Zhuhai, China

By Joshua Wood, LPC

Last updated on Sep 17, 2022

Summary: Expats, digital nomads and retirees discuss what it is like to live in Zhuhai, China: Cost of living, Finding a home, Meeting People and more.

What do I need to know about living in Zhuhai?

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Zhuhai, they said:

"1. Learn Chinese ASAP! 2. Remember this is a Communist Country 3. Remember you are a guest here 4. Join www.ZhuhaiNights.com It's easy to have fun and get very comfortable here. The joke is that once you've been here, you can never truly leave (my 2 week holiday to Zhuhai is in its third year now!!!) but it's also important to remember to be on your best behaviour at all times. I have never seen the inside of a Chinese jail and I intend on keeping it that way," said another expat in Zhuhai.

"Always remember, you are a guest in this city. Behave like a guest and you can enjoy it," remarked another in Zhuhai.

"I would suggest him / her to check http://www.MacauZhuhai.com which is the most reliable source of information about Zhuhai. And if she or he needed more information, than I would suggest to post a message in the MacauZhuhai.com Forum and get some advice from Foreign residents. Finally, I would say that although life isn't easy here, Zhuhai is a city that is improving by the day, and that most Foreigners living here quite enjoy it!," explained one expat.

How do I meet people in Zhuhai?

When we asked people living in Zhuhai about club and activities where newcomers can meet others, they responded:

"ZhuhaiNights.com is Zhuhai's only English city-wide dedicated lifestyle web site, run by expats living locally in the city. With over 3,000 members, half of those being Chinese and half being foreigners, it's a great way to meet friends. It's fun and free. The organisers of the web site also host regular events, including a weekly English / Chinese language exchange, days out to Zhuhai's International Race Circuit, trips to surrounding islands, pool parties, dance parties and more to boot. DeltaBridges.com covers the entire Pearl River region and is great for anyone looking to visit more surrounding cities. It's another great way to connect with the locals and the DB city guide is very large with English and Chinese address details to help you get around. Additionally, you might spot on of their handy pocket-sized city guide books in one of the many locations around town," remarked another in Zhuhai.

"Go out, meet people, ask questions or become a member of the Wanderverein Zhuhai (BTW its free and fun). Contacts you can find under http://www.wvzh.com," explained one expat.

"For newcomers in Zhuhai,I recommand to contact the ZIA Expat Club. They organize numerous activities such as coffee mornings, trips, parties etc... It was really needed here and they are doing a great job. You can find more information about ZIA on http://www.MacauZhuhai.com http://www.MacauZhuhai.com is also a very useful for newcomers in Zhuhai. They provide a lot of information about Zhuhai and Macau (expat clubs, tourism, events, news, stories and pictures!)with an excellent Yellow pages section for both Zhuhai and Macau. http://www.MacauZhuhai.com is interactive with Forums in English, Portuguese, French and German, where Expats can discuss and ask each others questions. They also have a Classifieds section, very useful for jobs or if you need to buy or sell something," said another person in Zhuhai.

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Will I be able to find a job in Zhuhai?

When we asked people about industries and career opportunities in Zhuhai, they reponded:

"For foreigners here, families are usually located here by an overseas company (inc. house, car, expenses etc.). Jobs made locally available in many industries generally pay less than what an expat would expect to be offered in their home country (i.e. if you haven't moved yet and they want you to, there's likely to be a good offer in it. If you are already here, it will cost them less to sign you up!) Singles and couples in Zhuhai generally teach English as a second language to Chinese nationals in the city. Ages range from 21 (fresh outta college) to 60+ (although it's hard to find work in Guangdong for a teacher after 60 years) Hard-working teachers can easily find private students to tutor to substitute the often low wages - although even the lower wages can offer a comfortable level of living - if you are a good money-manager. The Job Hunters Group on ZhuhaiNights.com is a good place to start if you are looking for work here: http://www.ZhuhaiNights.com/group/jobs," said another person in Zhuhai.

"It is a small city that is central in the Pearl River. Most people find jobs by knowing people. People from various countries can teach their own language on www.TutorSearchChina.com," remarked another expat in Zhuhai.

"Zhuhai promotes only clean industries, pollution is reduced to a minimum. Job opportunities: If you're good, you will find a job;-)," explained one expat living in Zhuhai.

"Being located in Guangdong, Zhuhai is of course involved in production. However, the local government is trying to focus on High Tech rather than mass production. The city is quite pretty and has an ideal location (walking distance from Macau, 1 hour ferry from HK, and 2 hours from Guanzhou and Shenzhen by coach), so a lot of Foreign companies who need to operate in Guangdong for production are setting up in Zhuhai their headquarters. Services are also developping fast. To look for a job here, or if your company has a vacancy, the best solution is to post an ad (for free) in the Classifieds section of http://www.MacauZhuhai.com," said another expat in Zhuhai.

What is life like in Zhuhai?

When we asked people living in Zhuhai what life is like and how people spend their time, they said:

"Zhuhai is a sleepy, laid-back city on the South China Sea. It's miles of coastline attract tourists the world-over, so the priority is usually to have a great time. Work does go on here though - in the form of new cutting-edge business districts, multi-national corporations and SMEs all managing to operate successfully. To be well-and-truly on the pulse of life in Zhuhai, I strongly recommend joining www.ZhuhaiNights.com," said another expat in Zhuhai.

"Most people are focused on work, but many also enjoy going out at night. In general, people realize that they need to improve their Chinese ability because English is rather limited here. I suggest finding language teachers on www.TutorSearchChina.com," remarked another in Zhuhai.

"Of course, most of the people I know are here for work. But if you like, there are many activities available in and arround Zhuhai, like swimming, hiking, eating & drinking," explained one expat.

"Expats here are very focused on their work because that's the main reason why they are in Zhuhai. However, because not so many Chinese can speak good English in this city, and because there aren't many of us, Foreigners tend to be quite sociable. It is a nice melting pot with people from all over the world. www.MacauZhuhai.com plays an important role in this as they always post all the events which are taking place in Zhuhai. Finally, most people are here with their family, so the Expat community is very family orientated," said another person in Zhuhai.

Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in Zhuhai accepting of differences?

"I have met some of the nicest people here in Zhuhai. Part of the secret of the success of the city is that in the past 40 years it underwent rapid development, meaning that most people who live in Zhuhai aren't really FROM Zhuhai. When you have a city where the majority of people are 'outsiders' it makes everyone a little more respectful of the fact that they are honoured guests in this city. Speaking Chinese (Mandarin) helps a LOT. Services like http://www.chinesepod.com/ means you've got no excuse not to be able to bust out a bit of Chinese to break the ice, but an improved level of Chinese makes the world of difference," said another person in Zhuhai.

"Not very diverse, people often stare at you as a foreigner. If your skin is somewhat dark, or if you are black, people often pass judgement on you quickly. However, it is a beautiful city with many friendly people. Religion is not so deep here," remarked another expat in Zhuhai.

"Zhuhai is a new city with people coming from all over China. It is a chinese melting pot. It also means that they can accept differences better than than other places in China. As Foreigners, we do feel very much welcome here. And most Chinese here are curious to know more the "rest of the world". However, the language is a barrier... Regarding religion, there is church here, and many more in the nearby city of Macau," explained one expat living in Zhuhai.

What are the schools in Zhuhai like?

"Since my child is in the preschool and the experience was goo, I have not heard anything negative in the higher classes," explained one expat living in Zhuhai, China.

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