for original design costs a few hundred to a few thousand yuan. Keep an authorization certificate and purchase record for every image used on products. The hard part is not using images casually searched from the internet.

Benefit

The Copyright Law lists "using a work without the copyright owner's permission by means of adaptation, translation, annotation, etc." and direct copying together as infringing acts. So changing the color, swapping the background, or adding your own icon to the original image is still using another's work without permission. The threshold for a criminal sentence is here: for profit, without the permission of the work's copyright owner (copyright holder), printing and selling an artistic work (reproduction and distribution). Three numbers qualify as a crime. Money earned (illegal gains) reaching 30,000 yuan. Or the business reaching 50,000 yuan (illegal business amount). Or the total number of copies printed reaching 500 (sheets). Reaching any one of these numbers constitutes the crime of copyright infringement. Up to 3 years, plus a fine, or a fine only. Reaching ten times the standard means 3 to 10 years. Merely selling infringing goods printed by others, earning 50,000 yuan or more, or selling 100,000 yuan or more, is punished as the crime of selling infringing copies with up to 5 years. The trademark side is the same: using a trademark similar to a registered trademark on the same kind of goods, or using an identical or similar trademark on similar goods, where it "is likely to cause confusion," is itself within the scope of infringement. "Similar" is an infringement circumstance expressly written in the law; you cannot modify your way out of it (nationwide, judicial interpretation effective April 26, 2025)

Notes

There are three commonly stepped-on spots. First, printing cartoon characters and celebrity images searched from the internet on clothes, cups, and phone cases. Second, fonts: most commercial fonts require separate licensing, and free preview does not equal free commercial use. Third, design drafts made for clients that contain unlicensed materials—liability still falls on the seller. To save trouble, use stock image libraries with commercial licensing and save the authorization page. Or have the designer state clearly in the contract where the materials come from and to what scope they are licensed, with the designer responsible if problems arise. Beyond criminal sentencing there is also civil compensation and administrative fines: if public interests are harmed, illegal gains may be confiscated and a fine of 1 to 5 times the illegal business volume may be imposed. For checking trademarks before production, see item 19 (run the sample through the mass-production checklist first). Conversely, if your own images are used by others, defend your rights under the same rules.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Copyright Law (2020 amendment, Article 52, item 6, and Article 53). http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c2/c30834/202011/t20201119_308796… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law (items 20 and 21, i.e., Articles 217 and 218 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/202012/t20201227_503682.shtml ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2025). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Intellectual Property Infringement (Fa Shi [2025] No. 5). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbt/202504/t20250424_693977.… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2019). Trademark Law (2019 amendment, Article 57, item 2; after the 2026 revision, Article 72, item 2). https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2019/7/30/art_95_28179.html

22. On the job, follow the procedures; for favors outside the procedures, first think clearly about who bears responsibility

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time low; Persistence some; Benefit medium

Take nurses as an example: the regulations clearly state that upon discovering a patient's condition is critical, the physician must be notified immediately; upon discovering that a medical order violates regulations, it must be raised with the physician who issued it. Other positions are the same—first see clearly where your own set of procedures draws the line for "must report." The law also does not ask people to stand by and watch someone die: if you voluntarily step in for emergency rescue and injure the person, you do not have to pay compensation.

Cost

Costs nothing. At work, do things according to the system, medical orders, and procedures. Do not make decisions for others beyond your own authority. Before wanting to help, first ask yourself: if something goes wrong, who is responsible. The hard part is standing firm on the spot against requests to "bend the rules a little."

Benefit

Take nurses as an example; the legally written boundaries of duties are as follows. Upon discovering a critical condition, notify the physician immediately. In an emergency, to rescue a dying patient, necessary emergency rescue may be implemented first. Upon discovering that a medical order violates laws or regulations, or violates diagnostic and treatment technical norms, it must be raised with the physician, and if necessary reported to the department head. The other side must also be stated clearly: the Civil Code provides that if you voluntarily step in for emergency rescue and end up injuring the person rescued, the rescuer does not have to pay compensation (does not bear civil liability). What the law protects is rescue out of good intentions, not "helping someone means you have to pay" (nationwide)

Notes

Within your position, follow the procedures; emergency rescue is protected by law. For everything else, first distinguish whose authority and whose responsibility it is; do not substitute personal goodwill for institutional decisions. The citation from the Nurses Regulation is the 2008 original text, TODO (to be verified: whether Article 17 was changed after the 2020 revision). The provisions in the Physicians Law regarding practicing according to diagnostic and treatment norms could not be opened in the official original text this time, so they are not cited.

Sources

State Council (2008). Nurses Regulation (State Council Order No. 517, Article 17). http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2008-03/28/content_6169… ; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 184). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

23. When you suffer losses, exit according to procedure: if simplified deregistration is possible, deregister; if insolvent, go through bankruptcy; do not just leave it unattended

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence some; Benefit large

If you owe no debts and owe no wages, taxes, or social insurance, all investors can write a commitment, and after 20 days of public notice with no objections, simplified deregistration can be done. Sole proprietors do not need public notice; if there are no objections within 10 days, they can deregister directly. If you cannot repay debts due, apply to the court for bankruptcy. If you leave it unattended, the legal representative cannot serve as the legal representative of another enterprise for 3 years.

Cost

Simplified deregistration can be handled by yourself: post it on the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System for 20 days. If there are still unpaid debts, you must first sort out the accounts, collect what should be collected, and repay what should be repaid; this step is called liquidation. Going through bankruptcy requires applying to the court and takes several months. The hard part is not wanting to face it after a loss and dragging it out without handling it.

Benefit

You owe others nothing and others owe you nothing, or all have been settled. You owe no wages, no social insurance, no taxes. All investors have written a commitment. Meeting these conditions, after posting for 20 days of public notice with no objections, you can go through simplified deregistration. Sole proprietors do not need public notice; if the relevant department has no objection within 10 days, they are deregistered directly. If a company cannot repay debts due and owes more than it has on hand (insolvent), it may apply to the court for reorganization, settlement, or bankruptcy liquidation. If already dissolved but not liquidated, and owing more than it has, the person responsible for liquidation should apply for bankruptcy liquidation. The consequences of leaving it unattended are as follows: failing to publicize the annual report on time results in being listed in the business abnormality directory. If still not publicized after 3 years, you are listed in the serious illegal enterprise list. The legal representative or responsible person may not serve as the legal representative or responsible person of another enterprise for 3 years. If already listed in the business abnormality directory, you cannot even go through simplified deregistration (nationwide)

Notes

The citation from the Interim Regulations on Enterprise Information Publicity is the 2014 original text. The 2024 State Council Order No. 777 only changed "administrative department for industry and commerce" in that regulation to "market supervision and administration department," and did not list Article 17. TODO (to be verified: whether there is another separate 2024 revision). The personal bankruptcy system (sole proprietors included) is currently only being piloted in certain regions; this section did not verify the original text, so it is not written.

Sources

State Council (2021). Regulations on the Administration of Market Entity Registration (State Council Order No. 746, Articles 31, 32, and 33). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-08/24/content_563… ; State Administration for Market Regulation and five other departments (2025). Enterprise Deregistration Guide (2025 revision) (2025 Announcement No. 52). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202512/content_7053238… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2006). Enterprise Bankruptcy Law (Articles 2 and 7). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2006/content_413952.htm ; State Council (2014). Interim Regulations on Enterprise Information Publicity (State Council Order No. 654, Article 17). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2014-08/23/content_903…

Evidence levels: B, A, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 13 · 41 suggestions

Emergency Situations: What to Do First

[[A Cost-Effective Guide to Life]]

This section answers only one thing: when something happens, what to do first, what to do next, and what not to do. The first aid and wilderness entries count specific causes of death and survival rates. The threat and scam entries count money and personal freedom. The two types of numbers are not converted into each other. Entries are ordered from high to low by "how common this is × how many lives are lost by getting it right versus wrong." These entries are first and foremost for you, your spouse, and your direct relatives. 79.2% of cardiac arrests happen at home, so the person you are most likely to save is a family member. Friends and colleagues come next. There is still some benefit for strangers, but this tier is the lowest, and it also carries the risk of being extorted or dragged into a legal case. So this type of entry puts self-protection actions and liability-exemption clauses first. This section only includes actions to be taken within a few minutes. Recognizing scams and being blackmailed for money are handled on a day-by-day basis and are not in this section. For the hard rules against fraud and the seven high-incidence scams, see Section 8, Item 3 (Hard Rules Against Fraud). For being blackmailed with private photos or nude chat recordings, see Section 8, Item 32 (The Other Party Uses Leverage to Demand Money). If the money has already been transferred, immediately call 110 or 96110 to request a payment stop, see Section 8, Item 2 (Payment Stop).

1. If someone collapses and is not breathing, immediately press hard on the chest, have someone nearby call 120 and find an AED

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Large

The person you are most likely to perform compressions on is your own family member: 79.2% of cardiac arrests happen at home. With someone performing compressions, the rate of surviving to hospital discharge rises from 3.9% to 16.1%. If they do not respond to calls and are not breathing, start compressions directly. The position is the midpoint of the line between the two nipples. Stack both hands and press hard, about 2 times per second, without stopping. Have a second person call 120 and get the AED, and do not stop your hands.

Cost

No money. A Red Cross or hospital CPR course takes half a day to a day, and learning it once is enough for many years. You can also do it without training: stack both hands at the midpoint of the line between the two nipples, press down hard about 2 times per second, and do not stop.

Benefit

Combining 79 studies and 142,740 people (meta-analysis): among people whose hearts stopped outside the hospital (out-of-hospital cardiac arrest), only 7.6% survived to hospital discharge overall. Among those who received CPR from bystanders, the rate of surviving to hospital discharge rose from 3.9% to 16.1%. 53% had their onset witnessed by someone nearby, but only 32% actually received bystander compressions. China's BASIC-OHCA registry recorded 38,227 emergency cases. Of these, 30,282 cases (79.2%) of cardiac arrest occurred at home. In this group, the bystander compression rate was 20.3%, and 1.2% survived to hospital discharge. The order is to start compressions first, then have a second person call and get the AED. After the machine is turned on, follow its voice prompts.

Notes

Do not pinch the philtrum first, do not look for family first, and do not start filming first. Also, do not be afraid to press hard because you fear breaking ribs. Article 184 of the Civil Code states clearly: if you voluntarily perform emergency rescue and injure the person receiving help, the rescuer does not bear civil liability.

Sources

Sasson C et al. (2010). Predictors of survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.109.889576 ; Zheng J et al. (2023). Incidence, process of care, and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in China: a prospective study of the BASIC-OHCA registry. The Lancet Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00173-1 ; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 184). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

2. If an elderly person falls or someone collapses, first squat down and call to them, call 120, and do not rush to help the person up; for strangers, walking away is also legal, and if you stop, do not move them with your hands

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

The main focus of this entry is your own elderly family members and acquaintances around you. First check whether they are breathing; if not, press the chest according to Item 1 (press hard on the chest). If they are breathing, do not pick them up either: the person may have fallen because of a stroke or fainting first, and forcing them up can make it worse. Squat down and call to them, and ask whether they remember how they fell. If there is back pain or anything that looks like a fracture, do not move them at all; call 120 on the spot.

Cost

No money. Squatting down to ask one question and making one phone call takes a few minutes. The hard part is resisting the urge to reach out and help them up. For strangers, there is one more cost to calculate: calling 120 will leave your number, you may get a call back, and you may be questioned once. If family members really fixate on you, litigation starts at several months. And even if you ultimately win, you still have to pay your own lawyer's fees.

Benefit

The Ministry of Health's "Technical Guidelines for Intervention in Falls Among the Elderly" states two sentences clearly. One is, "Falls are the leading cause of injury death among people aged 65 and older in our country." The other is, "When an elderly person is found to have fallen, do not rush to help them up; handle the situation according to the circumstances." If consciousness is unclear, immediately call emergency services. If there is vomiting, turn the head to one side and clear the mouth and nose. If breathing and heartbeat have stopped, immediately perform chest compressions. "If movement is needed, it should be kept steady and the person should be kept lying flat as much as possible." If consciousness is clear, first ask whether they remember the fall; "if they cannot remember, it may be syncope or a cerebrovascular accident." If there is severe headache, or drooping corner of the mouth, slurred speech, or weakness in the hands and feet, "immediately helping the elderly person up may worsen cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral ischemia and make the condition worse." If there are signs of fracture, or back pain or incontinence, "if you do not have relevant professional knowledge, do not move them casually." In all the above situations, emergency services should be called immediately. If the elderly person wants to stand up, you may assist them to stand slowly, "sit or lie down to rest and observe, and only leave after confirming there is no problem." As for "fear of being extorted," the legal side is as follows. Article 90 of the Supreme People's Court's Interpretation on the Application of the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China has two sentences. The first is, "The party shall provide evidence to prove the facts on which the litigation claim is based..." The second is, "Before a judgment is made, if a party fails to provide evidence or the evidence is insufficient to prove its factual claim, the party bearing the burden of proof shall bear the adverse consequences." The original text of Article 1198 of the Civil Code is as follows. "Operators and managers of business premises, public places, and mass activity organizers such as hotels, shopping malls, banks, stations, airports, sports venues, and entertainment venues who fail to fulfill their safety protection obligations and cause harm to others shall bear tort liability." Article 184 of the Civil Code: "A rescuer who causes harm to the person receiving help due to voluntarily performing an emergency rescue act does not bear civil liability." The Supreme People's Court published a typical case. A pharmacy operator performed CPR on a person in cardiac arrest and broke the person's ribs. The person receiving help was hospitalized for 18 days and claimed more than 9,000 yuan. The court ruled that the rescuer did not bear civil liability.

Notes

It is rated B because the guideline only says how to handle the situation, without a number for "how many deaths can be prevented by following it." Article 184 exempts damage caused during rescue, provided that you act voluntarily and the situation is urgent. It does not cover things like "taking it upon yourself to put the person into a private car and drive them to the hospital"; waiting for 120 is safer. After calling 120, do not hang up; do what the dispatcher tells you. This set of judgments is first for your own elderly family members and acquaintances. If it is a stranger on the street, walking away is not illegal and is the least troublesome: the law does not require you to rescue. The costs of stopping must be calculated layer by layer: time, leaving your number, being approached by family members, being sued in court, being dragged into your workplace, and being filmed and spread online. See docs/遇到陌生人出事该不该停.md. If you really decide to stop, the only action with no second answer is do not move them with your hands. The reason is medical, not legal: forcing them up may worsen cerebral hemorrhage or spinal injury. There is one exception: if you operate or manage the place, or the activity is organized by you, walking away is no longer free. The safety protection obligation given by Article 1198 of the Civil Code means you must bear a safety responsibility for the people in your venue. For fall prevention itself, see Section 1, Item 13 (Train balance and leg strength). For delayed symptoms after an elderly person hits their head, see Item 10 of this section. For money after being injured while rescuing someone, see Item 39 of this section. For how to preserve evidence and call the police after being cyberbullied, see Section 8, Item 16.

Sources

Ministry of Health (2011). Technical Guidelines for Intervention in Falls Among the Elderly ("Handling After an Elderly Person Falls"). Full PDF at Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention http://cdcp.gd.gov.cn/gcdcdfiles/editor/uploadfile/20111027... , full text of the on-site handling section reprinted by Guinan County People's Government https://www.guinan.gov.cn/lnb/zc1__zwgk/zc/aztfl/qt/content... ; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 183 and 184). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; Supreme People's Court (2023). Typical Cases of Courts Grasping Justice and Efficiency and Practicing Socialist Core Values (Case 13, Qi Moumou v. Sun Moumou, health rights dispute, Kangping County People's Court, Liaoning Province). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/408162.html ; Supreme People's Court (second amendment in 2022, effective April 10, 2022). Interpretation on the Application of the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China (Article 90). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/353651.html ; Article 1198 of the Civil Code as above in the full text reprinted by the Supreme People's Procuratorate; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (amended in 2023, effective January 1, 2024). Civil Procedure Law (Articles 152 and 164). Full text reprinted by Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission https://fgw.sh.gov.cn/ys-syjf-zc-2.4.1-h5/20240408/073febdb... ; State Council (2006). Measures for Payment of Litigation Costs (State Council Order No. 481, Articles 6 and 29). https://www.gov.cn/ziliao/flfg/2006-12/29/content_483682.htm ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (revised in 2025, effective January 1, 2026, Article 26, Item 1, and Article 50, Item 5). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml

3. If the mouth suddenly droops, one arm is weak, or speech is unclear, immediately call 120; do not wait and do not drive yourself

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Large

If the mouth droops, one arm cannot be raised, or speech is unclear, immediately call 120. If the clot-busting drug is given within 3 hours of onset, the likelihood of recovering to basic self-care in daily life is about 1.75 times that of not giving the drug. Delaying to 3 to 4.5 hours leaves only 1.26 times. Beyond 4.5 hours, no difference can be seen. Record the exact time symptoms began. Do not give water or medicine, and do not drive yourself.

Cost

No money. Three actions, learned in one look: have them smile, raise both arms straight, and say one complete sentence.

Benefit

Combining individual data from 16 randomized intravenous thrombolysis trials and 6,756 patients (meta-analysis). Intravenous thrombolysis means giving medicine to open the blocked blood vessel. Using alteplase thrombolysis within 3 hours of onset gives an odds ratio of 1.75 for recovering to basic self-care in daily life. Basic self-care in daily life means a modified Rankin score of 0-1. The confidence range for this odds ratio is 95% CI 1.35-2.27. That is, the likelihood of this result appearing is about 1.75 times that of no thrombolysis. Delaying to 3 to 4.5 hours gives 1.26 (1.05-1.51). Beyond 4.5 hours gives 1.15 (0.95-1.40), and statistically no difference can be seen.

Notes

Thrombolysis means giving medicine to open the blocked blood vessel; the earlier the better, and beyond 4.5 hours it is basically useless. Call 120 instead of driving yourself because the ambulance will take you directly to a hospital with a stroke center and will notify them in advance to prepare. Record the exact time symptoms began; doctors will use it to decide whether thrombolysis is possible. Do not give water or medicine. Do not wait to "rest a bit and see."

Sources

Emberson J, Lees KR, Lyden P, et al. (2014). Effect of treatment delay, age, and stroke severity on the effects of intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke: a meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomised trials. Lancet, 384(9958), 1929-1935. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60584-5

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60584-560584-5)

4. If there is sudden severe dizziness and unsteadiness, double vision, blackout in one eye, or fingers cannot touch your own nose, also treat it as a stroke and call 120

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Large

Among 736 stroke cases, 14.1% initially had neither mouth drooping nor arm paralysis. Looking only at the three items "facial droop, arm raise, speech" misses them. Adding "unsteady standing, double vision, or a missing visual field" lowers the missed rate to 4.4%. Sudden severe dizziness and inability to stand, double vision, or fingers unable to touch your own nose should likewise prompt a 120 call and likewise require recording the time.

Cost

No money. In addition to the three actions "facial droop, arm raise, speech" (Item 3, sudden mouth droop, unclear speech), add two more. One is to have them stand straight with eyes closed, see whether they sway, and then ask whether they have double vision or a missing visual field. The other is, when you suspect it yourself, to extend a finger to touch your nose, then close your eyes and touch again.

Benefit

In 2014, the University of Kentucky stroke center reviewed the medical records of 736 cases of acute ischemic stroke (stroke caused by blocked blood vessels). Of these, 14.1% of patients had none of the three FAST symptoms at onset, namely facial droop, arm weakness, and unclear speech. Adding "unsteady walking, leg weakness, visual symptoms" to screening lowered the missed proportion from 14.1% to 4.4%.

Notes

Infarction of the cerebellum and brainstem (posterior circulation infarction), meaning blockage of blood vessels in that area, often does not cause mouth drooping or arm paralysis. It only causes severe dizziness, veering while walking, diplopia (double vision), and choking when drinking or eating, and it is most easily delayed as cervical spondylosis, low blood sugar, or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Inaccurate finger-to-nose testing and inability to stand with eyes closed are signs of cerebellar involvement. But no action can rule out stroke in reverse: if it appears suddenly and does not resolve, call 120 and record the exact time of onset. The study reviewed the records of only one hospital, and the authors themselves stated that it still needs further verification.

Sources

Aroor S, Singh R, Goldstein LB (2017). BE-FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time): Reducing the Proportion of Strokes Missed Using the FAST Mnemonic. Stroke, 48(2), 479-481. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.015169

https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.015169

5. If one eye suddenly goes black like a curtain being pulled down, even if it recovers by itself after a few minutes, go to the emergency department the same day as for a stroke

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Large

If one eye suddenly goes black like a curtain being pulled down, it is a blocked blood vessel in the fundus. The longer the blockage lasts, the less retina can be saved. It is also a type of cerebral ischemia, and the next few days are exactly a high-risk window for stroke. For these patients, changing to same-day evaluation and same-day treatment lowered the proportion of recurrent stroke within 90 days from 10.3% to 2.1%. Go to the emergency department of a hospital with a stroke center the same day; do not wait until the next day to register for ophthalmology.

Cost

No money. Emergency evaluation and vascular examination will take half a day to a day.

Benefit

The American Heart Association's 2021 scientific statement on central retinal artery occlusion (blockage of the main blood vessel in the fundus) states clearly: "Acute central retinal artery occlusion is an emergency." The treatment system should identify it as an emergency and prioritize it by urgency. The longer the blood supply is cut off, the less retina can still be saved. The Oxford EXPRESS study looked at two types of patients: cerebral ischemia with symptoms that improved on their own, and minor stroke. Cerebral ischemia with symptoms that improve on their own is medically called transient ischemic attack. After this group of patients was changed to same-day evaluation and same-day treatment, the proportion with recurrent stroke fell. The proportion within 90 days dropped from 10.3% (32/310) to 2.1% (6/281).

Notes

It is rated B because EXPRESS was not a randomized trial. It compared two periods before and after a change in practice in the same population, and other conditions may also have changed between the two periods, which cannot be separated out. A brief blackout in front of the eye that recovers by itself after a few minutes is most easily dismissed as "being tired" or "low blood sugar." It is a type of transient ischemic attack, and the next few days are exactly a high-risk window for stroke. Painless, non-red, non-tearing loss of vision in one eye deserves especially serious attention. Do not wait until the next day to register for an ophthalmology clinic; go directly to the emergency department of a hospital with a stroke center.

Sources

Mac Grory B, Schrag M, Biousse V, et al. (2021). Management of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Stroke, 52(6), e282-e294. https://doi.org/10.1161/STR.0000000000000366 ; Rothwell PM, Giles MF, Chandratheva A, et al. (2007). Effect of urgent treatment of transient ischaemic attack and minor stroke on early recurrent stroke (EXPRESS study): a prospective population-based sequential comparison. Lancet, 370(9596), 1432-1442. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61448-2

6. One eye is swollen, painful, and red, you see a rainbow ring around lights, and you have a headache with nausea and vomiting — go to the ophthalmology emergency department the same day

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Large

This is an acute attack of glaucoma. The fluid in the eye cannot drain out, and the intraocular pressure spikes all at once. The longer it is delayed, the more the optic nerve is crushed, and once damaged it does not come back. During the Wuhan lockdown, patients delayed an average of 241 hours before treatment, and 21.87% went blind. In the same period the following year without lockdown, the average delay was 121 hours, and 7.84% went blind.

Cost

No money. An ophthalmology emergency visit to measure intraocular pressure and examine the anterior chamber takes half a day.

Benefit

An eye hospital in Wuhan compared patients with acute primary angle-closure glaucoma across two periods. During the 76 days of the 2020 lockdown there were 54 people and 64 eyes, and in the same period in 2021 there were 46 people and 51 eyes; the demographic characteristics of the two groups were similar. From symptom onset to receiving treatment, the lockdown group was 241.84±211.95 hours, and the control group was 121.53±96.12 hours (P=0.001). The intraocular pressure at presentation was 52.63±12.45 mmHg versus 45.16±9.79 mmHg (P=0.001). The proportion who went blind was 21.87% versus 7.84%. Those found to have glaucomatous optic neuropathy were 20/64 eyes (31.25%) versus 7/51 eyes (13.73%) (P=0.03). A hospital in South Korea reviewed 50 eyes that had had one attack and later had the lens removed. After one year, 25 (50%) had visual field defects of varying degrees. The longer the time from symptom onset to bringing the intraocular pressure down, the greater the likelihood of residual defects (P=0.005). Another prospective study had 43 people with shallow anterior chambers lie prone in a dark room for 1 hour. The intraocular pressure in both eyes rose significantly (P<0.01). In the eye usually used for primary vision, the median rise was 3.60 mmHg, and in the other eye it rose 2.70 mmHg (P<0.05)

Notes

There are two reasons for assigning B. First, the two Wuhan groups were compared by going back through old medical records, and the lockdown itself brought other differences that cannot be separated from the item "delay." Second, the South Korean group had only 50 eyes and was also retrospective. This item is not saying that looking at screens will give a person glaucoma. In the dark the pupil dilates, and prolonged head-down posture or lying prone pushes the lens forward; when the two things stack together, people whose anterior chambers are already shallow are easily provoked. So the truly high-risk people are those over 50, farsighted, and with a family member who has had angle-closure glaucoma. Young people pulling all-nighters playing games basically do not go down this path. The most common misjudgment during an attack is to treat it as gastroenteritis, migraine, or high blood pressure, because the headache and vomiting are more eye-catching than the eye symptoms. Painless, non-red loss of vision in one eye is a different matter; see item 5 (one eye suddenly goes black). For whether blue-light-blocking glasses are useful, see section 6, item 16 (blue-light-blocking glasses).

Sources

Zhou L, Wu S, Wang Y, Bao X, Peng T, Luo W, Ortega-Usobiaga J (2022). Clinical presentation of acute primary angle closure during the COVID-19 epidemic lockdown. Frontiers in Medicine, 9, 1078237. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.1078237 ; Sung MS, Kim HJ, Park SW (2023). Predictors of long-term visual field outcome after an episode of acute primary angle closure. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology, 51(4), 291-299. https://doi.org/10.1111/ceo.14206 ; Wang J, Wang J, Ng TK, Huang C (2025). Asymmetric intraocular pressure changes in dominant and contralateral eyes: the dark room prone provocative test. Seminars in Ophthalmology, 40(4), 325-331. https://doi.org/10.1080/08820538.2024.2443972

7. Chest pressure pain, tightness, or squeezing that does not ease after more than 15 minutes — call 120; do not tough it out yourself and do not drive yourself

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Large

Chest pressure pain, tightness, or squeezing that does not ease after more than 15 minutes — call 120. Among those whose vessels were opened within 55 minutes after arriving at the hospital, 30-day mortality was 2.8%. Among those over 55 minutes, it was 9.7%. Every segment of delay means another piece of myocardium necroses. Do not drive yourself; losing consciousness on the road is a second accident.

Cost

No money.

Benefit

Israel conducted a nationwide acute coronary syndrome survey. The analysis subjects were patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, a type of heart attack. What was calculated was the interval from hospital arrival to using a balloon to open the blocked vessel (balloon dilation). For an interval ≤55 minutes, 30-day mortality was 5/178 (2.8%). For an interval >55 minutes, 30-day mortality was 15/155 (9.7%)

Notes

This study compared the delay after entering the hospital, not the segment from symptom onset to hospital arrival. But the principle is the same: every delay means another piece of myocardium necroses. The pain may be in the upper abdomen, back, or jaw, or it may be numbness in the left arm. People with diabetes and older adults may have no pain, only shortness of breath. Do not drive yourself; losing consciousness on the road is a second accident

Sources

Karkabi B, Meir G, Zafrir B, et al. (2021). Door-to-balloon time and mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. European Heart Journal - Quality of Care and Clinical Outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjqcco/qcaa037

https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjqcco/qcaa037

8. Sudden tearing-like severe pain that moves from the chest to the back and down to the waist — call 120 and say clearly "the pain is moving"

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Large

Tearing-like severe pain moves from the chest to the back and down to the waist; when calling 120, say directly "it feels like tearing, and the pain is moving downward." For this disease, without surgery and with medication alone, mortality is 58%. Its management is the exact opposite of a heart attack: only if the doctor thinks of it will they do a contrast-enhanced CT, rather than giving you anticoagulation and thrombolysis. A large blood pressure difference between the two arms, or no pulse palpable on one side, should also be mentioned.

Cost

No money.

Benefit

The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) collected 464 cases from 12 centers. Aortic dissection is the disease with tearing-like severe chest and back pain. Among the symptoms patients first reported, the most common was sudden-onset severe sharp pain. Overall in-hospital mortality was 27.4%. For type A dissection with no surgery and medication only, mortality was 58%

Notes

The management of dissection and heart attack is exactly opposite. Heart attack requires anticoagulation and thrombolysis, that is, drugs that keep blood from clotting; using these drugs for dissection is like letting blood out through the tear. So at the hospital you should take the initiative to say "tearing-like, and the pain is moving downward," so the doctor thinks of ordering a contrast-enhanced CT. A large blood pressure difference between the two arms, or no pulse palpable on one side, is a clue. People with poorly controlled blood pressure, Marfan syndrome, or a family history of aortic aneurysm or dissection are at higher risk. Likewise, do not drive yourself, and do not endure it until the next day

Sources

Hagan PG, Nienaber CA, Isselbacher EM, et al. (2000). The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD): new insights into an old disease. JAMA, 283(7), 897-903. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.283.7.897

https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.283.7.897

9. A sudden "worst headache of your life" that reaches maximum intensity within one hour — go to the emergency department immediately for a head CT

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money Little; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Large

The key is not how painful it is, but how quickly it reaches maximum pain. For severe headache that peaks within one hour, 6.2% of 2131 people had a ruptured blood vessel on the surface of the brain. If any one of the following applies — age 40 or older, neck pain or stiffness, someone saw you pass out, onset during activity, instantaneous explosion, or limited neck flexion — go to the emergency department for a head CT. The vast majority of people who go for evaluation are fine, but missing it once and having rebleeding means death.

Cost

The emergency visit itself does not cost much. A head CT in the emergency department costs a few hundred yuan.

Benefit

Ten emergency departments in Canada conducted a prospective cohort study of 2131 cases of "severe headache reaching maximum pain within one hour," that is, setting the criteria first and then tracking and recording all the way. Of these, 132 cases (6.2%) were subarachnoid hemorrhage, that is, a ruptured blood vessel on the surface of the brain. The Ottawa SAH rule has six items. Age 40 and above, neck pain or stiffness, someone saw you pass out. Onset during activity, explosive onset all at once, limited neck flexion on physical examination by the doctor. Meeting any one item requires evaluation. This rule picked out all the people with bleeding, sensitivity 100%. The credible range for this number is 95% CI 97.2%–100.0%. The cost is that only 15.3% of people without bleeding were excluded by it (specificity 15.3%)

Notes

The key is not "how painful," but "how quickly it reaches maximum pain." A headache that explodes within seconds to one minute is the danger signal; a migraine that gradually worsens is not. With vomiting, neck stiffness, photophobia, or brief syncope, take it even more seriously. Specificity is only 15.3%, meaning the vast majority of people evaluated according to this rule are fine after evaluation. But missing it once and having rebleeding means death, so it is worth evaluating. Do not take a painkiller to suppress it and then go back to sleep

Sources

Perry JJ, Stiell IG, Sivilotti MLA, et al. (2013). Clinical decision rules to rule out subarachnoid hemorrhage for acute headache. JAMA, 310(12), 1248-1255. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.278018

https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.278018

10. After an older adult bumps their head, if over two to three weeks to several months they become unsteady walking, dull, drowsy, or weak on one side — get a head CT

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money Little; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Large

After an older adult bumps their head, the blood usually accumulates only by the third week. At the time of the impact there may be completely no symptoms, and the person may not even remember bumping it. After surgery for this disease, the recurrence rate can reach 33%, and the mortality rate can reach 32%. If you find that an older adult has suddenly become confused, walks unsteadily, always wants to sleep, or has weakness in one hand, first go back and ask whether they fell or hit their head in the past two to three months, then get a CT.

Cost

A head CT costs two to three hundred yuan.

Benefit

The Chinese Medical Association Neurosurgery Branch and others issued the "Chinese Expert Consensus on Drug Treatment of Chronic Subdural Hematoma." Chronic subdural hematoma is a pool of blood that slowly accumulates between the meninges. The professional description is a chronic space-occupying collection of blood formed between the arachnoid and dura mater. It "usually forms in the third week after craniocerebral trauma" and is more common in older adults. After surgery, the recurrence rate can reach 33%, and the mortality rate can reach 32%. Among patients over 90 years old, only 24% overall recover well. Systematic review: globally, 3.39 to 39.1 new cases per 100,000 people per year, increasing with age, and can reach three times as high in those over 80. The most common causes are trauma and falls, followed by long-term heavy alcohol use, use of drugs that prevent blood clotting (anticoagulants), and violent injury. Geriatrics review: clinical manifestations "typically include confusion, cognitive decline, gait disturbance, or drowsiness, and may resemble other geriatric syndromes"

Notes

At the time of the impact there may be completely no symptoms, and the older adult may not even remember bumping it. So if the family finds "recently suddenly confused, walking unsteadily, always wanting to sleep, weakness in one hand," first go back and ask whether there was any fall or head impact in the past two to three months, then get a CT. Do not directly attribute it to "senile dementia" or "sequelae of the last stroke"; that is the only fork in the road that causes delay. Older adults taking aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, or novel oral anticoagulants are at higher risk, and long-term heavy drinking is also a factor. For fall prevention, see section 1, item 13 (practice balance and leg strength).

Sources

Zhang J et al. (2021). Expert consensus on drug treatment of chronic subdural hematoma. Chinese Neurosurgical Journal, 7(1), 47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41016-021-00263-z ; Dziho A et al. (2025). Global prevalence and incidence of chronic subdural hematoma: A systematic review. Brain and Spine, 5, 105893. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bas.2025.105893 ; Mathon B, Shotar E (2026). Diagnostic and therapeutic management of chronic subdural hematoma in elderly patients. Gériatrie et Psychologie Neuropsychiatrie du Vieillissement, 24(1), 30-41. https://doi.org/10.1684/pnv.2026.1274

11. One leg suddenly swells, feels tight, and hurts when pressed — seek medical care as soon as possible; if there is also sudden shortness of breath or chest pain, call 120 immediately

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money Little; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Large

If one leg suddenly swells, is a size thicker than the other, and hurts when pressed, get a leg venous ultrasound as soon as possible. If there is also sudden shortness of breath, chest pain on deep inhalation, fast heartbeat, or dizziness, the blood clot may already have traveled to the lungs; call 120 directly. Among people diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, 17.4% die within 3 months. Sitting for more than 4 hours roughly doubles the risk, but spread over one person it is still very low.

Cost

One ultrasound of the leg vessels (lower extremity venous ultrasound) costs one to two hundred yuan.

Benefit

The International Cooperative Pulmonary Embolism Registry (ICOPER) collected 2454 patients with confirmed acute pulmonary embolism from 52 hospitals in 7 countries. Pulmonary embolism is when a blood clot blocks the pulmonary artery. In this group, all-cause mortality within 3 months was 17.4% (426/2454). World Health Organization WRIGHT project: travel lasting more than 4 consecutive hours makes the risk of blood clots forming in the veins and traveling to the lungs (venous thromboembolism) "approximately double." But the probability spread over one person is still very low; sitting still for more than 4 hours is "about one in six thousand"

Notes

Swelling in both legs together is mostly a problem of the heart, liver, kidneys, or venous function. Sudden swelling in one leg, a size thicker than the other, is the typical appearance of deep vein thrombosis. Those prone to trouble are people on long-distance bus or plane trips, bedridden after surgery or fracture, in casts, around pregnancy and childbirth, with tumors, or taking oral contraceptives. If the clot breaks off and blocks the pulmonary artery, that is pulmonary embolism: sudden shortness of breath, chest pain worse on deep inhalation, fast heartbeat, dizziness, coughing up blood (hemoptysis). At this point call 120 directly. 17.4% is the mortality rate of confirmed pulmonary embolism cases, not "if your leg swells you have this much risk"; do not scare yourself with this number.

Sources

Goldhaber SZ, Visani L, De Rosa M (1999). Acute pulmonary embolism: clinical outcomes in the International Cooperative Pulmonary Embolism Registry (ICOPER). Lancet, 353(9162), 1386-1389. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(98)07534-5 ; WHO (2007). Study results released on travel and blood clots. https://www.who.int/news/item/29-06-2007-study-results-rele…

12. For major bleeding, first press the wound firmly with your hands; if pressure cannot control bleeding on a limb, apply a tourniquet, and call 120 at the same time

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money Little; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Large

The order is first press firmly with your hands or clothing, if pressure cannot control bleeding on a limb apply a tourniquet, then call 120, and once applied do not loosen it. In battlefield data, those who had a tourniquet applied before shock appeared survived at 90%, while those who had it applied only after shock survived at only 10%, and all 5 people who should have had it applied but did not died. Apply it above the wound, tighten until bleeding stops, and record the time. Do not use shoelaces or rope as a substitute. The neck and torso can only be pressed, not tourniqueted.

Cost

A windlass tourniquet costs several dozen to more than one hundred yuan; keep it in the car and in a first-aid kit. Learning once how to "apply above the wound, tighten until bleeding stops, record the time" takes a few minutes.

Benefit

Eleven level I trauma centers in Texas, USA, collected 1,026 cases of extremity vascular injury over 6 years, of which 181 cases (17.6%) had a tourniquet applied before arriving at the hospital. Without any adjustment, mortality was 3.9% with a tourniquet and 5.2% without. After equalizing other conditions (multivariable adjustment), tourniquet application was still independently associated with survival. Adjusted OR 5.86, credible range 95% CI 1.41 to 24.47. Among 232 wounded soldiers at a Baghdad battlefield hospital: survival was 90% when the tourniquet was applied before shock appeared, and only 10% when applied after shock. All 5 people who needed a tourniquet but did not get one died, while those who got one survived at 87%. The order is: direct pressure, clothing or towels are both fine → for uncontrollable limb bleeding apply a tourniquet → call 120 → do not loosen

Notes

Do not use thin things like rope or shoelaces as a tourniquet; they cannot compress the artery and will cut the skin. Once a tourniquet is applied, do not loosen it every so often to "let some blood out." Bleeding on the neck and torso can only be pressed, not tourniqueted. In that battlefield data, the tourniquet itself did not cause anyone to lose a limb; there were 4 cases of transient nerve palsy. The hemostasis teaching pages of the National Health Commission and the Red Cross Society of China could not be opened this time, TODO (to be verified: original Chinese official tourniquet training text).

Sources

Teixeira PGR et al. (2018). Civilian Prehospital Tourniquet Use Is Associated with Improved Survival in Patients with Peripheral Vascular Injury. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2018.01.047 ; Kragh JF et al. (2009). Survival with emergency tourniquet use to stop bleeding in major limb trauma. Annals of Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0b013e31818842ba

13. If bitten or scratched through the skin by a dog or cat, first wash alternately with soapy water and running water for 15 minutes, and get vaccinated the same day

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money Little; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Large

Once rabies develops, the mortality rate is nearly 100%, and washing plus vaccination is the only path. First wash alternately with soapy water and running water for 15 minutes, and get vaccinated the same day. If it bites through, or broken skin is licked, that is a category III exposure, and passive immunization agents must also be given. "Domestic, vaccinated" does not change management; the category is determined by the wound, not by the dog's origin.

Cost

Washing costs no money. The full course of rabies vaccine costs several hundred yuan. Category III exposure also requires rabies passive immunization agents, that is, ready-made antibodies injected directly to cover you, costing several hundred to over a thousand yuan. The most expensive thing is delay.

Benefit

The original text of the 2023 edition of the norms by the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration and the National Health Commission: "The mortality rate of rabies is nearly 100%." Management is "to thoroughly wash all bite and scratch sites alternately with soapy water (or other weakly alkaline cleansers) and running water under a certain pressure for about 15 minutes." A minor bite on exposed skin or a scratch without bleeding is a category II exposure, and vaccination is required. A penetrating bite, or broken skin being licked, is a category III exposure, and "the wound should be managed and rabies passive immunization agents injected and rabies vaccine administered." WHO: about 59,000 people worldwide die of rabies each year, and 99% are transmitted by dogs

Notes

Do not skip treatment just because it is "domestic and vaccinated." The norms look at what category the wound reaches (exposure category), not the dog's origin. Do not bandage the wound yourself. The ten-day observation method can only decide whether to stop shots, not whether to start them. Bites by wild animals or bats are managed the same way.

Sources

National Disease Control and Prevention Administration Comprehensive Department, National Health Commission General Office (2023). Notice on issuing the Work Norms for Rabies Exposure Prevention and Management (2023 edition). https://www.ndcpa.gov.cn/jbkzzx/c100014/common/content/cont… ; WHO. Rabies fact sheet. https://www.who.int/zh/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies

14. After a burn, immediately run cool running water over it for 20 minutes; do not apply toothpaste or soy sauce

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

If within 3 hours of injury you run cool running water over it for a full 20 minutes, the likelihood of later needing a skin graft is only about 60% of that of not doing so. It is cool water, not ice water; ice application worsens the injury. If clothing is stuck to the wound, do not tear it off forcefully; after rinsing, cover it with a clean cloth and go to the hospital. Do not apply toothpaste, soy sauce, sesame oil, or flour. If you only remember after a while, rinsing within three hours is still useful.

Cost

Costs no money. Takes 20 minutes.

Benefit

Australia followed 2,495 children with burns. For children who had cool running water run over the burn for 20 minutes within 3 hours of injury, the odds ratio for later needing a skin graft was 0.6. The credible range for this figure is 95% CI 0.4–0.8. That is, about only 60% of those who did not rinse this way. The combined result of 7 studies also found that "cool running water for 20 minutes within three hours of injury significantly reduced the likelihood of needing skin grafting and surgical management of the wound."

Notes

It is cool water, not ice water; ice application worsens the injury. If clothing is stuck to the wound, do not tear it off forcefully; after rinsing, cover it with a clean cloth and go to the hospital. Do not apply toothpaste, soy sauce, sesame oil, or flour; they affect the doctor's judgment of depth and make infection more likely. Rinsing within three hours is still useful.

Sources

Griffin BR, Frear CC, Babl F, Oakley E, Kimble RM (2020). Cool Running Water First Aid Decreases Skin Grafting Requirements in Pediatric Burns: A Cohort Study of Two Thousand Four Hundred Ninety-five Children. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 75(1), 75-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2019.06.028 ; Griffin B, Cabilan CJ, Ayoub B, et al. (2022). The effect of 20 minutes of cool running water first aid within three hours of thermal burn injury on patient outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Australasian Emergency Care, 25(4), 367-376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.auec.2022.05.004

15. If someone suddenly develops a full-body rash, cannot breathe, or feels faint, treat it as anaphylaxis, immediately call 120, and state it clearly

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

If someone suddenly develops a full-body rash plus difficulty breathing or faintness, treat it as anaphylaxis. Immediately call 120, say directly on the phone "suspected anaphylaxis," and have emergency services bring epinephrine. Epinephrine is the first-choice drug; anti-allergy drugs and steroids take effect slowly and cannot take its place. People who have had one episode should ask a doctor for an auto-injector, inject into the mid-outer thigh, and it can be injected through clothing.

Cost

Costs no money. People with known severe allergies who prepare their own epinephrine auto-injectors must pay, and it is a prescription drug.

Benefit

Epinephrine is the first-choice drug (first-line drug) for grade II and above anaphylaxis, and guidelines list it as a strong recommendation. Anti-allergy drugs and steroids take effect slowly and cannot take its place.

Notes

This allergy guideline (EAACI) itself states that in this field "the evidence mostly remains at a very low level." It lists it as a strong recommendation because the benefits far outweigh the risks, not because of large trials. In China, epinephrine is a prescription drug, and ordinary people usually do not have it on hand. What you can do is call 120 and say "suspected anaphylaxis," so emergency services bring the drug. If someone has had one severe allergic reaction, they should ask a doctor for an auto-injector and learn to inject into the mid-outer thigh (outer, slightly anterior); it can be injected through clothing.

Sources

China Medical Education Association et al. (2022). Clinical Practice Guidelines for Anaphylaxis Emergency Care (2020). Frontiers in Pharmacology: "Epinephrine is the first-line medicine in GRADE II to IV anaphylaxis" "Intramuscular epinephrine should be injected in the mid-anterolateral thigh," adult intramuscular upper limit 0.5 mg, under 14 years old 0.3 mg, may repeat every 5–15 minutes if no response. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.845689 ; Muraro A, et al. (2022). EAACI guidelines: Anaphylaxis (2021 update). Allergy. https://doi.org/10.1111/all.15032

16. If someone collapses with seizures, clear the surroundings, turn them on their side, check the time, and do not put anything in their mouth

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Move hard objects around them away, turn them on their side with their mouth facing downward, and check the time. Do not hold them down, do not pry open their mouth, and do not put anything in their mouth; that will only injure their teeth and jaw. Call an ambulance if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes without stopping, stops and then quickly recurs, if they cannot be woken after the seizure or have difficulty breathing, if it occurs in water, or if this is the first seizure. Give water only after they are fully alert.

Cost

Costs no money.

Benefit

Avoids tooth and jaw injuries caused by prying open the mouth or inserting hard objects. Avoids fractures caused by forcefully holding the person down. Lasting more than 5 minutes without stopping is the red line for calling an ambulance.

Notes

The same page also lists several other situations in which to call an ambulance immediately: another seizure soon after one ends, inability to wake or difficulty breathing after the seizure, injury during the seizure, seizure in water, and this being the first seizure. After the seizure stops, turn them on their side with their mouth facing downward, and give water only after they are fully alert. The main thread of this item is family members. If someone in the household has epilepsy, this set of actions is prepared for them. Doing the same actions for a stranger means the chance of benefit returning to you is smaller, but it will not make you liable (Civil Code Article 184, see item 2 of this section; do not rush to lift the person up).

Sources

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seizure First Aid: "Don't hold the person down or stop their movements" "Don't put anything in their mouth. This can hurt their teeth or jaw" "Don't offer water or food until they are fully alert" "Time the seizure to track if it lasts more than 5 minutes. If it does, seek immediate medical attention or call 911." https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/first-aid-for-seizures/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/first-aid-for-seizures/index.html

17. If a diabetic person suddenly trembles, breaks out in cold sweat, or speaks unclearly, first give 15 grams of sugar, then retest after 15 minutes

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

First eat 15 grams of sugar; sugar cubes or a small box of juice are fine. Test again after 15 minutes; if still low, repeat. A blood glucose below 3.0 mmol/L is medically significant hypoglycemia. Once it reaches the point where the person needs help from others to manage it, it can be fatal. Do not feed even one bite to someone who is unconscious; it can be aspirated into the trachea, and directly call 120.

Cost

Costs no money. Carry a few sugar cubes or a small box of juice.

Benefit

A blood glucose below 3.0 mmol/L is clinically significant hypoglycemia. Altered mental or physical status requiring assistance from others to manage is severe hypoglycemia and can be fatal.

Notes

Do not feed someone who is unconscious; it can be aspirated into the trachea, and directly call 120. The same standard also recommends that people who use insulin and people prone to hypoglycemia should all have glucagon available. The original text is "All individuals treated with insulin or who are at high risk of hypoglycemia...should be prescribed glucagon." Nasal sprays and prefilled syringes are easier to use than those requiring mixing on the spot. The default subject of this item is yourself or a diabetic family member; carrying sugar with you is also for them.

Sources

American Diabetes Association (2025). Standards of Care in Diabetes 2025, Chapter 6 Glycemic Goals and Hypoglycemia. Diabetes Care: classification "Level 1: Glucose <70 mg/dL (<3.9 mmol/L) and ≥54 mg/dL (≥3.0 mmol/L)" "Level 2: Glucose <54 mg/dL (<3.0 mmol/L)" "Level 3: A severe event characterized by altered mental and/or physical status requiring assistance for treatment of hypoglycemia, irrespective of glucose level"; management "For most individuals, 15 g carbohydrates should be ingested" "Fifteen minutes after initial treatment, repeat the treatment if hypoglycemia persists." https://doi.org/10.2337/dc25-S006

https://doi.org/10.2337/dc25-S006

18. If someone is electrocuted, first cut off the power, then use a dry wooden stick or similar object to move the power source away; do not directly pull them with your hands

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

First cut off the power, or use a dry wooden stick or similar object to move the power source away, then touch the person. If you directly pull them with your hands, one injured person becomes two. After they are separated from the power source, if they are not breathing, immediately perform compressions according to item 1 (press hard on the center of the chest); do not be afraid to touch them just because it is an electrical injury. For downed high-voltage lines or near transformer equipment, do not handle it yourself; move far away and wait for the power department to cut off the power.

Cost

Costs no money.

Benefit

Avoids the rescuer also being electrocuted, turning one injured person into two. After separation from the power source, if the person is not breathing, perform CPR according to item 1 of this section (press hard on the center of the chest). The US CDC first aid steps are: first look, do not touch; the person may still be connected to electricity. If the power can be cut, cut it first. If it cannot be cut, use nonconductive objects such as cardboard, plastic, or wood to push the power source away. After separation from the power source, if breathing or pulse has stopped, immediately perform CPR. One review says that people who had cardiac arrest after electrocution and were resuscitated often have a good prognosis.

Notes

"First cut off the power, then touch the person" is a purely self-interested rule: if you directly pull with your hands, the second person to fall will be you. For downed high-voltage lines or near transformer equipment, do not handle it yourself; move far away and wait for the power department to cut off the power. For cardiac arrest caused by electrocution, perform conventional compressions and conventional defibrillation. Do not be afraid to act just because it is an "electrical injury."

Sources

US CDC. What to Do to Protect Yourself From Electrical Hazards (First aid section). https://www.cdc.gov/natural-disasters/response/what-to-do-p… ; Spies C, Trohman RG (2006). Narrative review: Electrocution and life-threatening electrical injuries. Annals of Internal Medicine 145(7):531-537. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-145-7-200610030-00011

19. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, or everyone in a room has a headache and nausea at the same time, go outside first, then call

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

If the alarm sounds, or everyone in a room has a headache, nausea, and dizziness at the same time, first take everyone outside, then call. Do not stay indoors looking for the cause, and do not go back in to turn off the valve. The symptoms resemble a cold and also resemble being drunk. "Improving once outside" is the strongest clue. In the United States, more than 400 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning unrelated to fires, and more than 100,000 go to the emergency department.

Cost

Costs no money.

Benefit

In the United States, more than 400 people die each year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning unrelated to fires. More than 100,000 go to the emergency department, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized.

Notes

The symptoms resemble a cold and also resemble being drunk. Everyone in a room feeling unwell together and improving once outside is the strongest clue. Do not stay indoors looking for the cause, do not go back in to turn off the valve; get people out first, then call. For how to install alarms, see Section 1, item 3. TODO (to be verified: China's national-level carbon monoxide poisoning death toll; no official statistics were obtained this time).

Sources

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: "More than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires" "More than 100,000 visit an emergency department" "More than 14,000 are hospitalized," common symptoms "headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion." https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.html ; US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Carbon Monoxide Information Center: "If you suspect CO poisoning, get outside to fresh air immediately, and then call 911." https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Cent…

20. If cleaning agents, pesticides, or drugs are swallowed by mistake, do not induce vomiting first; bring the bottle and seek medical care immediately; if splashed into the eyes or onto the skin, rinse with plenty of clean water for 15 minutes

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

If cleaning agents, pesticides, or drugs are swallowed by mistake, do not induce vomiting; corrosive liquids coming back up will burn the esophagus again. First drink an appropriate amount of milk or egg white, bring the bottle and instructions, and go to the hospital immediately. If splashed onto the skin or into the eyes, rinse with plenty of clean water for a full 15 minutes; for the eyes, hold the eyelids open and rinse, and do not rub. Mixing disinfectant and toilet cleaner produces chlorine gas.

Cost

Costs no money. Put cleaning agents, disinfectants, pesticides, and medicines out of children's reach on a high shelf or in a locked cabinet. Never decant them into beverage bottles.

Benefit

The handling guidance given by the National Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention is divided into four types. What to do if swallowed (gastrointestinal ingestion). Immediately drink an appropriate amount of milk or egg white, "remember, do not induce vomiting." Seek medical care as soon as possible, and bring the packaging or instructions "so that doctors can quickly determine the ingredients and formulate a treatment plan." Inhaled into the respiratory tract: immediately move to a well-ventilated area, loosen the collar to keep breathing unobstructed; if severe coughing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing occurs, seek medical care immediately. Skin contact: immediately rinse the contact area with plenty of clean water for at least 15 minutes, and be careful not to let the rinse liquid splash into the eyes or onto other intact skin. What to do for eye contact. Immediately rinse the eyes with plenty of clean water or normal saline for at least 15 minutes. During rinsing, hold the eyelids open so the water fully contacts the eyeball and the inner side of the eyelids, "never rub the eyes." After rinsing, go immediately to ophthalmology. Identify high-risk products by pH. Products with pH<3 are toilet cleaners, descalers, floor cleaners, and stainless steel polishes. Some powerful drain openers also contain dilute sulfuric acid. Products with pH>11 are drain openers, powerful kitchen degreasers, dishwasher powder, oxygen bleach, and scouring powder. There is also a combination that causes immediate harm: using disinfectant together with hydrochloric acid-containing toilet cleaner produces chlorine gas, which irritates the respiratory tract, causes severe coughing and shortness of breath, and can even be life-threatening.

Notes

It is rated B because official popular science only explains how to handle it and how to recognize it, without numbers for "how much harm can be avoided by following this." The reason not to induce vomiting is: corrosive liquids coming back up will burn the esophagus (the tube from the throat to the stomach) again. If you are unsure what was swallowed by mistake, bring the bottle, instructions, and vomit to the hospital together. Prevention is much cheaper than first aid: store by category, do not store together with food and drinks, tighten the cap after use and throw away empty bottles, and never pour into mineral water bottles. When using, wear rubber gloves and goggles, open windows for ventilation, and do not mix different types. For carbon monoxide, see item 19; for burns and scalds, see item 14.

Sources

https://niohp.chinacdc.cn/kpdw/202507/t20250722_308659.htm

21. If acids, bases, or other chemicals splash onto the body, immediately remove contaminated clothing, rinse with plenty of running clean water, and for the eyes hold the eyelids open and rinse; rinse for the full time before leaving

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Three steps. Step one, immediately remove contaminated clothing, shoes, and socks; areas where clothing traps the chemical are injured most severely. Step two, rinse with plenty of running clean water, at least 15 minutes for both skin and eyes; the Hunan Provincial Emergency Management Department gives 20 to 30 minutes, so use the longer one. Step three, for the eyes, hold the eyelids open and rinse, then go directly to ophthalmology. Use room-temperature water, not hot water.

Cost

Costs no money. On the first day at work, locate the eyewash station and shower equipment; do not wait until an accident happens to look for them.

Benefit

Three on-site steps. Step one, immediately remove contaminated clothing, shoes, and socks: the toxic substance will continue to be absorbed through the skin, and the parts trapped by clothing are injured most severely. Step two, rinse with plenty of running clean water. The lower limit given by the National Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention is "at least 15 minutes" each for skin and eyes. The guidance given by the Hunan Provincial Emergency Management Department is to rinse the wound surface for 20 to 30 minutes, and "strong chemicals require longer." Take the longer of the two. Step three, for the eyes, "hold the eyelids open to ensure the water flow fully contacts the eyeball and the inner side of the eyelids," "never rub the eyes," and go immediately to ophthalmology after rinsing. Use room-temperature or lukewarm water; hot water is prohibited. Do not apply ointments, red mercurochrome, or anything else to fresh wounds, and do not wrap them in dirty cloth; applying things affects the doctor's judgment of depth. On the legal side: "chemical skin burns" and "chemical eye burns" are both in the statutory list of occupational diseases, and those occurring at work are handled as occupational diseases and work-related injuries. If an acute occupational disease hazard accident occurs, the employer "shall promptly organize treatment, conduct health examinations and medical observation, and the required expenses shall be borne by the employer" (national).

Notes

It is rated B because regarding how long to rinse, two official materials say 15 minutes in one and 20 to 30 minutes in the other, with no unified national standard figure. When going to the hospital, bring the chemical's name, packaging, or the safety data sheet (SDS); doctors rely on it to determine the plan. Do not casually grab another acid or base to "neutralize" it: mixing the two releases heat, and there is no way to control how much is poured. The "neutralizing solution" mentioned in the Hunan material refers to a dedicated rinse solution prepared in advance by the workplace, not something mixed on the spot. Dry powders such as lime powder and cement powder should be brushed off first and then rinsed with water (some local emergency pages accordingly say concentrated sulfuric acid should also be wiped dry first; guidance on this point differs from place to place, so this book does not include it). For household cleaning agents and mistaken ingestion, see item 20. For pre-job protection and medical examinations, see Section 19, items 10 and 11 (before starting work, read the hazard notification; protective equipment must be provided by the employer).

Sources

National Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2025). Summer Safety Tips: Beware of Strong Acid and Strong Alkali Cleaning Agents. https://niohp.chinacdc.cn/kpdw/202507/t20250722_308659.htm ; Hunan Provincial Emergency Management Department (2015). Emergency Handling and Treatment of Common Chemical Poisoning Accidents. http://yjt.hunan.gov.cn/yjt/tszt/aqzs/201509/t20150919_3113… ; National Health Commission and three other departments (2024). Classification and Catalogue of Occupational Diseases (effective August 1, 2025). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202412/content_6992843… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases (Article 37). https://www.beijing.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengcefagui/qtwj/201711… (reposted by the Beijing Municipal People's Government)

22. For dizziness, nausea, no sweating, or confusion in high heat, immediately move to a cool place, remove clothing, splash water to cool down; do not give water to anyone who is confused, and call 120

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

Hot red skin, slurred speech, and confusion are heatstroke. It can go from dizziness to unconsciousness in just a few dozen minutes, and the fatality rate is extremely high. Immediately move to a cool, ventilated place, remove clothing, cool down with cold water and wet towels, and call 120 at the same time. Do not feed even a sip of water to anyone who is confused; they will choke.

Cost

Costs nothing.

Benefit

US National Weather Service: heatstroke is a "serious medical emergency." Its signs are body temperature above 103°F (39.4°C), confusion, slurred speech, and hot, red skin. The response is to immediately call emergency services, move to a cool place, cool down with cold water and wet cloths, and "do not give fluids." Heat exhaustion presents with heavy sweating, weakness, wet cold skin, and a fast, weak pulse; the response is to move to a cool place, loosen clothing, and sip water; seek medical care if there is vomiting, worsening, or no improvement after more than 1 hour. Yunnan Provincial Disease Control Bureau advises: immediately move to a cool, ventilated place, cool down with cold wet towels, give salt-containing drinks to those who are conscious, and immediately call emergency services for severe symptoms; severe heatstroke has an "extremely high fatality rate." The Wilderness Medical Society 2019 heat illness guidelines are the practice guidelines in this field, covering management in the wilderness and when emergency care resources are lacking

Notes

Do not wait to "see if it passes"; heatstroke can go from dizziness to unconsciousness in just a few dozen minutes. Do not pour water into someone who is confused; they will choke. The full Wilderness Medical Society guidelines require a subscription; this time only the abstract was verified, and specific recommendations such as cold water immersion are marked "to be verified." The National Health Commission's "Key Points for Heatstroke Prevention in High Temperatures" page returned 412 and could not be opened.

Sources

US National Weather Service. Heat Related Illnesses. https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-illness ; Yunnan Provincial Disease Control Bureau (2026). If these symptoms appear, you may have heatstroke. https://ynsjkj.yn.gov.cn/html/2026/jikongkepu_0719/2606.html ; Lipman GS et al. (2019). Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Heat Illness: 2019 Update. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2018.10.004

23. If a person with heat illness is conscious, have them sip cool lightly salted water or sports drinks frequently in small amounts; do not gulp, and do not drink alcohol or high-sugar drinks

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

Only give fluids to someone who is conscious. Cool lightly salted water or sports drinks, in small amounts many times, 500 to 1000 milliliters per hour. Do not gulp it all at once; vomiting and choking into the airway is more deadly than the heat illness itself. Do not give alcohol or high-sugar drinks; they make people lose more water. Wiping the body with cool water and applying ice packs to the neck, armpits, and groin are for the body; cooling always comes before rehydration. For anyone confused or slurring speech, do not feed even a sip.

Cost

Costs nothing. A bottle of sports drink costs a few yuan.

Benefit

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention published the "Guidelines for Public Heatstroke Prevention and Emergency Management (2014 Edition)." It states "drink at least 2 to 4 cups of cool water per hour (500 to 1000 ml); the water temperature should not be too high, and water should be drunk in small amounts many times." It also states "do not drink beverages containing alcohol or large amounts of sugar. These drinks cause the loss of more body fluids. At the same time, avoid drinking very cold, icy beverages." For heatstroke, it clearly states "do not give the patient water." US NIOSH: for heat exhaustion, "encourage sipping cool water frequently"; for heat cramps, replenish with sports drinks containing sugar and electrolytes every 15 to 20 minutes, and "do not use salt tablets"

Notes

After heavy sweating, drinking only plain water dilutes the salt in the blood (low blood sodium), so the water should contain a little salt. Gulping at once easily causes vomiting, and vomit choking into the airway is more deadly than the heat illness itself. "Do not drink iced beverages" is a recommendation from the Chinese CDC's 2014 edition of the guidelines, based on the concern about stomach cramps, with no quantitative evidence. Do not misread it as "cold cannot be used." Item 22 (removing clothing and splashing water to cool down during dizziness and nausea in high heat) discusses several cooling methods. They are wiping with cool water, cold water immersion, and ice packs on the neck, armpits, and groin. These are exactly the first-tier cooling methods recommended officially. They are for the body, not for pouring into the mouth, and cooling always comes before rehydration. For anyone confused or slurring speech, do not feed even a sip

Sources

Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control (2014). Guidelines for Public Heatstroke Prevention and Emergency Management (2014 Edition). https://niohp.chinacdc.cn/sndt/201405/t20140530_97623.htm ; US CDC/NIOSH. Heat-Related Illnesses. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/heat-stress/about/illnesses.html

24. In a fire, crawl low, feel the door before opening it, do not open it if it is hot, take the stairs not the elevator, and do not go back once you are out

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money little; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

Get down on the ground and crawl under the smoke toward the exit. Before opening a door, feel the doorknob and door panel; if it is hot, or if smoke is coming through the gap, do not open that door and use the second route. Open the door slowly, and close it immediately if thick smoke appears. Take the stairs, not the elevator; if the power goes out, you will be trapped inside. Once out, do not go back for belongings. If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, and roll, and protect your face with your hands.

Cost

Install 1 to 2 standalone smoke alarms at home, a few dozen yuan. Take a look in advance at the two exits in your building's hallway.

Benefit

US FEMA escape text: "Get down on the ground and crawl under the smoke toward the exit." Before opening a door, feel the doorknob and door panel; "if it is hot, or if smoke is coming through the gap, do not open that door and use the second route." Open the door slowly, and close it immediately if there is thick smoke. If clothes catch fire, "stop, drop, and roll," and protect your face with your hands. If you cannot get out, close the door, block the door gaps and vents with cloth or tape, and call to report your location

Notes

Do not take the elevator; if the power goes out, you will be trapped inside. Do not go back for valuables. Do not run upward unless you have confirmed the roof door is open. Do not jump from the building. The National Fire and Rescue Administration (119.gov.cn) page returned 405/412 this time and could not be opened. TODO (to be verified: the original text of the National Fire and Rescue Administration's escape tips, including the statement about covering the nose and mouth with a wet towel).

Sources

US FEMA Ready.gov. Home Fires. https://www.ready.gov/home-fires

https://www.ready.gov/home-fires

25. If you see someone drowning, first call for people and dial 110/120, extend a pole, throw a flotation device, and do not go into the water yourself

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Benefit large

A drowning person will instinctively push the rescuer underwater, and the person who enters the water may also drown. The order is: shout for people → dial 110/120 → hand over a long pole or rope → throw a life ring, empty bucket, or water bottle → if the person is on shore and not breathing, start compressions immediately. Do not form a human chain into the water. About 300,000 people drown worldwide each year, and this is the fourth leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 4.

Cost

Costs nothing. The hard part is resisting the urge to jump in.

Benefit

WHO: about 300,000 people drown worldwide each year, 92% in low- and middle-income countries. Drowning is the fourth leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 4 and the third leading cause of death for those aged 5 to 14. WHO's recommended intervention is "safe rescue and resuscitation training," that is, first learning rescue methods that do not involve entering the water. The order is: shout for people → call → hand over a long pole or rope, throw a life ring, empty bucket, or water bottle → if the person is on shore and not breathing, start compressions immediately

Notes

The reason for level C is that no official original text was found for the rule "do not enter the water," only WHO's death figures and the direction of "safe rescue." Do not form a human chain by holding hands into the water. If you are not trained, do not go to drag the person out; a drowning person will push the rescuer down. "Do not enter the water" is also a self-interested rule: the person who enters the water may drown themselves, and it makes no difference who the person in the water is. The person you really need to save is most likely your own child; how to prevent this is in Section 1, Item 12 (keep children within sight near water).

Sources

WHO. Drowning fact sheet. https://www.who.int/zh/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drowning

https://www.who.int/zh/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drowning

26. If someone is choking and cannot speak, stand behind them and give 5 back blows plus 5 abdominal thrusts; if they collapse, start CPR

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

First ask, "Are you choking? Can you speak?" If they can still cough forcefully and make sounds, do not intervene; coughing itself is the most effective. If they cannot speak, stand behind them, give 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts, and repeat until the object comes out or the person collapses. If they collapse, start CPR and have someone call emergency services at the same time. For pregnant women and very obese people, use chest thrusts instead. Do not reach into the mouth to grab something you cannot see.

Cost

Costs nothing. Watch the motion once: make a fist with one hand and place it above the navel, wrap the other hand around it, and thrust quickly inward and upward.

Benefit

US National Library of Medicine original text: first ask "Are you choking? Can you speak?" "If they can cough forcefully and speak, do not intervene"; coughing itself can often expel the foreign object. If they cannot speak, "repeat 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts until the object comes out or the person loses consciousness." "If they lose consciousness, start CPR," and have someone call emergency services at the same time. For pregnant women and obese people, use chest thrusts instead

Notes

Do not reach into the mouth to grab something you cannot see; it will push it deeper. Do not perform back blows on someone who can still cough. Choking most often happens at one's own dinner table; by the beneficiary population criterion, this item counts family members. The National Health Commission and Red Cross Society of China official pages on the Heimlich maneuver were not found this time. TODO (to be verified: Chinese official original text).

Sources

US National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus. Choking – adult or child over 1 year. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000047.htm

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000047.htm

27. If you get lost or your car breaks down in the Gobi, desert, or no-man's-land, stay where you are or by the car, first report your location, then shade and insulate, conserve water, and do not wander

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money much; Time little; Perseverance yes; Benefit large

Stay where you are or by the car; the car is the largest source of shade. The order is: if there is signal, send your location first, then call → shade and insulate → conserve water, do not move during the day, move when it cools at night → do not wander → signal with a mirror, smoke, or three sounds in a group. Before entering, tell someone your route, destination, return date, vehicle model, and license plate.

Cost

Before entering no-man's-land, tell someone your route, destination, return date, vehicle model, and license plate. At least 4 liters of water per person per day. A satellite communicator or BeiDou short-message device costs over a thousand yuan, and renting one costs a few hundred yuan. The hard part is sticking to "stay where you are and do not wander."

Benefit

The US National Park Service's Mojave Desert page has three original statements. One is "at least 1 gallon (about 3.8 liters) of water per person per day; 2 gallons per person per day for hikers and cyclists." One is "tell someone your route, destination, return date, vehicle model, and license plate." Another is "cell phone signal is intermittent." Death Valley original text: "do not hike in the valley floor and low elevations when it is hot"; in wilderness areas there is "almost no cell phone signal," and bringing a satellite phone is recommended. The Mojave desert driving page original text: "in an emergency, staying with your vehicle is the most important thing you can do." The page also says this is uncommon, but people have indeed died on the road walking back, from exposure to extreme heat or cold. The priorities are divided into five steps. The first step is to report that you are safe and your coordinates; when there is signal, send your location first, then call. The second step is shade and insulation; the car is the largest shelter. The third step is water; do not move during the day, move when it cools at night. The fourth step is do not wander. The fifth step is signaling, using a mirror, smoke, or three sounds in a group

Notes

The reason for level C is that these are all official tips, not research data. The four points of water intake, filing a plan, signal coverage, and staying with the vehicle are official wording; "three sounds in a group" has no official original text found. Do not hike to find the route at noon. Do not drink urine. Do not refrain from drinking in order to save water. The Ministry of Emergency Management and National Forestry and Grassland Administration tip pages on no-man's-land were not found this time, and the BeiDou official website short-message page returned "Socket is closed" and could not be opened. TODO (to be verified).

Sources

US National Park Service. Mojave National Preserve Safety. https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/safety.htm ; US National Park Service. Death Valley Safety. https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/safety.htm ; US National Park Service. Desert Driving Safety. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/desertdrivingsafety.htm

28. Shivering, slurred speech, and unsteady walking are hypothermia; change out of wet clothes, wrap the person up, warm the torso first, and give hot sweet drinks but not alcohol

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money little; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

A body temperature below 35°C is hypothermia; the person will shiver, slur speech, walk unsteadily, and be unable to think clearly. Change out of wet clothes, wrap the person in a thermal blanket or dry clothes, and warm the torso first, not the hands and feet first. Give hot sweet drinks, not alcohol; alcohol suppresses shivering. Stopping shivering is not improvement; it is worsening. If there is no consciousness, perform CPR.

Cost

A foil thermal blanket costs a few yuan, plus a spare set of dry clothes. Learning to recognize the signs costs nothing.

Benefit

US National Weather Service original text: a body temperature below 95°F (35°C) is hypothermia; "feeling cold, sluggish, and unable to think clearly, seek medical attention immediately." The response is "seek medical attention immediately, move the person to a heated indoor space, and rewarm starting from the center of the body," and give hot drinks. "Alcohol reduces shivering," so do not drink it. "If unconscious, perform CPR." For frostbite, use warm water or body heat to rewarm; "do not use hot water or radiant heat such as a fireplace." The Wilderness Medical Society 2019 hypothermia guidelines are the practice guidelines in this field

Notes

Do not rub the hands and feet. Do not take a hot bath. Do not move the person by rough dragging; in severe hypothermia the heart can easily go into cardiac arrest. Do not think the person is improving just because "the shivering stopped"; the absence of shivering (cessation of shivering) is worsening. The full Wilderness Medical Society guidelines require a subscription; this time only the abstract was verified.

Sources

US National Weather Service. During Extreme Cold. https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-during ; Dow J et al. (2019). Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Out-of-Hospital Evaluation and Treatment of Accidental Hypothermia: 2019 Update. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2019.10.002

29. For a snakebite, sit still and do not move, remove rings and watches, get to a hospital as soon as possible for antivenom, and do not cut, suck, or tie off tightly

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Caliber mortality; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Benefit large

Sit still and do not move, and immobilize the bitten limb. First remove rings and watches; it will swell next. Get to a hospital with antivenom as soon as possible; antivenom is the only thing that can reverse most toxic effects. Do not cut it open, do not suck with your mouth, do not apply ice, and do not tie it with rope until it turns purple. Do not drink alcohol, and do not run around. If you can take a photo of the snake from a distance, do so, but do not try to catch it.

Cost

Costs nothing. Know in advance which nearby hospital has antivenom. The hard part is resisting the urge to treat the wound yourself.

Benefit

WHO original text has three statements. One is "immediately and completely immobilize the bitten body part and rapidly transport the person to the nearest medical facility for care." One is "avoid using a tourniquet, and avoid cutting the wound." Another is "treat with appropriate antivenom for the local snake species." "High-quality antivenom is the most effective treatment for preventing or reversing most of the toxic effects of snakebite." About 81,000 to 138,000 people die from snakebite worldwide each year, and the number of amputations and permanent disabilities is about 3 times the number of deaths

Notes

If you can take a photo of the snake, do so, but do not try to catch it. Do not drink alcohol, do not run around, do not suck with your mouth, do not apply ice, and do not tie it with rope until it turns purple. The original text of the Chinese Health Commission or CDC snakebite diagnosis and treatment consensus was not found this time; the annual death toll in China is marked "to be verified."

Sources

WHO. Animal bites fact sheet. https://www.who.int/zh/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/animal-… ; WHO (2023). Snakebite envenoming fact sheet. https://www.who.int/zh/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/snakebi…

30. In an earthquake, first look at what kind of building you are in: in a building that meets seismic codes, shelter in place; in an old building that would collapse, if the door is a few steps away, get out

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

First look at what kind of building you are in. In buildings constructed to code after 2001, if getting out would require going down stairs and through a lobby, shelter in place: protect your head and neck, get under a sturdy table, and hold firmly onto the table legs. In a single-story house, old brick building, or self-built house without seismic fortification, if the door is just a few steps away, get out. In any situation, do not jump from a building, do not take an elevator, and do not go down stairs while the shaking is ongoing.

Cost

Costs nothing. In advance, take a look at how many steps it takes to get out of your home, which route you would take, and which table is sturdy.

Benefit

The mnemonic in the China Earthquake Administration science video "When an Earthquake Comes, Do You Shelter or Run?" is "shelter nearby during the quake, evacuate quickly after the quake," and it explicitly limits this to "this refers to being inside buildings that meet seismic fortification requirements." The reason is that such buildings "are relatively unlikely to collapse completely." The original text says "falling building components and decorative items" "are the greatest threat to life safety." And "blindly running around without protective measures during the quake" "instead makes it easy to be injured by falling ceilings, chandeliers (fans), and other objects." The sheltering method is to "use your hands or other soft objects to protect your head and neck" "and hold firmly onto the table legs"; if there is no table, then "quickly crouch close against a load-bearing wall" and "avoid exterior walls, windows, and balconies." "If outdoors," then "you should evacuate to an open area as soon as possible to take shelter from the quake." Conversely, the 1988 Armenia earthquake saw Soviet-style precast panel buildings collapse in large numbers. The case-control study from that event states that "leaving the building after the first shock was a protective behavior." The likelihood of injury for people who stayed indoors was 4.40 times that of those who ran out (odds ratio 4.40). The credible range for this number is 95% CI 2.24–8.71. The likelihood of injury inside a building was 12.20 times that of being outside (3.62–63.79). In buildings of 5 stories or more, it was 3.65 times that in shorter buildings (2.12–6.33)

Notes

Controversial; the two conclusions address two kinds of buildings. The China Earthquake Administration itself also writes the premise of "sheltering" as "inside buildings that meet seismic fortification requirements." It also requires "adapting to local conditions" and "adapting to the individual." That is, consider together whether the building is earthquake-resistant, where you are located, and whether you can physically run. That batch of buildings in Armenia collapsed entirely, leaving nowhere to shelter, so getting out was advantageous. For U.S. homes, FEMA gives the guidance "drop, cover, and hold on, do not run outside," because there the injuries mainly come from falling objects and from falling while moving during shaking. The Northridge study also suggests that reaching out to catch things or bracing against things that "look stable" can worsen injury. So what needs to be judged is not "whether to run or not." What needs to be judged is "whether this building will collapse and whether you can reach open ground within a few seconds." In buildings constructed to code after 2001, if you would need to go down stairs or pass through a lobby, shelter in place. In single-story houses, old brick buildings, and self-built houses without seismic fortification, if the door is just a few steps away, get out. The Armenia study only compared injured and uninjured among survivors; it did not count fatalities, nor did it state whether it adjusted for the effect of floor level. People who could run out may have already been more likely to live on lower floors, so the numbers should be discounted. In any situation, do not jump from a building, do not take an elevator, and do not go down stairs while the shaking is ongoing. Once outdoors, stay away from tall buildings, elevated roads, utility poles, glass curtain walls, and billboards.

Sources

China Earthquake Administration (produced by Anhui Provincial Earthquake Agency). When an Earthquake Comes, Do You Shelter or Run? (science video, subtitle transcription). https://www.cea.gov.cn/cea/dzpd/dzcs/5537260/index.html ; Armenian HK, Noji EK, Oganesian AP (1992). A case-control study of injuries arising from the earthquake in Armenia, 1988. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 70(2), 251-257. https://europepmc.org/article/MED/1600585 ; US FEMA Ready.gov. Earthquakes. https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes ; Mahue-Giangreco M, Mack W, Seligson H, Bourque LB (2001). Risk factors associated with moderate and serious injuries attributable to the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Annals of Epidemiology, 11(5), 347-357. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1047-2797(01)00220-4

31. If you encounter a bear, wild boar, or a pack of wild dogs, do not run, do not scream, do not make eye contact; turn sideways and slowly back away

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Benefit medium

Do not run; bears can run like racehorses both uphill and downhill. Do not climb a tree either; both black bears and brown bears can climb. Stand still and keep talking to it in a low voice. When it stops moving, turn sideways and slowly back away. If a brown bear charges you, lie down and play dead, with both hands clasped behind your neck and your legs spread apart. Black bears are the opposite: do not play dead; run to a car or a house, and if you cannot get away, fight back with anything within reach. For dog bites and scratches, wash and get shots according to item 13.

Cost

Costs nothing. When going into the mountains, carry a trekking pole, walk with companions, and make noise as you walk so animals know you are coming. The hard part is standing still and not running.

Benefit

The U.S. National Park Service's original text on bears has six sentences. One is "Do not run; bears can run as fast as a racehorse both uphill and downhill." One is "Stay calm; most bears do not want to attack you; they just want to be left alone." One is "Keep talking to the bear in a low voice." One is "When the bear stops moving, turn sideways and slowly back away, so you can keep an eye on the bear without tripping." One is "Make yourself look as large as possible." And one is "Do not climb a tree; both grizzly bears and black bears can climb trees." If a brown bear attacks, "play dead, lie face down with both hands clasped behind your neck and your legs spread apart." If a black bear attacks, "do not play dead; escape to a car or house, and if you cannot escape, fight back with anything within reach." For dog bites, handle according to item 13

Notes

Level B applies only to bears. The "do not run, back away slowly, find high ground or an obstacle for cover" advice for wild boars and wild dogs is empirical and counts as Level C; official guidance from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and local forestry and grassland departments was not found this time. Do not lure them with food, do not get close to take photos, and do not bring dogs into mountains where wild boars are present. Bears in China are mostly black bears and brown bears; whether to play dead or not should be considered separately according to these two types.

Sources

US National Park Service. Staying Safe Around Bears. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm ; National Disease Control and Prevention Administration General Office, National Health Commission General Office (2023). Rabies Exposure Prevention and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Work Standards (2023 Edition). https://www.ndcpa.gov.cn/jbkzzx/c100014/common/content/cont…

32. If you encounter a thunderstorm in the wild, get into a car or building with a hard roof, and avoid ridges, isolated trees, water, and metal

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Benefit large

There is no safe place outdoors within the thunderstorm area. Get into a car or building with a hard roof; convertibles and motorcycles do not count, and tents, pavilions, under trees, and rock overhangs do not count either. Avoid open ground, ridges and hilltops, tall isolated trees, water, and iron railings or poles. If a group cannot leave, spread out instead of clustering together. Start withdrawing as soon as you hear thunder; it is only safe 30 minutes after the last thunderclap.

Cost

Costs nothing. The price is having your trip interrupted for more than half an hour. The hard part is being willing to turn back while the thunder is still far away.

Benefit

There is no safe place outdoors within the thunderstorm area. It is only safe 30 minutes after the last thunderclap

Notes

Tents, pavilions, under trees, and rock overhangs do not count as shelter. A hard-roofed car counts; convertibles and motorcycles do not. Start withdrawing as soon as you hear thunder; do not wait for the rain to start.

Sources

US National Weather Service. Outdoor lightning safety: "There is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area" "Avoid open fields, the top of a hill or a ridge top. Stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects" "Stay away from water, wet items, such as ropes, and metal objects, such as fences and poles"; if you really cannot leave, "If you are in a group, spread out to avoid the current traveling between group members"; to resume activities, "Wait 30 minutes until after the last rumble of thunder." https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-outdoors

https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-outdoors

33. On the plateau, ascend slowly according to sleeping altitude (how high you sleep that night); if symptoms worsen, descend; do not tough it out

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time medium; Perseverance some; Benefit large

What counts is how high you sleep, not how high you reached during the day. Sleeping above 2,450 meters carries a risk of altitude illness. After passing 3,000 meters, increase sleeping altitude by only 500 meters per night, and add one day of acclimatization for every 1,000 meters of ascent. If you have headache plus nausea, unsteady walking, changes in consciousness, or shortness of breath even at rest, go down. Descent comes before oxygen and medication.

Cost

Spend an extra one to two days acclimatizing. Preventive medication is prescription-only, so ask a doctor before departure. The hard part is being willing to set aside these days when the itinerary is tight.

Benefit

Sleeping above 2,450 meters carries a risk of altitude illness. High-altitude cerebral edema and pulmonary edema, that is, fluid accumulation in the brain and lungs, can be fatal if you do not descend in time

Notes

What counts is "how high you sleep," not how high you reached during the day. Headache plus nausea, unsteady walking, changes in consciousness, or shortness of breath even at rest are all signals to go down. Descent takes priority over oxygen and medication; continuing upward while on oxygen is wrong.

Sources

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yellow Book · High-Altitude Travel and Altitude Illness: "Any unacclimatized traveler proceeding to a sleeping altitude of ≥2,450 m (≥8,000 ft)—and sometimes lower—is at risk for altitude illness"; ascent rate "500 m (1,650 ft) per night in sleeping altitude once above 3,000 m (9,800 ft)," with an extra acclimatization day for every 1,000 meters of ascent; acetazolamide prevention "125 mg twice a day; 250 mg twice a day if >100 kg body weight"; "If symptoms become worse despite rest or treatment at the same elevation," descent is mandatory. https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/environmental-hazards-r… ; Wilderness Medical Society (2024). Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Acute Altitude Illness (2024 Update). Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2023.05.013

34. If a tick is attached to you, use fine-tipped tweezers close to the skin and pull it out steadily; do not apply oil and do not use fire

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money little; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick's head close to the skin and pull it out steadily, straight outward. Do not apply oil, do not use fire, and do not twist or jerk it; that agitates the tick and squeezes pathogen-carrying body fluids into the skin, and also makes it easy to leave the mouthparts in the flesh. After removal, write down the date. If in the following weeks you have fever, rash, or fatigue, proactively tell the doctor you were bitten by a tick.

Cost

A pair of fine-tipped tweezers.

