The place to ask China-related questions!
Beijing Shanghai Guangzhou Shenzhen Chengdu Xi'an Hangzhou Qingdao Dalian Suzhou Nanjing More Cities>>

Categories

Close
Welcome to eChinacities Answers! Please or register if you wish to join conversations or ask questions relating to life in China. For help, click here.
X

Verify email

Your verification code has been sent to:

Didn`t receive your code? Resend code

By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .

Sign up with Google Sign up with Facebook
Sign up with Email Already have an account? .
Posts: 2578

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Q: why do you or would you want to ..... live in one of the most expensive cities in the world?

Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou.....   you must be nuts..... Hong Kong still nuts......there are a hundred, thousands of other places to be.....  Tokyo, no thanks, Seoul, no thanks   ....Paris, no, New york, no ... Vancouver, No..... .. small town, comfortable life is the place for me.

 

I think Mongolia or Xinjiang are really good options.......Tibet, if the politics would get out of my way.

8 years 37 weeks ago in  Transport & Travel - China

 
Highest Voted
Posts: 127

Governor

2
2
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

We lived in Manhattan for 5 years, and I loved it. I really enjoy being able to walk places without being chained to a car. In NY we could walk to so many different kinds of museums, concerts, restaurants and shops, plus Central Park. The trade off was a cramped apartment. I was OK with that. You have to pare down your possessions, unless you want to live in clutter.

 

I'm not sure about Chinese cities, though. I've never felt relaxed while walking in Beijing. Even on the sidewalks it feels like I'm going to be run over any moment. It's also too spread out with inadequate metro stops. When you factor in the hordes of migrant workers and pollution...no thanks!

 

We've talked about moving to Portland once the kids are in college. It has good public transport and interesting city amenities without the insane real estate prices.

ScotsAlan:

I had similar in London. Was 5 years there. Friday afternoon beer in Covent garden, Sunday afternoons reading the papers in Soho. Fantastic.

8 years 37 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
8 years 37 weeks ago
 
Answers (15)
Comments (15)
Posts: 7178

Emperor

0
2
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
2

I had a look at house prices in Detroit recently.  Wow, you can buy a 3 bedroom house there for less than a 5 year old Buick  would cost you in China!!!  In fact... you could buy a street of houses.

 

But would I want to live there?    Nope wink

 

 

 

 

RachelDiD:

Detroit is a depressing shell of what it once was. The airport is awesome, though.

8 years 37 weeks ago
Report Abuse

manasyt:

I was there for a year...left in 2005. Enjoyed it, the music scene was amazing wink

8 years 37 weeks ago
Report Abuse

xinyuren:

I was born in Detroit.  Before it turned into the hellhole it is today.  I cry when I see it now. But I hear the Chinese are buying up houses in droves there.

8 years 37 weeks ago
Report Abuse

ambivalentmace:

detroit city is broke, so the fools that remain now have 3000 dollars a year in property tax minimum for a house they may have bought for less than 3000 dollars, the more people leave the higher the taxes for the fools left behind. maybe it can be a good organic farm in the future or a pot plantation.

8 years 37 weeks ago
Report Abuse

ScotsAlan:

<p>Detroit is what happens when the bankers get greedy... No ... change that... Detroit is what happens when the bankers are not regulated.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Nothing to do with tax. It's distribution of wealth that is the problem.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Ha ha yes. Lets cut the tax for the high earners... they create wealth. Yup. For themselves. The Koch brothers are putting a billion bucks in to ensure the Republicans win. That's a billion bucks well spent if they even get a 2% reduction in the top tax.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Think they care about the people in Detroit?&nbsp; Hell no, they only care about themselves.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Same with the bankers. They want a bubble economy based on house prices cos they make money from people being in debt. And it's the same people who use peoples pension funds to ship the jobs out to low cost countries, putting the owners of the pension funds out of a job.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A buck paid in tax is an investment. A buck paid to a banker is another nail in the coffin.</p>

8 years 37 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
8 years 37 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2855

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Give me ANYWHERE in Yunnan.

 

Screw Shanghai.

Report Abuse
8 years 37 weeks ago
 
Posts: 127

Governor

2
2
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

We lived in Manhattan for 5 years, and I loved it. I really enjoy being able to walk places without being chained to a car. In NY we could walk to so many different kinds of museums, concerts, restaurants and shops, plus Central Park. The trade off was a cramped apartment. I was OK with that. You have to pare down your possessions, unless you want to live in clutter.

