6 Factors to Consider when Moving to China
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Accepting a job abroad means starting a brand new life on another side of the globe. A choice that can be a level of exhilarating almost too hard to explain. China, more specifically, is a massive country full of adventure for the foreign traveler. The landscape is as diverse as the United States, encompassing everything from mountains, to deserts, to sea. Not to mention, the culture itself changes with the terrain as you drift from province to province. If you’re choosing the expat life in China, I can assure that it is an incredible nation to explore for a long period of time. A country that provides a myriad of enriching experiences.
Considering the diversity of this country and its cities, there are some specific characteristics you might want to contemplate before deciding on where precisely you will call your new home, especially for first timers moving to China. While doing your research, keep these six things in mind:
Access to Travel
Moving to a new city in and of itself is an exciting form of travel for the fellow globe trotter. However, after settling in you may realize you want to see more of China… or maybe even the neighboring countries. If you already have places in mind that you’re hoping to visit during your days off, it would be worth focusing your search on cities in China that have international airports or major railway station.
Of course, some expats covet a fully immersed experience. One where they can become a concrete part of their community and challenge themselves in terms of adjustment and language. If this is the case, the more rural the better. Nonetheless, I would still encourage even the most adventurous souls to fully reflect on access to travel in these isolated locations. If it’s your first time abroad, it’s possible you’ll want to re-locate somewhere that at least has an international city nearby. It is helpful in moments of culture shock and homesickness to have a place like this accessible by fast train for those moments that you need a refresh (or a taste of food from home!)
2. Local vs. International
In my opinion, this is one of the most important location traits for expats to reflect on before moving to China.
Are you craving a very local and challenging experience, or do you desire to explore a new country while still having access to familiar amenities and social expat groups? In other countries, a big city might automatically mean it’s home to a larger population of expats and more international influence. On the contrary, although a city in China might have a large population, that doesn’t always mean it will host more foreigners or be an easier move culturally. This is far too common of an assumption that expats will make, providing with a very difficult adjustment period.
Generally, moving to a Tier 1 city is a much easier transition for expats moving from western countries for the first time. It’s still possible to be immersed in local neighborhoods, while having familiar comfort food and English speakers available to help with culture shock when the going gets tough.
When I first moved to China, I fell into the category of expats seeking a truly local experience. I thought of myself as wildly adventurous and easily adaptable. Characteristics I identified with after one semester abroad in Florence, Italy *shakes head.* I wouldn’t trade the experience I had in China for anything, but I will say that it was a much tougher adjustment than expected. I ended up in the massive city of Chongqing that, even while hosting a population of 16 million people, turned out to be an extremely local metropolis. There were very few expats and English speakers, only a handful of Western food options, and plenty of opportunity for feelings of isolation. I persevered and ended up learning more Mandarin than I could’ve imagined, but I was less prepared for the initial transition than I had imagined.
That being said, keep in mind that a big city in China does not always equate to more expats and Western influence. Moving to China can be rewarding and exciting, but you want to make sure the place you chose is truly right for you!
2. Accessibility of Western Medicine
If you have a pre-existing condition that requires medication, this one is for you. Tier 1 cities (and some Tier 2) are the most likely to have international hospitals and a few stores that stock western drugs. However, it’s critical to do your research on the city you’re hoping to go to in order to ensure that you’ll have access when needed.
Furthermore, when it comes to your favorite over-the-counter drugs, there’s a chance you’ll have difficulty finding them in China. There are many Chinese equivalent medication options, but if you have a strong preference for certain products or brand names for medicine such as painkillers or vitamins, I would make sure to pack enough with you.
4. Climate
As mentioned previously, China is diverse in just about every way. Beyond landscape and culture, this country has almost every climate imaginable. Cities in the north will be colder while cities get hotter and more humid the further south you go. Beijing has very cold winters, while Shanghai experiences all four seasons. Guangzhou and Shenzhen in the Southeast are home to tropical climates, whereas central China is generally just hot and humid. Chongqing in particular sees two seasons every year: mild and living-inside-a-furnace-level hot.
If you’ve always lived in one climate your whole life, this might be an opportunity to switch things up and base your preference off of a city’s average temperature opposite from your hometown. On the contrary, if you grew up somewhere cold and know that you wouldn’t enjoy an extended time in the heat (and vise-versa) it would be a good idea to look at cities that are similar to what you already know and prefer.
5. City Size
Cities in China are big, and that’s a reality almost anywhere you choose to go within its borders. I want to reiterate that bigger doesn’t always equate to being more ‘Western’ or will provide an easier acclimation.
There are massive metropolises across the nation which have a smaller international influence and population. Take Chongqing, Wuhan, or Kunming as examples. Each city hosts populations in the millions, yet when living in these cities you can still be as immersed as if you were living in a rural community. The biggest difference, however, is that there will always be something to do or somewhere new to explore. Exploring these places can be a challenge, but one that could bring a lot of excitement for the brave-hearted expats.
Tier 1 cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen or Guangzhou, are inarguably easier for expatriate re-location and acclimation. These cities are great choices for first time foreign China explorers, having familiar amenities, plenty of opportunities to meet other expats, and a plethora of travel within reach all while still being rich in Chinese culture.
Keep in mind that big international cities also hold pockets of local communities. A lot of the time it is cheaper to live in a ‘Chinese style’ apartment community that’s further from the city center. If you are aspiring for an immersive experience and lower cost of living while still having access to all amenities of a bustling international city, this is always an option to get the best of both worlds.
6. Language
For travelers to China dedicated to deep diving into the beautiful language of Mandarin, Tier 2 cities are essential to consider. Tier 1 cities definitely do not lack local Mandarin teachers and schools, but in these locations it is far too easy to use English as a crutch when getting around. For people wanting to commit to conversational or fluent Mandarin, Tier 2 and smaller cities are surely the best places to be. Every day it’s possible to find yourself in challenging situations where you have no other choice but to try and use the language.
Each region also has its own local dialect that can be taken into consideration if you’re feeling extra confident with your language learning abilities. Mandarin is widely spoken across China, but some expats hope to add Cantonese to their repertoire and focus on relocating to the Canton region etc.
Hopefully this blog is able to provide you with some reflection points while deciding where to set up your new home in China. The transition can certainly be harder than expected if you don’t prepare yourself fully or make an intentional match in placement. I hope with these points in mind you can endure a successful move to China!
Are you moving to China soon and have questions about making the transition? Send me an email: connect@bredabosch.com