Benefit

Applying oil, using fire, or twisting and jerking agitates the tick and squeezes pathogen-carrying body fluids into the skin. Doing so also makes it easy to leave the part of its mouth (mouthparts) embedded in the flesh

Notes

After removal, write down the date. If in the following weeks you have fever, rash, or fatigue, proactively tell the doctor you were bitten by a tick. If the doctor does not ask and you do not say, it is very easy for it to be treated as a cold. TODO (to be verified: China's annual incidence and case fatality rate of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome; official numbers were not obtained this time).

Sources

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After a tick bite: "Grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible using clean fine-tipped tweezers" "Pull tick away from the skin with steady, even pressure" "Do not use petroleum jelly, heat, nail polish, or other substances to try and make the tick detach from the skin. This may agitate the tick and force infected fluid from the tick into the skin." https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/index.html

35. Always boil wild water before drinking; a rolling boil for one minute is enough, and you do not need to boil longer because of high altitude

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

All microorganisms that can cause illness from drinking water die within seconds at boiling temperature. Boiling for another minute only adds a margin for "misjudging" it; you do not need to boil longer because of high altitude. If you cannot boil, use a filter or disinfection tablets; each of these has pathogens it does not cover, so if you can boil, boil. Clear-looking stream water and snowmelt can also contain parasites.

Cost

The extra weight of carrying a stove and fuel.

Benefit

All microorganisms that can cause illness from drinking water are killed (inactivated) within seconds at the temperature of boiling water. "High altitude means water cannot be properly boiled" is a common misconception

Notes

The same page also says you do not actually need to bring it to a boil: holding at 60 °C for 30 minutes is equally effective; boiling is just an endpoint you can see without a thermometer. If you cannot boil, use a filter or chemical disinfection tablets; both have pathogens they do not cover, so if you can boil, boil. Clear-looking stream water and snowmelt can also contain parasites; do not judge by appearance.

Sources

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yellow Book · Water Disinfection for Travelers: "All organisms that may cause illness from drinking water are killed within seconds at boiling temperature" "CDC recommends that travelers boil water for a full minute to account for user variability in identifying boiling points and to add a margin of safety" "Although the boiling point for water decreases with increasing elevation, at common travel elevations the temperature needed to achieve boiling is still well above the temperature required to inactivate enteric pathogens." https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/preparing-international…

https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/preparing-international…

36. If strangers in a remote wilderness demand your money, give them the money, do not fight, note their characteristics, and call the police after you get away

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money little; Time little; Perseverance yes; Benefit large

Give them the money, do not fight, do not talk back. For a few hundred yuan, the other person is risking a robbery charge: starting at three years or more and up to ten years; if it is home invasion, armed, or causes serious injury or death, ten years or more, up to the death penalty. If he takes the money and turns to leave, and you chase him and hit him, it no longer counts as self-defense. After you get away, immediately note physical appearance, accent, license plate, and direction of escape, and call 110.

Cost

The cash on you. The hard part is holding back your anger.

Benefit

Life is worth more than money. For a few hundred yuan, the other person is risking a serious crime. Article 263 of the Criminal Law states this. Whoever robs public or private property by violence, coercion, or other methods shall be sentenced to not less than three years and not more than ten years of fixed-term imprisonment and shall also be fined. In circumstances such as being armed, home invasion, or causing serious injury or death, the sentence is not less than ten years, up to the death penalty. Article 20 of the Criminal Law on self-defense protects only "stopping an ongoing unlawful infringement." If the other person takes the money and turns to leave, and you chase him and hit him, it is no longer defense. After you get away, immediately note physical appearance, accent, license plate, and direction of escape, and call 110

Notes

The reason for Level C is that "giving money and not resisting is safer" has no direct literature; the legal provisions only explain the other person's risk and your boundaries. Do not go with them to a remote place to "withdraw money." Do not hand over your phone password. Do not get into the other person's car. This item is not teaching people to fight, nor is it teaching people not to call the police. This item refers to situations where you are confronted face to face and personal safety is threatened, so give the money first and get away. Online extortion using private photos or nude chat recordings is the opposite: do not give a single cent; see Section 8, item 32 (when the other party uses leverage to demand money).

Sources

National People's Congress (2020 amendment). Criminal Law (Articles 20 and 263). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index… (integrated text reposted by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Bureau)

https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index…

37. If you come across a group of people fighting, step back and walk away—don't step in to break it up, don't stand and watch, don't pick up anything off the ground; if you want to call the police, retreat to a safe distance and dial 110

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Basis mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Medium

The moment you raise a hand, the nature of it shifts from breaking up a fight to joining one. Participating in a mob fight carries a sentence of up to 3 years; if there are many people and it's large-scale, on a public road, or weapons are involved, 3 to 10 years. Watching isn't worth it either—the more people, the more chaotic the scene, and you can easily get hurt by accident. The move is to step back and walk away. If you're willing to call the police, retreat to a safe distance and dial 110, and clearly state the location, how many people, whether anyone has knives or sticks, and whether anyone is lying down motionless.

Cost

No money spent. The hard part is resisting the two impulses: to step forward and pull people apart, and to stand there watching the excitement. After reporting, you may be followed up for a statement, costing at most half a day.

Benefit

Article 292 of the Criminal Law: "Whoever gathers a crowd to fight shall, for the ringleaders and other active participants, be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, or surveillance." For repeated mob fights, those with many people and large scale and vile social impact, those causing serious disorder of social order in public places or on major traffic routes, and those bearing weapons, "shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years." "Whoever gathers a crowd to fight, causing serious injury or death to a person," shall be convicted and punished as the crime of intentional injury or intentional homicide. The Public Security Administration Punishments Law also has penalty provisions. For beating another person, detention of 5 to 10 days and a fine of 500 to 1000 yuan. For fighting in groups, it is handled as picking quarrels and provoking trouble, with a maximum of 15 days' detention and a fine of 2000 yuan. Article 5 of the Guiding Opinions on the Lawful Application of the Justifiable Defense System: unlawful infringement "includes both unlawful infringement against oneself and unlawful infringement that endangers the state, public interests, or is directed at others." Article 9 of the same Opinions: where one party strikes first and the means are obviously excessive, or one party strikes first and continues the infringement while the other party strives to avoid conflict, the party striking back should generally be found to have acted in defense

Notes

It's rated B because half of it—the consequences—has hard statutory text, but the step of "retreat and call the police, don't step in to break it up" has no official original text; it's inferred from the statutes and from "how mutual fighting is determined." "I came to break it up" is not a talisman; what's assessed is whether you raised a hand and who you hit. If the other party is already down or has run away and you still chase and hit them, it no longer counts as defense. If you see someone being surrounded and beaten one-sidedly, legally you can indeed stop it. Justifiable defense protects not only yourself but also others. But going in bare-handed will most likely just add another casualty. Shouting for people, filming from a distance, and calling the police are more useful. What's a sure gain in this item is "don't raise a hand, don't stand and watch." The benefit of dialing 110 mainly falls on the person lying on the ground; it's the lowest tier of benefit in this book, so weigh for yourself whether you're willing to spend that time. To weigh it, you need to know a few things. The duty to testify already exists: Article 62 of the Criminal Procedure Law states that anyone who knows the circumstances of a case has the duty to testify, and not making this call won't make it disappear. If serious injury or death occurs, the police will find those present by reviewing surveillance anyway, and those standing and watching are actually the easiest to be registered. If a reporter is unwilling to disclose their name, the case-handling authority "shall keep it confidential for him" (Article 111). Once you've clearly stated the location, number of people, and whether anyone has weapons, you can hang up; you don't have to stay at the scene. What leads to admonishment or detention of up to ten days is when the court notifies you to appear in court and you can't provide a legitimate reason and still refuse to testify (Article 193); passersby rarely reach this step. Not reporting is itself not illegal: the phrase "has both the right and the duty" in Article 110 of the Criminal Procedure Law has no penalty provision, and there is no crime in the Criminal Law punishing ordinary people for knowing and not reporting; walking away is a legal option. After walking away, there are only two red lines. First, afterward helping to hide someone or giving false evidence to shield them (Article 310 of the Criminal Law, up to 3 years; if the circumstances are serious, 3 to 10 years). Second, deliberately giving false testimony when called to testify (Article 305, up to 3 years; if the circumstances are serious, 3 to 7 years). Silence and truthful statements are both fine; only making things up is a problem. For being caught up in a conflict yourself, see Section 8, Item 10; for being extorted by a stranger, see Item 36 of this section; for money after being injured while saving someone, see Item 39 of this section.

Sources

National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Articles 232, 234, 292, 305, 310). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Articles 30, 51). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security (2020). Guiding Opinions on the Lawful Application of the Justifiable Defense System (Fa Fa [2020] No. 31, Articles 5, 9). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/251611.html ; National People's Congress (2018). Criminal Procedure Law (2018 revision, Articles 62, 110, 111, 193). Full text reposted by the People's Procuratorate of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region https://www.nx.jcy.gov.cn/zwsy/qwfb/202011/t20201119_608817…

38. If you may have been exposed to HIV, go get post-exposure prophylaxis within 72 hours—the sooner the better

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Basis mortality; Money Much; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

If you suspect you've been infected with HIV, 72 hours is the hard line; ideally you should start taking the medication within 2 hours. The medication must be taken for 28 consecutive days. Past 72 hours, this route is gone, so don't wait until the next day to decide.

Cost

A 28-day course of medication costs over a thousand yuan, mostly self-paid in most regions. You have to make a trip to the hospital that same night. The hard part is admitting on the spot that you may have been infected and going out immediately.

Benefit

The Beijing Municipal People's Government's HIV prevention education column gives a standard. Post-exposure preventive medication is called post-exposure prophylaxis, abbreviated PEP. It should "be administered as preventive medication within 2 hours as much as possible, preferably within 24 hours, and no more than 72 hours." It must also be "taken continuously for 28 days." Past 72 hours, it is no longer recommended to start. This is a hard time limit; hesitating for one night versus setting out on the spot leads to completely different outcomes

Notes

Where to get it: the designated HIV medical institutions appointed by the local CDC, usually registering at the infectious disease department (STD/AIDS clinic). Many cities have already set up 24-hour clinics; Chongqing's public data shows 29 clinics in 26 districts and counties, of which 14 are around the clock. Before going, call the local CDC to ask which one has the medication; don't waste time in the emergency department. Situations counted as "exposure" include unprotected sex, a broken condom, being stuck by a needle, or blood contacting mucous membranes; whether to use medication is for the doctor to judge. The medication must be taken for the full 28 days; missing a few doses will noticeably worsen the effect. Afterward, follow the doctor's instructions for follow-up tests at weeks 4 to 6 and at 3 months. This is a remedy, not a substitute; for daily prevention and testing, see Section 1, Items 30 and 31 (use condoms throughout, and get tested after any high-risk behavior).

Sources

Beijing Municipal People's Government. Can't tell before from after? Six questions and six answers for a comprehensive understanding of HIV pre-/post-exposure prophylaxis. https://www.beijing.gov.cn/fuwu/bmfw/jhsyfwzdzx/sjazbr/fakp… ; National Center for STD/AIDS Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2020). Technical Guidelines for HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (Trial). https://www.chinacdc.cn/jkyj/crb2/yl/azb/jswj_azb/202410/t2…

39. If you're injured or out of pocket from saving someone, first seek the perpetrator and medical insurance, then apply for confirmation of heroic act

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Basis money; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Large

If you get yourself dragged in while saving someone, you don't just have to accept bad luck. Those injured in heroic acts are treated first and charged later. Medical expenses are borne by the perpetrator if there is one; if the person has fled or can't afford it, go through basic medical insurance. If there is no tortfeasor, the person you saved "should" give appropriate compensation—this is a legal term, not a matter of their conscience. At the same time, apply for confirmation of a heroic act; if injured, work-related injury insurance benefits are implemented accordingly.

Cost

No money spent. The application requires submitting materials and waiting for confirmation, making several trips, taking weeks to months.

Benefit

Article 183 of the Civil Code: "Where a person suffers harm as a result of protecting the civil-law rights and interests of another person, the tortfeasor shall bear civil liability, and the beneficiary may give appropriate compensation. Where there is no tortfeasor, the tortfeasor has fled, or the tortfeasor is unable to bear civil liability, and the victim requests compensation, the beneficiary shall give appropriate compensation." Guo Ban Fa [2012] No. 39 addresses what to do for those injured in heroic acts. Medical institutions shall establish green channels and "adhere to the principle of 'treat first, charge later.'" The original text on medical expenses is: "For medical expenses incurred due to emergency rescue, if there is a perpetrator or responsible person, they shall be borne by the perpetrator or responsible person; if there is no perpetrator or responsible person, or the perpetrator or responsible person has fled or is unable to bear them, they shall be resolved through the basic medical security system as provided." For death, "where the conditions for martyr evaluation are met, they shall be evaluated as martyrs according to law"; "where it falls under the circumstances deemed as work-related injury, they shall enjoy a one-time work-related death subsidy and a special subsidy for dependents equivalent to 40 months of the person's wages." For disability, "where the conditions for enjoying work-related injury insurance benefits are met, the corresponding benefits shall be implemented in accordance with the Regulations on Work-Related Injury Insurance; where they are not met, the civil affairs department shall evaluate the disability grade and implement the corresponding benefits." For employment, "priority shall be given to including them in employment assistance and giving them key support"; for public welfare positions, "priority shall be given to arranging eligible heroic persons." For housing, "priority shall be given to including them in the housing security system, giving priority to allocating or selling affordable housing, or issuing housing rental subsidies"

Notes

It's rated B because what benefits can be obtained is fixed by national documents, but how much the reward is and how the confirmation proceeds are determined by each province's own regulations on heroic acts, and the figures vary by region; this round did not verify province by province. Generally, you apply to the public security organ or the heroic act work institution (foundation) in the place where the incident occurred. Whether it can be confirmed depends on evidence: police report receipt, on-site surveillance, witnesses' names and phone numbers, hospital medical records—keep them on the spot. If you need to litigate, the civil rights and interests of heroic acts are already within the scope of free legal aid. For the national standard for the one-time work-related death subsidy and how disability grades convert into money, see Section 19, Items 15 and 16. For how to apply for legal aid, see Section 7, Item 3.

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 183). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; General Office of the State Council forwarding the Ministry of Civil Affairs and other departments (2012). Opinions on Strengthening the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Heroic Persons (Guo Ban Fa [2012] No. 39). https://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2012-07/26/content_2191928.htm

40. If a knife, rebar, or glass is stuck in the body, press around the foreign object to stop the bleeding—do not pull it out

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Basis mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

Pulling it out may cause major bleeding and also make it harder for doctors to judge how deep the injury is. The approach is: dial 120, use your hand or a dressing to press around the foreign object to stop the bleeding, and pad the foreign object steady so it doesn't move. If there is an abdominal wound with internal organs protruding, don't push them back in; cover it with a clean moist dressing. If a chest wound is bubbling, don't seal it shut with plastic; sealing it may collapse the lung.

Cost

No money spent. The hard part is resisting the instinct to "pull it out first" and staying with the person waiting for the ambulance.

Benefit

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 2025 International First Aid Guidelines: "The first aider should press around the foreign object (such as a knife) stuck in the body, stabilize the foreign object, and not pull it out." "Do not pull out any foreign object stuck in an abdominal or chest wound; pulling it out may cause major bleeding and also make it harder for doctors to judge how severe the injury is." "A foreign object stuck in the body should be stabilized; if the foreign object pulsates with the heartbeat, let it pulsate and just stabilize it loosely." "The first aider should not push protruding internal organs back into the body." An open chest wall wound that is not actively bleeding "can be left open without a dressing, because sealing the wound may allow air to accumulate in the chest cavity, causing the lung to partially or completely collapse (pneumothorax)." All penetrating chest and abdominal wounds should prompt an immediate call for emergency care

Notes

It's rated B because this is a recognized practice in the guidelines, with no randomized trials—after all, you can't divide the injured into "pull" and "don't pull" groups to test. The only exception is when the foreign object blocks the airway and the person can't breathe. At the hospital, go directly to the triage desk at the emergency entrance and report "penetrating injury." This belongs to the level that must go into the resuscitation room immediately; don't queue at the registration window (see Section 24, Item 8). If it really penetrates, dial 120, and the ambulance will notify the hospital in advance to prepare to receive the patient. For how to press to stop major bleeding and how to apply a tourniquet, see Item 12.

Sources

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2025). International First Aid, Resuscitation and Education Guidelines 2025, pp. 256–257, 267–268. https://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/IFRC%20Int…

https://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/IFRC%20Int…

41. If you suspect a fracture, stop moving that part—support it motionless, apply cold for no more than 20 minutes, and don't straighten it yourself

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Basis mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

For any injury to the hands or feet, treat it as a fracture first; being able to stand or move doesn't rule it out—only an X-ray can confirm. Keep the injured part motionless, support it with your hand, or use a triangular bandage or rigid board to brace it in its original position. Apply cold as early as possible, no more than 20 minutes at a time. Don't straighten it yourself. If a broken bone pierces the skin, stop the bleeding first and cover it with a clean dressing; don't push the bone back in.

Cost

No money spent. Find a rigid board, a rolled-up magazine, or clothing as support. Apply something cold with a cloth layer in between.

Benefit

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies published the 2025 International First Aid Guidelines. It states that "any injury to the hands or feet should first be treated as a possible fracture." It also states that "the only accurate way to confirm a fracture is an X-ray. If unsure, treat it as a fracture." The purpose of immobilization is to "minimize movement and pain." Cold application "at most 20 minutes continuously at a time, which can reduce pain; cold for longer than this may damage the skin." "When a long bone such as the femur is injured, the bleeding from the bone itself alone may be fatal." When there is obvious pain or swelling, signs of shock, a femur (thigh bone) fracture, or obvious malposition of the limb, emergency care should be called. For an angulated fracture bent at an angle, whether to straighten it back into place (reduce it) on site. Two conditions must both be met to consider it. First, "located in a remote area (or with limited conditions), and the limb below the angulation is cold and pale, or the first aider cannot immobilize it well enough for transport." Second, the rescuer is trained. For open fractures (broken bone piercing the skin), the priorities are stopping bleeding and preventing infection

Notes

It's rated B because these are all recognized practices. For traction splinting of a femur (thigh bone) fracture before transport to the hospital, only one study reviewing old medical records supports it. The result was less blood transfusion within 24 hours and shorter hospitalization. The differences in death and complications were too small to be clear. The credibility of this study's evidence is very low. As for whether to reduce first (put the bone back into alignment) or immobilize as-is, no evidence was found at all. Three common misconceptions should be corrected: being able to stand and walk does not mean there is no fracture; use only cold, not heat, and don't alternate cold and heat; a sprain won't "just work itself out with movement"—rest first. For movement contraindications when an elderly person falls and a fracture is suspected, see Item 2. For swelling in one leg after being put in a cast or being bedridden, watch out for blood clots, see Item 11. For whether to do a disability assessment after treatment and whether to apply for a disability certificate, see Section 24, Items 10 and 11.

Sources

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2025). International First Aid, Resuscitation and Education Guidelines 2025, pp. 301–302. https://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/IFRC%20Int…

https://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/IFRC%20Int…

Evidence levels: A, B, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 14 · 9 suggestions

Account and Information Security

[[The High-Value Life Guide]]

Scope: money and personal information. When someone else logs into your account, the first thing you lose is money. They will also use your account to scam the people in your contacts. Your identity is effectively taken from you as well.

1. Turn on two-factor authentication for your email, payment, and social accounts. Prefer phone pop-up confirmation, and use SMS codes only as a second choice

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Two-factor authentication means that when you log in, besides your password, you also confirm once more that it is really you. Using the method where a pop-up appears on your phone and you tap to confirm blocks over ninety percent of phishing account thefts. Relying on the old method of answering "where did you last log in" or "what is your backup email" blocks only about ten percent of phishing account thefts.

Cost

Costs no money. Set it up once per account, and it takes two or three minutes to finish.

Benefit

Google analyzed 350,000 real account theft attempts (also called account hijacking). One category relies on device-based verification, such as a pop-up on your phone asking you to tap confirm, or inserting a security key. This category blocked "over 94% of phishing-based hijacking attempts and 100% of automated hijacking attempts." Phishing means tricking you into entering your password on a fake website, and automated means machines taking leaked passwords and trying them in bulk. The other category relies on answering questions to verify, such as asking where you last logged in or what your backup email is. This category "blocked as little as 10% of phishing hijackings and 73% of automated hijackings."

Notes

The same study also found that this kind of verification sometimes locks the real person out. 52% of real users failed to log in the first time. But in the end, 97% still got in. Turn this feature on for your email first, because most other accounts can use email to recover passwords.

Source

Doerfler P, Thomas K, Marincenko M, et al. (2019). Evaluating Login Challenges as a Defense Against Account Takeover. The World Wide Web Conference (WWW '19). https://doi.org/10.1145/3308558.3313481

https://doi.org/10.1145/3308558.3313481

2. Use a separate password for your email, not repeated on any website

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

Passwords stolen from other websites will be used to directly log into your email. Once someone logs into your email, every account that can recover its password through email is lost along with it. So your email password should be unique, and not used anywhere else.

Cost

Costs no money. If you store it with a password manager, you do not have to remember it yourself. The hard part is breaking the old habit of using one password everywhere.

Benefit

Taking leaked account names and passwords from elsewhere and trying them one by one to log in is called credential stuffing. This is the least effort-intensive attack method. Passwords leaked elsewhere will be used directly to log into your email. Once someone logs into your email, all accounts that use it to recover passwords are lost together. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recommends: use a different strong password for each account, at least 16 characters, and store them with a password manager.

Notes

If you cannot remember them, use the password manager built into your browser. It remembers each website's password for you, which is far better than using the same password everywhere. Do not store passwords in WeChat Favorites or a notes app.

Source

US CISA. Use Strong Passwords. https://www.cisa.gov/secure-our-world/use-strong-passwords

https://www.cisa.gov/secure-our-world/use-strong-passwords

3. Set a lock-screen password on your phone and a PIN code on your SIM card

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

The SIM card is the small card inside your phone, and SMS verification codes are received through it. If you lose your phone, the person who finds it will remove this card, insert it into another phone to receive verification codes, and then reset your accounts one by one. Set a PIN code on the card, and when the card is moved to another phone, it will require this code on startup, cutting off this path.

Cost

Costs no money. Just set the lock-screen password and PIN code once each.

Benefit

After you lose your phone, the fastest path for the person who finds it is to insert the SIM card into another phone and receive your SMS verification codes. With the verification codes, they can reset your accounts one by one. If the SIM card has a PIN code set, moving it to another phone will require the password on startup, cutting off this path directly.

Notes

Set the PIN code under the "SIM card lock" item in your phone settings. The factory default code is usually 1234 or 0000. If you enter it wrong three times in a row, you will need the PUK code provided by your carrier to unlock it. So after setting it, first write this code down on paper.

Source

Author's experience, no direct literature

4. If your phone is lost, do things in this order: report the SIM card lost, remotely lock it, change passwords, call the police, freeze bank cards

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Order matters more than speed. The first step is to report the SIM card lost, which cuts off the lifeline of verification codes. Next, remotely lock the phone, then use a computer to change your email and payment passwords, then call the police and get a receipt, and finally freeze bank cards as needed. With the phone not on you, you can also borrow someone else's phone to call the carrier's customer service and report it lost.

Cost

Costs no money. The whole set takes about ten minutes.

Benefit

Order matters more than speed. Step one, report the SIM card lost; this cuts off the lifeline of verification codes. Step two, remotely lock the phone and erase its contents. Step three, change your email and payment passwords from a computer. Step four, call the police and get a receipt. Finally, freeze bank cards as needed. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission also advises: even if you think you just misplaced it, remotely lock it. If it was stolen, call the police immediately, report the model and IMEI number (the phone's identity number), and tell your carrier immediately.

Notes

Write down the customer service numbers of the three major carriers in advance: China Mobile 10086, China Unicom 10010, China Telecom 10000. Also note the city where your phone number was registered, because customer service will ask. You can also call customer service from someone else's phone to report it lost.

Source

US FCC. Protect Your Smart Device. https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/protect-your-mobile-de… ; the order of steps is the author's experience; for replacing an ID card see Section 7, and for fraudulent loans in your name see the credit report item in Section 8

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/protect-your-mobile-de…

5. If your card is fraudulently charged, first report it lost and freeze it, then call the police, then demand compensation from the bank: proving "you swiped it yourself" is the bank's responsibility

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

If your card is fraudulently charged, you do not need to prove "this was not me." Conversely, the bank must produce evidence proving that you personally made the transaction, and if it cannot, it must compensate you. The premise is that you report it lost and freeze it as soon as you discover it. If you delay reporting it lost, the additional losses afterward are borne by you.

Cost

Costs no money. As soon as you notice something wrong with the card, immediately report it lost or freeze it. Keep the police report, loss report, and transaction notifications sent by the bank. If the card is still with you, make a small nearby inquiry or deposit/withdrawal to leave a record proving the real card was in your hands when the incident occurred. The hard part is resisting the urge to argue with customer service first, and reporting it lost first.

Benefit

The Supreme People's Court's provisions separate "who bears the burden of evidence." If you say this was a counterfeit-card fraud or online fraud, you must first provide evidence. Counterfeit-card fraud means the card was copied and used to swipe. These can all be used to prove it: already effective legal documents, where the real card was at the time of the bank card transaction, and where the transaction occurred. There are also account transaction details, transaction notifications, police reports, loss reports, and so on. Conversely, if the issuing bank or non-bank payment institution (third-party payment) says the transaction was made by the cardholder personally or authorized by them, they must produce the evidence. After you notify the bank, if the bank fails to verify in a timely manner, or fails to provide or preserve transaction documents and surveillance footage in a timely manner, so that the evidence cannot be obtained, the consequences of failing to produce evidence are borne by the bank. Once established: a debit card (that is, a savings card) holder may demand that the issuing bank pay the fraudulently charged deposit principal and interest and compensate for losses. A credit card holder may demand the return of the deducted overdraft principal, interest, and penalty fees, and compensation for losses; if the bank instead demands that you repay this overdraft, the court will not support it. You may also demand that the issuing bank promptly revoke the corresponding negative credit record (nationwide, effective from May 25, 2021).

Notes

There are two situations where you bear responsibility yourself. First, if you failed to properly keep bank cards, passwords, verification codes, and similar items, and you were at fault yourself (the original text says "failed to fulfill the duty of proper safekeeping and was at fault"), you bear responsibility in proportion to your fault. So do not tell others your password, and do not forward verification codes to others (see item 1; for two-factor authentication, prefer phone pop-up confirmation). Second, if you failed to report it lost in a timely manner and allowed the losses to continue expanding, you bear that extra portion yourself. So the first step is always to report it lost and freeze it, not to call customer service first to argue. This set of rules also applies to third-party payment institutions. If their promotional materials state "advance compensation" and the promise is specific and clear, you can require them to compensate first accordingly. If the money was transferred out by you after being scammed, that is another path; see Section 8, item 2 (if you discover you have been scammed, immediately call 110 or 96110 and request a payment stop).

Source

Supreme People's Court (2021). Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Trial of Bank Card Civil Dispute Cases (Articles 4, 5, 7, 14, and 15). https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/304771.html

https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/304771.html

6. Every so often, check your account's logged-in devices and authorized apps, and clear out the ones you no longer use

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

"Logged-in devices" means the phones and computers that can still use your account now. Account thieves often lie low for a while before acting. If a device you do not recognize appears in the list, or software you stopped using long ago is still connected to your account, log out of all sessions as soon as you see it, then change your password.

Cost

Costs no money. Each check takes a few minutes. The hard part is that no one reminds you, so you have to remember to check yourself.

Benefit

Account theft often does not happen on the spot; the other party lies low for a while first. The logged-in devices list in your account records the phones and computers that can still use this account now. The authorized apps list records the other companies' software you have allowed to log in with this account. Strange devices in the list and third-party software you stopped using long ago are the easiest traces to spot.

Notes

WeChat, Alipay, email, Apple accounts, and Android accounts all have this entry point. If you find a device you do not recognize, tap log out of all sessions, then change your password.

Source

Author's experience, no direct literature

7. Do not tap "agree to all" just to use an app: for information that is not necessary, it cannot refuse to serve you just because you do not agree

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

If an app asks for your information and it is not necessary to provide this service, it cannot refuse to let you use it just because you do not agree to give it. What it can collect is also limited to what is useful. A map asking for your location is necessary; a flashlight asking for your contacts is not.

Cost

Costs no money. The hard part is resisting the urge to tap "agree to all."

Benefit

The law clearly states two things. First, it must not refuse to provide products or services on the grounds that an individual does not consent or withdraws consent; except where processing such information is necessary to provide the service. Second, collection should be limited to the minimum scope necessary to achieve the processing purpose, that is, it can only collect what is useful.

Notes

The criterion for judgment is one sentence: is this piece of information necessary to provide this service. A map asking for location is necessary; a flashlight asking for contacts is not. After installing an app, first go to the app permissions page in your phone settings and turn off unnecessary permissions. When you actually need it, then choose allow this time only.

Source

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021). Personal Information Protection Law. NPC website. http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c2/c30834/202108/t20210820_313088… : Article 6, "The collection of personal information shall be limited to the minimum scope necessary to achieve the processing purpose, and excessive collection of personal information shall be prohibited"; Article 16, "A personal information processor shall not refuse to provide products or services on the grounds that an individual does not consent to the processing of their personal information or withdraws consent; except where the processing of personal information is necessary to provide products or services"; Article 15, "Where personal information is processed based on individual consent, the individual has the right to withdraw their consent. The personal information processor shall provide a convenient way to withdraw consent."

http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c2/c30834/202108/t20210820_313088…

8. You have the right to view, copy, correct, and delete your personal information, and if refused, you can sue

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

You have the right to demand that companies let you view, copy, correct, and delete your information. If the service stops, the retention period expires, or you withdraw consent, the company should have deleted it on its own. If it refuses you, it must state a reason; if it does not act, you can directly sue it in court. Canceling an account and deleting information are two different things; after canceling, you still need to separately request deletion.

Cost

Costs no money. Only if the other party delays and does not act do you need to complain or sue. A real lawsuit starts at several months, and you also have to pay lawyer fees yourself. So taking the complaint route first is more cost-effective. The hard part is having to repeatedly push when the other party delays.

Benefit

There are several situations where a company should proactively delete: the service stops, the agreed retention period expires, you withdraw consent, the original collection purpose has been achieved, and so on. If it has not deleted, you can demand that it delete. If it refuses you the exercise of these rights, it must state a reason. You can directly sue in court.

Notes

Canceling an account and deleting personal information are two different things; after canceling, you still need to separately request deletion. Before switching phones or selling an old phone, first log out of all accounts and unbind them on the old phone, then restore factory settings. The law gives you a post-hoc right to deletion; it cannot recover for you what has already leaked out.

Source

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021). Personal Information Protection Law. NPC website. http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c2/c30834/202108/t20210820_313088… : Article 45, "Individuals have the right to access and copy their personal information from personal information processors... Where an individual requests access to or copying of their personal information, the personal information processor shall provide it in a timely manner"; Article 46, right to correct and supplement; Article 47 lists five situations where proactive deletion should occur, including "(1) the processing purpose has been achieved, cannot be achieved, or is no longer necessary to achieve the processing purpose," "(2) the personal information processor stops providing products or services, or the retention period has expired," "(3) the individual withdraws consent," and "where the personal information processor has not deleted it, the individual has the right to request deletion"; Article 50, "Personal information processors shall establish a convenient mechanism for accepting and handling applications for individuals to exercise their rights. Where a request by an individual to exercise their rights is refused, a reason shall be stated," and "individuals may file a lawsuit with a people's court in accordance with the law."

http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c2/c30834/202108/t20210820_313088…

9. Facial recognition is not something you must agree to: if there are other methods, it cannot require only facial recognition, and if you do not agree, it must give you another way

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

As long as there is another way to accomplish the same thing, the other party cannot require only facial recognition. If you do not agree to facial recognition, it must give you another method such as a card, password, or ID card, and it is not allowed to pressure you with "then the business cannot be handled." In places such as hotel guest rooms, public bathrooms, changing rooms, and toilets, no one is allowed to install facial recognition devices.

Cost

Costs no money. When asked to use facial recognition, ask, "Is there another verification method?" If the other party says no, demand that it provide one. The hard part is speaking up and asking in person.

Benefit

The Measures for the Security Management of the Application of Facial Recognition Technology state: "Where there are other non-facial-recognition technical methods to achieve the same purpose or meet the same business requirements, facial recognition technology shall not be used as the only verification method. Where an individual does not agree to identity verification through facial information, other reasonable and convenient methods shall be provided." The Measures also state: "No organization or individual may mislead, defraud, or coerce individuals into accepting facial recognition technology to verify personal identity on the grounds of handling business, improving service quality, and the like." If facial information is to be processed based on your consent, it must obtain "separate consent voluntarily and explicitly given on the premise of full knowledge," that is, only if it asks you about this one matter separately and you nod separately does it count. You have the right to withdraw consent, and the processor must provide a convenient way to withdraw it. To process the facial information of minors under the age of fourteen, consent from parents or other guardians shall be obtained. Installing facial recognition devices in public places "shall be necessary to maintain public security," and prominent notice signs shall be set up. Inside private spaces within public places such as hotel guest rooms, public bathrooms, public changing rooms, and public toilets, no organization or individual may install them. Facial information shall be stored within the facial recognition device and shall not be transmitted externally via the internet. There are two exceptions: where laws and administrative regulations provide otherwise, or where separate consent has been obtained (nationwide, effective from June 1, 2025).

Notes

The most common situations are residential compound access control, rental platforms, gyms, and hotels asking you to record your face. When the other party says "the system only supports facial recognition," read the original wording of the Measures to them. The original wording is: "Where there are other non-facial-recognition technical methods to achieve the same purpose or meet the same business requirements, facial recognition technology shall not be used as the only verification method." Then demand that it provide another method such as a card, password, or ID card. If it still refuses, report it to the local cyberspace administration. Where the state has other provisions for identity verification by facial recognition, such as some financial and government affairs scenarios, follow those provisions. The biggest difference between a face and a password is that once leaked, it cannot be changed, so it deserves more caution than a password. Units that store facial information of more than 100,000 people must file a record with the cyberspace administration at or above the provincial level within 30 working days, which is also a question to ask when judging whether the other party is legitimate. For the right to access, correct, and delete your personal information, see item 8.

Source

Cyberspace Administration of China, Ministry of Public Security (2025). Measures for the Security Management of the Application of Facial Recognition Technology (Order No. 19, Articles 10, 12, and 13, effective from June 1, 2025). https://www.cac.gov.cn/2025-03/21/c_1744174262156096.htm

https://www.cac.gov.cn/2025-03/21/c_1744174262156096.htm

Evidence levels: A, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 15 · 8 suggestions

Renting and Buying a Home

[[A Guide to a High-Value Life]]

Scope: money. The easiest places to lose money when renting are the deposit and the agent. The most expensive part of buying a home is the loan interest, plus the things the seller knows and you don't.

1. The deposit amount, refund time, and deduction circumstances must be written into the contract

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit medium

How much the deposit is, when it gets refunded, and under what circumstances it can be deducted must be written into the contract before you sign. Deduction reasons not written into the contract cannot be used by the landlord to deduct from your deposit at move-out.

Cost

Costs nothing. Spend an extra ten minutes when signing the contract. The hard part is having to bring it up in front of the landlord.

Benefit

The administrative regulation states it clearly: "Where a lessor collects a deposit, the amount of the deposit, the time of return, and the circumstances for deducting the deposit and other such matters shall be agreed upon in the housing lease contract. Apart from the circumstances agreed upon in the housing lease contract, the lessor may not deduct the deposit without justified reason." In plain terms, three things must be written into the contract: how much deposit is collected, when it is refunded, and under what circumstances it can be deducted. Reasons not written into the contract cannot be used by the landlord to deduct your money.

Notes

On move-out day, take photos and videos together with the landlord. Photograph the readings of the water meter, electricity meter, and gas meter, and also photograph the walls and floor. If the deposit is deducted without cause, first file a complaint with the housing rental management department. If the amount is not large, pursue a small claims lawsuit, see Section 8.

Source

State Council (2025). Regulations on Housing Leasing (State Council Order No. 812, effective September 15, 2025) (Article 10). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7032956…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7032956…

2. If your water and power are cut off, the locks are changed, or someone comes to your door threatening to drive you out, call the police first and preserve evidence: the law prohibits using these methods to force you to vacate

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

A landlord cannot force you to terminate the contract or move out by cutting off water and power, changing the locks, or coming to your door to threaten you; the law explicitly prohibits it. If you encounter this, call the police first. The police response record is your evidence for later claiming damages. Do not confront the other party physically yourself.

Cost

Costs nothing. Make a phone call to the police, and it can be done on the spot.

Benefit

The administrative regulation states it clearly: "The lessor may not use violence, threats, or other illegal means to force the lessee to terminate the housing lease contract or vacate the leased housing." Vacate means making you move out. If you encounter such situations, call the police first and keep the evidence. Do not confront them physically yourself.

Notes

Calling the police is to leave a police response record. When you later claim damages, this record is the evidence. At the same time, notify the housing rental management department.

Source

State Council (2025). Regulations on Housing Leasing (State Council Order No. 812, effective September 15, 2025) (Article 12). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7032956…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7032956…

3. Agents may not collect or pay rent and deposits on behalf of others; pay the money directly to the landlord

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

According to the rules, rent and deposits cannot be collected or paid on behalf of others by an agent; the money is paid directly to the landlord. When the money passes through the agent's hands, there is one more chance for it to abscond with the funds. If it really runs off, your rent is paid for nothing, and you will also be driven out by the landlord. Before paying, verify whether the payee is the name on the property ownership certificate.

Cost

Costs nothing. Before paying, verify the payee, a few minutes. The hard part is having to withstand the agent's claim that you should transfer the money to it.

Benefit

The administrative regulation lists "collecting and paying housing rent and deposits on behalf of others" as prohibited conduct for real estate brokerage institutions. In other words, an agent cannot collect your rent and deposit on behalf of the landlord. When the money passes through the agent's hands, there is one more chance for it to abscond with the funds.

Notes

Before paying, verify whether the payee is the name on the property ownership certificate. If it is not the person themselves, ask clearly and keep a written authorization. An agent may only collect the brokerage service fee for matchmaking.

Source

State Council (2025). Regulations on Housing Leasing (State Council Order No. 812, effective September 15, 2025) (Article 25). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7032956…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7032956…

4. Before renting a long-term rental apartment, first check its fund supervision account; don't pay a full year upfront just for cheapness

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence some; Benefit large

Paying a full year upfront gets you only a small discount. Once the company collapses, your deposit and the remaining ten-plus months of rent are all gone together. It is even worse if rent loans are tied in: if the apartment company runs off, you still have to repay the loan monthly to the end. Before signing, first check whether it has publicly disclosed a fund supervision account.

Cost

Costs nothing. Checking once takes a dozen or so minutes.

Benefit

The administrative regulation requires housing leasing enterprises operating subleases to "set up a housing leasing fund supervision account and publicly disclose it to society." Sublease operation means the enterprise rents the whole place from the landlord and then subleases it to you. The small discount from paying a full year upfront is not worth the risk of losing both the deposit and the remaining rent when the enterprise runs off. If you also signed a rent loan, the risk is even greater.

Notes

When signing, look carefully at whether a loan is tied in. If it is an installment app that paid a full year's money to the apartment company in one go and you repay the loan monthly, then if the apartment company runs off you still have to keep repaying. Do not sign this kind of contract.

Source

State Council (2025). Regulations on Housing Leasing (State Council Order No. 812, effective September 15, 2025) (Article 19). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7032956…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7032956…

5. If the house is sold during the lease term, the lease remains valid and you do not need to move

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

If the house is sold during the lease term, your lease remains valid as before. The new landlord must let you live there until the term ends according to the original contract. You do not need to move, nor renegotiate the price. The premise is that you are already lawfully living there, and the evidence of the contract, transfer records, and move-in time is all kept well.

Cost

Costs nothing.

Benefit

There is a rule in the Civil Code called "sale does not break lease," meaning that selling the house does not affect an already signed lease. The original wording of the legal provision is: if ownership of the leased item changes during the lease term, it does not affect the validity of the lease contract. A change of ownership means the house changes owners during the lease term. The new landlord must let you live there until the term ends according to the original contract.

Notes

The premise is that you have already lawfully moved in; the wording in the legal provision is lawful possession and use. The evidence of the contract, transfer records, and move-in time must be kept well.

Source

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 725). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

6. Before signing, verify the property ownership certificate and mortgage status; route all payments through transfers and note the purpose

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

The two most common ways to lose everything are, first, paying rent to someone who is not the property owner, and second, the house having long been mortgaged to a bank and later seized. Before signing, go to the real estate registration center to check the ownership and mortgage once. Route all money through transfers, and note "rent for a certain house for a certain month" in the remarks; if a dispute arises, this is direct evidence.

Cost

Costs nothing. Checking once takes half an hour.

Benefit

The two most common ways to lose everything come about like this. First, paying rent to someone who is not the property owner. Second, the house having long been mortgaged to a bank and later seized. When transferring, note "rent for a certain house for a certain month" in the remarks; if a dispute arises, this is direct evidence.

Notes

Property ownership information can be checked at the local real estate registration center. When signing, have the landlord appear in person; if the person cannot come, require a power of attorney. If a sublessor is subleasing to you, there must be the original landlord's written consent.

Source

Author's experience, no direct literature; for evidence preservation and transfer remarks, see by the same reasoning the two entries in Section 8 on bride price and IOUs.

7. For second-hand homes, if the agent is to collect the housing payment on behalf of others, it must go through the agent's dedicated transaction fund deposit account opened at a bank

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

The housing payment is hundreds of thousands to millions, the single largest amount in this book. If the agent collects the housing payment on behalf of others, according to the rules it must go through its dedicated account opened at a bank, and cannot be transferred via WeChat to an individual broker. In addition, when two agencies jointly handle one deal, only one commission may be charged, and handling loans or handling transfer of ownership on behalf of others requires a separate contract and clear fees stated in advance.

Cost

Costs nothing. The hard part is insisting on going through the dedicated account, and you may have to argue a few more words with the agent.

Benefit

The regulation states it clearly: where it is agreed that a real estate brokerage institution collects and pays transaction funds on behalf of others, the funds shall be transferred through its dedicated deposit account for client transaction settlement funds opened at a bank. This means the housing payment goes into a supervised dedicated account, not the agent's own account, and not some broker's personal account.

Notes

The housing payment is hundreds of thousands to millions, the single largest amount in this book, so do not transfer it to a broker via WeChat. There are also two common ways of overcharging. First, two agencies jointly handling the same deal; in this case only one commission may be charged. Second, handling loans or handling transfer of ownership on behalf of others; this is a separate service and requires a separate contract and advance notice of the fees. Route all payments through transfers and note the purpose, see Article 6 (before signing, verify the property ownership certificate and mortgage status).

Source

Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2011). Measures for the Administration of Real Estate Brokerage (Order No. 8, amended by Order No. 29 of 2016) Article 24: "Where the parties to a real estate transaction agree that a real estate brokerage institution collects and pays transaction funds on behalf of others, the transaction funds shall be transferred through the dedicated deposit account for client transaction settlement funds opened by the real estate brokerage institution at a bank." Article 18 "Real estate brokerage services implement a clearly marked pricing system… clearly indicate at a prominent position in the business premises the real estate brokerage service items, service content, and fee standards"; Article 19 "Where two or more real estate brokerage institutions cooperate to carry out the same real estate brokerage business, they may only charge a commission according to one business, and may not increase charges to the client"; Article 17 for other services such as handling loans and handling real estate registration on behalf of others, "they shall explain to the client the service content, fee standards, and other circumstances, and after the client's consent, separately sign a contract." http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1918920.htm

http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1918920.htm

8. Don't rent partitioned rooms: the smallest rental unit is the originally designed room, and kitchens, bathrooms, and balconies may not house people

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

According to the rules, the smallest rental unit is the room as originally designed. Kitchens, bathrooms, balconies, and underground storage rooms cannot house people. After this kind of housing is investigated and dealt with, you may have to move out. In addition, during the lease term the landlord also cannot raise the rent just by saying so.

Cost

Costs nothing. The price is that with the same budget, you either live farther away or live in a smaller place.

Benefit

The regulation states it clearly: the smallest rental unit is the originally designed room, meaning a room cannot be further partitioned into several rooms and rented separately. The per capita rented floor area may not be lower than the local minimum standard. Kitchens, bathrooms, balconies, and underground storage rooms may not be rented for people to live in. During the lease term the lessor also may not unilaterally raise the rent at will.

Notes

When illegal partitions are investigated and dealt with, the one who moves is the tenant, and the deposit and rent already paid often cannot be recovered. Safety is also worse: partition walls often block escape routes, and many people living in one room also share one electrical line. When viewing, pay attention to three things: whether the wall was built later, whether the room has a window, and whether the electrical meter can handle so many people.

Source

Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (2010). Measures for the Administration of Commodity Housing Leasing (Order No. 6) Article 8: "Where housing is rented out, the originally designed room shall be the smallest rental unit, and the per capita rented floor area may not be lower than the minimum standard prescribed by the local people's government. Kitchens, bathrooms, balconies, and underground storage rooms may not be rented for people to live in." Article 9: "The lessor shall perform the housing maintenance obligation according to the contract and ensure the safety of the housing and indoor facilities… During the term of the housing lease contract, the lessor may not unilaterally raise the rent level at will." http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1845070.htm

http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1845070.htm

Evidence levels: A, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 16 · 9 suggestions

How to Live After Being Diagnosed with a Chronic Illness

[[High-Value-for-Money Life Guide]]

Scope: overall mortality and money. Being diagnosed with a chronic illness is not the end. How you manage it over the following decades is the account that really needs to be reckoned.

1. Take your medication exactly as prescribed—don't stop just because you feel better

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower yes; Benefit large

People who take their medication exactly as the doctor says are about half as likely to die over the same period as those who take it on and off. This number needs to be discounted. Even people who take placebos exactly as prescribed have lower mortality, which shows that part of the benefit comes from "people who can stick to taking medication are already more health-conscious." But the harm of stopping medication is certain, especially for blood pressure drugs, anticoagulants, and anti-rejection drugs.

Cost

Costs nothing, and actually saves the money you'd otherwise spend later treating complications. Taking medication daily takes only a few minutes. The hard part is taking it without missing a single day.

Benefit

This is the result of pooling 21 studies and 46,847 people (a meta-analysis, which means combining many studies together). Compared with people who take medication on and off, those who take it exactly as prescribed are about 44% less likely to die over the same period. The original value is an odds ratio of 0.56, 95% CI 0.50–0.63. This interval is the credible range for this number. Looking only at treatments with confirmed efficacy, it's about 45% lower (0.55, 0.49–0.62).

Notes

Controversial. This is also the number in this book that most needs to be discounted. In the same pooled analysis, even people who took placebos (fake pills) exactly as prescribed had lower mortality (0.56, 0.43–0.74). This shows that a considerable portion of the benefit comes from "people who can stick to taking medication are already more health-conscious." The authors call this confounding factor the healthy adherer effect. But the harm of stopping medication itself is clear, especially for blood pressure drugs, anticoagulants, and anti-rejection drugs.

Source

Simpson SH, Eurich DT, Majumdar SR, et al. (2006). A meta-analysis of the association between adherence to drug therapy and mortality. BMJ, 333(7557), 15. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38875.675486.55

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38875.675486.55

2. First get outpatient chronic/special disease certification, then file for out-of-area registration—then hypertension, diabetes, radiotherapy/chemotherapy, dialysis, and anti-rejection can be settled directly out of area

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Hypertension, diabetes, outpatient radiotherapy/chemotherapy for malignant tumors, dialysis for uremia, and anti-rejection after organ transplant—these five can be directly billed to medical insurance even for outpatient visits out of town. You don't have to pay out of pocket first and then go back to your insured region for reimbursement. But you must first get outpatient chronic/special disease certification in your insured region, then file for out-of-area medical treatment registration. Both things must be done for it to work.

Cost

Costs nothing. File for out-of-area medical treatment registration once on the medical insurance app before you leave—it can be done on your phone.

Benefit

Documents from the National Healthcare Security Administration say this has already been achieved. The original wording is "the cross-province direct settlement of expenses for 5 outpatient chronic/special diseases including hypertension, diabetes, outpatient radiotherapy/chemotherapy for malignant tumors, dialysis for uremia, and anti-rejection treatment after organ transplant has basically been made accessible at the county level." "Accessible at the county level" means it can be done at the county level. The document also adds 5 more types on top of these 5.

Notes

The prerequisite is that both things must be done: first get outpatient chronic/special disease certification in your insured region, then do out-of-area medical treatment registration. How far the 5 newly added disease types have progressed varies by locality—refer to what the local healthcare security department publishes.

Source

General Office of the National Healthcare Security Administration, General Office of the Ministry of Finance (2024). Notice on Steadily and Orderly Expanding the Scope of Outpatient Chronic/Special Diseases for Cross-Province Direct Settlement (医保办发〔2024〕19 号). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202409/content_6974467…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202409/content_6974467…

3. Do follow-up tests at the intervals the doctor gives, and record each set of indicators in the same notebook

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

Chronic illness is about changes over a period of time, not a single reading. Record the date, indicators, and the medication and dosage you were taking at the time in the same notebook. When you switch hospitals, take it out—no need to redo all the tests and spend the money again.

Cost

Each test costs tens to hundreds of yuan. A trip to the hospital plus waiting for results takes some time. The hard part is having to go every so often—easy to keep putting off.

Benefit

What chronic illness requires looking at is not a single reading, but how these readings change over a period of time. Recording them in the same place has another benefit: when switching hospitals, no need to repeat tests or spend money again.

Notes

Record at least four things each time: date, indicator value, medication you were taking at the time, and the medication dosage. Taking a photo of the lab report with your phone also works. The key is to keep them all in the same place—not scattered here and there.

Source

Author's experience, no direct literature

4. Don't stop regular treatment to try folk remedies or supplements

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower yes; Benefit large

The harm of stopping medication is certain; the benefit of folk remedies and supplements is uncertain. This amounts to trading a certain loss for an uncertain gain. If you want to try supplements, tell your attending physician first. Some supplements affect the blood concentration of anticoagulants and anti-rejection drugs.

Cost

Costs nothing, and saves the money you'd spend on supplements. Takes no time. The hard part is holding firm when others repeatedly urge you to try them.

Benefit

The harm of stopping medication is certain; the benefit of folk remedies is uncertain. Section 6 of this book lists a batch of common ineffective categories.

Notes

If you want to try supplements, tell your attending physician first. Some supplements interact with prescription drugs, for example affecting the blood concentration of anticoagulants and anti-rejection drugs.

Source

Author's experience, no direct literature; for related evidence see Section 6

5. For chronic illnesses with stable conditions, you can get up to 12 weeks of medication at once at a community hospital

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

People whose condition is stable and whose medication hasn't changed can get up to 12 weeks of medication at once at a community health service center. This saves the half-day of traveling to a big hospital every month to queue and register. Within the same insured region, the reimbursement rate at grassroots hospitals is usually about ten percentage points higher than at the next level up.

Cost

Costs nothing. Go to the community health service center and ask whether they can issue a long-term prescription—a one-sentence matter.

Benefit

No need to travel to a big hospital every month to queue for medication. Within the same insured region (also called a pooling area), the reimbursement rate at grassroots hospitals is in principle about 10 percentage points higher than at the next level up.

Notes

"Meeting the conditions" is judged by the doctor—generally people whose diagnosis is already clear and whose medication regimen is stable. The medication is still the same medication; what you save is the half-day and registration fee of a monthly trip. If the grassroots facility doesn't have the medication you need, ask whether there's a shortage registration and delivery service.

Source

General Office of the State Council (2026). Several Measures on Accelerating the Construction of the Tiered Diagnosis and Treatment System. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031…: "For eligible chronic disease patients, grassroots medical and health institutions may issue a single long-term prescription of no more than 12 weeks of medication."; The same document states "in principle, the hospitalization reimbursement rates of medical and health institutions within a pooling area shall be set with a gap of about 10 percentage points level by level," and requires higher-level hospitals to open outpatient clinics for common and chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at grassroots facilities.

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031…

6. Before signing up for a family doctor at the community level, ask clearly what's covered by medical insurance and what's self-paid

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

The basic service package for signing up goes through medical insurance according to regulations. The money for personalized service packages must be paid entirely by yourself. When someone tries to sell you an "upgrade package," first ask clearly whether it's a basic package or a personalized package, whether it's been filed, and how much it costs per year.

Cost

Costs nothing. Ask one more question before signing—a one-minute matter.

Benefit

The basic service package is paid by medical insurance according to regulations. The money for personalized service packages is paid entirely by yourself, and such packages must also be filed with the county-level health department.

Notes

The value of signing up itself lies in having someone following your illness long-term, not in how many items are bundled. When someone tries to sell you an "upgrade package," first ask three questions: is this a basic package or a personalized package, has it been filed, and how much does it cost per year.

Source

General Office of the State Council (2026). Several Measures on Accelerating the Construction of the Tiered Diagnosis and Treatment System. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031…: "Strengthen the linkage between grassroots outpatient payment and contracted service policies; basic service packages shall be included in medical insurance payment according to regulations; personalized service packages shall be filed by the contracted grassroots medical and health institution with the county-level health department according to procedures, and the fees shall be paid by the individual."

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031…

7. Once diagnosed with diabetes, get a fundus exam once, then follow the intervals the doctor gives; check your feet once a year

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

Diabetes damaging the fundus and damaging the feet produces almost no sensation before it gets to the point of blindness or rotting. Detected early, there's still treatment. For type 2 diabetes, get a dilated fundus exam once at the time of diagnosis; for type 1, start screening 5 years after onset. If one or two exams show nothing wrong and blood sugar is also at target, it can be relaxed to once every one to two years. Check your feet once a year.

Cost

A dilated fundus exam costs tens to hundreds of yuan. Foot exams are usually included in the outpatient visit at no extra cost. The hard part is remembering to go for the exam even when your eyes and feet feel fine.

Benefit

Diabetes damaging the fundus is called retinopathy; damaging the feet is called diabetic foot. These two produce almost no sensation before problems arise. Detected early, there's still treatment. By the time you can't see or your feet start rotting, it's too late.

Notes

Type 2 diabetes should be screened at the time of diagnosis; type 1 starts screening 5 years after onset. The difference is that type 2 has often been quietly high for several years already. If one or two exams show nothing wrong and blood sugar is also at target, it can be relaxed to once every 1 to 2 years. For people whose foot sensation has become dull, look at the soles of your feet yourself every day—using a mirror also works.

Source

American Diabetes Association (2026). Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026 · Chapter 12 Retinopathy, Neuropathy, and Foot Care. Diabetes Care: "People with type 2 diabetes should have an initial dilated and comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist at the time of the diabetes diagnosis." "Adults with type 1 diabetes should have an initial dilated and comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist 5 years after the onset of diabetes." "If there is no evidence of retinopathy from one or more annual eye exams and glycemic indicators are within the goal range, then screening every 1–2 years may be considered." "Perform a comprehensive foot evaluation at least annually to identify risk factors for ulcers and amputations." https://doi.org/10.2337/dc26-S012

https://doi.org/10.2337/dc26-S012

8. If you've had kidney stones, drink water up to 2.5–3 liters per day and reduce salt to under 6 grams

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

About one quarter of people who've had a stone once will grow another within five years. 199 people who had just had their first calcium stone were divided into two groups; one group did only one thing—drink enough water. Over five years, recurrence was 12% in this group and 27% in the group that did nothing. The UK guideline gives the amount as drinking 2.5 to 3 liters of water per day, with salt not exceeding 6 grams.

Cost

Costs nothing. Turn drinking water whenever possible into a habit. On days when you sweat a lot, drink even more—the hard part is remembering every day.

Benefit

A 5-year controlled trial with random assignment into two groups. 199 patients with a first calcium stone and no identifiable cause (also called idiopathic calcium stones) were randomly divided into two groups: one group drank at least 2 liters of water per day, the other group received no intervention. Over 5 years, recurrence was 12/99 (12.1%) in the higher-water-intake group. In the no-intervention group it was 27/100 (27.0%), P=0.008. The smaller the P value, the more it shows the difference between the two groups is not by chance. Average time to recurrence: 38.7±13.2 months vs 25.1±16.4 months, P=0.016. The 24-hour urine volume measured at the start was significantly lower in stone patients than in people without stones. For men it was 1,057±238 mL vs 1,401±562 mL (P<0.0001). For women it was 990±230 mL vs 1,239±440 mL (P<0.001). NICE guideline NG118 section 1.8.1 gives several recommendations. Adults drink 2.5 to 3 liters of water per day; children and adolescents drink 1 to 2 liters according to age. Add some fresh lemon juice to the water; don't drink carbonated beverages. Adults should have no more than 6 grams of salt per day.

Notes

Recurrence dropped by about 55%, and it costs nothing—by this book's ranking rules this is the most cost-effective item in this section. What to watch is the 24-hour urine volume; the goal is above 2 to 2.5 liters, not how much you drink. People who sweat a lot or work in high-temperature environments need to drink more. That trial was done on patients with a first episode of idiopathic calcium stones. Stone composition is not just one type—uric acid stones, infectious stones, and cystine stones each have their own countermeasures. People who've had a recurrence are worth getting a stone composition analysis and 24-hour urine test once, then deciding whether to add medication. Don't give up calcium to prevent stones—see Section 6, item 21. If you have severe flank or abdominal colic during an attack, go to the hospital—don't try to flush it out by drinking more water. Painless blood in the urine has other things to investigate—see Section 1, item 27.

Source

Borghi L, Meschi T, Amato F, Briganti A, Novarini A, Giannini A (1996). Urinary volume, water and recurrences in idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis: a 5-year randomized prospective study. The Journal of Urology, 155(3), 839-843. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-5347(01)66321-3; National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2019). Renal and ureteric stones: assessment and management. NICE guideline NG118, section 1.8.1. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng118/chapter/Recommendations

9. Once diagnosed with gout, take urate-lowering medication long-term, push blood uric acid below 360 µmol/L and keep it there

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower yes; Benefit large

The correct way to play gout is to take urate-lowering medication long-term, pushing uric acid below 360 µmol/L—not to take painkillers only when it hurts. In a UK trial of 517 people, the group whose medication was adjusted according to indicators reached target in 95% of cases after two years, versus only 30% for usual care. After reaching target, you still can't stop the medication. You can't get below this line by diet alone, and quitting alcohol only lowers it by 1.6 mg/dL.

Cost

Allopurinol costs a few to a few dozen yuan per month. At the start, check blood uric acid every few weeks to adjust the dose; after stabilizing, check every few months. For the first 3 to 6 months you also need to take a medication to prevent flares at the same time. The hard part is having to keep taking it even when it doesn't hurt.

Benefit

A controlled trial with random assignment into two groups, 517 adults who had had a flare in the past 12 months. One group was nurse-led, explaining clearly to patients what the disease is about, then adjusting uric acid to target according to indicators. The other group saw general practitioners as usual. At 2 years, the proportion whose blood uric acid dropped to <360 µmol/L (6 mg/dL) was 95% vs 30%. The likelihood of reaching target was 3.18 times that of the usual care group (RR 3.18, 95% CI 2.42–4.18, this interval is the credible range for the number), P<0.0001. Secondary indicators at year 2—flare frequency, tophi, quality of life—were also all superior to the usual care group. The cost per additional quality-adjusted life year (a year of life adjusted for quality of life) gained was £5,066. The same trial also did a follow-up study; 438 people returned questionnaires, an 82% response rate. Both groups self-reported the number of flares in the past 12 months. The median in the target-reaching group was 0 (the middle half fell between 0–0). The usual care group was 1 (0–3), P<0.001. This range in parentheses is called the interquartile range. The proportion still taking urate-lowering medication was 1.19 times that of the usual care group in the target-reaching group (adjusted RR 1.19, 1.09–1.30). The 2020 American College of Rheumatology gout guideline strongly recommends starting urate-lowering therapy for three types of people. First, those with tophi under the skin. Second, those with imaging showing gout has eroded bone defects. Third, those with ≥2 flares per year. The approach is to continuously monitor blood uric acid and adjust the dose according to results until target is reached, with a goal of <6 mg/dL. Allopurinol is first choice, and it's also first choice for people with stage 3 or higher chronic kidney disease, with a starting dose of ≤100 mg/day. At initiation, give anti-inflammatory prophylaxis at the same time, for at least 3 to 6 months. The same guideline also cites a set of case observations. These patients stopped medication after long-term good control, and after stopping, blood uric acid remained <7 mg/dL. Among them, only 13% (27/211) had no flare at all during the 5-year follow-up period. How much diet can do—here are a few numbers. People who limit or quit alcohol had blood uric acid 1.6 mg/dL lower than those who didn't. One serving of beer raises blood uric acid by 0.16 mg/dL. Healthy diet, Mediterranean diet, and DASH diet have even smaller effects.

Notes

**Han Chinese people are worth checking HLA-B*5801 before using allopurinol. People carrying this gene make up 7.4% of Han Chinese, Koreans, and Thais, versus only 0.7% of whites and Hispanics. The risk of allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome after using allopurinol in Asians and African descendants is 3 times that of whites; in severe cases this disease causes large-area skin peeling and can be fatal. The 2020 American College of Rheumatology gout guideline suggests for these two groups that testing before medication can be considered. Starting urate-lowering actually makes flares more likely**, so the guideline explicitly requires taking an anti-inflammatory prophylaxis at the same time for the first 3 to 6 months. "It hurt more after taking the urate-lowering medication, so I stopped" is the most common way this fails. When it hurts, what you should do is add anti-inflammatory medication as prescribed, not stop the urate-lowering medication. Target values are written differently in different places: <6 mg/dL is about 360 µmol/L; Chinese lab reports mostly use µmol/L. Finding high uric acid on a checkup but never having had a flare is another matter—see Section 6, item 19. Sugary drinks and alcohol—see Section 2, items 7 and 20 (don't drink sugary drinks, drink little or no alcohol).

Source

Doherty M, Jenkins W, Richardson H, et al. (2018). Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of nurse-led care involving education and engagement of patients and a treat-to-target urate-lowering strategy versus usual care for gout: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet, 392(10156), 1403-1412. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32158-5; Abhishek A, Jenkins W, La-Crette J, Fernandes G, Doherty M (2020). Nurse-led care is preferred over GP-led care of gout and improves gout outcomes: results of Nottingham Gout Treatment Trial follow-up study. Rheumatology, 59(3), 575-579. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kez333; FitzGerald JD, Dalbeth N, Mikuls T, et al. (2020). 2020 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Management of Gout. Arthritis Care & Research, 72(6), 744-760. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.24180

Evidence levels: A, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 17 · 8 suggestions

When There Are Elderly People at Home

[[A Cost-Effectiveness Guide to Life]]

Scope: money and personal freedom. When there are elderly people at home, most troubles are not about not having enough money—they are about not having made things clear and signed the papers in advance. The last item discusses bedsores from long-term bedridden patients, calculated by mortality rate, and is not compared with the other items in this section.

1. While the Elderly Person Is Lucid, Designate a Future Guardian in Writing

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money little; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

While the elderly person's mind is still clear, spend a few hundred yuan at a notary office to make a written document specifying who will be their guardian in the future. Without this document, once the elderly person can no longer make their own decisions, who signs for them and who manages their money will have to be designated by a court. If family members disagree, it will drag on even longer.

Cost

Going to a notary office to make one costs a few hundred yuan. One conversation with the elderly person can settle it. The hard part is bringing it up: you have to say to their face that the day will come when they can no longer manage themselves

Benefit

The Civil Code provides that an adult who is lucid and able to make their own decisions (in legal terms, "an adult with full civil capacity") may arrange in advance with someone who will be their guardian in the future. The person they arrange with can be a close relative, or another individual or organization willing to serve as guardian. Once arranged, they must "determine their guardian in written form." When in the future they can no longer make decisions, or can only make some decisions (in legal terms, "lose or partially lose civil capacity"), the person written down will manage for them. Without this document, who signs for them and who manages their money in the future will have to go through court designation

Notes

This document is called voluntary guardianship, meaning a person designated in advance by oneself. This person ranks ahead of the default legal guardianship order. It is even more necessary to arrange in advance if the elderly person lives alone, their children are in other cities, or family relationships are complicated. It is recommended to have it notarized at a notary office

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 33). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

2. Make the Will, and Remember That a Later Will Overrides an Earlier One, and a Notarized Will Is No Longer Prioritized

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

The law recognizes six types of wills, but getting the form wrong voids the entire will—this is the most common pitfall. For the handwritten type, the person must write it by hand from beginning to end, sign their name, and clearly write the year, month, and day. If several wills are made with conflicting contents, the last one made prevails. Since 2021, a notarized will is no longer automatically prioritized either.

Cost

Writing a will by hand costs nothing. Having it notarized at a notary office costs a few hundred to over a thousand yuan. The hard part is bringing it up: you have to discuss end-of-life matters with family members

Benefit

The Civil Code recognizes six forms of wills: handwritten by oneself, written on one's behalf, printed, audio-recorded or video-recorded, oral, and notarized. Each has its own mandatory procedural requirements (in legal terms, "formal requirements"). If several wills are made with conflicting contents, the last one made prevails. Since 2021, a notarized will is no longer automatically prioritized

Notes

A handwritten will must be written by the person by hand from beginning to end, signed with their name, and clearly dated with the year, month, and day. A printed will requires two or more witnesses. The testator and witnesses must sign each page and clearly write the year, month, and day. Heirs, persons written into the will to receive property, and their close relatives cannot serve as witnesses. Getting the form wrong voids the entire will—this is the most common pitfall

Sources

National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 1134 to 1142). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml

3. Keep the Elderly Person's Money in a Separate Account, and Set a Two-Person Confirmation Rule for Large Expenditures

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

Those who scam the elderly into buying health products, collectibles, or financial products all use the same routine: first spend a few months getting familiar with them, then harvest all at once. Agree in advance on one rule: expenditures above a certain amount must first be mentioned to a certain person. This is equivalent to delaying the moment of paying, dragging it past the most impulsive period.

Cost

Costs nothing. Discuss once with family members and set an amount. The hard part is how to bring it up without making the elderly person feel you are guarding against them

Benefit

Health product, collectible, and financial scams targeting the elderly all use the routine of first spending a few months building trust, then harvesting all at once. Agree in advance that "expenditures above a certain amount must first be mentioned to a certain person." This is equivalent to delaying the decision to pay, dragging it past the most impulsive period

Notes

Don't frame this as "afraid you'll be scammed." Frame it as "the family's money is uniformly accounted for"—the elderly person is more likely to accept it. Also don't hand all of the elderly person's money to the children for safekeeping; that will lead to another type of dispute

Sources

Author's experience, no direct literature; general anti-fraud principles see Sections 8 and 13

4. Give the Elderly Person a Shield Phrase They Can Say at Any Time

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

Sales pitches and scams rely on on-the-spot pressure, making people feel too embarrassed to refuse on the spot. Agree in advance with the elderly person on one sentence: "I need to go back and discuss it with my family." They can say it at any time, giving them a way out on the spot. This is more effective than reasoning with them afterward.

Cost

Costs nothing. One conversation with the elderly person, a few minutes is enough

Benefit

Both sales pitches and scams rely on on-the-spot pressure. Agree in advance on "I need to go back and discuss it with my family," giving the elderly person a way out. This is more effective than reasoning afterward

Notes

Use together with Item 3 (keep the elderly person's money in a separate account). Also do the home fall-prevention modifications while you're at it, see Section 1. This sentence is not meant to guard against the elderly person; it gives them a way out without having to push back on the spot. When surrounded by salespeople, the hardest thing is never judging true from false—it's speaking up to refuse in front of a room full of people. Agreeing on this sentence in advance is equivalent to taking over this hurdle for them

Sources

Author's experience, no direct literature

5. Don't Touch Any "Invest in Elderly Care" Scheme That Asks the Elderly to Pay First: Cards, Beds, Elderly Apartments, Travel Retirement, and Elderly Products Are All the Same Illegal Fundraising

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

Any elderly care scheme that asks the elderly to pay first and promises returns is the same scam: cards, prepaid elderly care service fees, buying beds, buying elderly apartments, travel retirement, and meeting-based sales of elderly products. The money cannot be recovered according to regulations; the losses can only be borne by oneself. In officially reported cases, someone collected 136 million yuan under the name of reserving elderly apartment beds, harming more than 2,100 people. The only step that can be stopped is the payment.

Cost

Costs nothing. Read the following types of schemes to the elderly person once, a few minutes. When encountered in the future, just refuse directly: don't attend lectures, don't go on tours, don't leave a phone number. The hard part is that if the elderly person has already been a few times and gotten familiar with people, it's not easy to persuade them back

Benefit

The Ministry of Civil Affairs listed five manifestations; recognizing the scheme is more reliable than recognizing the person. First, under the name of an elderly care service institution: no physical entity, temporarily renting a venue, claiming to have signed a cooperation agreement with an elderly care institution to "piggyback." Second, under the name of providing "elderly care services": selling "VIP cards," "membership cards," "prepaid cards," having people prepay "elderly care service fees," with promised services clearly exceeding their own bed supply capacity. Third, under the name of investing in "elderly care projects." Common schemes include buying shares in health and elderly care bases, selling fictitious elderly apartments. Also long-term rental of elderly care beds, "time bank" mutual-aid elderly care. The pretexts are return-of-principal sales, sale-leaseback, and agreed repurchase. Fourth, under the name of selling "elderly products": product repurchase, consignment sales, consumption rebates, free health checkups, gift giving, meeting marketing, health lectures, expert free clinics. Fifth, under the name of enjoying "travel retirement": low-price or free travel, stored-value rebates, points-based elderly care. That the money cannot be recovered is written into the system. Article 25 of the Regulations on Preventing and Handling Illegal Fundraising provides that "losses incurred from participating in illegal fundraising shall be borne by the fundraising participants themselves." That is, the lost money can only be borne by oneself. For scale, look at officially reported cases. Dai Moumou and others illegally raised 136 million yuan under the name of reserving elderly apartment beds, with more than 2,100 victims; Dai Moumou was sentenced to 15 years for the crime of fundraising fraud and fined 400,000 yuan. Cao Mouming raised 13.207 billion yuan under the name of investing in the elderly care industry, involving more than 110,000 people, and was sentenced to life imprisonment, deprivation of political rights for life, and confiscation of all personal property. Health product meeting sales fall under the crime of fraud. Ni Mourong used free banquets, gift giving, and chauffeured pickup to lure elderly people to lectures. The lecturer used "fake personas, fake cases, inflated price cuts" to fabricate anti-cancer and anti-tumor effects. The elderly were tricked into buying "dihydroquercetin" at dozens of times the cost price. Sales amounted to more than 620,000 yuan. Ni Mourong was sentenced to 10 years and 3 months and fined 120,000 yuan (nationwide, the regulation took effect on May 1, 2021)

Notes

Judgment doesn't rely on "this one looks legitimate," but on "does it ask you to pay first, does it promise returns." Elderly care institutions are supposed to sell services; once the talk includes investment, rebates, or recouping, they're out. The elderly being pulled into lectures, tours, or free clinics is not itself illegal, and is hard to stop. What can be stopped is the payment step; use it together with the two-person confirmation rule in Item 3. If money has already been paid, immediately call 110 or 96110 per Section 8, Item 2 to request a payment stop, and simultaneously report to the local lead department responsible for handling illegal fundraising. Housing-for-elderly-care is another path, see Item 6 (reverse mortgage elderly care insurance).

Sources

Ministry of Civil Affairs (2023). Risk Notice on Illegal Fundraising in the Elderly Care Service Sector. https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202306/content_6886556.htm (published by the Chinese government website); Ministry of Civil Affairs, China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (2021). Risk Notice on Illegal Fundraising in the Elderly Care Sector. https://www.mca.gov.cn/n152/n164/c36171/content.html ; State Council (2021). Regulations on Preventing and Handling Illegal Fundraising (State Council Order No. 737, Articles 2, 25, 30). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-02/10/content_558… ; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2022). Typical Cases of Procuratorial Organs Combating and Rectifying Elderly Fraud Crimes. https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbt/202206/t20220617_560010.… ; Supreme People's Court (2025). Typical Cases of Punishing Fraud Crimes in the Field of People's Livelihood According to Law (Case 5, Ni Mourong Fraud Case). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/482861.html

6. Apart from Insurance Companies' Reverse Mortgage Elderly Care Insurance, Don't Touch Any Other "Housing-for-Elderly-Care," and Never Mortgage the House to Buy Financial Products

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

There is only one legitimate form of housing-for-elderly-care: insurance companies' reverse mortgage elderly care insurance, which is still in pilot stage and has very few participants. The kind peddled door-to-door has nothing to do with the national pilot. It tricks the elderly into mortgaging their house, then uses the borrowed money to buy the financial products it recommends—essentially using new money to repay old money. Regulators say some people didn't even know their house had been mortgaged, and in the end lost the house while still carrying the loan.

Cost

Costs nothing. The family's property deed should not be handed to anyone who comes to the door under the name of "housing-for-elderly-care." Before signing mortgage, guarantee, or loan agreements, show them to the children first. The hard part is that door-to-door people are often very enthusiastic and make many trips, and the elderly feel embarrassed to refuse

Benefit

The Consumer Protection Bureau of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission clarified the true and false types. There is only one legitimate housing-for-elderly-care, called "reverse mortgage elderly care insurance for the elderly." Elderly people with full legal property rights to their home mortgage the property to an insurance company. The house is still theirs to live in, use, and collect rent from. To sell or dispose of it requires the consent of the mortgagee (that is, the insurance company). The elderly receive a pension according to agreed conditions, until death. This business is still in pilot stage and has relatively few participants. The "housing-for-elderly-care" described by lawbreakers is "completely unrelated" to the national pilot reverse mortgage elderly care insurance, and is "a means of falsely borrowing national policy to build momentum for illegal fundraising activities." Its operation is to trick the elderly into mortgaging their property, then use the borrowed money to buy the financial products it recommends, "often a 'new-for-old' Ponzi scheme." The original text on the consequences reads: "some participants didn't even know their property had been mortgaged, ultimately losing the house while still carrying the loan." The notice also gives a line for looking at yields. The original text reads: "If a financial product promises a yield exceeding 6%, question it; exceeding 8%, it's very dangerous; above 10%, prepare to lose all principal; 'principal-guaranteed high yield' is financial fraud." The same notice also requires "treat the contract signing stage cautiously, do not sign blank contracts" (nationwide, June 2021)

Notes

It is rated B because these statements come from regulatory risk notices and empirical judgment, not research data. The three lines of 6%, 8%, and 10% are reference lines given by regulators to consumers, not legally established standards. The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission has been merged into the National Financial Regulatory Administration; the original publication page is inaccessible, so what is cited here is a reprint page from a provincial financial regulatory bureau. The crux of this item is not "the financial product lost money," but that after the house is mortgaged, the elderly person still owes a loan, and the loss is far greater than the principal. General rules on signing and blank contracts see Section 8, Item 17; how to stop payment after being scammed see Section 8, Item 2.

Sources

Consumer Protection Bureau of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (2021). Risk Notice on Guarding Against "Investing in Elderly Care" and "Housing-for-Elderly-Care" Financial Fraud (2021 Issue 3). https://dfjrjgj.hunan.gov.cn/dfjrjgj/yhlj/202106/t20210608_… (reprinted by the Hunan Provincial Local Financial Supervision Administration); Ministry of Civil Affairs, China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (2021). Risk Notice on Illegal Fundraising in the Elderly Care Sector (Fourth Manifestation: Illegal Fundraising Under the Name of Claiming "Housing-for-Elderly-Care"). https://www.mca.gov.cn/n152/n164/c36171/content.html

7. If an Elderly Person at Home Is Long-Term Bedridden or Severely Disabled, Apply to the Medical Insurance Department of the Place of Enrollment for Long-Term Care Insurance; It Is Not Only for the Elderly

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence no; Benefit large

Long-term care insurance means the cost of hiring someone for care is partly covered by the medical insurance fund. Those who are severely disabled and whose condition has lasted more than half a year should apply to the medical insurance department of the place of enrollment. For qualifying care costs, you don't have to pay out of pocket first; those enrolled under the employee policy are reimbursed about 70%, and those enrolled under the urban-rural resident policy about 50%. Bed fees, meal fees, and the like are not reimbursed. It is often mistaken for an elderly care policy, but the document actually says "enrolled persons," with no age threshold written; young people who are severely disabled can apply just the same.

Cost

Submit one application to the medical insurance department of the place of enrollment. Then undergo one disability level assessment. If the first assessment passes, the assessment fee is paid by the fund, no out-of-pocket cost

Benefit

Qualifying long-term care service costs have no deductible. A deductible is when you first pay out of pocket up to a certain amount before reimbursement begins; here there is no need to pay first. Those enrolled under the unit employee policy are reimbursed about 70% by the fund. Those enrolled under the unemployed urban-rural resident policy, about 50%. The maximum amount reimbursable per year (annual maximum payment limit) does not exceed 50% of the per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents in the local pooled area for the previous year

Notes

Disability must be "long-term and continuous (generally more than 6 months)"; a few weeks in the hospital does not yet meet the application conditions. There is also a 6-month waiting period before enjoying benefits. Bed fees, meal fees, and other costs not counted as care are not paid by long-term care insurance. Medical costs that should be paid by medical insurance are also not paid by long-term care insurance. Those already receiving work injury living care fees do not enjoy it concurrently. This money and the care subsidy among the two disability subsidies are two sets of procedures and two sums of money, and do not conflict, see Section 7, Item 8 (two subsidies). Receiving care at home and in the community has a tilt in reimbursement ratio; you don't necessarily have to move into an institution. This system is being implemented in batches across regions, and disability assessment standards also differ. First call 12393 or the medical insurance handling agency of the place of enrollment to ask whether the local area has launched it and how to schedule an assessment. If the assessment does not pass, don't give up; you can apply again after the disability condition worsens.

Sources

National Healthcare Security Administration and seven other departments (2026). Notice on Issuing the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Establishment of the Long-Term Care Insurance System." https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202603/content_7063915… : The guaranteed subjects are "disabled persons who have enrolled and paid contributions as required and whose disability condition is long-term and continuous (generally more than 6 months), and who have passed assessment upon application," and "in the initial stage of the system, severely disabled persons are guaranteed"; "benefit enjoyment has no deductible standard. For qualifying long-term care service costs, those enrolled under the unemployed urban-rural resident enrollment policy are paid by the fund at about 50%; those enrolled under the unit employee enrollment policy are paid by the fund at about 70%, and retirees enjoy unit employee enrollment benefits"; "the annual maximum payment limit of the fund for enrolled persons does not exceed 50% of the per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents in the pooled area for the previous year"; "the fixed waiting period for benefit enjoyment is in principle set at 6 months"; see also the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, "Opinions on Accelerating the Establishment of the Long-Term Care Insurance System." https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2026/issue_12666/202604/content_…

8. When someone in the family is bedridden long-term, treat pressure ulcers as the number one enemy: use an electric alternating pressure mattress, turn them on a schedule, and check the bony prominences once a day

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Measure mortality; Money low; Time high; Persistence yes; Benefit large

A pressure ulcer is not just an extra bit of skin damage. In 19,520 records of hip fracture surgery, people who already had a pressure ulcer before surgery were about twenty percent more likely to die within 30 days. There are three things that can be done, all with evidence: switch to an electric alternating pressure mattress, which reduces new pressure ulcers by about sixty percent compared with ordinary hospital bed mattresses; actually carry out repositioning, which reduces them by about seventy percent compared with routine care; and do not leave the person lying prone for long periods. Check the sacrum, heels, hips, and shoulder blades once a day, and if you find redness that does not blanch when pressed, find a nurse or doctor that same day.

Cost

A home electric alternating pressure mattress starts at a few hundred yuan. Turning someone once only takes a few minutes. The hard part is that you have to turn them once every two to three hours, without stopping at night, and one person cannot carry that alone.

Benefit

19,520 hip fracture surgery patients (US NSQIP 2016 to 2019). People who already had a pressure ulcer before surgery had a higher proportion of death within 30 days. After accounting for other factors, this association still held (OR 1.2, 21% increase in odds, P=0.004). These people were also more likely to have other problems: deep vein thrombosis (OR 1.59), pneumonia (OR 1.39), unplanned readmission (OR 1.43), and their average length of stay was 0.4 days longer. 324 hospitalized older adults (average 86 years old) followed for a median of 18 months. Pressure ulcers independently predicted long-term mortality (HR 1.500, 95% CI 1.059 to 2.126, P=0.020). Independently predicting means that after ruling out other factors, it can predict on its own. 65 randomized trials pooled together (network meta-analysis). It compared powered active air-flow support surfaces with standard hospital mattresses (standard hospital support surfaces). Powered active air-flow support surfaces are the electric alternating pressure mattress category. People who used them had a lower incidence of pressure ulcers (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.63, moderate certainty). Powered hybrid air-flow support surfaces were RR 0.22 (0.07 to 0.66). A Cochrane review of 11 trials with 4,462 people (2026 update). Comparing turning every 2 hours with turning every 4 hours, the difference was unclear (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.39, very low certainty). Comparisons between other repositioning intervals were likewise very uncertain. In a trial of 1,226 ICU patients, wearable sensors were used to give real-time reminders and visual alerts. This actually made turning every 2 hours happen. The incidence of pressure ulcers was lower than with routine care (RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.75, moderate certainty). In a trial of 116 people, the prone position (lying face down) group had a higher incidence of pressure ulcers than the supine position (lying flat on the back) group (RR 4.55, 95% CI 2.31 to 8.98).

Notes

There are three reasons for the B. First, the two mortality studies only show that "people with pressure ulcers later fare worse," which is not the same as "preventing pressure ulcers can bring mortality down." Second, the conclusions of the randomized trials on repositioning intervals are very unreliable. Third, the mattress evidence is somewhat stronger, but the studies compared hospital bed mattresses, so applying it to home mattresses is an extrapolation. Checking the sacrum, heels, hips, and shoulder blades every day for "redness that does not fade when pressed" is routine nursing practice and has no separate literature. This item is accounted for by mortality and is not compared with the money accounts of other items in this section. For care services reimbursable by long-term care insurance, see item 7 in this section. If one leg suddenly swells, manage it as deep vein thrombosis, see Section 13, item 11. For the period of long-term bed rest due to a fall or severe injury, see Section 1, item 34.

