Where to Live for Expats in China

China's housing market has a wide range of variables to consider when deciding where to settle down. Affordability of housing, the expense of living, and the accessibility of essential services are all important factors to take into account. For example, if you are looking for happiness, safety, friendly locals, or a busy social life, there are emotional characteristics to consider as well.

Around 600,000 foreigners call China home. This is a tiny fraction of China's 1.3 billion people and the world's 230 million estimated expats. Beijing, China's capital, and Shanghai, the country's financial hub, are home to the vast majority of foreign residents. Xiamen (Amoy), Shenzhen, and Guangzhou (Canton) all have sizable expat communities.

The majority of business positions may be located in Beijing and Shanghai, respectively. There are a large number of foreigners living in Beijing since it is the country's capital. Furthermore, it is China's cultural capital and home to several festivals, Peking operas, and other events. The Forbidden City (or Palace Museum, as it is currently known), the Summer Palace, and the Temple of Heaven all have impressive architecture. Despite the fact that many of Beijing's hutongs have been bulldozed, there are still a few of these delightful characterful alleys to be found. Some of the worst traffic and air pollution in the world may be found in this city.

If you're looking for an international atmosphere, Shanghai is a great place to visit. Only a little more than a quarter of the total number of foreigners residing in mainland China in 2012 were based there. Shanghai has a more Western vibe than the rest of China, and many of its buildings are constructed in the style of European architecture. It's hard to argue that it isn't the most capitalist in a Communist nation. There are several options for shopping, art, nightlife, and other sorts of entertainment.

Around 30,000 foreign nationals live in Guangzhou, China's third biggest metropolis. Although the summers might be stiflingly hot, there are many of business opportunities in the area. In these big cities, it's not uncommon for the cost of a hotel room to be rather exorbitant. Even so, if your lodging is covered by your company, this may not be an issue.

Qingdao (or Tsingtao) and Xiamen, two of China's most populous cities, have lately received good marks for their quality of life (Amoy). The Chinese consider Hangzhou to be the most beautiful city in the country. Many Chinese cities, such as Tianjin, Chongqing, and Chengdu, aren't as picturesque as Hangzhou, despite their size. There is no doubt that major cities are easier to live in when it comes to adaptability and culture shock. Despite recent increases, the cost of living in China is still quite affordable, particularly if you live in rural areas of the country.

In stores and more modest restaurants, local cuisine is quite affordable. Bread, milk, and cheese are some of the most often consumed Western staples, although they may be difficult or costly to get even in major cities. Smaller towns are unlikely to have access to many of these products. In the same way, Western newspapers and other media are hard to come by. With the exception of the internet (which is of course guarded by China's Great Firewall), CCTV9, the government-run English-language station, may be your sole option for foreign news.

However, you may find that the folks in smaller towns are more welcoming than those in bigger cities, or that they'll gaze at you as if you were some kind of tourist attraction. Things should be OK after you and them both get acclimated to one other.