I’m a Chinese living in Shanghai. Just wanna ask you foreigners, why China? A lot of us want to get out. Seriously, why did you choose to stay here?
- The city itself is very well designed. It has a great transit system, clean, and history.
- China’s tech sector makes a lot of things very convenient
- If you’re on an expat package, the pay is sometimes significantly better than what you would be getting in your home country
- International relatively. Before this recent string of authoritarianism in China, life was popping and you could run into all kinds of cool situations.
- Being a foreigner might be inconvenient in some ways. But if you’re non-Asian (mostly applies to white people), you’ll attract attention simply for being the way you are*.
*applies more outside SH
I’m not as smart as I look.
The government sucks but the culture, people, food, history etc doesn’t.
I came because I thought it was the future. I left after 2.5 years because I realized it’s a future I must fight.
Experience in a foreign country is a great thing, personally and career-wise. Can’t speak for those who decided to stay forever, though.
I met my wife here, I saved money for retirement, I got an advanced degree, lived quite well, I traveled a lot, made good friends and considerably advanced my career. I got a lot out of my 12 years in China and I’m grateful for that.
But that was the last 12 years and we all got a glimpse in the last years where the journey is going. Personally, I think I got a good return on my time invested, and now it’s time to move on to try new things
Money and plenty of opportunities. The rest is worthless tbh. More like living in a golden cage.
Just for a change and to keep the wife happy. 26 PCR tests and 9 months later I am hoping to get on board the plane this time to return to Tokyo. Everything about China except the government and dickhead old uncles is fine with me.
看一下鲁迅一九二五年四月二十九日的灯下漫笔
Expats got hit pretty hard this time, but they are still treated as a level above Chinese people.
Don’t mean to offend foreigners, I don’t have anything against y’all, but it’s just how the CCP does things. It knows it can throw its own people around in the dirt and they can’t really do anything to fight back.
And I will be honest with you, I lived my whole life in Shanghai, and I always liked it here. It’s a nice city. If the CCP isn’t in charge, I will definitely consider keep staying here.
You want to get out because you are Chinese. And that doesn’t apply to foreigners. Im not saying they don’t get into trouble here, but just that they are much less “oppressed”.
But as you can see now, this lockdown just goes to show how everyone can and will be effected by the stupidity of those in power. And well, many foreigners are definitely gonna be leaving after all this. So… yeah.
Im sorry if what I said came across as hostile towards foreigners. I really really don’t mean it at all. It’s just the sad reality for both the Chinese and foreigners.
i came for a job, life experience, travel, etc. ended up with a wife and kids, and will be out of here as soon as immigration visa processing allows
i like money. i like pies. thank god for pie society.
Good money opportunities
Earn USD salary and spending RMB in Shanghai, such an enjoyment.
Same story with HK, if you get a high paying job then it’s still worth it. Before Covid life is still pretty good for expats in both cities.
I love going to China because it’s like visiting another planet
Before the pandemic, the quality of life you could live in Shanghai could be fantastic if you were on an expat package. Making $80,000 in Shanghai can afford a lifestyle several orders higher than making the same salary in NYC.
Even an english teacher in a 2nd or 3rd tier city can live an amazing life.
For me was a mistake to come here. Once u arrive in China and especially in Shanghai you tend to get stuck there and get lazy. You content yourself to live in a city with no natural scenery, no culture, no art, no freedom, high level of pollution. Lets’ not forget that shanghai is ranked 200+ in the ranking for best city for expats to live in : https://www.thatsmags.com/beijing/post/26601/beijing-and-shanghai-are-two-of-the-worst-cities-for-expat-quality-of-life
But anyway getting out of here in a few weeks! Counting days.
I hate this lockdown as much as the next person, but there is a lot of opportunity here. It’s a big market. There’s no getting around that. People who need to make money come here. People who don’t…well let’s just say there is a different way of life out there.
lived here for ten years, still like it. not going to leave.