Sources

Porter SB, Pla R, Chow JH, et al. (2022). Preoperative Pressure Ulcers, Mortality, and Complications in Older Hip Fracture Surgery Patients. JAAOS Global Research & Reviews, 6(11). https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-22-00117 ; Ottaviani S, Rondanina E, Longo E, et al. (2026). Impact of pressure ulcers and frailty on long-term mortality: a prospective cohort study of hospitalized older adults. European Geriatric Medicine, 17(2), 665-672. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-025-01331-8 ; Shi C, Dumville JC, Cullum N (2018). Support surfaces for pressure ulcer prevention: A network meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 13(2), e0192707. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192707 ; Latimer SL, Chaboyer WP, Probst S, et al. (2026). Repositioning for pressure injury prevention in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 6, CD009958. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009958.pub4

Evidence levels: A, C, B · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 18 · 6 suggestions

Is It Worth It to Raise a Child

[[A Cost-Effective Life Guide]]

This section does the math on two accounts: money and time. Just like the marriage math in Section 10, here we only break the accounts open for you to see, without drawing conclusions for you. If you are already pregnant and need to follow the procedures step by step, see Section 27.

1. First, count what you can claim: the national childcare subsidy is 3,600 yuan per child per year, paid until age 3

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

If the child was born on or after January 1, 2025 and is not yet 3 years old, you can claim this money. One of the parents applies at the place where the child is registered as a resident. It is 3,600 yuan per child per year, paid until age 3. This money is exempt from personal income tax. When applying for assistance such as the minimum living guarantee, it is also not counted as your household income.

Cost

No money spent. Apply at the place where the child is registered as a resident; one trip gets it done

Benefit

The plan issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council stipulates: for infants and young children born on or after January 1, 2025 and under 3 years old, "3,600 yuan per child per year" is paid. One parent of the child or another guardian applies to receive it. This subsidy is "exempt from personal income tax." When determining assistance such as the minimum living guarantee, it "is not counted into household or individual income"

Notes

This is the nationwide unified minimum line. Some provinces and cities have their own local subsidies that can be stacked on top of this one. Three years adds up to 10,800 yuan, which is only a very small part of the expenses of raising a child, so do not use it as the basis for whether to have one

Source

General Office of the CPC Central Committee, General Office of the State Council (2025). Implementation Plan for the Childcare Subsidy System. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2025/issue_12206/202508/content_…

https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2025/issue_12206/202508/content_…

2. Maternity leave is 98 days, and the maternity allowance is paid by the maternity insurance fund according to the unit's average monthly wage of employees in the previous year

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

You can take at least 98 days of maternity leave for giving birth, of which 15 days can be taken before birth. For a difficult birth, add 15 days. For each additional child, add another 15 days. The money paid during this period is called the maternity allowance, paid by the maternity insurance fund. If your unit has not enrolled you in maternity insurance, the unit pays it itself.

Cost

No money spent. The unit files the application; you do not need to run around yourself

Benefit

The number of maternity leave days is stipulated by the State Council. "Female employees giving birth enjoy 98 days of maternity leave, of which 15 days may be taken before birth; in cases of difficult birth, 15 days are added; for multiple births, 15 days are added for each additional baby." The money received during maternity leave is called the maternity allowance. For those already enrolled in maternity insurance, it is "paid by the maternity insurance fund according to the standard of the employer's average monthly wage of employees in the previous year." For those not enrolled, the employer pays it to you according to your wage standard before maternity leave

Notes

98 days is the minimum standard set by the state. Provincial population and family planning regulations generally add more than 60 days of maternity reward leave, usually totaling 158 days or more. Which party pays the wages during the reward leave differs by province

Source

State Council (2012). Special Provisions on Labor Protection for Female Employees (State Council Decree No. 619, Articles 7 and 8). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2012-05/07/content_658…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2012-05/07/content_658…

3. Know this: wages may not be lowered or employment terminated because of pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

During pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, if your unit lowers your wages or dismisses you, both are illegal, and a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 yuan per person applies. If your child is under one year old, you have 1 hour of breastfeeding time each day, and the unit may not arrange overtime or night shifts for you. For how to pursue compensation, see Section 19.

Cost

No money spent

Benefit

The State Council stipulates: "Employers may not lower the wages of female employees, dismiss them, or dissolve labor or employment contracts with them because of pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding." That is, during these three periods the unit cannot reduce your pay, nor dismiss you or terminate the contract. For breastfeeding an infant under 1 year old, there is 1 hour of breastfeeding time per day. The unit also may not arrange for you to extend working hours or arrange night shifts. If a unit violates the above, a fine of not less than 1,000 yuan and not more than 5,000 yuan per person applies

Notes

If you really are illegally dismissed, see Section 19 for the compensation path. The focus of evidence collection is the written notice of transfer or pay cut and the chat records; keep both well

Source

State Council (2012). Special Provisions on Labor Protection for Female Employees (State Council Decree No. 619, Articles 5, 9, and 13). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2012-05/07/content_658…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2012-05/07/content_658…

4. Calculate the time account by "whose time is being occupied," not by "whether it is hard work"

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time much; Perseverance yes; Benefit large

Convert the hours spent watching the child each day and the number of times you are woken at night into time. Then multiply by the hourly wage of the person doing this work. The resulting number is generally far greater than the cost of formula and diapers. So it is best to agree on the division of labor before giving birth.

Cost

No money spent; what is spent is time. Before the child is 3 years old, you are basically occupied all day. The hard part is that this happens every day, not something you grit your teeth through for a few days

Benefit

Convert the time spent caring for the child each day and the number of times you are woken at night into hours. Then multiply by the hourly wage of the person doing this work. The number obtained is usually far greater than the cost of formula and diapers. Work such as caregiving, cooking, and getting up at night is unpaid, but it is also converted into hours and multiplied by the hourly wage, and recorded as a cost. The method is the same as the one for calculating housework in Section 10. Agree on the division of labor first, then decide whether to have a child

Notes

The key is not to calculate an accurate number. The key is to get the two people to discuss the division of labor against the same table before giving birth, rather than arguing after the birth

Source

Author's experience, no direct literature; for the method see Section 10

5. Calculate the money account in three stages: 0 to 3 years old, compulsory education, and after compulsory education

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money much; Time medium; Perseverance some; Benefit large

The money for 0 to 3 years old is mainly spent on how to care for the child: yourself, the elders, or hiring someone. The primary to junior high stage is mainly spent on housing and extracurriculars. After that, it is mainly spent on the path to higher education. The three stages are spent in completely different ways; mixing them together will only produce a frightening total.

Cost

There is no fixed amount for how much is spent; it differs greatly by city and by caregiving method. The hard part is calming down and calculating the three stages separately, rather than pulling a number out of feeling

Benefit

The big item for 0 to 3 years old is the caregiving method, that is, whether you care for the child yourself, the elders do, or someone is hired. In the compulsory education stage, that is, primary to junior high, the big items are housing and extracurricular spending. After that, the big item is the path to higher education. Where the money goes in these three stages is completely different; calculating them together will only give a frightening total

Notes

First count in the money you are certain to receive, such as the childcare subsidy, maternity allowance, and medical insurance reimbursement, then see how much shortfall remains. Do not make decisions based on the "how many tens of thousands it takes to raise a child" figures circulating online; the scope of such numbers is unclear, and you do not know what they counted and what they missed

Source

Author's experience, no direct literature

6. Having a child for the elders, for the marriage, or for old-age support: keep a separate account for each

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Benefit medium

Others hope you will have a child, and this can count as one of your considerations. But the time and money are recorded on your own account. "Raising a son to provide for old age" must be calculated separately, because it bets on another person's financial capacity and willingness twenty years later. Write down the consequences of not having a child as well, and compare the two sides.

Cost

No money spent; what is spent is one serious conversation. The hard part is speaking plainly and not dodging it

Benefit

The approach is the same as Section 10. Others' expectations can count as one of your considerations. But the cost must be recorded on your own account, not on theirs. "Raising a son to provide for old age" especially must be calculated separately. Because it assumes another person's financial capacity and willingness twenty years later

Notes

Write down the "consequences of not having a child" as well, and place them alongside the "consequences of having a child" for comparison. An account with only one side written down is not called doing the math

Source

Author's experience, no direct literature; for similar analysis see Section 10

Evidence levels: A, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 19 · 17 suggestions

On-the-Job, Resignation, and Work-Related Injury

[[High-Value Life Guide]]

This section is about money. How money is calculated, how documents are signed, how deadlines are counted. The first three items cover money you should already have in hand while still employed. The middle six cover resignation. The last seven cover occupational disease and work-related injury. The money for work-related injury is an order of magnitude larger than being laid off, and the deadlines are harder. Damage caused by occupational disease simply cannot be exchanged back.

1. Overtime pay is calculated at 1.5x, 2x, and 3x across three tiers; if not paid, complain to labor inspection, and if overdue, an additional 50% to 100% must be paid

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

Ordinary overtime is paid at 1.5 times wages. Overtime on rest days without compensatory rest is paid at 2 times. Working on statutory holidays such as New Year's Day, Spring Festival, Labor Day, and National Day is paid at 3 times, and cannot be offset with compensatory rest. If the company does not pay, file a complaint with labor inspection. If after being ordered to pay within a deadline it still does not pay, the employer must additionally pay half to one times the amount owed.

Cost

No money spent. Casually keep a copy of clock-in records, shift schedules, and overtime approval forms; also screenshot messages from leaders assigning work in work group chats. The hard part is remembering to save every month.

Benefit

The legally prescribed normal working hours are no more than 8 hours per day and no more than 44 hours per week on average. Ordinary overtime generally must not exceed 1 hour per day. If there are special reasons requiring more work, it must not exceed 3 hours per day, and must not exceed 36 hours total in a month. Overtime pay has three tiers. For ordinary arrangements extending working hours, pay no less than 150% of wages. For rest days when you are arranged to work and compensatory rest cannot be arranged, no less than 200%. For statutory holidays when you are arranged to work, no less than 300%. For the statutory holiday tier, the legal provision has no option of "offsetting with compensatory rest." If the employer arranges overtime but does not pay overtime pay, the labor administrative department orders it to pay in full within a deadline. If it still does not pay after the deadline, it is ordered, in addition to the amount owed, to pay the worker compensation of no less than 50% and no more than 100% of the amount payable (nationwide).

Notes

Rest days and statutory holidays are not the same thing. Statutory holidays are only the legally designated days each year, such as New Year's Day, Spring Festival, Labor Day, and National Day. Consecutive days off created by shifted rest days are counted as rest days and paid at 200%. "Company rules require approval for overtime" and "I stayed voluntarily" do not mean the company can refuse to pay, but they will make it harder for you to produce evidence, so keep records of work assignments and approvals. If a company wants to implement comprehensive calculated working hours or non-fixed working hours, these two special working-hour arrangements must first be approved by the labor administrative department; the company cannot decide on its own. For the arbitration limitation period for disputes, see Section 8, Item 19.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Labor Law (second amendment in 2018, Articles 36, 41, 43, 44). https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/bgt/art/2023/art… (published by the State Administration for Market Regulation); Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Labor Contract Law (Article 85, Item 3). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm

2. Annual leave is calculated by cumulative working years as 5, 10, or 15 days; unused leave is converted to money at 300% of daily wages

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Medium

If your total working years across all employers reaches 1 year but less than 10 years, you get 5 days of annual leave per year. At 10 years it is 10 days, and at 20 years it is 15 days. Changing jobs still counts cumulatively. If the employer cannot arrange leave and you agree not to take it, those days are paid at 3 times daily wages. Once you sign a "voluntarily waive annual leave" form, only normal wages remain.

Cost

No money spent. Add up the years you have worked at all employers; social insurance contribution records are proof. The hard part is being able not to sign when the company hands you a "voluntarily waive annual leave" form.

Benefit

After 12 consecutive months of work, you are entitled to annual leave. The number of days is determined by cumulative working time, that is, the total years worked at all employers. At 1 year but less than 10 years, 5 days. At 10 years but less than 20 years, 10 days. At 20 years, 15 days. Statutory holidays and rest days are not counted into annual leave days. If the employer truly cannot arrange leave due to work needs and obtains your consent not to take it, the days that should have been taken but were not are "paid at 300% of the employee's daily wage income as annual leave wage remuneration." This 300% already includes the one portion that would have been paid for a normal working day, so the actual extra amount received is 200%. Daily wage = your monthly wage ÷ 21.75. Monthly wage is calculated based on the wages of the 12 months before this payment, excluding overtime pay, and taking the monthly average. If you joined the employer only in the current year, it is prorated by the remaining calendar days at that employer. On resignation, it is prorated and settled according to how long you worked that year; if you already took too much leave, it is not clawed back. If the employer neither arranges leave nor pays, it is ordered to correct within a deadline. If it still does not correct after the deadline, in addition to that annual leave wage remuneration, it must pay another compensation amount of the same amount (nationwide, effective January 1, 2008).

Notes

Cumulative working time is cumulative across employers, not "how long you have worked at this one." Those who have changed jobs should not calculate by current employer tenure. Only when an employee "for personal reasons and in writing proposes not to take leave" may the employer pay only normal wages, so do not sign a "voluntarily waive annual leave" form. If you take personal leave totaling more than 20 days and the employer does not deduct your wages, you do not enjoy annual leave that year. The same applies if sick leave exceeds the corresponding number of months: less than 10 years of service is 2 months, 10 to 20 years is 3 months, and more than 20 years is 4 months. Family visit leave, marriage and bereavement leave, maternity leave, and the work-related injury suspension-with-pay period are not counted into annual leave.

Sources

State Council (2007). Regulations on Paid Annual Leave for Employees (State Council Order No. 514, Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 7). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2008/content_859865.htm ; Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2008). Measures for the Implementation of Paid Annual Leave for Enterprise Employees (MOHRSS Order No. 1, Articles 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 15). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2009/content_1265995.htm

3. Probation has a statutory upper limit, wages must not be below 80%, and it can only be stipulated once

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Medium

If the contract is signed for less than 1 year, probation is at most 1 month. If signed for 1 to 3 years, at most 2 months. If signed for more than 3 years, at most 6 months. The same company can only put you on probation once; doing it again after becoming a regular employee and transferring positions is illegal. Probation wages cannot be lower than the lowest tier for the same position or 80% of the contractually agreed wage, and cannot be lower than the local minimum wage.

Cost

No money spent. Before signing, spend a few minutes checking the contract term against the probation length.

Benefit

If the contract is signed for more than 3 months but less than 1 year, probation must not exceed 1 month. If signed for more than 1 year but less than 3 years, it must not exceed 2 months. If signed for more than 3 years, and for open-ended contracts without an expiration date, it must not exceed 6 months. Contracts with the completion of a task as the term, or contracts totaling less than 3 months, may not stipulate probation. "The same employer and the same worker may only stipulate probation once"; the same company can only put the same person on probation once. If the contract only stipulates probation, that probation period is not established, and that term is the labor contract term. Probation wages "must not be lower than the lowest tier wage for the same position in the unit or 80% of the wage agreed in the labor contract, and must not be lower than the minimum wage standard in the place where the employer is located." If probation is stipulated longer than the statutory length and the person actually works, the employer must pay additional compensation for the excess period according to your monthly wage standard after probation ends. If the employer wants to terminate the contract during probation, it may only do so under the situations listed by law, and must explain the reason to the worker (nationwide).

Notes

The three most common illegal practices. First, the contract is signed for only 1 year but stipulates a 3-month probation. Second, after becoming a regular employee, the position is transferred and probation is imposed again. Third, "no social insurance during probation"; the social insurance obligation starts from the first day of work and has nothing to do with whether you are on probation. For the employer-side obligation, see Section 12, Item 16. Being dismissed during probation does not mean getting nothing; it depends on whether the reason given by the employer is one of the legally permitted grounds for dismissal. For unlawful termination, calculate 2N according to Item 6.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Labor Contract Law (Articles 19, 20, 21, 83). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm

http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm

4. If laid off, first calculate N clearly: one month's wage for each full year, half a month for less than six months

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

The economic compensation the company must pay when laying you off is calculated like this: one month's wage for each full year worked, six months or more but less than one year counts as one year, and less than six months gets half a month's wage. The monthly wage here is the average of the 12 months before leaving, and bonuses, allowances, and subsidies must all be included. If wages are more than 3 times the local average monthly wage of the previous year, it is capped at 3 times, and years are counted for at most 12 years.

Cost

No money spent. Calculate once with a calculator, ten minutes.

Benefit

The economic compensation stipulated by the Labor Contract Law is the money the employer should pay when laying you off, commonly called N. The calculation is: "one month's wage for each full year... six months or more but less than one year is counted as one year; less than six months, pay the worker half a month's wage." If the monthly wage is more than three times the local average monthly wage of employees in the previous year, it is capped at three times, and working years are counted for at most twelve years.

Notes

Monthly wage refers to the average wage of the twelve months before termination of the labor contract. Bonuses, allowances, and subsidies must all be included, not just base wages. This is the point most easily understated by companies.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Labor Contract Law of the People's Republic of China (effective January 1, 2008) (Article 47). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm

http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm

5. If the company dismisses you without 30 days' advance notice, it must pay an extra month's wage

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Medium

If the company makes you leave without 30 days' written notice in advance, it must pay an extra month's wage in addition to N; this is commonly called N+1. When negotiating, list this one month separately; do not let the company count it into N.

Cost

No money spent.

Benefit

The Labor Contract Law provides that when an employer terminates the labor contract under this article, there are two ways. One is "notify the worker in writing 30 days in advance." The other is "after paying the worker an additional month's wage, may terminate the labor contract." If it wants you to leave immediately, it must pay an extra month's wage. This extra month is commonly called pay in lieu of notice, and is calculated separately from N.

Notes

Therefore, the common result of lawful layoffs is N+1. During negotiation, calculate N and the 1 separately; do not let the company count the extra month into N.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Labor Contract Law of the People's Republic of China (effective January 1, 2008) (Article 40). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm

http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm

6. If the company unlawfully terminates, compensation is twice the economic compensation standard

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

If the company's termination is unlawful, compensation is doubled according to the economic compensation standard, commonly called 2N. Whether it is unlawful termination depends on the specific circumstances. First ask legal aid or a lawyer clearly, then decide whether to negotiate with the company or go to arbitration.

Cost

No money spent. Arbitration takes several months of waiting. The hard part is having to follow through during those months and not give up midway.

Benefit

The Labor Contract Law provides that if an employer terminates or ends a labor contract in violation of this Law, it "shall pay the worker compensation at twice the economic compensation standard stipulated in Article 47 of this Law." That is, first calculate one amount according to the economic compensation method, then double it for you.

Notes

This is commonly called 2N. What counts as unlawful termination depends on the specific circumstances. First consult legal aid or a lawyer, then decide whether to negotiate or go to arbitration; for the path, see Section 7.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Labor Contract Law of the People's Republic of China (effective January 1, 2008) (Article 87). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm

http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm

7. Do not sign "voluntary resignation for personal reasons"; once signed, there is no N

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Yes; Benefit Large

Signing to acknowledge "voluntary resignation for personal reasons" usually causes both economic compensation and unemployment insurance benefits to be lost. If you propose resignation yourself, it is not among the situations for compensation in the first place, except for employer faults such as owed wages or failure to pay social insurance. You do not have to sign that day; calm down overnight before deciding.

Cost

No money spent. The hard part is resisting the pressure to sign on the spot.

Benefit

The Labor Contract Law limits the situations requiring economic compensation to the categories listed by law. A worker proposing to leave is not included, unless it is due to statutory employer faults such as owed wages or failure to pay social insurance. If you sign "voluntary resignation," economic compensation and unemployment insurance benefits are usually both lost.

Notes

A common company line is "sign first so the process can proceed; compensation will be given separately." If so, write it into the agreement on the spot; if not written, do not sign. Not signing that day has no legal consequence; calm down overnight before deciding.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Labor Contract Law of the People's Republic of China (effective January 1, 2008) (Articles 38, 46). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm

http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm

8. Before resignation, save payslips, attendance records, labor contract, social insurance records, and chat records first

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

Once you hand back the computer and accounts, payslips, attendance records, contract, social insurance records, and chat records can no longer be obtained. In arbitration, wages and whether there was overtime still depend on materials in your own hands. Save your own labor relationship materials; do not take the company's source code or customer list.

Cost

No money spent. Spend half an hour saving the materials. The hard part is remembering to save before leaving.

Benefit

Once the computer and accounts are handed back, these materials can no longer be obtained. In arbitration, although the burden of proof will lean somewhat toward the employer, matters such as wage amount and whether there was overtime still depend on evidence in your own hands.

Notes

Save your own labor relationship materials. Do not casually take the company's source code, customer list, or technical documents; that is a different matter, see Section 11.

Sources

Author's experience, no direct literature; for the rights protection path, see Section 7.

9. After leaving, immediately do two things: register for unemployment and claim unemployment insurance benefits, and read the non-compete agreement clearly

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Medium

After leaving, immediately do two things. First, register as unemployed and claim unemployment insurance benefits. Second, read the non-compete agreement once. Unemployment insurance benefits are counted from the day you register; registering a month late means receiving one month less. Only people who lost work not by their own choice can claim, which is another reason for Item 7 (do not sign "voluntary resignation for personal reasons").

Cost

No money spent.

Benefit

There are four thresholds for claiming unemployment insurance benefits: unemployment insurance contributions paid for at least 1 year, losing work not by your own choice (employment interrupted not due to your own will), already registered as unemployed, and still continuing to look for work. The number of years contributed determines whether the maximum claim is 12, 18, or 24 months. For how to apply online, see Section 7, Item 1 (after losing your job, first claim unemployment insurance benefits online). Non-compete restrictions last at most 2 years. During these 2 years, the company must pay you compensation monthly. If the contract does not state how much, it is calculated at 30% of your average wage in the 12 months before resignation, and cannot be lower than the local minimum wage. Only if the company fails to pay for 3 consecutive months for reasons of its own may you request termination of this agreement; see Section 11, Item 12 (what to do if you signed a non-compete agreement and the company does not pay compensation). The non-compete side truly has a deadline; before it expires, the agreement must still be observed.

Notes

It is rated C because the action "handle it the day you leave" has no direct literature; the numbers in the sources column themselves are statutory text. Unemployment benefits do not expire and become void; rather, they are counted from the day you register, so handling it one day earlier means one more day of money. For application materials and online portals, see Section 7. For non-compete compensation standards and termination conditions, see Section 11. If you sign "voluntary resignation for personal reasons," not only do you fail to get N, but unemployment insurance benefits are also lost; see Item 7 (do not sign "voluntary resignation for personal reasons").

Sources

Author's experience, no direct literature; the cited numbers come from State Council (1999). Regulations on Unemployment Insurance (State Council Order No. 258, Articles 14, 16, 17: "Unemployment insurance benefits are calculated from the date of unemployment registration"). https://xzfg.moj.gov.cn/front/law/detail?LawID=517 and Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2012). Labor Contract Law (2012 amendment, Articles 23, 24). https://yjglj.fushun.gov.cn/008/20260622/d846d3c2-df3d-4c4c… (reposted by Fushun Municipal Emergency Management Bureau)

10. Before entering a position with dust, noise, or chemicals, first check whether the contract states the hazards; the three occupational health examinations are arranged and paid for by the employer

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

When signing the contract, the employer must truthfully write into the contract what occupational disease hazards the position has, how to protect against them, and what benefits apply; it may not conceal or deceive. If it concealed from you, you may refuse to do the work, and the employer cannot dismiss you for that reason. The three occupational health examinations—before taking the post, during the post, and upon leaving the post—are arranged and paid for by the employer. Without an exit examination, the employer cannot terminate or end the contract with you.

Cost

No money spent. When signing the contract, read the "occupational disease hazard notification" part item by item. Keep a copy of each examination report for yourself. The hard part is having to ask face to face and obtain the materials face to face.

Benefit

The Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases provides that when signing a labor contract, the employer must clearly explain four things. What occupational disease hazards the work may produce, what consequences may result, how to protect against them, and what benefits apply. The statutory text is "truthfully inform the worker, and write it in the labor contract, and must not conceal or deceive." If after the contract is signed you are transferred to harmful work not explained in the contract, the employer must truthfully inform you again and negotiate amendments to the contract terms with you. If the employer fails to do so, "the worker has the right to refuse to engage in operations with occupational disease hazards, and the employer may not therefore terminate the labor contract concluded with the worker." There are three examinations in total: before taking the post, during the post, and upon leaving the post. "Occupational health examination costs are borne by the employer"; the employer pays, and the results must be told to you in writing. A person who has not had the pre-employment examination may not be assigned to work exposed to occupational disease hazards. A person whose physical condition is inherently unsuitable for such work (with occupational contraindications) may also not be assigned to prohibited operations. If health damage related to the job is found, the person must be transferred away from the original post and properly resettled. "A worker who has not undergone the pre-departure occupational health examination may not have the labor contract terminated or ended." On resignation, you "have the right to request a copy of your own occupational health surveillance file, and the employer shall truthfully and free of charge provide it, and stamp the provided copy." That is, the employer must truthfully copy this occupational health surveillance file for you free of charge and also stamp the copy (nationwide).

Notes

Asking three questions in an interview can roughly tell whether a company is proper: Does this position have occupational disease hazards, will it be written in the contract, and who pays for the pre-employment examination. If they cannot answer or say "start working first and we'll see," weigh the risk yourself. The exit examination item is the most easily overlooked protective talisman: without an exit examination, the employer cannot terminate or end the labor contract with you. This examination is also key material for applying for occupational disease diagnosis later, and the same applies to the file copy; obtain it before leaving. Occupational disease itself follows the work-related injury route; for benefits, see Item 12 onward.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases (2018 amendment, Articles 33, 35, 36). https://www.beijing.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengcefagui/qtwj/201711… (reposted by the Beijing Municipal People's Government)

https://www.beijing.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengcefagui/qtwj/201711…

11. Damage caused by dust, noise, and chemical toxins is irreversible: employers must provide protective equipment, and you can refuse work without protective measures

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time little; Persistence yes; Benefit large

Pneumoconiosis, noise-induced hearing loss, and chemical eye burns are all listed in the statutory occupational disease catalog. Once the lungs and hearing are damaged, there is no treatment that can restore them. You have the right to know what hazards exist in your position, and you also have the right to demand that your employer provide protective facilities and personal protective equipment. You can refuse work that has no protective measures. If your employer cuts your pay or fires you because you made these demands, those actions are invalid.

Cost

No money needed. The hard part is wearing particulate-filtering masks, earplugs, and goggles consistently, and refusing work without protection, at the cost of possibly being called "difficult" by colleagues.

Benefit

As of August 1, 2025, statutory occupational diseases consist of 12 categories and 135 types, including 4 open-ended clauses. The first category is occupational pneumoconiosis. It includes silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, graphite pneumoconiosis, carbon black pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, and talc pneumoconiosis. There are also cement pneumoconiosis, mica pneumoconiosis, potter's pneumoconiosis, aluminum pneumoconiosis, welder's pneumoconiosis, and foundry worker's pneumoconiosis. Plus one open-ended clause. Occupational ear, nose, throat, and oral diseases include noise-induced hearing loss and blast deafness. Occupational eye diseases include chemical eye burns and electric ophthalmia. These injuries are all irreversible — once damaged, they are damaged, and no treatment can restore the lungs and hearing. The law gives four rights you can invoke on the spot. First, the right to know what occupational disease hazards exist in the workplace, what consequences they may cause, and what protective measures should be taken. Second, the right to demand that your employer provide qualified protective facilities and personal protective equipment and improve working conditions. Third, the right to criticize, report, and file complaints against practices that violate occupational disease prevention laws and regulations, as well as practices that endanger life and health. Fourth, the right to "refuse illegal commands and forced work without occupational disease protective measures" — that is, you can refuse non-compliant orders and work without protection. Furthermore, "if an employer reduces a worker's wages, benefits, or other treatment, or dissolves or terminates the labor contract with the worker because the worker lawfully exercised legitimate rights, such actions are invalid." In other words, if you exercise these rights and your employer cuts your pay, reduces your benefits, or fires you, those actions do not count (nationwide).

Notes

Make sure you get the right mask — only particulate-filtering masks block dust; ordinary gauze masks and disposable surgical masks do not. If your employer does not issue earplugs for noisy positions, buy them yourself; they cost a few yuan a pair, and hearing loss cannot be restored. "Work two years, save enough money, then leave" does not hold for pneumoconiosis. Silicosis can onset years after leaving dust-exposed work, and it will continue to worsen. Therefore, post-employment medical examinations are especially important (see item 10; the three occupational health examinations are arranged and paid for by the employer). The new catalog also added two categories. One is occupational musculoskeletal diseases, which includes carpal tunnel syndrome, limited to manufacturing workers who perform prolonged repetitive wrist movements or forceful work. The other is occupational mental and behavioral disorders, which includes post-traumatic stress disorder, limited to people's police, medical and health personnel, fire and rescue personnel, and other emergency rescue personnel who participate in handling emergencies. For on-site treatment of chemical splashes on the body, see Section 13, item 21.

Sources

National Health Commission, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, All-China Federation of Trade Unions (2024). Classification and Catalog of Occupational Diseases (effective August 1, 2025). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202412/content_6992843… ; For the 12 categories and 135 types in the new catalog, see National Health Commission (2024). New Catalog Adjusts Occupational Diseases to 12 Categories and 135 Types. https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202412/content_6992838.htm ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases (Article 39). https://www.beijing.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengcefagui/qtwj/201711… (reposted by the Beijing Municipal People's Government)

12. If you are injured at work or hit by a vehicle on your commute, the first thing is to apply for a work injury determination; if your employer does not report it, report it yourself

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence no; Benefit large

Being injured at work counts as a work injury. Being hit by a vehicle on your commute when the primary responsibility is not yours also counts as a work injury. But without a work injury determination, medical expenses, wages paid during recovery, and disability subsidies all fall through. Your employer should report within 30 days. If your employer does not report it, you, your family members, or the trade union can report it yourself to the social insurance administrative department within one year.

Cost

No money needed; just a trip to the social insurance administrative department. Bring three items: a work injury determination application form, proof of labor relationship, and medical diagnosis certificate.

Benefit

Without a work injury determination, medical expenses, wages paid during recovery (wages during the work-stoppage-with-pay period), and disability subsidies all fall through. If the employer fails to report within 30 days, the work injury benefit costs payable during that period shall be borne by the employer.

Notes

One year is a hard deadline; once it passes, you cannot apply. The burden of proof is on the employer, not you: if the employer says it is not a work injury, the employer must provide evidence. But you should also keep materials yourself: photos from the day of the incident, colleagues' contact information, medical records, and attendance records. Article 16 of the regulation lists three situations that are not recognized: intentional crime, drunkenness or drug use, and self-harm or suicide. Article 15 also provides for "deemed work injury": sudden illness and death during working hours and at the workplace, or death after rescue efforts fail within 48 hours.

Sources

State Council (2010 revision). Regulation on Work-Related Injury Insurance (State Council Order No. 586). Article 14 lists seven situations that "shall be recognized as work injuries," including "(6) injury from a traffic accident or urban rail transit, passenger ferry, or train accident on the commute to or from work, where the person does not bear primary responsibility"; Article 17: "The employer shall, within 30 days from the date of the accident injury or the date of diagnosis or identification of an occupational disease, submit a work injury determination application to the social insurance administrative department of the coordinating region" and "If the employer fails to submit a work injury determination application in accordance with the preceding paragraph, the injured worker or their close relatives or the trade union organization may, within one year from the date of the accident injury or the date of diagnosis or identification of an occupational disease, directly submit a work injury determination application to the social insurance administrative department of the coordinating region where the employer is located" and "If the employer fails to submit a work injury determination application within the time limit specified in the first paragraph of this article, the work injury benefits and other related expenses that conform to this regulation and occur during this period shall be borne by the employer"; Article 19: "If the worker or their close relatives believe it is a work injury but the employer does not, the employer bears the burden of proof"; Article 20: "A decision on work injury determination shall be made within 60 days from the date of accepting the work injury determination application." https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm

https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm

13. Do not believe "push through to your workstation and it counts as a work injury": if you suddenly feel unwell, call 120 first, not rush to clock in

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit large

Rushing to the company when you suddenly feel unwell will not get you an extra sum of money. Deemed work injury requires the person to fall ill during working hours and at the workplace; falling ill on the way and not reaching the post does not count in the first place. If rescue efforts exceed 48 hours, it also does not count. Those few dozen minutes delayed to meet the conditions are traded for your own survival rate.

Cost

No money needed.

Benefit

This item requires the person to suddenly fall ill and die "during working hours and at the workplace," or die after rescue efforts fail within 48 hours. Delaying medical treatment to satisfy these two conditions is equivalent to trading your chance of survival for compensation you may not necessarily receive.

Notes

Both conditions must be met simultaneously: during working hours and at the workplace. Falling ill on the way and not reaching the post does not apply. If you fall ill at work and are then sent home or to the hospital and die after rescue efforts fail within 48 hours, it may still apply. What is decisive is where the person was when the illness occurred, not where they ultimately died. Short videos present this as "push through to the company and there's money," which is exactly backwards: what can truly change the outcome is whether you went to the hospital in those few dozen minutes after falling ill. Also, 48 hours is a hard line; if rescue efforts exceed 48 hours, it does not count.

Sources

Article 15, paragraph 1, item (1) of the Regulation on Work-Related Injury Insurance: "sudden illness and death during working hours and at the workplace, or death after rescue efforts fail within 48 hours" is deemed a work injury; Article 14, item (6) only lists "injury from a traffic accident or urban rail transit, passenger ferry, or train accident on the commute to or from work, where the person does not bear primary responsibility" as a work injury; sudden illness during the commute is not included. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm

https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm

14. If your employer did not enroll you in work-related injury insurance, you still get the same work injury benefits, paid in full by the employer at the same standards

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence some; Benefit large

If your employer did not enroll you in work-related injury insurance, you still get the same work injury benefits. It is just changed to the employer paying in full according to the same items and standards, not a cent less. Not enrolling is an additional penalty for the employer: ordered to make up contributions, plus a daily late fee of 0.05%, and if overdue, a fine of 1 to 3 times the unpaid amount. "The company did not buy work injury insurance, so it cannot pay compensation" is a lie.

Cost

No money needed. If the employer does not acknowledge it, you have to go through arbitration or even litigation, which takes months at minimum. The hard part is following through for those months.

Benefit

The regulation explicitly states: if an employer that should have enrolled employees in work-related injury insurance but did not has an employee with a work injury, that employer shall pay according to the items and standards specified in the regulation. Which payments are due and how much each is are exactly the same as if insurance had been paid; it is just changed to the employer paying out of pocket.

Notes

"The company did not buy you work injury insurance, so it cannot pay compensation" is the most common lie in this kind of matter. Not enrolling is an additional penalty for the employer, not a reduction in compensation for you.

Sources

Article 62, paragraph 2 of the Regulation on Work-Related Injury Insurance: "If an employee of an employer that should participate in work-related injury insurance according to this regulation but does not participate in work-related injury insurance suffers a work injury, the employer shall pay expenses according to the work-related injury insurance benefit items and standards specified in this regulation." Paragraph 1 of the same article: ordered to participate within a time limit and make up contributions, "from the date of arrears, a daily late fee of 0.05% shall be added; if still not paid after the time limit, a fine of not less than 1 time but not more than 3 times the amount in arrears shall be imposed." https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm

https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm

15. After your condition stabilizes, undergo work capacity assessment; the disability grade directly converts into money

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence no; Benefit large

After your condition stabilizes, undergo work capacity assessment; the grade directly converts into money. The one-time disability subsidy is calculated based on your own wages: grade 5 is 18 months, grade 6 is 16 months, grade 7 is 13 months, grade 8 is 11 months, grade 9 is 9 months, and grade 10 is 7 months. Before the assessment result comes out, do not sign a "one-time settlement" agreement.

Cost

No money needed. You go through the work capacity assessment process once, and it takes some time from start to finish.

Benefit

The one-time disability subsidy is converted into several months of wages according to the disability grade and paid in a lump sum. Grade 5 is 18 months, grade 6 is 16 months, and grade 7 is 13 months of your own wages. Grade 8 is 11 months, grade 9 is 9 months, and grade 10 is 7 months of your own wages.

Notes

For grades 5 and 6, the labor relationship is retained, the person still counts as an employee of the company, and they receive a monthly disability allowance. For grades 7 to 10, when the contract expires or the person proposes termination, there are two additional payments: the one-time work injury medical subsidy is paid by the fund, and the one-time disability employment subsidy is paid by the employer; the amounts are set by the province. Before the assessment result comes out, do not sign a "one-time settlement" agreement.

Sources

Article 21 of the Regulation on Work-Related Injury Insurance: "If disability remains and work capacity is affected after treatment and the condition is relatively stable, work capacity assessment shall be conducted"; Article 22: "Work function impairment is divided into ten disability grades, with the most severe being grade 1 and the least severe being grade 10"; Article 36 benefits for grades 5 and 6 (one-time disability subsidy of 18/16 months of own wages, monthly disability allowance of 70%/60% of own wages); Article 37 benefits for grades 7 to 10 (13/11/9/7 months of own wages). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm

https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm

16. Distinguish the three payments for work-related death: funeral subsidy, dependent relatives' pension, and one-time work-related death subsidy

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence no; Benefit large

Work-related death involves three payments; do not discuss only one of them. The funeral subsidy is 6 months of the local average monthly wage of employees in the previous year. The dependent relatives' pension is paid monthly based on the deceased's own wages: 40% per month for a spouse and 30% per month for each other relative. The one-time work-related death subsidy is 20 times the national per capita disposable income of urban residents in the previous year; nationwide there is only this one figure.

Cost

No money needed; just go through a set of procedures.

Benefit

The money for work-related death is divided into three payments. The first is the funeral subsidy, which is 6 months of the average monthly wage of employees in the coordinating region where insurance is held in the previous year. The second is the dependent relatives' pension, paid monthly based on the deceased's own wages: 40% per month for a spouse and 30% per month for each other relative. The third is the one-time work-related death subsidy, which is 20 times the national per capita disposable income of urban residents in the previous year; nationwide there is only this one figure, regardless of region.

Notes

TODO (to be verified: the specific amount for the year converted from the 2025 national per capita disposable income of urban residents; the original text from the National Bureau of Statistics was not obtained this time). The one-time work-related death subsidy is uniform nationwide. When discussing compensation, do not accept the claim that "our local standard is lower."

Sources

Article 39 of the Regulation on Work-Related Injury Insurance: "(1) The funeral subsidy is 6 months of the average monthly wage of employees in the coordinating region in the previous year; (2) The dependent relatives' pension is paid to relatives who were mainly supported by the deceased worker during their lifetime and who lack work capacity, at a certain proportion of the worker's own wages. The standards are: 40% per month for a spouse, 30% per month for each other relative, and an additional 10% per month on top of the above standards for widowed elderly or orphans... (3) The one-time work-related death subsidy standard is 20 times the national per capita disposable income of urban residents in the previous year." https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm

https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm

17. If you are bullied, insulted, or deliberately made difficult at work for a long time, do not just endure it: first record and preserve evidence, then proceed with complaints, police reports, or arbitration according to the nature of the conduct

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence yes; Benefit medium

People who are bullied at work have about a 60% higher risk of later developing heart disease and stroke, and the more they are bullied, the higher the risk. People who are bullied have about twice the odds of developing suicidal thoughts several years later. Being scolded and mistreated is not a small matter that passes if you just endure it.

Cost

No money needed. It takes time to record: dates, people present, the other party's exact words, and keep original chat screenshots and emails. Arbitration and litigation take several months. Changing jobs has the highest cost; whether to leave is for you to calculate yourself.

Benefit

On the health side: three cohorts from Sweden and Denmark combined, totaling 79,201 employed people aged 18 to 65. They initially had no cardiovascular disease and were followed for an average of 12.4 years. 9% said they had been bullied at work in the past year. Those who were bullied had about a 59% higher risk of cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease) (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.28–1.98). Those who experienced violence at work had about a 25% higher risk (HR 1.25, 1.12–1.40). For both, the more exposure, the higher the risk. A Norwegian nationally randomized follow-up survey of 1,846 employed people measured them once every two to three years, three times in total. Those who were bullied had about twice the odds of later developing suicidal thoughts (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.08–3.89). Conversely, people who first had suicidal thoughts were not more likely to be bullied later. On the legal side: China has no law specifically governing "workplace bullying"; you have to match the specific conduct. If an employer insults, corporally punishes, beats, illegally searches, or detains workers, it shall be subject to administrative penalties, shall compensate for damages, and if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued. If an employer uses violence or threats to force you to work, you can immediately terminate the contract without prior notice and still get economic compensation. Employers must take measures to prevent and stop sexual harassment by anyone using authority or hierarchical relationships. Victims can demand that the harasser bear civil liability. Labor arbitration concludes within 45 days from the date of acceptance, with a maximum extension of 15 days for complex cases.

Notes

Reason for rating B: the health figures come from follow-up records, not grouped experiments, and "being bullied" was self-reported. This item does not advocate quitting as soon as you are mistreated; the cost of changing jobs is for you to calculate yourself. There are four steps you can take first. Step one, start recording from today; for recording, see Section 8, item 41 (recording). Step two, report in writing through internal company channels and keep a record that you reported it. Step three, if you are beaten, confined, or publicly insulted, call the police. Step four, if you are forced out because of unpaid wages or failure to pay social insurance, follow Section 7 (do not sign a voluntary resignation) and Section 8 (preserve evidence before leaving). For how economic compensation is calculated, see Section 4 (calculate N clearly before being laid off). Pure coldness, exclusion, and deliberate difficulty mostly do not match any law; what you can mainly do is internal complaints, transfer, and changing jobs. Arbitration lasts up to 60 days from acceptance; first-instance litigation starts at 6 months, and you pay your own lawyer fees. If you can no longer hold on, call 12356 first; see Section 1, item 25 (12356).

Sources

Xu T et al. (2019). Workplace bullying and workplace violence as risk factors for cardiovascular disease: a multi-cohort study. European Heart Journal. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehy683 ; Nielsen MB, Nielsen GH, Notelaers G, Einarsen S (2015). Workplace Bullying and Suicidal Ideation: A 3-Wave Longitudinal Norwegian Study. American Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2015.302855 ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Labor Contract Law (Article 38, paragraph 2; Article 46; Article 88). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm ; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Article 1010). Full text reposted by the Supreme People's Procuratorate https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2022 revision). Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests (Article 25). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808181841257210184281512… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Law on Labor Dispute Mediation and Arbitration (Article 43). Full text reposted by the Ankang Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau https://rsj.ankang.gov.cn/Content-2150407.html

Evidence levels: A, B, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 20 · 12 suggestions

How to Care for a Newborn

[[High-Value Life Guide]]

Scope: infant mortality and money. This section only includes two kinds of things: those that affect whether the child can survive, and those that affect how much you have to spend. Both kinds are included only when the difference is large enough and there is hard evidence. Parenting details like how to soothe or how to care for the baby are not covered in this book. For things to do before birth and on the day of discharge, see Section 27.

1. Put the baby to sleep on their back, on a firm surface, in the same room but not the same bed, with nothing soft in the bed

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Yes; Benefit Large

Put the baby to sleep face up, on a firm surface. Adults and the baby sleep in the same room, but not in the same bed. Do not put pillows, blankets, crib bumpers, plush toys, or head-shaping pillows in the bed. Inclined bassinets and infant chairs are for sitting only, not for sleeping. In the United States alone, about 3,500 infants die in their sleep each year.

Cost

Costs nothing. The mattress needs to be replaced with a firm one, a few hundred yuan. The hard part is standing up to what the elders say and sticking to this consistently.

Benefit

About 3,500 infants in the United States die each year from sleep-related causes. This includes sudden infant death syndrome, deaths of unknown cause, and accidental suffocation in bed. The American Academy of Pediatrics' safe sleep environment is "supine position; use of a firm, non-inclined sleep surface; room-sharing without bed-sharing; avoidance of soft bedding and overheating." Several other things also reduce risk: breastfeeding, keeping the baby away from nicotine and alcohol, getting vaccinated on schedule, and using a pacifier.

Notes

"Nothing soft in the bed" means no pillows, blankets, crib bumpers, plush toys, or head-shaping pillows at all. Nursing pillows that look very safe are also excluded. Inclined bassinets and infant chairs cannot be used as sleeping places. This is the item in this section with the largest difference, and the one where you most need to stand up to pressure from elders.

Sources

Moon RY, Carlin RF, Hand I, Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the Committee on Fetus and Newborn (2022). Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment. Pediatrics, 150(1), e2022057990. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-057990

https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-057990

2. Get the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

The first dose of hepatitis B vaccine should be given within 24 hours of birth. Among people infected with hepatitis B during infancy and early childhood, about 95% develop chronic hepatitis. The vast majority of those infected only in adulthood recover on their own. So the earlier this shot is given, the more useful it is. If the mother is positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, the baby also needs hepatitis B immune globulin at the same time.

Cost

Costs nothing. The hepatitis B vaccine is part of the immunization program and is free anyway. The baby gets it at the hospital on the day of birth, so no extra trip is needed.

Benefit

The World Health Organization says: "All infants should receive their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine as soon as possible after birth (within 24 hours)." The reason is that "about 95% of infections in infancy and early childhood develop into chronic hepatitis." The vast majority of infections acquired in adulthood resolve on their own, meaning they get better without treatment.

Notes

If the mother is positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, the baby also needs a dose of hepatitis B immune globulin after birth. This should be checked clearly during prenatal visits; don't wait until after birth to ask. The screening the mother herself needs is covered in Section 1.

Sources

World Health Organization. Hepatitis B fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b

3. Complete all vaccines required by the national immunization program; they are entirely free, and if you miss any, only make up the unfinished doses

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Medium; Willpower No; Benefit Large

Vaccines in the national immunization program are entirely free, and vaccination units may not charge a single cent. When children enter nursery or school, their vaccination certificates are checked, and any missed doses will definitely be found and made up at that point. If you miss any, only make up the unfinished doses; there is no need to start the whole series over. If the same vaccine is switched to a different manufacturer, you can continue the series. Eczema, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, and asthma, as long as the condition is stable, and neonatal jaundice as well, are not reasons that vaccination cannot be given.

Cost

Costs nothing. The law states that "vaccination units shall not charge any fees for administering vaccines in the immunization program." You need to make several trips to the vaccination clinic by month of age. Keep the vaccination certificate safe; don't lose it.

Benefit

When children enter nursery or school, nursery institutions and schools must check the vaccination certificate. If they find that vaccines in the immunization program have not been given as required, they must report to the vaccination unit and cooperate in urging the guardian to make up the doses. So missing a dose is not "we'll deal with it later"; it will definitely be found when the child starts school. The currently implemented version is the 2026 schedule. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been included in the national immunization program. The starting age for the DTaP vaccine has been changed from 3 months to 2 months, for a total of 5 doses, given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, and 6 years of age, 1 dose each. For age-eligible children in Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Japanese encephalitis vaccine has also been routinely administered since March 2026. Several vaccines can be given on the same day: at the current stage, all vaccines in the national immunization program can be given simultaneously according to the immunization schedule or the catch-up principles. Two or more injectable vaccines must be given at different sites, and "it is strictly prohibited to mix two or more vaccines into the same syringe for administration." If not given on the same day, two or more injectable live attenuated vaccines must be spaced at least 28 days apart. There is no restriction on the interval between inactivated vaccines, oral live attenuated vaccines, and other vaccines. For catch-up in those under 18 years of age, the principle is to catch up as early as possible: "only the unfinished doses need to be made up; there is no need to restart the entire series," and the same vaccine can be continued if switched to a different manufacturer (nationwide, 2026 schedule).

Notes

The most common misunderstanding is "the child has a weak constitution, so let's hold off on vaccination." The official position is: so-called "allergic constitution," family members having allergic diseases, or the child having previously been allergic to food or drugs are not reasons that vaccination cannot be given. Atopic dermatitis (that is, eczema), urticaria, allergic rhinitis, and bronchial asthma can all be vaccinated normally as long as the condition is stable. If the child is taking anti-allergy medication or using inhaled steroids, vaccination can still be given. Physiologic jaundice and breast-milk jaundice in newborns can also be vaccinated normally. There are truly only two situations in which vaccination cannot be given: a previous acute severe allergic reaction to the same vaccine, or a severe allergy to a known component of the vaccine. Children with immunodeficiency, and children undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy or using immunosuppressants, need to be evaluated individually; go to the vaccination clinic, explain the situation, and then decide. For the first dose of hepatitis B, see Item 2. Self-paid vaccines outside the immunization program charge a separate vaccine fee and vaccination service fee, which is unrelated to the free vaccines described in this item.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2019). Vaccine Administration Law (Articles 48 and 49). http://ynswsjkw.yn.gov.cn/html/2019/faguiguizhangxin_0731/6… (reposted by the Yunnan Provincial Health Commission); National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, National Health Commission (2026). Interpretation Q&A on the "National Immunization Program Vaccine Child Immunization Schedule and Instructions (2026 Edition)." https://www.ndcpa.gov.cn/jbkzzx/c100013/common/content/cont…

4. For the first 6 months, feed only breast milk, not even water; starting at 6 months, add complementary foods and continue breastfeeding

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time A lot; Willpower Yes; Benefit Medium

Start breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. For the first 6 months, feed only breast milk, not even water. Starting at exactly 6 months, begin adding complementary foods while continuing to breastfeed until age 2 or longer. The complementary foods added each day must include iron-rich animal-source foods. If breast milk is insufficient or breastfeeding is not possible, use formula, and don't feel guilty. What you feed has a far smaller impact on whether the child survives than the back-sleeping item.

Cost

Costs nothing, and also saves money on formula. What it costs is time; breastfeeding takes up a lot of time every day. The hard part is continuing it consistently and not stopping during the first 6 months.

Benefit

The World Health Organization recommends "initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth." For the first 6 months, "exclusive breastfeeding, meaning no other foods or liquids, including water, are provided." Then "starting at 6 months of age, begin adding safe and adequate complementary foods while continuing to breastfeed until age 2 or beyond." The National Health Commission's service guide also advocates exclusive breastfeeding from 0 to 6 months of age. This guide also requires that starting at exactly 6 months of age, "daily complementary foods must include iron-rich animal-source foods."

Notes

If breast milk is insufficient, or your body does not allow breastfeeding, use formula; there is no need to feel guilty. The difference between breastfeeding and formula feeding is far smaller than that of the safe sleep item. Frequency of complementary foods: 1 to 2 times per day at 6 to 8 months of age, 2 to 3 times per day at 9 to 12 months of age. The foods eaten each day should cover at least four of the seven categories. When the child has severe eczema or egg allergy, whether peanuts should be avoided is covered in Item 12 of this section (don't avoid peanuts).

Sources

World Health Organization. Breastfeeding. https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding ; General Office of the National Health Commission (2024). Service Guide for Infant and Young Child Nutrition and Feeding Assessment (Trial) (Guo Wei Ban Fu You Han [2024] No. 452). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202502/content_7002872…

5. Mix formula with water above 70 °C, let it cool before feeding, and discard any leftovers

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Large

Powdered formula is not sterile and may carry a bacterium called Cronobacter sakazakii. Once a newborn is infected, the reported case fatality rate is between 40% and 80%. When mixing, first pour hot water into the bottle, wait until the water temperature drops to about 73.8 °C, then add the formula. At this point the milk is still above 70 °C, which can reduce this bacterium to less than one hundred-thousandth of its original level. Let it cool after mixing before feeding, and discard any leftovers.

Cost

Costs nothing. Each time, wait a few extra minutes for the milk to cool. The hard part is that even when the child is crying from hunger, you still have to wait for the water temperature to drop before mixing.

Benefit

Powdered formula is not sterile and may carry Cronobacter sakazakii. The reported case fatality rate after newborn infection is 40% to 80%. Experimental studies show that if you first pour hot water into the bottle, wait until the water temperature drops to about 73.8 °C, and then add the formula, in the vast majority of cases the milk temperature is still above 70 °C. This can reduce this bacterium by more than 5 log levels, meaning to less than one hundred-thousandth of its original level.

Notes

The 70 °C threshold comes from public health guidelines. Beary et al.'s original wording is that "public health guidelines for caregivers of high-risk infants recommend reconstituting powdered infant formula with water heated to at least 70 °C (158 °F) to inactivate microorganisms." Premature infants, low-birth-weight children, and children under 2 months of age are at highest risk. Do not use water that has been sitting in a thermos for a day to mix formula. Also do not leave mixed formula at room temperature waiting to be fed at the next meal.

Sources

Beary MA, Daly SE, Baker J, Snyder AB (2025). Assessing Hot Water Reconstitution Instructions and Labeling of Powdered Infant Formula to Ensure Cronobacter spp. Reduction. Journal of Food Protection, 88(9), 100571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100571 ; Sima WG, Legesse T, Girma S, et al. (2025). Emerging microbial risks: Cronobacter sakazakii in powdered infant formula for infants under six months of age in Ethiopia. BMC Microbiology, 26, 307. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-04380-y ; World Health Organization & FAO (2007). Safe preparation, storage and handling of powdered infant formula: guidelines. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241595414

6. Do not feed honey to children under 1 year old

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

Do not feed honey to children under 1 year old. Honey water, honey mixed into complementary foods, and pastries containing honey all count. Honey may carry bacteria that cause botulism. The flora in an adult's gut can suppress it, but an infant cannot. Homemade pickles and fermented foods are the same story.

Cost

Costs nothing.

Benefit

The US CDC says "do not feed honey to children under 1 year of age," because "honey may contain bacteria that cause botulism." Adult intestinal flora can suppress these spores, which are the dormant state of this bacterium, but infants cannot.

Notes

What cannot be fed includes honey water, complementary foods mixed with honey, and pastries containing honey. By the same reasoning, homemade pickles and fermented foods should also not be given to infants.

Sources

US CDC. Preventing Botulism. https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/prevention/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/prevention/index.html

7. The vitamin K shot at birth must be given

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

Newborns naturally store very little vitamin K. Without supplementation, bleeding may occur, and the late-onset type is often bleeding in the brain. In places where this shot is not universally given, the incidence of this bleeding is 478 cases per 100,000 newborns. Giving this shot is estimated to reduce the incidence by more than 78%. Regular hospitals in China routinely give it when a baby is born. If you give birth at home or at an unregulated facility, proactively ask whether it was given.

Cost

0 to a few dozen yuan. This cost is usually already included in the hospital birth expenses, with no separate payment needed.

Benefit

Newborns store very little vitamin K. Without supplementation, vitamin K deficiency bleeding may occur, and the late-onset type often presents as intracranial hemorrhage, meaning bleeding in the brain. The Belgian consensus recommendation is "a single intramuscular injection of 1 or 2 mg of vitamin K at birth." In regions where prophylaxis is not systematically provided, the incidence of vitamin K deficiency bleeding is 478 per 100,000 people; this figure comes from 42,000 newborns in Tashkent. The authors estimate that prophylaxis can reduce the incidence by "more than 78.5%."

Notes

If you give birth at a regular hospital in China, the hospital will routinely give this shot, so you don't need to worry about it yourself. If you give birth at home or at an unregulated facility, proactively confirm it. Oral administration is less effective than injection; the injection referred to here is into the muscle.

Sources

Fiesack S, Smits A, Rayyan M, et al. (2021). Nutrients, 13(11), 4109. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13114109 ; Tursunov D, Yoshida Y, Yrysov K, et al. (2018). Nagoya Journal of Medical Science, 80(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.18999/nagjms.80.1.11

8. For infants under 3 months, go directly to the hospital if the temperature reaches 38 °C; do not observe at home

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money Little; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

If the child is under 3 months old and the temperature reaches 38 °C, go directly to the hospital. Do not observe at home, and do not give fever-reducing medicine first and then wait and see. A child of this age may show only fever even if they have a serious bacterial infection. So "looks fine" cannot be used as a reason to wait at home. For children under 8 days old, even the guidelines do not cover them, so go even more immediately.

Cost

Registration plus tests, a few hundred yuan.

Benefit

The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed special guidelines for well-appearing full-term infants 8 to 60 days old. These guidelines define fever as "temperature ≥38.0 °C." They divide cases into three tiers—8 to 21 days, 22 to 28 days, and 29 to 60 days—and give a management pathway for each. Infants under 8 days old are not even within the scope of these guidelines, meaning that at this stage medical attention is even more urgent.

Notes

At this age, a child with a serious bacterial infection may show only fever. So looking "fine" cannot be a reason to observe at home. Also do not give fever-reducing medicine yourself first and then wait and see.

Sources

Pantell RH, Roberts KB, Adams WG, et al. (2021). Evaluation and Management of Well-Appearing Febrile Infants 8 to 60 Days Old. Pediatrics, 148(2), e2021052228. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-052228

https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-052228

9. No matter how tired or angry you are, never shake a baby

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Yes; Benefit Large

A baby's head is large relative to the body, and the neck muscles are weak. Shaking forcefully can cause bleeding in the brain and bleeding in the eyes, may kill the baby, and may leave lifelong disability. Gentle rocking to soothe to sleep does not count; what is dangerous is the uncontrollable violent shaking. When you are about to lose your temper, put the child back in the crib and walk away for a few minutes. Letting them cry for a while is much safer than holding and shaking them.

Cost

Costs nothing. The hard part is stopping your hands when you are too tired and too angry.

Benefit

Infants have a large head proportion and weak neck muscles. Violent shaking causes intracranial hemorrhage and retinal hemorrhage, meaning bleeding in the brain and eyes. This may be fatal and may leave lifelong disability. Gentle rocking when soothing to sleep is not the same thing. What is dangerous is uncontrolled violent shaking. Medically, this type of injury caused by shaking and impact is called "abusive head trauma." It is the leading cause of death from head trauma in children under 2 years old. In the United States from 1999 to 2014, it caused nearly 2,250 deaths in children under 5 years old.

Notes

If you really reach the moment when you are about to lose control, first put the child back in the crib and walk away for a few minutes. Letting them cry for a while is much safer than holding them and shaking them. This item is most important for people raising a child alone and chronically sleep-deprived. For how to handle your own emotions, see Section 3.

Sources

Spies EL, Klevens J (2016). Fatal Abusive Head Trauma Among Children Aged <5 Years — United States, 1999–2014. MMWR 65(20):505-509. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6520a1 ; Choudhary AK et al. (2018). Consensus statement on abusive head trauma in infants and young children. Pediatric Radiology 48(8):1048-1065. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-018-4149-1

10. For diapers, don't look at the brand; look at three things: whether they fit, whether they are changed often enough, and whether they have ever been reported in spot inspections

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money Little; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

No official body has ever ranked "which brand is best." Only two things can be checked: product quality spot inspection notices from the State Administration for Market Regulation, and regulatory investigations into specific incidents. Expensive does not equal safe, and imported does not equal qualified. First buy a small package and try it for a week to see whether the child has diaper rash or red marks from tightness; if it fits, then stock up.

Cost

Two to three hundred to over a thousand yuan per month, depending on what tier you use.

Benefit

No official body has ever published a ranking of "which brand is best," so this book does not give brand recommendations. Only two types of information can be verified. One is product quality spot inspection notices from the State Administration for Market Regulation. The other is regulatory investigations into specific incidents. After the "formamide problem in infant diapers" drew attention in June 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation led the establishment of a joint investigation team to verify it.

Notes

TODO (to be verified: the conclusion of that investigation, and the original official notice from the State Administration for Market Regulation). How to actually buy: expensive does not equal safe, and imported does not equal qualified. First buy a small package and try it for a week to see whether the child has diaper rash or red marks from tightness; if it fits, then stock up. Diaper rash is mainly caused by not changing often enough and poor ventilation, and its relationship with brand is not as large as imagined. For how to check spot inspection notices, see Section 5.

Sources

The State Council of China website (2026-06-22). State Administration for Market Regulation leads the establishment of a joint investigation team to verify the "formamide problem in infant diapers." https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202606/content_7072931.htm (This page has only a title; the body text is not displayed, so this item cites only the fact of the investigation and does not cite any conclusion.)

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202606/content_7072931.htm

11. For big-ticket items, consider them in the order of "borrow, buy secondhand, buy new"—don't outfit everything all at once

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money low; Time low; Perseverance some; Benefit medium

Strollers, cribs, swaddles, and toys are all used for only a short time, and the secondhand market has plenty of supply and few buyers. Ask to borrow first; if you can't borrow, buy secondhand; only if that fails should you buy new. This usually saves money in the thousands. Car seats and mattresses are not recommended to buy secondhand—structural damage to a seat after a crash can't be seen with the naked eye. Postpartum care centers and early education classes are big expenses that are optional; apply the 24-hour cooling-off period first.

Cost

No extra money needed, and the savings are usually in the thousands. The hard part is resisting the urge to outfit everything all at once.

Benefit

Strollers, cribs, swaddles, and toys all have very short useful lives, and supply on the secondhand market far exceeds demand. The two things that truly can't be skimped on—and that are not recommended to buy secondhand—are car seats and mattresses. Structural damage to a car seat after a crash can't be seen with the naked eye.

Notes

Postpartum care centers, early education classes, and baby swimming pools—this book neither recommends nor rejects them. But they are all big optional expenses, so the 24-hour cooling-off period discussed in Section 5 applies.

Sources

Author's experience, no direct literature; for car seat evidence see Section 1, for impulse spending see Section 5.

12. If your child has severe eczema or egg allergy, don't avoid peanuts—introduce them early under a doctor's guidance, but never feed whole peanuts

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money low; Time low; Perseverance no; Benefit large

A randomized trial of 640 high-risk infants. The group that regularly ate peanuts from 4 to 11 months had a peanut allergy rate of 1.9% by age 5; the group that completely avoided them was 13.7%. Among children who already had a weakly positive skin prick test at enrollment, it was 10.6% versus 35.3%. Avoiding actually makes allergy more likely. But never feed whole peanuts—they can choke the airway.

Cost

A jar of peanut butter costs a few dozen yuan. Feed it a few times a week; it's easy to do along the way. Before starting, take the child to see a doctor for an evaluation.

Benefit

The UK LEAP randomized trial. 640 infants were enrolled, with the condition being severe eczema, egg allergy, or both. They were 4 to 11 months old at enrollment. They were randomly divided into two groups: one regularly ate peanut products, the other completely avoided them, and peanut allergy rates were assessed at 60 months of age. Among the 530 who were skin prick test negative for peanut at enrollment, 13.7% in the avoidance group developed allergy versus 1.9% in the consumption group (P<0.001). Among the 98 who already had a weakly positive skin prick test at enrollment, 35.3% in the avoidance group versus 10.6% in the consumption group (P=0.004). There was no difference in serious adverse events between the two groups.

Notes

The form can only be peanut butter thinned out or peanut powder mixed into complementary foods; never give whole peanuts. The National Health Commission's core feeding information states clearly: "Whole peanuts, nuts, jelly, and similar foods are easily inhaled into the airway and cause choking, and should be avoided by infants and young children." For what to do if choking occurs, see Section 13, item 26 (someone choking and unable to speak). This item applies only to high-risk children—those with severe eczema or already allergic to eggs. Before starting, you must first see a doctor for an evaluation; do not try it at home on your own: before enrollment in the LEAP trial, every child was given a skin prick test, and children with a skin prick reaction greater than 4 mm were excluded from the trial and not allowed to eat it. The evidence for ordinary children is much weaker. In another trial of 1,162 ordinary breastfed infants, by group assignment, the early introduction group had 5.6% food allergy versus 7.1% in the standard group, a non-significant difference (P=0.32); it was significant only among the children who actually did it (2.4% vs 7.3%). This kind of calculation easily overstates the effect; the authors themselves said that by group assignment they could not demonstrate efficacy, but it also shows that early introduction is safe. China's official feeding documents currently say nothing about "whether to introduce allergenic foods early or avoid them," so this item is written based on international trial evidence. Note also the timing: LEAP started from 4 months of age, whereas in China complementary foods start at full 6 months, see item 4 in this section (only breast milk for the first 6 months). For high-risk children, at what month to start and how to start—follow the doctor's advice.

Sources

Du Toit G, Roberts G, Sayre PH, et al. (2015). Randomized trial of peanut consumption in infants at risk for peanut allergy. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(9), 803-813. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1414850 ; General Office of the National Health Commission (2020). Core information for infant and young child feeding health education. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2020-08/01/content_553… ; Perkin MR et al. (2016). Randomized Trial of Introduction of Allergenic Foods in Breast-Fed Infants. New England Journal of Medicine, 374(18), 1733-1743. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1514210 (the general infant trial EAT mentioned in the notes)

Evidence levels: A, B, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 21 · 11 suggestions

Going Abroad, Travel, and Safety Overseas

[[A Guide to a High Cost-Performance Life]]

This section is about money and personal freedom, and a few items also concern personal safety. Once you are abroad, what governs you is the law of the country you are in, not China's. There is a clear line on how far Chinese embassies and consulates can help you. This section first makes that line clear.

1. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs safety reminder once before departure; do not go to places marked "Do Not Travel"

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: Extremely high
Tags: Caliber mortality rate; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs divides overseas security risks into four tiers, and the highest tier is called "Do Not Travel." Starting September 15, 2026, avoiding high-risk countries and regions was written into administrative regulations. When you apply for documents and pass through exit border checks, staff will also remind you, and when necessary will advise you not to go. Flipping through that page before departure takes just a few minutes.

Cost

No money. Open the China Consular Service website and flip through it; you can finish in a few minutes.

Benefit

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly issues overseas safety reminders by risk level. From low to high there are roughly four tiers: "Pay Attention to Safety," "Strengthen Safety Precautions," "Travel with Caution," and "Do Not Travel." The new rules effective September 15, 2026 also wrote your obligations on this side into administrative regulations. The original text is: "Chinese citizens shall pay attention to overseas safety reminders and travel destination safety risk notices, and avoid traveling to and staying in high-risk countries or regions." The new rules also require immigration management agencies (the departments that handle exit-entry documents and manage border inspection) to remind people who are going to high-risk areas when handling documents and at exit border inspection. The original text of this item is: "For Chinese citizens preparing to travel to countries or regions whose risk level is the highest level or where cases seriously endangering personal safety occur suddenly and frequently, they shall, when necessary, dissuade them from going."

Notes

Reminders change with the situation. This book does not copy the list; check that page yourself before traveling. As of September 7, 2026, the following "Do Not Travel" type reminders were still posted in that section. Eswatini (2026-08-25), Palestine (2023-10-10), Sudan (2023-04-17). Also Afghanistan (2023-02-17), Syria (2023-01-04). And Peru (2022-12-29), Somalia (2022-11-24). There are also special reminders for northern Myanmar and some provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Travel agencies also have a duty to inform. Before joining a tour group, you can ask them to explain the destination's risks in writing.

Sources

State Council (2026). Provisions on Exit and Entry Administration (State Council Order No. 841). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202607/content_7077173… (Article 2); State Council (2023). Regulations on Consular Protection and Assistance (State Council Order No. 763). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6891761… (Articles 19 and 21); Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Safety Reminders. https://cs.mfa.gov.cn/zggmzhw/lsbh/aqtx/

2. Save 12308 and the local embassy or consulate's consular protection phone number in your phone, and copy them down in your wallet too; do not wait until something happens to look for them

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Caliber freedom; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

There is just one help-seeking phone number when something happens. If you are in China, dial 12308; if you are abroad, dial +86-10-12308. Since this hotline opened, it has received more than 3 million calls. In the same period, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas missions handled more than 500,000 consular protection cases.

Cost

No money. Save two numbers, then copy them down once; a few minutes.

Benefit

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a global consular protection and service emergency hotline, answered 24 hours a day. If you are in China, dial 12308. If you are abroad, dial +86-10-12308, or +86-10-65612308. Since this hotline opened in 2014, it has cumulatively answered more than 3 million calls. In the same period, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas missions handled more than 500,000 consular protection cases of various kinds.

Notes

The local embassy or consulate also has its own consular protection phone number, usually faster than the main line. Before departure, look it up by country on the China Consular Service website and save it in your phone together with the main line number. If your phone is lost or out of battery, the saved numbers are useless. So also hand-copy a copy to keep in your wallet, or write the numbers down for a family member.

Sources

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chinese Embassy and Consulates in Myanmar (2023). Consular reminder on the current security situation in northern Myanmar. https://cs.mfa.gov.cn/zggmzhw/lsbh/aqtx/202311/t20231109_11… ; State Council Information Office (2023). State Council policy regular briefing introduces matters related to consular protection and assistance. https://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2023zccfh/11/index.htm

3. Know what consular protection can and cannot do: it can visit you, it cannot get you out, and the costs are still yours to pay

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Caliber money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

If you are arrested abroad, what the embassy or consulate can do is: verify the situation with the local authorities, demand lawful and fair handling, visit you, and attend the trial as observers. It cannot change your sentence for you, nor take the person away. Food, lodging, transportation, and medical expenses advanced by others are ultimately still paid by you. So before going abroad, prepare your money and insurance well, and do not treat "the state will cover it if something happens" as a plan.

Cost

No money. Spend a few minutes reading this line clearly.

Benefit

When you are arrested, the embassy or consulate can do several things. Verify the situation with the relevant authorities of the host country and demand lawful and fair handling. The original text of the regulations is: "visit or contact them in accordance with the laws of the host country and the international treaties concluded or jointly acceded to by our country and the host country, understand their relevant needs, and require the relevant authorities of the host country to give the Chinese citizen humanitarian treatment and fair treatment." In plain terms, it means visiting you, contacting you, asking what you need, and demanding that the local authorities treat you according to humanitarian and fair standards, in accordance with local law and treaties signed by the two countries. At trial, the embassy or consulate may attend as observers and may demand protection of your litigation rights. If you are injured or caught in a disaster, it can urge local emergency rescue and help family members handle aftermath matters. But the spending side is written just as clearly: "If Chinese citizens, legal persons, or unincorporated organizations receive food, lodging, transportation, medical care, and other materials and services provided by third parties in the course of consular protection and assistance, they shall pay the expenses that should be borne by themselves." That is, food, lodging, transportation, and medical care advanced by others are still yours to pay.

Notes

Embassies and consulates do not pay fines for you, do not pay medical bills for you, do not buy plane tickets for you, and cannot change the conclusions of the host country's courts. What they can give you is information on local lawyers, translators, medical, and funeral institutions, and they can help you contact relatives and friends and help you find relief channels. Knowing where this line is has a practical use: before going abroad, prepare your money and insurance yourself, and do not treat "the state will cover it if something happens" as a plan.

Sources

State Council (2023). Regulations on Consular Protection and Assistance (State Council Order No. 763). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6891761… (Articles 9, 10, 14, and 26)

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6891761…

4. Buy insurance that includes overseas medical care and medical evacuation; do not buy only flight delay insurance

Evidence level: C
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Caliber money; Money little; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

Medical care abroad is paid out of your own pocket. Domestic medical insurance basically does not reimburse it, and embassies and consulates do not advance it either. What can really crush a family is not outpatient fees, but hospitalization after serious injury, and transporting a person back home, which requires a chartered plane or medical escort. When buying travel insurance, mainly look at two coverage limits: overseas medical expenses, and emergency medical evacuation and repatriation.

Cost

A short-term overseas travel insurance policy costs from a few dozen to a few hundred yuan.

Benefit

Medical care abroad is paid by yourself. Domestic medical insurance basically does not reimburse overseas expenses. Consular protection also does not advance this money (see item 3, what consular protection can and cannot do, based on Article 26 of the regulations). What really crushes a family is not outpatient fees, but hospitalization and medical evacuation after serious injury. Transferring a person from an overseas hospital back home requires a chartered plane or medical escort, which is among the most expensive self-paid items. When buying insurance, prioritize two coverage limits. First, the overseas medical expense limit. Second, the emergency medical evacuation and repatriation limit, that is, the maximum amount payable for transferring hospitals and sending the person home after an incident.

Notes

TODO (to be verified: typical cost ranges for overseas medical care and medical evacuation; official or industry statistical figures are needed). Before buying, confirm three things. First, whether the country you are going to is within the coverage area. Second, whether high-risk activities such as diving, skiing, and riding motorcycles are excluded. Third, whether claims are settled directly between the insurance company and the hospital, or whether you pay first and get reimbursed after returning. Visa-free does not mean liability-free; wherever you go, you still need to buy it.

Sources

State Council (2023). Regulations on Consular Protection and Assistance (State Council Order No. 763). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6891761… (Article 26); author's experience, no direct literature

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6891761…

5. Treat all "high-paying overseas recruitment" as fraud; if you are tricked into telecom fraud, you may also be restricted from leaving the country after returning

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Caliber freedom; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Benefit large

An absurdly high monthly salary, no questions about education or experience, no formal contract, asking you to gather first in a border city, and keeping your passport for you. If you take this kind of job, neither you nor your passport is in your own hands. If your documents are falsified when leaving the country, border inspection will stop you and not let you through. If you participate in illegal or criminal activities abroad, after returning home you may also be barred from leaving the country for 6 months to 3 years.

Cost

No money. The hard part is personally turning down a job that looks very good.

Benefit

The official characterization of such cases is very direct. In recent years there have appeared cases of "being deceived into leaving the country or illegally leaving the country under fabricated reasons to engage in cross-border gambling, telecom network fraud, and other illegal activities, seriously endangering the lives and property safety of the people." That is, being tricked into going abroad, or sneaking out under a made-up reason, to engage in gambling and telecom fraud over there. The new rules tighten both ends on this point. On the exit side: "The reasons for applying to exit or enter the country and to stay or reside shall be true and lawful." If you submit false materials or lie, the immigration management agency has the right not to issue you documents and not to let you leave the country. On the return side: "If Chinese citizens engage in illegal or criminal activities abroad, endangering national security and interests, [the authorities] may... decide that they shall not be allowed to leave the country for 6 months to 3 years from the date of return." Those administratively detained for fraudulently obtaining documents or illegally exiting or entering the country are likewise barred from leaving the country for 6 months to 3 years.

Notes

The identifying features are basically fixed: monthly salary far higher than for the same position, no education or experience required, no formal contract, asking you to gather first in a border city, handling your visa for you and keeping your passport. There are already special consular reminders for northern Myanmar. If you really go, your personal freedom and passport are not in your own hands, and "you can leave whenever you want" does not hold.

Sources

State Council (2026). Provisions on Exit and Entry Administration (State Council Order No. 841). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202607/content_7077173… (Articles 3 and 4); Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Public Security, National Immigration Administration (2026). Answers to reporters' questions on the State Council Provisions on Exit and Entry Administration. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202608/content_7077270.htm

6. Overseas cash withdrawals cannot exceed 100,000 yuan per year, calculated across all cards under your name combined

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: Average
Tags: Caliber money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Benefit medium

The overseas cash withdrawal limit is not per card; it is calculated across all bank cards under your name (supplementary cards count too) combined, at 100,000 yuan per calendar year. Once you have withdrawn the full amount, you cannot withdraw cash overseas again for the rest of that year or the next year. Only cash withdrawals are stopped; card spending is unaffected, and it does not count against your annual 50,000 USD foreign exchange purchase quota.

Cost

No money. Before departure, estimate how much cash you will need for the trip, and rely on card payments for the rest. The hard part is changing habits: if you can pay by card, do not withdraw cash.

Benefit

The basis is the State Administration of Foreign Exchange's "Notice on Regulating Large-Value Overseas Cash Withdrawals with Bank Cards" (Hui Fa [2017] No. 29, effective January 1, 2018). Article 1: "When an individual uses a domestic bank card to withdraw cash overseas, the bank cards under the person's name (including supplementary cards) shall not exceed the equivalent of 100,000 yuan per calendar year in total. If the annual limit is exceeded, the person will be suspended from using domestic bank cards to withdraw cash overseas for the current year and the following year." Paragraph 2 of the same article: "Individuals shall not evade or assist in evading overseas cash withdrawal management by borrowing another person's bank card or lending out their own bank card." Article 2: The foreign exchange bureau sends the suspension list to card-issuing banks every day, and card-issuing banks shall suspend overseas cash withdrawals using the bank's cards by persons on the list no later than 17:00 Beijing time that day. Article 3: Persons placed on the suspension list may take their valid identity documents to a branch of the foreign exchange bureau to check their overseas cash withdrawal details. Article 4: The per-card daily upper limit for foreign currency cards was adjusted from the equivalent of 1,000 USD to the equivalent of 10,000 yuan; RMB cards remain at no more than the equivalent of 10,000 yuan per card per day. Article 6: If card-issuing banks, domestic RMB card clearing organizations, and individuals violate this notice, they shall be punished according to the relevant provisions of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Foreign Exchange Administration. The foreign exchange bureau's answers to reporters also clarified several points. The Notice does not affect individuals using cards for overseas consumption. Current-account transactions involved in outbound tourism, business, and study abroad, such as food, lodging, transportation, and shopping, can all be paid by bank card. These expenditures also do not occupy the individual's annual 50,000 USD foreign exchange purchase facilitation quota. The annual limit is calculated by the foreign exchange bureau by aggregating data from card-issuing financial institutions; because real-time control would slow transaction response, "the foreign exchange bureau adopts delayed control measures," that is, it does not intercept on the spot. According to another statistic, in 2016, 81% of domestic bank card overseas cash withdrawals were below 30,000 yuan (nationwide).

Notes

The limit is calculated by calendar year and starts accumulating again on January 1. Only overseas cash withdrawals are stopped; card spending is unaffected. If you really need to use large amounts of cash overseas, first purchase foreign exchange according to the Measures for the Administration of Individual Foreign Exchange, then carry foreign currency cash out of the country. Cash withdrawal itself has two pitfalls, as stated on UnionPay International's "Overseas ATM Withdrawals" page. First, dual-branded cards at some ATMs in some countries cannot select the UnionPay channel for withdrawal. Second, some overseas ATMs display a notice on screen about an additional fee (surcharge), which is collected by the local acquiring institution and is "unrelated to UnionPay." The same page also reminds that "because credit card withdrawals require payment of overdraft interest, cardholders are advised to use UnionPay debit cards for overseas withdrawals." What to do if a card is lost, swallowed, or fraudulently charged, see Section 14, item 5 (if a card is fraudulently charged, first report the loss and freeze it, then call the police).

Sources

State Administration of Foreign Exchange (2017). Notice on Regulating Large-Value Overseas Cash Withdrawals with Bank Cards (Hui Fa [2017] No. 29, Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7, effective January 1, 2018). https://www.safe.gov.cn/safe/2017/1230/21873.html ; State Administration of Foreign Exchange (2017). Relevant person in charge of the foreign exchange bureau answers reporters' questions on regulating large-value overseas cash withdrawals with bank cards. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2017-12/31/content_5251958.htm ; China UnionPay International. Overseas ATM Withdrawals. https://m.unionpayintl.com/wap/cn/serviceCenter/cardUsingIn…

7. Photograph your passport, visa, and ID card and save a copy in the cloud; if lost, first call the police, then apply for a travel document

Evidence level: C
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Caliber money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

If your passport is lost, the embassy or consulate can issue you a travel document for returning home. The premise is that you can prove who you are. If you have photos of the data page and visa page and your exit-entry records, reissuance is much faster. You also need to first call the local police and get a receipt; exit inspection and insurance claims both recognize this paper. Phones are often lost together with passports, so do not store the photos only on your phone.

Cost

No money. Take a few photos before departure.

Benefit

If your passport is lost, the overseas embassy or consulate can issue you a travel document for returning home, but you first need to prove your identity. If you have clear photos of the passport data page, visa page, and exit-entry records, the speed of reissuance differs greatly. At the same time, you need to first call the local police and get a police report receipt. Exit inspection and insurance claims in many countries require this material. The entry point for finding the embassy or consulate is the two consular protection phone numbers saved in item 2.

Notes

The way to store them is to put the photos in two different places after taking them, such as one copy in cloud storage and one sent to a family member. Also print a paper copy and keep it separate from the original. Photograph bank cards and prescriptions for commonly used medicines as well. Phones and passports are usually lost together; storing them only on the phone is the same as not storing them.

Sources

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6891761…

8. Before driving abroad, first confirm whether the local area recognizes a Chinese driver's license; most "international driver's licenses" sold online are waste paper

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: Extremely high
Tags: Caliber freedom; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

An "international driver's license" handled online does not hold in mainland China. That certificate is a translation recognized among parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention, and mainland China is not among the 103 contracting parties. So no matter who handles it for you domestically, it has no legal effect. Whether you can drive with a Chinese driver's license depends on the destination's own rules; if you have not confirmed clearly, do not drive.

Cost

No money. Check the destination's rules once before departure.

Benefit

The so-called "international driver's license" (IDP) is a translation mutually recognized among contracting states to the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic. This convention was concluded in Geneva on September 19, 1949, and entered into force on March 26, 1952. There are currently 103 contracting parties, that is, countries and regions that signed this convention. Mainland China is not on this list. Therefore China does not issue this kind of international driver's license. Any institution "handling an international driver's license" domestically does not produce legal effect. Whether you can drive with a Chinese driver's license depends on the destination country or region's own rules: some recognize a Chinese driver's license plus a notarized translation, some require exchanging it for a local driver's license, and some do not recognize it at all.

Notes

In most countries, driving without a license is a criminal offense, or carries heavy fines. And if something happens, insurance will most likely refuse to pay; this is the real cost. There are two ways to check: find the destination country's "Information for Chinese Citizens" on the China Consular Service website, or directly ask the car rental company for written confirmation. Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and some countries have separate arrangements.

Sources

United Nations Treaty Collection. Convention on Road Traffic, Geneva, 19 September 1949 — status of treaties. https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetailsV.aspx?src=TREATY&…

https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetailsV.aspx?src=TREATY&…

9. When using an agency for visas, study abroad, or immigration, first ask whether it has filed with the immigration management agency

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Caliber freedom; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

Starting September 15, 2026, agencies handling visas, study abroad, and immigration must file with the immigration management agency. Phrases like "guaranteed approval," "guaranteed visa," and "we will make the materials for you" are themselves explicitly prohibited. If you fill out the form yourself and make a mistake, at most you are refused a visa this time. If false materials are used and you are determined to have committed fraud, the stain will remain in your future exit-entry records.

Cost

No money. Ask one more question about whether it has filed, and keep the written materials well.

Benefit

In 2018, the access permit for private exit-entry intermediary agencies was abolished, meaning such agencies no longer had to obtain approval documents first to open. Since then the number of agencies grew rapidly, and problems also appeared: "the number of agencies is unclear, some agencies handle business illegally and in violation of regulations, harming the lawful rights and interests of exit-entry personnel." Officials could not even count how many there were. Starting September 15, 2026, such agencies switched to filing management. Agencies shall report to the local immigration management agency within 15 days from the date of establishment. Those already operating before must complete supplementary filing within 90 days from the effective date. The explicitly prohibited acts include the following. First, "publishing false information, or soliciting clients through exaggerated publicity, misleading publicity, and other means." Second, "providing or assisting in providing false materials, assisting others in illegally handling visas, stay and residence permits, passports, and other exit-entry documents or procedures." Third, "leaking, selling, or illegally providing... personal privacy or personal information." Fourth, "organizing or assisting others in engaging in cross-border illegal and criminal activities." Overseas enterprises and institutions may not provide such intermediary services within China.

Notes

Agencies that keep saying "guaranteed approval," "guaranteed visa," and "we will make the materials for you" are doing things that are already explicitly prohibited. Once discovered, it is your visa record that gets stained. If you fill out the application yourself and a problem arises, at most you are refused a visa this time. If false materials are used and you are determined to have committed fraud, the consequences are much heavier. Policy consultation and information inquiries that are not for profit do not count as intermediary services.

