Despite the many similarities in Hofstede’s cultural dimensions between China and Indonesia, the cultural adaptation of Chinese Expatriates working in Indonesia needs to be investigated. This study takes a comprehensive, mixed-method approach to understand the issue. The first quantitative phase was conducted by distributing the Expatriate Adjustment Scale to 57 Chinese Expatriates working in manufacturing, communication, and technology companies in Indonesia. The findings from this phase indicated significant barriers in language and local friendships, which were further explored in a qualitative phase using phenomenological semi-structured interviews with seven Chinese expatriates. The results highlighted that language, particularly the influence of Chinese dialects on communication in English and Bahasa Indonesia, and difficulties in forming local friendships, are the main obstacles to successful cultural adjustment. These barriers have practical implications for job performance and satisfaction, providing valuable insights for multinational companies to enhance cross-cultural training and support mechanisms for expatriates in Indonesia.