 

I'm not sure about Chinese cities, though. I've never felt relaxed while walking in Beijing. Even on the sidewalks it feels like I'm going to be run over any moment. It's also too spread out with inadequate metro stops. When you factor in the hordes of migrant workers and pollution...no thanks!

 

We've talked about moving to Portland once the kids are in college. It has good public transport and interesting city amenities without the insane real estate prices.

ScotsAlan:

I had similar in London. Was 5 years there. Friday afternoon beer in Covent garden, Sunday afternoons reading the papers in Soho. Fantastic.

8 years 37 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
8 years 37 weeks ago
 
Posts: 4495

Emperor

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I agree.  I can't see big cities/world capitals as a nice place to live unless you are rich maybe. Quality of Life is higher and much more attainable in small towns. Of course, to each their own.

If I were super rich:

 NYC

 Paris

If I were pretty rich:

 Venice

 Amsterdam

If I were a regular guy:

 Cuba - Isla de la Juventud

 British Columbia - Victoria maybe or somewhere along the AlCan

 Palawan

 Camotes

 

 

Report Abuse
8 years 37 weeks ago
 
Posts: 3868

Emperor

0
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
1

Interesting topic. I live in Guangzhou and love it even though it's about -4 million people. 

 

Before GZ I lived in Port Erin, Isle of Man. 3500 people from a population of 80,000 (drinks clinging to a rock!).

 

so seen both extremes! I loved both.

 

now....I'd love to live in a small Chinese town/village but would need access to some western necessities & conversation to keep me sane. 

ScotsAlan:

Yup. If people want culture and seclusion... try the Isle of Man. I done 11 years there. No better place on earth to find yourself. So difficult to explain. If you are a people person, but at the same time a loner.. the Isle of Man is eutopia. Fantasic country... proud to carry their passport. I was sad to leave.

8 years 37 weeks ago
Report Abuse

ScotsAlan:

Opps.

8 years 37 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
8 years 37 weeks ago
 
Posts: 3256

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Mongolia is pretty much a single city state, and a very polluted one, with a harsh climate. In general, the smaller major towns of a country are far more affordable, with a good life level relative to the rest of the country. Auckland outskirts would be nice if I could, but I'm very happy around Bordeaux already.

Report Abuse
8 years 37 weeks ago
 
Posts: 7715

Emperor

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I heard that Sydney is 20% more expensive than New York!

 

If you're into culture, or making money, or an active social life - you're going to have to pay (and probably suffer) for it.

MissA:

True on both counts. But if you're from Sydney the rest of the country (except Melbourne) just looks intolerably dull.

8 years 37 weeks ago
Report Abuse

Shining_brow:

"Intolerably"???

 

Really??

 

You're from Sydney - yes?? :p

8 years 37 weeks ago
Report Abuse

MissA:

Yes and yes - I have lived in regional towns, and I was bored. Very bored.

8 years 33 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
8 years 37 weeks ago
 
Posts: 267

Governor

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
2

wait, what kind of question is this? why wouldn't you? high wages, better night life, rich women... 

 

I want to live in expensive cities, because mostly that's where all the rich girls are...

 

 

 

I know, I am shallow...   

dom87:

half right... the women think the rich men are in the city, so in the end the poor girls meet the poor men

8 years 37 weeks ago
Report Abuse

Karma101:

 never thought about it that way! 

8 years 36 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
8 years 37 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2587

Emperor

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I often visit Shanghai.  I love the access to shopping and the variety of restaurants and foreign groceries. I have been tempted several times to get a small house there for getaways.  But in the end, I don't want to live with the traffic, so many people, and the smog.  Big cities have many things that are attractive, but not enough.

Report Abuse
8 years 37 weeks ago
 
Posts: 759

Shifu

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I guess it all depends on what you want out of life...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city

Report Abuse
8 years 36 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1095

Shifu

2
2
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Second tier is a good compromise, one must be mad to live in first tier cities.

 

I will keep defending Foshan (and other second tier cities), it's clean, lot of greenery, 90-95% of every shops/malls like GZ, much less crowded, people are locals with very few migrants and it is much cheaper in every aspects.

 

First tier means hordes of rude migrants, unbearable crowds, resulting filth and noise. No thanks.