Sources

State Council (2026). Provisions on Exit and Entry Administration (State Council Order No. 841). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202607/content_7077173… (Articles 7, 8, 10, 12, and 13)

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202607/content_7077173…

10. Do not issue invitation letters for strangers, and do not let others use your name to handle exit-entry procedures

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope of application Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance Some; Benefit Medium

If you issue an invitation letter or application materials for someone else and the content is false, the person who issues it is punished. Individuals are fined 5,000 to 10,000 yuan, and any illegal gains are confiscated as well. Units are fined 10,000 to 50,000 yuan, and the person handling it is additionally fined 5,000 to 10,000 yuan. One favor costs you this money out of your own pocket.

Cost

No money spent. The hard part is turning down a favor to someone's face.

Benefit

The person who issues an invitation letter is responsible for whether the content is true. The original text says: "If an individual issues a false invitation letter or other application materials for another person's application to exit or enter the country, or to stay or reside, the immigration management agency shall impose a fine of not less than 5,000 yuan but not more than 10,000 yuan; if there are illegal gains, the illegal gains shall be confiscated." If a unit issues false materials, the fine is not less than 10,000 yuan but not more than 50,000 yuan. At the same time, the directly responsible managers in charge and other directly responsible personnel, that is, the leaders overseeing this matter and the person handling it, are additionally fined not less than 5,000 yuan but not more than 10,000 yuan.

Notes

This is the same type of risk as Section 8, "Do not carry things for strangers": your signature is on it, your seal is on it, you are the guarantor, and the consequences fall on you. If public officials and military personnel want to illegally obtain foreign nationality or overseas residence qualifications through intermediaries, the intermediaries not only cannot handle it, but must also report it to the supervisory agency.

Source

State Council (2026). Provisions on Exit-Entry Administration (State Council Order No. 841). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202607/content_7077173… (Articles 3 and 11)

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202607/content_7077173…

11. Before going abroad, send your itinerary, accommodation, and companions to a family member, and agree on how often to keep in contact

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope of application Mortality rate; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Medium

If a person goes missing abroad, family members can seek help from overseas missions. They will tell the family how to report it to the local police and other channels for assistance. After the local case is filed, the embassy or consulate will follow up and urge action. Whether this chain can be started depends on whether anyone in China knows where you should be and when you should make contact. The flight number, address, companions' phone numbers, and agreed contact frequency only need to be sent to one person.

Cost

No money spent. Send one message before departure.

Benefit

When a Chinese citizen's whereabouts abroad are unknown, relatives can seek help from overseas diplomatic missions. The original text of the regulation says: "Overseas diplomatic missions shall provide information on local reporting methods and other access to assistance." After the local police file the case, the embassy or consulate will urge them to handle it promptly. Whether this chain can start turning depends on whether anyone in China knows where you should have been and when you should have made contact.

Notes

Writing down four things is enough: flight number, accommodation address, companions' names and phone numbers, and the agreed contact frequency. If you are going to a place with poor signal or poor public security, then also make clear the sentence "report to the police if there is no news for how long." This item costs almost nothing, but whether all the assistance procedures above can begin depends on it first.

Source

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6891761…

Evidence levels: A, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 22 · 11 suggestions

How to Relax: Entertainment Venues and Stress Reduction

[[A Guide to a Cost-Effective Life]]

This section is split in two. The first half covers entertainment venues: which spending is a trap, and where the safe exits are. The framing for this half is money and personal freedom. The second half covers how to reduce stress; the framing is energy and all-cause mortality. The numbers from the two halves are not converted against each other. Section 3 already covered which few things to do first when you're feeling down; what's here is more specific methods.

1. Before entering a KTV, bar, or escape room, first check where the safe exits are; if they're locked or blocked, go somewhere else

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Framing mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

By regulation, while an entertainment venue is operating, evacuation routes and safe exits must be unobstructed. Blocking them is not allowed, locking them is not allowed, placing objects to block the way is not allowed, and covering the indicator signs is not allowed. Internet cafes are likewise not allowed to seal doors or lock windows. Failure to comply is illegal, and you can report it. If the private room is underground, has only one exit, or the corridor is piled with clutter, go somewhere else.

Cost

Costs no money. Look up for 10 seconds when you walk in.

Benefit

This is the operator's legal obligation. Failure to comply is illegal, and you can report it. The original text of the regulation: "During business hours, entertainment venues shall ensure that evacuation routes and safe exits are unobstructed, shall not block or lock evacuation routes and safe exits, and shall not set up fences or other obstacles affecting evacuation at evacuation routes and safe exits." The regulation also requires that "obvious indicator signs shall be set up at evacuation routes and safe exits, and the indicator signs shall not be obscured or covered." Internet cafes are the same, required to "prohibit sealing or locking doors and windows, safe evacuation routes, and safe exits during business hours," and to "prohibit open-flame lighting and smoking."

Notes

If any one of the following applies, go somewhere else: the private room is underground, there is only one exit, the corridor is piled with clutter, the indicator light on the safe exit is not lit. When this kind of venue catches fire, there is heavy smoke, narrow corridors, many people, and most people have been drinking. The time you have to escape is measured in seconds. The reporting phone number should, per the regulation, be posted on the warning signs inside the venue.

Sources

State Council (2006). Regulation on the Administration of Entertainment Venues (State Council Order No. 458, Articles 20 and 21). http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2008-03/28/content_6297… ; State Council (2002). Regulation on the Administration of Internet Access Service Business Venues (State Council Order No. 363, Article 21). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2002/content_61788.htm

2. Ask for the price list before ordering; entertainment venues must mark prices clearly, and "play first, settle later" is not acceptable

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Framing money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

By regulation, entertainment venues selling services and goods must mark prices clearly, and must proactively show you the price list. So-called "sky-high priced drinks" almost always occur in situations where the price list was never seen and the bill was settled afterward based on a verbal quote. When you enter a private room, first ask for the list and take a photo. After ordering, ask for a confirmation list. If there's a dispute at checkout, call 12315 on the spot.

Cost

Costs no money. Open your mouth once to ask for the list. The hard part is asking about prices in front of people; it feels a bit awkward.

Benefit

The original text of the regulation: "Entertainment venues providing entertainment service items and selling goods shall mark prices clearly and show consumers the price list; they shall not force or deceive consumers into accepting services or purchasing goods." Those who violate price laws and regulations shall be punished by the relevant departments according to law. The vast majority of so-called "sky-high priced drinks" disputes occur in this kind of situation: no price list was shown, and the bill was settled afterward based on a verbal quote.

Notes

How to do it: when you enter a private room, first ask for a price list, paper or electronic, and take a photo as soon as you get it. After ordering, ask for a confirmed list. For "special cocktails" or "fruit platters" recommended by the waiter, always ask the price before ordering. If there's a dispute at checkout, call 12315 on the spot. Don't pay first and then seek to defend your rights; once you've paid, it's much harder to prove your case.

Sources

State Council (2006). Regulation on the Administration of Entertainment Venues (State Council Order No. 458, Articles 29 and 53). http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2008-03/28/content_6297…

http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2008-03/28/content_6297…

3. If someone in the venue hands you "something," leave immediately; harboring and providing are not "helping a friend"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Framing freedom; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

Entertainment venues are not allowed to traffic drugs, not allowed to provide drugs, and not allowed to let people use them inside; violators shall be suspended for rectification for 3 to 6 months, and in serious cases have their license revoked. On the individual side it's even heavier: using drugs yourself is subject to public security punishment. Letting people "use a bit" in a private room or residence you booked yourself constitutes harboring others' drug use, which is a criminal offense. If someone pulls out unidentified powder, tablets, or vape pods and invites you to try, leave on the spot.

Cost

Costs no money. Stand up and walk out. The hard part is leaving the table in front of everyone.

Benefit

The regulation explicitly prohibits entertainment venues from "trafficking in or providing drugs, or organizing, forcing, instigating, luring, deceiving, or harboring others to smoke or inject drugs." Employees also may not use drugs, nor provide conditions for customers to do the above. Violators shall have their illegal gains and illegal property confiscated by the public security department, and be ordered to suspend business for rectification for 3 to 6 months. In serious cases, the entertainment business license shall be revoked. The regulation also requires venues to hang warning signs prohibiting drugs, gambling, and prostitution in prominent locations in the lobby, private rooms, and compartments, and to note the reporting phone number.

Notes

As long as someone pulls out unidentified powder, tablets, or e-cigarette pods and invites you to "try it," leave on the spot; don't stay to watch the excitement. The risk on the individual side is heavier than for the venue. Using drugs yourself is itself subject to public security punishment. "Letting a friend use it here" in a private room you booked or at your own residence constitutes harboring others' drug use, which is a criminal offense.

Sources

State Council (2006). Regulation on the Administration of Entertainment Venues (State Council Order No. 458, Articles 14, 30, and 42). http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2008-03/28/content_6297…

http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2008-03/28/content_6297…

4. Don't eat candy or snacks given by strangers, don't drink beverages that have left your sight, and don't accept vape pods handed to you by others

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Framing freedom; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

Today's drugs don't look like drugs. "Head-high" e-cigarettes mixed with synthetic cannabinoids can have their color and flavor adjusted, and look about the same as ordinary e-cigarettes; they're specifically handed out for people to try in bars, KTVs, and hotels. Those who deceive people into using them are detained for 10 to 15 days and fined 1,000 to 5,000 yuan. Those who are tricked into using them are themselves also detained for 10 to 15 days. If a beverage has left your sight, get a new cup.

Cost

Costs no money. Don't accept anything handed to you by others. If your own cup has left your sight, get a new cup.

Benefit

Today's drugs don't look like drugs. Synthetic cannabinoid substances have been listed for control as an entire category since July 1, 2021, meaning this whole broad category is controlled as drugs as a whole. Some people mix it into vape oil to make "head-high" e-cigarettes. In cases reported by the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the case handlers' description was: this vape oil "can be made into various colors and various flavors by adding food coloring," and "is basically identical in appearance to ordinary e-cigarettes." Sellers promote it in bars, KTVs, and hotels, calling friends together, inducing others to use it. In the report, among the drug-use cases handled locally that year, underage users accounted for nearly 40 percent. Etomidate has been listed in the Category II psychotropic drug catalog since October 1, 2023. Deceiving people into using drugs is itself one tier of illegality: those who lure, instigate, deceive, or force others to smoke or inject drugs are detained for 10 to 15 days and fined 1,000 to 5,000 yuan. If it constitutes a crime, the sentence is up to 3 years; if the circumstances are serious, 3 to 7 years; if forced, 3 to 10 years; and targeting minors is given a heavier punishment. The consequences also fall on the person who was deceived: those who smoke or inject drugs are detained for 10 to 15 days and may be fined up to 3,000 yuan. If the circumstances are relatively minor, detention of up to 5 days or a fine of up to 1,000 yuan. They may also be ordered at the same time not to enter entertainment venues for 6 months to 1 year. Those addicted are ordered to community drug rehabilitation for 3 years. Those who refuse community drug rehabilitation, or use again during rehabilitation, are subject to compulsory isolated drug rehabilitation for 2 years, which may be extended by up to 1 more year (nationwide, Public Security Administration Punishments Law from January 2026).

Notes

This item is not only useful in entertainment venues. It applies equally at school gates, friend gatherings, and on long-distance buses. Whether what's given is candy, a beverage, or a vape pod, it's all the same. Being drugged is often followed by robbery, sexual assault, and extortion; there are no public official statistics for this part, and it is a judgment from experience. If a beverage has left your sight, just get a new cup; it's far less trouble than pursuing the matter afterward. For what to do when someone in the venue pulls out unidentified powder, tablets, or vape pods, see item 3 of this section. For carrying things for others, see item 29 of section 8.

Sources

Supreme People's Procuratorate (2021). Wujiang District, Suzhou, Jiangsu: Case-handling prosecutors reveal new types of drugs dressed in trendy outerwear. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/zdgz/202110/t20211011_531831.shtml ; National Medical Products Administration, Ministry of Public Security, National Health Commission (2023). Announcement on Adjusting the Catalog of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Drugs (2023 No. 120). https://yjj.sh.gov.cn/qtgzwj/20230911/3b612c94e35b4b63abba3… (reposted by Shanghai Medical Products Administration; the original page nmpa.gov.cn returned 412 on this machine); Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision, Articles 84 and 85). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml ; National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Article 353). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2007). Anti-Drug Law (Articles 33, 38, and 47). http://www.gd.gov.cn/zwgk/wjk/zcfgk/content/post_2520706.html (reposted by the Guangdong Provincial People's Government)

5. Use your own ID card when going online at an internet cafe; don't borrow a card and don't use someone else's

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Framing freedom; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

By regulation, internet cafes must verify and register the ID cards of people going online, and must also record the internet access information, keeping it for no less than 60 days. Public security and cultural departments can retrieve it at any time. During this period the internet cafe cannot alter or delete it. Whose card is used to go online, whatever is done on that machine during that time is recorded under whose name.

Cost

Costs no money.

Benefit

The original text of the regulation: "Internet access service business units shall verify and register the ID cards and other valid documents of internet consumers, and record relevant internet access information. The registration content and record backups shall be kept for no less than 60 days." When cultural administrative departments and public security organs query according to law, the internet cafe must provide them. During the retention period they may not be modified or deleted. That is to say, whose card is used to go online, whatever is done on that machine during that time is recorded under whose name.

Notes

This is the same red line as "don't lend your ID card" in section 9, just in a different scenario. Internet cafes are not allowed to receive minors, and a sign prohibiting minors from entering must be hung in a prominent place at the entrance. Song-and-dance entertainment venues likewise do not receive minors. If you help a minor "swipe a card to get into an internet cafe," the internet cafe is the one punished, but the record stays on your ID.

Sources

State Council (2002). Regulation on the Administration of Internet Access Service Business Venues (State Council Order No. 363, Article 23). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2002/content_61788.htm

http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2002/content_61788.htm

6. Don't go to script murder or escape rooms located in residential buildings or below the second basement level

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Framing mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

A 2022 notice from five departments states clearly that script entertainment venues may not be located inside residential buildings, nor below the first basement level. This kind of venue is dark, has many partitions, has flammable props, and the doors often require solving a puzzle to open. Once a fire starts, it is far harder to escape than an ordinary shop. Before booking, take a look at the address and floor on the review page; if it doesn't comply, go somewhere else.

Cost

Costs no money. Before booking, ask what floor the address is on.

Benefit

The dedicated 2022 notice from five departments is very specific: "Script entertainment business venues shall not be located inside residential buildings, below the first basement level of a building (not including the first basement level), or in similar places." The notice also requires venues to implement the requirements of the Work Safety Law and the Fire Protection Law, "routinely carry out fire risk self-knowledge, self-inspection, and self-correction, and improve the ability to organize evacuation and escape and to fight incipient fires under emergency situations." The same notice also requires scripts to have age-appropriate notices. If a scenario is not suitable for minors, minors must not be allowed to enter. Apart from statutory holidays, rest days, and winter and summer vacations, script entertainment activities must not be provided to minors.

Notes

The characteristics of this kind of venue are darkness, many partitions, flammable props, and doors that often require "solving a puzzle" to open. Once a fire starts, it is harder to escape than an ordinary shop. Before booking, you can tell the floor from the review page, and also tell whether it's a residential building. If it doesn't comply, just go somewhere else.

Sources

Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry of Emergency Management, State Administration for Market Regulation (2022). Notice on Strengthening the Management of Script Entertainment Business Venues. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-06/27/content_569…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-06/27/content_569…

7. When you're in a bad mood, go walk or run; the effect size of the antidepressant effect is proportional to intensity

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Framing mortality; Money 0; Time medium; Willpower yes; Benefit large

Pooling 218 randomized trials and more than 14,000 people with major depression. The most obvious improvement was from brisk walking or jogging. Next were yoga, strength training, mixed aerobic exercise, and tai chi or qigong; the gaps among these were not large. The higher the intensity set, the better the effect; strength training and yoga were the easiest to stick with. The authors themselves say the quality of evidence is low; the usable direction is that moving is better than not moving, and to choose the kind you can stick with.

Cost

Costs no money. Around half an hour each time. The hard part is that when your mood is bad you least want to move, and you have to push yourself.

Benefit

This is the result of pooling 218 randomized controlled trials. It involved 495 groups and 14,170 participants meeting clinical criteria for major depression. The method let the various exercises be compared against one another (Bayesian network meta-analysis). The comparators were usual care and placebo tablets (active control). Effect size is expressed as Hedges' g; the more negative the number, the more the symptoms improved. Brisk walking or jogging −0.62 (95% credible interval −0.80 to −0.45, meaning the true value roughly falls in this range). Yoga −0.55 (−0.73 to −0.36). Strength training −0.49 (−0.69 to −0.29). Mixed aerobic exercise −0.43 (−0.61 to −0.24). Tai chi or qigong −0.42 (−0.65 to −0.21). The original text says "the effect of exercise is proportional to the intensity prescribed," that is, the higher the intensity set, the better the effect. Strength training and yoga had the best acceptability, that is, were the easiest to stick with.

Notes

Controversy. The authors themselves state that of the 218 studies, only 1 was clean enough and not easily biased by design. By the common scoring method, brisk walking and jogging count only as "low" confidence, and the rest as "very low." Exercise also can't be hidden from participants; people know they're exercising, so they tend to feel a bit better, and this expectation can't be removed. The direction of the conclusion is still usable: moving is better than not moving, don't set the intensity too low, and choose the kind you can stick with. This is an expansion of "when you're feeling down, first get moving" in section 3, and cannot replace standard treatment after diagnosis.

Sources

Noetel M, Sanders T, Gallardo-Gómez D, et al. (2024). Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ, 384, e075847. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-075847

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-075847

8. When anxiety affects your life, a mindfulness-based stress reduction course is non-inferior to commonly used anti-anxiety medication

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Framing mortality; Money little; Time much; Willpower yes; Benefit large

276 adults diagnosed with anxiety disorders were randomly divided into two groups. One group took an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course, and one group took escitalopram. At the end, the symptom improvement in the two groups was almost the same. The difference was in side effects: nearly 80 percent of the medication group had at least one adverse reaction, and 10 people withdrew because of it. About 15 percent in the course group, and no one withdrew because of it. What was used was a standardized 8-week course, which is not the same as any random meditation app.

Cost

Taking the course costs a little money. The course is 8 weeks, with one class per week, plus daily practice at home. The hard part is practicing every day for 8 weeks straight.

Benefit

This was a trial conducted at 3 urban academic medical centers in the United States, with the aim of seeing whether taking the course would be worse than taking medication (non-inferiority randomized controlled trial). 276 adults diagnosed with anxiety disorders were randomly assigned 1:1, that is, split in half. One group took an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course. One group took escitalopram (flexible dose of 10 to 20 mg). 208 people completed the full course. At the end, by the clinician-rated anxiety severity score (Clinical Global Impression Severity scale), the mindfulness group decreased by 1.35 and the medication group by 1.43. The difference between the two groups was −0.07 (95% CI −0.38 to 0.23, meaning the true difference roughly falls in this range; P=0.65, meaning this difference is indistinguishable from no difference). The lower bound of this interval did not cross the pre-drawn "not worse" line (non-inferiority margin −0.495). The difference in side effects was large: 78.6% of the medication group had at least one adverse reaction related to the trial, and 10 people withdrew because of it. The mindfulness group was 15.4%, and no one withdrew because of it.

Notes

The trial used a standardized 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course (MBSR), not any random meditation app; the two cannot be equated. This item is aimed at people who already meet the diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders; if you should see a doctor, you still should. Its practical use is this: if you have been putting off treatment because of concerns about medication side effects, then there is another option with comparable strength of evidence.

Sources

Hoge EA, Bui E, Mete M, Dutton MA, Baker AW, Simon NM (2023). Mindfulness-based stress reduction vs escitalopram for the treatment of adults with anxiety disorders: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 80(1), 13-21. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.3679

https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.3679

9. To feel relief on the spot, use 5 minutes of "cyclic sighing": inhale in two parts, lengthen the exhale

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Framing mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

In a controlled trial of 5 minutes a day for one month, all three breathing exercises improved mood more than mindfulness meditation of the same duration, and also lowered breathing rate more. Among them, "cyclic sighing," which lengthens the exhale, was the best. The method is to inhale through the nose, then take a small extra inhale to fill the lungs, then exhale slowly and completely through the mouth. There is only this one trial, and the results are self-reported, but the cost is zero.

Cost

Costs no money. 5 minutes a day.

Benefit

This was an at-home, randomized controlled trial comparing three 5-minute daily breathing exercises with mindfulness meditation of the same duration, lasting 1 month. The three breathing methods were: cyclic sighing (emphasizing prolonged exhalation), box breathing (equal inhale, hold, exhale), and cyclic hyperventilation with retention (long inhale, short exhale). Pooling each person's data across sessions (mixed-effects model), the breathing exercises were all better than mindfulness meditation, especially exhale-focused cyclic sighing. It was better on both mood improvement (P<0.05, meaning this difference is unlikely to be a chance result) and reduction in breathing rate (P<0.05).

Notes

The method is to inhale through the nose, briefly take a small extra inhale to fill the lungs, then exhale slowly and long through the mouth until empty, repeating for 5 minutes. There is only this one trial, done at home, with whether it worked reported by the participants themselves on questionnaires, and the number of people was not large. The effect is "slightly better than meditation," not "solves the problem." But the cost is zero, it takes 5 minutes, and it can be done anytime, anywhere, so cost-effectiveness is high.

Sources

Balban MY, Neri E, Kogon MM, et al. (2023). Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood and reduce physiological arousal. Cell Reports Medicine, 4(1), 100895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100895

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100895

10. Treat "regularly meeting people" as a health expense, not just something you do when you're in a bad mood

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Measure mortality; Money low; Time medium; Willpower some; Benefit large

70 studies, 3.4 million people, average follow-up of 7 years: people who are socially isolated have about a 30% higher probability of dying during the same period than those who are not isolated. Those who feel lonely have about a 25% higher probability, and those living alone about 30% higher. The three are of comparable magnitude, and this is more pronounced in people under 65. These are all observational data, and the reverse explanation—"people who are already in poor health are more likely to live alone"—cannot be eliminated.

Cost

Costs a bit of money, plus the time to meet up. The hard part is actively arranging to meet people even when you're in a good mood.

Benefit

This is the result of pooling 70 studies that first recorded circumstances and then followed up over time (a meta-analysis), with a total of 3.4 million participants and an average follow-up of 7 years. Social isolation, loneliness, and living alone were all associated with increased mortality. After subtracting confounders such as age and physical condition, the weighted average odds ratios were: social isolation 1.29, loneliness 1.26, living alone 1.32. That is, the probability of dying during the same period was about 30%, about 25%, and about 30% higher, respectively. The effect sizes of the three are similar, and they are larger in people under 65 than in older people

Notes

Controversial. These are all associations observed by following populations, not randomized controlled trials, so cause and effect cannot be separated. People who are already in poor health are more likely to live alone and have less social contact. The authors regard social relationships as a health factor on the same order as smoking and obesity, but there is no randomized trial proving that "increasing social contact can lower mortality." This does not conflict with Section 3, "Reduce the relationships that drain you": that one is about cutting out relationships that drain you, while this one is about keeping the few that recharge you

Source

Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, Stephenson D (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 227-237. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614568352

https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614568352

11. If you live near green space, use it more—walking, strolling, or just sitting all count

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Measure mortality; Money 0; Time low; Willpower no; Benefit small

9 studies, 7 countries, 8.32 million people: for every 0.1 increase in the vegetation index of greenery within 500 meters of the residence, the probability of dying during the same period is about 4% lower. What is measured is the greenery around the residence, not the number of times you go to a park. People who live in greener areas also tend to be wealthier and have better air. So don't read it as "going to a park can extend your life"; the usable part is factoring nearby green space into your choice of residence.

Cost

Costs no money. You do it along the way.

Benefit

This is the result of pooling 9 studies that followed populations for many years (a meta-analysis of cohort studies), covering 7 countries and 8.32 million people. It looked at the degree of greenery within 500 meters of the residence, measured by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI, a number that converts ground greenery into a value). For every 0.1 increase in the index, the pooled risk ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.96 (95% CI 0.94–0.97). That is, the probability of dying during the same period was about 4% lower, with the true value roughly falling in the range of 3% to 6% lower. Of the 9 studies, 7 found that the greener the area, the lower the mortality, and the difference was unlikely to be coincidental. The other 2 found no association

Notes

Controversial. The results of the studies vary widely (I²=95%; the larger this number, the more they disagree with one another). Moreover, it measures the degree of greenery around the place of residence, not "the number of times you go to a park." People who live in greener places also tend to be wealthier, have better air, and exercise more, and it is impossible to separate which of these is doing the work from the greenery. Don't read it as "going to a park can extend your life"; the usable part is factoring green space into your choice of residence, at zero cost. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is a number that converts the degree of ground greenery into a value: bare ground and concrete are close to 0, and dense vegetation is close to 1. So "0.1" is roughly the difference between moving from a bare block to a block with rows of street trees

Source

Rojas-Rueda D, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Gascon M, Perez-Leon D, Mudu P (2019). Green spaces and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. The Lancet Planetary Health, 3(11), e469-e477. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(19)30215-3

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(19)30215-330215-3)

Evidence levels: A, B · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 23 · 23 suggestions

What Skills Are Worth Learning

[[High-Value Life Guide]]

This section calculates money and time; item 2 separately calculates mortality. The first six items answer one question: should you keep studying. Item 1 first explains which options the law has crossed out. Item 2 calculates the relationship between schooling and lifespan. Item 3 looks at where the nation's education levels fall. Item 4 explains what financial aid is available when you can't afford it. Item 5 explains what paths remain if you didn't get into regular high school. Item 6 turns "study or work" into a problem and gives a method to calculate it yourself. The next seven items answer another question: once you've decided to learn something, how to choose. China's wage statistics broken down by occupation type are hard to verify item by item from public official channels. So here we only write the few things with traceable sources: roughly how much more you earn per additional year of schooling (also called the return to education), how to verify whether a certificate is legal, where training subsidies come from, and which dimension to look at when choosing a skill so it's less easily replaced. This book does not give numbers for how much a specific occupation earns per month. Items 14 to 19 answer a third question: once you've settled on what to learn, how to learn it in a way that saves time. These six items calculate time, not money, and the two are not converted into each other. Items 20 to 23 answer a fourth question: if you're already doing professional technical work, where to apply for a professional title, how to take the exam, what pitfalls to avoid, and how much it's worth once you get it.

1. Under 16, "go work" isn't an option: any employer that hires you is fined 5,000 yuan per month, and only illegal employers will take you

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

Junior high graduation is generally at 15 to 16, right on this line. Under 16, an employer hiring you is breaking the law, fined 5,000 yuan per month for each child laborer used. So anyone willing to take you is an employer that knows it's illegal and dares to do it anyway. If something really happens, medical fees and compensation can only be claimed from this employer; if it defaults or runs away, no one else will cover for it.

Cost

Costs nothing. Spend one minute calculating how old you are.

Benefit

Article 11 of the Compulsory Education Law: "Parents or other legal guardians of children who have reached the age of six shall send them to school to receive and complete compulsory education." Article 14: "Employers are prohibited from recruiting school-age children and adolescents who should be receiving compulsory education." Article 58: those who, without justified reason, fail to send school-age children and adolescents to school in accordance with this Law shall be "given criticism and education, and ordered to make corrections within a time limit" by the local township government or the education administrative department of the county-level government. Article 2 of the Regulations on Prohibiting the Use of Child Labor: state organs, social organizations, enterprises and institutions, private non-enterprise units, or individual industrial and commercial households "shall not recruit minors under the age of 16." Article 6: "A penalty shall be given at the standard of a fine of 5,000 yuan per month for each child laborer used"; those who fail to correct within the time limit are fined 10,000 yuan per person per month. Article 7: those who introduce child laborers to employment "shall be fined 5,000 yuan for each person introduced." Article 10: if a child laborer becomes ill or injured, the employer "shall be responsible for sending them to a medical institution for treatment, and shall bear all medical and living expenses during the treatment period"; in cases of disability or death, a one-time compensation is also required. Article 13 leaves only one exception: literary and artistic, and sports units may, with the consent of parents or other legal guardians, recruit professional literary and artistic workers and athletes under the age of 16 (nationwide)

Notes

The beneficiary is yourself. Working after turning 16 is legal. But the positions willing to take a 16-year-old with no education are exactly the category discussed in item 10 of this section (choosing skills resistant to automation): fixed processes, most easily replaced by machines. The overtime pay, annual leave, and work injury benefits discussed in section 19 all presuppose an employment relationship and evidence. Illegal work has neither, so that money can't be obtained either

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Compulsory Education Law (second amendment in 2018, Articles 11, 14, 58). http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_sjzl/sjzl_zcfg/zcfg_jyfl/202110/t… (published by the Ministry of Education); State Council (2002). Regulations on Prohibiting the Use of Child Labor (State Council Order No. 364, Articles 2, 6, 7, 10, 13). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2002/content_61798.htm

2. Put "is studying useful" into the mortality ledger too: each additional year of education lowers adult mortality risk by about 1.9%

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time much; Perseverance yes; Benefit large

Combining 59 countries and 603 studies, each additional year of schooling lowers adult mortality risk by about 1.9% on average. The 18 to 49 age range is most pronounced, at about 2.9% lower per additional year. For those over 70, only 0.8% lower. In other words, what differs between studying through high school and only through junior high isn't just wages.

Cost

Costs nothing. What it costs is the time and energy of those extra years of study; for the tuition portion, see item 4 of this section (vocational school tuition and grants). The difficulty is having to keep studying without giving up in the middle.

Benefit

Previous studies were gathered and combined for calculation (systematic review and meta-analysis). The search range was January 1980 to May 2023, ultimately including 603 studies, 59 countries, 70 locations, and 10,355 observations. Education and adult mortality (death from all causes combined) show a dose-response relationship, meaning the more you study, the more it decreases. Each additional year of education lowers mortality risk by an average of 1.9% (95% uncertainty interval 1.8–2.0, with the true value roughly falling in this range). For people aged 18 to 49, each additional year lowers it by 2.9% (2.8–3.0). For people over 70, it lowers by 0.8% (0.6–1.0). No difference was seen between men and women. When separated by national development level (socio-demographic index), no difference was seen either

Notes

Controversy. The authors themselves reported publication bias (p<0.0001), meaning studies with good-looking results are more likely to be published. Results also vary widely between studies. All included studies are follow-up observations, not trials that divided people into groups. Years of schooling are entangled with family conditions, region, and occupation; how much of this 1.9% comes from schooling itself and how much from "people who can keep studying already had good conditions" cannot be separated by this type of research. So it can strongly show that "more schooling and longer life go in the same direction," but it does not equal "if you go study, you'll extend your life by 1.9%." The beneficiary is yourself

Sources

IHME-CHAIN Collaborators (2024). Effects of education on adult mortality: a global systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Public Health, 9(3), e155-e165. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00306-7

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00306-700306-7)

3. Before judging "has the degree depreciated," first look at the nation's education structure: only 15,467 out of every 100,000 people have a college education

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

The 2020 census result is: out of every 100,000 people nationwide, only 15,467 have studied through junior college or above, about 15%. Those with a junior high education number 34,507, the largest tier. People aged 15 and above have an average of only 9.91 years of schooling, just past junior high graduation. So a junior high education in China isn't "good enough," it's the most ordinary tier.

Cost

Costs nothing. Just take a look at the numbers below.

Benefit

The standard time point of the Seventh National Population Census is November 1, 2020. Among the national population, 218,360,767 people have a college education (junior college and above). 213,005,258 have a high school education (including secondary vocational). 487,163,489 have a junior high education. 349,658,828 have a primary school education. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the number with a college education per 100,000 people rose from 8,930 to 15,467. High school rose from 14,032 to 15,088. Junior high fell from 38,788 to 34,507. Primary school fell from 26,779 to 24,767. The average years of education for the population aged 15 and above rose from 9.08 years to 9.91 years. The illiteracy rate fell from 4.08% to 2.67%

Notes

This item only answers "is a degree scarce among the population," not "is it cost-effective for a specific person to study." The latter question must be calculated yourself using the method in item 6 of this section (how to calculate study or work). Also note: the census counts the entire national population, including the elderly and children. The proportion of young people who study through college is much higher than this number; using it to compare with peers will overestimate your advantage. Conversely, using it to refute "studying is useless" holds up, because the denominator is exactly the entire labor force competing with you for jobs. The beneficiary is yourself

Sources

National Bureau of Statistics, Office of the Leading Group of the State Council for the Seventh National Population Census (2021). Communiqué of the Seventh National Population Census (No. 6) — Population Education Situation. https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/202302/t20…

https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/202302/t20…

4. For "can't afford it," first calculate according to policy: most vocational school tuition is already waived, grants are 2,300 yuan, student loans up to 20,000 yuan per year

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

At public secondary vocational schools, tuition is already waived for rural students, urban agriculture-related major students, and students from financially difficult families. Grants for secondary vocational and regular high schools are 2,300 yuan per year starting from spring 2025. Once in college, undergraduate and junior college grants are 3,700 yuan per year, and student loans can borrow up to 20,000 yuan per year. If money isn't enough, you can delay or take another path, but it rarely constitutes "must drop out and work now."

Cost

Costs nothing. Before the semester starts, ask once at the school's student financial aid management office and submit materials once.

Benefit

The secondary vocational tuition waiver is a policy starting from the fall semester of 2012. The original text is "tuition is waived for all rural (including county and township) students, urban agriculture-related major students, and students from financially difficult families among full-time officially registered first, second, and third year students at public secondary vocational schools (except students in art-related performance majors)." In 2024, student financial aid policies were adjusted. The National Grant for undergraduate and junior college students was raised from 3,300 yuan to 3,700 yuan per student per year. The National Inspirational Scholarship was raised from 5,000 yuan to 6,000 yuan. These two are implemented from the fall semester of 2024 (the Inspirational Scholarship from 2024). The National Grant for secondary vocational school students and the National Grant for regular high school students were both raised from 2,000 yuan to 2,300 yuan per student per year, implemented from the spring semester of 2025. National student loans were also adjusted, from the fall semester of 2024. For undergraduate and junior college students, "the loan amount per student per year was raised from no more than 16,000 yuan to no more than 20,000 yuan." For graduate students, "from no more than 20,000 yuan to no more than 25,000 yuan." The interest rate is the loan prime rate (LPR) for the same period and same tier minus 70 basis points, meaning 0.7 percentage points lower (nationwide)

Notes

The beneficiary is yourself and your children. Exactly who is covered by the tuition waiver and how many tiers the grants have are all determined by each province. Private schools are subsidized at the standard of local public schools' similar majors, and the difference must still be paid yourself, so before enrolling you must verify against local documents. Student loans are loans, not subsidies, and must be repaid after graduation. But it separates "can't come up with tuition now" and "is it cost-effective these few years" into two things; don't treat not having enough money as the conclusion. Section 7 wrote about training subsidies and temporary assistance during unemployment; if the family really has lost income, go that route first

Sources

Ministry of Finance, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2012). Opinions on Expanding the Scope of the Secondary Vocational Education Tuition Waiver Policy and Further Improving the National Grant System (Cai Jiao [2012] No. 376). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2013/content_2332779.htm ; Heads of relevant departments of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2024). Answering reporters' questions on issues related to adjusting student financial aid policies. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202410/content_6983672.htm ; Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, People's Bank of China, National Financial Regulatory Administration (2024). Notice on Adjusting and Improving Policies Related to National Student Loans (Cai Jiao [2024] No. 188). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202411/content_6984812…

5. Not getting into regular high school doesn't mean the road is cut off: secondary vocational schools have integrated enrollment and separate exams, and skilled position recruitment can lower education requirements

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

The 2022 Vocational Education Law states: vocational education and regular education are equally important in status. Secondary vocational schools can have integrated enrollment with higher vocational schools, and higher vocational schools must reserve enrollment plans or separate exams specifically for secondary vocational graduates. Employers also must not set thresholds to block you just because you graduated from a vocational school. Not scoring enough for regular high school is switching to another path, not stopping at a junior high education.

Cost

Costs nothing. Before filling in the high school entrance exam preferences, check your province's vocational education enrollment platform once.

Benefit

Article 3 of the Vocational Education Law (effective May 1, 2022): "Vocational education is an education type with equally important status as regular education." Article 37: secondary vocational schools "may, in accordance with relevant national regulations, implement integrated enrollment and training with higher vocational school education in relevant majors." Higher vocational schools "may, in accordance with relevant national regulations, adopt an assessment method combining cultural quality and vocational skills to recruit students." Education administrative departments at or above the provincial level shall establish a unified vocational education enrollment platform, compile and publish school and major offerings and enrollment situations, and provide inquiry and application services. Article 53: "Vocational school students enjoy equal opportunities with regular school students at the same level in terms of further education, employment, and career development." Higher vocational schools and regular higher education institutions implementing vocational education "shall determine a corresponding proportion in enrollment plans or adopt separate exam methods to specifically recruit vocational school graduates." "Employers shall not set application, recruitment, or hiring conditions that hinder equal employment and fair competition for vocational school graduates." For positions in public institution open recruitment that have vocational skill level requirements, "education requirements may be appropriately lowered" (nationwide)

Notes

The beneficiary is yourself and your children. These are statutory channels, not guaranteed admission. Which majors have integrated training, what proportion is reserved for separate enrollment, and which subjects the vocational education college entrance exam tests are all determined by each province. Before filling in preferences, you must check your province's vocational education enrollment platform and enrollment plan for the current year; don't extrapolate from other provinces' experience. When choosing a secondary vocational major, run it through the dimensions in item 10 of this section (choosing skills resistant to automation): majors requiring on-site presence and non-standard environments are harder to replace. For choosing a school, just see whether it's in your province's current-year vocational education enrollment plan. Then verify the certificate it issues using the three steps in item 8 (checking whether a certificate is in the catalog). Any admissions promotion promising "guaranteed job placement" or "guaranteed pass" should be rejected outright

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2022). Vocational Education Law (2022 revision, Articles 3, 37, 53). http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_sjzl/sjzl_zcfg/zcfg_jyfl/202204/t… (published by the Ministry of Education)

http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_sjzl/sjzl_zcfg/zcfg_jyfl/202204/t…

6. Turn "study or work" into a problem: the three years of wages earned early, versus the annual income difference over the following decades

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

Lay both paths out on paper and compare. What you earn by working early is three years of wages from low-threshold positions, and only this once. Continuing to study brings back the extra amount earned each year afterward, which must also be multiplied by the remaining thirty or forty years. The estimate for urban China is: each additional year of schooling raises income by an average of 4.0% (1988) to 10.2% (2001). The data is old and can only be viewed as an order of magnitude.

Cost

Costs nothing. Sit down and calculate once, about half an hour.

Benefit

This is an estimate for urban China from 1988 to 2001. How much more income each additional year of schooling brings is called the return to education. The original text says "rising substantially from 4.0% per year of education in 1988 to 10.2% in 2001." The increase mainly occurred after 1992. It reflects the growing gap between what those who studied through college earn versus those who didn't (the higher education wage premium). This is a usable China-local order of magnitude when converting "one more year of study" into annual income difference. For the global average, see item 7 of this section (the global average return to one more year of education)

Notes

Before calculating, first deduct the tuition waivers and grants from item 4 of this section (vocational school tuition and grants), and there's also the ledger from item 2 of this section (more education and mortality). The data ends at 2001 and only covers urban areas, so it can't be used directly as today's numbers. The global average of 9% in item 7 of this section is the same. This item gives a method, not an answer: calculated this way, conclusions will differ from person to person. If tuition is high, the major and position don't match up, and the years of study are long, the calculation might really come out not cost-effective. That only shows "this specific program isn't cost-effective," and doesn't constitute "studying is useless"; don't conflate the two. There are also several items that can't enter the formula but do exist. First, statutory education thresholds, see item 5 of this section (integrated enrollment and separate exams for secondary vocational schools). Second, resistance to replacement, see item 10 (choosing skills resistant to automation). Third, whether you can switch industries. The beneficiary is yourself

Sources

Zhang J, Zhao Y, Park A, Song X (2005). Economic returns to schooling in urban China, 1988 to 2001. Journal of Comparative Economics, 33(4), 730-752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jce.2005.05.008

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jce.2005.05.008

7. First remember the baseline: each additional year of education, the global average private return (the part that lands on your own income) is about 9% per year

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

A review covering 139 countries and 1,120 estimates calculated: each additional year of schooling raises personal income by about 9% per year on average. The return for women has consistently been higher than for men. Note this is the average for "one more year of formal education," not the return of "taking a class." Use it as a ruler: if a course asks you to spend 30,000 yuan and half a year, ask whether the income change it brings is worth one year of formal education.

Cost

Costs nothing. Remember this number and use it as a ruler for measuring various "learn something" plans.

Benefit

A review covering 1950 to 2014, 139 countries, and 1,120 estimates calculated: "the global average private return to one more year of education is 9% per year." Private return is the part that lands on one's own income, meaning each additional year of schooling raises income by about 9% on average. The private return to higher education is rising. The social return to education (the part that lands on society as a whole rather than the individual) remains very high. The average return to education for women continues to be higher than for men

Notes

This is the average for "one more year of schooling," not the return of "taking a class," nor a specific number for China; it can only serve as an order-of-magnitude reference. Its use is to give all training programs a ruler: if a course asks you to spend 30,000 yuan and half a year, you should ask whether it can bring an income change equivalent to one year of formal education. Also note that the global average masks enormous differences across majors and countries

Sources

Psacharopoulos G, Patrinos HA (2018). Returns to investment in education: a decennial review of the global literature. Education Economics, 26(5), 445-458. https://doi.org/10.1080/09645292.2018.1484426 ; World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 8402. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-8402

8. Before spending money on a certificate, first check whether it's in the National Vocational Qualification Catalog or the list of evaluation agencies filed with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

Some institutions, under the name of new occupations and skill levels, hold classes recklessly, charge fees recklessly, and issue certificates indiscriminately, and some impersonate authoritative institutions; the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security specifically cracked down on this. Before registering, check in three steps: whether this occupation is in the National Vocational Qualification Catalog, whether the issuing agency is an evaluation agency filed with the human resources and social security department, and whether the certificate number can be found on the official platform. If it can't be found, the registration fee is wasted.

Cost

Costs nothing. Check once, about ten minutes.

Benefit

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security specifically carried out a nationwide crackdown for this. The chaos named in the document is "some institutions and units, under the name of new occupation qualifications, vocational skill levels, etc., arbitrarily hold training, evaluation, and certification activities, charge fees recklessly, and issue certificates indiscriminately; some institutions and units falsely or exaggeratedly advertise, and even impersonate authoritative institutions to organize training, evaluation, and issue certificates." Crackdown measures include joint investigation and handling with cyberspace, public security, and market regulation departments, "severely cracking down on evaluation and certification activities that impersonate appraisal institutions or evaluation agencies filed with human resources and social security departments." Non-compliant promotions on websites and new media are shut down according to law. The document also requires "guiding the public to understand certificate inquiry channels and methods, and judge the legality, compliance, and value of certificates"

Notes

Verify in this order. First see whether this occupation is in the National Vocational Qualification Catalog; if not in the catalog, it's not a national vocational qualification. Then see whether the issuing agency is an evaluation agency filed with the human resources and social security department. Finally go to the official skilled talent evaluation certificate inquiry platform and check whether the certificate number can be found. Anything that can't be found, don't register for it. Those with "international," "senior," or "registered" in the name, or promising "guaranteed pass" or "income from affiliation," carry the highest risk

Sources

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2022). Notice on Carrying Out Special Governance of "Counterfeit Certificates" in the Technical and Skilled Category. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-03/18/content_567…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-03/18/content_567…

9. For training, prioritize government subsidy channels; don't rush to pay out of pocket for commercial classes

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence some; Benefit medium

From 2025 to the end of 2027, the state plans to provide subsidized training for more than 30 million person-times. The money comes from multiple sources, including employment subsidy funds, unemployment insurance funds, and enterprise employee education funds. The more a trade is short of people and the higher the training cost, the higher the subsidy. Those employed should first ask their employer; everyone else should first check the local human resources and social security bureau's subsidy catalog, then decide what to learn.

Cost

No money, or a substantial reduction. The training itself takes time. The hard part is resisting the urge to impulsively pay out of pocket for a class, and first checking the subsidy catalog.

Benefit

The scale at the national level is clear: from 2025 to the end of 2027, "focus on high-precision and advanced industries and urgently needed sectors, key employment groups, etc., to carry out subsidized training for more than 30 million person-times." Funding sources have been opened up as a package: employment subsidy funds, unemployment insurance funds, industry development funds, East-West cooperation funds, enterprise employee education funds, etc. The subsidy level is determined by the degree of urgency and shortage of the occupation (trade) and the training cost, and differs by trade. On the enterprise side, it is also required to "extract and use employee education funds in full according to regulations, ensuring that more than 60% is used for frontline employee education and training."

Notes

How exactly to apply and how much you can get is determined by each province. The entry point is the "Vocational Training Subsidy Catalog" and public training bases on the local human resources and social security bureau's official website. Section 7 covered vocational training subsidies during unemployment (the same person can enjoy them at most 3 times) and social security subsidies. Those employed should first ask their employer about employee education funds. Checking the subsidy catalog before choosing what to learn saves much more money than choosing first and then looking for subsidies.

Sources

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7032222…

10. When choosing skills, prioritize looking at "whether it requires hands-on work, whether it requires on-site judgment"—these are the hardest to replace by automation

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit large

In an assessment of 702 occupations in the United States, about 47% of jobs fall in the high-risk range. Three things hold machines back: manual dexterity, the ability to think up new things, and the ability to deal with people. So work that requires being on site, in non-standard environments, and making on-the-spot judgments is harder to replace, while jobs with fixed processes that mainly handle information are at the highest risk. Don't fixate on the 47% figure; look at those three dimensions.

Cost

No money. Before choosing, run the work you want to learn through this dimension first.

Benefit

Each of 702 occupations in the United States was assessed for "how likely this work can be handed over to a computer" (computability probability assessment), and the result was that about 47% of jobs are in the high-risk range. What determines the level of risk in the model are three barriers machines currently cannot cross, which the authors call "engineering bottlenecks." First, perception and manipulation, including finger dexterity, manual dexterity, and working in cramped spaces and awkward postures. Second, creative intelligence, that is, the ability to think up new things. Third, social intelligence, that is, the ability to deal with people. So work in non-standard environments that requires manual skill and on-the-spot judgment consistently has a lower probability of being replaced—this is not an occasional exception for individual occupations. Jobs with fixed processes and mainly information processing are at the highest risk.

Notes

Controversial. This study is a 2013 unpublished manuscript, and it scores "whether an entire occupation can be taken over by machines." Later research changed to estimating it by breaking it down into individual specific tasks, and the calculated high-risk proportion was much lower. It also does not say in which year this will happen. The correct way to use it is not to look at the 47% figure, but to look at the three places where it points out that machines are stuck. This explains why on-site installation, maintenance, and care work are more resistant to replacement than purely clerical work, and also explains why "learning a skill" should prioritize choosing the kind that requires being on site and facing non-standard environments.

Sources

Frey CB, Osborne MA (2017). The future of employment: how susceptible are jobs to computerisation? Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 114, 254-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.08.019

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.08.019

11. Before learning, first confirm whether this skill has a grade evaluation and whether the grade can be converted into money

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

The state is promoting the "New Eight-Grade Worker" system, requiring enterprises to link position pay and skill grade in a dual manner and to increase the evaluation and appointment of senior workers and above. Eligible employees can also have their grade directly recognized without regard to years of service or seniority. But this is a policy direction, not an already-realized wage figure, and it varies greatly by locality and enterprise. There is only one usable judgment: only skills with national occupational standards and a grade pathway can later be discussed in terms of salary increases by grade.

Cost

No money. One check is enough.

Benefit

The state is promoting the "New Eight-Grade Worker" vocational skill grade system. The document explicitly requires linking grade and pay, with the original wording: "Strengthen the skill-oriented compensation distribution system... guide enterprises to implement a distribution method that links position pay with position value and skill grade in a dual manner." All localities should "increase the intensity and batches of evaluation and appointment of senior workers and above." Eligible enterprises can conduct skill grade evaluations for their own employees. For outstanding employees, "conditions such as years of work, grade, and seniority may be broken, and the corresponding vocational skill grade may be directly recognized."

Notes

This is a policy direction, not an already-realized wage figure, and the degree of implementation varies greatly by locality and enterprise. The part that can be followed is: when choosing a skill, see whether it has a corresponding national occupational standard and grade pathway; only skills with a pathway can later be discussed in terms of salary increases by grade. A "skill" with no grade and no industry entry threshold can only be used after learning by finding work on your own.

Sources

State Council Leading Group on Employment Promotion and Labor Protection (2025). Guiding Opinions on Carrying Out Large-Scale Vocational Skills Improvement Training Actions. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7032222… ; Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2021). Implementation Plan for the "Skills China Action." https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-07/06/content_562…

12. Don't treat "the internet says wages are high" as a labor shortage; check the local shortage occupation catalog and subsidy catalog

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

How much each locality subsidizes is itself the official pricing of "which trade is short of people," with the amount determined by the degree of urgency and shortage and the training cost. How much the subsidy for the same trade differs across cities directly reflects the difference in local labor shortage. What the internet says about "how much a certain trade earns per month" mostly comes from listing prices on recruitment platforms or personal accounts; it only picks winners to look at, and also does not count working hours, commuting, occupational diseases, or peak and off seasons.

Cost

No money. Check two local documents.

Benefit

The subsidy amount itself is the official pricing of "which trades are short of people." The policy requires "improving the differentiated subsidy mechanism determined according to the degree of urgency and shortage of the occupation (trade), training cost, and other conditions," and each locality determines the scope of local subsidized vocational skill training projects accordingly. So how much the subsidy amount for the same trade differs across cities directly reflects the local degree of shortage.

Notes

TODO (to be verified: official data sources for national average wages by occupation and shortage occupation rankings; the relevant page of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security could not be obtained this time). The "how much a certain trade earns per month" circulating online almost all comes from listing prices on recruitment platforms or personal accounts. What you can see is mostly the group that made money, and none of it counts working hours, commuting, occupational diseases, or peak and off seasons. To see real demand, go to the local human resources and social security bureau's official website to check the subsidy catalog, then check the job demand rankings of public employment service agencies. Finally, go to actual construction sites, factories, and stores to ask people currently working.

Sources

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7032222…

13. With the same money and time, prioritize short-cycle projects that can lead directly to a job

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money little; Time medium; Persistence some; Benefit medium

What policy encourages is "short, flat, and fast" training that can lead to short-term employment, as well as micro-majors at vocational colleges. When choosing a project, look at only one thing: whether after learning there is a specific position to which you can send a resume. For those that take half a year or a year to learn and still require "accumulating more experience" after completion, the actual time spent far exceeds the listed price. Write the exit condition before starting: if you reach a certain point of learning and still haven't found work, stop.

Cost

You have to pay tuition for short-term courses, not much money. It takes up a period of time. The hard part is stopping according to the agreed condition when you are halfway through learning and haven't seen results yet.

Benefit

The policy wording is consistent with this: support "private training institutions in carrying out market-oriented high-quality vocational skill training projects and 'short, flat, and fast' vocational skill training projects that can achieve short-term employment." At the same time, promote vocational colleges to "focus on knowledge and skills urgently needed in the job market... offer micro-majors and vocational ability training courses."

Notes

There is only one criterion for judgment: after learning, is there a specific position to which you can send a resume. For projects that take half a year or a year to learn and still require "accumulating more experience" after completion, the actual cost is far higher than the listed price. The exit condition discussed in Section 4 also applies: write clearly before starting, "if you reach a certain point of learning and still haven't found work, stop."

Sources

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7032222…

14. After learning, close the book and test yourself first; don't go back and reread

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

Reading it again after finishing feels very familiar, but in fact it is not remembered firmly. Closing the book and testing yourself once is clearly more effective. Combining 222 classroom studies and nearly 50,000 students, the improvement in class scores from adding quizzes is moderate in magnitude. In a review that ranked ten learning methods, self-testing ranked in the highest tier.

Cost

No money, and total time does not need to increase. Change the time originally used for rereading into closing the book and writing from memory or doing questions. The hard part is that self-testing immediately exposes what you haven't remembered, which feels more uncomfortable than rereading.

Benefit

A meta-analysis of 222 independent studies and 48,478 students: classroom quizzes improve students' academic performance, with a moderate effect size (g = 0.499). The size of the effect is influenced by several conditions: what learning method the control group used, whether the quiz format and the final exam are consistent, whether the materials match, whether corrective feedback was given, how many times the quiz was repeated, where and when it was tested, how long the intervention lasted, and what experimental design was used. Another review that evaluated ten commonly used learning methods one by one rated "practice testing" and "distributed practice" as the highest tier (high utility), on the grounds that they are effective for learners of different ages and abilities and have been verified across multiple assessment formats and real educational settings.

Notes

Self-testing is not for giving yourself a score, but for forcing yourself to retrieve things from your brain. Method: after reading a section, close the book and first write down the key points from memory, then flip back and check. Effects are better with corrective feedback, so after checking the answers, look clearly at where you went wrong. The benefit magnitude is recorded as "large" based on effect size and rating; these two pieces of evidence measure scores, not hours, and are not derived by applying a time-saving threshold. This item and item 15 (spread the same time over several days) are the two highest-rated items in the same review, and are best used together.

Sources

Yang C, Luo L, Vadillo MA, Yu R, Shanks DR (2021). Testing (quizzing) boosts classroom learning: A systematic and meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 147(4), 399–435. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000309 ; Dunlosky J, Rawson KA, Marsh EJ, Nathan MJ, Willingham DT (2013). Improving Students' Learning With Effective Learning Techniques: Promising Directions From Cognitive and Educational Psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100612453266

15. Spread the same time over several days; don't learn it all at once

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

With the same time, learning spread over several days is remembered more firmly than learning it all at once. All 317 experiments tested this, with consistent conclusions. There is also a practical rule: the longer you need to remember it, the longer the review interval should be. If the exam is tomorrow, review the same day; if the exam is in a month, go over it every few days.

Cost

No money, and total time does not change. What changes is only the arrangement: the same 3 hours, split into 1 hour on each of three days. The hard part is starting several days in advance and not putting it off until the last night.

Benefit

A meta-analysis summarizing 184 articles, 317 experiments, and 839 assessments of distributed practice effects. It compared two things: learning it all in one go versus learning it in several separate sessions (spacing effect), and short intervals versus long intervals (lag effect). The conclusion is that review interval and "how long it needs to be remembered" jointly determine the retention rate on the final test; specifically, the review interval that produces the best retention rate lengthens as the time to be retained lengthens. Another review that evaluated ten commonly used learning methods one by one rated distributed practice as the highest tier (high utility).

Notes

This item is best used in combination with item 14 (close the book and self-test): spread the self-testing itself over several days. Note that the materials in Cepeda's meta-analysis are mostly word-list memorization and the like; no universal number of days is given for the optimal interval for complex content. The statement above that "the farther away the exam, the longer the interval" is the rule given in the original text, not a specific schedule. The problem with cramming the night before an exam is not that it is useless at the time, but that it is forgotten quickly.

Sources

Cepeda NJ, Pashler H, Vul E, Wixted JT, Rohrer D (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354–380. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.132.3.354 ; Dunlosky J, Rawson KA, Marsh EJ, Nathan MJ, Willingham DT (2013). Improving Students' Learning With Effective Learning Techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100612453266

16. Don't treat highlighting, rereading, and summarizing as your main learning methods

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit medium

The methods students use most are highlighting and rereading, and the review that ranked ten learning methods placed both in the lowest tier. Summarizing, keyword mnemonic, and imagining illustrations for the text are also in the lowest tier. This is not to say they are completely useless, but that the conditions under which they work are too narrow. Using the same time for self-testing is more worthwhile.

Cost

No money; in fact it saves time. The hard part is that these are the easiest to do and give the strongest feeling of "I am studying."

Benefit

A review evaluating ten commonly used learning methods rated them by "whether the effect can generalize across learning conditions, student characteristics, materials, and assessment formats." Rated in the highest tier are practice testing and distributed practice. Rated in the middle tier are elaborative interrogation, self-explanation, and interleaved practice. The five rated in the lowest tier are: summarizing, highlighting (or underlining), keyword mnemonic, imagining illustrations for the text, and rereading. The review states clearly: most students say they use rereading and highlighting, but these two cannot reliably improve performance and should be replaced with other methods, such as using practice testing instead of rereading.

Notes

This item does not prohibit underlining. Underlining is useful when used as "marking which places to self-test later"; the problem is treating underlining itself as learning. The review also explains that the lowest tier does not mean zero, only that the conditions under which it works are narrow and more research is needed. For replacement actions, see item 14 (close the book and self-test) and item 15 (spread the same time over several days).

Sources

Dunlosky J, Rawson KA, Marsh EJ, Nathan MJ, Willingham DT (2013). Improving Students' Learning With Effective Learning Techniques: Promising Directions From Cognitive and Educational Psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100612453266

https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100612453266

17. Mix several types of problems when practicing; don't do twenty of one kind in a row

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit medium

Doing a long string of the same type of problem in a row feels smooth at the time, but afterward you may not be able to tell which method to use. Shuffling several types of problems together for practice has better long-term effects, of moderate magnitude. But this technique is picky about materials: it is most effective for practicing images and classification, smaller for math problems, and for memorizing words it is actually worse than blocked practice.

Cost

No money. Change doing the workbook in order by problem type to doing it shuffled. The hard part is that mixed practice has lower accuracy at the time, feeling like regression.

Benefit

A multilevel meta-analysis including 59 studies, 238 effect sizes, and 158 samples. The overall effect of interleaved practice relative to blocked practice is moderate (Hedges' g = 0.42). By material: drawing is best (g = 0.67), and other visual materials are also relatively good; the effect for math tasks is smaller (g = 0.34); the overall effect for expository texts and taste materials is not significant; for vocabulary, blocked practice is actually better (g = −0.39). Regression analysis shows: the more similar the categories are to each other, the less similar items within the same category are, and the more complex the material, the greater the benefit of interleaving.

Notes

The review cited in item 16 (don't treat highlighting as your main learning method) rated interleaved practice as middle tier, on the grounds that there was not yet enough research at the time. Taken together, the usage is: mix practice for content that requires "recognizing which category this is and which method to use," such as math problem types, medical cases, and application of legal provisions; use blocked practice for content that requires rote memorization, such as words and term definitions.

Sources

Brunmair M, Richter T (2019). Similarity matters: A meta-analysis of interleaved learning and its moderators. Psychological Bulletin, 145(11), 1029–1052. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000209

https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000209

18. Don't choose learning methods based on "I'm a visual type, he's an auditory type"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit small

"Everyone has their own learning style, and you learn well only when taught according to your style" is widely circulated. To prove it, you would first have to group by style, then randomly assign teaching methods, and finally test with the same exam, and almost no research has produced results supporting it. People do have preferences, but there is no evidence that taking classes according to preferences leads to better learning.

Cost

No money. Just stop choosing materials and courses according to this classification, and stop spending money on style assessments.

Benefit

A review commissioned to evaluate the evidence on learning styles points out: to prove that "teaching according to learning style" is effective, students must first be grouped by style, then each group randomly assigned to different teaching methods, and finally tested with the same test. The criterion for effectiveness is the appearance of a specific interaction—the teaching method most effective for one style is not the most effective for another style. The review's conclusion is: almost no such interaction has been found; although there is a great deal of literature on learning styles, very few studies have used a qualified experimental design, and several of those had results directly contrary to the "matching hypothesis." The authors therefore believe that the existing evidence is insufficient to support using learning style assessments in educational practice.

Notes

The review also explains that this does not mean all versions of learning style theory have been tested and refuted; many have not been tested at all. What this item is meant to stop is the two actions of spending money on style assessments and choosing training classes by style. For the criteria for choosing training, see item 9 (for training, prioritize government subsidy channels) and item 13 (prioritize short-cycle projects that can lead directly to a job).

Sources

Pashler H, McDaniel M, Rohrer D, Bjork R (2008). Learning Styles: Concepts and Evidence. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 9(3), 105–119. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6053.2009.01038.x

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6053.2009.01038.x

19. Test yourself on what you're memorizing according to how you'll use it later, don't just recite it once and call it done

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Low; Perseverance Some; Benefit Medium

Closing the book and testing yourself has benefits that go beyond just the words you memorized. Across 192 comparisons and over ten thousand people combined, it also works for questions with changed formats, applied problems, and reasoning questions, with a medium-to-small effect size. But there are two situations where it's almost useless: swapping the question and the answer, and content you've only seen in the book but have never been tested on.

Cost

No money, and no extra time. The only thing that changes is the practice method: replace "recite it once as-is" with "test yourself according to how you'll use it later." The hard part is having to first think clearly about how these things will be used in the future.

Benefit

A meta-analysis pooled over 40 years of research, including 67 published and unpublished articles, 122 experiments, 192 transfer effect sizes, and a total of 10,382 participants. Compared with a control group that "reviewed again but wasn't tested," the learning from practice testing did transfer to other situations, with an effect size of d=0.40 (95% CI 0.31 to 0.50). The strongest transfer occurred in these cases: testing with a different question format, applied problems and reasoning questions, medical diagnosis-type questions, and testing with semantically similar cue words. The weakest transfer occurred in these cases: swapping stimulus and response, material seen during initial learning but never tested, and example-type problems. Among moderators, whether the response format during practice matched the response format during the test, whether retrieval practice with detailed feedback was done, and whether the initial test was answered correctly all strongly influenced whether positive transfer appeared. The authors also used two methods to correct for publication bias; the moderator effect sizes were barely affected, but the intercept estimate was noticeably lowered, meaning that when none of the above conditions are met, positive transfer is often not observed.

Notes

The word "memorize" usually conflates two things: reviewing the material again (rereading, highlighting), and closing the book and actively recalling. The former received the lowest rating in that review that ranked ten study methods; to see the ratings themselves, see item 16 (Don't treat highlighting, rereading, and writing summaries as your main study methods). The latter is what this item is about: closing the book and actively recalling; for details see item 14 (self-testing with the book closed), and it should be spread over several days, see item 15 (spread over several days). The approach is to first think clearly about how it will be used in the future: whether you'll need to select it on an exam paper, or judge it on the spot, and then test yourself in that format. Conversely, testing yourself in the reverse direction is also worth doing, because in this meta-analysis transfer in the reversed direction was the weakest, so both directions need to be practiced. After memorizing, if you don't test in a different format and don't put it to use, that's when you've truly memorized in vain.

Sources

Pan SC, Rickard TC (2018). Transfer of test-enhanced learning: meta-analytic review and synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 144(7), 710-756. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000151

https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000151

20. For professional titles, first figure out which series and level you're in, then find the application channel according to your unit's nature

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Low; Perseverance No; Benefit Small

Professional titles are divided into 27 series nationwide, and each series is divided into junior, intermediate, and senior. Generally you have to apply level by level. If you work at a unit, the unit reviews and publicly announces it before submitting the application upward. If you're at a private enterprise, you can go to a professional title application service point, or apply through a talent intermediary service agency or industry association. Freelancers apply to the review organized by the local human resources and social security department.

Cost

No money. Checking your province's application notice for the current year takes about half an hour.

Benefit

There are 27 professional title series nationwide, such as economics, engineering, health, and publishing. Professional titles are divided into three tiers: senior, intermediate, and junior. Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Order No. 40 applies to enterprises, public institutions, social organizations, and individual economic organizations, and also applies to freelancers. Applicants generally must apply level by level. Your unit must review the materials and publicly announce them within the unit, with a public announcement period of no less than 5 working days. Private enterprises and freelancers can have personnel agency institutions, etc., review, publicly announce, and recommend on their behalf. All localities must set up professional title application service points in science parks, high-tech zones, and similar locations, and can also accept applications through talent intermediary service agencies, industry associations and chambers of commerce, and learned societies. Eligible freelancers participate, according to the territorial principle, in the review organized by the local human resources and social security department. Materials that can be verified online must not require you to obtain additional certificates. If materials are incomplete, the reviewing party must tell you all at once what's missing. People at private enterprises generally apply where their labor relationship is located. Those dispatched to another location for continuous work of a full year may apply at the dispatch location. Retired personnel cannot apply. Public institution staff who have received a demerit or heavier punishment cannot apply during the punishment period (nationwide).

Notes

There is no unified national checklist for what materials to prepare. Each series and each province issues an application notice every year, and the materials checklist, application time, and performance conditions are all written in it. So the first step is to find the current year's notice on your province's Department of Human Resources and Social Security website. Papers are no longer universally required: the 2016 reform opinion requires that papers not be treated as a hard threshold for applied-type talent, and the professional title foreign language and computer exams are also not uniformly required. Skilled workers also have a path: eligible highly skilled talent can participate in the engineering series professional title review. Civil servants cannot participate in professional title review.

Sources

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Order No. 40 (2019). Interim Provisions on the Management of Professional Title Review. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2019/content_5437137.htm : Articles 2, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18; General Office of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2020). Notice on Further Improving the Professional Title Work of Private Enterprises. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2020-03/03/content_548… : "Set up professional title application service points in entrepreneurship incubation bases, high-tech development zones, science parks, and other places where professional and technical talent is concentrated, or accept professional title applications from private enterprise professional and technical talent through talent intermediary service agencies, federations of industry and commerce, industry associations and chambers of commerce, learned societies, and other social organizations" "Private enterprise professional and technical talent dispatched to work in another location for more than one continuous year may, according to relevant provisions, apply for professional title review at the dispatch location"; Xinhua News Agency (2024). Professional title review enters peak season, how to check information? What new changes are there? https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202410/content_6978917.htm : "China has a total of 27 professional title series including economics, engineering, health, and publishing" "Eligible freelancers may, according to the territorial principle, apply to participate in the professional title review organized by the local human resources and social security department"; General Office of the CPC Central Committee, General Office of the State Council (2016). Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Professional Title System. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2017/content_5163445.htm : "Do not treat papers as a restrictive condition for evaluating applied-type talent" "No uniform requirements for the professional title foreign language and computer application ability exams" "Eligible highly skilled talent may participate in the professional title review for engineering series professional and technical talent" "Civil servants may not participate in the professional title review for professional and technical talent"

21. Junior and intermediate professional titles like accounting are obtained through the national unified exam; first check your education and years of work experience before registering

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money Low; Time Medium; Perseverance Some; Benefit Small

For some series, junior and intermediate professional titles are obtained by exam; once you pass, that's it, and no separate review is conducted. Accounting is like this: assistant accountant requires high school education or above, and accountant requires a bachelor's degree plus 4 full years of accounting work, or a junior college degree plus 5 years. Those who already hold certain professional qualifications may also be directly counted as having the corresponding professional title.

Cost

Registration fees are paid according to each province's standards. Exam preparation takes several months of spare time.

Benefit

The 2016 reform opinion stipulates that for specialties where junior and intermediate professional titles are subject to a national unified exam, the corresponding review or recognition is no longer conducted. In fields where professional titles and professional qualifications are closely related, obtaining a professional qualification can be recognized as having the corresponding professional title, and can also serve as a condition for applying for a higher level. Take accounting as an example. Assistant accountant and accountant are subject to a national unified exam. Senior accountant combines exam and review, and full senior is generally review only. The registration conditions are as follows. Assistant accountant: high school graduation or above, including secondary specialized school, vocational high school, and technical school. Accountant: doctoral degree; or master's degree plus 1 full year of accounting work; or second bachelor's degree or graduate course completion plus 2 full years; or bachelor's degree plus 4 full years; or junior college degree plus 5 full years. Those with a professional degree in accounting master's or accounting doctorate may be exempt from the "Financial Management" exam when taking the accountant exam (nationwide).

Notes

Whether your series is exam-based, review-based, or a combination of exam and review depends on that series' "Guiding Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the ×× Professional Title System." The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the competent departments of various industries have issued them by series, and they can be found in the policy document database on the Chinese government website. The registration time and subjects for the exam are subject to the current year's exam announcement. Civil servants can take the accounting exam, but cannot participate in accounting professional title review.

Sources

General Office of the CPC Central Committee, General Office of the State Council (2016). Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Professional Title System. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2017/content_5163445.htm : "Professional and technical talent who obtain professional qualifications can be recognized as having the corresponding series and level of professional title, and can serve as a condition for applying for a higher-level professional title. For specialties where junior and intermediate professional titles are subject to a national unified exam, the corresponding professional title review or recognition is no longer conducted."; Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Ministry of Finance (2019). Guiding Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Accounting Personnel Professional Title System. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-09/27/content_543… : "Assistant accountant and accountant are subject to the national unified accounting professional technical qualification exam" "Senior accountant adopts a combination of exam and review, and full senior accountant generally adopts the review method"; Ministry of Finance et al. (2024). Notice on Doing a Good Job in Connecting Accounting Professional Degrees with Accounting Professional Technical Qualifications. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202405/content_6952602…

22. Don't hire intermediaries to review on your behalf, don't buy ghostwritten papers, don't falsify materials: once verified, your professional title will be revoked and you'll be recorded in the integrity file for 3 years

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Free; Money 0; Time Low; Perseverance No; Benefit Medium

Professional titles obtained with fake materials, ghostwritten papers, or plagiarized achievements will be revoked once verified. The dishonest record will be kept for 3 years and will also enter the national credit platform. If the commitment letter signed at application is untrue, you cannot apply again for 3 years. Human resources and social security departments also specifically investigate and punish intermediaries' false advertising, fake reviews, and fake certificates.

Cost

No money. The hard part is resisting ads that say "pay money and you're guaranteed to pass."

Benefit

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Order No. 40 stipulates that those who provide false materials, plagiarize others' works and academic achievements, or obtain professional titles by other improper means will have their professional titles revoked. At the same time, it is recorded in the professional title review integrity archive database and included in the national credit information sharing platform, with a record period of 3 years. The 2024 regulatory measures named several types of violations by applicants: false commitments and forged information, paper fraud and ghostwriting, performance fraud, and pleading and lobbying. A personal commitment letter must be signed at application; if the commitment is untrue, you may not apply for 3 years. Human resources and social security departments, together with public security, cyberspace, and market regulation authorities, investigate and punish intermediaries' fake websites, false advertising, contract traps, fake reviews, and fake certificates. If the circumstances are serious and suspected of a crime, it is transferred to the relevant authorities for handling (nationwide).

Notes

There is a way to tell real from fake: professional titles obtained through formal review can be found on the national professional title review information inquiry platform. The entry points are the 12333 website, the 12333 mobile client, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security official website. Those reviewed by review committees that have not been filed for record cannot be found in this system. So anyone promising "guaranteed pass," "no need to attend in person," or "the certificate can still be used even if it can't be found" can basically be judged as problematic. This item mainly protects yourself, and the benefit magnitude is judged by "avoiding revocation of professional title and a 3-year dishonest record."

Sources

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Order No. 40 (2019). Interim Provisions on the Management of Professional Title Review. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2019/content_5437137.htm : Article 39; Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2024). Interim Measures for the Supervision of Professional Title Review. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202408/content_6969436… : Articles 5, 15, 17, 27; General Office of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2022). Notice on Further Improving Professional Title Review Work. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-12/24/content_573… : "For professional title review committees that have not been filed for record, review results are not included in the national professional title review information inquiry and verification system"; Xinhua News Agency (2024). Professional title review enters peak season, how to check information? What new changes are there? https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202410/content_6978917.htm : "Everyone can log in through multiple channels such as the www.12333.gov.cn webpage, the 12333 mobile client, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security portal website, and the 'Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security' WeChat public account"

23. Getting a professional title doesn't mean a raise: first ask clearly whether your unit reviews and appoints within position ratios, or whether review doesn't necessarily mean appointment

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Low; Perseverance No; Benefit Small

Professional titles are the basis for appointment, assessment, and promotion, but passing the review and being appointed are two different things. Public institutions generally review within position ratios, and once you pass you can mostly be appointed. Units that do not implement position management can separate review and appointment, and even if you pass the review, the unit may not necessarily give you the corresponding position and salary. After changing units or locations, the professional title may need to be re-reviewed or confirmed.

Cost

No money. Just ask your unit's human resources department once.

Benefit

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Order No. 40, Article 2: professional title review results are an important basis for the appointment, assessment, promotion, etc., of professional and technical talent. The 2016 reform opinion stipulates that public institutions that fully implement position management generally conduct professional title review within the position structure ratio. Units that do not implement position management, as well as series with strong general applicability and emerging professions, may separate review and appointment. When professional and technical talent flows across regions or units, the professional title is re-reviewed or confirmed according to management authority, unless otherwise stipulated by the state (nationwide).

Notes

The evidence level is set at B because the document only states how review and appointment connect, and there is no nationwide unified figure for "how much of a raise you get after passing the review." What you can actually do is: at public institutions and state-owned enterprises, first ask the human resources department about your unit's position vacancies and appointment rules. At private enterprises, first ask the boss whether this certificate is recognized and whether it comes with a raise.

Sources

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Order No. 40 (2019). Interim Provisions on the Management of Professional Title Review. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2019/content_5437137.htm : Articles 2, 29; General Office of the CPC Central Committee, General Office of the State Council (2016). Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Professional Title System. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2017/content_5163445.htm : "For public institutions that fully implement position management and where the academic and technical level of professional and technical talent is closely related to job responsibilities, professional title review should generally be conducted within the position structure ratio. For units that do not implement position management, as well as professional title series and emerging professions with strong general applicability and wide distribution across social organizations, the method of separating review and appointment may be adopted."

Evidence levels: A, B, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 24 · 12 suggestions

Seeing a Doctor: How to Spend Less and Take Fewer Detours

[[High-Value Life Guide]]

Scope: money and time. This section covers how to navigate the process of seeing a doctor itself. Which hospital to go to first, how to escalate upward, and where money can be saved. It also covers how emergency room queuing works, and after a serious injury is treated, which assessments to obtain and which certificates to process. For what benefits you can receive, see Section 7. For how to manage chronic diseases long-term, see Section 16. For what to do first at the scene of an emergency, see Section 13. This section is mainly based on the *Several Measures on Accelerating the Construction of the Hierarchical Diagnosis and Treatment System* issued by the General Office of the State Council in April 2026. Hierarchical diagnosis and treatment means deciding which level of hospital to go to first based on the severity of the condition. This document directly links "going to the grassroots level" with "saving money." However, implementation progress varies across regions; the main text describes rules at the national level. For your specific coordinating region, the statements of your local medical insurance and health departments shall prevail. The coordinating region is where you are enrolled in medical insurance, usually a city.

1. For common illnesses, see a doctor at the community level first, escalate through hierarchical referral from the grassroots level, and the inpatient deductible continues to count

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

Go to the community first, then get referred from the community to a large hospital for inpatient care, and the portion you pay out of pocket first is counted only once. If you go directly to a tertiary hospital for inpatient care and then transfer back to the community for rehabilitation, this portion may need to be paid twice. For those transferred back from a large hospital to the community for continued inpatient care, within the same illness period, it is no longer recalculated.

Cost

No money required. You need to make a trip to the community first. The hard part is resisting the urge to directly register for an expert's appointment.

Benefit

For insured patients referred hierarchically through the grassroots level, the inpatient deductible at the higher-level hospital can be calculated continuously. The deductible is the portion you pay out of pocket first each time you are hospitalized, and once you have paid enough, medical insurance begins to reimburse. Continuous calculation means the two hospitals combined count as only one time, and you do not need to pay it all over again. For inpatient patients transferred down from a higher-level hospital to the grassroots level, within the same disease cycle, no separate deductible is set.

Notes

The deductible is the portion you pay out of pocket first each time you are hospitalized, and once you have paid enough, medical insurance begins to reimburse. If you go directly to a tertiary hospital for inpatient care and then transfer back to the grassroots level for rehabilitation, this portion may need to be paid twice. Going through referral counts as only once. Referral rules are formulated separately by each province, each city, and each medical consortium. Ask the community before you go.

Source

General Office of the State Council (2026). Several Measures on Accelerating the Construction of the Hierarchical Diagnosis and Treatment System. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031… : "For insured patients referred hierarchically through primary-level medical and health institutions within the coordinating region, the inpatient deductible at higher-level hospitals may be calculated continuously; for inpatient patients transferred down from higher-level hospitals to primary-level medical and health institutions, within the same disease cycle, no separate inpatient deductible shall be set."

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031…

2. Within the same coordinating region (medical insurance enrollment place), the lower the level, the higher the reimbursement rate, with a gap of about 10 percentage points

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

For the same hospitalization expense, the lower the hospital level, the more is reimbursed. Each region should widen the tiers, with about a ten-percentage-point difference for each level upward. If you go to a large hospital for something that could be handled in the community, you will pay about ten percent more out of pocket for the same expense. Newly added medical insurance funds are also tilted toward the grassroots level.

Cost

No money required. The hard part is resisting the urge to run to a large hospital.

Benefit

The document requires each region to widen the inpatient reimbursement levels of medical institutions of different grades, in principle with a gap of about 10 percentage points per level. That is, for the same hospitalization expense, each level upward at a hospital means you pay about ten percent more out of pocket. Annual newly added medical insurance funds are also tilted toward the grassroots level.

Notes

For the same hospitalization expense, the difference you pay out of pocket between the grassroots level and a tertiary hospital may be several thousand yuan. This does not mean all illnesses should be treated in the community. It means that for illnesses that can be handled at the grassroots level, do not run upward.

Source

General Office of the State Council (2026). Several Measures on Accelerating the Construction of the Hierarchical Diagnosis and Treatment System. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031… : "Appropriately widen the inpatient reimbursement levels of insured persons at medical and health institutions of different grades according to local conditions, in principle creating a gap of about 10 percentage points in inpatient reimbursement rates among medical and health institutions within the coordinating region level by level." "Where conditions permit, the outpatient reimbursement levels of insured persons at medical and health institutions of different grades may be appropriately widened according to the orientation of hierarchical diagnosis and treatment."

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031…

3. If you need to go to a large hospital, go through grassroots referral or the hospital's referral center, not scalpers

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time medium; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Large hospitals must reserve a portion of appointment slots and beds specifically for people referred from the grassroots level. Hospitals must also set up referral centers, or designate a fixed department specifically responsible for referrals, with full coverage by 2027. Not being able to get an appointment does not mean there is no way. Scalper appointments, besides being expensive, may also send you to the wrong department.

Cost

No money required. You need to go through an extra referral procedure.

Benefit

The lead hospital of a tightly integrated medical consortium must reserve a certain proportion of appointment slots and beds for the grassroots level, and promptly receive patients referred through the grassroots level. A tightly integrated medical consortium is a group of several hospitals and community health institutions bound together for collaboration. That is, there is a separate channel of appointment slots and beds for referrals upward from the community, not squeezing into the same pool as people grabbing appointments in the lobby. Medical institutions must set up referral centers or designate fixed departments, achieving full coverage by 2027.

Notes

Reserved appointment slots are a channel left for referred patients. Not being able to grab an appointment does not mean there is no way. The scalper route, besides being expensive, may also land you in the wrong department. If you cannot find the referral center, call the hospital's service phone number and ask.

Source

General Office of the State Council (2026). Several Measures on Accelerating the Construction of the Hierarchical Diagnosis and Treatment System. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031… : "Lead hospitals shall reserve a certain proportion of appointment slots and beds for primary-level medical and health institutions, and promptly receive patients referred through the grassroots level." "Medical institutions shall strengthen unified management of referral services, set up referral centers or designate fixed departments to undertake patient referral service work, achieving full coverage by 2027."

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031…

4. Before cross-province non-local medical treatment, ask locally first; in principle, necessity must be assessed by an associate chief physician or above

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Whether to go elsewhere for medical treatment should in principle be assessed by a doctor at or above the level of associate chief physician at a secondary or tertiary hospital. How much is reimbursed for temporary out-of-town medical treatment will differ from that at a hospital of the same level in the enrollment place; the specifics depend on local regulations. Asking locally before departure is better than discovering only after arriving elsewhere that it cannot be reimbursed.

Cost

No money required. Ask one extra question before departure.

Benefit

The necessity of cross-coordinating-region and cross-province non-local medical treatment shall in principle be assessed by personnel at or above the level of associate chief physician at secondary and tertiary hospitals. Cross-coordinating-region means going beyond your own medical insurance enrollment place. That is, this statement must be made by a doctor of sufficient rank. The reimbursement level for cross-province temporary out-of-town medical treatment personnel shall maintain a reasonable difference from that of institutions of the same level in the enrollment place. That is, for the same illness treated elsewhere, the amount reimbursed will be a notch less than at home.

Notes

"Temporary out-of-town medical treatment" and "long-term residence in another place" are two different types of registration, with different reimbursement levels. For how to register and which illnesses can be settled directly, see Section 16. Do not first go elsewhere and then think about reimbursement afterward.

Source

General Office of the State Council (2026). Several Measures on Accelerating the Construction of the Hierarchical Diagnosis and Treatment System. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031… : "In principle, the necessity of patients' cross-coordinating-region and cross-province non-local medical treatment shall be assessed by personnel at or above the level of associate chief physician at secondary and tertiary hospitals." "Further strengthen the management and service of direct settlement for non-local medical treatment, and maintain a reasonable difference between the reimbursement level for cross-province temporary out-of-town medical treatment personnel and the reimbursement level of medical institutions of the same level in the enrollment place."

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031…

5. Stop treating tertiary hospitals as prescription pickup points; chronic diseases in stable phases should return to the grassroots level

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

Tertiary hospitals will mainly handle acute and critical illnesses and intractable diseases in the future. Follow-up visits for common illnesses and general outpatient visits for chronic diseases with stable conditions will be gradually reduced. General outpatient visits by the same group of experts will be moved to the community. If you still treat large hospitals as prescription pickup points, it will become increasingly difficult to get an appointment in the future.

Cost

No money required. The hard part is changing the habit of "only trusting large hospitals."

Benefit

Tertiary hospitals must focus on acute and critical illnesses and complex intractable diseases, and gradually and appropriately reduce general outpatient visits such as follow-up visits for common illnesses and chronic diseases with clear diagnoses and stable conditions. That is, appointment slots for such general outpatient visits will be gradually cut back according to circumstances. Higher-level hospitals will extend the general outpatient visits of expert teams to the grassroots level. That is, general outpatient visits by the same group of experts will be opened in the community.

Notes

This is the policy direction, not a suggestion. In the future, general outpatient visits at large hospitals will become increasingly difficult to get. For chronic diseases in stable phases, 12 weeks of medication can be prescribed at one time at the grassroots level; see Section 16.

