Pros and Cons of Living in China

Summary: The pros of living in China include access to a wide variety of cultural experiences, a vibrant economy, and a large population of people with diverse backgrounds. Additionally, the cost of living is relatively low, making it an attractive option for those looking to save money. On the other hand, the cons of living in China include air pollution, a lack of freedom of speech, and a complex bureaucracy that can make it difficult to navigate. Additionally, the language barrier can be a challenge for those who do not speak Mandarin.

What are the pros and cons of living in China?

Expats, digital nomads and retirees living in China responded:

"Expat and digital nomads tend to appreciate the low cost of living, as well as the cultural experience of living in a rapidly developing country like China. Many appreciate the accessibility to large modern cities, traditional culture, rich food and tea culture. Additionally, they tend to enjoy the high-speed internet and smart phone infrastructure available in the country. On the other hand, expats and digital nomads often find difficulty interacting with the local language, which can be a barrier to communication. Similarly, navigating the bureaucratic and administrative processes can cause difficulty, and expats often experience a sense of culture shock due to the rapid change between the traditional and modern within such a short amount of time," said one expat in living in China.

"Likes - Climate is great. Busy, dynamic city. Great public transport. Food range and quality is very good. Excellent links to other cities (HSR, Airlines) Dislikes - Cost of housing, lack of services aimed at foreigners/expats, poor traffic enforcement, allowing ebikes on the footpath," wrote one expat in Shenzhen.

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What do expats in China appreciate most about the local culture?

"The people are friendly, the variety of cultural experiences is widely varied. Travel is cheap and the exchange rate makes my Social Security go about 5 times farther than it would in the US. I have easy access to Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, Nepal, and with a bit of visa effort, Tibet and Vladivostok are accessible. I'm currently in a seafood based cuisine here but I love the access to multiple dining experiences," said one person in Qingdao.

"There intense work ethic and the desire of families to make life better for their children," remarked one expat in Shenzhen.

What do expats find most challenging?

"Driving in China has been a big challenge. There are electric scooters everywhere. I mean, sometimes at a busy intersection, there are 24 cars and 300 scooters. These scooters, (if they are electric) require no driver's license. This means that the drivers have NOT been taught what is legal or safe. So, any intersection is dangerous with scooters crossing traffic lines, not obeying the lights & basically its open season. Now, add to that owning a car & modern "Big Brother" with traffic cameras everywhere. I have received so many tickets whereas in the other 30+ countries I have driven in, my record is almost perfect. Silent electric scooters, strange traffic laws, Chinese signs & those darn cameras everywhere make driving a real challenge here," remarked one expat in Beihai.

"I would have to say language is high on the list but a translating program is available for download on smart phones, tablets, and computers,.. and that can help when necessary. maintenance of visas takes some effort but as I approach the end of my current visa in September, I'm hoping the newly relaxed visa requirements between the US and China will make renewing my visa easier. I am constantly recruited to teach English but currently am not on a work visa. I am not sure if these are challenges or simply items to which I have focused too little effort," explained one expat living in Qingdao.

Pros and Cons of Living in China

What are the pros and cons of living in China?

What do expats in China appreciate most about the local culture?

What do expats find most challenging?

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