Report Abuse
8 years 36 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2578

Emperor

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

If I wanted to go to a Broadway show in NY.... it would be months or planning...  or a fancy thing in Paris or  a night out in Beijing.....    ..  a month or two or three of saved rent would pay for a flight  or a bus and an ticket. ...... sure don't give up anything material in small towns....  gain some recognition instead of blank stares .....I am simple.

Report Abuse
8 years 36 weeks ago
 
Posts: 211

Governor

0
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
1

I prefer smaller Cities, AI hate it every time I must commute to a bigger City. I am happy in my little City, people know me, I know them, we have mutual respect. I know the City better then my own town in England.

Report Abuse
8 years 36 weeks ago
 
Posts: 169

Governor

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I've only lived in first tier cities. I've done a lot of traveling and I still enjoy the 2nd tier, but I never had an opportunity to live in a tier 2. Here's my rundown and reasoning.

 

Beijing- Loved it. I was a 20 year old exchange student at the time, I would have loved anywhere. Really enjoyed the music scene there, lots of interesting acts. Still have a soft spot for BJ, but looking back it's not that great.

Hong Kong - Love/Hate. Had a lot of fun but everything is really expensive and cramped. The job market is fierce. Tons of hard-working, talented people in Hong Kong (who don't need visas). Would I live there again, later in my career? Maybe, but I'd rather live in Europe for that price.

Shenzhen - Industrialized shit hole created to keep HK in arms reach. Nothing interesting, and the local version of Putonghua is a bastardization of Cantonese and Mandarin, felt like I never learned the language. Bailed after 2 months.

 

Shanghai- Been living here for a year now, and I love it so far because:

-I'm a smoker so I can't really complain about pollution while intentionally inhaling a pack of Zhongnanhais a day. 

-Endless Exploration - Always on the hunt for that new happy hour spot, coffee shop, bottle shop, place to get Cajun food... whatever. it's all here and looking for it is fun to me.

- World class public transportation, bye bye car payments.

- I notice less staring, hellorassment, peeing toddlers, and other symptoms of Chinese cities.

- Is my rent expensive? yes. But I've gradually adopted some tricks to live on the cheap, it's possible, and still cheaper than an average American city in most respects.

-Interesting people and plenty of job opportunities.

And the #1 reason:

-Lots of girls, in an astounding variety. A single guy can't do much better than Shanghai, IMO.

Cons:

-Hard to improve my speaking abilities. My friends and I speak English, and the locals are harder to make friends with here.

-Average price for a beer is 30-60 kuai. Ya, not a fan of that.

-Nightlife could be much better for a city this size. The few good places get worn out quickly.

 

 

 

 

BHGAL:

this is a really good blurb..  it is really good. but the chances of seeing China are not there. Beijing, Hong Kong  and Shanghai are not China  ...............  you got the time..come visit.. I will entertain you with some Chinese small town, hope to be big shot someday, entertainment

your average beer is what???? you crazy..... mine is 4rmb my rent is 3000, not 9000 and my delivery time from GZ for whatever I want is 24-36 hours. free delivery mostly...sometimes 10-15 rmb

8 years 34 weeks ago
Report Abuse

WooMow:

Fair point. Even in Shanghai my friends and I commonly refer to everywhere else as "Real China".

And my rent is 4000, but it's what a real estate agent would call "cozy".

 

8 years 33 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
8 years 34 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2310

Shifu

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I am in Shanghai cool

Report Abuse
8 years 33 weeks ago
 
Know the answer ?
Please or register to post answer.

Report Abuse

Security Code: * Enter the text diplayed in the box below
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <img> <br> <p> <u>
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Textual smileys will be replaced with graphical ones.

More information about formatting options

Forward Question

Answer of the DayMORE >>
A:  "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "S
A: "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "Shenzhen agent can connect you with an employer, who's authorized to hire waigouren ... and can sponsor Z visa." It's not like every 10th person you meet in Shenzhen's hood can sponsor work visa ...  The only way to change from student to labourer visa is just a regular way by: 1. Finding an employer, who'll apply for an Invitation letter; 2. Exit China and apply for Z visa in your home country's Chinese embassy; 3. Enter China in 30-days after Z visa was stamped into your travelling instrument ...As I am aware, you won't be able to switch to Working permit by remaining in China....,so make ready for a return to your home .... -- icnif77