Source

General Office of the State Council (2026). Several Measures on Accelerating the Construction of the Hierarchical Diagnosis and Treatment System. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031… : "Tertiary hospitals shall focus on acute and critical illnesses and complex intractable diseases, strengthen referral consultation and inpatient services, and gradually and appropriately reduce general outpatient visits such as follow-up visits for common illnesses and chronic diseases with clear diagnoses and stable conditions." "Higher-level hospitals within tightly integrated medical consortia shall open outpatient clinics for common and chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at primary-level medical and health institutions, provide diagnosis, treatment, and health management services, and extend the general outpatient visits of expert teams to primary-level medical and health institutions."

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031…

6. After every medical visit, keep a copy of the medical records, examination reports, and imaging yourself

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

Reviewing and copying your own medical records is a right granted to you by law. Outpatient medical records, inpatient records, laboratory sheets, imaging, surgery and anesthesia records, pathology materials, and expense lists can all be copied. Hospitals have dedicated windows to handle this and may only charge the cost of materials. When changing hospitals, having another doctor take another look, claiming commercial insurance, or if a dispute actually arises, all rely on this stack of materials.

Cost

No money required. Hospital photocopying may charge the cost of materials according to regulations, and the fee standard must be made public. The hard part is remembering to go copy a set after every medical visit.

Benefit

Regulations explicitly list reviewing and copying medical records as a patient's right. The scope covers all materials including outpatient medical records, inpatient records, laboratory sheets, medical imaging, surgery and anesthesia records, pathology materials, and medical expenses. When changing hospitals, having a second doctor take another look, claiming commercial insurance, or if a dispute actually arises, all rely on these.

Notes

There is a dedicated window for photocopying; you do not need to beg the doctor. For the list to be copied, directly recite Article 16 of the *Regulations on the Prevention and Handling of Medical Disputes*. First are outpatient medical records, inpatient records, temperature sheets, order sheets, laboratory sheets, and imaging materials. Then are surgery and anesthesia records, pathology materials, nursing records, and medical expense lists. After receiving them, store them in a folder in chronological order. The most important among them are the discharge summary, surgery records, pathology reports, and key imaging. Record the successive indicators of chronic diseases in the same notebook; see Section 16.

Source

State Council (2018). Regulations on the Prevention and Handling of Medical Disputes (State Council Order No. 701) Article 16: "Patients have the right to review and copy all materials belonging to medical records, including their outpatient medical records, inpatient records, temperature sheets, order sheets, laboratory sheets (test reports), medical imaging examination materials, special examination consent forms, surgery consent forms, surgery and anesthesia records, pathology materials, nursing records, medical expenses, and other materials specified by the competent health department of the State Council." "If a patient requests to copy medical record materials, the medical institution shall provide copying services and affix a certification mark on the copied medical record materials... may charge the cost of materials, and the fee standard shall be made public." "If the patient dies, their close relatives may, in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, review and copy the medical record materials." Article 15: "No unit or individual may alter, forge, conceal, destroy, or seize medical record materials." https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2018-08/31/content_531… ; National Health and Family Planning Commission, National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2013). Regulations on the Management of Medical Records in Medical Institutions (2013 Edition): Medical institutions "shall designate a department or full-time (part-time) personnel responsible for accepting applications to copy medical record materials," and copying shall be conducted in the presence of the applicant and affixed with a certification mark. http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2014/content_2600084.htm

7. If you have doubts about diagnosis and treatment, demand on the spot that the medical records be sealed, with both parties present, a list made, and each holding one copy

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

If you have doubts about treatment, you can request that the medical records be sealed. Sealing requires both the doctor and patient to be present, a list to be made, signatures and seals affixed, and each party to take one copy. If the medical records are not yet finished, first seal the completed portion. If you suspect a problem caused by infusion, blood transfusion, injection, or medication, that bag of fluid, that dose of medication, and the infusion set must be sealed together.

Cost

No money required. Raise the sealing request with the hospital and wait for both the doctor and patient to be present to complete the procedures. The hard part is saying this sentence in front of the doctor.

Benefit

The Regulations provide that "when medical record materials need to be sealed or unsealed due to a medical dispute, it shall be conducted in the presence of both the doctor and patient." What is sealed may be the original or a copy, kept by the medical institution. If the medical records are not yet completed and need to be sealed, the completed portion shall be sealed first, and the rest sealed after completion. The medical institution shall make a sealing list for the sealed medical records, signed or sealed by both the doctor and patient, with each holding one copy. If adverse consequences are suspected to be caused by infusion, blood transfusion, injection, medication, etc., both the doctor and patient shall jointly seal and unseal the on-site physical items. If testing is needed, it shall be jointly commissioned by both parties to an institution qualified to test. If the two parties cannot jointly commission one, it shall be designated by the health department of the county-level people's government where the medical institution is located. If adverse consequences are suspected to be caused by blood transfusion and the blood needs to be sealed, the medical institution shall notify the blood station to send personnel to the scene. There is another hard constraint: "No unit or individual may alter, forge, conceal, destroy, or seize medical record materials." After sealing, if the dispute has been resolved, or if no request for resolution has been raised again for 3 years, the medical institution may unseal on its own (nationwide, effective from October 1, 2018).

Notes

Sealing and copying are two different things. Copying is something you should do routinely; see Section 6 (keep a copy of medical records and imaging yourself). Sealing is fixing the evidence when a dispute occurs, guarding against later supplementation and modification. If you suspect a problem caused by infusion, blood transfusion, or medication, besides the medical records, also seal together that bag of fluid, that dose of medication, and the infusion set; do not let anyone take them away and throw them out. Medical institutions shall publish in a prominent position the resolution channels, procedures, and contact information for medical disputes, and set up a unified complaint management department. If there is a problem, look for that department first, and do not argue with the doctor on duty.

Source

State Council (2018). Regulations on the Prevention and Handling of Medical Disputes (State Council Order No. 701, Articles 15, 24, and 25). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2018-08/31/content_531…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2018-08/31/content_531…

8. For acute and severe injuries or illnesses, go straight to the emergency triage desk, do not queue at the registration window

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

The emergency department does not go by first come, first served; it ranks by severity of condition into four levels. The place where the level is determined is the triage desk at the emergency entrance, not the registration window. If you do not go to triage, you have no level in the system, and no matter how severe your injury, you can only slowly shuffle along with the queue. When you arrive, first report the most dangerous item: heavy bleeding, inability to breathe, unclear consciousness, something stuck in the body, or pressing chest pain.

Cost

No money required. Walk a few extra steps at the entrance to find the triage desk. State the most life-threatening symptom clearly in one sentence.

Benefit

The National Health Commission's 2024 edition of emergency medicine quality control indicators stipulates that emergency triage shall "divide patients into four levels according to the severity of their condition." "Level I is acute and critical patients, who need immediate treatment." "Level II is acute and severe patients, for whom assessment and treatment are often carried out simultaneously." "Level III is acute patients, who need diagnosis and treatment within a short time." "Level IV is non-acute patients or subacute patients, who are seen in order in the general treatment area." Emergency triage means that upon entering the emergency department, a dedicated person first assesses the severity of the condition and determines the order of treatment. Beijing's implementation standards give the response requirements for each level. Level 1: "immediately conduct assessment and treatment, and arrange for the patient to enter the resuscitation room or rescue room." Level 2: "immediately monitor vital signs, receive treatment within 10 minutes, and arrange for the patient to enter the rescue room." Level 3: "give priority to diagnosis and treatment before Level 4 patients, and arrange for the patient to wait in the general treatment area; if the waiting time is greater than 30 minutes, reassessment is required." Level 4: "be seen in order; unless the condition changes, the waiting time is relatively long; if the waiting time is greater than 4 hours, reassessment may be conducted." Triage must "adhere to the principle of giving priority to acute and critical patients," and a triage area should be set up at a prominent position at the entrance of the emergency department (the four-level standard is the national scope; the response times are Beijing standards).

Notes

The four-level division is nationally unified. How long each level takes to receive treatment is set by each province and city itself; this Beijing version is one that can be checked word for word. The level is determined by indicators such as heartbeat, blood pressure, and blood oxygen, as well as symptoms, not by how much pain you feel. The hard indicators for Level 1 include the following. First, heart rate greater than 180 beats/min, or less than 40 beats/min. Second, systolic pressure below 70 mmHg; systolic pressure is the high pressure in a blood pressure reading. Third, blood oxygen below 80%. Fourth, shock, confirmed myocardial infarction, or acute disturbance of consciousness. If you feel triage has assigned you too low a level, then add and clearly state the most dangerous symptom. If your condition changes while waiting, immediately return to the triage desk for reassessment. When truly critical, calling 120 is faster than going yourself; pre-hospital doctors will first assign a level according to the same set of standards and notify the hospital in advance to prepare to receive the patient (see Section 13).

Source

General Office of the National Health Commission (2024). Notice on Issuing the Medical Quality Control Indicators for 6 Specialties Including Emergency Medicine (2024 Edition) (Guo Wei Ban Yi Zheng Han [2024] No. 150), Attachment 1, Indicator 4 "Execution Rate of Emergency Graded Triage." https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202405/content_6951260… ; Beijing Municipal Health Commission (2019). Work Plan of Beijing Municipality for Strengthening Emergency Triage and Grading and Attachment "Beijing Municipality Hospital Emergency Triage and Grading Standards (Trial)": "Adhere to the principle of giving priority to acute and critical patients. According to the severity of patients' conditions, follow the principle from severe to mild and from rapidly changing conditions to relatively stable ones, and reasonably arrange the order of patient treatment." "Set up an emergency triage area at a prominent position at the entrance of the emergency department." http://wjw.beijing.gov.cn/zwgk_20040/ylws/201912/t20191216_…

9. If you have no money, no identification, or cannot clearly say who you are, the emergency department must still save you first

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

The state has a disease emergency relief fund specifically to pay the emergency treatment costs of two kinds of people: those whose identity cannot be verified, and those whose identity is clear but who cannot afford to pay. Medical institutions may not refuse, deflect, or delay treatment for any reason. Emergency centers may also not refuse or delay dispatch due to cost issues. So do not tough it out at home just because you have no money on you, and do not be afraid to call an ambulance because you fear owing fees. This money only covers the emergency segment; subsequent inpatient treatment still goes through medical insurance and medical assistance.

Cost

No money required.

Benefit

The relief targets of the disease emergency relief system are "patients who suffer acute, severe, or critical injuries or illnesses within China and need emergency treatment but whose identity is unclear or who are unable to pay the corresponding fees." The fund pays two types of expenses: "emergency expenses incurred by patients whose identity cannot be verified," and "emergency expenses owed by patients whose identity is clear but who are unable to pay." The document also states that "medical institutions of all levels and types and their staff must promptly and effectively rescue patients with acute, severe, or critical injuries or illnesses, and may not refuse, deflect, or delay treatment for any reason." There are also rules for the pre-hospital segment: the national pre-hospital medical emergency call number is "120." Emergency centers (stations) "may not refuse, deflect, or delay pre-hospital medical emergency services for command and dispatch reasons," and also "may not refuse or delay pre-hospital medical emergency services for cost reasons." Transport follows "the principles of nearest, most urgent, meeting professional needs, and taking into account patient wishes" (nationwide, since 2013).

Notes

The fund only covers the "emergency expenses" segment. Moreover, it is treat first, and afterward the medical institution applies to the fund; it is not that you go to a window to collect money. Those with medical insurance still go through medical insurance first as usual. Application procedures and limits differ across provinces. In the transport principles, "nearest" and "most urgent" come before "patient wishes," so the ambulance may not take you to the hospital you designate; when critical, the nearest one capable of handling the case prevails. If the portion you pay yourself afterward is still too heavy, go through medical assistance; see Section 7, Item 10 (medical assistance).

Source

General Office of the State Council (2013). Guiding Opinions on Establishing the Disease Emergency Relief System (Guo Ban Fa [2013] No. 15). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2013-03/01/content_606… ; National Health and Family Planning Commission (2014). Measures for the Management of Pre-hospital Medical Emergency (Commission Order No. 3, Articles 13, 22, 23, and 25). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2014/content_2580977.htm

10. Disability assessment should be done after treatment ends; doing it too early will result in a lower grade

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money Low; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

How much compensation you get mainly depends on what grade you are assessed at, and what grade you are assessed at depends on how much functional impairment remains after treatment is finished. The standard clearly states that it should be done after treatment ends, or after the clinical treatment effect has stabilized. If you rush to get assessed before the bones have healed or before the steel plate has been removed, you will be assessed based on how things look at that time, which is equivalent to lowering the grade yourself. Ordinary fractures that heal without affecting function cannot be assessed as disabled.

Cost

The assessment fee ranges from several hundred to two thousand yuan, and is generally advanced by the party who applies. You have to wait until treatment ends, or the clinical effect stabilizes, usually three to six months after injury, sometimes longer. The hard part is that when the injury is not yet fully healed, you want to settle it quickly, and you have to hold back.

Benefit

The Classification of Disability Degrees Caused by Human Injury stipulates that the timing of assessment "should be after the end of treatment of the primary injury and its definitely related complications, or after the clinical treatment effect has stabilized." The standard "divides the degree of disability caused by human injury into 10 grades, from grade one (human disability rate 100%) to grade ten (human disability rate 10%), with each grade differing by 10% in disability rate." The basis for judgment is "the degree of structural damage to human tissues and organs, functional impairment, and dependence on medical care and nursing, with appropriate consideration of the impact of social interaction and psychological factors caused by disability." The provisions in grade ten related to fractures include the following. First, "compression fracture of one vertebral body (compression degree reaching 1/3) or comminuted fracture." Second, "two or more fractures of the pelvis or comminuted fracture, with malunion." Third, "loss of more than 25% of function in any major joint of the limbs (excluding the ankle joint)." Disabilities of the same site and nature shall not be counted repeatedly. Where there are two or more disabilities, the grades shall be stated separately (nationwide, effective from January 1, 2017).

Notes

The three sets of disability assessments are not interchangeable, so do not mix them up. For being beaten and injured, traffic accidents, and other personal injuries, judicial assessment follows the Classification of Disability Degrees Caused by Human Injury, and is used to calculate disability compensation (see Section 9). Work-related injuries follow labor capacity assessment, which uses another set of ten disability grades and governs work-related injury benefits (see Section 19). To enjoy policy benefits for persons with disabilities, you need to separately apply for a disability certificate (see Article 11, Disability Certificate). Before assessment, prepare medical records, surgical records, and follow-up imaging (see Article 6, Keep a copy of medical records and imaging yourself); missing imaging is the most common reason for a lowered grade. When the current injury is mixed with pre-existing old problems, the assessment opinion must also state how much the current injury contributes to the disability consequences. This column directly affects how much compensation you get.

Sources

Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of State Security, Ministry of Justice (2016). Announcement on Issuing the Classification of Disability Degrees Caused by Human Injury (issued April 18, 2016, effective January 1, 2017), Articles 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 5.10.6, and 6.2 of the standard. https://www.moj.gov.cn/pub/sfbgw/zwxxgk/fdzdgknr/fdzdgknrtz…

https://www.moj.gov.cn/pub/sfbgw/zwxxgk/fdzdgknr/fdzdgknrtz…

11. If functional impairment indeed remains after treatment, apply to the county-level disabled persons' federation at your place of household registration for a disability certificate

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money Low; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Medium

The disability certificate is the threshold for receiving benefits for persons with disabilities, not proof of injury. It is divided into seven categories: visual, hearing, speech, physical, intellectual, mental, and multiple, with each category ranging from grade one to grade four. The process is application, acceptance, assessment at a designated institution, public announcement, review and approval, and issuance. It is valid for ten years and can be renewed free of charge upon expiration. If you do not qualify, you do not qualify; this is not something that can be obtained by asking a favor from an acquaintance.

Cost

The certificate itself does not charge a production fee. The assessment fee and photo fee are in principle paid by oneself, and those with difficulties may apply for reduction or exemption. Bring your ID card, household register, and 3 two-inch photos with a white background to the county-level disabled persons' federation at your place of household registration. After passing the assessment, it is publicly announced in the village (community) for 5 working days, and the disabled persons' federation completes the review within 10 working days. The hard part is making these trips and waiting this period of time.

Benefit

The disability certificate "is the legal proof for identifying a person with disabilities and their disability category and disability grade, and is an important basis for persons with disabilities to enjoy preferential policies of the state and local governments according to law." The assessment standard is the national standard Classification and Grading of Disabilities of Persons with Disabilities (GB/T 26341-2010). Applying for the certificate adheres to voluntary application and territorial management. Persons with any of the seven categories of disability—visual, hearing, speech, physical, intellectual, mental, and multiple—may apply, and disability grades are one to four. The county-level disabled persons' federation is responsible for accepting applications and issuing certificates, based on assessment conclusions made by hospitals or professional institutions designated by the provincial level. If the assessment conclusion meets the standard, it is publicly announced in the village (community) for five working days, and the county-level disabled persons' federation "completes the review within ten working days." "No production fee is charged for processing a disability certificate." Assessment and photo fees "are in principle borne by the applicant personally; where conditions permit, local finance may provide subsidies, and for applicants with special difficulties, relevant departments should be coordinated to reduce or exempt them." The certificate is valid for ten years and can be renewed free of charge upon expiration. If the disability category or grade changes, one may apply for reassessment. If there is objection to the assessment conclusion, one may apply to the prefecture-level disabled persons' federation for reassessment within ten working days. If there is still objection, the provincial expert committee on disability assessment makes the final conclusion (nationwide, effective from January 1, 2018).

Notes

Before applying, do the math first. The certificate itself does not directly pay money. What it connects to are the two subsidies for persons with disabilities: persons with disabilities in low-income households receive a living subsidy, and those in grades one and two who need long-term care receive a nursing subsidy; see Section 7, Article 8 (Two Subsidies). The certificate also connects to local rehabilitation, assistive devices, taxes and fees, employment, and transportation benefits. These standards vary greatly among provinces, so first check clearly on the local disabled persons' federation website, then decide whether to make the trip. It, the disability grade in judicial assessment, and the labor capacity assessment for work-related injuries are three different things and do not replace one another (see Article 10, Disability assessment should be done after treatment ends). The certificate may only be used by the person themselves and must not be lent. If the disability condition no longer meets the standard, it will be canceled, and within one year after cancellation one may not reapply. For multiple disabilities, the grade is determined according to the most severe category.

Sources

China Disabled Persons' Federation, National Health and Family Planning Commission (2017). Measures for the Administration of Disability Certificates of the People's Republic of China (issued May 27, 2017, effective January 1, 2018; Articles 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 17, 19, 22, and 25). https://www.bdpf.org.cn/cms68/web1459/subject/n1/n1459/n150…

https://www.bdpf.org.cn/cms68/web1459/subject/n1/n1459/n150…

12. Thank the doctor who saved you through thank-you letters, banners, and satisfaction evaluations, not red envelopes: the rules prohibit property, not gratitude

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Low; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

Trying to buy "priority" by slipping money beforehand will not work: appointment slots, beds, scarce medicines and consumables, and arrangements for examinations and surgeries are by nature prohibited from being exchanged for benefits. If afterward you want to thank someone who saved your life, you should thank them, but the method must change: accepting your cigarettes, alcohol, or red envelope puts the other person in a position of violation. There are three ways of thanking that can truly reach them: seriously fill out a satisfaction evaluation once, write a thank-you letter naming the person, or send a banner, and follow medical advice for follow-up visits.

Cost

No money. Writing a thank-you letter, or filling one out once on a satisfaction platform, takes about ten minutes.

Benefit

The Nine Guidelines for Honest Practice by Staff of Medical Institutions (Guo Wei Yi Fa [2021] No. 41), item seven: "Maintain order in diagnosis and treatment, and do not undermine fairness in seeking medical care. Adhere to the principle of equality and jointly build a fair medical environment. It is strictly prohibited to use medical resources such as appointment slots, bed sources, and scarce medicines and consumables, or diagnostic and treatment arrangements such as examinations and surgeries, to accept benefits and harm the public interest for private gain." Item eight: "Jointly build harmonious relationships, and do not accept 'red envelopes' from patients. Strictly observe medical ethics and self-discipline." The same item also states: "It is strictly prohibited to ask for or accept property such as gifts, gift money, consumption cards, and securities, equity, and other financial products from patients and their relatives and friends." The same applies to meals and entertainment paid for by the patient side: "It is strictly prohibited to participate in banquets or arranged activities such as travel, fitness, and entertainment arranged, organized, or paid for by them." The document also requires medical institutions to implement their main responsibilities, carry out supervision, and "resolutely investigate and handle violations." Satisfaction evaluation has been written into the performance assessment of tertiary public hospitals. The basis is the Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Strengthening the Performance Assessment of Tertiary Public Hospitals (Guo Ban Fa [2019] No. 4). The document says: "The performance assessment indicator system for tertiary public hospitals consists of indicators in 4 aspects: medical quality, operational efficiency, sustainable development, and satisfaction evaluation." The document also states: "Hospital satisfaction consists of two parts: patient satisfaction and medical staff satisfaction..." It then says that "through satisfaction evaluations of outpatients, inpatients, and medical staff, [it] measures patients' sense of gain and medical staff's enthusiasm." This evaluation also has a unified national platform: "The state establishes a satisfaction management system for public hospitals..." The timetable is: "By the end of March 2019, all tertiary public hospitals nationwide shall be included in the National Health Commission satisfaction survey platform. All localities shall use the National Health Commission satisfaction survey platform and incorporate the survey results into the performance assessment of tertiary public hospitals." Hospitals must also handle complaints. The basis is Article 2 of the Measures for the Administration of Complaints in Medical Institutions (National Health Commission Order No. 3, effective 2019). Complaint management refers to patients "raising opinions, suggestions, or complaint requests" regarding medical service behavior, medical management, medical quality and safety, and other aspects. Hospitals must be responsible for investigation, handling, and feedback. "Medical institutions at or above the second level shall establish a doctor-patient relations office or designate a department (hereinafter collectively referred to as the complaint management department) to uniformly undertake complaint management work." The duties of the complaint management department include "uniformly accepting complaints, investigating and verifying complaint matters, proposing handling opinions, and promptly replying to patients." Medical institutions "shall encourage staff to actively collect patients' opinions and suggestions on medical services, medical quality and safety, and other aspects" (nationwide).

Notes

The beneficiary is yourself, and also the person who saved you. This article does not advocate "expressing nothing at all." After an all-night rescue, wanting to thank someone is human nature; only the form needs to change. Red envelopes and cigarettes and alcohol shift the risk to the other person, while thank-you letters, banners, and satisfaction evaluations are the path recognized by the system. If you have already given something and the other person pushes it back, do not take it as嫌 little or putting on airs; that is an action they must take. Also distinguish two things clearly: giving doctors red envelopes falls under industry discipline and hospital management, while giving property to case-handling or law enforcement personnel is the crime of bribery under criminal law. The two are not on the same scale; for the latter, see Section 8, Article 40. Writing thank-you letters and sending banners are generally accepted by hospitals, but "it will go into personal and departmental records" is a matter of experience and has no documentary basis. What has documentary basis is that satisfaction survey results are incorporated into the performance assessment of tertiary public hospitals. When you have doubts about diagnosis and treatment itself, the action is to request sealing of medical records on the spot (see Article 7 of this section, Seal Medical Records), and retain medical records and imaging (Article 6, Keep a copy of medical records and imaging yourself).

Sources

National Health Commission, National Healthcare Security Administration, National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2021). Notice on Issuing the Nine Guidelines for Honest Practice by Staff of Medical Institutions (Guo Wei Yi Fa [2021] No. 41). State Council Gazette http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2022/content_5678098.htm ; General Office of the State Council (2019). Opinions on Strengthening the Performance Assessment of Tertiary Public Hospitals (Guo Ban Fa [2019] No. 4). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-01/30/content_536… ; National Health Commission (2019). Measures for the Administration of Complaints in Medical Institutions (Commission Order No. 3). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-10/08/content_543…

Evidence levels: A · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 25 · 10 suggestions

What to Do After Someone Dies

[[High-Value Life Guide]]

Scope: money. This section covers only two things: how to handle the paperwork, and how to get the money. What to do first when someone has just died. Which expenses have a checklist you can verify against. Which money in which accounts can be withdrawn. Which matters close relatives have the right to handle. The first five items are ordered by the sequence in which things happen: first the scene, then the death certificate, then the body and cremation, then what to do if you dispute the cause of death, and finally canceling the household registration. The later items are ordered by cost-effectiveness. Arrangements the elderly should make while alive, such as designated guardianship, wills, and accounts, are in Section 17. The three benefits for a work-related death are in Section 19. The funeral and burial part is based on the new version of the Regulations on the Administration of Funeral and Burial Affairs, effective March 30, 2026. How much the old-age insurance funeral subsidy and survivor pension are paid out is separately stipulated by the human resources and social security department. This time the original text that could be verified word for word was not obtained, so the main text does not state specific amounts.

1. When someone dies at home or outside, first determine whether it is a normal death or an abnormal death: for accidents, unclear causes of death, or deaths discovered only after living alone, call the police immediately, and do not touch the body or the scene

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

For accidental deaths, deaths where you don't know how the person died, or deaths discovered only after living alone for a long time, only the public security authorities can issue the death certificate. If the scene has been disturbed, things cannot be explained clearly, and the certificate is hard to issue. If you cannot get this piece of paper, everything afterward—cremation, canceling the household registration, insurance claims—will be blocked. If you cannot tell which type it is, call 110 first. After the police arrive and finish investigating, they will still issue the certificate.

Cost

No money. One phone call is enough.

Benefit

Article 8, paragraph 2 of the Household Registration Regulations: "If a citizen dies as a result of an accident or the cause of death is unknown, the head of household or the person who discovers it shall immediately report to the local public security police station or the township or town people's committee." This means: if there is an accident, or you do not know how the person died, the head of household and the person who discovered it must immediately report to the police station or the township or town government. Article 23 of the Regulations on the Administration of Funeral and Burial Affairs: "If a natural person dies a normal death, the medical and health institution shall issue a death certificate in a timely manner. For a deceased person in an abnormal death case (or incident) that involves handling by the public security organ according to law and has not received treatment from a medical and health institution, the public security organ shall issue the death certificate." This means: for a normal death from illness, the medical institution that treated the person issues the death certificate. For cases not treated by a hospital and handled by the public security authorities, the public security authorities issue it. For an abnormal death, only the public security authorities can issue the death certificate. If the scene has been disturbed, it is both hard to explain and hard to issue. Cremation, canceling the household registration, and insurance claims afterward all get stuck on this one piece of paper.

Notes

Long-term bedridden illness and dying at home count as normal deaths. Find the institution that treated the person during life to issue the certificate, or you can also go to the community health service center or township health center for the area where the residence is located. Whoever treated the person issues the death certificate; see Section 2 (Death Certificate). If you cannot tell which type it is, treat it as abnormal and call 110 first. After the police arrive and investigate, they can still issue the certificate. Conversely, if you clean up the scene before calling the police, no one can help you. Do not move the body yourself. Do not wipe, wash, or change the person's clothes. Do not remove medicine bottles or notes.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (1958). Household Registration Regulations of the People's Republic of China (Article 8). http://www.gd.gov.cn/zwgk/wjk/zcfgk/content/mpost_2531969.html (published on the portal website of the People's Government of Guangdong Province); State Council (2026). Regulations on the Administration of Funeral and Burial Affairs (State Council Order No. 824, effective March 30, 2026, Article 23). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202601/content_7054169…

2. The death certificate is the key to everything that follows: whoever treated the person issues it, for a normal death at home find the community health service institution, and it is issued within one day

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

If the person died in a hospital, find the one responsible for treatment to issue the death certificate. If the person died a normal death at home, find the community health service institution or township health center for the area where the residence is located. If the cause of death is clear, it is issued within one day. Canceling the household registration, cremation, withdrawing the housing provident fund, claiming social security benefits, insurance claims, and handling inheritance all require it. Once you get it, make several photocopies first.

Cost

No money.

Benefit

The Norms for the Registration and Management of Population Death Information (Trial) says: for deaths inside a medical and health institution, the certificate is "issued by the medical and health institution responsible for treatment." That is, if the person died in a hospital or health center, find the one responsible for treatment to issue it. For normal deaths at home or in other places, it is "issued by the community health service institution or township (street) health center in the jurisdiction." That is, find the community health service center or township or street health center for the area where the residence is located. If the public security or judicial authorities determine it is an abnormal death, it is handled by the public security or judicial departments according to current regulations and procedures. A 2026 notice from five departments says: the "paper version and electronic certificate of the Certificate of Death have the same legal effect," and the electronic one is as valid as the paper one. For a normal death where the cause is already clear, it should be issued within one day after death occurs. If the certificate is lost, you can apply to the original issuing institution for one reissue. If the basic information is incorrect, you can apply with materials for one reissuance.

Notes

Canceling the household registration, cremation, withdrawing the housing provident fund, claiming social security benefits, insurance claims, and handling inheritance all require it. Once you get it, make several photocopies first. If an electronic certificate can be issued, apply for that as well. There is only one chance for reissue, so do not lose the original. If the name or ID number is wrong, correct it on the spot. If you only discover it when handling inheritance, you will have to run through every window all over again.

Sources

General Office of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (2014). Norms for the Registration and Management of Population Death Information (Trial) (Guo Wei Ban Gui Hua Fa [2014] No. 68, Article 9). https://mzj.sz.gov.cn/szmz/pc/zwgk/jcxxgk/zcfg/byfw/content… (forwarded by the Shenzhen Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau); National Health Commission, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Civil Affairs, National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Disease Control and Prevention Administration (2026). Notice on Strengthening the Registration and Management of Residents' Medical Certificates of Death Information and Electronic Certificates (Guo Wei Gui Hua Fa [2026] No. 5). https://wjw.fujian.gov.cn/xxgk/fgwj/gjwj/202602/t20260228_7… (forwarded by the Fujian Provincial Health Commission)

3. Body transport, storage, and cremation can only go through a funeral parlor; hospital mortuaries do not handle funeral services, and storage generally does not exceed 3 days

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

Transport, storage, preservation, cosmetic restoration, and cremation can only be done by a funeral parlor. Hospital mortuaries do not handle funerals and at most allow the body to be temporarily placed. Funeral parlors generally store bodies for no more than 3 days; if you need more days, you must go through an extension procedure. Cremation requires a death certificate and a cremation confirmation. The cremation certificate given after cremation is also needed for inheritance and insurance claims.

Cost

No money.

Benefit

Article 25 of the Regulations on the Administration of Funeral and Burial Affairs: "Body transport, storage, preservation, cosmetic restoration, and cremation services shall be provided exclusively by funeral parlors." These things cannot be done by others. Article 24: "Mortuaries of medical and health institutions shall not be outsourced, shall not carry out funeral services, and may provide convenient services for the temporary placement of bodies." Hospital mortuaries can only temporarily hold the body and cannot handle funerals. Article 27: "Funeral parlors generally store bodies for no more than 3 days. If extended storage is needed, the bereaved family or the party transferring the body shall go through the extended storage procedures at the funeral parlor." If you need more days, go to the funeral parlor to handle an extension. Article 28: "Funeral parlors shall cremate bodies on the basis of the death certificate and cremation confirmation, and shall issue a cremation certificate." Neither of the two materials can be missing. After cremation, you will be given a cremation certificate. Article 29: "In areas where cremation is practiced, bodies shall be cremated locally and at the nearest funeral parlor." That is, find the nearest funeral parlor where the person died for cremation.

Notes

The "one-stop service" that rushes in after a hospital death is mostly not funeral parlor staff. Transport itself is a basic item and has a set price; see Section 6 (Basic Items Checklist). Keep the cremation certificate safe; it is needed for inheritance, insurance, and moving the ashes. Whether cremation or burial is practiced locally is designated by the provincial government. The funeral customs of ethnic minorities are protected by Article 9 of the regulations. If cremation should be practiced but burial is used instead, or if burial or grave-building occurs outside public cemeteries and ecological burial areas, the civil affairs department will order correction within a time limit, that is, order it to be changed back within a time limit.

Sources

State Council (2026). Regulations on the Administration of Funeral and Burial Affairs (State Council Order No. 824, effective March 30, 2026, Articles 8, 9, 24, 25, 27, 28, and 29). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202601/content_7054169…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202601/content_7054169…

4. If you dispute the cause of death, request an autopsy within 48 hours and simultaneously seal the medical records

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Benefit large

If you have doubts about the cause of death, you must request an autopsy within 48 hours after the person dies. If the hospital has freezing conditions, it can be extended to 7 days. The autopsy also requires the signature and consent of close relatives. If you do not sign, or keep delaying past the time limit, responsibility for the cause of death being unclear falls on the party that delayed. While requesting the autopsy, also demand that the medical records be sealed. Once the body is cremated, an autopsy can never be performed again.

Cost

No money. The hard part is remembering to raise it at that moment.

Benefit

The time limit for autopsy is written in Article 26 of the Regulations on the Prevention and Handling of Medical Disputes. The original text is: "If a patient dies and both the medical side and the patient side dispute the cause of death, an autopsy shall be conducted within 48 hours after the patient's death; if conditions for freezing the body are available, it may be extended to 7 days." That is, if you want to clarify the cause of death, an autopsy must be done within 48 hours after the person dies. If the hospital has freezing conditions, it can be relaxed to at most 7 days. The same article also says: "An autopsy shall be consented to and signed by the close relatives of the deceased; refusal to sign shall be deemed as the close relatives of the deceased not agreeing to the autopsy." If family members do not sign, it is treated as disagreement. It also says: "If disagreement or delay in autopsy exceeds the prescribed time and affects the determination of the cause of death, the party that disagreed or delayed shall bear responsibility." Whoever disagrees or delays past the time limit will bear responsibility if the cause of death cannot later be clarified. Article 24: sealing and unsealing medical record materials "shall be conducted with both the medical side and the patient side present." Both you and the hospital must be present when the medical records are sealed and opened.

Notes

After this time limit passes, if you then say "I felt something was wrong at the time," responsibility instead falls on the party that delayed. Once the body is cremated, there is no longer any possibility of autopsy. So this matter must be decided before contacting the funeral parlor. For how to seal medical records, see Section 24.

Sources

State Council (2018). Regulations on the Prevention and Handling of Medical Disputes (State Council Order No. 701, Articles 24 and 26). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2018-08/31/content_53180…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2018-08/31/content_53180…

5. Canceling household registration has a statutory time limit: before burial in cities, and within one month in rural areas

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit small

In cities, cancel the household registration before burial; in rural areas, within one month. Bring the death certificate and household register to the police station to handle it. If you delay, inheritance transfers, benefit claims, and insurance surrender will all get stuck on household registration status.

Cost

No money. Bring the death certificate and household register and make one trip to the police station.

Benefit

Article 8, paragraph 1 of the Household Registration Regulations: "When a citizen dies, in cities before burial and in rural areas within one month, the head of household, relatives, dependents, or neighbors shall report the death registration to the household registration authority and cancel the household registration. If a citizen dies in a temporary residence place, the household registration authority of the temporary residence place shall notify the household registration authority of the permanent residence place to cancel the household registration." This means: in cities, handle it before burial; in rural areas, handle it within one month. The person handling it can be the head of household, a relative, a dependent, or a neighbor. The place to handle it is the household registration authority, that is, the police station, to report the death and cancel the household registration. If the person died while temporarily staying elsewhere, the police station of the temporary residence place notifies the police station of the registered residence place to cancel the registration.

Notes

If the household registration remains active, inheritance transfers, benefit claims, and insurance surrender will all get stuck, because these windows all look at household registration status. If the pension continues to be paid, that is fraudulent collection and will eventually have to be returned. When you go to the police station, also ask clearly: how to stop social security and medical insurance benefits, and how to apply for the funeral subsidy. For those sums, see Section 9 (Housing Provident Fund Balance, Social Security Benefits).

Sources

http://www.gd.gov.cn/zwgk/wjk/zcfgk/content/mpost_2531969.html

6. Funeral and burial services are divided into basic items and non-basic items; basic items have a checklist, and charges are set according to law

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

Body transport, storage, farewell, cremation, ashes storage, and ecological burial are all on the national basic items checklist. Ash niche burial provided by public institutions is also included. The prices of these items are set according to regulations. Outside the checklist, no additional items may be created to charge money. Before setting out, first ask clearly which items count as basic items and what the local standards are, then discuss the rest.

Cost

No money. Spend a few minutes looking at the checklist before setting out.

Benefit

Body transport, body storage, body farewell, body cremation, ashes storage, and ecological burial are all on the national basic items checklist. Ash niche burial provided by government-run funeral and burial service institutions is also on the checklist. The charging standards for these items are set according to law, that is, prices are set according to regulations and are not decided by the funeral parlor itself. The non-basic items checklist is determined by the civil affairs department at or above the districted-city level, that is, by the civil affairs department at the prefecture level or above.

Notes

Provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government may add items on the basis of the national checklist. First ask clearly which items are basic items and what the local charging standards are, then discuss the rest. Wanting to handle a loved one's funeral with a bit more dignity is not wrong; this item does not urge people to keep things simple. This item solves only one thing: distinguishing which items are on the checklist and have prices fixed according to regulations, and which are optional. Once this line is clear, where the money is spent is still up to you, and only then is there something to say about the part that was overcharged while you were grieving.

Sources

State Council (2026). Regulations on the Administration of Funeral and Burial Affairs (State Council Order No. 824, revised and adopted at the 72nd executive meeting of the State Council on November 14, 2025, "effective March 30, 2026"). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202601/content_7054169… Article 5: "Funeral and burial services are divided into basic items and non-basic items, and the charging policy shall be formulated by the development and reform department and the finance department of the State Council together with the civil affairs and other departments of the State Council." "The state formulates a checklist of basic items for funeral and burial services, including body transport, body storage, body farewell, body cremation, ashes storage, ecological burial, and ash niche burial provided by government-run funeral and burial service institutions"; Article 50: "Funeral and burial services shall be managed by checklist and dynamically adjusted, and it is prohibited to create items or charge fees outside the checklist."

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202601/content_7054169…

7. If you encounter forced bundling, extra charges beyond the marked price, or splitting one item into several charges, write it down and complain

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Benefit medium

These are all price violations named in the regulations: not posting a price list, adding money beyond the marked price, bundling and forcing the sale of funeral supplies, and forcing you to accept another party's paid services. Splitting one item into several charges also counts as disguised price increase. On the spot, first ask for the price list, and keep the charging receipts and chat records. Complaining afterward is still in time. For price checks, go to market regulation; for funeral and burial services, go to civil affairs.

Cost

No money. The hard part is still being willing to insist on principle at that moment.

Benefit

The regulations list five types of price violations. Four of them are: failing to clearly mark prices, or adding charges beyond the marked price, that is, not posting a price list, or collecting more money than the marked price. Bundling or attaching unreasonable conditions to force sales, that is, if you do not buy this, they will not handle that. Forcing or disguisedly forcing acceptance of third-party paid services, that is, stuffing in another party's paid services. Disguisedly raising charging standards, that is, collecting more money under a different name. It also prohibits "disguisedly raising charging standards in the form of decomposing items, expanding the scope of charges, and other forms." That is, splitting one service into several separately charged items, or expanding the scope of charges outward.

Notes

Investigating and handling price violations falls to the market regulation department. Funeral and burial services themselves fall to the civil affairs department. On the spot, first ask for a price list. Keep the charging receipts and chat records. Going to complain afterward is still in time.

Sources

State Council (2026). Regulations on the Administration of Funeral and Burial Affairs (State Council Order No. 824, revised and adopted at the 72nd executive meeting of the State Council on November 14, 2025, "effective March 30, 2026"). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202601/content_7054169… Article 42: "Funeral and burial service institutions shall not, in violation of relevant provisions, arbitrarily create charging items, or disguisedly raise charging standards in the form of decomposing items, expanding the scope of charges, and other forms." Article 43 lists price violations including "(1) failing to clearly mark prices according to regulations, or adding charges beyond the marked price or collecting unmarked fees" "(3) adopting bundling, attaching unreasonable conditions, or unreasonable restrictions and other methods to force or disguisedly force the sale of funeral supplies, provision of funeral-related services, and collection of fees" "(4) forcing or disguisedly forcing bereaved families to accept third-party paid services, or using relevant service outlets to repeatedly collect fees"; Article 51 requires civil affairs departments to establish an information-sharing supervision mechanism with the government service convenience hotline, "and for funeral and burial service problems reported by bereaved families, they shall promptly handle them together with relevant departments and inform the bereaved families of the handling results."

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202601/content_7054169…

8. Intermediaries such as funeral agents, supply purchasing agents, and planning and hosting services must file with the county-level civil affairs department

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

Intermediaries such as funeral agents, supply purchasing agents, planning and hosting services, and information consulting must file with the county-level civil affairs department. Those that have not filed do not enter the civil affairs department's funeral and burial service information system. Whether you can check it yourself varies by place; the safest is to call the county-level civil affairs department and ask. Those who use deception to charge arbitrarily or resell the deceased's information will be dealt with according to law.

Cost

No money. Ask one question: have you filed?

Benefit

Intermediaries that have not filed are not in the funeral and burial service information system. This system is managed by the civil affairs department. Those who use deceptive means to charge in violation of regulations, induce lavish arrangements, force acceptance of services, or resell the deceased's information will be dealt with according to law. They will also be marked in the system and made public to society. That is, recorded in that system for everyone to see.

Notes

"Reselling the deceased's information" is the most common pitfall in this industry. If you receive a pile of sales calls right after finishing the procedures, it is very likely the information was resold. Online memorial platforms are regulated in the same way. Article 45 of the regulations does not allow them to induce consumption, nor to handle the deceased's information unlawfully.

Sources

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202601/content_7054169…

9. Money scattered in different places must be collected one by one: housing provident fund balance, social security benefits, work-related injury benefits

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Perseverance no; Benefit large

The money remaining in the person's housing provident fund account can be withdrawn by heirs and donees. This money is not in a bank account and will not automatically enter the estate distribution, so it is the easiest to miss. For a work-related death, there are additionally three sums: funeral subsidy, dependent relatives pension, and one-time work-related death subsidy. For the balance in the old-age insurance personal account and survivor benefits, ask the social security handling institution at the place of insurance participation.

Cost

No money, but you have to run to several windows. Before going, prepare the death certificate and proof of kinship.

Benefit

The balance in the housing provident fund account, that is, the money remaining in the person's provident fund account, can be withdrawn by heirs and donees. A donee is the person written into the will to receive things. For a work-related death, there are additionally three sums: funeral subsidy, dependent relatives pension, and one-time work-related death subsidy.

Notes

The provident fund sum is the most often forgotten. Because it is not in a bank account and will not automatically enter the estate distribution. For the money remaining in the old-age insurance personal account and the survivor benefits paid to family members, ask at the social security handling window at the place of insurance participation. The materials required vary by place. For the formal requirements of wills and inheritance, see Section 17.

Sources

State Council (2026). Regulations on the Administration of Housing Provident Funds (amended by State Council Order No. 844, effective September 20, 2026), last paragraph of Article 24. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2026/issue_12946/202608/content_… : "If an employee dies or is declared dead, the employee's heirs and donees may withdraw the remaining balance in the employee's housing provident fund account; if there are no heirs and no donees, the remaining balance in the employee's housing provident fund account shall be included in the value-added income of the housing provident fund."; for the three benefits in Article 39 of the Regulations on Work-Related Injury Insurance, see Section 19. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm ; TODO (to be verified: the inheritance rules for the balance of the basic old-age insurance personal account, and the specific standards for the funeral subsidy and survivor pension; the relevant documents from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security were not obtained this time)

10. For a deceased person's account and personal information, close relatives may request access, copying, correction, and deletion

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Discretion Free; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Medium

After a person passes away, close relatives may, for their own lawful and legitimate interests, request the platform to access, copy, correct, or delete the deceased's personal information. If the platform refuses, it must state its reasons. You can also file a lawsuit in court. There is one exception: if the deceased made other arrangements during their lifetime, such as designating an account heir or leaving clear wishes, follow those arrangements.

Cost

No money required. Only if the platform does not cooperate would you need to file a complaint or lawsuit.

Benefit

The law explicitly states: when a natural person dies, close relatives may, for their own lawful and legitimate interests, exercise the rights to access, copy, correct, and delete the deceased's relevant personal information. That is, you can request the platform to let you view, make a copy of, correct errors in, or delete their information.

Notes

The legal provision includes the phrase "unless the deceased made other arrangements during their lifetime." This means that if they designated an account heir or left clear wishes during their lifetime, follow what they left behind. So while the person is still lucid, it is worth writing down where the accounts and passwords should go, see Section 17. Account cancellation and deletion of personal information are two different things, see Section 14.

Source

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021). Personal Information Protection Law. NPC Observer. http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c2/c30834/202108/t20210820_313088… Article 49: "When a natural person dies, their close relatives may, for their own lawful and legitimate interests, exercise the rights to access, copy, correct, and delete the deceased's relevant personal information as provided in this Chapter; unless the deceased made other arrangements during their lifetime."; Article 50: "Personal information processors shall establish convenient mechanisms for accepting and handling applications for individuals to exercise their rights. If they refuse an individual's request to exercise their rights, they shall state the reasons" "Individuals may file a lawsuit with a people's court in accordance with the law"

http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c2/c30834/202108/t20210820_313088…

Evidence levels: A · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 26 · 11 suggestions

Building a Website or Platform: Qualifications, Filings, and Servers

[[A Cost-Effective Guide to Life]]

You want to build a website or an App. This section answers four things: what kind of business it legally counts as, which certificate you need to obtain, where to put the servers, and who is responsible for what users post and the money they collect on it. The framing is personal freedom and money. The order of the entries is: first the ones that land you in prison, then the ones requiring a certificate up front, then the things a platform must do every day, and the last entry is experience on choosing servers, which can only offer judgment, not numbers. If you are an employed technical staff member, the red lines are in Section 11. How to register a company and how to file taxes are in Section 12, and this section does not repeat them. For the comparison table of various certificates and the decision table for choosing servers, see docs/Which Certificates Are Needed to Run a Platform.md.

1. A platform should not collect money itself and then transfer it to sellers; let the money go through a licensed payment institution for direct settlement

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Framing Freedom; Money 0; Time Medium; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

If the buyer's money first enters your account and you then transfer it to the seller, you are running a payment business. To do this business you need approval from the People's Bank of China, and you also need to actually put up 100 million yuan in capital. If you do it without approval, you will be shut down, the money you earned will be confiscated, and you will also be fined; the boss and the person handling it will be fined separately. In serious cases there is also a prison sentence. There is only one safe approach: the money does not enter your account.

Cost

No money. It takes some time to integrate a licensed payment institution's product. A licensed payment institution is a company that has obtained a central bank payment license. Use its split-settlement or escrow transaction function so that the buyer's money is settled directly to the seller and does not enter the platform's own account.

Benefit

The payment business referred to by regulations is "transferring monetary funds according to electronic payment instructions submitted by the payee or payer." In plain terms, it means transferring money for others according to their instructions. To do this business, "one should obtain approval from the People's Bank of China and obtain a payment business license." The minimum registered capital is 100 million yuan, and it is paid-in monetary capital; this 100 million yuan must actually be deposited into the company account. "Those who, without lawful approval, establish a non-bank payment institution without authorization, engage in or disguisedly engage in payment business shall be banned according to law by the People's Bank of China, and illegal gains shall be confiscated." That is, anyone doing this without approval is directly shut down and the money earned is confiscated. If illegal gains are 500,000 yuan or more, an additional fine of 1 to 5 times the illegal gains is imposed. If there are no illegal gains or they are less than 500,000 yuan, the fine is 500,000 to 2 million yuan. The legal representative and the directly responsible persons are separately fined 100,000 to 500,000 yuan. Criminal law also treats "illegally engaging in fund payment and settlement business" as illegal business operation. If the circumstances are serious, the sentence is up to 5 years; if especially serious, more than 5 years. What counts as "serious circumstances" is drawn by the interpretation of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate. The line is illegal business amount of 5 million yuan or more, or illegal gains of 100,000 yuan or more (nationwide, from May 2024).

Notes

Designing things so the money does not enter your account is the only safe approach. On the market this kind of collection-and-payment on behalf of others is called "second clearing," but this term does not appear in official documents. The implementation rules use the phrase "disguisedly engaging in payment business," meaning transferring money for others according to user instructions without approval. The interpretation by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate lists only three situations: fabricating fake transactions to cash out, using unit accounts to cash out, and using checks to cash out. It does not name platform collection-and-payment on behalf of others. Therefore this entry is written according to the original text of the law and does not say "it definitely constitutes a crime."

Sources

State Council (2023). Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Non-Bank Payment Institutions (State Council Order No. 768, Articles 2, 6, 8, 27, 47). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2024/issue_11086/202401/content_… ; People's Bank of China (2024). Implementation Rules for the Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Non-Bank Payment Institutions (People's Bank of China Order [2024] No. 4, Article 68). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2024/issue_11546/202408/content_… ; National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Article 225, Item 3). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml ; Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate (2019). Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Illegally Engaging in Fund Payment and Settlement Business and Illegally Buying and Selling Foreign Exchange (Articles 1, 3, 4). https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbt/201901/t20190131_407161.…

2. A paid website needs a license, matchmaking transactions are another type of license, and free ones only need filing

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Framing Freedom; Money Much; Time Much; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

A website that charges users money must first obtain a value-added telecommunications business operating license. This license is issued only to companies; individuals cannot obtain it. A website that does not charge money only needs filing, and filing costs nothing. If you open a site and charge money without the license, your income will be confiscated and you will also be fined; in serious cases the site will be shut down. Whether your platform counts as the matchmaking transaction category is not decided for you in this entry; the reason is in the notes.

Cost

Filing costs nothing. The value-added telecommunications business operating license costs money; it governs "whether a website that charges users money can open." To obtain this license you first need a company. If operating only within a province, registered capital is no less than 1 million yuan. If operating across provinces, no less than 10 million yuan. The review period is 60 days, and the license is valid for 5 years.

Benefit

The original text of the regulation is: "The state applies a licensing system to commercial internet information services and a filing system to non-commercial internet information services. Those that have not obtained a license or completed filing procedures may not engage in internet information services." That is, those charging money must first obtain a license, those not charging money must first file, and without either they cannot open a site. What counts as commercial? The regulation says it is "service activities such as providing information or webpage production to internet users for compensation through the internet." Simply put, it means charging users money. The matchmaking transaction category is called online data processing and transaction processing business, abbreviated in the industry as EDI. The regulation defines it as follows: "Using various data and transaction/affairs processing application platforms connected to public communication networks or the internet to provide users with online data processing and transaction/affairs processing business through public communication networks or the internet." It also "includes transaction processing business, electronic data interchange business, and network/electronic device data processing business." This refers to a website processing data online for users, or matchmaking and handling transactions for buyers and sellers. Operating without the license, or operating beyond scope, both require confiscation of illegal gains and an additional fine of 3 to 5 times the illegal gains. Operating beyond scope means having obtained the license but doing things beyond the scope stated on it. If there are no illegal gains or they are less than 50,000 yuan, the fine is 100,000 to 1 million yuan. If the circumstances are serious, the website is ordered closed (nationwide).

Notes

Whether what you want to do is the EDI category is for you to match yourself against the definition in the Telecommunications Business Classification Catalog. There is no official sentence that explicitly says "an e-commerce platform with matchmaking and fund processing must obtain an EDI license." The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's service guide only says "apply for the corresponding telecommunications business operating license according to the business definition." Therefore this entry only lays out the definition and does not decide for you. One more point: this license cannot be obtained by an individual; the applicant must be a legally established company.

Sources

State Council (2000). Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services (State Council Order No. 292, second revision on December 6, 2024, Articles 3, 4, 7, 19). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1860864.htm ; State Council (2024). Decision on Amending and Repealing Some Administrative Regulations (State Council Order No. 797, Item 18). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2025/issue_11786/202501/content_… ; State Council (2000). Telecommunications Regulations (second revision in 2016, Articles 7, 9, 13, 69). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2016/content_5139478.htm ; Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (2017). Measures for the Administration of Telecommunications Business Operating Licenses (MIIT Order No. 42, Articles 6, 9, 11, 14). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2017/content_5240090.htm

3. Doing livestreaming requires a online culture business license; the license for audiovisual programs is basically unobtainable for private companies

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Framing Freedom; Money Much; Time Much; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

To do livestreaming or game commentary, you need a online culture business license issued by the provincial culture department. The business scope on the license must explicitly include online performance. A result comes within 20 days after acceptance, and the license lasts 3 years. Videos you have streamed must be kept by you for a full 60 days. If you open without the license, you will be ordered to stop, warned, and fined up to 30,000 yuan; if you do not stop, you go on the blacklist.

Cost

The online culture business license is commonly called the online culture certificate; it governs "whether you can make money from online performances such as livestreaming and game commentary." It is approved by the provincial cultural administrative department, a result is given within 20 days after acceptance, it is valid for 3 years, and you go to renew it 30 days before expiration. The audiovisual program license governs "whether programs can be shown online"; it requires the applicant to be a wholly state-owned or state-controlled unit, that is, a unit wholly funded or controlled by the state.

Benefit

Units doing online performances must first obtain the license. The original text of the regulation is: "shall, in accordance with the Interim Provisions on the Administration of Internet Culture, apply to the provincial cultural administrative department for a Online Culture Business License, and the business scope of the license shall explicitly include online performance." For those who play games for others to watch and explain, the regulation says "management shall be conducted with reference to these Measures," that is, they are also managed under this set. All video materials of online performances "shall be kept for no less than 60 days"; videos you have streamed must be kept by you for a full 60 days. Those who engage in commercial internet cultural activities without approval shall be ordered to stop, given a warning, and fined up to 30,000 yuan. Those who do not stop after being told shall be placed on the cultural market blacklist. Showing programs online is another license: "one shall obtain an Information Network Dissemination Audiovisual Program License." The applicant must "have legal person status and be a wholly state-owned or state-controlled unit," that is, it must be a unit wholly funded or controlled by the state; private companies basically cannot obtain it. Those who do it without this license shall be warned, ordered to correct, and may also be fined up to 30,000 yuan. If the circumstances are serious, punishment is according to the Regulations on Radio and Television Administration (nationwide).

Notes

Which business matches which license is written most clearly in the document by seven departments. A platform that makes money from livestreaming needs an online culture certificate plus ICP filing; ICP filing is the procedure for registering a website with MIIT. Those showing programs online need an audiovisual license, or must complete registration. Those publishing news need an internet news information service license. In addition, the Interim Provisions on the Administration of Internet Culture forwarded by the Chinese government website in 2025 publishes the unrevised original text from 2011; citations should be based on the current text of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Sources

Ministry of Culture (2016). Measures for the Administration of Online Performance Business Activities (Wen Shi Fa [2016] No. 33, Articles 2, 4, 6, 13, 20). https://zwgk.mct.gov.cn/zfxxgkml/scgl/202012/t20201206_9181… ; Ministry of Culture (2011). Interim Provisions on the Administration of Internet Culture (Ministry of Culture Order No. 51, revised in 2017 by Ministry of Culture Order No. 57, Articles 7, 8, 9, 16, 21, 28). https://zwgk.mct.gov.cn/zfxxgkml/zcfg/bmgz/202012/t20201204… ; State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, Ministry of Information Industry (2007). Provisions on the Administration of Internet Audiovisual Program Services (Order No. 56, revised in 2015, Articles 2, 7, 8, 24). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2022-08/23/content_5722664.htm ; Cyberspace Administration of China and six other departments (2021). Guiding Opinions on Strengthening the Standardized Management of Online Livestreaming (Guo Xin Ban Fa Wen [2021] No. 3, Item 9). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-02/10/content_558…

4. If the server is placed domestically, filing is required, and the access provider must itself hold a value-added telecommunications license

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Framing Freedom; Money 0; Time Medium; Perseverance No; Benefit Medium

If the server is placed domestically, filing is required before opening the site. Filing costs nothing, is submitted with the server at the service provider, and generally takes a few days to a few weeks. If you do not file, you will be ordered to correct within a time limit and fined 10,000 yuan; if you do not correct, the site is shut down. If the filing number is not displayed on the homepage, there is an additional fine of 5,000 to 50,000 yuan.

Cost

Filing costs nothing. It is submitted together with the server at the service provider, usually requiring a wait of a few days to a few weeks. Checking whether a service provider is qualified takes ten minutes.

Benefit

The original text of the regulation is: "Without filing, one may not engage in non-commercial internet information services within the territory of the People's Republic of China." That is, a website that does not charge users money must still file first as long as it is placed domestically. If it has not filed, it is ordered to correct within a time limit and fined 10,000 yuan. If it refuses to correct, the website is closed. The service provider that connects your server to the internet is also regulated: it "may not provide internet access services for organizations or individuals engaged in non-commercial internet information services without filing." The same applies to the service provider that collects money for you. The regulation says such service providers "may not provide access or fee collection on behalf of others and other services for units or individuals that have not obtained an operating license according to law or completed non-commercial internet information service filing procedures." This means that for sites with neither a license nor filing, legitimate service providers are not allowed to connect them. Furthermore, data center hosting and cloud hosts are called internet data center business in the regulations, and broadband access is called internet access service business; both themselves require licenses, and the service provider must first have a license. If the website homepage does not display the filing number, it is ordered to correct and fined 5,000 to 50,000 yuan (nationwide).

Notes

Before negotiating price, first check whether the service provider has a license. To check licenses, use MIIT's Telecommunications Business Market Comprehensive Management Information System at tsm.miit.gov.cn, searching by the company's full name or license number. To check website filing, use beian.miit.gov.cn. A "data center" without the corresponding license means that on the day something goes wrong, you will not even know whom to appeal to. Putting the machine overseas can indeed bypass filing. But if users are domestic and the money is domestic, none of the obligations written in Sections 5 to 10 of this section are reduced, and there is an extra layer of data cross-border cost.

Sources

Ministry of Information Industry (2005). Measures for the Administration of Filing for Non-Commercial Internet Information Services (MII Order No. 33, revised in 2024 by MIIT Order No. 68, Articles 5, 13, 18, 22). https://www.miit.gov.cn/gyhxxhb/jgsj/cyzcyfgs/bmgz/xxtxl/ar… ; Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (2017). Measures for the Administration of Telecommunications Business Operating Licenses (MIIT Order No. 42, Articles 20, 24). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2017/content_5240090.htm ; Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (2015). Telecommunications Business Classification Catalog (2015 Edition, B11, B14, B21, B25). https://www.miit.gov.cn/zwgk/zcwj/wjfb/tg/art/2020/art_e984…

5. If you let users come on and sell things, the platform must verify and register, report information, and retain it for three years

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Framing Freedom; Money 0; Time Much; Perseverance Some; Benefit Large

If you let others come onto your platform to sell things, you must first verify the seller's identity, address, contact information, and licenses, and then register and create a file. After the file is created, review it again at least every six months. Who the seller is must be reported to market regulation, and tax-related information must be reported to taxation every quarter. Goods and transaction records must be kept for three years. If you miss any one item, you are first ordered to correct; if you do not correct, you are fined 20,000 to 100,000 yuan.

Cost

No money. You need to do seller qualification verification in the backend and also create a registration file. Report tax-related information once each quarter, and keep transaction data for three years. The hard part is that it is year-round work, not something done once and finished.

Benefit

The law has a set of requirements for platforms. The original text is: "shall require operators applying to enter the platform to sell goods or provide services to submit true information such as their identity, address, contact information, and administrative licenses, conduct verification and registration, establish registration files, and regularly verify and update them." That is, before a seller enters, they must submit identity, address, contact information, and the licenses they should obtain. You must verify once, register and create a file, and after some time review again. How long is "regularly"? The departmental rule is more detailed: "verify and update at least once every six months." You must also report the identity information of operators on the platform to the market regulation department. Taxation also must be reported: the original text is "in accordance with the provisions of tax collection and administration laws and administrative regulations, report the identity information of operators on the platform and tax-related information to the tax department." In one sentence, who the seller is gets reported to market regulation, and the seller's identity and tax situation get reported to taxation. Goods and service information and transaction information "shall be kept for no less than three years from the date the transaction is completed," counting from the day a transaction is completed, and the data must be kept for at least three years. If any of the above is not done, you are ordered to correct within a time limit. If you fail to correct after the deadline, you are fined 20,000 to 100,000 yuan. If the circumstances are serious, you are ordered to suspend business for rectification and fined 100,000 to 500,000 yuan. Tax-related information must be reported "within the month following the end of the quarter," that is, reported in the month after each quarter ends. If it is not reported on time, the penalty is the same (nationwide).

Notes

Sellers themselves also need to go through market entity registration. The law lists several types that do not need it: "individuals selling self-produced agricultural sideline products and household handicraft products, individuals using their own skills to engage in convenience labor activities that do not require licenses according to law, and sporadic small-amount transaction activities." "Sporadic small-amount" has a specific number; Article 8 of the Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Online Transactions sets it at an annual transaction amount of 100,000 yuan. The platform also has two more things to do: mark registered and unregistered sellers separately, and not delete consumer reviews.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). E-Commerce Law (Articles 10, 27, 28, 31, 80). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf8af… ; State Administration for Market Regulation (2021). Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Online Transactions (State Administration for Market Regulation Order No. 37, Articles 8, 24, 25, 31). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2021/content_5602020.htm ; State Council (2025). Provisions on the Reporting of Tax-Related Information by Internet Platform Enterprises (State Council Order No. 810, Articles 2, 3, 4, 10). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2025/issue_12146/202507/content_… ; State Taxation Administration (2025). Announcement on Matters Concerning the Reporting of Tax-Related Information by Internet Platform Enterprises (State Taxation Administration Announcement No. 15 of 2025). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202506/content_7029727…

6. You Must Manage What Users Post: Review Mechanisms, Reporting Channels, Immediately Stop Transmission and Report Upon Discovering Illegal Content

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money Low; Time High; Persistence Yes; Benefit High

When something goes wrong with what users post, the platform is responsible. You need to build this system: registration, post review, comment review, daily patrols, and how to handle incidents. Put reporting channels in prominent places on the page. When you see illegal information, immediately stop its transmission, keep good records, and report to the competent authorities. If you don't, fines range from 50,000 to 500,000 yuan, and more for serious cases.

Cost

You need to spend money hiring reviewers—this is the platform's largest long-term expense. The reporting channel and records of every handling action must be traceable. The hard part is that someone must watch it every day; stopping for even one day could lead to trouble.

Benefit

The regulations say the platform "shall fulfill the primary responsibility for information content management," meaning the platform itself is responsible for managing what users post. Specifically, it must "improve systems for user registration, account management, information publication review, comment review, layout and page ecological management, real-time patrols, emergency response, and handling of online rumors and black industry chain information." From registration, posting, and commenting to daily patrols and incident handling, every link must have written rules. It "shall also set up convenient complaint and reporting channels in prominent positions"—the report button must be placed where users can see and click it at a glance. Upon discovering illegal information, it "shall immediately take handling measures in accordance with the law, preserve relevant records, and report to the relevant competent authorities." The Cybersecurity Law is more specific. The original text says: "Upon discovering information that is prohibited from being published or transmitted by laws or administrative regulations, it shall immediately stop transmitting that information, take measures such as elimination to prevent the information from spreading, preserve relevant records, and report to the relevant competent authorities." If this is not done, you will be ordered to correct, given a warning, and notified in a circular, and may be fined 50,000 to 500,000 yuan. If you refuse to correct or the circumstances are serious, fines range from 500,000 to 2 million yuan, and you may also be ordered to suspend business for rectification, close the website or application, or revoke the license or business license. The person directly responsible is separately fined 50,000 to 200,000 yuan (nationwide).

Notes

You don't need to come up with review rules yourself—just copy them. Article 15 of the Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services clearly lists the nine categories of content that may not be published. Those doing livestreaming have three additional requirements: they must "establish a livestream content review platform," be able to cut off a livestream in progress at any time (the legal term for this is "real-time interruption"), and preserve livestream content and logs for 60 days. Video recordings of online performances must also be kept for no less than 60 days.

Sources

Cyberspace Administration of China (2019). Provisions on the Ecological Governance of Online Information Content (CAC Order No. 5, Articles 8, 9, 10, 16, 37). http://www.cac.gov.cn/2019-12/20/c_1578375159509309.htm ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Cybersecurity Law (2025 amendment, effective January 1, 2026, Articles 49, 69). https://www.cac.gov.cn/2025-12/29/c_1768735112911946.htm ; State Council (2000). Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services (Articles 15, 16, 23). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1860864.htm

7. Providing Information Publication or Instant Messaging Services Requires Users to Provide Real Identity Information

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money Low; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

If your website allows posting or chatting, you must require users' real identity information when they activate the service. Those who don't provide it cannot be allowed to use it. The approach is to store the real name in the backend while the displayed nickname is up to the user; verification via mobile phone number is sufficient. If you don't implement real-name verification, you will first be ordered to correct. If you don't correct, fines range from 50,000 to 500,000 yuan, and the site may be shut down.

Cost

You need to connect a real-name verification channel, which charges per use. Design the product according to "real name in the backend, voluntary in the frontend"—that is, store the real name in the backend and display a nickname on the page.

Benefit

The original legal text says: "When network operators handle network access and domain name registration services for users, handle network access procedures for fixed telephones, mobile telephones, etc., or provide users with information publication, instant messaging, and other services, they shall require users to provide real identity information when signing agreements or confirming the provision of services. If users do not provide real identity information, network operators may not provide relevant services to them." If you don't require real-name verification, or the user doesn't provide real identity and you still let them use it, you will be ordered to correct. If you refuse to correct or the circumstances are serious, fines range from 50,000 to 500,000 yuan, and you may also be ordered to suspend relevant business, suspend business for rectification, close the website or application, or revoke the license or business license. The person directly responsible is separately fined 10,000 to 100,000 yuan. Livestreaming services follow the principle of "real name in the backend, voluntary in the frontend" and conduct "real identity information authentication based on mobile phone numbers and other methods." This means the platform stores the user's real name in the backend, the displayed nickname is up to the user, and verification relies on mobile phone numbers or similar methods. The livestreaming e-commerce side has stricter requirements: "real identity information authentication based on ID card information, unified social credit code, etc." The unified social credit code is the string of numbers on the business license (nationwide).

Notes

Article numbers have shifted. The Cybersecurity Law was amended in 2025, effective January 1, 2026. The real-name provision moved from Article 24 to Article 26, and the penalty provision moved from Article 61 to Article 64. The text of the provisions has not changed. If your materials still cite the old article numbers, you need to update them.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Cybersecurity Law (2025 amendment, effective January 1, 2026, Articles 26, 64; 2016 text Articles 24, 61). https://www.cac.gov.cn/2025-12/29/c_1768735112911946.htm ; Cyberspace Administration of China (2016). Provisions on the Administration of Internet Livestreaming Services (Articles 12, 16). https://www.cac.gov.cn/2016-11/04/c_1119847629.htm ; Seven departments including the Cyberspace Administration of China (2021). Measures for the Administration of Online Livestreaming Marketing (Trial) (Guo Xin Ban Fa Wen [2021] No. 5, Article 8). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-04/23/content_560…

8. Do Not Open Livestreaming to Those Under 16; Handle Tips by Age Tiers

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

People under 16 cannot register livestreaming accounts on your platform. Those 16 or older must have their identity verified and obtain consent from their parents or other guardians. Tips are divided into three age tiers: those under 8 cannot tip, those 8 to 16 need guardian consent, and those 16 or older need guardian consent or verification of income proof. If a child tips without guardian consent, and the guardian demands the money back, the court will order it returned.

Cost

No cost. Add a step to both registration and payment: first determine age, then confirm guardian consent.

Benefit

The original legal text says: "Network livestreaming service providers may not provide livestreaming publisher account registration services to minors under sixteen years of age; when providing livestreaming publisher account registration services to minors aged sixteen or above, they shall authenticate their identity information and obtain consent from their parents or other guardians." The regulations also require "establishing a dynamic verification mechanism for the real identity information of livestreaming publishers"—meaning you must be able to re-verify the identity of anyone who goes live at any time. Additionally, you must "reasonably limit the single-consumption amount and daily cumulative consumption amount of minors of different age groups when using their services," setting per-transaction and daily spending caps for minors by age. Tips are now divided into three tiers: "Tip services may not be provided to minors under eight years of age. Providing tip services to minors aged eight to sixteen requires guardian consent. Providing tip services to minors aged sixteen or above requires guardian consent or verification of income proof materials." There is also one more provision: if a person with limited civil capacity tips without guardian consent, and the guardian demands the money back, the court shall support it—meaning the money can be recovered. A person with limited civil capacity refers to a minor who legally cannot fully make their own decisions (nationwide).

Notes

If a refund dispute actually arises, handle it in the direction most favorable to the minor. The wording on this matter has changed. The 2022 four-department opinion and the 2020 NRTA notice both stated that minors are absolutely prohibited from tipping. The new April 2026 notice changed it to age tiers of 8 and 16, but did not state that the previous two documents were repealed, nor did officials explain how the two connect. So the statement "minors are absolutely prohibited from tipping" is now inaccurate.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Law on the Protection of Minors (Articles 74, 76). https://www.cac.gov.cn/2020-10/22/c_1604928959588622.htm ; State Council (2023). Regulations on the Protection of Minors in Cyberspace (State Council Order No. 766, Articles 31, 44). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2023/issue_10806/202311/content_… ; Secretariat of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission (2026). Notice on Strengthening the Standardized Management of Online Livestreaming Tips (Item 7). https://www.cac.gov.cn/2026-04/13/c_1777815804150225.htm ; Supreme People's Court (2020). Guiding Opinions on Several Issues Concerning the Proper Trial of Civil Cases Involving the COVID-19 Pandemic (II) (Fa Fa [2020] No. 17, Article 9). https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/230181.html

9. Handle Infringement Notices Promptly; Restore If No Response 15 Days After Forwarding the Statement

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

When someone sends an infringement notice with preliminary evidence, you must promptly delete, block, or disconnect the link, and forward the notice to the seller. If you delay, you will bear the additional losses together with the seller. If the seller submits a defense, you forward the defense to the other party and wait 15 days. If the other party neither complains nor sues, restore the content.

Cost

No cost. You need to establish a fixed process: receive notice, forward to seller, receive seller's defense, publicize the result. Keep records at every step.

Benefit

The rights holder "has the right to notify the e-commerce platform operator to take necessary measures such as deletion, blocking, disconnecting links, and terminating transactions and services. The notice shall include preliminary evidence of infringement." A rights holder is the owner of trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other rights. Just sending a sentence doesn't count—preliminary evidence must be attached. After the platform receives the notice, it "shall promptly take necessary measures and forward the notice to the platform operator; if necessary measures are not taken promptly, it shall bear joint and several liability with the platform operator for the expanded portion of the damages." This means if you delay handling it, you will bear the additional losses together with the seller. After the seller submits a defense, the platform "shall promptly terminate the measures taken if, within fifteen days after the defense statement reaches the intellectual property rights holder, no notice of complaint or lawsuit from the rights holder is received." This means forwarding the seller's defense to the rights holder and waiting 15 days. If the other party neither complains nor sues, restore what was deleted or taken down. If the platform knows or should know of infringement but does not handle it, it bears joint and several liability with the infringer—meaning it pays together with the seller. The intellectual property department may also order you to correct within a time limit; if you fail to correct, fines range from 50,000 to 500,000 yuan, and for serious circumstances, 500,000 to 2 million yuan. Conversely, "those who maliciously send erroneous notices causing losses to platform operators shall bear double liability for compensation" (nationwide).

Notes

If you are not an e-commerce platform but just a general website, then follow the notice-and-takedown rule of the Civil Code. The difference lies in how long you wait after the other party submits a defense: the E-Commerce Law gives a clear 15 days, while the Civil Code only says "reasonable period." Additionally, publicizing received notices, the seller's defense, and your handling results is an explicit requirement of Article 44 of the E-Commerce Law.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). E-Commerce Law (Articles 42, 43, 44, 45, 84). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf8af… ; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 1195, 1196, 1197). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/233181.html

10. Do Not Casually Put User Information Overseas; Cross-Border Transfer Has Legal Conditions and Headcount Thresholds

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

Transferring domestic users' information to machines overseas is called cross-border transfer. Having servers overseas does not mean the data hasn't crossed the border. To transfer data abroad, you must take one of four paths: a security assessment organized by the cyberspace administration, certification by a professional institution, signing a standard contract, or other conditions provided by law. You must also tell users who the overseas recipient is, what it will be used for, and specifically ask them about this once.

Cost

No cost. The easiest approach is to keep user data domestically. If you really need to transfer it abroad, use a standard contract or obtain certification.

Benefit

Providing personal information overseas—that is, giving domestic users' information to overseas companies or storing it on overseas machines—"shall meet" one of four conditions. First, passing a security assessment organized by the cyberspace administration. Second, obtaining personal information protection certification from a professional institution. Third, signing a contract with the overseas recipient according to the standard contract formulated by the cyberspace administration. Fourth, other conditions provided by laws and administrative regulations. At the same time, you must tell users these things: the name of the overseas recipient, contact information, processing purpose, processing method, types of personal information, and how they can exercise their rights. And you must "obtain the individual's separate consent"—that is, specifically ask the user about this once. Specific thresholds are tiered by cumulative headcount. Ordinary enterprises are called data processors other than critical information infrastructure operators in the regulations. Such enterprises have an exemption line, with the original text stating: "cumulatively providing personal information of fewer than 100,000 people (excluding sensitive personal information) overseas since January 1 of the current year." If you don't reach this line, all three—filing for assessment, concluding a standard contract, and obtaining certification—are exempted. For 100,000 or more but fewer than 1 million people, you shall conclude a standard contract or obtain certification. For 1 million or more people, or sensitive personal information reaching 10,000 or more people, you shall file for a security assessment (nationwide, from March 2024).

Notes

Having servers overseas does not mean "the data hasn't crossed the border." If a user registers domestically and you transfer their information to an overseas machine, that is a cross-border transfer. There is one category exempt from the three paths of security assessment, certification, and standard contract: cross-border shopping, cross-border delivery, and booking flights and hotels—these are genuinely necessary transfers "for concluding or performing a contract to which the individual is a party." Also note how headcount is calculated: it is "cumulative since January 1 of the current year," not twelve months counting back from today.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021). Personal Information Protection Law (Articles 38, 39, 40). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202108/t20210820_527244.shtml ; Cyberspace Administration of China (2024). Provisions on Promoting and Regulating Cross-Border Data Flows (CAC Order No. 16, Articles 3, 4, 5, 7, 8). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2024/issue_11366/202405/content_… ; Cyberspace Administration of China (2022). Measures for Security Assessment of Data Exports (CAC Order No. 11, Article 4). https://www.cac.gov.cn/2022-07/07/c_1658811536396503.htm

11. When Choosing a Server, First Consider Whether You Can Tolerate Downtime, Then Whether Anyone Will Maintain It, and Only Then Compare Prices

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money Low; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

The difference between the three tiers is not price—it's what you have on hand on the day something goes wrong. Major providers have filing channels, publicly disclosed qualifications, announcements when things break, compensation clauses, and people you can reach. Small providers are half the price, but when they oversell, disappear, or get blocked by upstream, you don't even know who to contact. For a static site with no user data, a VPS costing a few dozen yuan is enough.

Cost

Cloud hosts from mainstream cloud providers cost several hundred to several thousand yuan per month. VPS from small providers start at a few dozen yuan per month. A VPS is a virtual small server. Dedicated server hosting starts at several thousand yuan per year, and you have to buy the hardware yourself.

Benefit

The difference between the three tiers is not price—it's what you have on hand on the day something goes wrong. Mainstream cloud providers have filing channels, publicly disclosed qualifications, outage announcements, compensation clauses in contracts, and people you can reach when problems arise. Small providers can be half the price, but when they oversell, disappear, or get blocked by upstream, you have no one to appeal to—so before negotiating price, check the MIIT system to see whether they have a value-added telecommunications business license. Dedicated server hosting is only worthwhile when both conditions hold: bandwidth or hardware costs are clearly cheaper, and you have your own people doing operations and maintenance. How to choose: for a static site with no user data, the cheapest VPS is enough. For sites with user registration and transactions, choose cloud hosts that can scale elastically and support snapshot backups, with backups stored in at least two places.

Notes

This item is judgment, not evidence. The only thing in this entire item that can truly be verified is one thing: the provider's license. If you want to save money, save on configuration and bandwidth—don't save on qualifications.

Sources

Author's experience, no direct literature; for the legal requirements on provider qualifications and filing, see Item 4 of this section; for 6-month log retention and classified protection obligations, see Section 11, Item 16.

Evidence levels: A, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 27 · 16 suggestions

Pregnancy and Childbirth: From Discovering Pregnancy to Discharge and Documentation

[[High-Value Life Guide]]

The first half of this section calculates life—that is, the mortality risk for pregnant women and fetuses. The second half calculates money and errand time. The two kinds of accounts are not converted into each other. The content only covers "what to do when." Topics like pregnancy nutrition and prenatal education that lack hard evidence or have very small effects are not covered here. For maternity benefits, maternity leave, and the cost of raising a child, see Section 18. For how to care for the child after birth, see Section 20. For emergencies, see Section 13. The World Health Organization's figures: in 2023, approximately 260,000 women worldwide died from pregnancy and childbirth. About 75% of them died from these five causes: postpartum hemorrhage, infection, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (a class of conditions involving elevated blood pressure after pregnancy, including preeclampsia and eclampsia), complications during delivery, and unsafe induced abortion. The World Health Organization also states that "most maternal deaths are preventable, as the medical means to prevent and manage complications are known." The most impactful items in this section are the ones that intercept these problems in advance.

1. Start taking 0.4 mg of folic acid daily as soon as you plan to become pregnant, and continue until the end of the first trimester (3 months)

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Large

Taking one folic acid tablet daily before and during early pregnancy can reduce the probability of neural tube defects in the baby by about 70%. Neural tube defects are birth defects such as anencephaly and spina bifida. For those who have already given birth to a child with such a condition, the probability of the next child also having a problem drops to about one-third of the original.

Cost

A few dozen yuan per bottle. Rural women don't have to pay—the national free folic acid supplementation program provides it. Taking one tablet daily, the hard part is remembering every day

Benefit

A Cochrane systematic review pooled 5 trials and 6,708 deliveries, with evidence quality rated as high. Taking folic acid daily before and during early pregnancy, the risk of fetal neural tube defects was RR 0.31 (95% CI 0.17 to 0.58, confidence range), i.e., reduced by about 70%. For those who have already given birth to a child with a neural tube defect, the risk of the next child also having a problem was RR 0.34 (95% CI 0.18 to 0.64), i.e., reduced to about one-third of the original. By population subgroup, there was no difference in effect between 0.4 mg and higher doses. There was also no difference in effect between taking folic acid alone and taking multivitamins

Notes

The key is "start taking it before pregnancy." The fetal neural tube closes within 28 days after conception. By the time you test positive for pregnancy and start taking it, most of this period has already passed. So if you plan to have a child, start taking it 3 months in advance. In the same pooled study, folic acid had no clear effect on cleft lip and palate, congenital heart disease, or miscarriage—don't expect it to treat other things

Sources

De-Regil LM, Peña-Rosas JP, Fernández-Gaxiola AC, Rayco-Solon P (2015). Effects and safety of periconceptional oral folate supplementation for preventing birth defects. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (12), CD007950. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007950.pub3

https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007950.pub3

2. Before 13 weeks of pregnancy, go to the community health service center to create the "Mother and Child Health Handbook" and use up the free prenatal checkup quota

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Medium; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

At least five prenatal checkups during pregnancy, plus postpartum home visits and the 42-day postpartum checkup—the state pays for these. The way to get them is to go to the community before 13 weeks of pregnancy to create a "Mother and Child Health Handbook." If you don't, these free visits are missed for nothing.

Cost

No cost—this falls under the National Basic Public Health Service Program. You need to make several trips according to gestational weeks

Benefit

The "National Basic Public Health Service Standards (Third Edition)" includes maternal health management services. Resident pregnant women within the jurisdiction can receive these. One early pregnancy health checkup. Two mid-pregnancy health checkups. Two late pregnancy health checkups. One postpartum home visit. One 42-day postpartum health checkup. Before 13 weeks of pregnancy, you need to create the handbook and do the first prenatal checkup at the same time. The two mid-pregnancy checkups are at 16 to 20 weeks and 21 to 24 weeks. The two late-pregnancy checkups are at 28 to 36 weeks and 37 to 40 weeks. In locally published service lists, the first visit also includes a full set of laboratory tests and postpartum depression screening

Notes

These 5 visits are the free minimum, not all of prenatal care. Hospitals will add ultrasounds, blood glucose, and fetal heart monitoring as needed, and these you pay for yourself. The earlier the handbook is created, the earlier the pregnancy risk grading is done. Pregnancy risk grading means classifying pregnant women by risk level, so that those identified as high-risk can be transferred earlier to a hospital that can handle them. If you live in another district, create the handbook where you currently live—no need to return to your registered household location

Sources

National Health and Family Planning Commission (2017). National Basic Public Health Service Standards (Third Edition). https://www.nhc.gov.cn/ewebeditor/uploadfile/2017/04/201704… ; Jingjiang Municipal People's Government. National Basic Public Health Service Program—Maternal Health Management Services (local service list publication). https://www.jingjiang.gov.cn/xxgk/zdlyxxgk/wsjk/art/2023/ar…

3. Get tested for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B at the first prenatal checkup—if found, there is also free blocking

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

Get tested for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B at the first prenatal checkup—the testing is free. If something is found, it's not a dead end. The state provides free medication and protocols to block the path of transmission from mother to child—this is called mother-to-child blocking.

Cost

No cost—the prevention of mother-to-child transmission program provides free testing

Benefit

Mother-to-child transmission means the disease passing from mother to child. The "Work Standards for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B (2020 Edition)" has requirements. During early pregnancy or the first prenatal checkup, hospitals must inform patients of relevant information and "provide appropriate, standardized free testing." That is, these three tests are free. Based on the results, post-test counseling or referral is provided. A positive result is not a dead end. Article 44 of the "Regulations on the Prevention and Treatment of AIDS" stipulates that HIV-infected pregnant women shall be "provided free treatment and counseling for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV." Article 43 requires the provision of blocking (blocking the path of transmission to the child), treatment, postpartum home visits, infant follow-up, and testing services. If the mother is hepatitis B surface antigen positive, the newborn should receive both the hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin at birth (see Section 20, Item 2)

Notes

The earlier these three are tested, the more useful, because blocking and treatment both require time. Article 3 of the AIDS Prevention and Treatment Regulations also states that "no unit or individual may discriminate against HIV-infected persons, AIDS patients, and their family members," and legitimate rights such as marriage, employment, medical care, and education are protected by law. For daily prevention and testing, see Section 1. For post-exposure prophylaxis after high-risk behavior, see Section 13

Sources

General Office of the National Health Commission (2020). Work Standards for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B (2020 Edition). https://wjw.xinjiang.gov.cn/hfpc/zhgl6/202012/08b7de496f0b4… (reposted by the Health Commission of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region); State Council (2006). Regulations on the Prevention and Treatment of AIDS (Articles 43, 44). https://wjw.beijing.gov.cn/zwgk_20040/zcwj2022/flfg/202304/… (reposted by the Beijing Municipal Health Commission)

4. Not a single cigarette or sip of alcohol throughout pregnancy, and family members shouldn't smoke indoors either

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Yes; Benefit Large

Smoking during pregnancy increases the probability of premature birth, low birth weight, and cleft lip and palate. The risk of abnormal bleeding during pregnancy and delivery directly doubles. The risk of sudden infant death is also higher. Family members smoking indoors counts the same. It's never too late to quit.

