I was posted here by my company 2 years ago. Initially, it was just a job. In my mind, I just wanted to finish what I needed to to do and get out. Well, I'm into my 3rd year, having accepted a position in Chongqing starting tomorrow. Looking back, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Of course, there were times I wanted to pack up and leave. Some of those times were extremely trying but I got past those. China isn't that bad if you learn to turn a blind eye to certain things. It's not that I don't care but being a foreigner there's just so much one can do. I do what I can to make life more pleasant. However, in the back of my mind there is always the thought of leaving, not necessary going home but to another country. But that will have to wait. Perhaps when I have come to the point where enough is enough, I'll go.

I came a first time in China for about 9 months (a post-doc), and within the sheltered environment of a campus (well, mostly the lab, the cantin and the bedroom), things were Good Enough. I took the opportunity to travel around a bit and I liked that.

Went elsewhere for the wrong reasons, got tired of it, told myself "Hey, why not China again, that wasn't bad". Came back to China, 2 years contract signed. Little by little, I went from hopeful ("Ok, I will fit in there and settle down here") to very disillusioned ("No way my kids grow up here. Look what the voice of the people is worth here. No civil society, no hope to have one")

Met my wife, and got a once-in-a-life career opportunity. So we stay because of my career and to give time to my wife to be ready to go ie. proper qualifications and experience to get a meaningful job abroad. I think "where my kids are going to grow up" is a factor to leave. I miss having a say on how things run. I crave for what I took for granted before: a blue sky, clean air, trusting my food supply and knowing that if I fall, somebody might catch my fall.

The original plan was to move here with a two year contract with my former employer, about 1 year in, that employer terminated its Asia operations, and as I had been flying all over the place for that first year, I hadn't really had time to live in China with my wife, so we stayed instead of going back to the old treadmill. Now just starting the 4th year, hmmm, there is lots of things pulling towards home, but knowing how that feels I also know that if we do move to my home country, my wife will have the same feelings. 

She does know I would like to move back, but right now, we are spending as much time with her family as we can manage (or survive if you will) when the day comes that we have buried the last of her grandparents, I would want to move back home. Luckily my plan is ruined by these people who are well above average life expectancy but still acting like they were in their 70ies. 

Any kids reaching school age would also be a trigger for leaving. Without being a parent, my priority is my wife, once a parent, the priority becomes the entire family

I've seen many examples of this. People coming for a short period and staying for longer than expected. When I came I only signed up for one year of Chinese studies and decided I would see after that year if I want to stay longer or not. I was in a nice position in life where I didn't have any obligations anywhere. I didn't have to go home for studies/girlfriend/wife. So I stayed, Been here 2 years and 5 month. Not sure how long I'll stay but don't see an end in sight. 

People talk about struggles to go through here. I don't think it' that bad. Although I'm from South Africa, so maybe what I have to compare to isn't as good as what some of the Americans, Europeans have. Although, I love my country, don't get me wrong. It's just on quite a similar level of development to China (i.e.: public services, infrastructure, internet speed) so 'adapting' here isn't difficult at all. The only thing I struggled with is the coming and going of expat friends. When you know someone for 6 months/one year and then they leave. And repeat that over and over. Relationships begin to take on a different meaning. Nothing is long term. 

I'm not going anywhere else soon!

Originally, I came to China, because I met Chinese girl. Her English wasn't good, and she wanted to come to UK with her 17Y old daughter. I didn't see that as easy life for her (or easy for me), so I talked to my US friends: 'What could I do in China, not speaking Chinese?'

One suggested, I could teach English. 

I look into that, passed TEFL in short time (), and became English teacher. 

I saw conditions for FT in that time (4Y ago) were better in Taiwan, but after talking to Taiwanese teacher online, he told me, mainland Chinese have hard time to move to Taiwan. I was applying for Visitor's visa in T. Embassy already, but then I applied for Chinese L in London's Embassy online, and here I am.

I made the choice to stay here long term before I knew all the facts about China. It's got my knickers in a twist up to this day, but I'm coping. Last month, after 2 years in China, I had to give up my social housing apartment in Amsterdam for good. Waiting time for apts there are measured in years, even decades, so there's no easy way back for me anymore. My 2nd child will come this July, so I'm in for the long haul, though we do have plans to move away for our kids' education. Perhaps we'll stay abroad, or perhaps my kids will find better opportunities in China - it depends on what the future will bring for this country. Which is also why I'm so critical of China's fake feel-good stories and windowdressing...

I originally came to learn about the real China.  Initially, I was impressed by it's shiny facade.  After 3 months, I was equally shot down by what is underneath.  It's been almost 4 years now.  I am still eager to learn more, but I can see the door to our next destination.  I am a global tourist and I always will be.  China has been a unique stopover in a never-ending itinerary.  My reason for staying so long is I want my child to know her homeland. But she will never see the inside of a Chinese school, so the end is near.

I was sent here by the British company i worked for in 2005, initially for short trips, to train & develop a small Chinese Engineering team to do my job! (Thankfully they didn't fully take over muy job!) Over the next 4 years & trips of increasing lengths I came to really enjoy Guangzhou. So at the end of 2009 when I was offered an apartment I jumped at the chance to live here even though moving from a small coastal village of 3,500 people to a city of >12 million was a bit of a jump! Been here >4 years now, mainly in GZ with a short stint in Zhongshan and Guangdong is now my home. No plans to move anywhere else outside China and am getting married in 3 weeks to a wonderful lady.

Yes, China has its downsides but so does my hometown on the edge of Manchester. But you settle where you feel comfortable and even though there are days when I don't feel in control and am out of my comfort zone I still don't regret deciding to settle here.

I was first sent here to do engineering projects in 2005. I moved here full time 2 years ago, on a local contract.

I used to think I had an open mind. But now I know I did not.

China has a feeling of freedom about it that the west has lost. I like that, and I want my Chinese daughter to enjoy that feeling of freedom as she grows up. I just hope they change the visa rules to let that happen....