Cities in China
Shanghai
Shanghai has been described as the “showpiece” of the booming economy of China. With a population of more or less 28 million, it makes for an international city and a beautiful mix of the traditional and the future. This makes it a clear choice for most expats; with the comforts of home more accessible than other cities in China.
Beijing
Bejing is the country’s capital and is one of the leading areas for culture, business, education and language. A megacity, Beijing is the second largest Chinese city by urban population after Shanghai and is known as “billionaire capital of the world” with the highest number of billionaires living in the city.
The city is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, parks, gardens, tombs, walls and gates. It has seven UNESCO World heritage sites like the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs and even parts of the Great Wall, all of which are popular tourist locations.
Hangzhou
Hangzhou is one of China’s Seven Ancient Capitals that is abundant with historical and cultural relics. Today, Hangzhou is a modern and prosperous hip Chinese mega-city with surrounded with scenic spots and natural beauty. Temples, gardens, cuisine, the street life and the lake are only some of the reasons to visit Hangzhou.
A great choice for foreigners looking for a more scenic city than Shanghai, and a slightly smaller yet still close-knit expat community!
Shenzhen
About 40 years ago Shenzhen was a collection of fishing towns and swamps. In a matter of four decades it became a mega-city and the population grew by 19.5 million people. Today the population is about 20 million! A large number of outstanding Chinese tech companies, such as Huawei and Tencent, were born in Shenzhen.
Shenzhen has an abundance of bars and clubs; enjoy drinks or dancing at the Pepper Club, Zazoo Live, Club Viva and more! A great city for evening-loving expats.
Guangzhou
Guangzhou is a buzzing metropolis that combines modern-day and old China. It is one of the largest cities in China with a population of 14 million. With striking flowers all year around, Guangzhou is known as the ‘City of Flowers’. The colourful Spring Festival Flower Fair is an annual celebration of the blooming flowers in the streets and alleyways of the city.
If you are a food lover, this might be the city for you! The city has more restaurants than any other city in China, with the Liwan and Tianhe Districts being must-visit areas for foodies.
Suzhou
Suzhou is mostly known for being “the Venice of the East” due to its criss-crossing canals, beautiful lakes and rivers throughout the city. There are also several beautiful ancient gardens which date back to the 4th century! Better yet, Shanghai is only 20 minutes or so away by speed train, making this city a wonderful location for the types who like to be near a huge city, but not in one.
If you love a calmer atmosphere, beautiful scenery and rich culture – Suzhou might be for you!
Sanya
Sanya is the southernmost city in China that overlooks the magnificent ocean. Sanya is considered China’s Hawaii! Crystal clear water and white sand beaches surround the city. Visit Yalong Bay, Dadonghai Beach, Baifu Bay and many others for a relaxing day at the beach.
The city has a tropical climate which makes it a favourite tourist AND living destination. It is known for warm weather even in the winter months, which could make for a refreshing escape from the cold - all year round!
Chengdu
Chengdu is most famous for being the home of the Giant Panda! Chengdu has panda centres where tourists can view these amazing creatures in their natural habitats. If you want to surprise your palate, Chengdu is the place for you! Its spicy hot pot is one of the mouth tingling dishes that is made with the world-famous Sichuan peppercorn grown in the region.
Chengdu is a slow-paced, easy-going city. You seldom see people that are in a hurry. In summer, Mahjong tables (an enormously popular classic Chinese game of skill and strategy) line hundreds of metres of the river bank.
Xi’an
Xi’an is one of the four great Ancient Capitals of China! It was the capital of China during the reign of the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui and Tang Dynasties. Xi’an is home to the world famous Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. The Terracotta Army was buried with the emperor with the purpose of protecting him in his afterlife. Xi’an has a special meaning in Chinese. ‘Xi’ means west and ‘an’ means peace. It translates to ‘peace in the west’.
Xi’an cuisine should not be missed. Xi’an is near the central part of China, which means that is all types of Chinese cuisine can be experienced here. Dumplings, noodles, lamb, and kabobs are some of the tastiest dishes in this city.
Kunming
This city has been blessed with unimaginable landscapes and snowy mountains making it a heaven for photographers. It’s known as ‘Spring City’ for escaping freezing winters and boiling hot summers. Filled with Chinese culture but still attracts many expats with lively bars, clubs and places to relax.
It is the capital and largest city in Yunnan Province, with 6.25 million inhabitants. The nearest cities being Anning 28km, Yuxi 73km, Panzhihua 195km away.