Cost

No cost—you can even save money on cigarettes and alcohol. The hard part is getting the people you live with to quit too

Benefit

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: smoking during pregnancy can cause babies to be "born too small, even if born on time" and "may cause premature birth." It "doubles the risk of abnormal bleeding during pregnancy and delivery." It increases the risk of birth defects such as cleft lip and cleft palate. It also "damages the developing lungs and brain of the fetus, and the damage can last into childhood." Babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy, as well as babies exposed to smoke after birth, have a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome. The official recommendation is "it is best to quit smoking before becoming pregnant, but if you are already pregnant, quitting still helps" and "it is never too late to quit"

Notes

If others smoke indoors, the secondhand smoke the pregnant woman inhales counts the same for the fetus. So this is a matter for the whole family, not just the pregnant woman alone. The same goes for alcohol: no amount of drinking is known to be safe, and the easiest approach during pregnancy is not to drink at all. For the account of smoking and alcohol for adults themselves, see Section 2

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking During Pregnancy. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/pregnanc…

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/pregnanc…

5. For those with high-risk factors for preeclampsia, start taking one low-dose aspirin daily after 12 weeks of pregnancy

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money Little; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. The high-risk groups are these six: had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy, pregnant with multiples, have chronic hypertension, had diabetes before pregnancy, have kidney disease, have autoimmune disease. If you are one of these, taking one low-dose aspirin daily starting from 12 weeks of pregnancy reduces the probability of preeclampsia by about 15%, premature birth by about 20%, and the probability of the baby dying around delivery by about 20%. Those who are not in these groups should not take it themselves.

Cost

A few dozen yuan. One tablet daily, to be taken until birth. The hard part is not forgetting every day

Benefit

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force gives a Grade B recommendation: for those at high risk of preeclampsia, start taking low-dose aspirin (81 mg/day) after 12 weeks of pregnancy for prevention. Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Pooling multiple studies, the results are as follows. The 95% CI below is the confidence range. Preeclampsia RR 0.85 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.95, 16 studies), about 15% lower. Premature birth RR 0.80 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.95, 13 studies), about 20% lower. Perinatal death RR 0.79 (95% CI 0.66 to 0.96, 11 studies), about 21% lower; perinatal death is death during the period around delivery. Small for gestational age/intrauterine growth restriction RR 0.82 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.99, 16 studies), about 18% lower; this refers to the fetus being smaller than expected for the same gestational age

Notes

The high-risk categories are these. Had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy. Pregnant with twins or multiples. Have chronic hypertension. Had type 1 or type 2 diabetes before pregnancy. Have kidney disease. Have autoimmune disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or antiphospholipid syndrome. Those not in these categories should not take it themselves. This medication requires a doctor's prescription—explain your medical history clearly during prenatal checkups and let the doctor judge. What is mostly sold domestically is 100 mg enteric-coated tablets; take as prescribed

Sources

US Preventive Services Task Force (2021). Aspirin Use to Prevent Preeclampsia and Related Morbidity and Mortality: Preventive Medication. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recomm…

https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recomm…

6. Get screened for gestational diabetes once at 24 weeks of pregnancy or later—don't find drinking the glucose solution troublesome

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money Little; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that appears only after pregnancy. After 24 weeks of pregnancy, spending half a morning to drink the glucose solution once and draw blood a few times can detect it. If you don't test and don't manage it, the risks of the fetus growing too large, difficult labor, having a C-section, preeclampsia, and neonatal hypoglycemia all increase.

Cost

A few dozen to over one hundred yuan. You need to go fasting, draw blood several times, taking up half a morning

Benefit

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's Grade B recommendation: for pregnant women without symptoms—that is, pregnant women who don't feel any discomfort themselves—screen for gestational diabetes at 24 weeks of pregnancy or later. Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that appears only after pregnancy. For those doing only one screening, this one should be at 24 weeks of pregnancy or later. As for whether screening before 24 weeks is good, the Task Force's conclusion is that existing evidence is insufficient to judge the benefits and harms (Grade I). Not managing gestational diabetes will push up the risks of these: macrosomia (fetus growing too large), difficult labor, cesarean section, preeclampsia, and neonatal hypoglycemia

Notes

Among those diagnosed, most can control blood sugar by adjusting diet and exercise; only a minority need insulin. Don't skip this screening because you're afraid that if it's detected you'll need injections. After giving birth, blood sugar still needs to be rechecked: those who have had gestational diabetes have a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later

Sources

US Preventive Services Task Force (2021). Gestational Diabetes: Screening. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recomm…

https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recomm…

7. Memorize this "go to the hospital immediately" list—it applies throughout pregnancy and for one year postpartum

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

If any of the following appears, go to the hospital that same day—don't wait at home for a night. Headache that won't go away or keeps getting worse, changes in vision, fever reaching 38°C. Severe swelling of hands or face, shortness of breath, chest pain or fast heartbeat. Severe abdominal pain that won't relieve, fetal movement stopping or clearly decreasing. Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking. One arm or leg swollen, painful, and red. Thoughts of harming yourself or the child. The complete list is in the Benefit column below. If any appear within one year postpartum, they count the same.

Cost

No cost. Spend five minutes memorizing it, and ideally let the people you live with know too

Benefit

The urgent maternal warning signs listed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are these. Headache that won't go away or keeps getting worse. Dizziness or fainting. Changes in vision. Body temperature reaching 38°C or higher. Severe swelling of hands or face. Thoughts of harming yourself or harming the child. Difficulty breathing. Chest pain or fast heartbeat. Severe nausea and vomiting. Severe abdominal pain that won't relieve. Fetal movement stopping or clearly decreasing during pregnancy. Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking during pregnancy. Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge after birth. Severe swelling, redness, or pain in one arm or one leg. These problems can occur within one year postpartum—it's not "once you're out of the confinement month, everything is fine"

Notes

The use of this list is to separate "endure it a bit longer" from "must go immediately." Headache plus blurred vision plus upper abdominal pain points to preeclampsia, i.e., the hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. One lower leg swollen and painful points to deep vein thrombosis (see Section 13). Postpartum hemorrhage, according to the World Health Organization, can take the life of a healthy woman within hours. If any one appears, go directly to the hospital—don't wait at home for a night first

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hear Her — Urgent Maternal Warning Signs. https://www.cdc.gov/hearher/maternal-warning-signs/index.html ; World Health Organization. Maternal mortality fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-m…

8. If your water breaks, lie down flat on the spot, elevate your hips, call 120—don't walk around or take a shower

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Large

When your water breaks, it's not about slowly packing things up before leaving. The correct approach is to lie down on the spot, elevate your buttocks, and call 120. If you stand and walk around, the amniotic fluid flows out faster, and the umbilical cord may be washed down with it. That is an emergency that can cost the baby's life.

Cost

No cost

Benefit

The handling method given by the Beijing Municipal Health Commission: after discovering the water has broken, "immediately find a place to lie down flat to prevent amniotic fluid from flowing out," "do not walk around at will," and "immediately dial 120 for emergency services." While waiting for the vehicle, notify family members to bring things and meet at the hospital. Medical institution public education further explains why: when a person is standing, amniotic fluid is lost faster, and the fetal umbilical cord may fall out with it—this is called umbilical cord prolapse, an emergency that endangers the fetus. So you should lie down, elevate the buttocks, and can take the left lateral position

Notes

The three signs of imminent birth are regular contractions, bloody show, and water breaking. The first two allow you to calmly pack things; water breaking is the only one where you "lie down on the spot and call a vehicle." After water breaks, taking a shower, squatting on the toilet, or driving yourself are all typical wrong actions. Note the time the water broke and the color of the amniotic fluid, and tell the doctor. If the amniotic fluid is yellow-green or carries meconium particles, it suggests fetal distress, i.e., the fetus is deprived of oxygen in the uterus. If there are also regular contractions, clearly decreased fetal movement, or fever with chills, emphasize to the doctor even more that this is an emergency

Sources

Beijing Municipal Health Commission. Weekly First Aid Topic: What to Do When an Expectant Mother's Water Breaks Early? https://wjw.beijing.gov.cn/bmfw_20143/jkzs/jzjj/202001/t202… ; Beijing Shunyi District Maternal and Child Health Hospital. What to Do If Your Water Breaks at Home in Late Pregnancy? https://www.bch-syfy.cn/Html/News/Articles/9453.html

9. If you want painless delivery, just say so—it doesn't increase the risk of cesarean section

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money Little; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

Painless delivery means getting an injection of anesthetic in the lower back to suppress the pain of childbirth. It works better than other pain relief methods, and it won't make you more likely to have a C-section. "After an epidural, your back will hurt for life" is likewise unfounded. Now it has a separate billing item, and hospitals are more willing to provide it.

Cost

Several hundred to over one thousand yuan, prices vary by region. Ask the hospital and anesthesiology department in advance whether they can do it. The hard part is having to speak up yourself

Benefit

The conclusion of a Cochrane systematic review is: epidural analgesia is more effective than non-epidural methods in reducing labor pain and improving maternal satisfaction with pain relief. Painless delivery uses epidural analgesia. The same review also states that "epidural analgesia has no impact on the risk of cesarean section and long-term back pain." As for instrumental delivery—that is, using instruments to deliver the baby—the increase it showed is no longer seen in studies after 2005. Starting in 2024, the National Healthcare Security Administration's guideline for pricing items of obstetric medical services established separate items for "labor analgesia," "doula delivery," and "family companionship during delivery." The reason is precisely that previously there was no separate pricing item, which suppressed hospitals' enthusiasm for providing labor analgesia

Notes

The two most widely circulated claims—"an epidural will make your back hurt for life" and "an epidural will cause difficult labor and require a C-section"—are both unfounded. Cochrane pooled epidural analgesia (the kind used for painless delivery) with other analgesia methods, and the conclusion is that it has no impact on the risk of cesarean section and long-term back pain. The real side effects are these: low blood pressure, fever, weak legs, inability to urinate, and a longer first and second stage of labor, with a greater likelihood of needing oxytocin. Whether to do it is your decision, but don't give it up because of rumors. Whether it can be done also depends on whether the hospital has an anesthesiologist on site 24 hours a day—ask clearly during prenatal checkups

Sources

Anim-Somuah M, Smyth RMD, Cyna AM, Cuthbert A (2018). Epidural versus non-epidural or no analgesia for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (5), CD000331. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000331.pub4 ; National Healthcare Security Administration (2024). Restructuring Obstetric Service Pricing Items to Help Build a Fertility-Friendly Society. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202406/content_6957553.htm

10. Don't proactively request a C-section without a medical indication, and don't schedule surgery just to pick a date

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

The World Health Organization's position is that once the C-section rate in a place exceeds 10%, maternal and neonatal deaths no longer continue to decline. When a C-section is necessary, it must be done. Having one just to pick a date or out of fear of pain means enduring a major abdominal surgery for nothing.

Cost

Costs no money. The hard part is standing firm against what family members say

Benefit

World Health Organization 2015 statement: when the C-section rate in a population rises to about 10%, maternal and neonatal deaths decline. Beyond 10%, there is no evidence that mortality can be further improved. The WHO also emphasizes that every effort should be made to provide C-sections for women who need them, rather than to meet a specific rate

Notes

This item is not against C-sections. When it is genuinely medically necessary, it is a life-saving surgery—do it when it should be done, don't tough it out. What is opposed is surgery when it is not medically necessary: fear of pain, picking an auspicious time, calculating the child's school enrollment age. The costs are noted later: a C-section is a major abdominal surgery, recovery is slower, and the risk of placenta previa, placenta accreta, and uterine rupture in the next pregnancy is higher. This directly affects whether you still want to have a second child

Source

World Health Organization (2015). WHO Statement on Caesarean Section Rates (WHO/RHR/15.02). https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-RHR-15.02

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-RHR-15.02

11. Confirm maternity insurance enrollment status before pregnancy; unemployed spouses can also claim maternity medical expenses

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

If your employer pays maternity insurance, the medical expenses of childbirth and the allowance during maternity leave both come out of this fund. If the spouse is unemployed, the medical expenses can also be claimed. Whether the number of months of enrollment is sufficient, and whether out-of-town births require prior registration, must all be asked in advance—they cannot be made up afterward.

Cost

Costs no money. One phone call to the social insurance or medical insurance hotline

Benefit

Article 54 of the Social Insurance Law: where an employer has paid maternity insurance premiums, its employees enjoy maternity insurance benefits. An employee's unemployed spouse enjoys maternity medical expense benefits in accordance with state regulations, and the required funds are paid from the maternity insurance fund. That is, if the employer pays maternity insurance, the employee themselves can enjoy the benefits, and the maternity medical expenses of the employee's unemployed spouse can also come out of this fund. Maternity insurance benefits are divided into two parts: one is maternity medical expenses, which are the medical costs of childbirth itself; the other is the maternity allowance, which is the money paid to you during maternity leave. Article 56 lists three situations in which the maternity allowance can be received: female employees taking maternity leave for childbirth, taking leave for family planning surgery, and other situations stipulated by laws and regulations. The maternity allowance is "calculated and paid according to the average monthly wage of employees of the employer in the previous year"—it is calculated based on your employer's average monthly wage of employees last year, not your own wage

Notes

Two things must be asked clearly in advance, because they cannot be made up afterward. First, whether the number of consecutive months of enrollment is sufficient: each locality sets a minimum number of months, and if it is insufficient, you cannot enjoy the benefits. Second, if giving birth outside the enrollment area, whether out-of-town maternity registration must be done first: without registration, you may have to pay out of pocket first and then manually reimburse afterward, or may not be able to claim at all. For how maternity leave days and the maternity allowance are calculated, see Section 18, Item 2

Source

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2010). Social Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China (Articles 54, 56). https://guangdong.chinatax.gov.cn/gdsw/qysw_gkwj/2020-02/12… (reposted by the Guangdong Provincial Tax Service, State Taxation Administration)

https://guangdong.chinatax.gov.cn/gdsw/qysw_gkwj/2020-02/12…

12. Get the Birth Medical Certificate done before discharge; decide on the name in advance and don't write wrong characters

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

This certificate is a prerequisite for household registration, insurance enrollment, and school enrollment, and only the institution that delivered the baby can issue it for the first time. If you leave the hospital and then go back to make it up, you have to go through a separate process and submit more materials. For the characters in the name, first confirm that they can be typed in the household registration system.

Cost

Costs no money. Just do it while handling discharge procedures

Benefit

Article 23 of the Maternal and Infant Health Care Law: medical and health care institutions and personnel engaged in home delivery shall, in accordance with the regulations of the health administrative department of the State Council, issue a uniformly produced and issued newborn birth medical certificate. This certificate is a prerequisite for everything that follows: household registration, insurance enrollment, applying for a medical insurance card, kindergarten and school enrollment all require it. Moreover, the first issuance can only be handled by the institution that delivered the baby. If you leave the hospital and then go back to make it up, you have to go through a separate process and also need additional supporting documents

Notes

Before filling it out, check the parents' names, ID numbers, and the child's name character by character. The characters used in the name must be able to be typed in the household registration system; rare characters cause endless trouble. Changing a name and changing the certificate both require reissuance or replacement, which is much more costly than checking on the spot. Once you get the certificate, keep it separately and safely—it is on the same level as the household register and ID card

Source

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (1994, amended 2017). Maternal and Infant Health Care Law of the People's Republic of China (Article 23). https://www.gov.cn/guoqing/2021-10/29/content_5647619.htm

https://www.gov.cn/guoqing/2021-10/29/content_5647619.htm

13. Don't refuse either newborn heel-prick blood screening or hearing screening

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

One heel prick and one hearing test can detect hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, and hearing impairment while the child appears completely normal. By the time symptoms appear, intellectual damage can no longer be reversed.

Cost

Free in most areas, or a few dozen yuan. Some expanded items require paying out of pocket. One heel prick after the child is born

Benefit

Article 3 of the Measures for the Administration of Newborn Disease Screening: "The nationwide newborn disease screening categories include congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, and other newborn genetic metabolic diseases and hearing impairment." These two types of diseases share a common feature: no abnormality can be seen at all in the early stage, and by the time symptoms are obvious, intellectual damage is already irreversible. Yet early detection and early intervention work very well, through thyroid hormone supplementation, special formula milk, hearing aids, or cochlear implants. Article 10 stipulates that when screening results are positive, the institution shall promptly notify the guardian to go for confirmation

Notes

Article 11 of the Measures requires that before screening, the items, conditions, methods, sensitivity (how much can be detected), and costs be truthfully told to the guardian, and consent signed. So you will receive an informed consent form. Before signing, read clearly: which are state-mandated disease categories and which are self-paid add-ons. A positive initial screen does not equal a confirmed diagnosis; the vast majority are ruled out after one retest, so don't fall apart at this step first. Those who fail the initial hearing screening must go for the rescreening according to the notice; don't judge for yourself that "the child can hear, so forget it"

Source

Ministry of Health (2009). Measures for the Administration of Newborn Disease Screening (Ministry of Health Order No. 64, Articles 3, 10, 11). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2009/content_1371363.htm

http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2009/content_1371363.htm

14. Once you get the birth medical certificate, enroll your child in resident medical insurance; don't wait until household registration is done

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money little; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Once you get the birth certificate, you can enroll your child online; no need to wait for household registration. Once enrolled, the hospitalization expenses at discharge can be reimbursed on the spot. Newborn hospitalization costs are not low, and there is a big difference between being enrolled and not being enrolled.

Cost

Resident medical insurance premiums are paid once a year, a few hundred yuan

Benefit

The Chinese government website's 2024 position: "Newborns can enroll online with their birth medical certificate," without needing household registration first. "After the newborn is discharged, medical expenses can be directly reimbursed." The previous practice was that enrollment was possible only after household registration, and hospitalization expenses had to be paid in full first and then reimbursed afterward. The average processing time for enrollment and payment was also reduced from 28.7 working days at the beginning of the year to 6.4 working days

Notes

Prematurity, jaundice phototherapy, and neonatal pneumonia are common reasons for newborn hospitalization, often costing tens of thousands of yuan, and there is a big difference between being enrolled and not being enrolled. Local regulations on "within how many days after birth enrollment allows benefits from the day of birth" are not entirely the same. For how it is specifically implemented, the local medical insurance department's word prevails. Calling 12393 before discharge is the easiest way to ask

Source

Chinese Government Website (2024). State Council policy regular briefing on improving the long-term mechanism for basic medical insurance enrollment. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202409/content_6973567.htm

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202409/content_6973567.htm

15. Register the birth with the police station within one month after the child is born

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit small

The law gives one month, not "whenever there's time." Household registration gates the later vaccinations, kindergarten, school enrollment, and applying for an ID card. The longer you delay, the more materials you have to make up.

Cost

Costs no money. One trip to the police station's household registration window

Benefit

Article 7 of the Household Registration Regulations: "Within one month after the birth of an infant, the household head, relatives, guardian, or neighbor shall report the birth registration to the household registration authority of the infant's place of habitual residence." This is a legally set time limit, not a suggestion. Household registration is a prerequisite for these later matters: vaccinations, kindergarten, school enrollment, and applying for an ID card. The longer you delay, the more materials you need to make up

Notes

Bring all of these: birth medical certificate, both parents' ID cards and household registers, and marriage certificate. You can choose whether to register the child under the father or the mother, but the policies in the two places differ, and both the school district and the insurance enrollment area are affected. Think it through before going; changing it later is troublesome. Children born out of wedlock can likewise have their birth registered

Source

State Council (1958). Household Registration Regulations of the People's Republic of China (Article 7). http://www.gd.gov.cn/zwgk/wjk/zcfgk/content/post_2531969.html (reposted by the Guangdong Provincial People's Government)

http://www.gd.gov.cn/zwgk/wjk/zcfgk/content/post_2531969.html

16. Don't skip the 42-day postpartum checkup; it is also a postpartum depression screening

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

This checkup costs no money, includes a complete blood count, routine vaginal discharge test, and also includes a postpartum depression screening. Serious problems can occur within the first year postpartum; don't think you're safe just because you're past the confinement period.

Cost

Costs no money; it is part of basic public health services. Takes half a day. The hard part is being too lazy to move just after the confinement period

Benefit

In the maternal health management of the National Basic Public Health Service Standards (Third Edition), there is 1 postpartum home visit and 1 42-day postpartum health check. In the locally published service list, this one includes laboratory tests (complete blood count, routine vaginal discharge test) and 1 postpartum depression screening. Serious complications can occur within the first year postpartum. In the "go to the hospital immediately" list in Item 7, "thoughts of harming yourself or your child," "postpartum vaginal bleeding or abnormal discharge," and "severe swelling and pain in one limb" all belong to the postpartum period

Notes

Postpartum depression is not being overly sensitive, nor can it be solved by a family member saying "just cheer up." It has a dedicated screening questionnaire, has treatment, and can recover. For what to do when there are suicidal thoughts, see Section 1. For legal ways out when you truly cannot raise the child after birth, see Section 9, Item 20. This checkup also looks at how the wound is healing, how the uterus is recovering, and whether pelvic floor function is good. Contraception options are also discussed at this visit: not having a period postpartum does not mean you cannot get pregnant

Source

National Health and Family Planning Commission (2017). National Basic Public Health Service Standards (Third Edition). https://www.nhc.gov.cn/ewebeditor/uploadfile/2017/04/201704… ; Jingjiang Municipal People's Government. National Basic Public Health Service Project—Maternal Health Management Services (local service list publication). https://www.jingjiang.gov.cn/xxgk/zdlyxxgk/wsjk/art/2023/ar…

Evidence levels: A, B · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 28 · 8 suggestions

Don't Ruin Your Body for the Sake of Appearance

[[A Cost-Effectiveness Guide to Life]]

This section is about several ways of "doing things to your body in order to change your appearance": starving yourself, taking pills, getting injections, and going under the knife. These things share one feature. The decision to do them is mostly driven by comparison with others. The cost, however, falls entirely on yourself, and a considerable portion of it cannot be undone. This section does not judge what anyone wants to turn themselves into; that is each person's own business. It only answers one question: for the same goal, how much does the risk differ between taking the path of "prescription, credentials, follow-up" and taking the path of "online shopping, beauty salons, self-increasing the dose"? This section's accounting mainly looks at what actually happens to the body, such as blindness, hospitalization, and death. The two medical-aesthetics items also involve criminal liability for illegal medical practice.

1. Don't use extreme dieting, fasting, or self-induced vomiting to control weight; if you must lose weight, lose it from the exercise side

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

People with anorexia nervosa have a probability of death about 5.9 times that of peers their age. For every 1,000 people followed for one year, 5.1 die. One in five of the deceased dies by suicide. And its entry point is dieting: tracking students at 44 middle schools over three years, girls who severely dieted had 18 times the probability of developing an eating disorder compared with those who did not diet. If you want to control your weight, exercise more; don't eat so little that you go hungry.

Cost

Costs no money. Conversely, it also saves the money you would spend on weight-loss products.

Benefit

Combining 36 studies. The anorexia nervosa group was cumulatively followed for 166,642 person-years, that is, the total number of years all these people were followed. Their standardized mortality ratio was 5.86, meaning the probability of death was about 5.9 times that of peers. There were 5.1 deaths per 1,000 person-years, that is, 5.1 deaths per 1,000 people followed for one year. About 1/5 of the deceased died by suicide. The standardized mortality ratio for bulimia nervosa was 1.93, and for other eating disorders 1.92, that is, each about 1.9 times that of peers. Another study was conducted at 44 middle schools in Victoria, Australia, following 14–15-year-old students for 3 years with 6 waves of assessment, that is, the same group of students was assessed six times over three years. The incidence of new-onset eating disorders among girls was 21.8/1,000 person-years, that is, 21.8 new cases per 1,000 girls followed for one year. Girls who severely dieted had 18 times the risk of onset compared with those who did not diet, and moderate dieters 5 times. After further removing the influence of "having dieted before" and "already having psychiatric symptoms," that is, adjusting for prior dieting and psychiatric symptoms. After adjustment, BMI (the fatness/thinness indicator calculated as weight divided by height squared), exercise amount, and sex no longer predicted new-onset eating disorders. The authors' conclusion is "using exercise rather than dietary restriction to control weight in adolescents appears to be associated with a lower risk of developing eating disorders."

Notes

"Severe dieting" here refers to chronically pressing food intake far below what the body needs, not skipping a meal or skipping a late-night snack. For those who have already developed self-induced vomiting, self-blame after binge eating, or repeated weighing that they cannot stop, go see psychiatry or the clinical psychology department of a general hospital. This is an illness with standardized treatment methods, not a matter of willpower. For the relationship between BMI and mortality, see Section 2, Item 33; that item is about long-term weight range, not weight-loss methods.

Sources

Arcelus J et al. (2011). Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. A meta-analysis of 36 studies. Arch Gen Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.74 ; Patton GC et al. (1999). Onset of adolescent eating disorders: population based cohort study over 3 years. BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.318.7186.765

2. Before injections, thread embedding, or surgery, check two things: whether the institution's license includes "medical aesthetics," and whether the person doing it is an attending physician

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

As long as needles are used, knives are used, or medical devices are used, that is, if the skin is broken or something enters the body, it counts as medical treatment. Such things can only be done at institutions whose license states "medical aesthetics," and the person doing it must be a registered licensed physician. Doing it in a beauty salon, a studio, or a hotel room constitutes illegal medical practice: if the circumstances are serious, the sentence is up to 3 years; if the person is injured, 3 to 10 years; if the person dies, more than 10 years.

Cost

Costs no money. Checking these two certificates takes only a few minutes. The institution should hang its "Medical Institution Practice License" in the lobby. The doctor's credentials can be verified in the health department's licensed physician lookup.

Benefit

Article 2 of the "Measures for the Administration of Medical Aesthetic Services" defines medical aesthetics. The original text is "the use of surgery, drugs, medical devices, and other traumatic or invasive medical technical methods to repair and reshape a person's appearance and the morphology of various parts of the human body." In plain terms, as long as the skin is broken, a needle enters, or something enters the body, it is counted as medical treatment. Articles 8 and 24 require first obtaining the "Medical Institution Practice License" and having the medical aesthetics diagnostic and treatment subject approved by the registration authority before it can be carried out. That is, if the license does not list "medical aesthetics," it cannot be done. Article 11 requires the attending physician (the doctor doing it) to have licensed physician qualifications and be registered. Those doing aesthetic surgery must also have more than 6 years of clinical work experience in the relevant specialty, aesthetic dentistry more than 5 years, and aesthetic traditional Chinese medicine and aesthetic dermatology each more than 3 years. Article 20 requires written notification before the procedure of indications, contraindications (what situations are suitable and what situations are not), medical risks, and precautions, and obtaining signed consent. Article 336 of the "Criminal Law" governs illegal medical practice. Illegal medical practice is when a person without physician practice qualifications gives injections, performs surgery, or treats patients. If the circumstances are serious, the sentence is up to 3 years of fixed-term imprisonment, criminal detention, or control, and a fine, either concurrently or alone. If the patient's health is seriously harmed, the sentence is 3 to 10 years of fixed-term imprisonment and a fine. If the patient dies, the sentence is more than 10 years of fixed-term imprisonment and a fine.

Notes

Article 16 of the same measures also provides that medical aesthetics procedures can only be performed in medical aesthetics institutions, or in hospitals or clinics that have set up medical aesthetics departments. Therefore, door-to-door injections and private procedures in studios are already non-compliant just by location. Article 20 states that for minors and others who cannot yet decide for themselves to undergo medical aesthetics, guardian consent is required, that is, a parent's signature. Facials, massage, and manicures belong to life aesthetics and are not governed by this set of rules. But as long as needles and knives are involved, it counts as medical aesthetics.

Sources

Ministry of Health (2002). Measures for the Administration of Medical Aesthetic Services (Ministry of Health Order No. 19, Articles 2, 8, 11, 16, 20, 24). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2003/content_62198.htm ; National People's Congress (1997). Criminal Law (Article 336). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml

3. For facial fillers, avoid the nasal dorsum, glabella, and forehead areas, and even more so, don't seek out non-standard injections to save money

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

From 2015 to 2018, 48 new cases of blindness after injections were reported. The most common site was the nose, accounting for 56.3%. Next were the glabella 27.1%, forehead 18.8%, and nasolabial folds 14.6%. More than 80% were injected with hyaluronic acid. Of these people, only 20.8% had complete vision recovery, 16.7% partial recovery, and the rest did not recover. Nearly 20% also developed brain complications. Currently no rescue method has been proven reliably effective, so the only option is to avoid these areas beforehand.

Cost

Costs no money. Just inject a different area, or don't do it.

Benefit

Combining cases reported in journals worldwide. From January 2015 to September 2018, there were 48 new cases of partial or complete vision loss after filler injection. The most common site was the nose, accounting for 56.3%. Next were the glabella 27.1%, forehead 18.8%, and nasolabial folds (the groove of the smile lines) 14.6%. In 81.3% of cases the filler was hyaluronic acid. 43.8% developed skin changes. 18.8% developed central nervous system complications, that is, problems on the brain side. 10 cases (20.8%) had complete vision recovery, 8 cases (16.7%) partial recovery, and the rest did not recover. The authors' conclusion is that management varied widely across institutions, and no treatment was proven to be consistently effective.

Notes

These numbers were counted case by case from journal reports. They include only the number of people who had problems, not the total number of people injected. So it is impossible to calculate "what is the probability of blindness from one injection"; it only shows which areas have more incidents and that afterward they are basically unrecoverable. This is also why the evidence is rated B. The ways正规 institutions reduce risk are already routine: first clarify how the blood vessels beneath the injection site run, use blunt-tipped needles rather than sharp ones, inject small amounts while withdrawing the needle, and prepare hyaluronidase in advance. Each of these requires the person doing it to be a trained doctor, which is also the reason not to seek non-standard channels. Before doing it, check once according to Item 2 of this section (check the institution's license and attending physician).

Sources

Beleznay K et al. (2019). Update on Avoiding and Treating Blindness From Fillers: A Recent Review of the World Literature. Aesthet Surg J. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjz053

https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjz053

4. Don't buy weight-loss pills, weight-loss coffee, slimming candies, or enzyme plums that promise "rapid weight loss"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

The most commonly detected illegally added ingredient in such products is sibutramine. It was originally a legitimate weight-loss drug and was discontinued in China in 2010. One trial enrolled nearly 10,000 people, who took it for an average of more than three years. Those taking the drug had about 30% more nonfatal myocardial infarctions and about 36% more nonfatal strokes. The event rate was 11.4% vs 10.0%. Over more than three years, they lost only 1.7 kg more. Finding it in a spot check is something that happens afterward; you have already swallowed it.

Cost

Costs no money. Conversely, it also saves the money you would spend on these products. The hard part is accepting that there is no such thing as "losing several jin in a week."

Benefit

The SCOUT trial enrolled 9,804 people. They were all over 55 years old, overweight or obese, and had cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes. These people were randomly divided into drug-taking and non-drug-taking groups, with average treatment of 3.4 years. The primary endpoint was several pre-specified adverse events to count: nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, recovery after cardiac arrest, and cardiovascular death. The incidence of these events was 11.4% vs 10.0%. HR 1.16 (95% CI 1.03–1.31, P=0.02). That is, those taking the drug had about a 16% higher probability of events. The true value roughly falls between 3% higher and 31% higher. Nonfatal myocardial infarction 4.1% vs 3.2%, HR 1.28 (1.04–1.57), about 30% higher. Nonfatal stroke 2.6% vs 1.9%, HR 1.36 (1.04–1.77), about 36% higher. Cardiovascular death and all-cause death were not increased; all-cause means all causes combined. After randomization, the sibutramine group lost an average of 1.7 kg more weight. The former State Food and Drug Administration, based on a safety assessment, concluded that "the risks of weight-loss treatment outweigh the benefits," and in October 2010 notified the cessation of production, sale, and use of sibutramine preparations and raw materials. Both sibutramine and phenolphthalein are prohibited from being added to food, including health foods.

Notes

SCOUT enrolled a high-risk population that already had heart disease or diabetes. This trial did not prove that healthy young people who take it would have the same problems. But precisely because it is impossible to distinguish who is high-risk, regulators simply withdrew it from the market. Another commonly secretly added ingredient is phenolphthalein, originally a laxative; long-term excessive use can disrupt electrolytes in the body and induce arrhythmias. How to judge: legitimate weight-loss drugs are prescription drugs, and their approval numbers can be found in pharmacies and hospitals. Those sold under the banner of "coffee," "candy," "plum," or "meal replacement" while promising several jin of loss in a week should by definition have no drug effect; if they do have a drug effect, that means something was added. The original text of Guoshifaojianban [2010] No. 432 is on the National Medical Products Administration website, but opening it on this machine kept returning a 412 error, so a provincial regulatory department's paraphrase page is cited instead. The two phrases "risks outweigh benefits" and "production, sale, and use ceased in October 2010" can be verified word for word there.

Sources

James WPT et al. (2010). Effect of sibutramine on cardiovascular outcomes in overweight and obese subjects. NEJM. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1003114 ; Tianjin Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Commission. Beware of Illegal Addition of "Sibutramine Hydrochloride" and "Phenolphthalein" in Some Foods. https://scjg.tj.gov.cn/tjsscjdglwyh_52651/hdpt/cjwtyxfts/20…

5. Don't use anabolic steroids ("muscle-building injections" or "oral drugs") to grow muscle

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

Denmark tracked 545 people who tested positive in doping tests and compared them with 5,450 peers of the same age. The death risk of users was 3 times that of the control group, and the median number of hospital visits per year was 0.81 vs 0.36. Acne, gynecomastia, and erectile dysfunction each affected more than 10% of users. These drugs are prescription drugs in China, and any channel that can sell them to you is itself breaking the law.

Cost

Costs no money, and also saves on drug costs. The hard part is accepting that muscle grows slowly.

Benefit

Denmark retrospectively reviewed records and matched each user with same-age controls. The users were 545 men who tested positive for androgenic anabolic steroids in gym doping tests from 2006-01-03 to 2018-03-01, matched with 5,450 controls. In addition, 644 people who refused testing and 6,440 controls were used for a second check. Results: the mortality rate of users was 3 times that of controls, HR 3.0 (95% CI 1.3–7.0), with the true multiple roughly between 1.3 and 7. The median number of hospitalizations or visits per year was 0.81 vs 0.36 (P<0.0001). The median is the number above which half the people are and below which half the people are. This P value indicates that the difference is almost impossible to be due to chance. Acne (pimples), gynecomastia, and erectile dysfunction each affected more than 10% of users, that is, at least one in every ten users, all significantly higher than controls (P<0.0001). The second-check batch had consistent results. Article 7 of the "Anti-Doping Regulations": the state exercises strict management over prohibited substances listed in the doping catalog, and no unit or individual may illegally produce, sell, or import/export them. The same regulations provide that protein anabolic preparations and peptide hormones are managed as prescription drugs, that is, they can only be bought with a doctor's prescription; protein anabolic preparations is the term used in regulations for this class of drugs.

Notes

Controversy: this is a study that follows a group of people and looks at outcomes, not a randomized controlled trial. The users themselves may also be more risk-taking in other respects, so the 3-fold figure cannot all be attributed to the drug. The true multiple could be as low as 1.3 or as high as 7.0, a wide range. But "acne, gynecomastia, and erectile dysfunction each affecting more than 10% of users" are side effects visible to the eye and are less affected by this kind of bias. This class of drugs is written in regulations as "protein anabolic preparations"; seeing these four characters means it is this. Ordinary protein powder and creatine are not within this item. The trouble is that products claiming "especially fast muscle gain" may secretly add ingredients. The method of judgment is the same as the weight-loss product item (Item 4, don't buy weight-loss drugs that promise rapid weight loss): legitimate drugs are prescription drugs with checkable approval numbers. Those sold under the name of "muscle-building powder" or "nutritional supplement" while promising results in a few weeks, if truly effective, have had something added.

Sources

Horwitz H et al. (2019). Health consequences of androgenic anabolic steroid use. J Intern Med. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12850 ; State Council (2004). Anti-Doping Regulations (State Council Order No. 398, Articles 7, 9). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2004/content_63129.htm

6. If you want to take weight-loss drugs, go to a hospital for a prescription; don't buy from online stores that ship without a prescription

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time medium; Willpower no; Benefit medium

Prescription drugs must by regulation be sold only against a prescription, and pharmacies must keep the prescription for a full five years. Selling prescription drugs online also requires a genuine and reliable prescription and real-name verification. So if you see one that does not ask for consultation, does not require a prescription, and ships as soon as you order, there are only two possibilities: what it sells is not the drug it claims to be, or the store itself is violating regulations. In either case, if something goes wrong, no one is responsible for your dosage and contraindications. The few dozen yuan for registration buys exactly this.

Cost

One registration, plus a round trip. A few dozen yuan, half a day.

Benefit

The "Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Drug Operation and Use Quality" provide that drug retail enterprises must comply with the classified management system for prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs. This system divides drugs into two categories: one that must be bought with a doctor's prescription, and one that can be bought on one's own. Pharmacies must sell prescription drugs against prescriptions as required, and prescriptions must be kept for no less than five years. When pharmacists or other pharmaceutical technical personnel are not on duty, a sign should be posted to inform customers, and prescription drugs may not be sold without their review. Prescription drugs may not be sold on open shelves, that is, they cannot be placed on shelves for customers to take themselves. Article 9 of the "Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Online Drug Sales" provides that when selling prescription drugs to individuals through the internet, the source of the prescription must be ensured to be genuine and reliable and a real-name system must be implemented. Article 10 requires prominently displaying risk warning information at the bottom of each drug display page. Before the prescription is reviewed, the package insert may not be displayed, nor may purchase services be provided. That is, if the prescription has not been reviewed, the page should not even provide a buy button. Article 8 provides that drugs under special state management may not be sold online. Such drugs include vaccines, blood products, narcotic drugs, psychotropic drugs, medical toxic drugs, radioactive drugs, and precursor chemicals for drugs. These categories may not be sold online at all.

Notes

The legal provisions can be verified word for word, but "how many fewer problems taking it according to a prescription causes compared with buying it yourself" has not been quantified by anyone, so it is rated B as "difficult to quantify." This item does not only govern weight-loss drugs. The steroids and sex hormones discussed in Items 5 and 7 of this section follow the same set of rules. If it truly reaches the point where weight loss should rely on drugs, the doctor will first look at body mass index, whether there are other diseases, and whether there are situations where the drug cannot be used, then decide whether to take it and which one to take. This judgment cannot be bought.

Sources

State Administration for Market Regulation (2023). Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Drug Operation and Use Quality (SAFR Order No. 84). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2023/issue_10846/202311/content_… ; State Administration for Market Regulation (2022). Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Online Drug Sales (SAFR Order No. 58, Articles 8 to 10). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2022/content_5717002.htm

7. Use sex hormone drugs only under the premise that a doctor prescribes them and there are regular follow-ups; don't buy online, and don't increase the dose yourself

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money little; Time medium; Willpower no; Benefit medium

This item does not discuss whether they should be used, only how to use them. One study followed a transgender population for about four years; transgender women using estrogen had significantly more venous thrombosis than same-age controls, with 4.1 more cases per 1,000 people over two years and 16.7 more over eight years. This kind of risk must be watched through long-term follow-up, and the premise is that someone is regularly testing you. On the path of online shopping plus adjusting your own dose, there is precisely no such person.

Cost

Regular registration, plus blood tests for follow-up. A few hundred yuan a year, taking up several half-days.

Benefit

Researchers followed a group of people from the electronic medical records of the healthcare group Kaiser Permanente. Among them were 2,842 transgender women and 2,118 transgender men. Average follow-up was 4.0 years and 3.6 years. Each person was matched with about 10 times as many cisgender controls by birth year, race, visit site, and enrollment time, totaling 48,686 cisgender men and 48,775 cisgender women. Transgender women had more venous thromboembolism (blood clots forming in blood vessels and blocking them) than controls. Compared with cisgender men, at 2 years it was 4.1 cases per 1,000 people (95% CI 1.6–6.7). At 8 years it was 16.7 cases (6.4–27.5). That is, per 1,000 people, 4.1 more cases over two years and 16.7 more over eight years. Compared with cisgender women, these two numbers were 3.4 (1.1–5.6) and 13.7 (4.1–22.7). Ischemic stroke (the type of stroke where blood vessels are blocked) and myocardial infarction were overall similar across groups. But among transgender women who only began hormone therapy during the follow-up period, the differences in venous thrombosis and ischemic stroke were more pronounced. The evidence for transgender men was insufficient to draw conclusions. The authors' conclusion is that "these results may suggest the need for long-term vigilance regarding the vascular side effects of estrogen in transgender hormone therapy."

Notes

The researchers themselves wrote out the shortcomings of this study: how many people bought drugs on their own outside the hospital system, they could not find out, so the line of "whether drugs were used" was inherently not cleanly drawn. This in turn precisely shows that drug use should be placed within formal follow-up. This study only looked at whether vascular events occurred or not; it does not answer whether hormone therapy should be used or what benefits it brings; that is another body of evidence. All situations involving sex hormones are the same, including contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapy, and testosterone supplementation. For anyone who buys online on their own, adjusts the dose according to online posts, and never checks thrombosis or liver and kidney indicators, the risk lies in the segment of "no one watching," not in why the drug is used. The formal route in China is to go to the endocrinology department or the corresponding specialty of a formal medical institution for evaluation, prescription, and follow-up.

Sources

Getahun D et al. (2018). Cross-sex Hormones and Acute Cardiovascular Events in Transgender Persons: A Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. https://doi.org/10.7326/M17-2785 ; State Administration for Market Regulation (2022). Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Online Drug Sales (SAFR Order No. 58, Article 9). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2022/content_5717002.htm

8. If "feeling ugly" has reached the point of repeatedly checking the mirror and repeatedly thinking about changing it, do a body image assessment before talking about surgery

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Caliber mortality rate; Money low; Time medium; Willpower some; Benefit medium

Looking at 33 studies together, 15.04% of people who go for plastic surgery meet the criteria for body dysmorphic disorder, which is magnifying a flaw that others basically cannot see to the point that it affects life. Among dermatology patients seeking cosmetic procedures, it is 12.65%. In both groups, more than 70% are women. Surgery changes the face, but it cannot change that cycle of "repeated checking, repeated dissatisfaction," so it is easy to keep going from one procedure to the next. Spend the cost of one registration first to see whether you belong to this category, then decide whether to proceed.

Cost

Register once in psychiatry or clinical psychology, a few dozen yuan. The hard part is making this trip before booking surgery.

Benefit

Following the rules, 33 studies were gathered and pooled for calculation. Among plastic surgery patients, the prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder (magnifying a flaw that others basically cannot see to the point that it affects life) is 15.04%, with individual studies ranging from 2.21% to 56.67%. That is, out of every 100 people who go for plastic surgery, about 15 meet the criteria, while looking at individual studies it ranges from 2 to 57. The average age of this group is 34.54±12.41 years, with the latter number being the range of fluctuation, and 74.38% are women. Among dermatology patients, it is 12.65%, with individual studies ranging from 4.52% to 35.16%, average age 27.79±9.03 years, and 76.09% are women. The authors recommend that plastic surgeons and dermatologists actively assess and identify high-risk people, and arrange for several departments to manage them together

Notes

The proportions measured by individual studies range from 2.21% all the way to 56.67%, an extremely large difference. The reason is that the questionnaires used and the populations surveyed are all different. So one can only read from this that "this proportion is not low and is worth screening for once first," and cannot treat 15.04% as an accurate number; this is also why it is recorded as level B. This item is not saying that people who want medical aesthetics have psychological problems; the vast majority do not. It is talking about the small portion of people for whom it is "repeated, persistent, and has already affected work and social life," whose problems surgery cannot solve. There are several clues for judging this: spending a long time each day checking or covering a certain body part, avoiding social situations or photos because of it, and after finishing one area, fixating on the next.

Source

Ribeiro RVE (2017). Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Plastic Surgery and Dermatology Patients: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Aesthetic Plast Surg. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-017-0869-0

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-017-0869-0

Evidence levels: A, B · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 29 · 13 suggestions

After a Major Blow

[[A Cost-Effective Guide to Life]]

Death of a loved one, being told of a serious illness, losing a job, divorce. These events share one thing in the research: what's affected isn't just mood, but the body. The highest-risk stretch is concentrated from the first few weeks to the first year. This section isn't about how to "get over it." It's only about which things during this period must have someone keeping an eye on them, which decisions must be postponed, and when to go register at a clinic. Most entries calculate death probability. The four entries about spending money and benefits calculate money: don't rush to pay for grief counseling (entry 9), call 12356 and register at a psychological outpatient clinic (entry 11), push irreversible big decisions back (entry 12), don't use death as a way to repay debt (entry 13). The two types of numbers are not converted into each other. For those with no relatives and no friends to turn to, how the phrase "find someone to keep an eye on you" is put into practice, see entry 6. The paperwork at the time of a loved one's death, the body, and the money to collect, see section 25. Guardianship and wills for the elderly before death, see section 17. What you can claim when unemployed, see section 7. Exercise and light exposure when feeling down, see section 3 and section 22. When having suicidal thoughts, call 12356 first, see section 1 entry 25; the time scale of the thoughts, see section 1 entry 32; the aftereffects after being saved, see section 1 entry 33. This section does not repeat any of these.

1. In the first few days after a loved one dies, don't stay alone; if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes, take your medication as usual; if your chest feels tight and painful, call 120

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

In the first day after a loved one dies, the probability of a heart attack is 21.1 times the usual. After that it drops day by day. For people aged 60 to 89, in the 30 days after a spouse dies, the rate of heart attack or stroke roughly doubles, then falls back after a month. People who already have cardiovascular disease should not stop their medication during these days. If your chest feels tight and painful, you can't catch your breath, or one side of your limbs is weak, call 120 immediately.

Cost

No money. During these days, don't stay alone, and take your medication as usual.

Benefit

1,985 acute heart attack patients, comparing the same person's different time periods before and after the onset. Of them, 270 (13.6%) had lost someone important within the 6 months before onset, and 19 had lost someone within 1 day before the heart attack. Within 24 hours after the death of a significant person, the rate of acute heart attack rose 21.1 times (95% CI 13.1–34.1; the true multiple is roughly between 13 and 34). After that it declined day by day. In actual numbers: among people with a ten-year heart attack risk of 5%, 1 extra case appears per 1,394 who have just lost a loved one. Among those with a 20% risk, 1 extra case per 320. Another UK study compared 30,447 people aged 60 to 89 who had lost a spouse with 83,588 comparable controls. Within 30 days after widowhood, heart attack or stroke occurred in 50 people (0.16%) on the widowed side. On the control side, 67 people (0.08%). IRR 2.20 (1.52–3.15), meaning the probability of an event was about 2.2 times that of controls. Of these, heart attack 2.14 (1.20–3.81), about 2.1 times. Stroke 2.40 (1.22–4.71), about 2.4 times. After 30 days it weakened. Within 90 days, two other categories of disease were also examined. One was non-heart-attack acute coronary syndrome (the type where the heart's blood supply is acutely impaired but it doesn't yet reach the level of a heart attack), IRR 2.20 (1.12–4.29). The other was pulmonary embolism (a blood clot blocking the blood vessels of the lungs), IRR 2.37 (1.18–4.75)

Notes

What can be done is very concrete. Hand the pillbox to someone else to manage; don't rely on yourself to remember. During these days, don't drive long distances. Don't try to get through it by drinking; for the account of alcohol, see section 2. How to recognize a heart attack or stroke and how to call a car, see section 13. Both are studies that look back at population data, and it's impossible to tell how many of these people were already going to have an event. But both point in the same direction and at the same time period. For those who have no one to hand the pillbox to and are destined to be alone at home during these days, see entry 6 of this section.

Sources

Mostofsky E, et al. (2012). Risk of acute myocardial infarction after the death of a significant person in one's life: the Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study. Circulation. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.061770 ; Carey IM, et al. (2014). Increased risk of acute cardiovascular events after partner bereavement: a matched cohort study. JAMA Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.14558

2. In the week you are told of a serious illness diagnosis, don't go pick up the report alone; decisions other than treatment should be postponed

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower no; Benefit large

In the first week after receiving a cancer diagnosis, the probability of suicide is 12.6 times that of people without a diagnosis, and the probability of dying from cardiovascular disease is 5.6 times. By the first year it falls to 3.1 times, and the more difficult-to-treat the cancer type, the more pronounced it is. The highest risk is precisely in the first few days after finding out, then it quickly falls back. So bring someone with you on the day you pick up the report, and don't stay alone when you get home. Whether to quit your job, whether to sell your house, leave those until the next clinic visit.

Cost

No money. Find someone to go with you to pick up the report. Push big decisions other than treatment back a few days.

Benefit

Swedish national records followed more than 6.07 million people (6,073,240), from 1991 to 2006. Compared with people not diagnosed with cancer, in the first week after diagnosis the relative risk of suicide was 12.6 (95% CI 8.6–17.8), i.e., about 12.6 times. The true multiple is roughly between 8.6 and 17.8. The incidence in that week was 2.50/1000 person-years, meaning 2.5 cases per 1000 people followed for one year. By the first year it fell to 3.1 (2.7–3.5, 0.60/1000 person-years), about 3.1 times. Cardiovascular death in the first week 5.6 (5.2–5.9, 116.80/1000 person-years), about 5.6 times. In the first 4 weeks 3.3 (3.1–3.4, 65.81/1000 person-years). The elevated risk fell rapidly within the first year after diagnosis. The more difficult the cancer is to treat and the lower the survival probability, the more pronounced the rise. Comparing the same group of patients across different time periods against themselves, the conclusion is consistent

Notes

This is data on cancer patients. For other major diagnoses, there is no equally substantial original text. In fact, very few people have an event: the first-week suicide rate is 2.50/1000 person-years, i.e., 2.5 cases per 1000 people followed for one year. Writing it out is not to scare people, but to explain that "the first few days after finding out" need someone beside you. Long-term management after diagnosis, reimbursement, and follow-up, see section 16 and section 24. For those who can't find someone to go with them, see entry 6 of this section (replace "that person" with neighbors and the community list).

Sources

Fang F, et al. (2012). Suicide and cardiovascular death after a cancer diagnosis. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1110307

https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1110307

3. After losing a job, first fix your daily routine, health insurance, and job-hunting rhythm; don't stay at home all day

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

The probability of death in subsequent years for unemployed people is about 60% higher than for employed people. It is more pronounced for men and younger people, and highest in the first ten years after unemployment. Part of it can be held down by oneself: in the batch of studies that also counted smoking and drinking, the calculated increase was about a quarter smaller. First register as unemployed and claim unemployment insurance benefits; during the claiming period, employee health insurance is paid by the unemployment insurance fund (see section 7).

Cost

No money. First go register as unemployed and claim unemployment insurance benefits, then arrange job hunting into a fixed schedule. The hard part is getting up on time when no one is urging you.

Benefit

42 studies, 235 mortality risk estimates, and more than 20 million people combined. After flattening out the influence of age and other conditions, the all-cause mortality risk of the unemployed averaged HR 1.63, i.e., about 60% higher than the employed. Men higher than women. The effect is pronounced for people in the early and middle stages of their careers, and smaller in the late stage. The first 10 years of follow-up carry the highest risk, then it declines. In the portion of studies that also counted health behaviors such as smoking and drinking, the average HR was 24% lower, i.e., the calculated increase was about a quarter smaller

Notes

This is a study that looks back at population data, and it can't distinguish the direction of causation. People who were already in poor health are also more likely to become unemployed. But "after subtracting the influence of the lifestyle portion, the effect is 24% lower" gives a direction to work on. What you can claim when unemployed, where to claim it, and how to continue social insurance, see section 7. How much compensation you should get if fired, and don't sign a voluntary resignation, see section 19.

Sources

Roelfs DJ, et al. (2011). Losing life and livelihood: a systematic review and meta-analysis of unemployment and all-cause mortality. Social Science & Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.01.005

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.01.005

4. If a loved one died by suicide, accident, or homicide, don't count on toughing it out; actively seek professional help

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

For people whose spouse died by suicide, the probability of being diagnosed with a mental disorder within five years is about 80% higher than the general population (men) and 70% higher (women). Compared with people whose spouse died from other causes, it is also 70% to 100% higher. People bereaved in this way are more likely to feel alienated by others and to feel shame. This is precisely the reason to actively seek people out, not to wait until you get better on your own.

Cost

Calling 12356 costs nothing. If you need to see a doctor, registering at a psychological outpatient clinic costs the same as a regular outpatient visit. The hard part is opening your mouth to find someone.

Benefit

Danish national records followed 6.7 million adults, from 1980 to 2014, totaling more than 136 million person-years (the sum of the years all people were followed). For people widowed by a spouse's suicide, the risk of a newly diagnosed mental disorder within 5 years, compared with the general population, is as follows. IRR for men 1.8 (95% CI 1.6–2.0), i.e., about 80% higher. Women 1.7 (1.6–1.8), i.e., about 70% higher. Compared with people widowed by other causes of death, IRR for men 1.7 (1.5–1.9), women 2.0 (1.9–2.2), i.e., 70% to 100% higher. In this group, suicidal behavior, mortality, and the proportion needing municipal assistance are also higher. Physical illnesses such as cirrhosis and sleep disorders also have elevated risk. Another 57 studies were summarized item by item, without pooling the numbers. Suicide bereavement is associated with the following four things. First, elevated risk of partner suicide. Second, elevated risk of parents being admitted to psychiatric care after a child's suicide. Third, elevated risk of maternal suicide after an adult child's suicide. Fourth, elevated risk of depression in children after a parent's suicide. Compared with people bereaved by other violent deaths, people bereaved by suicide more often say they feel alienated by others and feel shame

Notes

Sudden, violent death refers to accidents, homicide, and disasters. After this type of death, the rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and stuck grief are all higher than after death from illness. Recovery is also slower. For handling your own suicidal thoughts, see section 1 entry 25.

Sources

Erlangsen A, et al. (2017). Association Between Spousal Suicide and Mental, Physical, and Social Health Outcomes: A Longitudinal and Nationwide Register-Based Study. JAMA Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0226 ; Pitman A, et al. (2014). Effects of suicide bereavement on mental health and suicide risk. The Lancet Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(14)70224-X ; Kristensen P et al. (2012). Bereavement and mental health after sudden and violent losses: a review. Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1521/psyc.2012.75.1.76 (the review in the Notes)

5. In the first half year after widowhood, hand your three meals, sleep, chronic disease medication, and follow-up visits to one fixed person to keep an eye on

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit large

Less than half a year after widowhood, the probability of death in the same period is about 40% higher than for people who are not widowed. After half a year it falls to about 15% higher. Men about 23% higher; for women that tier is so small it may just be coincidence. This gap can't be weathered by just thinking positively. What should be done is to pin medication, meals, and follow-up visits onto one specific person, and not count on yourself to remember.

Cost

No money. Find one specific person—children, siblings, or friends are all fine—and have them visit or call regularly. The hard part is opening your mouth to entrust this matter.

Benefit

15 studies that first registered and then followed up, with 2,263,888 people combined. When widowed for less than 6 months, mortality RR 1.41 (95% CI 1.26–1.57), i.e., the probability of death in the same period is about 40% higher than for people not widowed. After 6 months it is 1.14 (1.10–1.18), falling to about 15% higher. Men RR 1.23 (1.18–1.28), about 23% higher. Women 1.04 (1.00–1.08, not statistically significant, i.e., this difference may just be coincidence). No obvious difference was seen between those under 65 and those 65 and over. Another analysis pooled 123 papers, 1,377 risk estimates, and more than 500 million people. After flattening out differences in conditions, HR 1.23 (1.19–1.28), i.e., about 23% higher overall. Men are also higher than women. Men 1.27 (1.19–1.35), 27% higher. Women 1.15 (1.08–1.22), 15% higher

Notes

This is a study that looks back at population data, and other factors mixed in can't be removed. Spouses' lifestyles and diseases are similar to begin with. But the pattern that "the first half year is much higher than afterward" is the same in two independent pooled analyses, and is worth treating as a period of caregiving window. Men have higher risk and are also less likely to ask for help. For families with a widowed elderly person, sort out accounts, guardianship, and wills together according to section 17. For those who can't find such a person (living alone, having lost an only child, with children also gone), hand this matter to the community and the phone, see entry 6 of this section.

Sources

Moon JR, et al. (2011). Widowhood and mortality: a meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0023465 ; Shor E, et al. (2012). Widowhood and mortality: a meta-analysis and meta-regression. Demography. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13524-012-0096-x

6. If you have no relatives and no friends, replace "the person keeping an eye on you" with three things: a neighbor who can enter your home, the community's visitation list, and the emergency contact in your phone

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Willpower some; Benefit medium

When you have no relatives and no friends, the phrase "find someone" is empty. It is actually handling two things: if something happens, someone discovers you; someone keeps an eye on your medication and meals. The second can only be done by yourself: write medication and three meals into a checklist, set alarms, and don't rely on memory. The first relies on three things: leave a spare key with a neighbor, go to the residents' committee to ask about the visitation and care list, and set up an emergency contact on your phone and don't turn it off.

Cost

No money. The hard part is actively opening your mouth and saying to a neighbor and the residents' committee, "I live alone, and something just happened at home."

Benefit

44,573 outpatients, all with risk of or a history of atherothrombosis (the type of condition where plaques form in blood vessels and are easily blocked by clots). They were registered by doctors from multiple countries into the international REACH project for follow-up, enrolled from December 2003 to December 2004, and followed for 4 years. Of them, 8,594 (19%) lived alone. Among those living alone, all-cause death over 4 years was 14.1%, versus 11.1% for those living with others. Cardiovascular death 8.6% versus 6.8%. Both log-rank P<0.01; the difference is unlikely to be coincidence. The gap differs by age group (interaction P=0.03). At 45 to 65, death for living alone versus living with others was 7.7% versus 5.7%. After flattening out other conditions, HR 1.24 (95% CI 1.01–1.51), i.e., about 24% higher. At 66 to 80 it was 13.2% versus 12.3%, HR 1.12 (1.01–1.26), about 10% higher. At 80 and over it was 24.6% versus 28.4%, HR 0.92 (0.79–1.06), with no elevation seen. The 2022 opinions of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and ten other departments stipulate that visitation and care services should be carried out. The targets are elderly people such as those living alone, empty-nesters, left-behind elderly, disabled elderly, severely disabled elderly, and families under the family planning special assistance system. The service methods are "regular home visits, telephone and video, and remote monitoring." Township (street) offices conduct surveys and screenings, with the assistance of village (residents') committees, to grasp basic information and "willingness to receive visitation and care services" and incorporate them into grassroots grid management, i.e., assigning dedicated people by district to keep an eye on them. By the end of 2025, "ensure that the monthly visitation rate for elderly people with special difficulties reaches 100%," and "for disabled elderly people with special difficulties, visitation and care no less than once a month." The document also advocates that families install smart call systems, smart electric and water meters, health monitoring products, and elderly care monitoring devices, so that "once an abnormality is monitored, it can issue a timely warning and simultaneously send prompt information to emergency contacts." When service personnel discover an emergency problem, they "should assist in dialing the emergency help phone number as soon as possible"

Notes

How to handle the three things concretely. One, give a spare key or a temporary door lock code to a neighbor or property management, and say to them, "I'm alone these days." No friendship is needed; you only need someone to know you're in the house. Two, go to the community residents' committee and explain that you live alone, and ask whether you can be put on the visitation and care list. Among the elderly, those living alone, empty-nesters, and those who have lost their only child are explicitly official service targets; by the way, ask whether the local area has free installations of smart callers, smart water meters, and similar devices. Three, set up an emergency contact and medical emergency card on your phone, and during these days don't mute it and don't turn it off. The reasons for the B rating are two. First, the association between living alone and mortality comes from a study that looks back at population data, and the reverse explanation—"people who were already in poor health and poor conditions are more likely to live alone"—can't be removed; the original text itself also writes that this result needs confirmation. Second, the visitation and care document only covers the elderly. Those under 60 have no corresponding dedicated system. What can be counted on is one item in the document, which requires grid workers and social workers to "promptly discover psychological crisis risks such as family upheaval, unemployment, and dropping out of school" (see entry 11 of this section; if you need someone to talk with you, call 12356). Why "someone in the house" is valuable, see section 13 entry 1 (chest compressions). Of cardiac arrests occurring outside the hospital, 79.2% occur at home. When someone nearby performs compressions, 16.1% survive to discharge; when no one is there, only 3.9%. No one in the house equals falling into the low tier. Two other things to do along the way. Handling a funeral itself requires running to several counters: the funeral home, community health service institutions, public security, and the housing provident fund (see section 25). Arrange it into a fixed schedule of going out once a day; the outings for these days are readily available. Hotlines can be called repeatedly, not just once (see entry 11 of this section; if you need someone to talk with you, call 12356). "Living alone" itself is also a long-term risk factor. The odds ratio for death among those living alone is 1.32, i.e., about 30% higher, see section 22 entry 10 (treat regular meetings with people as a health expense). But this entry only covers the immediate few days; the long-term account is not calculated here.

Sources

Udell JA, et al. (2012). Living alone and cardiovascular risk in outpatients at risk of or with atherothrombosis. Archives of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2012.2782 ; Ministry of Civil Affairs and ten other departments (2022). Guiding Opinions on Carrying Out Visitation and Care Services for Elderly People with Special Difficulties (Minfa [2022] No. 73). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-10/13/content_571…

7. After a parent dies, tell the child the truth, let them attend the farewell, and don't send them elsewhere to "change the environment"

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit large

Children who lose a father or mother before age 18 have about a fifty percent higher probability of dying by early adulthood than those who have not experienced this. For those whose parent died from unnatural causes such as accidents or suicide, it is about eighty percent higher; for those whose parent died from disease, about thirty percent higher. This is not something a child forgets after a couple of days; the effects last for many years. What can be done is: tell the truth, let them attend the farewell, don't interrupt their schooling, and don't send them to relatives' homes to change the environment.

Cost

No money needed. The difficulty is that you yourself are also suffering, and you still have to explain things clearly to the child.

Benefit

The entire populations born in Denmark from 1968 to 2008 and Sweden from 1973 to 2006 were all included. Plus 89.3% sampled from those born in Finland from 1987 to 2007. Together, more than 7.3 million people. Of these, 189,094 lost a parent before age 18. The mortality rate from all causes combined for this group of children was 50% higher than for those who had not been bereaved (mortality rate ratio 1.50, 95% CI 1.43–1.58, i.e., about 1.5 times). For those whose parent died from unnatural causes such as accidents or suicide, it was 1.84 (1.71–2.00), about eighty percent higher. For those whose parent died from natural causes such as disease, it was 1.33 (1.24–1.41), about thirty percent higher. It was highest when the child's cause of death and the parent's cause of death were of the same category

Notes

When talking to the child, don't make up "went on a long trip"; custody and upbringing arrangements should be put in writing. The B rating is not because the numbers are soft. This is a follow-up study of entire populations in three countries; the numbers themselves are A-level. The B rating is because between these numbers and the specific practices of "how to tell the child, whether to attend the farewell," there is no direct experimental evidence. The authors also state that data on the parent-child relationship and the child's lifestyle after bereavement are lacking. The elevation includes both innate constitution and the long-term effects left by bereavement. For designating a guardian and arranging property, see Section 17. For child support and schooling, see Section 18.

Sources

Li J, et al. (2014). Mortality after parental death in childhood: a nationwide cohort study from three Nordic countries. PLoS Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001679

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001679

8. If grief is still stuck after more than half a year and daily life can't go on, make an appointment with psychiatry or clinical psychology

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money little; Time medium; Persistence some; Benefit large

About one in ten bereaved adults gets stuck: for more than half a year they still miss the deceased so much that they can't eat, can't work, can't take care of children, feel numb, and feel life is meaningless. This is not a matter of not being strong enough; it has diagnostic criteria and specific treatments. The effective rate of targeted treatment is 51%, versus 28% for ordinary psychotherapy, and it takes effect faster.

Cost

Registration fee plus treatment fee. This type of treatment is done in courses; in the trial, an average of 16 sessions over 19 weeks. The difficulty is having to take the step to make the appointment yourself.

Benefit

Combined calculation of 14 studies, with subjects being adults whose relative did not die from violence and who themselves had not been seen in psychiatric care. The prevalence of prolonged grief disorder was 9.8% (95% CI 6.8–14.0), i.e., about 10 out of every 100 bereaved adults. The older the age, the higher the proportion. Another study tested whether this set of diagnostic criteria is accurate, recruiting 291 bereaved people and conducting interviews three times at 0–6, 6–12, and 12–24 months after bereavement. The core manifestation of the diagnosis is intense longing for the deceased. At least five of these nine items must also be present. The first five are emotional numbness, shock, feeling that life is meaningless, distrust of others, and pain due to this loss. The last four are difficulty accepting, confusion about who one should be, avoidance of reality, and inability to continue living. These manifestations must occur every day, or be severe enough to prevent functioning. And they must still be present at least 6 months after the relative's death, still affecting daily life. There is also a trial of 95 people randomly assigned to two groups, with 16 treatment sessions over an average of 19 weeks. The effective rate of treatment for complicated grief was 51%. Ordinary interpersonal psychotherapy was 28% (P=0.02, the difference is unlikely to be by chance). The former also took effect faster. Number needed to treat 4.3, i.e., on average for every 4.3 people treated, one more improves

Notes

Don't get stuck on counting the months yourself. The real judgment is "it affects eating, sleeping, working, taking care of children"; if it matches, go make the appointment. The department is called psychiatry, psychology, or clinical psychology; public psychiatric specialty hospitals all have them. This diagnosis is called complicated grief in some materials and prolonged grief disorder in others. Different criteria also require different durations, some writing 6 months, some writing 12 months. The 9.8% figure comes from 14 studies with considerable differences in methods, and the authors also caution that it may not be directly transferable to other populations.

Sources

Lundorff M, et al. (2017). Prevalence of prolonged grief disorder in adult bereavement: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.01.030 ; Prigerson HG, et al. (2009). Prolonged grief disorder: Psychometric validation of criteria proposed for DSM-V and ICD-11. PLoS Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000121 ; Shear MK, et al. (2005). Treatment of complicated grief: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.293.21.2601

9. Don't spend money on grief counseling right away; first check whether your grief is really stuck (the symptoms in item 8)

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

Universally arranging psychological counseling for all bereaved people has very small effects right after the end, and after some time no benefit can be seen. The reason is that most people who did not receive intervention would have recovered on their own anyway. But for those who are already clearly unable to adapt, the same treatment is as effective as treating other psychological problems. So the order is: first compare against item 8 (if grief is stuck, go to psychiatry), and only spend this money if it matches.

Cost

No money needed; on the contrary, it saves a counseling fee.

Benefit

Combined calculation of 61 controlled studies. Universally providing psychological intervention to bereaved people has very small benefits right after treatment ends, and after some time no benefit can be seen. Interventions that recruit only bereaved people who are "already clearly unable to adapt" are as effective as psychotherapy for treating other psychological problems. Studies without prior screening have poor results because the group that did not receive intervention would also recover on its own over time. Another combined calculation of 14 randomized controlled trials: treatment for people who already have problems is significantly better than control both after treatment and at later follow-up, and the effect continues to grow over time. Universal preventive intervention for people who do not yet have problems is ineffective. There is also a study that followed 205 people from before spousal bereavement to 6 and 18 months after. This study identified five trajectories. They are common grief, chronic grief, chronic depression, improvement during bereavement, and resilience, i.e., holding up. Among them, the resilient type is the most common, and the common grief type is relatively uncommon

Notes

This item says "not everyone needs to do it," not "everyone should not do it." High-risk bereavements such as those in item 4 (relative died from suicide, accident, or homicide) and people already stuck as in item 8 (if grief is stuck, go to psychiatry) are precisely the people for whom evidence supports doing it. The conclusion of a Lancet review is the same sentence. Grief is not an illness; most people do not need professional intervention. Effort should be directed at high-risk people. It should also be directed at people who already have complicated grief, post-bereavement depression, and stress disorders.

Sources

Currier JM, et al. (2008). The effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions for bereaved persons: a comprehensive quantitative review. Psychological Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.134.5.648 ; Wittouck C, et al. (2011). The prevention and treatment of complicated grief: a meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.09.005 ; Bonanno GA, et al. (2002). Resilience to loss and chronic grief: a prospective study from preloss to 18-months postloss. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.83.5.1150 ; Stroebe M et al. (2007). Health outcomes of bereavement. Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61816-9 (the review in the notes)

10. After separation or divorce, don't let health insurance lapse and don't prop yourself up with alcohol

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality rate; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit medium

In an analysis combining 11 countries and 6.5 million people, people who were separated or divorced had a significantly higher probability of early death than those still married. The increase was larger for men and younger people. The original text did not treat this as causation; divorced people may already differ in health and income. Among the four reasons listed by the authors, two are things you can control yourself: don't let health insurance and checkups lapse, and don't prop yourself up with tobacco and alcohol.

Cost

No money needed. Renew health insurance and stop drinking. The difficulty is that during this period it is easy to prop yourself up with alcohol.

Benefit

Combined calculation of 32 studies that were registered first and then followed up, covering more than 6.5 million people, 160,000 deaths, more than 755,000 divorces, and 11 countries. Compared with people still married, separated or divorced adults had a significantly higher risk of early death. For men and younger people, the increase was more pronounced than for women and older people. The authors discussed four possible pathways. First, social selection: people who were already different in health or circumstances are more likely to end up divorced. Second, interruption of resources: income and security are cut off. Third, changes in health behavior: smoking, drinking, and daily routines worsen. Fourth, chronic psychological stress, i.e., long-term tension

Notes

The original text only said "significantly higher" and compared groups; it did not give a quotable multiple, so this item does not write specific numbers. The benefit magnitude is set as medium based on "knowing the direction, with no threshold-applicable reduction." For property, debt, and bride price at divorce, see Sections 8 and 10. For child custody arrangements, see Section 18.

Sources

Sbarra DA, et al. (2011). Divorce and Death: A Meta-Analysis and Research Agenda for Clinical, Social, and Health Psychology. Perspectives on Psychological Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691611414724

https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691611414724

11. If you need someone to talk with, call 12356; minors and adolescents call 12355; to see a doctor, make an appointment at a psychological clinic

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit medium

If you want to find someone to talk to, call 12356; this is the national psychological assistance hotline, free of charge. Minors and adolescents have another option, the 12355 youth comprehensive service platform. To see a doctor, make an appointment at the psychological clinic of psychiatry, psychology, or clinical psychology. In cases of family upheaval, unemployment, or dropping out of school, community grid workers and social workers are supposed to proactively identify them.

Cost

No money needed. Both hotlines are free. Psychological clinics charge by ordinary outpatient registration.

Benefit

The 2026 plan of the National Health Commission and 25 other departments requires improving the 12356 psychological assistance hotline work system. It is necessary to ensure stable operation and increase the connection rate. It is necessary to promote the establishment of provincial-level 12356 information platforms. It is necessary to strengthen the construction of linkage mechanisms with service hotlines such as 110. It is also necessary to build and make good use of the 12355 youth comprehensive service platform and coordinate with 12356. There are three goals for 2030. First, more than 80% of administrative villages and urban communities should have psychological counseling rooms or social work rooms and provide psychological services. Second, public psychiatric specialty hospitals at all levels and each county (district) should have at least one hospital providing psychological outpatient services. Third, each province should complete a provincial-level 12356 psychological assistance platform. The psychological crisis intervention and psychological assistance team is composed of psychiatrists, psychotherapy technicians, psychological counselors, social work professionals, and volunteers. The plan also requires three types of people to pay attention in ordinary times and detect problems early. These three types are grid workers (staff responsible for areas in the community), social work professionals, and volunteers. They should promptly detect psychological crisis risks such as family upheaval, unemployment, and dropping out of school (nationwide, issued March 2026)

Notes

The B rating is because village and community counseling rooms and county-level psychological clinics are goals to be completed only by 2030, not something available everywhere now. 12356 and 12355, however, can be called now. For when 12356 opened and how many hours per day it answers, see Section 1, item 25. Psychological counseling and psychotherapy are not the same thing. Diagnosis and prescribing must be done by psychiatrists, and treatment must be done at qualified medical institutions. Hourly-fee "healing" and "spiritual counseling" on the market are not part of this system.

Sources

National Health Commission and 25 other departments (2026). Notice on Issuing the Implementation Plan for Improving the Social Psychological Service System and Crisis Intervention Mechanism (Guo Wei Yi Zheng Fa [2026] No. 8). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065035…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065035…

12. In the first three months after a upheaval, postpone all irreversible major decisions

Evidence level: C
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence some; Benefit medium

During this period your judgment about various "opportunities" is at its worst. People who say they can contact the deceased, people who say they can help you turn your money around, people who urge you to quit your job and start over elsewhere, and people who pull you into partnerships will all come looking. Set a hard rule for yourself: anything involving more than one month's income, or where backing out would carry a large cost, must be postponed for three months. First tell it to someone with no stake in the matter; all you need is not to decide on the same day.

Cost

No money needed, just postponing decisions, and you may miss certain opportunities as a result. The difficulty is that at the time it feels like opportunities won't wait.

Benefit

Avoid making irreversible property dispositions during the period right after a blow, when judgment is at its worst. Such matters include selling a house, quitting a job, investing a lump-sum bereavement payment or compensation payment all at once, rushing into remarriage, and guaranteeing for others. The amounts in such decisions are usually on the scale of tens of thousands of yuan to a house, which is also why the benefit of this item is set as medium. Official documents likewise list "family upheaval, unemployment, dropping out of school" as psychological crisis risks that communities should proactively screen for. That is, the state during this period is already regarded as one requiring outside help

Notes

If there is no such person with no stake nearby, call 12356 and talk it through (see item 11 in this section, if you need someone to talk with, call 12356), or write it down yourself and read it again after three days. "Three months" is a line drawn by the author; there is no literature supporting this specific duration, so this item is recorded as level C. For common scams targeting bereaved people and older adults, see Section 17 (investment elderly care, housing-for-pension) and Section 6 (fortune-telling). For pitfalls with guarantees and IOUs, see Section 8. There are several sums of money that should be actively handled and are not in the "postpone" category: provident fund balance, social insurance benefits, and the three work-related death payments; see Section 25 and Section 19.

Sources

Author's experience, no direct literature; the expression of "family upheaval, unemployment, dropping out of school" as psychological crisis risks is seen in National Health Commission and 25 other departments (2026). Implementation Plan for Improving the Social Psychological Service System and Crisis Intervention Mechanism (Guo Wei Yi Zheng Fa [2026] No. 8). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065035…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065035…

13. Don't use death as a way to repay debt: life insurance within two years does not pay, work-related injury is not recognized, and debts are still deducted from the estate first

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Persistence no; Benefit large

For insurance with death as the condition for payment, suicide within two years is not compensated; only the refundable portion of the policy's cash value is returned. Work-related injury is also not recognized, and none of the three work-related death payments are available. Debts do not disappear with the person; what is owed is first deducted from what you leave behind, and the family gets what remains. What is left to them is a gap, plus the health cost described in item 4 of this section (bereavement due to suicide or violent death).

Cost

No money needed, just settling this account clearly.

Benefit

Article 44 of the Insurance Law governs contracts under which the insurer pays insurance benefits on the condition of the insured's death. Counting from the date the contract is formed or the contract's validity is restored, if the insured commits suicide within two years, the insurer does not bear the liability to pay insurance benefits. If the insured was a person with no capacity for civil conduct at the time of suicide, that is, a person who legally cannot be responsible for their own actions, this is not included. In such a case, the insurance company shall refund the cash value of the policy as agreed in the contract, that is, only the refundable portion of the policy, not the insured amount. Life insurance coverage is usually in the hundreds of thousands of yuan, which is also the basis for setting the benefit of this item as large. Article 16, item 3 of the Work-Related Injury Insurance Regulations provides: self-harm or suicide shall not be recognized as work-related injury or deemed work-related injury. The three work-related death benefits in Article 39 then all fall through. First, the funeral subsidy, paid as 6 months of the local average monthly wage of employees in the previous year. Second, the dependent relatives' pension. Third, the one-time work-related death subsidy, which is 20 times the national per capita disposable income of urban residents in the previous year. Article 1159 of the Civil Code provides: when dividing the estate, the taxes and debts that the decedent should pay according to law shall be paid off, that is, the estate is first used to repay taxes and debts, and only the remainder is distributed. Article 1161 provides: the heir shall pay off debts to the extent of the actual value of the estate received, that is, only using the portion inherited and not having to pay more from their own pocket; those who renounce inheritance may not bear liability for repayment

Notes

This item only calculates the money account. Other items in this section and Section 1 are about not reaching this step. Article 44 of the Insurance Law governs only the first two years; it is written out to state the provision completely, not to provide a timetable. For the health cost on the family side, see item 4 of this section (for spouses whose partner died by suicide, the risk of new-onset mental disorder within 5 years is seventy to eighty percent higher). For what to do when the thought arises, see Section 1, items 25 and 32; for aftereffects after being rescued, see Section 1, item 33. For the standards of the three work-related death payments, see Section 19, item 16. For the specific procedures for estates and debts, see Section 25, item 9 (go one by one to collect provident fund and social insurance benefits)

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2015 amendment). Article 44 of the Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf7c4… ; State Council (2010 revision). Work-Related Injury Insurance Regulations (State Council Order No. 586), Articles 16 and 39. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm ; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code of the People's Republic of China, Articles 1159 and 1161. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808081729d1efe01729d50b5…

Evidence levels: A, B, C · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 30 · 13 suggestions

Children After Starting School

[[A Cost-Effective Guide to Life]]

Section 20 covered the year a child is first born. Section 18 calculated how much money and time raising a child costs. The ten-plus years in between, ages 3 to 18, were originally blank in this book. This section fills that gap. The item on managing screens by age starts from age 0, because the official tiers are exactly 0–3, 3–6, and primary/secondary school—splitting them apart would actually make it less usable. It answers only one question: when "don't hold back studying" collides with "the body," which things cannot wait. They cannot wait because these things have time windows; once missed, they cannot be made up. Whether academics should be that competitive is not discussed in this section—only windows and numbers are given. The first eight items and the last two calculate death and real physical harm. Item 9 (don't buy "cure myopia" products) calculates money. Item 10 (explicit regulations on sleep, homework, and PE class ranking) and Item 11 (leave of absence with retained student status) calculate time. Drowning, traffic, helmets, and HPV vaccine are in Section 1. Infants and toddlers are in Section 20. Children being scammed and game top-ups are in Section 5. Red lines minors themselves should not cross are in Section 9. How to recognize emergencies and how to call for a car are in Section 13. Children after a parent dies are in Section 29. None of these are repeated in this section.

1. If a child says there is sudden severe pain and it keeps getting worse, go to the hospital immediately—don't make him endure it until school lets out

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

Some diseases are counted in hours. A boy's sudden severe pain on one side of the scrotum is testicular torsion—the blood vessel connected to the testicle has twisted, cutting off blood supply. If treated within 6 hours, the testicle is saved in 97.2% of cases. Delayed to 19–24 hours, only 42.5%. This kind of pain cannot wait until school lets out, nor until exams are over.

Cost

No money. Take half a day off and take the child to the emergency department.

Benefit

Following the rules, 30 case reports and 2,116 testicular torsion patients were gathered and combined. Of these, 1,283 cases were counted in 6-hour brackets. Counting from the onset of pain, the testicle was saved in 97.2% of cases at 0–6 hours. 79.3% at 7–12 hours. 61.3% at 13–18 hours. 42.5% at 19–24 hours. 24.4% at 25–48 hours. 7.4% beyond 48 hours. Combined into larger brackets: 90.4% within 12 hours, 54.0% at 13–24 hours, 18.1% beyond 24 hours. The authors' conclusion is that the salvageable time can be longer than the commonly cited 6–8 hours. So even if the pain has already lasted a long time, you should still go get it treated—don't skip it because "it's already too late."

Notes

Tell boys in advance: if there is sudden severe pain below, say so immediately—no need to be embarrassed. Testicular torsion occurs mostly in adolescent boys, and many endure it because it's hard to bring up. Also counted in hours are acute appendicitis (delayed, it perforates), diabetic ketoacidosis, and meningitis. These were not verified item by item in this section for "how much worse per hour of delay." Their common signal is: sudden onset, constantly worsening, different from any previous episode. How to recognize emergencies and how to call for a car are in Section 13.

Sources

Mellick LB, et al. (2019). A Systematic Review of Testicle Survival Time After a Torsion Event. Pediatric Emergency Care. https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.0000000000001287

https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.0000000000001287

2. Don't delay necessary treatment to "wait until exams are over"—some windows follow bone age, not exam schedules

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance yes; Benefit large

Scoliosis is the spine curving sideways. A brace is a hard-shell vest worn on the body to support the spine. Worn while bones are still growing, the proportion that curves to the point of needing surgery drops markedly: the brace-wearing group had a 75% success rate, the observation-only group 42%. This window follows when the bones finish growing, not the middle school or high school entrance exams. Wait until exams are over, and often the only path left is surgery.

Cost

No money. This item determines whether to do it early or late, not whether it costs money. Taking leave and follow-up visits take time; the cost of treatment itself is separate. The hard part is that the brace requires wearing at least 18 hours a day—the child has to endure it constantly.

Benefit

A trial done jointly by multiple hospitals enrolled 242 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients eligible for bracing. Of these, 116 were randomized, and 126 chose whether to wear a brace themselves. Success and failure were defined in advance: curvature progressing beyond 50 degrees counted as treatment failure; not reaching that degree by the time bones finished growing counted as treatment success. Analysis was by initial assigned group, regardless of whether the brace was actually worn enough. The randomized brace group had a 75% success rate; the randomized observation-only group 42% (OR 4.11, 95% CI 1.85–9.16). That is, the chance of success was about 4 times that of observation only. Combining the randomized and self-selected groups: 72% vs 48% (after adjusting away the pre-existing differences between the two groups, OR 1.93, 1.08–3.46, still about 1.9 times). The more hours worn per day, the higher the success rate (P<0.001—this relationship is unlikely to be coincidental). The trial was stopped early because the brace was indeed effective.

Notes

Scoliosis is used as the example here because it has a randomized trial, a clear time window, and happens to be one of the key items in student physicals (see Item 7). Similar ones include strabismus, amblyopia, dental caries, and surgeries like those for congenital heart disease that can be scheduled. Their common feature is that the later it's done, the worse the effect or the greater the cost. Ask a specialist about specific windows. Missing classes is not a problem: during compulsory education, a leave of absence can be taken, up to 1 year, with student status retained—see Item 11.

