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Q: is buying a place in a village in southern China a good idea?
ket's say Guangdong or maybe Sichuan... some village just out of the city. a shack fixed to 21st century amenities indoors. 1 floor. 1 "brick" shack? a garden just out your back door. would a white man be safe in a place like this?. a sit down toilet, as opposed to squat. running water and half-assed reliable electricity. reliable internet access. grow your own prunes. beer delivery. chickens and fish, pork and rice and vegies should be easy to get. a fridge, internet tv?
If you have the money anything is possible.
Once you have the property it is just a matter of project management.
You can buy anything in China it is just a big Ikea after all.
You could even get someone involved from back home via the Internet for advice on design and installation of stuff.
Let me know how you progress. ..I love this kind of thing.
BHGAL:
grandiose dream... not finished yet.... but contemplating other countries, with or without the wife... never gonna buy something that I do not like. scotland, ireland are on the latest radar. time is running out.... won't be long.
If you have the money anything is possible.
Once you have the property it is just a matter of project management.
You can buy anything in China it is just a big Ikea after all.
You could even get someone involved from back home via the Internet for advice on design and installation of stuff.
Let me know how you progress. ..I love this kind of thing.
BHGAL:
grandiose dream... not finished yet.... but contemplating other countries, with or without the wife... never gonna buy something that I do not like. scotland, ireland are on the latest radar. time is running out.... won't be long.
You've pretty much just described my wife's parents place, the only thing that it's currently impossible to get from your list is running water 24/7. They only have it in the morning but that's changing soon. They live in Liaoning though so may have to find a substitute for prunes but they definitely have beer delivery!
Sichuan, brick shack and earthquake/s?!
Brick shack, foreigner, security and PSB?!
The only way one could really do this would be to re-build that brick shack to modern day standards or above.
This can be done, but only in some village that would allow to their village rules to do this.
Remember then, one will not be allowed to sell to anyone as it will remain the family home only, the land owned by gov and all decisions made by village rules that will change in the future.
To get these rights, one needs to marry into a family otherwise you can only rent the brick shack and the land it is on.
Maybe due to the holidays you have been dreaming a bit too much, me thinks!
Assuming you got the legal side worked out, I'd want to rent a place there for a year first to see how it goes and what issues the place has.
A few that jump to mind could be hostile locals not accepting you in their village, small town gossip making you and your wife's lives miserable, corrupt local officials stealing land to sell to developers or deciding you needed to pay them some sort of 'special tax' to live there, polluted soil and water - you wouldn't want to end up in one of the cancer villages, crime - a girl I know from a small rural village told me that where she's from almost every household has a big vicious dog because of all the thieving that goes on and the possibility of annual monsoon flooding.
As others have said about earthquakes there is an easy fix to that.
Build a steal frame inside the bedroom and make it look like the walls and ceiling 100mm x 100mm box 5mm thick should do it.
Use some mesh in the walls and ceiling under a box rafter top.
If there is an earthquake you will have a survivel shelter.
As for in consistent water supply a water tank on a trickle feed system to feed it and a small electric pump for the outlet.
There is always an answer if you ask the question.
I have lived in small villages and felt extremely secure.
Could you do it? Sure, it is very possible to get all the things you want and live in the small village. The only major issues would be possible power outages, village squabbles and of course... work.
Having family in that village with a decent reputation would make things A LOT easier. Usually village folk are very kind and don't try to rip off whitey... but the construction companies and village heads will probably give it a go without family backing.
You're buying a place in China?
Just remember, you're not Chinese, whatever people tell you, you may own it but it will never truly be yours, you're a foreigner. You'll never be able to own property like others do in other lands.
adminanswer:
I mean, no one can can they. In China its all leased from the government.
Honestly! As a Cantonese, I don not think that is a good idea. Because the house is too expensive. And the weather is not good. Sometimes ,it is very hot. It seems that are only spring and summer in southern china. Instead, if you want to experience culture and tasty food here, it is a good idea to rent apartment. That is perspective.
To Just123. Again, welcome to ECC.
The original poster lives in GD, and his question is more about escaping the sterile and impersonal life of living on a 22nd story concrete box.
Traditional villages are very attractive to foreigers. A courtyard, small garden, maybe even a few chickens. A goldfish pond even. A rocking chair, and a beer shop nearby.
What more could anyone want? Add a nearby fishing pond with a mix of fish... heaven.
I cant put my finger on the cultural differences. The best I can come up with is romance. We imagine a romantic retirement of bliss in a quiet place. A place to grow old with.
Chinese seem to want modernity. Concrete boxes with convienent access to a 7-11.
Guangdong has hundreds of fantastic ancient villages that are all but deserted. I would love to stay in such a village. To live in it before it is turned into a government funded tourist coach stop. But most will rot away and crumble into dust.
Do you get my gist Just123?
I hope you keep posting on this thread so we can try to pinpoint the cultural differences we have about what are desirable places to live and what are not.
Just123:
Sorry! I am new. I can't believe I send your message without clerking add comment
To ScotsAlan, welcome to Canton.
Maybe all of us want to live in a abroad to experience local culture. Living in a traditional village where you can explode niceness. But sometimes, dream is fantastic while reality is cruel. On the condition of no getting enough social welfare after retirement, most of us have to study and work hard to support ourself and family. Only we become rich can we escape concrete box.
I think a lot about my son, back in Canada... gave hime a great step for progress and encouragement. He fucked up, and will be happy doing retail sails forever is my GUESS. NOBODY SHOULD BE LIVING IN A CONCRETE BOX.
SHOULD BE HOMES FOR EVERBODY.
If it wasn't for the love I have for my dear CANTONESE wife, I would not be here in this beautiful and yet god awful city situation. I am a small town boy....never lived in a city before here ( and this is a samll town??? bullshit) wide. wide open spaces....
think me and scots should get a fish pond in scotland
earthizen:
"think me and scots should get a fish pond in scotland"
Now you are making sense.
Go to the heavenly Scotland, take a deep breath of the sweet clean air, first of all.
With ScotsAlan by your side, setup base camp somewhere in the countryside.
Build a small compound for backpackers, target the elites from prc mainland, no low lives for they will either burn it to the ground or jam your toilets with sanitary napkins.
Get Vicki to become your sales manager in prc, your wife and Scottie's can all be part of the prc team initially.
Hire both wives as employees (or co-owners) of the company in UK, so they can get a work/business class visa and work in Scotland. Same case with Vicki (who I am willing to bet is already jumping up and down). Grounds for hiring them (immigration office first question) --- your target customers are mainlanders and therfore you need employees who are familiar with the prc market and customer services.
Make tons of clean conscience money and enjoy your Volvo (truck with a helicopter pad, and mini-helicopter).
Give a special discount to ecc users should they ever find themselves in your neighborhood and need a place to stay. No sleazy fishing charges or zone admission fees!!!
thts a great idea indeed.
as u've got a chinese wife, it wl b nice to have a permanent base here (for yrself, family n future generations).
I own two properties in China. My advice to you is very simple. DO NOT buy any property in China. Whether it is an apartment or a piece of land.
how would you get the money into china in the 1st place?