Sources

Weinstein SL, et al. (2013). Effects of bracing in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1307337

https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1307337

3. If a child is bullied, report it to the school the same day and demand written handling; if it involves hitting, robbing money, or spreading rumors, call the police directly

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance some; Benefit large

Children bullied by peers are about 2.2 times as likely to have suicidal thoughts as those not bullied, and about 2.6 times as likely to have attempted suicide. Schools receiving a bullying report must investigate immediately, and if it is determined to be bullying, must discipline the perpetrator. If it is serious enough to violate public security administration or be suspected of a crime, the school is not allowed to conceal it and must report to the police. So report the same day, demand the determination procedure, and keep a written record—don't just "have the teacher talk to him."

Cost

No money. Find the homeroom teacher, and also the school's student bullying governance organization. To call the police, dial 110. The hard part is resisting persuasions like "don't blow this out of proportion."

Benefit

34 studies and 284,375 children and adolescents were combined. Being bullied by peers was associated with suicidal thoughts, OR 2.23 (95% CI 2.10–2.37). That is, the chance of having thoughts was about 2.2 times that of not being bullied. Another 9 studies, 70,102 people: being bullied was associated with suicide attempts, OR 2.55 (1.95–3.34), about 2.6 times. Results were the same across sex, age, and study quality. Cyberbullying's association with suicidal thoughts was stronger than offline bullying. Article 21 of the *Provisions on the Protection of Minors in Schools* lists five categories of behavior. First, beating, kicking, slapping, scratching, biting, pushing, shoving, pulling. Second, insulting, mocking, giving insulting nicknames. Third, snatching, forcibly taking, or intentionally destroying property. Fourth, malicious exclusion and isolation. Fifth, fabricating facts online to defame or spreading rumors. The article also provides that when a party with an advantage in age, physical strength, or numbers intentionally or maliciously does these things, causing personal injury, property loss, or mental harm, it may be determined as bullying. Article 22 requires faculty and staff who discover abnormal emotions or physical injuries in students to promptly inquire and report. Article 23 requires schools receiving a report to investigate immediately, submit it to the bullying governance organization for determination and handling, and notify parents to participate. If it is determined to constitute bullying, educational discipline or disciplinary action must be imposed. Serious bullying that violates public security administration or is suspected of a crime must not be concealed and should be promptly reported to public security organs and education administrative departments (nationwide, effective September 1, 2021).

Notes

If a child has injuries of unclear origin, suddenly refuses to go to school, or repeatedly loses belongings, first ask based on the signals in Article 22. This analysis combining multiple studies is only tracking records, without grouped controls, so it cannot prove that bullying alone causes suicide—but the direction and magnitude of the risk are clear. The *Comprehensive Plan for Strengthening the Governance of Bullying Among Primary and Secondary School Students* additionally requires strictly distinguishing bullying from rough play between students. That is, schools have an obligation to make a determination and cannot dismiss it with "kids just playing around."

Sources

van Geel M, et al. (2014). Relationship between peer victimization, cyberbullying, and suicide in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.4143 ; Ministry of Education (2021). Provisions on the Protection of Minors in Schools (Ministry of Education Order No. 50, Articles 21, 22, 23). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-06/02/content_561…

4. Have the child spend at least 2 hours outdoors every day—this is currently the only myopia prevention method supported by a randomized trial

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time medium; Perseverance some; Benefit large

A randomized trial was done in 12 primary schools in Guangzhou: first-grade students were given an extra 40 minutes of outdoor activity class each day. After three years, the myopia rate in these schools was 30.4%, versus 39.5% in schools without the extra class—9.1 percentage points less. The Health Commission's recommended amount is at least 2 hours outdoors during the day, or 14 hours per week combined. Cloudy days count too, and standing outside during recess counts too.

Cost

No money. But time must be freed up every day, mostly squeezed from homework and online class time. The hard part is doing it every day, not just a few times.

Benefit

First-grade students in 12 primary schools in Guangzhou were randomized by school (intervention schools 952 people, control schools 951 people, average age 6.6 years). The intervention was adding one 40-minute outdoor activity class each school day and encouraging parents to take children out more outside of class. Over 3 years, the rate of new myopia was 30.4% in the intervention group—259 cases out of 853 eligible. The control group was 39.5%—287 out of 726. The difference between the two groups was -9.1 percentage points (95% CI -14.1 to -4.1, P<0.001). That is, the true difference is roughly between 4 and 14 percentage points less. The degree progression over 3 years (spherical equivalent change) was -1.42 D vs -1.59 D, a difference of 0.17 D (P=0.04). The intervention group progressed slightly less. D is the unit for measuring prescription. Axial length growth (the front-to-back length of the eyeball) showed no difference between the two groups (P=0.07). The *Ten Core Knowledge Points for the Prevention and Control of Myopia in Children and Adolescents* requires children and adolescents to spend at least 2 hours outdoors during the day, or 14 hours per week cumulatively. It notes that even on cloudy days, outdoor activity has a protective effect, and requires avoiding the afternoon hours of high heat and strong sun.

Notes

This trial only ran 3 years, and the participating children all started at age 6. The 9.1 percentage point difference in myopia rates between the two groups means it can keep some people from becoming myopic—not "guarantee no myopia." The same Ten Core Knowledge Points also gives several practices. For reading and writing, "one chi, one fist, one cun." After 20 minutes of near work, look into the distance for more than 20 seconds. For primary and secondary students using electronic screens for non-study purposes, no more than 15 minutes at a time and no more than 1 hour total per day. "Being outdoors" and "taking PE class" are not the same thing—standing outside during recess counts too.

Sources

He M, et al. (2015). Effect of Time Spent Outdoors at School on the Development of Myopia Among Children in China: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2015.10803 ; General Office of the National Health Commission (2023). Ten Core Knowledge Points for the Prevention and Control of Myopia in Children and Adolescents (Guo Wei Ban Fu You Han [2023] No. 278). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6894284…

5. No screens from 0 to 3; avoid as much as possible from 3 to 6; for primary and secondary students, no more than 1 hour per day for non-study purposes

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance yes; Benefit medium

The National Health Commission's tiers are very firm: no screens from 0 to 3; from 3 to 6, avoid letting them touch them as much as possible; for primary and secondary students, non-study use no more than 15 minutes at a time and no more than 1 hour per day. The reason is that prolonged near work uses up the "hyperopia reserve" early, making myopia come earlier. The research evidence on screens and myopia is not as firm as this regulation—what actually has a randomized trial behind it is 2 hours outdoors per day.

Cost

No money. The hard part is taking the screen out of the child's hands, and also hard is the parent watching less themselves in front of the child.

Benefit

Article 4 of the *Ten Core Knowledge Points for the Prevention and Control of Myopia in Children and Adolescents* states verbatim: "Infants aged 0–3 should not use video electronic products such as mobile phones, tablets, and computers; children aged 3–6 should avoid contact with and use of video electronic products such as mobile phones, tablets, and computers as much as possible; primary and secondary school students using electronic screens for non-study purposes should not exceed 15 minutes at a time and should not exceed 1 hour cumulatively per day." The same article states: "Prolonged near-distance use of video electronic products easily consumes children's hyperopia reserve and is an important cause of early-onset and high-incidence myopia in children and adolescents." The 2018 implementation plan by the Ministry of Education and seven other departments gives consistent requirements for parents, adding: "The younger the age, the shorter the continuous use of electronic products should be." The research side is much weaker: one systematic review included 33 studies, 11 entered the meta-analysis, subjects ranging from 3 months to 33 years. Counting only mobile phones and tablets, the odds ratio for myopia was 1.26 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.60, I²=77%). Combined with computers, it was 1.77 (1.28 to 2.45, I²=87%). The authors' conclusion only went as far as "may be associated," and noted that none of the 33 studies had reliable screen time measurement.

Notes

It is rated B because the official guidance is a tiered regulation, not a number measured by a trial. On the research side, the lower bound of the odds ratio sits exactly at 1.00, and the authors only dared say "may be associated." So the way to use this item is as an easy-to-follow house rule, not as "if you don't look at screens you won't get myopia." What truly has a randomized trial behind it is Item 4 (2 hours outdoors). Preschoolers should also have their eyes checked: the same document states that refractive screening should be done regularly at 1–3 years, 4–6 years, and after age 7, to see how much hyperopia reserve remains; for the examination method, see Section 12 (cycloplegic refraction). The relationship between screens and children's language ability has also been meta-analyzed: 42 studies, 18,905 people—the longer the screen time, the weaker the language ability (r=−0.14, 95% CI −0.18 to −0.10). But watching together and watching educational content was positively correlated (r=0.16 and 0.13). This is correlation, not causation—it only shows that substituting screens for talking with the child is not worth it.

Sources

General Office of the National Health Commission (2023). Ten Core Knowledge Points for the Prevention and Control of Myopia in Children and Adolescents (Guo Wei Ban Fu You Han [2023] No. 278). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6894284… ; Ministry of Education and seven other departments (2018). Implementation Plan for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Myopia in Children and Adolescents (Jiao Ti Yi [2018] No. 3). http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A17/moe_943/s3285/201808/t201… ; Foreman J, Salim AT, Praveen A, et al. (2021). Association between digital smart device use and myopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Digital Health, 3(12), e806-e818. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(21)00135-7 ; Madigan S, McArthur BA, Anhorn C, Eirich R, Christakis DA (2020). Associations between screen use and child language skills: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 174(7), 665-675. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.0327

6. Treat myopia as damage that will remain: the deeper the prescription, the more retinal detachment, macular degeneration, and glaucoma in the future

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

Myopia does not heal on its own, and the prescription cannot go back down. It is also not just a matter of "wearing glasses." Compared with people without myopia, the likelihood of myopic macular degeneration is more than ten times higher for mild myopia and several hundred times higher for over 600 degrees. For retinal detachment, mild is about 3 times higher, and over 600 degrees about 13 times higher. So the earlier a child becomes myopic and the faster it progresses, the greater the risk they will bear in the future.

Cost

No money. This item itself requires nothing to be done; what needs doing is in Items 4 and 5 (2 hours outdoors, managing screens by age).

Benefit

A systematic review and meta-analysis pooled studies before June 2019, dividing into three tiers by prescription: mild (−0.5 to −3.00 D), moderate (−3.00 to −6.00 D), high (≤−6.00 D, i.e., over 600 degrees). Compared with people without myopia, the odds ratios for myopic macular degeneration were, in order, 13.57 (95% CI 6.18 to 29.79), 72.74 (33.18 to 159.48), 845.08 (230.05 to 3104.34). Retinal detachment, in order, 3.15 (1.92 to 5.17), 8.74 (7.28 to 10.50), 12.62 (6.65 to 23.94). Posterior subcapsular cataract, in order, 1.56 (1.32 to 1.84), 2.55 (1.98 to 3.28), 4.55 (2.66 to 7.75). Open-angle glaucoma: mild was 1.59 (1.33 to 1.91); moderate and high combined were 2.92 (1.89 to 4.52). The odds ratio for visual impairment appearing over age 60, in the three tiers, was 1.71 (1.07 to 2.74), 5.54 (3.12 to 9.85), 87.63 (34.50 to 222.58). The *Ten Core Knowledge Points for the Prevention and Control of Myopia in Children and Adolescents* says consistently: over 600 degrees is high myopia, and in this population the incidence of blinding eye diseases such as cataract, open-angle glaucoma, myopic macular degeneration, retinal detachment, and myopic optic neuropathy is significantly higher than in other populations, and "myopia is preventable and controllable but irreversible."

Notes

All the studies pooled were observational, and the odds ratios are unusually large. The credible range for high myopia and macular degeneration runs from 230 to 3104, indicating that the underlying studies differ greatly—the numbers can only be read for order of magnitude, not used as precise values. Most of these complications only show up in middle and old age, so it is not "something will happen tomorrow," but a debt to be repaid over decades. Myopia itself is not a disability; the vast majority of people have normal vision after correction with glasses. The use of this item is to replace "once myopic, just get a pair of glasses and it's done" with "worth putting effort into delaying and controlling it." For how to do follow-up after diagnosis, see Section 12 (cycloplegic refraction). Don't buy products claiming to cure it—see Item 9 (curing myopia).

Sources

Haarman AEG, Enthoven CA, Tideman JWL, Tedja MS, Verhoeven VJM, Klaver CCW (2020). The complications of myopia: a review and meta-analysis. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 61(4), 49. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.61.4.49 ; General Office of the National Health Commission (2023). Ten Core Knowledge Points for the Prevention and Control of Myopia in Children and Adolescents (Guo Wei Ban Fu You Han [2023] No. 278). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6894284…

7. Read the annual student physical exam report yourself; take any abnormal items to the hospital for examination that same year

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

Primary and secondary schools organize one student health physical exam each year. The report form stipulates that overweight, obesity, malnutrition, abnormal spinal curvature, poor vision, and dental caries should be listed as key guidance content. These are exactly the items most easily put off with "wait and see." Don't just glance at height and weight and put the form away. If any of these items is abnormal, take the child to a specialist that same year to get it checked clearly—don't wait for the next physical exam.

Cost

No money needed. During the compulsory education stage, the physical exam fee is covered by the school's public funds; parents don't pay separately.

Benefit

The "Measures for the Administration of Student Health Physical Examinations in Primary and Secondary Schools (2021 Edition)" stipulates that primary and secondary schools organize one on-campus student health physical exam each year. The surgical examination includes the head, neck, chest, spine, limbs, skin, and lymph nodes. The ophthalmological examination includes eye appearance, distance visual acuity, and refractive power (the degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness). The report form issued to the individual should include the findings, an overall assessment, and health guidance recommendations. Among these, overweight, obesity, malnutrition, abnormal spinal curvature, poor vision, and dental caries (cavities) must be the focus of guidance. Education administrative departments should establish files for students with health problems and follow up—that is, record them and check in later. During the compulsory education stage, student health physical exam fees are paid from the school's public funds; parents don't pay separately (nationwide, issued September 2021).

Notes

The B rating is given because this is a document regulating how schools should act, not an effectiveness study. What it guarantees is "examined every year, these items examined, abnormalities followed up"—it does not guarantee that someone will take charge once something is found. The physical exam is only a first screening, not a diagnosis. Poor vision requires going to ophthalmology for cycloplegic refraction (Item 12). Abnormal spinal curvature requires going to orthopedics or spine surgery (Item 2; don't delay treatment just to wait until exams are over). Both of these steps require parents to take the child themselves.

Sources

National Health Commission, Ministry of Education (2021). Measures for the Administration of Student Health Physical Examinations in Primary and Secondary Schools (2021 Edition) (Guo Wei Yi Fa [2021] No. 29). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-10/21/content_564…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-10/21/content_564…

8. Have children aged 12 to 18 screened once for depression; don't treat the school's psychological assessment as a diagnosis

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope mortality; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening adolescents aged 12 to 18 for major depression, on the grounds that the calculated benefit is moderate and worth doing. Evidence for those aged 11 and under is insufficient. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 19. The psychological assessment done by schools each academic year is a general survey, not a diagnosis. If the child says they feel bad, or if eating, sleeping, interests, or grades change markedly in a short time, go directly to psychiatry or clinical psychology.

Cost

0 to a few dozen yuan, filling out a screening questionnaire at a community or hospital outpatient clinic. Calling the two hotlines 12355 and 12356 costs nothing.

Benefit

The US Preventive Services Task Force issued a recommendation statement in 2022. It recommends screening for major depressive disorder in adolescents aged 12 to 18 (Grade B recommendation). Grade B means moderate certainty and a moderate calculated benefit—worth doing. For screening children aged 11 and under for major depression, evidence is insufficient (I statement, meaning not enough evidence to give a recommendation). For screening children and adolescents specifically for suicide risk, evidence on both benefits and harms is insufficient (I statement). The document notes that suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 19. The document also notes that major depression in children and adolescents is closely related to many later problems. These problems include recurrent depression in adulthood and other mental disorders. They also include elevated risk of suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and suicide death. The "Ten Measures to Further Strengthen Mental Health Work in Primary and Secondary Schools" requires building a three-tier service system. The three tiers are homeroom teachers, full-time or part-time mental health teachers, and psychiatrists. Each student receives a psychological assessment each academic year, generally no more than once. The document also requires advancing mechanisms for referral for psychiatric treatment and return to school after recovery. It requires giving play to the role of the 12355 youth service platform and the 12356 psychological assistance hotline (nationwide, issued October 2025).

Notes

The B rating is given because the original text gives a rating of recommendation strength, not an effect that can be converted into numbers. It is also a US recommendation; there is no corresponding official screening recommendation domestically. A positive screening result only means another assessment is needed; it does not equal a diagnosis. For handling suicidal thoughts, see Section 1, Item 25. For how the family should respond, see Section 29.

Sources

US Preventive Services Task Force (2022). Screening for Depression and Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.16946 ; General Office of the Ministry of Education (2025). Ten Measures to Further Strengthen Mental Health Work in Primary and Secondary Schools (Jiao Ji Ting [2025] No. 2). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202510/content_7045528…

9. Don't buy products and services claiming to "cure myopia" or "reduce prescription"

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

The exact words of the State Administration for Market Regulation are: "Under current medical technology conditions, myopia cannot be cured." The phrases "rehabilitation," "recovery," "reduce prescription," "myopia cured," "myopia nemesis," and "prescription repair" are directly listed as illegal marketing expressions to be strictly investigated and punished. Seeing such words is enough to rule something out directly—no need to compare prices further. Eye-care devices count as medical devices, and e-commerce platforms have a responsibility to check whether sellers are qualified to sell them.

Cost

No money spent; on the contrary, this money is saved.

Benefit

The notice on the special rectification action from the General Office of the State Administration for Market Regulation for November 2021 to March 2022 clearly states: "Under current medical technology conditions, myopia cannot be cured." The notice requires strict investigation and punishment in accordance with the law for behavior using misleading expressions such as "rehabilitation," "recovery," "reduce prescription," "myopia cured," "myopia nemesis," and "prescription repair" to market myopia prevention and control products for children and adolescents. The notice requires stepping up crackdowns, targeting behavior that falsely uses the name of traditional Chinese medicine or borrows traditional Chinese medicine theory and techniques for marketing propaganda to deceive consumers. The notice also requires severely cracking down on two types of false and illegal advertisements: those using patients' names or images to compare effects before and after treatment, and those making guaranteed promises about treatment safety and efficacy. The notice requires e-commerce platforms to strictly implement responsibility for reviewing business qualifications for eye-care devices and other medical devices and related special commodities—that is, platforms have a responsibility to verify whether sellers are qualified to sell such things (nationwide).

Notes

The B rating is given because the basis is the determination standard used by regulators when investigating and punishing, not controlled trials testing products. But the statement "myopia cannot be cured" is consistent between health authorities and regulators: the "Ten Core Knowledge Points for Preventing and Controlling Myopia in Children and Adolescents" says "myopia is preventable and controllable but not reversible." The two things that truly have evidence are in Item 4 (outdoors) and Item 12 (standardized refraction, glasses fitting, and follow-up). For blue-light-blocking glasses, see Section 6.

Sources

General Office of the State Administration for Market Regulation (2021). Notice on Carrying Out a Special Rectification Action on Illegal and Non-compliant Commercial Marketing Propaganda for Myopia Prevention and Control Products for Children and Adolescents. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-11/12/content_565…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-11/12/content_565…

10. Sleep, homework, sports, and rankings all have explicit regulations; if the school doesn't comply, you can raise it

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

These items are all in black and white: primary school students sleep 10 hours per day, junior high 9 hours, senior high 8 hours. Primary school morning classes generally start no earlier than 8:20, and secondary school no earlier than 8:00. In 2025, it was added that comprehensive physical activity should be no less than 2 hours per day, and students must not be ranked by exam scores. If a child is chronically sleep-deprived, first check against these provisions rather than first blaming the child for dawdling.

Cost

No money needed. Just knowing the provisions is enough; when necessary, report to the school or the local education administrative department. The hard part is having to speak up.

Benefit

The "Notice on Further Strengthening Sleep Management Work for Primary and Secondary School Students" stipulates: primary school students should get 10 hours of sleep per day, junior high students 9 hours, and senior high students 8 hours. Primary school morning class time is generally no earlier than 8:20, and secondary school generally no earlier than 8:00. Schools must not require students to arrive early to participate in unified educational teaching activities. Primary school students should generally go to bed no later than 21:20, junior high students no later than 22:00, and senior high students no later than 23:00. Off-campus training institutions must not end training later than 20:30, and online live-streaming training must not end later than 21:00. From 22:00 to 8:00 the next day, game services must not be provided to minors (nationwide, issued March 2021). The "Ten Measures to Further Strengthen Mental Health Work in Primary and Secondary Schools" has several other provisions. Fully implement no less than 2 hours of comprehensive physical activity per day for primary and secondary school students. Encourage implementation of "15-minute breaks." Students must not be ranked by exam scores. Mechanical, repetitive, and punitive homework is strictly prohibited. Encourage setting one "no-homework day" per week (nationwide, issued October 2025).

Notes

Both are documents issued by competent authorities. The degree of implementation varies greatly across localities and schools, so this item is rated B. Their usefulness is letting you know what schools should already be doing, so you have a basis in hand when negotiating. For adults' sleep accounting, see Sections 2 and 3.

Sources

General Office of the Ministry of Education (2021). Notice on Further Strengthening Sleep Management Work for Primary and Secondary School Students (Jiao Ji Ting Han [2021] No. 11). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-04/02/content_559… ; General Office of the Ministry of Education (2025). Ten Measures to Further Strengthen Mental Health Work in Primary and Secondary Schools (Jiao Ji Ting [2025] No. 2). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202510/content_7045528…

11. If a child can't hold on, they can take a leave of absence; the school must keep their student status, for up to 1 year

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope time; Money 0; Time Little; Willpower Some; Benefit Medium

Leave of absence is a formal system. Parents or other legal guardians submit an application, and after the school confirms it, it is reported to the higher-level student status management department for approval. The term of one application must not exceed 1 year; if the leave needs to continue after expiration, reapply. During the leave of absence, the school should retain the student's status. So "taking a leave of absence equals ruining everything" does not hold institutionally. Specific measures are set by each province; ask the school's academic affairs office or the local education bureau.

Cost

No money needed. Parents or other legal guardians submit an application to the school. The hard part is first accepting that the child will stop for a period.

Benefit

Article 16 of the "Measures for the Administration of Student Status for Primary and Secondary School Students" stipulates how to handle a leave of absence. A student's leave of absence is applied for by parents or other legal guardians. After the school confirms it, it is reported to the higher-level student status management department for approval. When resuming schooling, the school should promptly handle the relevant procedures. The term of one leave application must not exceed 1 year; if it truly needs to continue after expiration, a new application should be processed. During the student's leave of absence, the school should retain their student status—that is, their student identity and place are kept. Specific measures for leave and resumption of schooling are formulated by provincial education administrative departments (nationwide, issued January 2025). The "Ten Measures to Further Strengthen Mental Health Work in Primary and Secondary Schools" requires advancing the construction of mechanisms for referral for psychiatric treatment and return to school after recovery, and guiding schools to formulate contingency plans for handling sudden campus psychological crisis incidents.

Notes

Before going to handle it, first ask clearly about three things: what medical certificate is required, how the student status is recorded in the system during the leave, and whether resumption returns to the original grade or drops one grade. The B rating is given because the conditions for leave, the materials to submit, and how resumption connects are all set by provincial education departments themselves; the national level only provides a framework. The "Provisions on the Protection of Minors in Schools" also requires compulsory education schools to register and file students who drop out, take leave, or are absent for long periods, so schools have walked this path—it is not opening a special exception for you alone.

Sources

Ministry of Education (2025). Measures for the Administration of Student Status for Primary and Secondary School Students (Jiao Ji [2025] No. 1, Article 16). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202502/content_7002620… ; General Office of the Ministry of Education (2025). Ten Measures to Further Strengthen Mental Health Work in Primary and Secondary Schools (Jiao Ji Ting [2025] No. 2). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202510/content_7045528…

12. If poor vision is found, go to the hospital for cycloplegic refraction, then follow up at the intervals the doctor gives

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money Little; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

Cycloplegic refraction is first instilling a kind of eye drop to relax the muscle in the eye responsible for focusing, then measuring the prescription. This is done at a hospital and is the most accurate way to diagnose myopia. The Health Commission states clearly that this kind of eye drop does not damage healthy eyes and that things return to normal after stopping the medication. Don't treat a one-time computer refraction at an optical shop as a diagnosis, and don't refuse to get the child glasses because you "fear the prescription will increase."

Cost

Tens to several hundred yuan in examination fees and glasses-fitting fees. After cycloplegia, the child will be light-sensitive and blurred at near vision, taking half a day to one or two days to recover.

Benefit

The "Ten Core Knowledge Points for Preventing and Controlling Myopia in Children and Adolescents" explains what cycloplegic refraction is. First use a cycloplegic agent, then refract. A cycloplegic agent is an eye drop that relaxes the muscle in the eye responsible for focusing. Cycloplegic refraction is medical refraction done at a hospital and is the "gold standard" for diagnosing myopia—that is, the most accurate approach. Cycloplegic drugs do not damage healthy eyes; after use, light sensitivity and unclear near vision may appear short-term, and things return to normal after stopping the medication. Once myopia is diagnosed, timely scientific intervention should be carried out, such as correction by wearing glasses. Wearing appropriately fitted glasses can effectively correct blurred vision and slow myopia progression. For those whose corrected vision with glasses is normal, preschool and primary school children should have a follow-up every 3 to 6 months, and junior and senior high students every 6 to 12 months, with whether to replace glasses decided according to the specific situation. Children should receive regular refractive screening (checking prescription) at ages 1 to 3, 4 to 6, and after age 7, to monitor hyperopia reserve (nationwide, issued July 2023).

Notes

The B rating is given because this is the approach given by an official science-popularization document, not original research with specific numbers. High myopia can lead to problems such as retinal detachment, so follow-up is not just for changing glasses. "Poor vision" found in student physical exams is only a screened result; it still needs to be taken to the hospital for a complete ophthalmological examination, see Item 7.

Sources

General Office of the National Health Commission (2023). Ten Core Knowledge Points for Preventing and Controlling Myopia in Children and Adolescents (Guo Wei Ban Fu You Han [2023] No. 278). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6894284…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202307/content_6894284…

13. Get pit and fissure sealants after the permanent molars come in

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money Little; Time Little; Willpower No; Benefit Medium

Pit and fissure sealing means coating and sealing the grooves on the chewing surface of the molars with resin so food residue cannot get stuck in them. After 24 months, the probability of developing cavities is clearly lower than without sealing. Among children without sealing, if 16% of tooth surfaces developed cavities, about 5.2% did with sealing. Without sealing it was 40%, and with sealing about 6.25%. The authors' summary is that at 24 months there were 11 to 51 percentage points fewer cavities than without sealing, and it remained effective within 48 months.

Cost

Tens to one or two hundred yuan per tooth. No anesthesia, no drilling, a few minutes each time. Many places have free programs for children of eligible age.

Benefit

38 trials, 7924 children aged 5 to 16, assembled and combined by Cochrane according to protocol. Resin-based sealants were compared with no sealing. For the first permanent molars of children aged 5 to 10, at 24 months the OR for developing cavities was 0.12 (95% CI 0.08–0.19). That is, the chance of developing cavities was about one-eighth that of no sealing. This item comes from 7 trials, 1548 randomized and 1322 finally examined, with moderate-quality evidence. If the control group had 16% of tooth surfaces develop cavities within 24 months, after sealing it was 5.2% (3.13%–7.37%). When the control group was 40%, it was 6.25% (3.84%–9.63%). When the control group was 70%, it was 19% (12.3%–27.2%). At 48 to 54 months, OR 0.21 (0.16–0.28), still about one-fifth that of no sealing. The authors conclude that resin sealants at 24 months resulted in 11% to 51% fewer cavities than no sealing. Among 4 trials that recorded adverse reactions, no adverse reactions occurred. Evidence is insufficient on which other sealing materials, such as glass ionomer, are better.

Notes

The first permanent molar (the molar that will not be replaced again) generally emerges around age 6, and the second around age 12. Sealing should be done while the tooth has just emerged and has not yet decayed; once decayed, it can only be filled. Many regions list pit and fissure sealing for children of eligible age as a free program; ask the local CDC or community health service center. This section did not find a nationwide document that can be verified word for word, so coverage and age range are not written. Dental caries is also a key guidance item in student physical exams, see Item 7.

Sources

Ahovuo-Saloranta A, et al. (2017). Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001830.pub5

https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001830.pub5

Evidence levels: A, B · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 31 · 16 suggestions

What Paths Are There After Turning Eighteen

[[A Cost-Effective Life Guide]]

This section calculates money and time, and the refusal-to-serve-in-the-military item also concerns personal freedom. This is a path map, not an instruction manual for any single path. First, let's lay out the legal thresholds of each path side by side. Then, one by one, we'll write about the things that are only useful once you know them: what you can get from joining the military, what other openings there are for entering the system besides taking the civil service exam, which two majors directly correspond to establishment positions when filling out college application preferences, whether education can still be supplemented later, what kind of company to look for if you want to work abroad, what to do about social insurance if you don't enter an organization, and whether there is money the state will pay part of the interest on for you to borrow if you have no capital to start. Let's be clear first. The paths available after turning eighteen are far more than what this section covers. Here we only include those with national-level public documents, thresholds, and benefits that can be verified item by item. Entering state-owned enterprises, working in factories, becoming a sailor, doing freelance work, continuing to high school or college—these paths have no unified documents to check. It's not that they can't be taken; it's that there are no citable hard provisions, and this book does not write conditions for them based on impressions. Choosing which path is your own business. This section provides only two things: which document the threshold is written in, and what deadlines and qualifications become void once expired after you get on the path. For how to calculate the question of studying versus working, and how to choose skills, see Section 23. For overtime pay, work injuries, and severance compensation after entering an organization, see Section 19. For the capital and exit of opening a shop or starting a company, see Section 12. For studying abroad, see Section 32. For the safety net after unemployment, see Section 7. These will not be repeated.

1. First, check the thresholds: the age and education requirements for these twelve paths are all explicitly written into documents

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Medium

The age and education thresholds for these twelve paths are all explicitly written in documents. To work, you must be at least 16 years old. To join the military, men must be at least 18 years old, and undergraduate graduates can be relaxed to 24 years old. To take the civil service exam, you must be 18 to 35 years old and have a college degree or above. The two paths of self-study exams and registering as a sole proprietor look at neither education nor age.

Cost

No money. Spend ten minutes checking through them to see whether you can reach them.

Benefit

For joining the military, see the Military Service Law: "Male citizens who have reached the age of eighteen shall be recruited for active service; those not recruited in that year may still be recruited for active service before reaching the age of twenty-two. The recruitment age for graduates of regular institutions of higher education may be relaxed to twenty-four years old, and the recruitment age for graduate students may be relaxed to twenty-six years old." For the civil service exam, see Article 18 of the Provisions on the Recruitment of Civil Servants. The application conditions include "age of eighteen years or above and under thirty-five years" and "having a cultural level of college degree or above." These two items may be appropriately adjusted upon approval by the competent department for civil servants at or above the provincial level. Article 19 of the same provisions lists five categories of people who may not apply. For example, those who have received criminal punishment for crimes, those who have been dismissed from public office, and those listed as targets of joint disciplinary action for dishonesty. For firefighters, see the Measures for the Recruitment of Firefighters of the National Comprehensive Fire Rescue Team. Article 5: "Age of 18 years or above and under 22 years" and "having a cultural level of high school or above." Article 6: "Personnel with a college degree or above, retired soldiers of the People's Liberation Army and the Armed Police Force... the age may be relaxed to 24 years old." For military civilian personnel, see Article 9 of the Regulations on Civilian Personnel of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, whose basic conditions include "reaching the age of 18." Article 19 of the same regulations states that the maximum age for first recruitment and employment for lower-rank positions is 35 years old. Lower-rank positions are entry-level positions. For public institutions, see Article 8 of the Regulations on the Personnel Management of Public Institutions: "New staff hired by public institutions shall be openly recruited from society." For sole proprietors, see the Regulations on Promoting the Development of Individual Industrial and Commercial Households: "Citizens with business capacity... who are registered as individual industrial and commercial households in accordance with the law shall be governed by these Regulations." For self-study exams, see the Interim Regulations on Higher Education Self-Study Examinations. Article 3: "Citizens of the People's Republic of China, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, race, or educational level already received, may all participate in higher education self-study examinations in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations." Article 20: "Students enrolled in full-time schools of all levels and types may not apply." For publicly funded normal students, see Article 2 of the Measures for the Implementation of Publicly Funded Education for Normal Students through Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate Training at Universities Directly Under the Ministry of Education. It only recruits at six ministry-affiliated normal universities. They are Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, Northeast Normal University, Central China Normal University, Shaanxi Normal University, and Southwest University. The undergraduate and graduate stages are designed as an integrated whole with segmented assessments, meaning after finishing undergraduate study you continue to graduate study. Tuition and accommodation fees during the study period are borne by the central finance department, and living expense subsidies are also provided. Article 5 of the measures: "The recruitment of publicly funded normal students shall be conducted through early batch admission," which means admission before the regular batch. For targeted medical students, see the Notice on Doing a Good Job in Employment Placement and Contract Performance Management for Rural Order-Oriented Free Medical Students. It states: "After admission and before receiving the admission notice, one must sign an agreement with the training school and the county-level health administrative department... and human resources and social security department of the targeted employment location." For working abroad, see the Regulations on the Administration of Foreign Labor Cooperation. Article 5: Engaging in foreign labor cooperation shall be approved by the competent commerce department to obtain business qualifications. Article 7, paragraph 4: "Those who have not obtained the foreign labor cooperation business qualification certificate in accordance with the law and completed registration may not engage in foreign labor cooperation." In other words, a company without this qualification certificate organizing people to work abroad is itself illegal. Article 8, paragraph 2: "No unit or individual may organize laborers to work abroad in the name of business, tourism, study abroad, etc." Platform order-taking and flexible employment have no statutory education threshold; the basis for self-insurance and occupational injury protection is in Articles 11 and 12 of this section. The Compulsory Education Law "prohibits employers from recruiting school-age children and adolescents who should receive compulsory education" (National)

Notes

This item only checks thresholds and does not compare which path is more cost-effective. After reaching the threshold, you still have to pass political conditions, physical examinations, and political assessments. These checks have no public scoring standards and cannot be found in the provisions. For the entry points of secondary vocational schools, technical schools, and integrated vocational education enrollment, see Section 23, Article 5; for assistance when the family cannot afford it, see Section 23, Article 4. Sole proprietors not looking at education does not mean opening a shop is easy. For capital, personal guarantees, and the cost of closing and exiting, see Section 12. A personal guarantee means that if the company cannot repay, you have to repay it yourself. For whether startup money can be borrowed through a loan where the state pays part of the interest for you, see Article 16 of this section. The two paths of publicly funded normal students and targeted medical students are decided on the day you fill out your college application preferences, and the cost is written in Section 13. The threshold for working abroad is not on you, but on whether the company has qualifications; for how to identify this, see Article 14.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021). Military Service Law (Article 20). http://www.mod.gov.cn/regulatory/2021-08/20/content_4892491... (published by the Ministry of National Defense); Central Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (2019). Provisions on the Recruitment of Civil Servants (Articles 18, 19). https://www.12371.cn/2020/01/08/ARTI1578447606460158.shtml (published by Communist Party Members Network); Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Ministry of Emergency Management (2021). Measures for the Recruitment of Firefighters of the National Comprehensive Fire Rescue Team (Ren She Bu Fa [2021] No. 58, Articles 5, 6). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-08/27/content_563... ; State Council, Central Military Commission (2022). Regulations on Civilian Personnel of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (Second Revision, Order No. 757, Articles 9, 19). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808181857bca5e01859ee5a6... (National Database of Laws and Regulations); State Council (2014). Regulations on the Personnel Management of Public Institutions (State Council Order No. 652, Article 8). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2014-05/15/content_881... ; State Council (2022). Regulations on Promoting the Development of Individual Industrial and Commercial Households (State Council Order No. 755, Article 2). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-10/25/content_572... ; State Council (1988, revised 2014). Interim Regulations on Higher Education Self-Study Examinations (Articles 3, 20). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080816f3cbb3c016f415d64... (National Database of Laws and Regulations); Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Compulsory Education Law (Article 14). http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_sjzl/sjzl_zcfg/zcfg_jyfl/202110/t... (published by the Ministry of Education); General Office of the State Council (2024). Notice on Forwarding the Measures for the Implementation of Publicly Funded Education for Normal Students through Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate Training at Universities Directly Under the Ministry of Education by the Ministry of Education and Other Departments (Guo Ban Fa [2024] No. 27, Articles 2, 5). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202406/content_6957261... ; National Health Commission and 7 other departments (2019). Notice on Doing a Good Job in Employment Placement and Contract Performance Management for Rural Order-Oriented Free Medical Students. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-11/13/content_545... ; State Council (2012). Regulations on the Administration of Foreign Labor Cooperation (State Council Order No. 620, Articles 5, 7, 8). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2012-06/11/content_109...

2. In the year you turn eighteen, military service registration must be completed before October 31; active service as a conscript is exactly two years

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Much; Perseverance Yes; Benefit Medium

Military service registration is a statutory obligation, not signing up to join the military, and registering does not mean you have to go. Men who turn 18 that year must complete online registration before October 31. If you do not register, the county will order you to correct it within a time limit, and if you still do not correct it, it will force you to perform military service obligations and impose a fine. If you actually go, active service as a conscript is exactly two years.

Cost

No money. Registration is filled out online once and takes only a few minutes. If you actually go, the cost is two years of full-time service, during which you cannot do other things at the same time.

Benefit

For registration, see the Provisions on Military Service Registration Work. It states: "The military service organs of the people's governments of counties, autonomous counties, cities not divided into districts, and municipal districts shall, before October 31 each year, organize first-time military service registration for male citizens in their administrative areas who will reach the age of 18 before December 31 of that year." The same provisions also state: "First-time military service registration is mainly conducted through online registration, completed independently by citizens through the military service registration online platform." For what happens if you do not register, see Article 57, paragraph 1 of the Military Service Law. This paragraph governs "refusing or evading military service registration." The penalty is "ordered by the county-level people's government to correct within a time limit; if not corrected within the time limit, the county-level people's government shall force the performance of military service obligations and impose a fine." The Military Service Law also states that "the term of active service for conscripts is two years." "According to military needs and with the person's voluntary consent, citizens who have reached the age of seventeen but are under eighteen may be recruited for active service." Non-commissioned officers "who have completed twelve years of active service or meet other conditions prescribed by the state shall be assigned work by the local people's government at or above the county level in the place of placement." Non-commissioned officers "who have completed thirty years of active service, or reached the age of fifty-five, or meet other conditions prescribed by the state shall be placed for retirement." Being assigned work means the government gives you a job; retirement placement means retiring according to retirement procedures. The Regulations on Recruitment Work state: "Priority shall be given to ensuring the recruitment of graduates of regular institutions of higher education and recruits with special requirements for political, physical conditions, or professional skills." The same regulations also state: "If the citizen to be recruited is a full-time student or graduating student of a regular institution of higher education, they may be recruited at the place of household registration before enrollment or at the location of the school" (National)

Notes

Registration and recruitment are two different things, and the costs differ greatly. The series of punishments including not being allowed to leave the country for two years only punishes those who back out after being recruited; see Article 3 (refusing military service). Women are not required to do first-time military service registration and are recruited according to military needs. The conditions for soldiers taking military academy exams and for well-performing soldiers to become officers (promotion to cadre) are all written in internal military regulations and cannot be checked externally. The Military Service Law only writes two sentences: active-duty officers are selected and recruited from "outstanding active-duty soldiers" and other personnel, and military academies recruiting students are not subject to recruitment age limits. This book does not provide specific score lines or quotas.

Sources

General Office of the State Council, General Office of the Central Military Commission (2025). Provisions on Military Service Registration Work (Guo Ban Fa [2025] No. 41). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202512/content_7051363... ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021). Military Service Law (2021 revision, Articles 20, 25, 26, 54, 57). http://www.mod.gov.cn/regulatory/2021-08/20/content_4892491... (published by the Ministry of National Defense); State Council, Central Military Commission (2023). Regulations on Recruitment Work (State Council, Central Military Commission Order No. 759, Article 5). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2023/content_5753313.htm

3. Refusing military service after being recruited means no leaving the country or advancing studies or returning to school for two years, and you cannot enter civil service or state-owned enterprises

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

If you sign up and then refuse to join the military, the consequences come in a series. The civil service cannot hire you, and state-owned enterprises and public institutions cannot recruit you either. For two years you cannot leave the country, cannot advance your studies, and cannot return to school to resume studies. You will also be placed on the list of seriously dishonest entities in fulfilling national defense obligations. So "sign up first and see, and if it doesn't work out, back out" is a very expensive idea.

Cost

No money. The cost is that before signing up, you must think clearly about whether you will go.

Benefit

Article 57, paragraph 1, item 2 of the Military Service Law is "citizens to be recruited refusing or evading recruitment for active service." The penalty is likewise "ordered by the county-level people's government to correct within a time limit; if not corrected within the time limit, the county-level people's government shall force the performance of military service obligations and impose a fine." Paragraph 2 of the same article: "Those who commit the act in item 2 of the preceding paragraph and refuse to correct it shall not be hired as civil servants or staff managed by reference to the Civil Servant Law of the People's Republic of China, shall not be recruited or hired as staff of state-owned enterprises or public institutions, shall not be allowed to leave the country or advance studies or return to school for two years, and shall be included in the list of seriously dishonest entities in fulfilling national defense obligations for joint disciplinary action." Joint disciplinary action means multiple departments act together on the same list to enforce the above restrictions. Article 58 attaches the same set of punishments to those who have already enlisted. If a service member, for the purpose of evading military service, refuses to perform duties or flees the unit, the consequences depend on the handling result. Those dismissed from the military, expelled from military status, or held criminally responsible in accordance with the law shall be punished under Article 57, paragraph 2. Among them, those dismissed from the military shall also be fined (National, effective from October 1, 2021)

Notes

This item calculates personal freedom and employment qualifications, not money. Be precise about who is punished: this series of punishments only punishes two kinds of people. One is "citizens to be recruited refusing or evading recruitment for active service." The other is those who after enlisting are dismissed from the military, expelled from military status, or held criminally responsible. Simply failing to do military service registration is not included; for military service registration, see Article 2. The premise of punishment is "refusing to correct," determined and punished by the county-level people's government. The amount of the fine is set locally, and this book does not write it. This item does not urge you to go or not go; it only says that from the moment you sign up, this decision cannot be reversed.

Sources

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2021). Military Service Law (2021 revision, Articles 57, 58). http://www.mod.gov.cn/regulatory/2021-08/20/content_4892491... (published by the Ministry of National Defense)

http://www.mod.gov.cn/regulatory/2021-08/20/content_4892491...

4. The two most solid things for college students joining the military: tuition subsidized up to 20,000 yuan per year, student status retained for two years, and a special graduate exam plan

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Perseverance No; Benefit Large

For current students, graduating students, and new students who join the military, tuition during service is paid by the state for you. Undergraduate and junior college students get up to 20,000 yuan per person per year, and graduate students get up to 25,000 yuan per person per year, so for two years that is at most 40,000 or 50,000. Your student status is retained, and within two years after discharge you may enroll or resume studies. For graduate exams, there is also a special plan that recruits only retired college student soldiers.

Cost

No money. After discharge, submit materials and apply according to school requirements, making one or two trips back and forth.

Benefit

A 2024 notice from the Ministry of Finance and three other departments says that college students who serve in the military have three benefits: tuition compensation, compensation of state student loans used for tuition, and tuition reduction or exemption. Compensation means the state repays this student loan for you. The standard for these three is "correspondingly adjusted to a maximum of no more than 20,000 yuan per person per year for undergraduate and junior college students, and no more than 25,000 yuan per person per year for graduate students." The new standard takes effect from the fall semester of 2024. Exactly how much is subsidized depends on this sentence: "It shall be implemented according to the higher of the amount of tuition actually paid by the student or the state student loan obtained (including principal and interest generated before all repayment)." There is also a later sentence: "Amounts exceeding the standard shall not be compensated, repaid on behalf, or reduced or exempted." For student status, see the Law on the Protection of Retired Military Personnel. It states: "If an active-duty service member was already admitted to a regular institution of higher education before enlistment or is a student currently studying at a regular institution of higher education, their admission qualification or student status shall be retained during active service, and within two years after discharge they may enroll or resume studies, and may transfer to another major at the same school in accordance with relevant state provisions." The law also states: "Institutions of higher education may, according to overall state arrangements, recruit retired military personnel through separate plans, separate admissions, and other methods." For the graduate exam path, see the 2026 notice from the General Office of the Ministry of Education. This plan is called the "Retired College Student Soldier Plan." The notice states: "It shall be issued separately within the total national master's degree admissions plan and used exclusively, and may not be adjusted to a regular plan or other special plan. Admissions units independently determine... preliminary exam score requirements (generally not higher than the preliminary exam score requirements for candidates under the corresponding discipline's regular plan at the same unit)... under equal conditions, candidates with longer service time shall be admitted first." Issued separately and used exclusively means that this portion of quotas is set aside separately and can only be used to recruit retired college student soldiers. In 2026, this plan is undertaken by 532 regular institutions of higher education (National)

Notes

TODO (to be verified: the original notice on retired military personnel exemption from exams for upgrading from junior college to undergraduate and bonus points on graduate preliminary exams). These two items were mentioned in a policy summary by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. But the original corresponding notice from the Ministry of Education was not found this time. Therefore this book only writes that this channel exists, not how many points can be added; before applying, rely on that year's admissions documents. If you take the special plan, you cannot also receive preliminary exam bonus points; the two cannot be enjoyed together. The list of schools recruiting for the special plan changes every year; in 2025 it was 523. The tuition standard has been adjusted twice. In 2019 it was 8000/12000. In fall 2023 it was changed to 16000/20000, and in fall 2024 it was changed to 20000/25000. The 2022 summary by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs still has the earliest version, so do not copy it.

Sources

Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, People's Bank of China, National Financial Regulatory Administration (2024). Notice on Adjusting and Improving Relevant Policies for State Student Loans (Cai Jiao [2024] No. 188). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202411/content_6984812... ; Ministry of Finance and four other departments (2019). Measures for the Management of Student Aid Funds (Cai Ke Jiao [2019] No. 19, Article 5). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2019/content_5421553.htm ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Law on the Protection of Retired Military Personnel (Articles 34, 35). http://www.mod.gov.cn/gfbw/fgwx/flfg/16048597.html (published by the Ministry of National Defense); General Office of the Ministry of Education (2025). Notice on Doing a Good Job in the 2026 Admissions Work for the Special Master's Degree Admissions Plan for Retired College Student Soldiers (Jiao Xue Ting [2025] No. 8). http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A15/moe_778/s3261/202512/t202...

5. After Retirement, Only Six Situations Get Government-Assigned Jobs; Those Opting for Independent Employment Must Report Within 30 Days

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit large

"Being a soldier comes with a job assignment" has long ceased to be the norm. Now only six situations get government-assigned jobs, and conscripts who serve two years and retire mostly don't fall into these six. The category that doesn't get government-assigned jobs is called independent employment, and it has a hard deadline: you must report within 30 days of leaving active service. If you exceed 30 days without a legitimate reason, you're considered to have given up your resettlement benefits.

Cost

No money needed. Bring your retirement certificate and make one trip to the veterans affairs department at your resettlement location.

Benefit

Article 25 of the Regulations on the Resettlement of Veterans lists six situations in which the people's government at the resettlement location arranges work. The original text reads: "(1) Sergeant who has served on active duty for 12 full years; (2) Individual who received a medal or honorary title during active service; (3) Individual who received a third-class war merit, second-class merit or above during active service; (4) Individual who received a first-class commendation during active service; (5) Individual disabled in war and rated as grade 5 to grade 8 disability; (6) Individual who is a child of a martyr." The regulation also states: "The people's government at the resettlement location shall complete the task of arranging work for retired sergeants and conscripts within 6 months of receiving them." The employer "shall, in accordance with regulations, sign a mid-to-long-term employment contract or labor contract of no less than 3 years with them. Among these, if an enterprise receives a retired sergeant with 10 or more years of military service, it shall sign an open-ended labor contract with them." Open-ended means the contract doesn't state an expiration date. During the period of waiting for job placement, "a living allowance shall be paid monthly according to the local monthly minimum wage standard." If the person is not placed on duty as required for reasons not of their own making, "a living allowance shall be paid monthly at a standard no lower than 80% of the average wage of personnel with equivalent conditions in the same unit until they are placed on duty." Situations in which resettlement by job assignment is not permitted include being expelled from the Communist Party of China or having received a criminal punishment. For the deadline for independent employment, see Article 51: "Retired sergeants and conscripts who are independently employed shall, within 30 days from the date of approval of their retirement from active service, report to the department in charge of veterans affairs of the people's government at the resettlement location. Those who fail to report within the prescribed time exceeding 30 days without a legitimate reason shall be deemed to have given up their resettlement benefits." (Nationwide, effective September 1, 2024)

Notes

On the same day this regulation took effect, the 2011 Regulations on the Resettlement of Retired Soldiers (State Council and Central Military Commission Order No. 608) was repealed. Many online guides still cite the old regulation, and the conditions have changed—the old version stated "received a second-class merit or above in peacetime or a third-class merit or above in wartime." The 30-day deadline only applies to the independent employment category; other resettlement methods require reporting "at the prescribed time." When you report, you'll receive a veteran's preferential treatment certificate, and subsequent retirement pay, employment and entrepreneurship support, and education subsidies all connect from here.

Sources

State Council and Central Military Commission (2024). Regulations on the Resettlement of Veterans (State Council and Central Military Commission Order No. 787, promulgated July 29, 2024, effective September 1; Articles 25, 31, 32, 35, 51, 75). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2024/issue_11526/202408/content_… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Law on the Protection of Veterans (Articles 13, 14, 15). http://www.mod.gov.cn/gfbw/fgwx/flfg/16048597.html (published by the Ministry of National Defense)

6. Three Accounts After Retirement: One-Time Retirement Pay, Military Service Counted as Work Seniority, 20,000 Yuan Annual Tax Deduction for Self-Employment

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time little; Perseverance no; Benefit medium

After retirement there are three accounts. The first is the one-time retirement pay for independent employment, paid according to years of active service, with additional amounts for those who have received merits. The second is that your years of military service don't count as a social security gap—military service is counted as work seniority, and contribution years are combined with those before enlistment and after retirement. The third is tax: if you open your own business, you can reduce your tax by up to 20,000 yuan per year for 3 years.

Cost

No money needed. When you retire, the military transfers out your social security relationship and funds. You then go to the social security agency at your resettlement location to handle the continuation—that's the social security window.

Benefit

For the first account, see the Regulations on the Resettlement of Veterans. It states: "For retired sergeants and conscripts who are independently employed, a one-time retirement pay shall be issued based on their years of active service." Who pays: "It shall be specially arranged by the central finance, and the specific standards shall be determined by the department in charge of veterans affairs of the State Council, the political work department of the Central Military Commission together with the finance department of the State Council… and adjusted in a timely manner." The additional issuance ratio is divided into five tiers. Receiving a medal or honorary title: additional 25%; first-class war merit or first-class commendation: 20%. Second-class war merit, first-class merit or second-class commendation: 15%. Third-class war merit or second-class merit: 10%; fourth-class war merit or third-class merit: 5%. The regulation also states: "If a veteran is not employed in a timely manner, they may apply for unemployment insurance benefits from the human resources and social security department at their household registration location in accordance with the law, and their years of active service shall be deemed as contribution years, except for veterans resettled by retirement or support." Deemed contribution years means that even though you didn't pay during those years, they count as if you did. For the second account, see the Law on the Protection of Veterans: "The years of active service of a veteran shall be calculated as work seniority, and after retirement shall be cumulatively calculated with the years of work at their unit." Work seniority is the number of years of work; the years of service and the years after retirement are added on top. The law also states that years of active service and the years of pension, medical, and unemployment contributions before enlistment and after retirement "shall be combined and calculated in accordance with the law," and "the active service experience of retired sergeants and conscripts shall be deemed as grassroots work experience." The Military Insurance Law: "The years of active service of military personnel shall be deemed as contribution years for employee basic medical insurance, and shall be combined and calculated with the contribution years for employee basic medical insurance before enlistment and after retirement from active service." For the third account, see Announcement No. 14 of 2023 by the Ministry of Finance, the State Taxation Administration, and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. The announcement addresses the situation of independently employed retired soldiers engaging in individual businesses: "Within 3 years (36 months, same below), the value-added tax, urban maintenance and construction tax, education surcharge, local education surcharge, and individual income tax actually payable for the year shall be deducted in sequence up to a limit of 20,000 yuan per household per year. The limit standard may be increased by up to 20%." Deduction means subtracting from the taxes payable for the year in sequence, up to the limit—it's not money given to you. For enterprises that hire them, "the fixed quota standard is 6,000 yuan per person per year, with a maximum increase of 50%." The implementation period is January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2027. Those whose 3 years are not completed at expiration may continue to enjoy the benefits until the period ends (nationwide)

Notes

TODO (to be verified: the current specific amount of the one-time retirement pay)—the regulation only states that the amount is separately determined by the competent department, and this time no original text of the current standard was found in public channels. Therefore this book does not write numbers, and don't trust specific amounts in guides. During conscript service, the family can also receive a separate family preferential treatment payment. The Military Service Law only states "the standard shall be formulated by the local people's government, with the central finance providing a fixed subsidy"—for the specific amount, ask the county-level people's government that approved your enlistment. The tax item is the maximum amount of tax you can reduce each year, not money paid into your hands. If the business doesn't take off, you won't use it up, so the benefit magnitude for this entire entry is only set at "medium." The Regulations on the Promotion of Employment and Entrepreneurship of Veterans, effective August 1, 2026, adds another provision: skill personnel vocational qualification certificates obtained during service shall be universally recognized nationwide after retirement.

Sources

State Council and Central Military Commission (2024). Regulations on the Resettlement of Veterans (State Council and Central Military Commission Order No. 787, Articles 21, 22, 74, 81, 85). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2024/issue_11526/202408/content_… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2020). Law on the Protection of Veterans (Articles 42, 44, 50). http://www.mod.gov.cn/gfbw/fgwx/flfg/16048597.html (published by the Ministry of National Defense); Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2012). Military Insurance Law (Articles 16, 23). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf73e… (National Database of Laws and Regulations); Ministry of Finance, State Taxation Administration, Ministry of Veterans Affairs (2023). Announcement on Tax Policies for Further Supporting the Entrepreneurship and Employment of Independently Employed Retired Soldiers (Announcement No. 14 of 2023). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202308/content_6896456…

7. Getting Into the System Isn't Just About Civil Service Exams: After Two Years in a Grassroots Service Project, You Can Apply for the Annual 10% Targeted Recruitment Plan

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time much; Perseverance yes; Benefit medium

Getting into the system isn't just about civil service exams. After completing two years in a grassroots service project like "Three Supports and One Assistance" with a passing assessment, you can apply for targeted recruitment plans open only to these people. Each province must allocate about 10% of its civil service recruitment plan each year to recruit these people. Within three years, taking the postgraduate entrance exam gives you an extra 10 points on the preliminary total score. The price is that during these two years you receive a financial subsidy.

Cost

No money needed. The price is serving at the township grassroots level for two years. During these two years you receive a financial subsidy, not a market wage—the hard part is enduring these two years.

Benefit

The notice for the fourth round of the "Three Supports and One Assistance" plan states "the service period is two years." It also states: "Each province (region, municipality) shall allocate about 10% of its civil service recruitment plan each year for targeted recruitment from personnel of grassroots service projects such as the 'Three Supports and One Assistance' plan. When public institutions at the county and township grassroots level in each province (region, municipality) openly recruit, they shall, based on local realities, provide a certain number or proportion of positions for special recruitment of those who have completed the 'Three Supports and One Assistance' service period with a passing assessment… after hiring, no probation period may be stipulated." Targeted recruitment and special recruitment mean that these quotas are only competed for among people who have done grassroots service projects—others cannot apply. The same notice also states: "Personnel who have completed the 'Three Supports and One Assistance' with a passing assessment at the end of the period, if they participate in the national postgraduate entrance examination within three years, shall receive an additional 10 points on the preliminary total score, and shall be given priority admission under equal conditions… Graduates of higher vocational (junior college) education who complete the period with a passing assessment may enter adult higher education undergraduate programs starting from junior college without examination." Entering without examination means going directly to study for a junior-college-to-bachelor's degree without taking another exam. The notice also states: "Personnel who had no work experience before participating in the 'Three Supports and One Assistance' plan and who complete the period with a passing assessment may, within two years, enjoy the same policies as fresh graduates in terms of participating in recruitment (hiring) by government organs and enterprises and institutions, independent entrepreneurship, household registration, and further education. The years of grassroots service of 'Three Supports and One Assistance' personnel shall be calculated as work seniority, and their starting work time shall be counted from the date they report to the grassroots level." The central finance subsidy standard is 30,000 yuan per person per year for the western region, 24,000 yuan for the central region, and 12,000 yuan for the eastern region. The opinion of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council states: "Personnel who had no work experience before participating in grassroots service projects and who complete the service period with a passing assessment may, within 2 years, enjoy the same policies as fresh college graduates in terms of participating in recruitment (hiring) by government organs and public institutions, absorption of employment by various enterprises, independent entrepreneurship, household registration, and further education." The opinion also states: "When government organs at or above the provincial level recruit civil servants, except for special positions, they shall, in accordance with relevant regulations, uniformly recruit from personnel with 2 or more years of grassroots work experience." Another path is the Western Plan. It is "jointly organized and implemented by the Communist Youth League Central Committee, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security." It recruits fresh college graduates or current graduate students "to engage in volunteer service for 1–3 years at the western grassroots level" (nationwide)

Notes

The fourth round of the Three Supports and One Assistance plan covers 2021 to 2025. This time no fifth-round document or 2026 annual notice was found—check the recruitment announcement for the current year before applying. In 2025, the central finance supported the recruitment of 34,430 people. The original implementation plan of the Western Plan cannot be found online; the policy section on the official website cannot be opened. Its post-completion benefits follow the document from the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council that governs all grassroots service projects. This entry requires genuinely committing two years, and you receive a financial subsidy, not a market wage—don't just focus on the targeted recruitment two years later.

Sources

Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and nine other departments (2021). Notice on Implementing the Fourth Round of the "Three Supports and One Assistance" Plan for College Graduates (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Document No. 32 of 2021, Articles 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-06/04/content_561… ; General Office of the CPC Central Committee, General Office of the State Council (2017). Opinions on Further Guiding and Encouraging College Graduates to Work at the Grassroots Level (Articles 5, 16, 18). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2017/content_5171278.htm ; National College Student Volunteer Service Western Plan Project Management Office (2026). 2026–2027 College Student Volunteer Service Western Plan Recruitment Agreement. http://xibu.youth.cn/tzgg/202604/t20260423_16623558.htm

8. Special-Post Teachers Who Complete Three Years of Service, Pass the Assessment, and Are Willing to Stay Should Be Promptly Given Establishment

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time much; Perseverance yes; Benefit large

The special-post plan is one of the few paths that explicitly states "establishment upon completion of the period." The conditions are a bachelor's degree or above, mainly in teacher-training majors, age not exceeding 30, and a corresponding teacher qualification certificate. The service period is three years, and during these three years the salary and benefits are the same as those of established teachers at local public schools. Those who complete three years, pass the assessment, and are willing to stay are required by the document to be promptly given establishment.

Cost

No money needed. The price is teaching for three years at a rural compulsory education school, and you must first obtain a teacher qualification certificate before entering. The hard part is enduring these three years.

Benefit

The 2024 special-post plan notice states the recruitment conditions: "A bachelor's degree or above is required, mainly in teacher-training majors; for the primary school stage, graduates of teacher-training junior colleges may be appropriately recruited." "Age not exceeding 30." A corresponding teacher qualification certificate is also required. The notice also states: "Those who have participated in the 'College Student Volunteer Service Western Plan,' volunteers with teaching experience, and graduates of teacher-training colleges who have participated in half a year or more of internship teaching support shall be given priority admission under equal conditions." "Support and encourage eligible veterans to teach at primary and secondary schools, and age limits for veterans may be appropriately relaxed by comprehensively considering factors such as years of service." For benefits and establishment, see these passages. "From January 1, 2024, the salary subsidy standard for special-post teachers shall be raised; the central finance… for the central region shall be raised from 35,200 yuan per person per year to 38,800 yuan, and for the western region from 38,200 yuan to 41,800 yuan." "Under equal conditions, they shall enjoy the same treatment as established teachers at local public schools in terms of salary and benefits, professional title evaluation and appointment, evaluation of excellence, and annual assessment." "Ensure that special-post teachers who complete three years of service, pass the assessment, and are willing to stay are promptly given establishment and their work positions are implemented, and relevant personnel and salary relationship transfer work is done well, with work seniority and teaching seniority calculated continuously, and no probation period shall be applied" (nationwide)

Notes

The benefit magnitude is set at "large" because establishment upon completion of the period equals obtaining a long-term established job, worth far more than ten thousand yuan. The latest one that can be found is the 2024 annual notice; the 2025 and 2026 annual ones have not entered the policy database. For specific positions, subsidy standards, and age, the current year's notice and the province's implementation plan shall prevail. The central government sets the general framework, and the provinces set the detailed rules. The teacher qualification certificate must be obtained first—this is the ticket to entry, not something to make up after starting the job.

Sources

General Office of the Ministry of Education, General Office of the Ministry of Finance (2024). Notice on Doing a Good Job in Implementing the Special-Post Plan for Teachers at Rural Compulsory Education Stage Schools in 2024 (Teacher's Office Document No. 1 of 2024). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202405/content_6950803…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202405/content_6950803…

9. Firefighters and Military Civilian Personnel Are Two Other Open Recruitment Channels with Lower Thresholds Than Civil Service Exams

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money 0; Time medium; Perseverance some; Benefit medium

Neither of these two paths is blocked by the "junior college or above" threshold. Firefighters recruit people aged 18 to 22 with a high school education or above; those with a junior college degree or above and retired soldiers can be relaxed to age 24. Military civilian personnel only require being at least 18 years old, and for entry-level positions the maximum age for first recruitment is 35. The common price is being screened out by political assessment and physical examination.

Cost

No money needed. From registration to hiring, you go through physical examination, political assessment, physical fitness test, psychological test, and interview, spanning several months. The hard part is being screened out at each of these stages.

Benefit

For firefighters, see the Measures for the Recruitment of Firefighters of the National Comprehensive Fire Rescue Team. Article 5 basic conditions include "age 18 or above and 22 or below" and "high school education or above." Article 6: "Personnel with a junior college degree or above, retired soldiers of the People's Liberation Army and the Armed Police Force, government full-time firefighters and government full-time forest fire fighters with 2 or more years of actual firefighting and rescue experience may have their age relaxed to 24; for special professionals urgently needed for fire rescue work, upon approval by the Ministry of Emergency Management, the age may be further relaxed, in principle not exceeding 28." Article 7: "Firefighters are openly recruited from society, mainly from the permanent resident population of the province-level administrative region, and may also be recruited from other provinces as needed." Article 9 states the recruitment procedure: "publicity and mobilization, organization of registration, qualification review, physical examination, political assessment, physical fitness test and position adaptability test, psychological test and interview, public announcement, hiring." For military civilian personnel, see Article 18 of the Regulations on Civilian Personnel of the Chinese People's Liberation Army: "The military implements a civilian personnel recruitment and employment system combining open examination, direct introduction, and special recruitment." These are three lines: recruiting people through open examinations, directly introducing ready-made talent, and specially recruiting from specific groups. Article 9 basic conditions of the regulation include "at least 18 years old," "meeting the political conditions for military recruitment and employment of civilian personnel," and "meeting the educational level, professional level, and work ability required by the position." Article 19 specifies that the maximum age for first recruitment and employment for lower-rank positions is 35. The regulation also specifies that "civilian personnel positions shall give priority to recruiting and employing eligible veterans" (nationwide)

Notes

The Regulations on the Promotion of Employment and Entrepreneurship of Veterans, effective August 1, 2026, specifies two more things. First, firefighter recruitment must allocate a certain proportion specifically for retired sergeants and conscripts. Second, when recruiting police auxiliary personnel, veterans shall be given priority under equal conditions. Police auxiliary personnel are also called auxiliary police. The annual quotas, positions, and specific conditions for these two paths are subject to the current year's announcement; this book only writes the fixed thresholds in the measures. Firefighters are positions in a disciplined force, not ordinary jobs—think clearly about occupational risks before entering.

Sources

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Ministry of Emergency Management (2021). Measures for the Recruitment of Firefighters of the National Comprehensive Fire Rescue Team (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Document No. 58 of 2021, Articles 5, 6, 7, 9). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-08/27/content_563… ; State Council and Central Military Commission (2022). Regulations on Civilian Personnel of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (second revision, State Council and Central Military Commission Order No. 757, effective January 1, 2023; Articles 9, 18, 19, 20). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808181857bca5e01859ee5a6… (National Database of Laws and Regulations)

10. Education Is Not a One-Shot Deal: Self-Taught Exams Have No Age or Prior Education Limits, and Adult College Entrance Exams and Open Universities Can Fill the Gap

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money Low; Time High; Persistence Yes; Benefit Medium

If you didn't get to study at eighteen, there are still three formal channels later on: self-taught exams, adult college entrance exams, and open universities. Self-taught exams have no age limit and don't look at what level you previously studied to, but full-time enrolled students cannot register. Adult college entrance exams require a high school or associate degree diploma first. All three paths are slow, but none of them look at how you did at eighteen.

Cost

Registration and textbook fees are a few hundred yuan per year. The price is long-term self-study, or attending classes in your spare time; non-full-time associate-to-bachelor programs take a minimum of two and a half years. Non-full-time means not leaving work and studying while working, and the difficulty is in persisting long-term.

Benefit

For self-taught exams, see the Interim Regulations on Higher Education Self-Taught Examinations. Article 3: "Citizens of the People's Republic of China, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, race, or prior education level, may participate in higher education self-taught examinations in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations." Article 20: "Students enrolled in full-time schools of all levels and types may not register." Article 25 lists the three conditions for obtaining a diploma: passing all courses, completing a graduation thesis or practical task, and passing the ideological and moral character assessment. If all are met, the graduation certificate can be obtained. This article also states that "those who obtain an associate (basic course) or bachelor's graduation certificate shall have their education recognized by the state." Article 32 states the salary treatment of graduation certificate holders: "After non-employed persons are hired, they shall be the same as graduates of the same type from regular higher education institutions." Article 21 of the Higher Education Law: "The state implements a higher education self-taught examination system, and those who pass the examinations shall be issued corresponding education certificates or other academic certificates." For adult college entrance exams, see the 2025 National Adult Higher Education Admissions Measures. The target applicants are "employees and other members of society other than students enrolled in various state-recognized higher and secondary schools." "Candidates applying for high-school-to-bachelor or high-school-to-associate programs should have graduated from senior secondary education schools or have equivalent academic ability. Candidates applying for associate-to-bachelor programs must be persons who have already obtained... an associate graduation certificate, a bachelor's completion certificate, or above." "The minimum study period for full-time programs is: four years for high-school-to-bachelor, two years for high-school-to-associate and associate-to-bachelor; the minimum study period for non-full-time programs is: five years for high-school-to-bachelor, two and a half years for high-school-to-associate and associate-to-bachelor." Full-time means leaving work to study at school all day; non-full-time means not leaving work and studying while working. For open universities, see the Ministry of Education's Opinions on Running Open Universities Well. It states: "Open universities implement registration-based admission. After students complete courses and obtain corresponding credits, they can obtain course certificates. After completing the prescribed credits and meeting relevant requirements, they can obtain corresponding academic and non-academic certificates, and those meeting degree conferral conditions should be awarded corresponding degrees" (nationwide)

Notes

TODO (to be verified: national-level regulations on unified admission associate-to-bachelor programs). The type of regular associate-to-bachelor program for fresh full-time junior college graduates is currently based on annual letters issued by the Higher Education Students Department of the Ministry of Education. These letters are not publicly released. One can only see the document numbers and wording from documents forwarded by provincial education departments. Its admission targets are basically only current-year full-time junior college graduates, and the rules are set by each province itself, so the main text does not include its conditions. Starting from fall 2025, higher education continuing education will no longer be called "correspondence" or "spare-time"; it will be uniformly called "non-full-time." Higher education continuing education is the category for adults who later make up their education credentials, and publicity still using the old names should be treated with caution. Making up education credentials and "what skills are worth learning" are two different things; for the latter, see Section 23. For "fast certificates" bought with money and counterfeit certificates, see Section 23, Item 8.

Sources

State Council (1988, revised 2014). Interim Regulations on Higher Education Self-Taught Examinations (Articles 3, 20, 25, 32). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080816f3cbb3c016f415d64… (National Database of Laws and Regulations); Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Higher Education Law (Article 21). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080816f135f46016f20df64… (National Database of Laws and Regulations); General Office of the Ministry of Education (2025). Notice on Doing Well the 2025 National Adult Higher Education Admissions Work (Department of Education Hall [2025] No. 6) and attachment "2025 National Adult Higher Education Admissions Measures." https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202509/content_7040877… ; Ministry of Education (2016). Opinions on Running Open Universities Well (Department of Vocational and Adult Education [2016] No. 2). http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2016/content_5067956.htm

11. Not Entering an Employer Means Flexible Employment: Pensions and Medical Insurance Must Be Enrolled at the Place of Employment, and Household Registration Restrictions Have Been Lifted

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money High; Time Low; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

Not entering an employer does not mean social insurance does not exist; it just means no one pays half for you. The document requires all localities to lift household registration restrictions for flexible workers enrolling in social insurance at their place of employment, and a few megacities may gradually lift them. So do not understand "freedom" as not needing to care about social insurance. If you stop paying, pensions and medical reimbursement will be calculated according to the rules for interrupted contributions.

Cost

Pensions and medical insurance must be paid entirely by yourself, calculated according to the local contribution base, amounting to over a thousand yuan per month. The contribution base is a benchmark number used to calculate premiums. This is the fixed expense on this path most easily overlooked, and the difficulty is that it must be paid on time every month.

Benefit

For enrollment, see the Guiding Opinions on Safeguarding the Labor Security Rights and Interests of Workers in New Employment Forms. It states: "All localities should lift household registration restrictions for flexible workers participating in basic pensions and basic medical insurance at their place of employment. For individual megacities where this cannot be achieved in one step, conditions should be actively created to gradually lift restrictions in light of local realities. Flexible workers not participating in employee basic pensions and employee basic medical insurance should be organized to participate in urban and rural residents' basic pensions and urban and rural residents' basic medical insurance in accordance with regulations, ensuring full coverage. Enterprises should be urged to participate in social insurance according to law. Enterprises should guide and support workers in new employment forms who do not fully meet the circumstances for establishing labor relations to participate in corresponding social insurance according to their own circumstances." The same document divides employment into three categories: "Where circumstances for establishing labor relations are met, enterprises should conclude labor contracts with workers according to law. Where circumstances for establishing labor relations are not fully met but enterprises exercise labor management over workers... enterprises should be guided to conclude written agreements with workers... Individuals who rely on platforms to independently carry out business activities, engage in freelance work, etc., shall have the rights and obligations of both parties adjusted according to civil law" (nationwide, since 2021)

Notes

The original text says "lift" household registration restrictions and still leaves an opening for megacities; it is not "already canceled nationwide." As to exactly how far it has been lifted, ask the city where you want to enroll. The benefit is rated "large" because interrupted contributions lose pension and medical treatment themselves, worth far more than ten thousand yuan. But the cost is also real: full self-payment of over a thousand yuan per month. For how to make up social insurance after interruption and how years are accumulated, see Section 7, Item 18 (social insurance interruption). In addition, selling agricultural sideline products and daily necessities at government-designated locations and times, or using one's own skills to do convenience work that does not require a license according to law, does not require a business license. This item is written in State Council Office Document [2020] No. 27.

Sources

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and seven other departments (2021). Guiding Opinions on Safeguarding the Labor Security Rights and Interests of Workers in New Employment Forms (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Document [2021] No. 56, Articles 2 and 8). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-07/23/content_562… ; General Office of the State Council (2020). Opinions on Supporting Multi-Channel Flexible Employment (State Council Office Document [2020] No. 27). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2020-07/31/content_553…

12. Delivering Takeout, Driving Ride-Hailing, or Doing Same-City Freight: The Platform Pays Occupational Injury Protection Fees per Order for You, and You Do Not Pay

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Low; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

For people delivering takeout, driving ride-hailing, or doing same-city freight, the platform must pay occupational injury protection fees per order for you, and you do not pay a cent; each order you accept is covered. This is still a pilot, so before accepting orders, first check whether your province and platform are within scope. Those who have already established labor relations with the platform go through work injury insurance, not this system.

Cost

No money; this fee is paid by the platform. What you need to do is check whether the platform you accept orders on is in the pilot. There are two ways: look for "occupational injury protection" on the App's protection or rights page, or call your provincial human resources and social security bureau and ask whether this platform has reported.

Benefit

This protection is based on the Measures for Occupational Injury Protection for New Employment Form Personnel (Trial). Article 2 states: "Platform enterprises shall, in accordance with these Measures, participate in occupational injury protection for new employment form personnel... pay occupational injury protection fees for new employment form personnel who register and accept orders through the platform, provide travel, instant delivery, and same-city freight labor in the name of the platform enterprise and receive remuneration or income, achieving coverage for every order and every person. For workers to whom the provisions of the Work Injury Insurance Regulations apply, enterprises shall participate in work injury insurance for them according to law, and these Measures do not apply." Article 9: "During the trial period, the travel industry shall implement 0.01 yuan per order; the instant delivery industry shall implement 0.07 yuan and 0.25 yuan per order; the same-city freight industry shall implement 0.18 yuan per order." For how the pilot expands, see this passage: "Starting July 1, 2025, on the basis of the 7 provinces and 7 platform enterprises already piloted... add 10 provinces including Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Shandong, Hubei, Guangxi, and Ningxia... In 2026, promote the implementation of the occupational injury protection pilot in all 31 provinces nationwide and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps; generally include platform enterprises in the three industries of travel, instant delivery, and same-city freight within the scope of the occupational injury protection pilot" (pilot, expanding year by year)

Notes

This is still a pilot, not a formal nationwide system. Before accepting orders, confirm whether your province and platform are within scope; if not, only the layer of buying commercial insurance yourself remains. Another document, the Guiding Opinions on Safeguarding the Labor Security Rights and Interests of Workers in New Employment Forms, also mentions several requirements. The remuneration the platform gives to people working normally shall not be lower than the local minimum wage. Remuneration must be paid in full and on time, and may not be deducted or unreasonably delayed. Reasonable remuneration must also be paid on statutory holidays. The document number of this document is Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Document [2021] No. 56, which is also cited in the flexible employment item, see Section 11. If something happens, first follow this procedure; do not privately settle with the station first. Medical insurance and pensions still require self-enrollment; for flexible employment enrollment, see Section 11.

Sources

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and eight other departments (2025). Notice on Expanding the Pilot for Occupational Injury Protection for New Employment Form Personnel (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Document [2025] No. 24) and attachment "Measures for Occupational Injury Protection for New Employment Form Personnel (Trial)," Articles 2 and 9. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7031656…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7031656…

13. Two Paths That Can Lock In a Staffing Quota on the Day You Fill Out College Applications: Publicly Funded Normal Students and Directed Medical Students, at the Cost of a 6-Year Service Commitment

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time High; Persistence Yes; Benefit Large

Both paths involve the state paying for you first, and after graduation you go to a designated place to work for 6 years according to the agreement. Publicly funded normal students are only recruited by the six normal universities directly under the Ministry of Education, admitted in the early batch. Directed medical students must sign a tripartite agreement before receiving the admission notice. Breach of contract requires refunding money, paying liquidated damages, and entering credit records. Think clearly about whether you can accept these 6 years before filling out your applications.

Cost

Tuition and accommodation fees are not borne by you, and you can also receive a living allowance. The price is that you cannot freely choose employment for 6 years after graduation; breach of contract requires refunding money, paying liquidated damages, and entering credit records. The difficulty is that you cannot change locations during these 6 years.

Benefit

For publicly funded normal students, see the Implementation Measures for the Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate Publicly Funded Education of Normal Students at Normal Universities Directly Under the Ministry of Education (2024; the 2018 measures were simultaneously abolished). Article 2: The central finance bears tuition and accommodation fees during students' schooling and provides living allowances. Article 3: Focus on training for prefecture-level (city, prefecture, league) areas and below outside provincial capitals in the central and western regions. It also states that "teaching shall not be directed to municipalities directly under the central government, cities with separate planning status, or main urban districts of provincial capitals (except the five autonomous regions, land border provinces, Hainan Province, Guizhou Province, and Qinghai Province)." Article 9: After graduation, generally return to the designated prefecture-level (city, prefecture, league) primary and secondary schools in the province of origin to teach, "committing to engage in primary and secondary education work for more than 6 years." Those working in urban schools "should serve at rural compulsory education schools for at least 1 year." Article 13: Those who fail to perform or whose performance period is insufficient shall bear responsibility according to the agreement. One consequence is that "breach behavior is included in credit records and promptly shared with the national credit information sharing platform, and breach-related materials are placed in one's personnel file." Another sentence is: "Before completing the performance task, one may not teach outside the designated prefecture-level (city, prefecture, league), and may not be recruited (hired) as other public officials. After completing the performance task, relevant credit is repaired." That is, before the service period agreed in the agreement is completed, other public positions cannot be applied for; only after completion is the credit record restored. Article 6: If after admission it is determined through assessment that one is unsuitable for teaching, within 1 year of enrollment, refund the publicly funded education fees already enjoyed and transfer to a non-normal major. Article 14: Those who fail to obtain the education master's degree certificate and teacher qualification certificate within the prescribed study period shall be treated as breach of contract, refund fees, and pay liquidated damages. Article 21: All localities shall, within the existing total staffing quota for public institutions, resolve the staffing needed for publicly funded normal students to teach in primary and secondary schools. For rural order-directed tuition-free medical students, see another notice. After admission and before obtaining the admission notice, one must sign an agreement with the training school and the county-level health and human resources and social security departments of the directed employment location. The agreement must "commit to serving at the directed rural grassroots medical and health institution for 6 years after graduation." Performance means going to the designated place and working the full term according to the agreement. After reporting for duty and employment upon performance, one must participate in a 3-year standardized residency training in general practice, referred to as standardized training. Standardized training is the stage after graduation in which one continues to train one's skills in a hospital according to unified standards. During training, the original personnel and salary relationships remain unchanged. Breach records are placed in one's personnel file and serve as the basis for integrity evaluation in public recruitment (hiring) by medical and health institutions and other administrative public institutions, standardized residency training recruitment, and graduate admissions. Those who maliciously breach are publicly announced nationwide through the "Credit China" website and subject to joint disciplinary action for dishonesty. Training years under breach are not counted toward the service period. Those who fail to refund fees and liquidated damages according to the agreement shall be pursued by the county-level health administrative department through legal channels (nationwide)

Notes

The 2024 measures changed publicly funded normal students to an "integrated undergraduate-graduate" model, that is, continuing from undergraduate to an education master's. The old 2018 measures have been abolished, and the "teach directly after undergraduate graduation" still circulating online is an old formulation. Those who signed agreements before the measures were issued follow the original agreements. "Having a staffing quota" does not mean "once in, you do not need to care": the quota must be freed up within the existing total, and specific positions are specially recruited by prefecture and city organized employing schools, with you and the school choosing each other. Directed medical students who want to leave after the service period expires may do so; the document clearly states that "upon expiration of the service period, those who choose independent employment shall be agreed to." Those who have already breached also have a way to eliminate the breach record, at the cost of following the original agreement, or changing to another rural grassroots institution within the province and working at least another full 6 years, with already paid fees and liquidated damages not refunded. Medical students must also count the 3 years of standardized training, making the entire cycle longer than for normal students. Each province also has its own publicly funded normal student and directed medical student programs, with conditions set by the province; before filling out applications, check that year's provincial admissions documents.

Sources

General Office of the State Council (2024). Notice on Forwarding the Ministry of Education and Other Departments' "Implementation Measures for the Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate Publicly Funded Education of Normal Students at Normal Universities Directly Under the Ministry of Education" (State Council Office Document [2024] No. 27, Articles 2, 3, 6, 9, 13, 14, 21). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202406/content_6957261… ; National Health Commission, Central Institutional Organization Commission Office, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2019). Notice on Doing Well the Employment Placement and Performance Management of Rural Order-Directed Tuition-Free Medical Students. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-11/13/content_545…

14. If You Want to Work Abroad, First Check Whether This Company Has Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Operating Qualifications: It May Not Charge You a Deposit

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Low; Persistence No; Benefit Large

In the matter of working abroad, the law regulates not you, but the company organizing your going abroad. Only enterprises that have obtained a foreign labor service cooperation operating qualification certificate and completed registration can do this. If you hear "first get a tourist visa to go over, then switch to a work visa," that sentence itself shows the other party is breaking the law. Companies also may not charge you a deposit under any name, or require you to provide property as security.

Cost

No money. Before departure, spend a dozen minutes verifying the company's qualifications, then read both contracts through.

Benefit

Article 5 of the Regulations on the Administration of Foreign Labor Service Cooperation: Engaging in foreign labor service cooperation shall be approved by the provincial or districted-city-level commerce department and obtain operating qualifications. This operating qualification is that foreign labor service cooperation operating qualification certificate; without it, one cannot organize people to work abroad. Article 7: The list of operating qualification certificate holders shall be reported to the commerce department of the State Council and notified to Chinese embassies and consulates abroad. This article also states that "those who have not obtained the foreign labor service cooperation operating qualification certificate according to law and completed registration may not engage in foreign labor service cooperation." Article 8: "No unit or individual may organize workers to go abroad to work in the name of business, tourism, study abroad, etc." Article 9: Enterprises shall, within 5 working days from the date of registration, deposit "a foreign labor service cooperation risk disposal reserve fund of not less than 3 million yuan" in a designated bank, and the deposit list shall be announced to the public. Article 10: The reserve fund is used to pay service fees that should be refunded, labor remuneration, and losses compensated according to law that the enterprise refuses or is unable to bear. It is also used for "expenses needed for workers to return home or receive emergency assistance due to emergencies." Article 11: Workers may not be organized to go abroad to engage in work related to gambling or pornographic activities. Article 12: Those without arranged training may not be organized to go abroad. Article 13: Personal accident injury insurance for workers during their work abroad shall be purchased. Articles 21 and 23: Written contracts must be concluded separately with foreign employers and with workers; those without such contracts may not be organized to go abroad. Article 25: "No deposit may be collected from workers under any name, nor may workers be required to provide property security." Article 26: Report to the commerce department for filing within 10 working days from the date of contract conclusion. Article 29: If workers' actual rights and interests do not match the contract, the enterprise shall assist in claims; if due compensation is not obtained, workers have the right to require the enterprise to bear compensation liability. Article 31: If the security situation in the relevant country or region makes it difficult to guarantee personal safety, enterprises may not organize workers to go there. Article 37: Commerce departments establish a bad credit record and announcement system. Penalty provisions follow in later articles. Article 39: Those engaging in foreign labor service cooperation without qualifications shall be investigated, dealt with, and banned; if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued. Article 40: Those organizing going abroad in the name of business, tourism, or study abroad, lending qualifications, or organizing work related to gambling or pornography shall have their operating qualification certificate revoked. Article 43: Those organizing going abroad without signing contracts, or concealing information or providing false information, shall be fined not less than 100,000 yuan and not more than 200,000 yuan. The main responsible persons shall also be fined not less than 20,000 yuan and not more than 50,000 yuan (nationwide)

Notes

This item discusses how to take the formal route. The compliant process is as follows. The company first signs a written labor service cooperation contract with the foreign employer, then signs a written service contract or labor contract with you. The contract must state work content, term, remuneration, working hours, leave, social insurance, and personal safety risks. Within 10 working days after signing, the company must report to the commerce department for filing. The company must also arrange for you to receive training in skills, safety precautions, foreign language, and local laws and customs. The company must buy personal accident injury insurance for you during your work abroad. If the other party will not let you see the contract, asks for a deposit, or urges you to go first and complete procedures later, that is exactly the kind of company this item is meant to stop. Overseas high-salary recruitment scams and telecom fraud parks are in Section 21, Item 5; safety reminders to check before departure and 12308 are in Section 21, and are not repeated. The regulations do not set education or age thresholds for workers; the threshold is in the company's qualifications, and also in whether the country where the work is done grants permission. The company can only sign contracts with enterprises or institutions approved by that country, not with individuals abroad. The reserve fund is not money you can withdraw at will; it is a fallback used by the competent department when the company defaults. So if something really happens, you still need to first complain to the commerce department; Article 20 gives you this right to complain. If dispatching more than 100 people to the same country or region, accompanying management personnel must be arranged and reported to the embassy or consulate for filing. Projects with fewer people do not have this layer of protection, so you must keep contracts and transfer records even more carefully.

Sources

State Council (2012). Regulations on the Administration of Foreign Labor Service Cooperation (State Council Order No. 620, Articles 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21, 23, 25, 26, 29, 31, 37, 39, 40, 43). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2012-06/11/content_109…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2012-06/11/content_109…

15. Doing Remote Work at Home for an Overseas Company: This Money Counts as Domestic-Source Income Under Tax Law — You File and Pay Individual Income Tax Yourself, and the Incoming Funds Go Through "Employee Remuneration"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Return Medium

Whether this money counts as domestic-source or foreign-source depends on where you do the work, not where the money is wired in from. If you are in China doing remote work for an overseas company, it counts as domestic-source income, and you must pay individual income tax in China. If the overseas company has no establishment in China, no one withholds the tax for you, so you have to file and pay it yourself. When the money is wired in, it goes through the "employee remuneration" channel.

Cost

No money spent. Once a year you do the annual comprehensive income reconciliation, during the period from March 1 to June 30 of the following year. When incoming foreign exchange exceeds the annual total, you also need to prepare an employment contract and proof of income. The hard part is that you have to remember to file and pay this tax yourself.

Benefit

Whether this money counts as domestic-source income is governed by Article 3 of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Individual Income Tax Law of the People's Republic of China (State Council Decree No. 707, effective January 1, 2019). It states: "Unless otherwise provided by the competent departments of finance and taxation of the State Council, the following income, regardless of whether the place of payment is within China, is income derived from within China: (1) income obtained from providing labor services within China by reason of holding a post, being employed, performing a contract, etc." Article 6 of the same regulations defines two tax categories. One is wages and salaries: "Income from wages and salaries means wages, salaries, bonuses, year-end pay raises, labor dividends, allowances, subsidies, and other income related to holding a post or being employed obtained by an individual by reason of holding a post or being employed." The other is remuneration for labor services: "Income from remuneration for labor services means income obtained by an individual from engaging in labor services, including income obtained from design, decoration, installation, drawing, testing, medical treatment, law, accounting, consulting, lecturing, translation, manuscript review, calligraphy and painting, sculpture, film and television, sound recording, video recording, performance, advertising, exhibition, technical services, introduction services, brokerage services, agency services, and other labor services." Article 6 of the Individual Income Tax Law states how to calculate taxable income: "For comprehensive income of a resident individual, the taxable income is the balance after deducting expenses of 60,000 yuan, special deductions, special additional deductions, and other deductions determined according to law from the income amount of each tax year." The same article also states that "income from remuneration for labor services, income from author's remuneration, and income from royalties shall be based on the balance after deducting 20 percent of the expenses from the income." The sentence about deducting 20 percent lists only these three items; wages and salaries are not included. That is, wages and salaries are included in the income amount at the full amount, and the tax calculated under the two tax categories is different. Article 9: "For individual income tax, the income earner is the taxpayer, and the unit or individual that pays the income is the withholding agent." Article 10: "Under any of the following circumstances, the taxpayer shall file a tax return according to law: ... (2) obtaining taxable income for which there is no withholding agent; ... (4) obtaining foreign-source income." Article 11: "For comprehensive income obtained by a resident individual, individual income tax shall be calculated on an annual basis... Where annual reconciliation is required, it shall be handled within March 1 to June 30 of the year following the year in which the income is obtained." For incoming funds, see the Measures for the Administration of Individual Foreign Exchange (People's Bank of China Order No. [2006] No. 3, effective February 1, 2007). Article 9: "An annual total amount management system shall be implemented for individual settlement of foreign exchange and domestic individuals' purchase of foreign exchange. Within the annual total amount, it shall be handled at a bank with the person's valid identity document; beyond the annual total amount, under the current account, it shall be handled at a bank with the person's valid identity document and relevant materials proving the transaction amount, etc." Article 7: "When banks and individuals handle individual foreign exchange business, they shall comply with the relevant provisions of these Measures, shall not evade quota supervision by such means as splitting, and shall not use false commercial documents or certificates to evade authenticity management." Article 2 of the Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Measures for the Administration of Individual Foreign Exchange (Hui Fa [2007] No. 1): "An annual total amount management system shall be implemented for individual settlement of foreign exchange and domestic individuals' purchase of foreign exchange. The annual total amounts are respectively the equivalent of USD 50,000 per person per year." Article 10: "Where domestic individuals' non-operating settlement of foreign exchange under the current account exceeds the annual total amount, it shall be handled at a bank with the person's valid identity document and the following proof materials: ... (7) Employee remuneration: employment contract and proof of income" (nationwide)

Notes

Which tax category applies depends on your relationship with the other party. If you signed an employment contract and the work is arranged by the other party, it counts as wages and salaries. If you take on work by project yourself and deliver results, it counts as remuneration for labor services. The tax calculated under the two is different, so before filing, first figure out which type you are. When the money is wired in, if it is within the equivalent of USD 50,000 per year, you can settle it at a bank with your ID card; for the portion above that, you need to give the bank the employment contract and proof of income. Do not have someone split the receipts to get around the quota. This item discusses the situation where the person is in China and does not go abroad. Actually going abroad to work for an overseas employer is a different set of rules; see Section 15, Item 14 (If you want to go abroad to work, first check whether this company has the qualification to operate foreign labor service cooperation). The following four items are not yet covered in this book. They may all have actual costs, but at present no basis can be found that can be verified word by word. First, whether this income requires value-added tax and whether a tax invoice needs to be issued on your behalf. Second, whether doing this long term requires obtaining a business license or registering as a sole proprietor. Third, whether you can assert rights against the overseas employer under labor law, such as annual leave, overtime pay, and termination compensation. Fourth, data cross-border transfer and confidentiality

Sources

State Council (2018). Regulations for the Implementation of the Individual Income Tax Law of the People's Republic of China (State Council Decree No. 707, Articles 3 and 6). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2018-12/22/content_535… ; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2018). Individual Income Tax Law of the People's Republic of China (2018 seventh amendment, Articles 6, 9, 10, and 11). http://www.npc.gov.cn/zgrdw/npc/xinwen/2018-09/05/content_2… ; Policy and Regulation Database of the State Taxation Administration. Individual Income Tax Law of the People's Republic of China (Article 6). https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100009/c5193028/content.… ; People's Bank of China (2006). Measures for the Administration of Individual Foreign Exchange (People's Bank of China Order No. [2006] No. 3, Articles 7 and 9). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_786257.htm ; State Administration of Foreign Exchange (2007). Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Measures for the Administration of Individual Foreign Exchange (Hui Fa [2007] No. 1, Articles 2 and 10). https://www.safe.gov.cn/safe/2007/0105/22509.html

16. If You Are Not Entering an Employer and Starting Out on Your Own, First Look at Startup Guaranteed Loans: Up to 300,000 Yuan for Individuals, with Fiscal Subsidy of Half the Interest

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Return Medium

If you must borrow money to get started, first look at this one, which has a fiscal interest subsidy. An individual can borrow up to 300,000 yuan, for a maximum of 3 years, and the government pays half the interest for you. There is a hard condition that is often overlooked: at the time of application, you and your spouse must not have other loans in your names; only student loans, small-amount credit loans for people lifted out of poverty, housing loans, car loans, and small consumer loans of 50,000 yuan or less are not counted.

Cost

Consultation costs no money. First make one trip to the human resources and social security department for qualification review, then go through procedures once each at the guarantee institution and the handling bank. The handling bank is the bank that issues this loan. The hard part is that borrowed money ultimately has to be repaid.

Benefit

The conditions for individual application are written in Article 6 of the Measures for the Administration of Special Funds for the Development of Inclusive Finance (Cai Jin [2023] No. 75). The first condition is that you must belong to a key employment group. The document lists urban registered unemployed persons, persons with employment difficulties (including persons with disabilities), retired military personnel, and persons released after serving a sentence. It also includes college graduates (including college student village officials and students returning from study abroad), workers and unemployed persons from enterprises resolving excess production capacity. It also includes migrant workers returning home to start businesses, online merchants, people lifted out of poverty, and rural farmers starting businesses independently, etc. The second condition is that there must be no other loans in your name: "Except for student loans, small-amount credit loans for people lifted out of poverty, housing loans, car purchase loans, and small consumer loans of 50,000 yuan or less (including credit card consumption), when the applicant submits an application for a startup guaranteed loan, the applicant and their spouse have no other loans." Article 9: "For eligible startup guaranteed loans, the finance department shall provide a fiscal interest subsidy of 50 percent of the actual loan interest rate. For extended or overdue startup guaranteed loans, the finance department shall in principle not provide interest subsidies." Interest subsidy means the government pays half the interest for you. Extension means postponing after maturity, and overdue means not repaying after the due date; in these two situations the government no longer pays for you. Article 10: For startup guaranteed loans of 100,000 yuan or less applied for by individuals, counter-guarantee is in principle canceled, meaning there is no need to find another person or use property to provide guarantee to the guarantee institution. Article 11: Individual startup guaranteed loans included in the scope of reward and subsidy support "shall have an amount not exceeding 300,000 yuan and a loan term not exceeding 3 years." Partnership startups may appropriately increase this, with the maximum not exceeding 110 percent of the sum of the individual amount ceilings. The upper limit of the loan interest rate supported by rewards and subsidies is divided into three tiers: LPR+50BPs for the eastern region, LPR+150BPs for the central and western regions, and LPR+250BPs for areas lifted out of poverty. LPR is the loan prime rate quoted by banks, and BPs is a unit for measuring interest rates; the more added, the higher the interest. For those who "repay actively, have strong ability to drive employment, and have good startup projects," they may continue to apply after maturity, with the cumulative number of times not exceeding 3. Article 8: The applicant first applies to the local human resources and social security department for qualification review, and then submits an application to the guarantee institution and the handling bank. Article 12: With the consent of the provincial people's government, localities may expand the scope of support, raise the amount, and increase the interest subsidy ratio (nationwide)

Notes

The government paying half the interest for you does not change the fact that "borrowed money must be repaid." The position of this book in Section 12, Item 1 has not changed: for startups, only use money you can afford to lose, do not touch your family's core assets, do not sign a personal guarantee for a company loan, and especially do not have your spouse sign along with you. This item only says that if you have already decided to borrow, this kind of policy loan is the tier with the lowest interest, so do not go near consumer loans and private lending. The amount and scope of application may be raised by each province, and how much can actually be approved shall be based on what the local human resources and social security department says in the current year. The 2020 notice during the pandemic saying "up to 200,000 yuan for individuals" was a temporary document; now look at this measure. For whether to open a store as a sole proprietor or a company, licenses, tax filing, and exit, see Section 12. For training subsidies, social insurance subsidies, and employment internships during unemployment, see Section 7, Item 13 (Vocational Training Subsidy).

Sources

Ministry of Finance (2023). Notice on Issuing the Measures for the Administration of Special Funds for the Development of Inclusive Finance (Cai Jin [2023] No. 75, Articles 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202309/content_6903691…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202309/content_6903691…

Evidence levels: A · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 32 · 10 suggestions

Studying Abroad: Status, Work, Insurance, and Credential Recognition Back Home

[[A Guide to a High-Value Life]]

This section does the math on two accounts: money and personal freedom. It does not discuss whether you should go abroad, nor does it compare schools. It only covers four things that will cost you if you don't know them: how to keep your visa status unbroken, where the cap on work hours lies, which insurance policies and fees are mandatory, and whether this diploma will be recognized after you return home. It covers four countries—the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia—with figures listed country by country. The sources are the official websites of each country's immigration agency and China's Ministry of Education. Study-abroad policies in every country change frequently—even more frequently than China's regulations. All figures in this section are current as of September 2026. Before departure and before every visa renewal, check the links in the Sources column yourself. For how to find embassies and consulates if something happens abroad, what 12308 can handle, and how to buy overseas medical and evacuation insurance, see Section 21. For the calculation of whether to study or work, see Section 23. For account theft, see Section 14; for telecom fraud, see Section 8. These are not repeated here.

1. Before Paying Tuition, First Check Whether the School Is on the CSCSE's List of Recognized Institutions

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Low; Persistence No; Benefit Large

After you return home, if this diploma is to be used for civil service exams, entering state-owned enterprises, obtaining household registration, or evaluating professional titles, it must first pass a recognition process. Recognition is handled by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) under the Ministry of Education. If the school is not on the list of recognized institutions, your tuition and time are wasted, and the diploma cannot be used in China. Checking the list costs nothing—check it before paying tuition.

Cost

Costs nothing. Enter the school name once in the CSCSE's "Recognized Institutions Search," and it takes just a few minutes

Benefit

The Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (Ministry of Education) has a recognized institutions search portal. You can search by country or by school name. What you're checking is whether the academic qualifications and degrees issued by this school fall within the scope of recognition. In addition, the Ministry of Education's Information Network for Supervision of Education in Foreign Countries publishes regulatory information on Sino-foreign cooperative education and overseas education

Notes

Check it yourself online, and take the result you find as authoritative. A recruiter saying "recognized by the Ministry of Education" doesn't count. The list changes. Being on the list at enrollment does not mean it will still be there at graduation. Recheck once a year during your studies. Sino-foreign cooperative education programs have a separate recognition and registration system. For those enrolled after 2008, you can check your registration number on the Information Network for Supervision of Education in Foreign Countries using your name and ID number.

Sources

Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (Ministry of Education). Recognized Institutions Search. http://yxcx.cscse.edu.cn/ ; Ministry of Education Information Network for Supervision of Education in Foreign Countries. https://jsj.moe.gov.cn/

2. Watch the Lawsuit Over the New U.S. F-1 Rule: "Four Years Maximum, Leave Within 30 Days of Completion" Was Set to Take Effect September 15, 2026, but Was Paused by a Court the Day Before—Currently It's Still "Duration of Status"

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Low; Persistence No; Benefit Large

The United States originally planned to change F-1 to a maximum of four years, with departure required within 30 days of completion. The day before it was to take effect, a federal court paused it. So for now, the old rules still apply: you can stay as long as your program lasts, and you have 60 days after completion to prepare for departure. A pause is not a repeal—the government can still appeal, and the rules could change again at any time.

Cost

Costs nothing. Copy the program end date on your I-20 into your calendar and set a reminder 90 days in advance. The I-20 is the study eligibility certificate your school issues you. Also, check your school's international student office notices once each semester to see whether there are new developments in this lawsuit

Benefit

The Department of Homeland Security published a rule on July 17, 2026, originally set to take effect on September 15, 2026. Its content: F-1 students would no longer be admitted on a "duration of status" basis but would instead be given a fixed period, up to four years, requiring a separate extension application upon expiration. After completion or the end of practical training, only 30 days would be allowed to prepare for departure. On September 14, 2026, Judge Saylor of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts postponed the rule's effective date under Section 705 of the Administrative Procedure Act. The pause applies nationwide and covers the entire rule. The court did not vacate the rule; the request to vacate was denied, but leave was granted to raise it again later. The case is still being heard. Under this court order, F, J, and I visa holders are still admitted on a "duration of status" basis, the 60-day departure grace period remains, and no separate extension application is required

Notes

This item is current as of September 25, 2026. The government can appeal to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and DHS can also revise and reissue the rule. So those who will be studying for several years should not assume the old rules will remain unchanged forever. The court has scheduled October 2, 2026, for another hearing for both sides to report on progress—check your school's notices again after that date. If the new rule takes effect in the future, extensions will require a separate application before the period expires and will not renew automatically. Under the old rules, those who stop studying early have a different departure deadline than those who complete their studies—ask your school's international student office first. J visas are covered by the same rule, but the details differ from F-1; check according to your own visa category.

Sources

DHS (2026). Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors (published 2026-07-17, originally set to take effect 2026-09-15). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/17/2026-1… ; Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, No. 1:26-cv-13799-FDS (D. Mass. Sept. 14, 2026), court docket. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74661796/presidents-al… ; Yale Office of International Students & Scholars (2026-09-14). Important Update: Court Action on the D/S Rule. https://oiss.yale.edu/news/important-update-court-action-on… ; AILA (2026). One Day Before Taking Effect, Federal Court Postpones the F, J, and I Fixed Admission Period Rule. https://www.aila.org/blog/think-immigration-one-day-before-… ; 8 CFR 214.2(f). https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-I/subchapter-B…

3. Work Hour Limits Are Hard Red Lines in All Four Countries—the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia—and Exceeding by Even One Hour Violates Visa Conditions

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Low; Persistence Some; Benefit Large

All four countries set caps on work hours for student visas. Exceeding them violates visa conditions and can result in visa cancellation, deportation, and questioning in future applications. The caps are: the U.S. at 20 hours per week; the U.K. at 20 hours per week for degree-level study and 10 hours for below-degree study; Canada at 24 hours per week; and Australia at 48 hours per fortnight. If you work two jobs, the hours must be combined.

Cost

Costs nothing. Track your own hours by week. The difficulty is that employers will say "a few extra hours won't be checked"—don't believe it

Benefit

For F-1 students in the U.S., on-campus work during the semester must not exceed 20 hours per week. Approved off-campus part-time work is also 20 hours per week. Full-time work is allowed during vacations. The basis is U.S. federal immigration regulation 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9). For U.K. student visas, those studying at degree level or above may work 20 hours per week during term time. Those below degree level may work 10 hours per week. Part-time courses are not permitted to work at all. Self-employment is also prohibited—you cannot work for yourself. Nor may you work as a professional athlete or in entertainment. The basis is the student section of the U.K. Immigration Rules, Appendix Student ST26.1 and ST26.5. For eligible full-time students in Canada, off-campus work is capped at 24 hours per week, based on Section 186(v) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). For Australian student visas, during the course of study, the cap is 48 hours per fortnight. Research master's students, doctoral students, and their family members are not subject to this limit

Notes

Off-campus work in the U.S. requires prior approval. While the I-765 work permit application is still pending, you cannot start working. Old Canadian permits printed "20 hours per week," but as long as you still meet the conditions, you can actually work up to 24 hours—the current regulations govern. The U.K.'s prohibition on self-employment is broad: taking freelance gigs, running an online shop, and doing freelance work all count.

Sources

8 CFR 214.2(f)(9). https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-I/subchapter-B… ; UK Home Office. Immigration Rules Appendix Student (ST26.1, ST26.5). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-r… ; IRCC. Work off campus as an international student. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/s… ; Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. Student visa (subclass 500). https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-l…

4. The Root of Your Status Is "Full-Time Enrollment": During Leave of Absence, Withdrawal, or Transfer Gaps, You Absolutely Cannot Work

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Extremely high
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Low; Persistence No; Benefit Large

Whether you can work depends on whether you are currently enrolled full-time. Once you take a leave of absence, withdraw, are expelled, or are not attending classes during a transfer period, your work eligibility is immediately gone. Continuing to work at that point is illegal employment. Many people assume that as long as the visa hasn't expired, they're fine—but their status was already broken long ago.

Cost

Costs nothing. Before suspending classes, taking a leave of absence, or changing schools, first go to your school's international student office and clarify your status

Benefit

Canada explicitly provides that off-campus work is not permitted during an approved leave of absence. Nor is off-campus work permitted during a transfer period when you are not studying. You can only resume work after resuming your studies. In the U.S., on-campus work eligibility is granted only to F-1 students whose SEVIS status is Active. SEVIS is the U.S. international student status record system; Active means currently enrolled and valid. These students must also maintain a full course load. In the U.K., work permission is granted based on course type, and part-time courses are not permitted to work

Notes

If coursework pressure is heavy and you want to reduce courses, first ask clearly: at what point does reducing courses mean you are no longer full-time? This issue arises earlier than work issues. If you are expelled or your program is terminated, your status usually breaks the same day. Don't wait for the school to send a formal letter before acting.

Sources

IRCC. Work off campus as an international student. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/s… ; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Study in the States. Working in the United States. https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/work/working-in-t… ; UK Home Office. Immigration Rules Appendix Student (ST26.1). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-r…

5. U.S.: You Must Report Your New Address Within 10 Days of Moving

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Low; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

If you change where you live in the U.S., the law requires you to notify immigration within 10 days. Not reporting is not a minor matter. First, it is itself illegal; second, mail sent to you by immigration will be lost.

Cost

Costs nothing. Submit an address change online once, ten minutes

Benefit

U.S. federal immigration regulation 8 CFR 265.1 provides that aliens required by law to register must report within 10 days after a change of address. Report to USCIS, the U.S. immigration agency. Report in the manner it requires, reporting both the fact of the address change and the new address

Notes

Reporting to immigration and reporting to your school are two different things. The SEVIS record on the school side must also be updated separately—that is your international student status record. The other three countries also require you to notify immigration or your school when you change addresses. The deadlines and methods differ by country; follow the webpage of the immigration agency in your country.

Sources

8 CFR 265.1. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-I/subchapter-B… ; USCIS. AR-11, Alien's Change of Address Card. https://www.uscis.gov/ar-11

6. Before Departure and During Your Studies, Check the Ministry of Education's Study-Abroad Alerts

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money 0; Time Low; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

The Ministry of Education issues alerts specifically for a certain country or region, saying that recent security conditions or policies there are unfavorable to Chinese students. This is an official, publicly released risk notice, verifiable in writing, and more reliable than what recruiters say. Checking costs nothing.

Cost

Costs nothing. Check once before departure, then once each semester

Benefit

The Ministry of Education publishes study-abroad alerts through the Information Network for Supervision of Education in Foreign Countries. In 2025, a total of 4 were issued. No. 1 warned that higher education legislation passed by certain U.S. states contains negative China-related provisions (2025-04-09). No. 2 and No. 3 twice warned of frequent cases targeting Chinese citizens in the Philippines and a poor study environment (2025-07-18, 2025-08-30). No. 4 warned of poor security conditions and study environment in Japan and advised cautious planning for studying in Japan (2025-11-16)

Notes

An alert is not a ban, nor does it mean you cannot go. Its use is to give you an official basis for weighing the risks of that place. The alert list changes with circumstances, and this section does not track it long-term—the current page on the website governs. For overseas personal safety and consular protection, see Section 21.

Sources

Ministry of Education Information Network for Supervision of Education in Foreign Countries. Alert Information. https://jsj.moe.gov.cn/ ; Ministry of Education issues 2025 No. 4 Study-Abroad Alert. https://jsj.moe.gov.cn/n2/2/2/2060.shtml ; No. 1. https://jsj.moe.gov.cn/n2/2/2/2001.shtml

7. Australia: OSHC Must Cover the Entire Period Without Gaps—Arriving Without Proof of Insurance May Result in Being Refused Entry

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money High; Time Low; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

Australia has written overseas student health insurance into visa conditions—it is not optional. Insurance must cover the entire period of stay. When renewing a visa or changing policies, there must be no gap in between. If you cannot produce proof of insurance upon entry, you may be refused entry on the spot. If family members come to accompany you, each person must buy a separate policy.

Cost

Several thousand to tens of thousands of RMB. Buy it in one lump sum based on visa duration—buy as many years as you study

Benefit

The Australian Department of Home Affairs requires that student visa applicants and their family members purchase Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and it must be maintained throughout the entire stay in Australia without interruption. Insurance must be provided by an Australian-approved insurer. Exceptions apply to those who qualify for an exemption. There must be no gap between the new insurance and the insurance for the previous visa. If you cannot produce proof of insurance upon entry, you may be refused entry. For those entering Australia earlier than the course start date, the insurance start date should be written as the actual date of arrival in Australia

Notes

If the school arranges it, ask clearly for the insurer's name, policy start and end dates, and policy number—these must be filled in on the visa application. Buying too short will cause problems at renewal; better to buy until a bit after graduation.

Sources

Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. Student visa (subclass 500). https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-l…

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-l…

8. UK: Beyond the visa fee, there is an annual healthcare surcharge, £776 per year for students, paid in full at the time of application

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money High; Time Low; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

The money you have to pay to go to the UK is not just the visa fee. You also have to prepay the healthcare surcharge based on the number of visa years, and only after paying it can you use the UK's National Health Service. A two-year visa means paying £1,552 at once. Add the visa fee on top, and this is a lump sum you have to pay in full before departure, so don't leave it out when budgeting.

Cost

Visa fee £558. Healthcare surcharge £776 per year. Both are paid in full at the time of application

Benefit

The UK student visa fee is £558. Applying from outside the UK, extending from inside, or switching status all cost this amount. There is also the healthcare surcharge, which you must pay to use the UK's National Health Service, prepaid in full at the time of application based on the number of visa years. For the student and their dependants it is £776 per year, so for example a 2-year visa is £1,552. For applicants in other categories it is £1,035 per year. For visas longer than 6 months but less than 1 year, the charge is for a full year

Notes

Amounts and exchange rates change, so use the current figures on the two pages in the sources. For a degree course and aged 18 or over, you can generally stay for up to 5 years. Below degree level it is 2 years. Estimate how much surcharge you need to pay based on this number of years.

Sources

UK Government. Student visa. https://www.gov.uk/student-visa ; UK Government. Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application. https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application

9. Set aside time for certification before returning home: CSCSE certification takes 10 to 20 working days

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money Low; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

If you need to use an overseas qualification back home, you first have to get your qualification and degree certified. The review alone takes 10 to 20 working days. During job-hunting season, or if your materials are sent back, it takes even longer. Autumn recruitment, civil service exam registration, and household registration all have deadlines, so don't wait until you need it to start the process.

Cost

Apply online, pay online. Preparing materials plus review, counted in working days, takes about a month in total

Benefit

Certification of overseas (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) qualifications and degrees is handled through the online service hall of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), Ministry of Education. The process has four steps: register and complete real-name verification, submit the application and materials online, pay online, and wait for assessment and review. The published certification processing time limit is 10 to 20 working days. Working days exclude weekends and holidays, and this is the time CSCSE uses for review

Notes

The materials to submit include the following: diploma certificate, passport or travel document, residence card or visa endorsement, ID photo, and authorization statement. Entry and exit records during your time abroad are retrieved by the system automatically, so don't lose your visa pages from your time overseas. CSCSE also posts announcements on its website about which certification letters have been voided and which schools' certification applications have been suspended. Before applying, check first whether your school is involved.

Sources

Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (Ministry of Education). Online Service Hall · Qualification and Degree Certification. http://zwfw.cscse.edu.cn/

http://zwfw.cscse.edu.cn/

10. The number of schools under "enhanced review" for certification grows every year; the path of buying a diploma with money is now a dead end

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: High
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Low; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

CSCSE names a batch of overseas institutions whose qualification certification is subject to separate enhanced review, and it also suspends acceptance of certification applications from individual schools. Those named are often the ones advertised as "no language requirement, no need to go abroad, get a master's in a few months." Searching the school name once before enrolling is far less trouble than appealing afterward.

Cost

Costs nothing. Before enrolling, search the school name in CSCSE's notices and announcements

Benefit

The Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (Ministry of Education) has been issuing announcements to strengthen certification review for the qualification and degree certification of some overseas institutions, meaning these schools' diplomas are subject to an extra layer of scrutiny. The latest one is No. 9 (2025-10-28). CSCSE has also issued announcements suspending acceptance of certification applications from individual overseas institutions, and has issued reminders that some people are using overseas (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) qualification and degree certification to commit fraud

Notes

"Enhanced review" does not mean certification is definitely impossible, but it will require you to submit more materials and take longer. Any agency promising "guaranteed certification" or "internal channels for expedited processing" is a scam, and CSCSE has specifically issued anti-fraud reminders. If you are found to have hired someone across borders to ghostwrite papers or take online courses for you, besides your qualification being voided, it may also affect your visa record.

Sources

Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (Ministry of Education). Announcement on Strengthening Certification Review for the Qualification and Degree Certification of Some Overseas Institutions (No. 9) (2025-10-28). https://www.cscse.edu.cn/cscse/sy/tzgg/2025102809225023345/… ; Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (Ministry of Education). https://www.cscse.edu.cn/

Evidence levels: A · Sources are listed in the chapterContact

Chapter 33 · 20 suggestions

How to Live After Becoming Disabled

[[High Cost-Performance Life Guide]]

This section is about the days after disability has already occurred. How to prevent disability is covered in Section 1 and Section 13, and is not repeated here. The four measures are calculated separately and are not converted into one another. The items on emergencies and complications are calculated by mortality rate. The items on subsidies, benefits, and lawsuits are calculated by money. The items on schooling and paperwork are calculated by time. The items on psychiatric hospitalization, legal capacity, and guardianship are calculated by personal liberty. The World Health Organization's fact sheet gives three numbers. About 1.3 billion people worldwide have significant disability, 16% of the world's population, or one in six people. Some people with disabilities die up to 20 years earlier than people without disabilities. People with disabilities have twice the risk of developing depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity, or poor oral health. A large part of these gaps is not caused by the disability itself, but by being unable to access health care, unable to go to school, unable to find work, and unable to leave the house. So the items in this section are half about the body, and half about paperwork and rights. Five things already written elsewhere are only pointed to here, not repeated. How to get a disability certificate, the seven categories and how grades one to four are assessed, see Section 24, Item 11 (Disability Certificate). When to wait to do the disability assessment, see Section 24, Item 10 (Disability Assessment). How to receive the two disability subsidies, see Section 7, Item 8 (Two Subsidies). How the work injury labor capacity assessment and disability grade convert into how much money, see Section 19, Item 15 (Labor Capacity Assessment). How to apply for long-term care insurance for severe disability, see Section 17, Item 7 (Long-Term Care Insurance)—that item is written in the "There Are Elderly People at Home" section, but this benefit has no age threshold, and young people can receive it too. The beneficiaries of most items in this section are you and your family, belonging to the top two tiers. Places involving other people are written separately in the notes.

1. After a spinal cord injury, if there is a sudden severe headache and sweating, first help the person sit upright, loosen clothing, and call 120 at the same time

Evidence level: B
Cost-performance: Extremely high
Tags: Measure mortality rate; money 0; time little; willpower no; benefit large

For people with spinal cord injury, a section of the body's alarm wiring is cut. The bladder may be full, clothing may be tight, and the person may not feel it, but blood pressure can surge upward. The signals are a sudden severe headache and sweating. At this point, first help the person sit upright, loosen tight clothing, and check whether the bladder is full, while calling 120.

Cost

No money. Three actions, done in a few dozen seconds.

Benefit

This kind of episode is called autonomic dysreflexia. A systematic review searched four databases, Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, and PsycINFO, and included 31 studies, 6 of which were randomized controlled trials. The review states that the non-drug management at the time of the episode is three steps: place the patient in an upright position, loosen tight clothing, and remove the triggering stimulus. The basis for these three steps is clinical consensus and physiological data, belonging to level 5 evidence. Blood pressure-lowering drugs are used only when blood pressure continues to rise, among which prazosin has level 1 evidence, and nifedipine and prostaglandin E2 have level 2 evidence. The review also states that strategies to prevent episodes mainly target the two common triggers, the genitourinary system and surgery, and most are supported only by level 4 and level 5 evidence

Notes

It is rated B because there is no randomized controlled trial behind those three on-site actions, only consensus and physiological reasoning. The review itself also says that most of these methods are supported only by non-controlled studies. The medication paragraph is the doctor's business; families should not give blood pressure-lowering drugs on their own. Laying the person flat will make blood pressure higher, so help the person sit upright. Family members and caregivers should also know these three steps. Do not tough it out as if it were an ordinary headache.

Source

Krassioukov A, Warburton DE, Teasell R, Eng JJ; Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Evidence Research Team (2009). A systematic review of the management of autonomic dysreflexia after spinal cord injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 90(4):682-695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2008.10.017

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2008.10.017

2. The first ten years after becoming disabled are a high-risk period for suicide; do not treat it as something that can be solved by "just thinking positively"

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Measure mortality rate; money 0; time little; willpower some; benefit large

In the first few years after becoming disabled, it is common for the person or family members to emotionally collapse; it is not a matter of willpower. Long-term follow-up at two British spinal cord injury centers found that the suicide rate in this group was five times that of the general population. More than 90% of suicides occurred in the first ten years after injury. For people whose cause of injury was itself suicide, the risk was even higher.

Cost

No money. Make one phone call, or book one appointment.

Benefit

The study followed 2,304 patients with traumatic spinal cord injury newly admitted from 1991 to 2010, who survived the first year after injury and had neurological deficits at discharge, with follow-up to the end of 2014. Among them, 63 cases (2.7%) had a cause of injury that was itself a suicide attempt. By the end of follow-up, 533 had died, of whom 4.2% died by suicide, and 91% of suicides occurred in the first ten years after injury. The age-standardized suicide mortality rate was 62.5 cases per 100,000 person-years (95% CI 36.4–88.6, confidence range), five times the suicide rate in the general population of England and Wales in 2014 (12.2 cases per 100,000). For those whose injury was caused by a suicide attempt, compared with other causes of injury, the odds ratio for death was 4.32 (P<0.001), and the odds ratio for suicide was 9.46 (P<0.001)

Notes

This study looked only at spinal cord injury; applying it to other causes of disability such as blindness, amputation, and burns is extrapolation. What it can show is the time window: the risk does not pass once discharged; it must be watched for ten years. For needing someone to talk with, call 12356, see Section 29, Item 11 (12356). Families should not stockpile sleeping pills and pesticides, see Section 1, Item 25 (Suicidal Thoughts). If grief and emotions are stuck and still in the same place after half a year, register with psychiatry or clinical psychology, see Section 29, Item 8 (Grief Lasting More Than Half a Year).

Source

Savic G, DeVivo MJ, Frankel HL, Jamous MA, Soni BM, Charlifue S (2018). Suicide and traumatic spinal cord injury - a cohort study. Spinal Cord, 56(1):2-6. https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2017.98

https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2017.98

3. Psychiatric hospitalization is based on the principle of voluntariness; only two situations allow it without the person's consent

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: Extremely high
Tags: Measure liberty; money 0; time little; willpower no; benefit large

Family members disagreeing or a work unit disagreeing cannot keep a person locked in a psychiatric hospital for a long time. The law recognizes only two situations: the person has already harmed themselves or is at risk of doing so, or has already endangered others or is at risk of doing so. The first requires guardian consent before admission; if the guardian does not consent, the hospital cannot admit the person. If there is disagreement with the diagnosis, a re-diagnosis can be requested within three days, and afterward one can also commission an assessment oneself.

Cost

No money. Remember the two situations, and be able to say them when needed.

Benefit

Article 30 of the Mental Health Law states that "the hospitalization treatment of mental disorders follows the principle of voluntariness." Only when the diagnostic conclusion and condition assessment indicate that the patient is a person with severe mental disorder and one of the following circumstances applies should hospitalization treatment be implemented. First, "the person has already engaged in behavior harming themselves, or there is a risk of harming themselves." Second, "the person has already engaged in behavior endangering the safety of others, or there is a risk of endangering the safety of others." Article 31: for the first circumstance, the medical institution may implement hospitalization treatment only with the guardian's consent; if the guardian does not consent, it must not be implemented. Article 32: for the second circumstance, if the person or the guardian objects, a re-diagnosis may be requested, and it should be raised within three days from the date of receiving the diagnostic conclusion, and made by two psychiatric practicing physicians other than the physicians who made the initial diagnosis; if there is still objection to the re-diagnosis conclusion, one may independently commission an assessment institution that has obtained practice qualifications according to law to conduct a psychiatric medical assessment. Article 35: if the re-diagnosis conclusion or assessment report shows that the person cannot be determined to be a person with severe mental disorder, or that the patient does not need hospitalization treatment, the medical institution must not implement hospitalization treatment for the person. Article 78: whoever intentionally sends a person who does not have a mental disorder to a medical institution for treatment as a person with a mental disorder shall bear compensation liability according to law (nationwide, effective May 1, 2013, amended in 2018)

Notes

The other side must also be stated clearly, otherwise this item will be read as "no one can ever be sent for treatment." Article 28 provides that when a person suspected of having a mental disorder has already engaged in behavior harming themselves or endangering the safety of others, or there is such a risk, their close relatives, their work unit, and the local public security organ should immediately take measures to stop it and send them to a medical institution for psychiatric diagnosis. When a medical institution receives a person sent for diagnosis, it must not refuse to make a diagnosis. So "sending for diagnosis" and "keeping for hospitalization" are two doors; the first is low, the second is high. Article 75 lists the responsibilities of medical institutions; violating regulations by implementing restraint or isolation, or diagnosing a person without a mental disorder as having a mental disorder, shall lead to punishment up to revocation of the practice certificate. For what to do when someone around you has impulses to harm others, see Section 8.

Source

Mental Health Law of the People's Republic of China (amended in 2018, Articles 30, 31, 32, 35, 78). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf744…

https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf744…

4. The person providing long-term care for a disabled family member needs someone watching their own health

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Measure mortality rate; money 0; time little; willpower some; benefit large

Caregiver burnout is not being overly sensitive. A U.S. study followed more than eight hundred older adults for four years. Those who were caring for a disabled spouse while reporting mental strain had a mortality risk about sixty percent higher than those who were not caregiving. Those who provided care but did not feel strained did not show this increase. So what needs watching is not caregiving itself, but that long-term tension.

Cost

No money. Divide out part of the caregiving work, and go for a health check yourself.

Benefit

The study was a prospective population cohort, 1993 to 1998, with an average follow-up of 4.5 years, conducted in four U.S. communities. There were 392 caregivers and 427 non-caregivers, aged 66 to 96, all living with a spouse. Within four years, 103 people (12.6%) died. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, existing diseases, and subclinical cardiovascular disease, people who were caregiving while reporting mental or emotional strain had a 63% higher mortality risk than non-caregiving controls (RR 1.63, 95% CI 1.00–2.65, confidence range). Caregivers who did not report strain (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.61–1.90) and people whose spouse was disabled but who did not provide care themselves (RR 1.37, 95% CI 0.73–2.58) showed no increase in adjusted mortality

Notes

Controversy: the lower bound of this study's confidence range sits exactly at 1.00, meaning the possibility of "no difference" has not been completely ruled out. The population is older U.S. adults living with a spouse, and the care recipient is a disabled elderly spouse; applying it to people caring for younger disabled family members is extrapolation. What it can show is the direction: the strained group has higher risk. Caregiving work that can be divided out should be divided out as much as possible; ask the local disabled persons' federation and civil affairs department about residential care and day care services. Caregivers should not stop their own chronic disease medications, see Section 16, Item 1 (Take Medicine as Prescribed for the Full Course). The beneficiary of this item is you yourself.

Source

Schulz R, Beach SR (1999). Caregiving as a risk factor for mortality: the Caregiver Health Effects Study. JAMA, 282(23):2215-2219. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.282.23.2215

https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.282.23.2215

5. For long-term wheelchair users, switch the cushion to a pressure-relieving type, and check the ischial tuberosities and coccyx once a day

Evidence level: B
Cost-performance: Average
Tags: Measure mortality rate; money little; time little; willpower some; benefit medium

Ordinary foam cushions will break the skin after prolonged pressure. Once broken, healing is very slow and infection is easy. In a trial conducted in nursing homes, the group using pressure-relieving cushions had significantly fewer pressure ulcers at the ischial area. The wheelchair itself must also be fitted to the person's dimensions; it is not enough to buy a generic model.

Cost

A pressure-relieving cushion costs several hundred to over a thousand yuan. Checking once a day takes one minute.

Benefit

This randomized clinical trial was conducted in 12 nursing homes, enrolling 232 residents from 2004 to 2008 who were over 65 years old, sat in a wheelchair more than 6 hours a day, and had a Braden score below 18. Everyone was first fitted with a properly sized wheelchair, then randomly divided into two groups. One group used skin-protective cushions (air, viscous fluid plus foam, or gel plus foam), and one group used 7.6 cm thick segmented foam cushions. Follow-up was 6 months or until a pressure ulcer occurred. For pressure ulcers at the ischial tuberosity area, the segmented foam group had 8 cases (6.7%), and the skin-protective cushion group had 1 case (0.9%), P=0.04. Combining pressure ulcers at the ischial and sacrococcygeal areas, the segmented foam group had 21 cases (17.6%), and the skin-protective cushion group had 12 cases (10.6%), P=0.14, with no difference demonstrated

Notes

There are two reasons for rating B. First, the sample was only 232 people, the P value for the primary endpoint, 0.04, barely crossed the line, and the secondary endpoint showed no difference. Second, the population was elderly residents in nursing homes; applying it to younger wheelchair users is extrapolation. In the trial, everyone was first fitted with a properly sized wheelchair, so "proper fit" and "cushion" worked together; do not change only the cushion. For pressure ulcer prevention on the long-term bedridden side, air mattresses and scheduled turning, see Section 17, Item 8 (Pressure Ulcers). For how to apply for the subsidy for basic assistive device provision, see this section, Item 7 (Ask the County-Level Disabled Persons' Federation About Everything).

Source

Brienza D, Kelsey S, Karg P, et al. (2010). A randomized clinical trial on preventing pressure ulcers with wheelchair seat cushions. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 58(12):2308-2314. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03168.x

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03168.x

6. Do not buy therapies and devices that "can cure paralysis, blindness, or deafness"

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: Average
Tags: Measure money; money 0; time little; willpower some; benefit medium

The Advertising Law nails it down. Advertisements for medical care, drugs, and medical devices are not allowed to guarantee efficacy, not allowed to state cure rates or effective rates, and not allowed to use people to testify from personal experience. So phrases like "stand up after three treatment courses" and "how many people have already recovered" are themselves illegal advertisements; there is no need to study the principles they describe. For things that are not medical devices, they are not even allowed to mention treating disease.

Cost

No money; it saves money. The hard part is that family members are full of hope and cannot be persuaded.

Benefit

Article 16 of the Advertising Law provides that advertisements for medical care, drugs, and medical devices must not contain the following content: "(1) assertions or guarantees indicating efficacy or safety; (2) statements of cure rates or effective rates; (3) comparisons with the efficacy and safety of other drugs or medical devices or with other medical institutions; (4) use of advertising spokespersons for recommendation or proof." Article 17 provides that, apart from advertisements for medical care, drugs, and medical devices, "all other advertisements are prohibited from involving disease treatment functions, and must not use medical terminology or wording likely to confuse the promoted goods with drugs or medical devices." Article 4 provides that advertisements must not contain false or misleading content, must not deceive or mislead consumers, and advertisers shall be responsible for the truthfulness of the advertisement content (nationwide, amended in 2021)

Notes

There is only one way to judge: see whether it dares to make the claim absolute. A rehabilitation department in a regular hospital will not promise that you can stand up after a certain number of treatment courses. When encountering this kind of promotion, report it to 12315 or the local market regulation department. The whole set of rhetoric around health supplements follows the same path, see Section 6, Item 10 (Health Supplements). If you have already bought something and want a refund, take the route of online shopping and prepaid consumption, see Section 5, Item 29 (For Online Shopping, Follow Platform Rules). The beneficiary of this item is you and your family.

Source

Advertising Law of the People's Republic of China (amended in 2021, Articles 4, 16, 17). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081817ab231eb017abd6bd8…

https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081817ab231eb017abd6bd8…

7. After the disability certificate is issued, go to the county-level disabled persons' federation and ask about everything you can apply for all at once

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: Average
Tags: Measure money; money 0; time medium; willpower no; benefit medium

The disability certificate itself does not pay money; it is a key. Behind it are several separate benefits, each of which must be applied for by yourself and will not come automatically. On the first visit to the disabled persons' federation, ask through the list item by item; it is less trouble than making several trips back and forth.

Cost

No money. Go once to the county-level disabled persons' federation and ask for a morning. There will be more than one department to visit afterward.

Benefit

There are at least six benefits connected to the certificate, each with its own source. First, the living subsidy for disabled persons in difficulty and the nursing subsidy for severely disabled persons, see Section 7, Item 8 (Two Subsidies). Second, rehabilitation assistance for disabled children, see this section, Item 8 (Rehabilitation Assistance). Third, the subsidy for basic assistive device provision, based on Article 26 of the Regulations on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities. Fourth, the subsidy for home accessibility modifications, see this section, Item 9 (Ramps, Handrails, and Bathroom Modifications). Fifth, proportional employment and employment services, see this section, Item 10 (Proactively Explain That You Hold a Certificate). Sixth, individual income tax reduction, see this section, Item 11 (Individual Income Tax Reduction). Article 26 of the Regulations on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities also states that the state, through implementing key rehabilitation projects, provides basic rehabilitation services for poor and severely disabled persons in urban and rural areas, and "provides subsidies for the provision of basic assistive devices in accordance with relevant state regulations." Article 20 provides that relevant departments of people's governments at or above the county level and disabled persons' federations should use community resources to establish rehabilitation sites or purchase services, and carry out community rehabilitation work such as rehabilitation guidance, daily living ability training, rehabilitation nursing, assistive device provision, information consultation, and referral (nationwide, effective July 1, 2017)

Notes

For the process of getting the certificate itself, see Section 24, Item 11 (Disability Certificate). Subsidy standards and specific measures are mostly set at the provincial level, and the same item can differ several times over between two provinces. When asking, write down the name of each item, and after returning home search again for the original document by name on the local disabled persons' federation website and government website; do not rely only on oral statements at the counter. Do not expect to ask about everything in one visit; go again a year later, because policies change.

Source

State Council (2017). Regulations on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (Articles 20, 26). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2017-02/27/content_517…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2017-02/27/content_517…

8. If a child under 7 years old has a disability or autism, go to the county-level disabled persons' federation to apply for rehabilitation assistance

Evidence level: A
Cost-performance: High
Tags: Measure money; money 0; time medium; willpower no; benefit large

The state has established a rehabilitation assistance system for children with disabilities and children with autism aged 0 to 6, covering surgery, assistive devices, and rehabilitation training. Assistance recipients prioritize families in difficulty; where local finances allow, the age and family economic conditions may be relaxed. This period is the window with the best rehabilitation results; do not delay until it is time for school. Institutions must be chosen from the disabled persons' federation's designated list.

Cost

No money. Submit one application to the county-level disabled persons' federation, then choose one from the designated institutions.

Benefit

The Opinions of the State Council on Establishing a Rehabilitation Assistance System for Children with Disabilities states that the assistance recipients are eligible children aged 0–6 with disabilities in vision, hearing, speech, physical mobility, and intellectual disability, as well as children with autism. This includes children with disabilities from urban and rural minimum living guarantee families and registered poor households, and children with disabilities raised by child welfare institutions, disabled orphans, children with disabilities included in the scope of support for persons in extreme poverty, and children with disabilities from other economically disadvantaged families. The specific method for determining other economically disadvantaged families is formulated by local people's governments at or above the county level. The document also states that "areas with conditions may expand the age range for rehabilitation assistance for children with disabilities, and may also relax restrictions on the family economic conditions of assistance recipients." Funding guarantee standards are determined by category by local people's governments at or above the county level based on local financial conditions, number of guarantee recipients, disability category, and so on, and a dynamic adjustment mechanism is established. The higher-level basis is Article 26 of the Regulations on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities: the state establishes a rehabilitation assistance system for children with disabilities, "gradually realizing that children aged 0–6 with disabilities in vision, hearing, speech, physical mobility, and intellectual disability, as well as children with autism, receive services such as surgery, assistive device provision, and rehabilitation training free of charge" (nationwide, from 2018)

Notes

Assistance standards are set by each province; first check the local disabled persons' federation website for the "Implementation Measures for Rehabilitation Assistance for Children with Disabilities." The list of designated institutions is also held by the disabled persons' federation. The document requires the disabled persons' federation, together with relevant departments, to strengthen entry and exit supervision of designated rehabilitation institutions, establish a regular inspection and comprehensive evaluation mechanism, and establish a blacklist system. For institutions not on the list, you must pay all the money yourself, and if something goes wrong it is hard to pursue. The beneficiary of this item is your child, belonging to the second tier. Institutions that promise "guaranteed recovery" should be handled according to this section, Item 6 (Can Cure Paralysis).

Source

State Council (2018). Opinions on Establishing a Rehabilitation Assistance System for Children with Disabilities (Guo Fa [2018] No. 20). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2018-07/10/content_530… ; State Council (2017). Regulations on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (Article 26). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2017-02/27/content_517…

9. Home ramps, grab bars, and bathroom modifications: you can apply to a government at or above the county level for a subsidy

Evidence level: B
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

The Barrier-Free Environment Construction Law states: governments at or above the county level should support and guide the modification of home barrier-free facilities, and should provide appropriate subsidies to eligible families of persons with disabilities and elderly persons. Such projects are generally led by the disabled persons' federation and carried out according to annual quotas, so you need to register early. How much is subsidized and which items are modified are determined by each locality.

Cost

Applying costs nothing. Most modifications come with subsidies, and you may still need to cover part of the cost yourself. You will need to go to the disabled persons' federation and the subdistrict office.

Benefit

Article 19 of the Barrier-Free Environment Construction Law: "Governments at or above the county level should support and guide the modification of home barrier-free facilities. They should provide appropriate subsidies to eligible families of persons with disabilities and elderly persons." Article 18 provides that for existing residential buildings, residential areas, public buildings, public places, transportation facilities, urban and rural roads, and the like that do not meet the engineering construction standards for barrier-free facilities, governments at or above the county level should, based on actual conditions, formulate targeted barrier-free facility modification plans and organize their implementation. Article 62 provides that any organization or individual has the right to submit opinions and suggestions to the relevant competent government departments on strengthening and improving barrier-free environment construction, and to complain about or report conduct that violates this Law; after receiving a complaint or report, the competent department "should handle it promptly and give a reply." Article 63 provides that for conduct that violates this Law and harms the public interest, the people's procuratorate may issue procuratorial suggestions or initiate public interest litigation (nationwide, effective September 1, 2023)

Notes

It is rated B because the law only says "should provide appropriate subsidies"; how much is subsidized and who counts as eligible are entirely left to local governments, with no unified national figure. First check the local disabled persons' federation website for "barrier-free modification for families of persons with severe disabilities in difficulty." Most quotas are allocated annually, so queue up early. Installing elevators in residential compounds and modifying corridors are a separate process handled by the housing and urban-rural development department. If barrier-free facilities in public places do not meet standards, complain to the competent department under Article 62, and it must give you a reply.

Sources

Barrier-Free Environment Construction Law of the People's Republic of China (Articles 18, 19, 62, 63). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff80818188d7430b0189018493…

https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff80818188d7430b0189018493…

10. When job hunting, proactively state that you hold a certificate; hiring you can offset a sum of money for the company

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Medium

The proportion of persons with disabilities that a unit arranges employment for must not be lower than 1.5% of its total active employees; the specific proportion is set by the province. If it falls short, it must pay the employment security fund for persons with disabilities based on the shortfall in headcount, with each person calculated according to the unit's average annual wage of employees in the previous year. So hiring you is not just a favor; it is a real cost saving. Make it clear in the interview that you hold a certificate, and the other party can do the math itself.

Cost

Costs nothing. Say one extra sentence in the interview. The hard part is speaking up.

Benefit

Article 8 of the Regulations on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities: "The proportion of persons with disabilities that an employer arranges employment for must not be lower than 1.5% of the unit's total active employees. The specific proportion is prescribed by the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government according to the actual conditions of the region." Article 9: if the proportion prescribed by the provincial people's government where the unit is located is not reached, the employment security fund for persons with disabilities must be paid. Article 8 of the Measures for the Collection and Use of the Employment Security Fund for Persons with Disabilities gives the formula: "Annual security fund payment = (number of active employees of the employer in the previous year × the proportion of employment for persons with disabilities prescribed by the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government where the unit is located - the number of persons with disabilities actually employed by the employer in the previous year) × the average annual wage of active employees of the employer in the previous year." Article 16: within 3 years from the date of industrial and commercial registration, small and micro enterprises with no more than 20 active employees (including 20) that have not reached the prescribed proportion of employment for persons with disabilities are exempt from the security fund. Article 36 of the Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities provides that the state gives tax preferences according to law to employers that reach or exceed the prescribed proportion in employing persons with disabilities or that employ persons with disabilities in a concentrated way (nationwide, Regulations on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities effective May 1, 2007)

Notes

For small and micro enterprises registered within the past three years with fewer than 20 employees, this reason does not hold, so do not count on it. Policies on reducing or exempting the security fund have been adjusted continuously in recent years; the specific rules are subject to the Ministry of Finance's announcement for the relevant year. In addition, proportional employment requires real employment. Having your name listed while receiving wages, or letting a unit use you to offset the security fund, is fraudulent conduct, and you will be implicated too. For the identification of persons with employment difficulties and social insurance subsidies, see Section 7, Article 12 (persons with employment difficulties). For vocational training subsidies, see Section 7, Article 13 (vocational training subsidies). The beneficiary of this item is yourself.

Sources

State Council (2007). Regulations on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities (Articles 8, 9). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2008-03/28/content_664… ; Ministry of Finance, State Taxation Administration, China Disabled Persons' Federation (2015). Measures for the Collection and Use of the Employment Security Fund for Persons with Disabilities (Cai Shui [2015] No. 72, Articles 6, 8, 16). http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2015-09/15/content_5650… ; Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities (Article 36). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080816f135f46016f1d134c…

11. Individual income tax for persons with disabilities can be reduced; call the provincial tax bureau to ask by how much

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence No; Benefit Small

The Individual Income Tax Law states that the income of persons with disabilities may be reduced for individual income tax. But how much is reduced and for how long is left by law to provincial governments, so it differs by province. Some provinces set an annual reduction limit, while others reduce by a proportion. The method is to call 12366 to ask the local tax authority, or look for the reduction item in the Individual Income Tax App.

Cost

Costs nothing. Check one item when filing, or submit registration materials once.

Benefit

Article 5 of the Individual Income Tax Law: "In any of the following circumstances, individual income tax may be reduced, and the specific extent and period shall be prescribed by the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government and reported to the standing committees of the people's congresses at the same level for the record: (1) income of persons with disabilities, elderly persons living alone, and family members of martyrs; (2) major losses due to natural disasters." Article 36 of the Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities also provides that the state gives tax preferences according to law to persons with disabilities engaged in individual businesses and exempts them from administrative and institutional charges (nationwide, Individual Income Tax Law effective January 1, 2019)

Notes

The benefit is rated "small" because the law itself gives no figure, and in most provinces the annual reduction or exemption is on the order of several hundred to several thousand yuan. It is not a lot of money, but once handled it can be used long term, so it is worth doing. How much is reduced in your province specifically only the local tax authority's announcement counts; comparison tables circulated online are often outdated. If you run a small shop yourself, administrative and institutional charges are exempted under Article 36 of the Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities, so bring it up proactively when applying for a license.

Sources

Individual Income Tax Law of the People's Republic of China (amended 2018, Article 5). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf724… ; Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities (Article 36). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080816f135f46016f1d134c…

12. Guide dogs can be brought into public places and public transportation; blind persons ride city buses for free

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Little; Persistence Some; Benefit Medium

The law clearly states that operators and managers of public places, transportation facilities, and public transportation vehicles should provide convenience for persons with disabilities carrying guide dogs, hearing dogs, assistance dogs, and other service dogs. In addition, blind persons with valid documents ride city buses, trolleybuses, subways, and ferries for free, and persons with disabilities may carry necessary assistive devices with them free of charge. When stopped, state these two provisions; if that does not work, complain.

Cost

Costs nothing. When stopped, you need to speak up and cite the legal provisions, and there may be a standoff for a while.

Benefit

Article 46 of the Barrier-Free Environment Construction Law: "Operators and managers of public places, transportation facilities, and public transportation vehicles should provide convenience for persons with disabilities carrying guide dogs, hearing dogs, assistance dogs, and other service dogs." Article 35 provides that government service convenience hotlines and emergency call systems such as police emergency help, fire emergency response, traffic accidents, and medical emergency care should gradually have barrier-free functions such as voice, large print, braille, and one-touch calling. Article 62 provides that any organization or individual has the right to complain about or report conduct that violates this Law, and the competent department should handle it promptly and give a reply. Article 50 of the Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities: "Blind persons with valid documents ride public transportation such as city buses, trolleybuses, subways, and ferries for free. Mail for the blind in braille is delivered free of charge." The same article also provides that governments at or above the county level should provide convenience and preferences to persons with disabilities using public transportation, and persons with disabilities may carry necessary assistive devices with them free of charge (nationwide, Barrier-Free Environment Construction Law effective September 1, 2023)

Notes

The law says "provide convenience" and has no accompanying penalty provision, so in an on-site standoff the other party may not immediately give in. Keeping a screenshot of the legal provision on your phone is more useful than memorizing article numbers. If it cannot be resolved on the spot, complain under Article 62, and the competent department must reply. Railways and civil aviation have their own separate rules, so call customer service to confirm before traveling. The "valid documents" for free rides are not recognized exactly the same everywhere; ask the local disabled persons' federation which type is recognized.

Sources

Barrier-Free Environment Construction Law of the People's Republic of China (Articles 35, 46, 62). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff80818188d7430b0189018493… ; Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities (Article 50). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080816f135f46016f1d134c…

13. Persons with disabilities taking the college entrance examination can apply for reasonable accommodations; for braille papers, exam time is increased by half

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Time; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence No; Benefit Medium

The college entrance examination has a set of accommodation measures for candidates with disabilities, issued by the Ministry of Education and the China Disabled Persons' Federation. Braille papers, large-print papers, exemption from foreign language listening, extended exam time, separate exam rooms, and bringing hearing aids and wheelchairs into the venue are all included. These are not granted automatically; you must submit a written application according to the time and method prescribed by the provincial education examination institution, attaching a disability certificate of the second generation or above. If you disagree with the result, you can apply to the provincial education administrative department for review.

Cost

Costs nothing. You need to submit a written application within the time prescribed by the province and also confirm on site.

Benefit

Article 5 of the Provisions on the Administration of Persons with Disabilities Participating in the National Unified Examination for Admission to Ordinary Higher Education Institutions lists twelve reasonable accommodations. These include providing current braille papers, large-print papers, or ordinary papers for candidates with visual disabilities; exempting candidates with hearing disabilities from the foreign language listening test; allowing candidates with visual disabilities to bring assistive devices such as braille pens, braille writing boards, braille typewriters without storage functions, electronic video magnifiers without storage functions, white canes, and optical magnifiers; allowing candidates with hearing disabilities to bring hearing aids and cochlear implants; allowing candidates with mobility difficulties to use wheelchairs and walkers, and those with special needs may bring their own special desks and chairs. The extent of extended time is stated in Article 5, Item 6: "For candidates with visual disabilities using braille papers, the examination time for the subject shall be extended by 50% on the basis of the total prescribed examination time for that subject; for candidates with visual disabilities using large-print papers or ordinary papers, and candidates with special writing difficulties such as those unable to write normally with the upper limbs due to cerebral palsy or other diseases or those without upper limbs, the examination time for the subject shall be extended by 30% on the basis of the total prescribed examination time for that subject." In addition, there are priority entry into exam sites and rooms, separate standardized exam rooms, and provision of guide assistants and sign language interpreters. Article 7 provides the application procedure: candidates submit a formal written application according to the time, place, and method prescribed by the provincial education examination institution, and provide their second-generation or higher disability certificate; an expert group confirms on site and conducts a comprehensive assessment, and the provincial education examination institution issues a Notice. Article 8 provides that if a candidate disagrees with the Notice, they may submit a written review application to the provincial education administrative department. Article 9 provides that where exemption from foreign language listening is granted, the foreign language score is calculated as "written test score × total foreign language subject score / total written test section score." Article 18 provides that where persons with disabilities need reasonable accommodations for participating in other national education examinations, these provisions may be applied by reference (nationwide, issued and effective April 7, 2017)

Notes

The application time is set by each province and written in that year's college entrance examination registration measures; if you miss it, it is gone. So in the first semester of senior year, you should go to the provincial education examination authority's official website to confirm the time. Article 18 provides an extension path: national education examinations such as graduate entrance examinations and adult college entrance examinations can also apply by reference. For the provision that schools must not refuse admission during the schooling stage, see Section 14 of this section (schools must not refuse admission). The beneficiary of this item is yourself or your child.

Sources

Ministry of Education, China Disabled Persons' Federation (2017). Provisions on the Administration of Persons with Disabilities Participating in the National Unified Examination for Admission to Ordinary Higher Education Institutions (Jiao Xue [2017] No. 4, Articles 5, 7, 8, 9, 18). http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2017-04/12/content_5650…

http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2017-04/12/content_5650…

14. When a child with a disability applies for school admission, the school must not refuse; if the child cannot get to school, the education bureau arranges home-based instruction

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Money; Money 0; Time Medium; Persistence Some; Benefit Medium

The regulations clearly state that preschool education institutions and schools at all levels and of all types must not refuse admission to eligible persons with disabilities who apply. Ordinary vocational schools are the same. For school-age children with disabilities who need dedicated care and cannot get to school, the county-level education administrative department coordinates home-based instruction or distance education and includes them in student status management. How admission and transfer are arranged is decided by the county-level education bureau after evaluation commissioned to the expert committee on education for persons with disabilities, not by the school itself.

Cost

Costs nothing. You need to submit an application once and may need to go through an evaluation. When the school stalls, you have to go up to the education bureau.

Benefit

Article 7 of the Regulations on the Education of Persons with Disabilities: "Preschool education institutions, schools at all levels and of all types, and other educational institutions shall implement education for persons with disabilities in accordance with these Regulations and relevant national laws and regulations; they must not refuse admission to persons with disabilities who meet the conditions prescribed by laws and regulations." Article 29: "Ordinary vocational schools must not refuse admission to persons with disabilities who meet the admission standards prescribed by the state, and ordinary vocational training institutions should actively enroll persons with disabilities." The Regulations also provide that where school-age children and adolescents with disabilities need dedicated care and cannot attend school, the education administrative department of the county-level people's government shall coordinate arrangements, implement compulsory education through methods such as providing home-based instruction or distance education, and include them in student status management. Article 20 provides that the education administrative department of the county-level people's government shall, together with the health administrative department, civil affairs department, and disabled persons' federation, establish an expert committee on education for persons with disabilities composed of experts in education, psychology, rehabilitation, social work, and other fields, which shall assess physical condition, ability to receive education, and ability to adapt to school study and life and propose admission and transfer recommendations; the assessment results are the child's privacy, and relevant units and staff have a confidentiality obligation. Article 23 provides that students with disabilities studying in regular classes in ordinary schools may use the curriculum plan, curriculum standards, and textbooks of ordinary compulsory education, but there may be appropriate flexibility in learning requirements for them. Article 52 provides that where persons with disabilities need necessary support conditions and reasonable accommodations to participate in national education examinations, they may apply (nationwide, effective May 1, 2017)

Notes

A school saying orally "we do not have the conditions here" does not count. Ask it to issue a written reply, and take the written reply to the county-level education bureau. The evaluation is commissioned by the education bureau to the expert committee. The phrase in Article 23 that "learning requirements may have appropriate flexibility" is very useful; you can cite it when a school uses grades as a reason to persuade you to withdraw. For how to preserve evidence when a child is bullied at school and what procedure the school must follow, see Section 30, Article 3 (school bullying). For reasonable accommodations for the college entrance examination, see Section 13 of this section (reasonable accommodations). The beneficiary of this item is your child.

Sources

State Council (2017). Regulations on the Education of Persons with Disabilities (Articles 7, 20, 23, 29, 52). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2017-02/23/content_517…

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2017-02/23/content_517…

15. If the right lower limb or both lower limbs are missing, you can still take a driving test; the vehicle category is called C5

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope Freedom; Money Much; Time Much; Persistence Some; Benefit Medium

In the Ministry of Public Security regulations there is a special vehicle category called "small automatic passenger car specially for persons with disabilities," code C5. Persons whose right lower limb or both lower limbs are missing or have lost motor function but who can sit upright independently and whose upper limb conditions are sufficient may apply. There is also a path for those missing one hand. Monocular visual impairment and hearing impairment each have corresponding vehicle categories. The medical examination must be done at a specialized medical institution recognized by the provincial health department.

Cost

Tuition is similar to an ordinary driver's license, several thousand yuan in most places. The car must be modified for manual controls. A physical examination is required every three years.

Benefit

Appendix 1 of the Provisions on the Application for and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses sets out physical conditions in great detail. Item 8: "Where the right lower limb or both lower limbs are missing or have lost motor function but the person can sit upright independently, and the upper limbs meet the provisions of Item 5 of this paragraph, the person may apply for a motor vehicle driving license for the vehicle category of small automatic passenger car specially for persons with disabilities. Where one hand is missing, the other hand's thumb is intact, two other fingers are intact, upper limb and finger motor functions are normal, and the lower limbs meet the provisions of Item 6 of this paragraph, the person may apply for a motor vehicle driving license for the vehicle category of small automatic passenger car specially for persons with disabilities." Item 6: where the left lower limb alone is missing or has lost motor function but the right lower limb is normal, the person may apply for the vehicle category of small automatic car. For vision: "For monocular visual impairment, where the naked vision or corrected vision of the better eye reaches 5.0 or above on the logarithmic visual acuity chart and the horizontal visual field reaches 150 degrees," the person may apply for the vehicle categories of small car, small automatic car, low-speed cargo vehicle, three-wheeled car, and small automatic passenger car specially for persons with disabilities. For hearing: where a person has hearing impairment but can distinguish the direction of a sound source while wearing a hearing aid device, the person may apply for the vehicle categories of small car and small automatic car, and should wear the hearing aid device while driving. Article 85 provides that when handling the driving license business for a small automatic passenger car specially for persons with disabilities, the physical condition certificate submitted should be issued by a specialized medical institution recognized by the provincial health administrative department. Persons holding this vehicle category should undergo a physical examination every three years and submit the physical condition certificate within thirty days after the end of the scoring cycle. Article 78 provides that when driving, a special motor vehicle sign for persons with disabilities should be set on the vehicle body as prescribed (nationwide, amended by Ministry of Public Security Order No. 172, effective January 1, 2025)

Notes

Another path with a much lower threshold is the motorized wheelchair for persons with disabilities. Article 119 of the Road Traffic Safety Law lists it as a non-motor vehicle, so no driver's license is required; Article 58 provides that when a motorized wheelchair for persons with disabilities travels in a non-motor vehicle lane, its maximum speed must not exceed fifteen kilometers per hour. A C5 car needs manual accelerator and brake controls; modification should be done by a qualified manufacturer, and after modification you must go to the vehicle management office for change registration. If the physical condition certificate is not submitted within one year after the end of three scoring cycles, the driving license will be canceled.

Sources

Ministry of Public Security Order No. 172. Provisions on the Application for and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses (Articles 78, 85, Appendix 1). https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2025/issue_11866/202502/content_…

https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2025/issue_11866/202502/content_…

16. Rehabilitation should be done at a proper institution with a rehabilitation medicine department; follow the therapist on intensity — harder is not better

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money high; Time high; Persistence yes; Benefit large

Taking the person home to lie down and wait for natural recovery is the most common mistake in this area. Organized multidisciplinary team care allows more people to still be alive after one year and still able to live at home independently. But don't go the other way and add extra on your own. In a trial with over two thousand people, earlier, more frequent, and more intensive activity within 24 hours after stroke actually led to worse outcomes at three months. How much to practice and when to practice — listen to the rehabilitation department and the therapist.

Cost

Inpatient rehabilitation costs several hundred yuan per day, and the self-paid portion varies by location. Time is measured in months. You have to practice every day, which is very tedious.

Benefit

A Cochrane systematic review included 29 trials with 5,902 participants, comparing organized inpatient stroke unit care with other care approaches. At final follow-up (median 1 year), the odds ratio for poor outcomes (death, disability, or needing institutional care) was 0.77 (95% CI 0.69–0.87, credible range), the odds ratio for death was 0.76 (95% CI 0.66–0.88), and the odds ratio for death or dependency was 0.75 (95% CI 0.66–0.85), with moderate quality evidence. Converted to absolute numbers, for every 100 people receiving stroke unit care, 2 more survive, 6 more live at home, and 6 more are independent in daily living. On the other side, the AVERT trial randomized 2,104 patients across 56 acute stroke units in 5 countries, comparing "usual care" with "usual care plus very early intensive mobilization." At three months, good outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 0–2) were achieved by 480 people (46%) in the very early group and 525 people (50%) in the usual care group, adjusted odds ratio 0.73 (95% CI 0.59–0.90, P=0.004). Deaths were 88 versus 72, showing no difference (odds ratio 1.34, 95% CI 0.93–1.93, P=0.113).

Notes

Controversy: Both pieces of evidence come from stroke, and extending them to other causes of disability such as spinal cord injury, amputation, and burns is extrapolation. The AVERT trial shows that "earlier and more intensive" does not hold up, not that "early mobilization is useless." In the trial, the vast majority of people in both groups were out of bed within 24 hours; what differed was frequency and total volume. When choosing an institution, look at whether it has a rehabilitation medicine department and dedicated rehabilitation therapists and occupational therapists — don't just look at the word "rehabilitation" on the sign. For how to transfer between primary and tertiary hospitals and how the deductible is calculated, see Section 24, Item 1 (tiered referral). For community rehabilitation and assistive device provision, see Section 7 of this section (ask the county-level disabled persons' federation for the full picture).

Sources

Langhorne P, Ramachandra S; Stroke Unit Trialists' Collaboration (2020). Organised inpatient (stroke unit) care for stroke: network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4:CD000197. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000197.pub4 ; AVERT Trial Collaboration group (2015). Efficacy and safety of very early mobilisation within 24 h of stroke onset (AVERT): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet, 386(9988):46-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60690-0

17. If your hearing declines, go get hearing aids; the reason to get them is to hear, not to prevent dementia

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope mortality; Money high; Time medium; Persistence some; Benefit medium

The claim that "wearing hearing aids can prevent dementia" does not currently hold up. In a three-year trial with nearly a thousand people, overall no difference was found. A difference was only seen in the subgroup of people who already had a higher risk of cognitive decline. So the reason to get hearing aids is to hear in the present, to be able to talk with people, to hear cars when crossing the street — not for your brain decades later.

Cost

Hearing aids cost several thousand to tens of thousands of yuan, and most must be paid out of pocket. They require fitting and several rounds of adjustment.

Benefit

The ACHIEVE trial was conducted in 4 communities in the United States and enrolled 977 people aged 70 to 84 with untreated hearing loss and no obvious cognitive impairment. They were randomly divided into two groups: one received a hearing intervention (hearing counseling and hearing aids), and the other received a health education control, with follow-up every 6 months. The primary endpoint was the change in global cognitive score over 3 years. In the primary analysis combining the two source populations, there was no significant difference between the two groups: hearing intervention group −0.200 (95% CI −0.256 to −0.144), control group −0.202 (95% CI −0.258 to −0.145), difference 0.002 (95% CI −0.077 to 0.081), P=0.96. A prespecified sensitivity analysis showed that the intervention effect differed between the two source populations (interaction P=0.010). Participants from the long-term cardiovascular health observational study were older, had more risk factors for cognitive decline, and had lower baseline cognitive scores. The researchers' conclusion was that hearing intervention may reduce 3-year cognitive change in populations at higher risk of cognitive decline, but not in those at lower risk. The trial did not report any serious adverse events attributed to the study.

Notes

Controversy: The commonly seen online claim that "hearing aids reduced cognitive decline by nearly half" comes from a subgroup in this trial, not its primary result; the primary result was no difference between the two groups. This item is placed here to separate "getting hearing aids" from "preventing dementia": the former should be done, the latter should not be used as a reason. Candidates with hearing disabilities can be exempted from foreign language listening tests in the college entrance examination; see Section 13 of this section (reasonable accommodations). People with hearing impairment should wear hearing aids when driving; see Section 15 of this section (C5).

Sources

Lin FR, Pike JR, Albert MS, et al.; ACHIEVE Collaborative Research Group (2023). Hearing intervention versus health education control to reduce cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss in the USA (ACHIEVE): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet, 402(10404):786-797. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01406-X

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01406-X01406-X)

18. To say an adult "cannot manage their own affairs," you must apply to a court for a determination; family members do not have the final say

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope freedom; Money low; Time medium; Persistence some; Benefit medium

Whether an adult is "a person with no capacity for civil conduct" or "a person with limited capacity for civil conduct" can only be determined by a court. Family members, work units, and residents' committees cannot decide on their own. An interested party or relevant organization must apply to the court. Conversely, if intellectual or mental health recovers, one can also apply to have their capacity for civil conduct restored. This procedure is both a restriction and a protection.

Cost

Applying to the court requires paying litigation fees, generally several dozen to one hundred yuan. Appraisal fees are separate, usually several thousand yuan, advanced by the applicant. The process takes several months.

Benefit

Article 21 of the Civil Code: "An adult who is unable to comprehend their own conduct is a person with no capacity for civil conduct, and their civil juristic acts shall be performed on their behalf by their legal agent." Article 22: "An adult who is unable to fully comprehend their own conduct is a person with limited capacity for civil conduct, and the performance of their civil juristic acts shall be represented by their legal agent or consented to or ratified by their legal agent; however, they may independently perform civil juristic acts that are purely beneficial or that are appropriate to their intellectual and mental health conditions." Article 24: "For an adult who is unable to comprehend or fully comprehend their own conduct, their interested parties or relevant organizations may apply to a people's court to determine that the adult is a person with no capacity for civil conduct or a person with limited capacity for civil conduct." The same article also provides that after such a determination, upon application by the person, an interested party, or a relevant organization, the people's court may determine, based on the recovery of their intellectual and mental health, that they are restored to a person with limited capacity for civil conduct or a person with full capacity for civil conduct. Relevant organizations include: residents' committees, villagers' committees, schools, medical institutions, women's federations, disabled persons' federations, legally established organizations for older persons, civil affairs departments, etc. Article 23 provides that the guardian of a person with no capacity for civil conduct or a person with limited capacity for civil conduct is their legal agent (nationwide, effective January 1, 2021).

Notes

The process costs must be made clear. The application goes through the court's special procedure, which is faster than ordinary civil cases, but still takes several months. A hospital diagnosis certificate must be submitted, and the court will in most cases also commission a judicial appraisal; the appraisal fee is usually several thousand yuan, advanced by the applicant. If you sign on someone's behalf or dispose of their property without going through this procedure, it may later be found invalid, and a house that was sold may have to be returned. Also remember one point: limited capacity for civil conduct does not mean they can do nothing. Matters appropriate to their intellectual and mental conditions, as well as purely beneficial matters, they can do themselves — don't handle everything on their behalf. For how a guardian is determined, see Section 19 of this section (guardian).

Sources

Civil Code of the People's Republic of China (Articles 21, 22, 23, 24). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808081729d1efe01729d50b5…

https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808081729d1efe01729d50b5…

19. Guardians for adults are determined in statutory order; if the ward injures someone else, the guardian pays

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope freedom; Money 0; Time medium; Persistence some; Benefit medium

After an adult loses capacity, the guardian is determined in this order: spouse, parents and children, other close relatives, and finally other willing individuals or organizations. If there is a dispute over who should serve, it is designated by the residents' committee, villagers' committee, or civil affairs department at the place of residence; if dissatisfied, one can go to court. Conversely, while still lucid, a person can designate a future guardian in writing. If the ward injures someone else, the guardian pays.

Cost

No money required. If there is a dispute, it must be resolved through the residents' committee, villagers' committee, civil affairs department, or court.

Benefit

Article 28 of the Civil Code: For an adult with no capacity for civil conduct or limited capacity for civil conduct, the following persons with guardianship capacity shall serve as guardian in order: "(1) spouse; (2) parents, children; (3) other close relatives; (4) other individuals or organizations willing to serve as guardian, but subject to the consent of the residents' committee, villagers' committee, or civil affairs department at the ward's place of residence." Article 31: If there is a dispute over the determination of a guardian, it shall be designated by the residents' committee, villagers' committee, or civil affairs department at the ward's place of residence; if dissatisfied with the designation, one may apply to a people's court for designation, or apply directly to a people's court. When designating, "the true wishes of the ward shall be respected, and the principle of the best interests of the ward shall be followed." If rights and interests are in a state of no protection before designation, the residents' committee, villagers' committee, relevant organizations prescribed by law, or civil affairs department shall serve as temporary guardian. Article 33: "An adult with full capacity for civil conduct may, through prior consultation with their close relatives or other individuals or organizations willing to serve as guardian, determine their own guardian in written form." Article 1188: "If a person with no capacity for civil conduct or a person with limited capacity for civil conduct causes harm to another person, the guardian shall bear tort liability. If the guardian has fulfilled their guardianship duties, their tort liability may be reduced." If the ward has property, compensation shall be paid from their own property, and the guardian shall compensate for any shortfall. Article 1189: If a guardian entrusts guardianship duties to another person, the guardian shall still bear tort liability, and the entrusted person shall bear corresponding liability if at fault (nationwide, effective January 1, 2021).

Notes

Article 33 is what is called designated guardianship. While the person is lucid, designating the guardian in written form can save more than half of later disputes; for how to write it specifically, see Section 17, Item 1 (designated guardianship). Be careful with the compensation part: if you hand the person over to a care institution or relative to look after, the responsibility remains with the guardian, and the entrusted person only bears corresponding liability if at fault. Therefore, buying guardian liability insurance for the ward is meaningful. Article 78 of the Mental Health Law also provides that if a guardian abandons a patient or fails to perform guardianship duties causing harm, they shall bear compensation liability according to law.

Sources

Civil Code of the People's Republic of China (Articles 28, 31, 33, 1188, 1189). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808081729d1efe01729d50b5…

https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808081729d1efe01729d50b5…

20. If you are refused hire, not made permanent, or paid less because of disability, you can sue — but first calculate the process costs clearly

Evidence level: A
Cost-effectiveness: Average
Tags: Scope money; Money high; Time high; Persistence yes; Benefit medium

The law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in hiring, becoming a regular employee, promotion, professional title evaluation, remuneration, social insurance, and other aspects. You can complain to the competent department or directly sue in court. But first do the math: winning a lawsuit does not mean the other side pays your attorney fees. Attorney fees are not among the litigation costs listed by law, and the "losing party bears" provision does not include them. So first complain, first apply for legal aid, then consider litigation.

Cost

Attorney fees range from several thousand to tens of thousands of yuan, paid by yourself. First-instance ordinary procedure takes 6 months or more and can be extended. Evidence must be preserved by yourself.

Benefit

Article 3 of the Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities: "Discrimination based on disability is prohibited. Insulting or infringing upon persons with disabilities is prohibited." Article 38: "In the hiring, becoming a regular employee, promotion, professional title evaluation, labor remuneration, living benefits, rest and leave, social insurance, and other aspects of employees, persons with disabilities shall not be discriminated against." The same article also provides that the unit where a disabled employee works shall provide appropriate working conditions and labor protection according to the characteristics of the disabled employee, and shall renovate the workplace, work equipment, and living facilities according to actual needs. Article 64: "If anyone violates the provisions of this Law by discriminating against persons with disabilities in the hiring of employees and other aspects, the relevant competent department shall order correction; disabled workers may file a lawsuit with a people's court according to law." Article 4 of the Regulations on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities: "Discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment is prohibited." Article 13: Employers shall not discriminate against disabled employees in promotion, rank advancement, professional title evaluation, remuneration, social insurance, living benefits, and other aspects. Article 42 of the Legal Aid Law provides that if an applicant has materials proving they belong to "specific groups such as minors, older persons, and persons with disabilities without a fixed source of income," verification of economic hardship shall be exempted. Article 45 provides that when legal aid institutions provide legal aid services to older persons and persons with disabilities, they shall provide accessible facilities, equipment, and services according to actual circumstances (nationwide).

Notes

Process costs must be calculated first. First-instance ordinary procedure takes 6 months or more and can be extended; summary procedure takes 3 months. Attorney fees are not among the litigation costs listed in Article 6 of the Measures for the Payment of Litigation Costs, and the "losing party bears" provision in Article 29 does not include attorney fees. So first take two low-cost paths: complain to the human resources and social security department or the disabled persons' federation, and have the competent department order correction; at the same time apply for legal aid — Article 42 exempts persons with disabilities from verification of economic hardship. Evidence collection is the hardest hurdle. When rejected at an interview, the other party rarely leaves a written reason; if you can record audio or keep chat records, keep them. If already employed, proceed through labor dispute arbitration; for evidence preservation and time limits, see Section 19, Item 8 (preserve evidence before leaving). The beneficiary of this item is yourself.

Sources

Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities (Articles 3, 38, 64). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080816f135f46016f1d134c… ; State Council (2007). Regulations on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities (Articles 4, 13). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2008-03/28/content_664… ; Legal Aid Law of the People's Republic of China (Articles 42, 45). https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081817b6472a3017b657782…

Evidence levels: B, A · Sources are listed in the chapterContact